On July 25, Peyton Fire Protection District held its first summer barbecue at the district’s only fire station on Railroad Street in Peyton’s town center.Organized by the district’s first paid fire chief, Jack Rauer, the event included hot dogs, hamburgers, beans and chips for everyone who attended.The Peyton district’s vehicles were on display, as well as an emergency response truck from the Falcon Fire Protection District. Volunteer firefighter Erin Beary explained some of the gear each rig carries.A new piece of equipment is called a “hot potato,” a fire-resistant covering used when firefighters get trapped by a wildfire. A firefighter would crawl into the covering and wait for the fire to burn past. It’s not a perfect solution because a firefighter can still get third degree burns and suffer from smoke inhalation, Beary said.After chowing down, volunteer firefighters showed how they respond to car crashes with a person trapped inside. They cut open two cars donated by Jason Bratrsovsky, who lives next door to the Peyton fire station.By the time the firefighters had both cars open, Memorial Hospital’s Star One emergency helicopter landed in a field next to the fire station, in a demonstration of coordinated response.Rauer and Peyton fire district board president Dave Stoddard said they hope to make the barbecue an annual summer event.
