FRUITLAND FIREFIGHTERS EVENT SUNDAY

FRUITLAND -- The Fruitland Volunteer Fire Department will observe its 20 anniversary Sunday with an open house at the Fruitland Fire House.

Most of the 25 members of the fire department, which includes fire houses at Fruitland and New Wells, will be on hand for the open house activities.

Some of them may be working, said Charlie Griffith, a spokesman for the department.

A number of activities have been planned for the open house, to be held from 1 to 4 p.m.

Door prizes will be presented and refreshments will be available during the afternoon, representatives from the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department and Cape County Ambulance will be present, The LifeBeat Helicopter will land at the fire house -- weather permitting -- about 1 p.m. Smoky the Bear will be on hand.

The volunteer department has seven vehicles -- five of them at Fruitland.

The department has three tankers, two pumpers, a tanker/pumper and a combination brush truck/water supply vehicle.

Marty Schuessler is fire chief.