(PALMER LAKE, Colo.) — On Saturday, Aug. 10, The Palmer Lake Firefighters Association hosted the annual open house, featuring multiple El Paso County Agencies.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., allowing locals to interact with firefighters, many of whom are volunteers, along with other emergency responders. Attendees also saw demonstrations of equipment and firefighting techniques.

“This gives the community a lot of time to come out and meet the firefighters in person, find out what our backgrounds are, [and] what we do in our normal day-to-day’s,” said Matthew Martinez-Gladin, Firefighter Driver at Palmer Lake Fire Association. “A lot of us are volunteers, like myself, so going from a day job, Monday through Friday, and then spending my extra time here when I am at the firehouse as a volunteer firefighter, that gives them a better picture of what exactly is happening in their community.”