The 4th Annual Firefighters Pancake Breakfast was a huge success.

Approximately one thousand flapjacks were served as young and old got up close and personal with members of Cochrane's Fire Services and on duty AHS staff.

Not only is it every kids dream to get up close personal with our town's everyday heroes, Captain Jory Jenson says the pancake breakfast has a two fold purpose.

"The first is our foundation likes to give back and feed everybody a breakfast, that is the most obvious. But really at the end of the day we always meet people when they're having a bad day. We're funded by the town, we serve the community; we want people to know us, feel comfortable with us, to have a chance to visit, see our trucks and equipment, and learn about emergency services in a general sense." 

Cpt. Jenson says the vehicular extrication was a big hit and prompted lots of questions from curious onlookers.

"One of the fan favourites was the vehicular extrication demo. When there is a car accident the most the general public sees is they either drive by or they get stuck in traffic, so for them to be able to see up close and personal how we are able to extricate people out of a vehicle is a fan favourite for sure."

While the annual breakfast always falls on the first Saturday after Labour Day, this weekend marked a special significance falling so close to the 15th anniversary of 9/11.

"We have 18 full time operational firefighters in our department, not including the chief, with families and kids; and New York lost 343 members in a span of minutes. From an emergency service perspective it was just a massive loss."

Cochrane Fire Services looks forward to their 5th anniversary, the second Saturday in September 2017.