Firefighters’ Blues Festival celebrates 25 years with all-day blues tunes

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- The 25th Firefighters’ Blues Festival kicked off Saturday afternoon at Kamm Island Park, featuring lots of blues tunes and the community coming together.

The crowds spread across the lawn as the bands played all day, singing, dancing and having a good time.

With the entry fee set at $15, the South Bend Fire Department will make a donation following the festival to The Hoosier Burn Camp, a summer camp created for local children who are victims of fires, creating a safe space for them to come together.

The proceeds are also supporting the South Bend Fire Department Safety Education Unit, which was set up at the festival.

The mobile truck creates disaster simulations, educating kids on what to do in unsafe situations.

Saturday’s demonstration was led by Johnny Fire, a South Bend Firefighter who exampled a kitchen fire, using a fog machine to simulate smoke and showing the kids how to crawl out.

“If we can reach one or two kids, you know make a difference, that’s great for us, but we do our best to get across all the schools of South Bend and any community events like this, we’re happy to bring this trailer out and spread this education to all the children,” said Fire.

The next Blues Festival will take place in La Porte County on Saturday, August 10. That will be $12 at the gate at Fox Park in La Porte, Indiana. The Firefighters’ Blues Festival will be back next year for its 26th year.