Union City Fire Department’s ‘Rocking With Heroes’ returns Saturday with music, demonstrations and recruitment focus

The Union City Volunteer Fire Department will turn its station grounds into a daylong community event Saturday as the third annual Rocking With Heroes returns with live music, food, demonstrations, vendors and family activities — all while highlighting a deeper goal of attracting new volunteers to the department.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at the Union City Fire Department, 50 Second Ave. Admission is free. Organizers say the day is designed to be more than a fundraiser, serving as a public awareness and recruitment effort aimed especially at getting younger people interested in volunteering. Channel 98.9, Corry’s Radio Alternative, is serving as the media partner for the event.

“This really isn’t just a fundraiser,” organizer A.J. Ross said during an interview with Channel 98.9’s Nigel Metal.

Ross said the event is meant to show the community that the fire department is there for residents in more than just emergencies and to give people a better understanding of the many ways they can help.

That message comes as volunteer departments continue to deal with shrinking membership. Ross said the Union City department, like many others, has lost members over time as some have moved away, others have aged out of active service and some have passed away. He said bringing in younger volunteers is critical, not only to keep the department staffed, but also because the experience can help younger members build skills they can carry into their careers and everyday lives.

Organizers stressed that volunteering doesn’t have to mean running into a burning building. Nicole Ross said there are many ways to serve, including fire police, EMS support, administrative and business roles, auxiliary help and assistance with events and fundraising. Fire police, for example, focus on keeping emergency scenes safe for firefighters, drivers and pedestrians.

The department has seen some progress since last year’s event. Ross said several new members have joined, and two junior members who were involved with last year’s Rocking With Heroes went on to respond to their first fire calls.

This year’s event will once again feature live entertainment throughout the day, with music taking place inside the fire department bay so the performances can continue even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. The lineup includes Flashback from 1:30 to 3 p.m., Whiskey Jack from 3:30 to 5 p.m., Knuckle Down from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and Seeking Susan from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Firefighter demonstrations are scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Ross said the department is adding new demonstrations this year, including one showing how firefighters remove the roof from a vehicle during a rescue operation — essentially “turning a car into a convertible” — and another focused on the dangers of grease fires and the proper way to put them out.

One of the educational features returning this year is the smoke house, which is used to teach children and adults what to do if a home fills with smoke. The mobile unit uses fog to simulate smoke conditions and gives participants a chance to practice how to safely get out of a house in an emergency.

In addition to the music and demonstrations, Rocking With Heroes will include vendors from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., face painting, bounce houses, a Chinese auction, a 50/50 drawing and a cornhole tournament. Organizers said the cornhole event will cost $10 per team, with payouts depending on participation.

Food will be available throughout the day. Nicole Ross said the menu will include hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, chips, pretzels with cheese, French fries, bottled pop, coffee and water. A meal deal featuring a hot dog or hamburger, small fries and a drink will be available for $6.

The event also will feature a dedicated recruitment and information booth where visitors can ask questions about joining the fire department. Organizers said people interested in learning more will be able to speak directly with members about firefighter, EMT, fire police and support roles, as well as other ways to volunteer.

Ross said the department hopes the event helps not only Union City, but neighboring departments as well.

“We’re not looking for recruitment just for our department,” he said. “We would love to see recruitment go up for other departments surrounding us too.”

For the Union City Fire Department, the hope is that Rocking With Heroes sends people home with more than just a good time. Organizers want families to enjoy the music and activities, but they also want visitors — especially younger residents — to leave with a better understanding of how volunteer fire departments work and how badly those organizations need the next generation to step forward.