“It’s to bring the community together,” said Helen Reed, administrative support staff for the fire department. “It builds relationships and trust.”

The event will be held at Fire Station 1 on Roanoke Avenue starting at 4 p.m., Chief Stacy Coggins said. “It’s to get people into the fire station and to let the firefighters know the people they are serving. We want to let them know this is their fire department.”

The event will feature a water slide and a fire safety puppet show put on by members of B Shift, which includes Josh Sparks, Matthew Dube, Ramah Long, Darrell Saunders and Gordon Pearson.

Elle the Pit Bull will be at the event with her owner, Leah Brewer. The pair will demonstrate stop, drop and roll and a story will be read.

There will be information tables on first aid, Safe Kids and Citizens on Patrol will be doing child IDs.

Cardinal Innovations and RHA will provide information on mental health.

Silly Cheeks will provide face-painting and children under the supervision of firefighters can spray water on fire safety props to douse Freddy the Flame.

The Roanoke Rapids Fireman’s Club will be selling new T-shirts as a fundraiser for the community projects it does. The T-shirts are $20.

Bags of back-to-school supplies will be handed out.

Coggins expects the Safety Fair to wind down around 7 p.m., when the last Fridays in the Park of the summer begins with The Deep performing at Centennial Park. The free show runs from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

“Anytime we can form partnerships with other organizations is an excellent opportunity,” said Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle. “To do free activities for all walks of life is a really good fit.”