ROCKLAND — The Knox Regional Communication Center opened its doors and filled the parking lots with a variety of all terrain public safety emergency vehicles at a community open house at their facility in Rockland on April 16.

Visitors of all ages explored the interior of an ambulance, firetrucks, police vehicles, saw up close the dashboard of the Lifeflight helicopter and also felt the wind from its propellers when it took off for an unanticipated emergency call on Matinicus.

“This is the first time a tour of the facility has been offered since the grand opening of the center in March 2013,” said Linwood Lothrop, director of Knox RCC. Linthrop said that the communications center was a popular stop during the open house, where dispatchers, the “first-first responders”, who were on duty, demonstrated first-hand what they do when a 911 call comes in.

Linthrop said the dispatchers have feelings “and we’re all affected by what we do. We never know what we are going to get, including helping to deliver a baby over the phone.”

The following gallery represents a cross section of public safety vehicles on hand and first responders talking about their equipment and professions during the open house.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com