Galena Fire helps kids celebrate

GALENA–Galena Fire Department started a trend for Jo Daviess County in using their resources to help young people in the community celebrate birthdays.

According to Kevin Peebles, the idea came from Doug Smith who saw the Bellevue Fire Department celebrate a young person’s birthday by driving past the home with their sirens and lights on.

Smith sent an email to fire department members to see if they were on board and the idea took off.

“It first started out slow but since took off,” said Chris Garza.

Kelsey Hart, who operates the social media for the fire department, posted the information on the department’s Facebook page. Hart is the fire department member behind the scenes who is trying to set up the schedule for birthday runs and is calling members to see if they are able to help out.

“I normally get a call and am asked what I am doing and if I am able to help,” said Garza.

For example, the week of April 20, there were four celebrations by Wednesday evening.

Since its inception Garza has driven for 12 celebrations and Peebles has done about six.

“It is going well,” said Peebles. “Kids seem to really like it; smiles are always on their faces.”

The fire department is actively trying to get copies of all the celebrations that they have been a part of to put a compilation video together after the coronavirus pandemic subsides, but there is talk among some of the fire department members that they may continue to offer services for birthday celebrations after the stay-at-home order is lifted.

“Everyone thinks it is a good idea as long as we are staying clean,” said Peebles.

For the standard birthday celebration, there is only one driver who drives past the home, turns around and drives past the house once again, depending on the location and ease for the truck to turn around to return. The lone driver then returns to the station and washes the truck.

The fire department members are not stopping at the homes due to coronavirus restrictions, but Garza has begun using the truck with the public address system to wish the child a happy birthday over the loudspeaker.

“I just make a lot of noise and the kids seem to like it,” said Garza. “There are a lot of appreciative people during a time when not much is going on.”

Peebles said helping kids celebrate birthdays has been a special way to reach out to the community during this time.

“It is hard enough as an adult trying to figure out everything going on, let alone a kid who can’t have a birthday party,” said Peebles.