Fireman for a Day at Fire Station No. 19

The Atlanta Preservation Center added quite a few new tours this year to its Phoenix Flies program and I was thrilled to see a fire station on the schedule. It's pretty incredible to go from playing with toy fire engines (when I was a kid) to sitting in the real thing. And the Firemen at Fire Station No. 19, a step back in time to 1924, were incredibly welcoming hosts.

Barry at Fire Station No. 19

We almost didn't make it to the tour. We were running a little bit late, but decided to go anyway… And I'm so glad we did.

I went with Barry, whose father was a fireman and later the Chief of Fire Prevention when Barry was a kid, so this was old hat for him—he’d been in the Fire Truck seat before. Although, truth be told, it looked like he was having as much fun as all the other little kids who were visiting that day (That's him in the first photo).

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

It was the first time I ever got to sit in a real Fire Engine, so I was understandably overly excited. I myself rapidly swinging back-and-forth between blogger, little kid, tourist, little kid, writer, little kid. etc. Needless to say I had a lot of fun.

When we got there, they were only then about to begin the tour. Turns out the guys had just come back from an alarm, so we didn't miss the beginning.

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

We met three of the firemen who were there to host the tour, each of them wonderfully engaging. One of them, who is a foster parent, was particularly great with the children who there for the tour.

They let the kids wear a fireman’s hat (us too!), blow the engine siren, use the fire hose, toured them around the firehouse, demonstrated sliding down the pole from upstairs, and even took them on top of the fire truck!  He did all of that with their parents’ permission, of course.

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

Being the big kids we were that day, we couldn't resist asking a bazillion questions, some of them more technical in nature, though. Fireman Hampton shared some pretty amazing and thought-provoking insights on the decision-making process firemen go through immediately prior to going into a burning building or a burning home.

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

He noted the importance of their breathing apparatus. He reminded us that certain fires have very toxic chemicals  in the air, a result from burning building materials, or furniture, etc. He noted other dangers of a fireman’s career, not looking for sympathy at all, but matter of fact and in answer to our questions. What he shared has given me a renewed respect for the profession.

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

He also showed us just how much equipment firemen have to wear and bring when answering a call. There’s a lot more than just the breathing apparatus and helmet! Have a look at the above picture…this is all the materials that a fireman has to wear and bring with.

Another of the fireman toured us around the firehouse. He told us about a capital campaign to refurbish and modernize Atlanta’s most continually operating firehouse, the one in which we were in. We toured the renovated kitchen (very impressive)…all of which was done by the firemen themselves, except for the custom table which was sent out.

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

I happened to notice on the way out of the kitchen a bulletin board that was loaded with notes from kids thanking the firemen...so sweet!

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

He showed us the upstairs living quarters, which were split up into three different areas. One area was a substantial fitness center, the middle part was the sleeping area, and the other area was a modest theater room with a big screen television and several plush chairs.

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

The Station is undergoing a fundraising campaign to restore it to very much the way it looked in the 1920s. To donate to that cause, visit http://www.vhfirecompany.com. 

Travis at Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

We had a grand time enjoying firehouse number 19, as kids and grownups.

Let me leave you with a series of photos of some fire hose fun...

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

Fire hose fun...

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

Fire hose fun...

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

Fire hose fun...

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

Fire hose fun...

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

Fire hose fun...

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

Fire hose fun...

Fire Station No. 19, Atlanta Fire Department

wanderlust Atlanta would like to extend a sincere “thank you” and heartfelt gratitude to all Atlanta firefighters for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect our fine citizens.