Fired up for Christmas: Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department keeps busy serving community throughout holiday season

Community members congregate around the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department’s fire pit on Friday night, for warmth and free s’mores. Tabitha Johnston
SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department is keeping the Christmas spirit alive this holiday season, by bringing back more than one annual tradition for the community to participate in.
The first event took place last Friday night, at the Christmas in Shepherdstown tree lighting ceremony by McMurran Hall. Fire and rescue volunteers could be seen volunteering in a completely different way than they would be, during the other 364 days of the year, as they kept busy manning a fire pit in front of Town Hall, handing out s’mores making kits and driving a fire engine carrying Santa Claus down German Street to take pictures with local children in McMurran Hall.
According to SVFD Treasurer Denny Baron, the department is proud to be deeply involved with making this event a success every year.
“I don’t know how many years we’ve done this, but we’ve been helping with it for a good while,” Barron said, as he replaced an empty tray with one filled with s’mores making kits. “It’s just a way that we can say ‘thank you’ to the community for its support throughout the past year.”
Barron noted that, along with making sure everything the SVFD is in charge of runs smoothly on the day of the tree lighting ceremony every year, there is a good amount of prep work that goes into it. A total of 300 s’mores making kits and marshmallow roasting sticks had to be prepared ahead of time. They, along with the items needed to run the fire pit throughout the event, had to be collected and carted down to King Street in front of Town Hall in time for the start of the kickoff event on Friday afternoon.

Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department Treasurer Denny Barron, right, organizes s’mores kits for Christmas in Shepherdstown kickoff attendees in front of Town Hall on Friday night. Tabitha Johnston
This Saturday morning at 10 a.m., the SVFD will once again be seen driving a fire engine down German Street, although this time it will be doing so as part of the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade.
And then, the final community-focused holiday event for the SVFD will take place this Sunday in the fire hall itself, according to Barron and SVFD volunteer Doug Pittinger.
“The Shepherdstown Fire Department will be having its annual Free Community Christmas Dinner and Open House on Sunday, from noon until 3 pm. We will provide a free dinner to all who attend, as our gift to you for your continued support of our organization,” Pittinger said. “The special guest of the day will be Santa Claus — bring your own camera if you wish.”
Pittinger noted free gifts will be given all to all of the children in attendance at the dinner. Fire safety literature and fire, rescue and ambulance displays will also be available to the community to view at the dinner.
“This special holiday event is for people of all ages and you won’t want to miss it. Come join us at the fire department!” Pittinger said. “This Christmas event is our gift to Shepherdstown and the surrounding community, to show our appreciation by giving back to them in a different way.”
- Community members congregate around the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department’s fire pit on Friday night, for warmth and free s’mores. Tabitha Johnston
- Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department Treasurer Denny Barron, right, organizes s’mores kits for Christmas in Shepherdstown kickoff attendees in front of Town Hall on Friday night. Tabitha Johnston