The Kids From Belarus, Chernobyl 2013

 

the youngest watch ever

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the title suggests , this was a regular annual visit to the fire station by kids from Belarus along with their guardians . This event has happened many times over the years other stories appear on the site. This one was organised by John O’Rourke a firefighter on white watch, who volunteered to have one of the children stay with his family along with many more people from around the area taking the kids and guardians into their homes, each of these people help to organise different events to fill the days of the visit , usually visits to many different venues from a fire station to Blackpool tower. On this day it was arranged with the fire brigade for the kids to come and visit Blackburn fire station and spend half a day with the firefighters seeing what we do and experiencing some of those things as you can see squirting water through branches and helping run out and make up hose . You can see from the photos the Firefighters quite often enjoy doing this as well , the kids sometimes finding it difficult to get hold of the hose.

To answer a potential question the fire engines are still on call and would turn out if any incidents occurred.

The children then have their dinner on the station with Debbie the station cook helping provide food for them to eat, although most kids prefer sweets , as I remember most of these kids enjoyed the sandwiches. Also as you can see the duty watch help with serving the kids and have their dinner with them.

For the last part of the visit a grudge match of baseball (rounders) was organised with the firefighters against the kids , fortunately after a close game the fire station came out on top, “phew”, the day went well and only disturbed by a fire call after the baseball match when everyone was having refreshments of iced lollies, firefighters are used to having to leave their meals at Blackburn.

The Kids went on to another place for their further entertainment after, when asked what their favourite thing was that they had done , it was unanimously Blackpool Tower “Oh well”, we tried and here’s to next year