Kennett Regional Fire Department, which includes the Kennett Fire Company, Longwood Fire Company, and Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company, will host the second annual joint Fall Festival on Sunday, October 19, from 1 p.m to 4 p.m.

The three local companies have joined forces to serve the greater Kennett region. In addition to providing emergency services to the region, they unite for community events and fundraisers.

Po-Mar-Lin Fire Chief Stephen Nuse said, “Last year’s Fall Fest was a tremendous success, bringing together families from across the area for a day of community, fun, and fire safety education. The collaboration between Kennett, Longwood, and Po-Mar-Lin Fire Companies highlighted the strength of our regional partnership and our shared commitment to public service. This joint effort not only provided valuable educational opportunities but also reinforced the important connection between our fire companies and the community we proudly serve.”

All are welcome to enjoy fall festivities. Live music will feature Demitri Grivas, and food and canned cocktails will be offered by Saloon 151, and family activities such as pumpkin painting and crafts provided by the Kennett Library. Sunday, Oct. 19 is also game day—and the Eagles game will be projected.

Kennett Assistant Chief Rick Franks said, “Last year’s Fall Fest was an incredible success bringing families, neighbors, and the whole community together.  We are excited to build on that momentum this year, continuing a tradition that not only unites the community, but also provides education about the vital role of their local emergency services.”

The festival will also feature several high-ticket raffle items donated by local businesses. 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, “The Fall Festival stands as its own example of how successful the Kennett Regional Fire Department model is. It is still a pretty new concept, but I believe the proof is in the pudding. We received so much positive feedback from the event last year, and I am proud of the Fall Fest planning committee for all of their efforts.” 

McCarthy added, “I believe the most critical priorities to public safety are having the right resources in place to respond to emergencies in your community and providing education to the public to stop emergencies before they happen. The Fall Fest blended fun activities with emergency preparedness lessons in a truly remarkable way. There was something for everyone to take away last year, and I think this year will be even better.” 

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.

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. 

Longwood Fire Company is located at 1001 E. Baltimore Pike in Kennett Square.

Kennett Fire Company No. 1 is located at 301 Dalmatian Street in Kennett Square.

Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company is located at 36 Firehouse Drive in Unionville.