Mobile Fire-Rescue Department to Host Fireman Sam Day

Apr 21st, 2008

Mobile Fire-Rescue Department will be hosting the first annual Fireman Sam Day on Saturday, April 26 at the entrance to West Side Park located on Hitt Road at Schillinger Road. The event is free to the public and will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event will focus on safety in a fun atmosphere and is targeted toward children and their parents. Some of the events will include fire truck rides, puppet shows, high angle rope rescue demonstration, fire safety smoke houses, dragon slayer competition, K-9 search and rescue demonstration, McGruff the Crime Dog, Medevac helicopter landing, fire memorabilia displays and much more. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras for photo opportunities throughout the event.

The namesake for the program is in honor of Captain Sam Downing, a 22-year veteran, who died of a heart attack at the end of his shift on June 30, 2007. Downing was assigned to the department’s haz-mat team but his true love and calling was educating children of all ages about fire safety. It was often said about Downing that “it was amazing how he related to the kids as they would sit there in awe”. Downing always went the extra mile when school groups would visit the station. Rather than simply walk through the station seeing the fire truck and where the firefighters sleep, Downing also did his best to entertain as well as educate the youngsters. Downing would dress up in a Dalmatian suit, do skits, dress the kids up and let them squirt water from the fire hose. He would actually teach them something while they were there.

Fireman Sam Day aims to continue the tradition that Captain Sam Downing started by educating the children in an entertaining way.