ROME — That jolly old elf Santa Claus paid a visit to the city of Rome to hand out gifts Wednesday afternoon, with help from the Rome Fire Department.

Santa, one of his elves, Sparky the Fire Dog and some Rome firefighters rode a fire truck around the city to hand out gifts to several families. The gifts were paid for by the firefighters union, and has been a tradition for several decades.

“We get some names through the school district,” explained Fire Lt. Brian J. Townsend Jr. “The guys go out on their own time to shop and wrap the gifts.”

The fire department used to just leave the gifts on porches and stoops, Townsend said, but they have amped up the pageantry over the past few years, including inviting Santa to join them.

“A lot of the guys really get into it. It’s a nice thing for the community,” Townsend said. “It’s just our way of giving back during the Christmas time.”

The Rome Fire Department will also be donating several gifts to Rome Health, for children who are in the hospital over Christmas, Townsend added.