Providence Volunteer Fire Department participates in many community events and provides fire prevention and education to the public. These activities include hosting birthday parties at the fire station, bringing a fire engine to your home party, annual pre-school and elementary school presentations for the schools in our district, neighborhood parades or parties and seasonal festivals. It is our duty to educate the public on the best ways to prevent fires and the education of children in the area of fire safety. If you are interested in Providence VFD hosting your party or having a tour of the station, or if you need us to come to an event, please use the information on our contact page to reach us.

Engine 321 and a group of party-goers at a child's birthday party held at his house in October 2006.

Above: Thursday, September 6, 2007 - Providence VFD along with several other local fire departments; was presented with a set of Pet Oxygen Masks. These masks were presented through a partnership between the Charlotte Chapter of the American Payroll Association and Best Friends Pet Care in Pineville, NC. These masks can be connected to the standard oxygen tanks that all fire departments carry in EMS bags and can be applied to a dog, cat or several other species of pet after being rescued from a fire. More than 2,500 sets of these masks have been distributed across the country by Best Friends Pet Care, a kennel company that established a "Cause for Paws" campaign in 2004 that encourages donations by pet lovers and then matches those donations to buy masks for fire departments. These masks are carried on our front line engine company and will allow Providence to hopefully resuscitate family pets that may get trapped in a fire. Other local departments presented pet masks: Waxhaw VFD, Matthews VFD, Monroe FD, Charlotte FD, Rock Hill FD, Gastonia FD and Tega Cay Rescue Squad.

Above: Thursday, August 29, 2007 - Providence VFD was presented a grant from Fireman's Fund Insurance Company and the local office of Edwards, Church and Muse, Inc. in the amount of $6,301.00. This grant was made possible through the Fireman's Fund Heritage Grant Program. Thanks to this grant, Providence was able to purchase two ventilation saws (one circular, one chain) to be placed on E-321. This allows us to have a full set of saws on each engine company allowing them to function independently of each other at separate fire scenes. We also purchased a Hurst Mini Cutter to be used in vehicle extrication when working in tight areas; and a Paratech Vehicle Stabilization Kit to be used in rapidly stabilizing overturned vehicles. Our deepest thanks go out to Fireman's Fund Insurance Company and Edwards, Church and Muse,Inc. in making this grant possible and supporting firefighters in the community and across the country. View the official press release here.

Above: On Wednesday, October 11, 2006; Providence VFD attended Weddington Christian Academy for the school's Fire Safety Day. Classes gathered to watch fire safety videos and then went outside to take a tour of E-321. Seeing the fire truck is the highlight of the day and many kids got up-close and personal with the truck. The teachers also enjoyed the day and always seem to get involved themselves in some way! We attend this event annually and feel that fire prevention and education to young children is of the utmost importance in their lives.

Above: On Saturday, October 7th, 2006; Providence VFD attended the Home Depot Kids Safety Day at the store located on Ballantyne Commons Parkway. Kids made wooden fire truck crafts and were given lots of goodies to take home. There was a large crowd on hand for this event that wrapped up National Fire Prevention Week.

Above: On Saturday, September 30, 2006; Providence VFD participated in a car wash organized by a group of students from Weddington High School to raise money for the Kids Feeding Kids Charity. This organization raises money to purchase meals for school children in Africa. Providence Tanker 324 was used as the water source and four garden hoses were run from it to wash the cars. The weather was great and this event was a huge success raising nearly $10,000 for the cause!

Above: On Thursday, September 28, 2006; Providence VFD participated in a fundraising/awareness event hosted by Cold Stone Creamery to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The rain didn't dampen the spirits of those who came out and the event was a success.

The pictures above are from the Providence Woods South Annual Fourth of July Neighborhood Parade and Cookout. This years parade was held on Saturday, July 1, 2006. We have participated in this event for many years. Our trucks lead the parade that starts at the intersection of Horseshoe Bend and Palomino Ridge. The parade winds through the neighborhood and those who do not decorate vehicles and join in the parade gather in front yards and driveways along the route. The parade ends in the neighborhood park where the cookout begins. The food is always great and it is a great family event.