FMfreddyFire Safety week 2014 will see the revival of the “Fireman Freddy Parade”. The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department, in conjunction with the Toledo Firefighters Museum, will hold the parade on October 4, 2014 beginning at 10:00 a.m.  The start of the parade will be at the Toledo Firefighters Museum, 918 West Sylvania Avenue, and proceed down Sylvania Avenue, left on Willys Parkway, ending at the Eleanor Kahle Center, 1315 Hillcrest Avenue.

This is a great opportunity to highlight fire safety and spread the word about the importance of having escape plans and smoke alarms in your home.

Walkers are welcome in the parade and may contact Tina Scott at 419-708-6578, or Charles Middlebrooks at 419-787-7866 to join the parade. Deadline to join the parade is September 26, 2014.

There will be activities at both the Firefighters Museum and the Eleanor Kahle Center until 3:00 p.m.

Some of the participants in the parade include Toledo Mayor D. Michael Collins, Toledo Firefighters Museum antique truck, Woodward High School Band, Ronald McDonald, Tarta, Willys Neighborhood Group, Clowns, Whitmer High School Band, and Toledo Fire & Rescue Engine 18. 

Thanks to our sponsors which include: Rudy’s Hot Dog, Fry Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, S.M.B.Construction, Quincy’s Automotive, Toledo Family Pharmacy, McDonalds on Sylvania, Q.C. Printing, Walker Funeral Home, K & K Screen Printing, Nancy’s Creative Innovations, Mama Mary’s Pizza, St. Catherine’s Church, D.J. Quota, and the list continues to grow.

Back in 1972, Fire Chief Eulan Tucker believed that educating the public in fire safety should begin at the elementary school level. The title “Fireman Freddy” originated when a 4-foot tall character was created as a visual display that would help children identify with the fire safety program. The program became known as “Fire Safety with Fireman Freddy”, which continues today.