Happy Birthday to Me! This was in the paper today:
Flashing red lights bounce off chrome fenders. Firefighter Roger Hoffman pulls a hose from a shiny ladder truck, while Chief Brad Freeman directs the crew scrambling between rescue equipment and paramedic trucks. But while everything is going just as planned, this isn't the scene of Utah's latest wildfire. Instead, it's the Lone Peak Fire District's Monday night open house.
Through the end of November, the district's Highland firehouse -- located at 5582 Parkway West in Highland -- will open its doors to the public every Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The weekly open houses are designed to give the public a taste of life at a fire station and a chance to meet the men and women serving the community.
"I think people see the station and these big trucks," Freeman said, "but they never really see the fire fighters unless they need us. We want to be more open to the public, so they can see how we live."
During the open houses, however, seeing how firefighters live means more than just a simple tour of the station. For interested visitors, firefighters demonstrate the uses of different equipment and fire trucks, many of which excited children can climb aboard. Station staff members also provide information on health and safety.
"We do a health check for the parents," Freeman said. "And we show them our new fire trucks and some of the things we can do with our trucks. We give them some fire prevention literature. Then we take them upstairs to show them where we sleep. In the kitchen, we have refreshments."
Among the equipment that visitors learn about is a number of specialized and state-of-the-art tools that the station uses to serve Alpine, Highland and Cedar Hills, as well as nearby forest areas.
"We cover a lot of different terrain," Freeman said. "We go up the canyon all the way to Cascade Springs, so we have a canyon rescue team. We also cover wildland, high-speed highways and swift water rescue in the canyons. So we have a lot of specialized equipment here that a lot of departments wouldn't have."
Community members also can see a new ladder truck, which is one of the many tools on display that has helped make the Lone Peak Fire District one of the best equipped in the region.
"One thing I'll say about Lone Peak is that I think we have probably the best equipment of any department in the state of Utah," Freeman said.
Now, the weekly open houses are giving families a chance to take a much closer look at that equipment.
"Our boys love fire trucks," said Robin Ball, who attended the open house Monday with her husband and two sons. "We drive past here all the time and look at the fire trucks through the windows."
For many members of the community, the chance to see those trucks up close has been an opportunity that is too good to pass up. As a result, plans are already in place to host open houses -- and keep teaching the public about fire fighting -- in the future.
"It's been so popular that I think we're going to try to do it every third month," Freeman said. "It's actually been a great success. People love coming down."
Through the end of November, the district's Highland firehouse -- located at 5582 Parkway West in Highland -- will open its doors to the public every Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The weekly open houses are designed to give the public a taste of life at a fire station and a chance to meet the men and women serving the community.
"I think people see the station and these big trucks," Freeman said, "but they never really see the fire fighters unless they need us. We want to be more open to the public, so they can see how we live."
During the open houses, however, seeing how firefighters live means more than just a simple tour of the station. For interested visitors, firefighters demonstrate the uses of different equipment and fire trucks, many of which excited children can climb aboard. Station staff members also provide information on health and safety.
"We do a health check for the parents," Freeman said. "And we show them our new fire trucks and some of the things we can do with our trucks. We give them some fire prevention literature. Then we take them upstairs to show them where we sleep. In the kitchen, we have refreshments."
Among the equipment that visitors learn about is a number of specialized and state-of-the-art tools that the station uses to serve Alpine, Highland and Cedar Hills, as well as nearby forest areas.
"We cover a lot of different terrain," Freeman said. "We go up the canyon all the way to Cascade Springs, so we have a canyon rescue team. We also cover wildland, high-speed highways and swift water rescue in the canyons. So we have a lot of specialized equipment here that a lot of departments wouldn't have."
Community members also can see a new ladder truck, which is one of the many tools on display that has helped make the Lone Peak Fire District one of the best equipped in the region.
"One thing I'll say about Lone Peak is that I think we have probably the best equipment of any department in the state of Utah," Freeman said.
Now, the weekly open houses are giving families a chance to take a much closer look at that equipment.
"Our boys love fire trucks," said Robin Ball, who attended the open house Monday with her husband and two sons. "We drive past here all the time and look at the fire trucks through the windows."
For many members of the community, the chance to see those trucks up close has been an opportunity that is too good to pass up. As a result, plans are already in place to host open houses -- and keep teaching the public about fire fighting -- in the future.
"It's been so popular that I think we're going to try to do it every third month," Freeman said. "It's actually been a great success. People love coming down."
That's super cool that you and your kids were in the paper. :) Happy Birthday. I hope you have a great day. :)
ReplyDeleteWow! Not many people can say that they made the newspaper on their birthday! Hope it was a fun day... and super cute hat in the picture by the way! Your boys look ADORABLE, as usual!!! Happy Birthday!!!
ReplyDelete