The Kennett Regional Fire Department, made up of Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company, Longwood Fire Company, and Kennett Fire Company, will host their first-ever joint Fall Festival on Saturday, October 19th, from 2 pm - 6 pm.

This event is unprecedented, as the three local companies have recently joined forces to serve the greater Kennett region. In addition to providing emergency services to the region, they plan to unite for community events and fundraisers.

Po-Mar-Lin Fire Chief Stephen Nuse said, “This is the first community event we’re hosting as a region, and it’s important for the community to see us work together on and off the fire ground. We’re honored to host this year and hope our neighbors and friends come and learn about each fire company and how we operate as a region while also enjoying some fall festivities. When there’s an emergency, we show up together, so it makes sense that we educate and celebrate with the community together.”

All are welcome to enjoy fall festivities! Live music will feature Demitri Grivas, food and canned cocktails by Saloon 151, apple cider and apple cider donuts from Northbrook Marketplace, coffee and treats from Farmer & Co, and family activities such as pumpkin painting, an Autumn Sensory Bin, and crafts provided by the Kennett Library.

Kennett Assistant Chief Rick Franks said, “It’s exciting to be a part of a forward-looking department that puts the community first. Coming together to hold a community event such as Fall Fest is just another example of the phenomenal service that this Regional Department provides. The emergency services requirements and demands on this community are changing. It’s important to educate the citizens about the needs as well as all the different Fire, Rescue, and EMS services that are provided.”

The festival will also feature several high-ticket raffle items donated by local businesses, professional sports teams, and others. All proceeds will benefit the regional department as a whole. All three fire companies will be present to answer any questions from the community and will showcase the specialties of each company.

Longwood Fire Chief A.J. McCarthy said, “What we are doing operationally—and have been branching out to do administratively with things like the fund drive and the Fall Fest—is a truly unique collaborative approach. We are trying to enhance the standards and professionalize our departments while maintaining the station identities of each fire company.”

The event is free to attend, and the whole community is invited to learn about the fire service and fire prevention, meet the men and women who volunteer, and enjoy fall festivities.

Here are some important details:

🎃 The Festival will take place on Saturday, October 19th, from 2 pm – 6 pm at Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company, 36 Firehouse Drive, Kennett Square, PA 19348.
🎃 FREE parking at Unionville Elementary School (1775 W. Doe Run Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348) with a hayride shuttle to the firehouse. NO parking at the firehouse.

We hope to see you there!

About Kennett Regional Fire Department

The tradition of the fire service has always included a strong emphasis on company pride. People have always identified with a station name and a number. Over time, as the industry has become more expensive and staffed by fewer people, pressures have been placed upon fire companies to move or consolidate their companies without really understanding the impact to the fire companies. In many areas of the Commonwealth, core groups of volunteers have hung up their gear because they were no longer considered the “hometown” fire company. To many—it feels like erasing a crucial part of who they are.

What we are doing operationally—and have been branching out to do administratively with things like the fund drive and the fall festival—is a truly unique collaborative approach. We are trying to enhance the standards and professionalize our departments while maintaining each fire company's station identities.

We hope the public will show us support for these ventures. Every year, it becomes harder and harder for service providers to meet the contemporary expectations of quick response times, station staffing, training requirements, and community engagement. Our goal has always been to provide the best service and protection to the community—now, we are just doing it together by pulling our resources together with this common goal.