The band performed marches and its usual repertoire as people listened from the amphitheater, consumed a variety of food and visited organization booths at annual event designed to help communities battle crime by helping neighbors connect, watch out for each other and become more familiar with police and fire departments and an emergency response unit.

In the parking lot below German Park, New Ulm firefighter Trent Zabel performed a safety demonstration. He lit a grease fire in a mock kitchen countertop inside a trailer. He poured a cup of water connected to a long pole on the fire and the fire greatly increased in size.

“What we don’t want to do is dump water on it. You’ll see what happens,” said Zabel.

A loud, sizzling sound was heard as the flames increased.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Schell’s Hobo Band musicians from left, Brady Waibel, New Ulm; Don Siebert, Mankato; and Andy Siegmann, New Ulm; perform in German Park Thursday.

“We just demonstrated a kitchen fire created by grease spread out after water was put on it,” he said.

Zabel then suffocated the small fire with a fire blanket.

“The most important thing you can do first is call 911 if you have a kitchen fire, you can wet a towel and put it on the fire. The other thing to be aware of having working smoke detectors in the house. Test the smoke detector batteries every month,” said Zabel.

He added that baking soda can be sprinkled on flames to smother a fire.

Emmaus Reid, 6, of New Ulm told Zabel he wanted to be a bomb (demolition) expert.

New Ulm Police Chief Dave Borchert said he was pleased with the community turnout for the event.

“The police and fire departments are happy to work with the community today. We’re really pleased with the turnout so far. New things we offered are a public safety vehicle fair with a fire department ambulance, ladder truck, search and rescue boat, emergency response unit members and the American Red Cross,” said Borchert.

He said it’s always nice to have the Schell’s Hobo Band at the event.

“New food vendors are Simply Made Right joining Ted’s Cooking, Lola’s and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church tacos and Jersey Sweet Spots ice cream. The community has really worked with us well for national night out and in general. It’s a certainly a please to work in New Ulm. Our police department appreciates that,” Borchert said.