It used to be called Firemen’s Night. It was the night when firemen from all over the state rode in to the fairgrounds at the Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair on their firetrucks amid a flurry of blaring sirens and flashing lights.

It was a way to celebrate volunteer firefighters and first aiders hosted by their own at the largest firemen’s fair around.

It’s still happening annually at the fair, but it’s now been morphed with family night and called First Responders’ Night. The irony of the blend is that years ago, Firemen’s Night was known as a night for adulting. Kids were usually sent home by dark. We’ll get to that in the next Old News piece. In the meantime, Firemen’s Night, or First Responder’s Night, was last night.

Same night, different name. Same purpose. Same fair. Same Wednesday night. And, many times, you’ll see former Fair Havenites, firemen or not, with new patches, hats and t-shirts representing another fire company. That’s because they’ve taken their homegrown spirit of volunteerism to their new homes. But, they always come back …

Who wouldn’t want to? It’s the fairest of all fairs in the fairest of havens. haven of all in the now volunteering in another town in which they live.

It’s all about taking care, connecting and coming back. The fair is home. Legacy — beginning or continuing. Take a look at some of the faces of firemen’s night and trace back — or get to know who’s helping you out in an emergency in your community …

— Photos/courtesy of FHFD Media

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