National Night Out Keeps Faribault Emergency Personnel Busy

The Faribault Police and Fire Departments and Rice County Sheriff's Office were kept very busy during National Night Out Tuesday evening.  Faribault had about 13 block parties and there were 9 throughout the rural areas of Rice County.  I attended the Buckham Center and Wells Township events.

At Buckham Center Faribault Police Chief Andy Bohlen enjoyed the opportunity to show off the new Faribault Police Department jeep and the Fire Department brought a truck to the party.  The skies opened just before the event started and the weather was perfect.

The Somalian Sambusa was a big hit again.  I was told there were 200 brought to the Buckham Center event and they were gone long before the 200 hot dogs.  Sambusa remind me of egg rolls.

Kids enjoyed sitting in the cabs of large trucks and honking the horns.  Just as in recent years there was musical entertainment and popcorn.  The dunk tank appeared to be very busy.  The Buckham Memorial Library, Faribault Area Senior Center, Buckham Recreation Center and Faribault Diversity Coalition pitched in to host.

At Wells Town Hall the Faribault Fire Department brought their new rural tanker truck which the township helped pay for.   Captain John Bolster and Firefighter Chris Bauer answered a number of questions from the curious people gathered to see and learn about the firefighting rig. The truck can haul two thousand gallons of water to a fire and a portable tank can be filled in about five minutes.  I asked if a fire happened in the area of the Wells Town Hall if they would use water from the nearby lake and Captain Bolster said probably not because the algae and other things in the water would not be good for the pump.

Captain Bolster is in his final month working for the Faribault Fire Department.  Bolster has been with the city for 28 years.  He spent the first eight years as the City Recreation Director and then joined the Faribault Fire Department and says he's glad he made the transition.  Bolster believes he will find some part time job but is looking forward to less work obligations.  His son will be replacing him as a full time firefighter.

The Rice County Sheriff's Department brought their water patrol boat to Wells Town Hall not far from Roberd's Lake Resort.