Health, safety and pancakes CKFR kicks off National EMS Week with pancake breakfast.

Families will get an up-close look at Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue’s fire engines and medic units at Sunday’s free open house and pancake breakfast.

Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue firefighters will put away their helmets and bunker pants and don chef hats and aprons for one day this month.

CKFR, the CK Medic One Foundation, CKFR Firefighters Association and the Professional Firefighters of Kitsap County, IAFF Local 2819 will host a free open house and pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, May 18, at Fire Station 51, located at 10955 Silverdale Way in Silverdale to kick off National EMS Week.

This year’s motto for National EMS Week is “Your Life is Our Mission” and CKFR spokeswoman Theresa MacLennan said health and safety are the fire agency’s top priorities during the week.

“We’ll just be talking to folks about the small steps people can take to make themselves healthier,” MacLennan said.

People will get an up-close look at CKFR Station 51’s fire engine and medic units at the open house and pancake breakfast. Community members also will see CKFR firefighters whip up pancakes in Station 51’s newly remodeled kitchen.

“We have firefighters coming in to make pancakes in the new kitchen,” MacLennan said.

While pancakes aren’t always considered the healthiest food, MacLennan said firefighters will offer healthy sides and dish up good health and safety tips at Sunday’s open house.

“We’ll have the usual syrup and butter, but we’ll also be serving applesauce as an alternative,” MacLennan said.

Central Kitsap Commissioner Josh Brown is scheduled to attend the open house and pancake breakfast and CKFR’s mascot, Sparky the Dog, will be there as well.

“Sparky will be here waving them on in,” MacLennan said.

MacLennan said CKFR firefighters will encourage people to make small changes to their diets and exercise more by handing out pedometers to adults. People also will receive blood pressure cards to keep track of their blood pressure.

“We want them to take every step they can to better themselves,” MacLennan said.

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