1. Engine House Number 10 Our Trip to the Fire Station Our Lady of Peace Kindergarten April 28, 2009 Ms. Susan GruberMs. Jill Stock

2. Mr. Reinhard greeted us as we got off of the bus! We stayed outside and walked down the block a very short distance and stood in front of the OLD Station Number 10. Mr. Reinhard told us a little bit about the old building which still stands next to the new fire station which we were going to visit. The old building is 112 years old! Because it was built when horses were used to pull the fire wagons, there are things in the station that remind you of those times. The firefighters of Station Number 10 are called the “river rats” because of their work in a flood that happened in Columbus in March of 1913. The river that we saw from the bus flooded the whole area. People were on roofs and in trees trying to stay safe from the high water. The picture shows firefighters saving people.

3. Mr. Reinhard walked us to the new station! It was opened in October of 2008! It is a very new station. The building is considered “green” because it is energy efficient. The first thing we saw was the engine. We saw the long hoses in the back and all of the equipment stored in the compartments on the side of the truck.

4. Mr. Reinhard opened the two back doors of the huge truck and we took turns walking in, standing and looking around at everything in the truck. There were air tanks, a computer, an axe and places for the firefighters to sit on the way to the fire. We went in one side and out the other!

5. We went downstairs to the weight room for the firefighters. The firefighters have to be strong so that they can carry people, swing axes and hold heavy hoses. In the room we also saw a pool table and a foosball table! They use those when they have a few minutes to relax! In the weight room we had a chance to talk about what to do in an emergency. We talked about calling 911 when we need help and what to do if we are caught in a fire. We also talked about a safe spot where we will meet our parents if we ever need to.

6. When it was time to see the ladder truck we went outside to see it! Mr. DeLong started the truck and two extra “legs” came out of the sides of the truck. Those extra legs help to balance the truck when the ladder goes up. Shortly after that, Mr. Reinhard and Mrs. Reinhard got into the bucket, Mr. DeLong began raising the ladder and up they went! At first it did not seem terribly high, but after they were 85 feet above the ground we knew they were way up there!

7. After seeing the ladder truck we came back into the station and saw a room marked Turnout Gear. Turnout gear is the clothing worn by firefighters while they are fighting a fire! That clothing protects the firefighters. As he jumped into his boots we could see that his protective pants were right there with the boots and all he had to do was pull them up and go. The pants are held up with suspenders! Usually he would take the rest of his gear into the truck and finish putting it on on the way to the fire. This time he took his time and showed us each piece as he put it on. He put on a hood to protect his head and neck. Then he put on a jacket. Mr. Reinhard then put on a mask. He attached his air supply tank which he wore on his back to the mask. The air in the tank is not oxygen. It is fresh air just like we breathe all of the time. The tank holds enough air for a firefighter to breathe safely for 28 minutes. It keeps the firefighter from breathing in smoky air. If the firefighter does not move for a period of time, an alarm goes off to alert the other firefighters that the firefighter might need some help. The next thing that Mr. Reinhard put on were his gloves. The last thing was his helmet! His turnout gear is heavy!!

8. The next thing Mr. Reinhard had for us to do was probably the best thing of the day! We each got to hold a hose and take a turn squirting water out of the hose. Wow! That was fun! The nozzle had a handle to work the valve and pushing forward allowed the water to come out. We pulled it back to stop the flow! Mr. Reinhard gave each of us a coloring book that you can read to me! Thank you to Mr. Reinhard for being an outstanding teacher! We really learned so many things!