News Photo by Steve Schulwitz Wilson Township Fire Department firefighter Kaitlyn Jobin, left, assists James Kelly crawl through an inflatable smokehouse at Family Fun Day during the Michigan Brown Trout Festival on Sunday. The smoke house is designed to teach kids how to escape a fire that has heavy smoke without causing injury to themselves.

ALPENA — There were a lot of smiling faces at the Michigan Brown Trout Festival on Sunday, as local children got to meet their local police, fire, and medical responders and check out the gear and vehicles they use to keep the public safe during Family Fun Day.

There was also a school supply giveaway, bounce houses, crafts, snacks, and even a large inflatable house that filled with smoke that local firefighters helped the kids crawl through and taught them the proper way to exit a burning structure that is filled with smoke.

The emergency vehicles were a big hit for the kids, as they were able to climb into police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances while receiving swag like plastic fire helmets to wear.

Local first responders posed for photos, took time to answer questions, and provided as much of a first-hand experience as possible to give the kids a peek into a career in public service.

The smoke house was another main attraction and one that could help save lives during a fire. Thunder Bay Fire Fighters Association President Hanna Trelfa said crawling through the mock house is fun for the kids and the firefighters who safely escort them through.

“It teaches them to get low and under the smoke if their house was ever to catch on fire,” she said. “This is the first year that we had it. We basically raised $10,000 from local businesses and they purchased it for us.”

Trelfa said the Fire Fighters Association takes the smoke house to several different counties for families to use and it is also taken to local schools for students to try. She said when it is taken to a school, the fire education is a little more detailed.

“At the schools, we go more in-depth and talk about fire extinguisher control, talk and show smoke alarms, and talk about candle and stove safety,” she said.

Besides the smoke house, the Alpena Township Firefighter staff were letting kids try on firefighting equipment like boots and their large, heavy helmets. The Alpena Fire Department had its aerial truck at the festival and the kids were allowed to climb in and check it out.

The Alpena Police Department, Alpena County Sheriff’s Office, and Michigan State Police also had vehicles and police officers at the event to mingle, talk, and educate the kids.

Roman Hager took his grandchildren to Family Fun Day. He said there were a lot of things for the kids to do. He said they enjoyed the fire trucks and smoke house, as well as looking at a pair of large catfish that were in large metal tubs near the weigh-in trailer. He said they also had lunch and an ice cream.

“The kids are having a blast and there is so much for them to see and do,” Hager said. “The weather is great and it is really great to see everyone take the time to come out and have something special at the festival for the kids.”