Concord Fire Department has hosted fall open houses, including events in 2024 and 2025. NASCAR driver and team co-owner Joey Gase has participated in Concord-area open houses.
Gase's appearance is part of a national partnership between the driver and the National Fire Protection Association, and it has already reshaped what Concord's open houses look like. According to the National Fire Protection Association, attendance at Concord Fire Department station open houses jumped from 200 to 300 visitors up to more than 1,000 once Gase began showing up in person, with Concord Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshal Brad Hunt noting that Gase draws motorsport fans who wouldn't otherwise set foot at a local fire station event.
Gase's connection to fire safety isn't just a sponsorship deal. His advocacy was shaped by a dangerous incident on the track, when a loose tire severed a brake line, brake fluid leaked, and the tire caught fire, sending smoke into his race car, according to the same NFPA report. A NASCAR emergency response team extinguished the flames, and Gase emerged unharmed, an experience the organization says helped fuel his passion for fire safety outreach ever since.
A Busy Race Week for Gase Across the Region
Gase's schedule includes a pair of October races: his No. 55 car will carry an official Fire Prevention Week paint scheme during 2026 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 3 and Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 10, as reported by Jayski. The Charlotte race falls on the final day of Fire Prevention Week. The NFPA's motorsport push isn't limited to Gase either — the organization served as title sponsor of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Martinsville Speedway in March, an event branded the NFPA 250, according to a report from Firehouse Magazine.
A Concord Fire Department open house has offered activities for kids and families, including poster coloring, a temporary tattoo table, the NC OSFM photo booth, fire station tours, and a hands-on fire extinguisher experience.
Why Fire Prevention Week Matters This Year
National Fire Prevention Week runs October 4 through October 10 nationwide under the theme “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” according to FireRescue1. The theme addresses lithium-ion battery fire risks in everyday devices like phones, e-bikes, and power tools. NFPA guidance shared by the Town of Manchester, Connecticut, recommends charging electronics on hard, flat surfaces, using only manufacturer-approved charging equipment, and unplugging devices as soon as they're fully charged.
Fire Prevention Week promotes public fire-safety education, a goal community open houses can help advance.
Station 11's Modern Firefighting Muscle
Visitors touring Station 11 will get a look at some of the department's equipment. The station houses a truck company.
Concord Fire Department operates as a full-time career agency spanning 12 fire stations across Cabarrus County, according to Station Boss. Community support for the department extends beyond open house season too, with events like the Celebration of Heroes directing proceeds to nonprofits including the Concord Fire Department Joe Cannon Foundation, per a Facebook announcement from the Celebration of Heroes event page. Together, the open house and safety messaging give Concord families a chance to see the equipment, meet the people, and pick up habits that could make a real difference at home.
