ADA, OH (WLIO) - Firefighters from as far north as Lucas County and as far south as Miami County are gathering in Ada this weekend.
The 150th Northwestern Ohio Volunteer Fireman's Association Convention is being held in Ada this year, where it was originally founded back in 1874. It's a time for firefighters from different cities to catch up, share stories and advice, and throw a free, fun event for the community.
The weekend features live music, food trucks, and a chance to win up to $10,000 in a raffle. On Friday evening, visitors and residents enjoyed Cruise Night, watching new and vintage fire trucks drive around town.
"It's just something that we love to do. We do this for the people, our town; everybody does it for their town, villages, or cities; everybody out in the country. We all like just helping everybody out," said Dustin Jordan, a captain for the Ada-Liberty Township Fire Department.
The convention is also a time for residents to come out and let the firefighters know how much they're appreciated, like two young Ada siblings who held a thin red line flag as the trucks drove past.
"They help people, like when they're in fires, when their house is burning," said Easton Salyer. "And they're in danger when they come to the rescue and they put out fires for us, and so nobody gets hurt or nobody gets burned," added his sister, Chandler.
There will also be a parade on Main Street at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, with Ohio State legend Jim Tressel as emcee, followed by the raffle drawing at Football Park Stadium, and then live music at Ada Park from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
