Fire Station #4

Inspired by the fire fighter outfit given to him by his cousin, Dietrich thought a trip to the local fire station would be a perfet outing for us today. Elliott was happy to go, too, though didn't feel the need to wear the gear: snowpants, red jacket and hat, ax, radio, and fire extinguisher. He left the inflatable hose at home. Elliott did bring along a plastic saxaphone and microphone he made with tinkertoys, also gifted from the same cousin. We were about to turn around and walk home when Lorenzo came to the front door of the fire station. He assured us he hadn't been sleeping and we weren't interupting anything, and he was happy to show us around. Delight from everyone: no tantrum from a well-overdressed child. We couldn't have asked for a more patient guide to show us the day to day of the station. A week ago we toured the same engine at a small festival in a park nearby, but seeing it in its garage, and having a firefighter to ask questions of, and wearing the outfit, made it all new again. We saw it all: the trucks, the fire pole (and demonstration), the kitchen (including a handmade table constructed out of a part of a bowling lane and propped up by old fire hydrants), the laundry facilities (are you kidding? Elliott was along!), the hose to clean the trucks (and opportunity for each boy to help spray the truck), a lights, but no siren, demonstration, and finally, a real, live call.