National Night Out August 6

By Brenda Erdahl

Is it a fire truck, or an ice cream truck? It’s all the same for one night only in Maple Lake when local firefighters cruise the neighborhoods in their shiny red fire trucks handing out treats in honor of National Night Out.

Every first Tuesday of August, the Maple Lake Fire Department sends trucks through Maple Lake neighborhoods to hand out cold treats to anyone out-of-doors, young, and old as part of the national campaign to promote police-community partnerships and encourage safe living and neighborly activity. This year’s event takes place on Tuesday, August 6, starting around 6 p.m. Across the country, millions of people spend this night at cookouts, block parties, parades, and law enforcement agencies host demonstrations and spend time in the community.

Former MLFD Chief Todd Borell started the Maple Lake tradition back in 2009 with a few trucks and about 150 ice cream sandwiches. Today MLFD sends a handful of trucks out starting at around 6 p.m. and 15-some volunteers – mostly Fire Fighters, EMTs and their families – hand out 500-plus freezies all over town. According to MLFD Chief Steve Peterson, the city is split into four quadrants and a vehicle is assigned to each. Volunteers look for anybody of any age out on the streets, in yards or at city parks and if they see someone, they stop and offer them a treat. Some neighborhoods hold their own cookouts or picnics while they wait for the firetrucks to show up. Many more make a point to be outside to receive their anticipated treat. Wright County Deputies often take part in this as well. In the past, the firehall on the corner of Division Street and Oak Avenue downtown has been open for tours and fire fighters/EMTs are on hand to answer questions for anybody interested in joining the department. The Maple Lake Royalty often helps at this event as well. National Night Out is a chance to engage with the community, and everyone is invited to watch for the fire truck as it comes down the street to snag a cold treat.

Be on the lookout for fire trucks if you are within the Maple Lake City Limits starting around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6 and snag a cold treat courtesy of the Maple Lake Fire Department in honor of National Night Out.