Fire trucks add a splash of fun
Staff writer
With the city’s pool closed, Hillsboro Fire Department is trying to rescue summer fun for children.
At 2 p.m. every Friday, a fire truck will visit one of the city’s neighborhoods and “make it rain” for anyone who wants to get soaked.
This past Friday the department traveled from Elm St. to Adams St.
“It was really cold,” said Kaylee Schmidt, 8. “I jumped around in circles in the water and I got a lot of water in my eyes.”
Her mother, Rhiannon Schmidt, said Kaylee talked about the department’s visit to their block on Cedar St. the rest of the day.
It looked like fun, even though Schmidt declined to get wet because she was holding newborn daughter, Avery.
“How often do you get sprayed by a fire truck?” she asked.
The trucks drove slowly and had their sirens on, she said.
Fire chief Ben Steketee, said the department would look out for children’s safety as they had fun.
“We will make sure there is fresh water in the truck and make sure children aren’t running alongside the trucks,” he said.
He and his family came up with the idea of having the firefighters soak kids “like a fire truck ice cream man” as a way to spread fun and maintain social distancing.
“This way, no one has to gather,” he said.
There will be five more opportunities to get soaked before the start of school.
Locations are to be announced.