FDNY hosts Summer block party in the South Bronx

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Over 1,500 community members gathered to attend the FDNY's Summer block party on Saturday. People of all ages attended to learn about fire safety and meet the faces behind the FDNY. The event also featured bouncy houses, games, a fire simulator, a DJ and more. Captain Timothy F. Smith, of Engine 227, said events like these are an opportunity to bridge the gap between the FDNY and the community. "We're opening up the doors to the firehouse and we're bringing our services to the community to show them our faces, other than the faces they see when we respond to emergencies," Smith said. A drill instructor named Francis told News 12 when it comes to the Bronx community, representation matters. "A lot of kids say they want to be firefighters and cops, but they don't see people, the representation of like people that look just like them, that can also become firefighters and cops," he stated. Local officials, including Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, also attended. Kavanagh told News 12 events like these are two-fold. "What we want to make sure is that we're talking to the community about what they can do to keep themselves safe, what they can do to join our job and become part of our fire department, but also so they can say 'thank you' to our members who respond so often in the Bronx," Kavanagh said. "