Ocoee Fire Department holds open house for community

Aiden Abel, 3, is a newly minted fireman about to go on a tour of the fire station, posed for yet another photo during the open house hosted by the Ocoee Fire Department. He managed to keep his eyes open this time.

Lt. James Kelley, Fire Chief John MIller and Mark Scalzo, a member of the Citizens Advisory Council, pose for a photo near one of Ocoee Fire Station No. 25's trucks.

From left to right: Fire Marshall Shawn Sorenson, Helen Hoffman, Layne Baer, 7, Josh Baer, 4, Kim Baer and Lyla Baer pose for a photo after chatting and exchanging toy firefighter helmets.

Lyla Baer, 9, poses near a fire truck before she a tour of the fire station. She was proud of her hat, but couldn't say what her favorite part of the day was yet.

Kerry Permanand and her two children Rianna, 9, and James, 5, pose outside one of Ocoee Fire Department's new firetrucks just before the family joined one of the fire station tours.

Kristin Hodges and her daughter Martina Cape, 8, pose near a fire truck at the Ocoee Fire Department open house Saturday, June 11. Martina Cape had just finished chasing her mother with her snail friend Hubert when this picture was snapped.

Firefighter-paramedic Bronson Fernandez helps Rianna Permanand swiftly change the settings on a fire hose to show her all the different shapes they can make with the pressurized water.

Angelina Abel helps her two sons, Aiden, 3, and Virgil, 4, into the cab of a firetruck. Once Aiden had his footing, he proceeded to pose with a coloring book picture for a family friend before asking to be helped down.

Attendees at the Ocoee Fire Department open house race to be the first to hold a fire hose on Saturday, June 11, 2016.

Firefighter-paramedic Bronson Fernandez helps Leabelle Popovich, 7, hold a fire hose. Popovich was the first to step out of the crowd and approach Fernandez.

Martina Cape, 8, holds her friend Catherine Veldas' pet snail, Hubert. Cape said she plans to search high and low in her backyard until she finds her own Hubert.

Firefighter-paramedic Bronson Fernandez and his father Albert Fernandez wildly swing the fire hose side to side. "He was born a firefighter," Albert Fernandez said. "I thought it was a passing phase but it wasn't."

Firefighter-paramedic Bronson Fernandez and his father Albert Fernandez pose holding a fire hose outside of station No. 25 of the Ocoee Fire Department. Albert Fernandez said his son was in the Ocoee Fire Explorers program from the age 14 to 21.

Cam Hall and Mary Griffin prepare food for the guests attending the Ocoee Fire Department open house. Hall had been proudly dodging cameras all day when this was taken.

Jackie Titus hands out popcorn to guests at the open house. Lt. Tom Smothers said Titus had been volunteering at the station every Friday for at least four years. Fire Marshall Shawn Sorenson said Titus is considered the mother of the fire department.

Lt. Tom Smothers coordinated the open house at the Ocoee Fire Department on Saturday June 11. Smothers said he was inspired to hold the open house after Tropical Storm Colin had passed through the area.