The 2025 Public Safety Open House welcomed families, friends and neighbors to learn about preparedness and prevention with members of the Naperville Police and Fire Departments as well as NEMA volunteers from the community. Watch for news of its return in the fall of 2026. Meanwhile, be safe and practice public safety tips presented monthly throughout the pages of Positively Naperville. Thank you! (PN Photo)
It’s hard to believe that fall is shining brightly and October begins in a few days!
And if you ask Soraya McLaughlin, one of the things many folks look forward to attending is the opening of the big garage doors at the the Naperville Fire Department in early fall to give Naperville residents a glimpse of the Naperville Fire Department and Naperville Police Department.
The always family-friendly event took place from 10AM-2PM Sat., Sept. 27, 2025, throughout the Public Safety Campus, 1380 Aurora Avenue. Again, plenty of parking was available at Safety Town and the church across the street.
Here are a few photos, featuring the always enlightening demonstration that emphasizes protecting indoor spaces with sprinkling systems. Other demos included drones and tasers.
A sampling of photos of today’s event showcases that the annual presentation is perfect for families and scouts! The purpose of this event is to disseminate important crime and fire prevention information to Naperville residents and encourage citizen action on crime and fire prevention strategies. Both departments firmly believe that citizens are the number one defense against fire and crime and want to spread the word that residents need to “Prepare, Practice and Prevent” to keep their families safe.
This must-see event will return next fall and again will include a variety of activities, including a demonstration from the fire department’s Technical Rescue Team, a K-9 demonstration, and a flashover fire demonstration. A large display of Fire and Police vehicles and equipment will also be on-site.
The fire truck slide also was there! Lots of folks found food trucks selling snow cones. Kids also were enjoying hotdogs and brats!
The Public Safety Open House is an event that the entire community will enjoy while gaining valuable safety information for their families, neighborhoods and workplaces.
For more information, visit www.naperville.il.us or email me, Soraya McLaughlin, at mclaughlins@naperville.il.us or Julie Smith at smithju@naperville.il.us.
Both McLaughlin and Smith write monthly columns in Positively Naperville. Watch for their timely columns in print and online around the clock.
If you missed the open house in 2025, watch for news of the Public Safety Open House in 2026.
“What a great day! Hope to see you there next year!” added McLaughlin.
One more thing… During the Public Safety Open House, board members from Citizens Appreciate Public Safety (CAPS) were set up to distribute information about the organization that annually recognizes the high achievements of members of the Naperville Police Department in May and the Naperville Fire Department in late October. The 2025 CAPS dinner to recognize the exemplary work of Naperville Fire Department personnel is set to begin at 6:30PM Thurs., Oct. 23, at Meson Sabika, 1025 Aurora Avenue. To reserve a spot ($45), visit napervillecaps.com/events.
