Firefighter Max

My family and I went to the La Mesa Fire Department today for a very special tour made possible my my Aunt Randee, her friend John from her church, and Firefighter AJ. I didn't actually get to meet Firefighter AJ because he was off fighting fires in Northern California.

Captain Steve and Firefighter/paramedic Justin met us outside the firehouse when we arrived.



Our tour started with a quick tour of the fire house. This is where the firefighters live for 10 days every month. Yup... they have to stay there overnight! We got to see their bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, kitchen and livingroom (they have a new flatscreen).

Then firefighter/paramedic Justin gave us a full tour of their spankin' new pumper truck and all the goodies that are hidden behind all the doors. You can't imagine all the stuff they carry around with them on that truck!

This is Captain Steve. He showed us all the cloths and accessories they have to put on when they go to fight a fire. Here he is here with all the gear - even an oxygen tank! He turned a special microphone in that mask and talked to us through it. (He sounded just like Darth Vader!) Very cool.

Then Captain Steve thought it would be funny to put the jacket on me. Uh... it's a little big!

Hannah put on the oxygen tank. It weighs 35 pounds! She could only hold it for about 1 second.

Of course we got to sit in the fire engine! Here's Hannah pretending to be the driver.

I'm sitting the passengers seat which is also the Captain's seat.

We learned that a fire engine and a fire truck are two different things: a fire truck has ladders - like a hook & ladder truck. An engine does not - like a pumper engine.

Then Captain Steve told us all to jump in... we're going for a ride in the truck! Mommy and Nicky sat up front.

Me, Daddy, Annee Ranee and Hannah sat in the backseat - four across! You can't even see me. I'm next to Daddy. It was totally fun riding in the fire engine! When we got back to the fire station Captain Steve said he might have trouble parking the engine because he doesn't drive it very often.

So he had me come up front and steer her in! First we had to enter the code to open the gate.

Then we checked all the mirrors for clearance and drove on in to the garage. He let me do everything! I released the brakes, shifted, steered! It was so cool!

We pulled into the garage... waved at our adoring fans (Uncle Mike and Mr. John, FF Justin)... but for some reason we pulled right through to the outside again.

We parked outside. Then Captain Steve told Hannah and I that we were going to have to put out a fire! Yikes!

We were ready for the task. He whipped a hose off the truck.

He showed us how to hold the hose.

Then left us and went over to the control panel to start the pumps!

We can feel the water coming...

Oh... here's a trickle!

Zoinks! This thing can spray!

We're doing a great job putting out the (pretend) fire on the light pole!

Wow! This is what you do when the fire is getting too hot. When you open up the spray it will protect you from the heat.

Sometimes the water pressure is so great it takes four people to hold the hose.

High Fives for Captain Steve!!

Nicky had a great time and loved his new hat and sticker badge!

So did Hannah and I!

And best yet: we got to have cookies with the firefighters in their kitchen!

Thanks for a great day, Captain Steve and Firefighter Justin! We had a great day that will be remembered for a very long time!