The Overland Park Fire Department is opening its training center to families of children with disabilities on Oct. 3 for the annual Friends of First Responders Day.

The event at 12401 Hemlock St. will feature truck rides, hose spraying and other hands-on activities with firefighters and police officers, according to an announcement from the department posted Aug. 20.

The department emphasized that the event is exclusively for families of children with disabilities.

Both the Overland Park Fire and Police departments participate alongside volunteers, according to the city's event page, which describes the day as an opportunity for people with developmental disabilities and their families to connect with first responders in a hands-on setting.

A specific start time for the 2026 event has not been announced publicly. In prior years, the event ran from 1 to 3 p.m. at the same location.

What to expect

Friends of First Responders Day has been held annually at the Fire Training Center since at least 2023. Based on prior editions, attendees can expect to ride in fire trucks, watch the department's Tech team in action and meet local first responders face to face.

The 2025 event, held Oct. 11, included those demonstrations along with a meet-and-greet where families could ask questions and interact with firefighters and officers in a low-pressure environment, the department said in an October 2025 post promoting that year's event.

Different from Safety Day

Friends of First Responders Day is separate from the department's Safety Day at Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, which took place Aug. 22, and was open to the general public. The Oct. 3 event is limited to families with children who have disabilities, giving those families dedicated time with first responders and equipment without the crowds of a larger public gathering.

Families seeking more details or registration information can visit opkansas.gov/friends-of-first-responders-day.