BAINBRIDGE, Ohio — Bainbridge firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to nine calls and logged more than 500 combined hours protecting crowds at this year’s Fall Festival of Leaves, the fire department said in an operational report released this week.
The Bainbridge Fire Department said 15 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical responders worked a combined 364 hours over the four-day event, held Oct. 15-18, with paid staff members adding another 168 hours of coverage, according to the department.
Crews answered seven medical emergencies, one fire call and one rescue incident during the festival, the department said. Fire Chief Branson Leisure credited both volunteer and paid personnel with keeping festivalgoers and residents safe throughout the weekend.
Beyond responding to emergencies, firefighters used the festival as a chance for public outreach, interacting with visitors of all ages and handing out fire prevention and safety materials, the department said.
The Bainbridge Fire Department is staffed by part-time and volunteer personnel and covers roughly 77 square miles across Ross and Pike counties, according to the village of Bainbridge.
The Fall Festival of Leaves has drawn visitors to the Ross County village since 1968, when the Bainbridge Lions Club organized the first event to showcase the region’s autumn foliage and local history. The festival now draws more than 100,000 visitors a year and has attracted more than 2 million visitors to Bainbridge since its founding, according to the Ohio Festivals & Events Association.
The department said it was grateful to festival organizers, partner agencies and the community for what it called a safe and enjoyable weekend.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Bainbridge Fire Department.
