Community members in the Wright City area are invited to join in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the formal organization of the Wright City Fire Protection District.

The fire district as we know it today was formed by a vote of area residents in 1972. Life has changed a lot since then, and so has the job of a firefighter, but first responders with the fire district remain a consistent presence protecting community members’ health and property.

To celebrate this 50-year milestone, the fire district headquarters in Wright City is hosting a community open house on Oct. 9 from 1-4 p.m. The open house will have cupcake decorating, an oven-fired pizza food truck, kids activities, tours of the firehouse, gear, and trucks, and photos with mascot Sparky the Dog.

The fire station is located at 396 W. Second St. North in Wright City.

Fire Chief Ron MacKnight said the celebration is a small way of saying thank you for the community’s support, and for the long effort of the people who organized and ran the district for many years.

“We want to say thank you for the support over the last 50 years and recognize how blessed we are to be part of this community,” said MacKnight. "We want to pay homage to those folks who built the fire district and left their legacy, and say we're proud to continue serving the community"

The celebration is also meant to recognize the citizens who have volunteered their time to serve as board members guiding the district over the last five decades, who have had to balance the trust of being responsible financial stewards with a strategic vision for appropriate growth. And of course, it’s also a recognition for the dedication of all firefighters and the fire corps support volunteers, MacKnight said.