Petal Fire Department is offering residents the chance to work out like a fireman throughout the month of September.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Petal Board of Aldermen, board members voted to approve the fire department’s “Fit for Fire” fitness program, which will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in September at Hinton Park, behind Petal Civic Center.
“We’re just reaching out to the community – it’s a means of interacting with the public, community outreach and a chance for them to get to know us better,” Fire Chief Joe Hendry said.
During the program, Petal firefighters will display activities and duties they perform while in the field, including ventilating a room, raising ladders and dragging fire hoses. The event, which is free and open to the public, encourages attendees to participate in the activities with the firefighters.
“The idea came from an article I had looked at in Firehouse Magazine, about larger departments doing it,” Hendry said. “They actually bring them into the station and work out with them in the truck bay at the stations, but we’re going to do it at Hinton Park.”
Ward 3 Alderman Clint Moore said he liked the idea of the fitness program.
“I’ve seen a lot of people commenting about that, and it seems pretty cool,” he said.
In other action Tuesday, aldermen voted to adopt a resolution assessing cleanup fees to six properties in the city. The properties include 149 East 2nd Ave. ($413.40), 400 Smith St. ($620.10), 300 West 7th Ave. ($420.10), 705 Holmes St. ($470.10), 309 Mitchell St. ($313.40) and 210 East Central Ave. ($320.10).
“We can file a municipal offense ticket,” Building Department director Amy Heath said. “We’re in the process of having those made up, because they’re separate from what the police department uses.
“It’ll go to court, just like a regular ticket would. However, the ones where we’re not certain of the property owners, those will still probably have to come before (the board) because we don’t have anyone to charge those to.”
