There are 2 Fire Station 27 next to each other. The old one turned into the Los Angeles Fire Department Museum next door (address shows Cahuenga but you enter from Cole Ave or De Longpre) and this Fire Station 27 is the newer and active fire station.
I was babysitting this kid taking him to the Fire Museum next door but they were about to close and the kid haven't had enough of fire stuff for the day. The only way to get him away from the doors so that the museum can close was to call his attention to the fire truck heading towards this station. We kept a distance away on the curb from the station garage doors. I was hoping the crew would wave to the kid (and he waves back enthusiastically), then close the door and then I would drive him home. Firefighters need their rest from getting called out all the time!
But, the captain was incredibly kind to call to us while helping the truck back into the station, and invite us in. What gave away his rank was that his uniform differed in color from the rest of the crew and the crew didn't disperse as soon as the garage door came down. They watched their boss present. The captain also later confirmed his rank in conversation. I thought it was funny that the captain grilled the kid pretty hard. I'm not sure what milestones kids are supposed to reach at certain ages but this kid is not quite 4 years old yet he was able to answer all of captain's questions correctly. They were actually a bit technical for a preschooler! But then, when asked "what do firefighters do in their downtime when not out on a call?" the kid answered, "start a fire." ROFL. Not sure if the kid is going to grow up to be a firefighter or a comic.
We got to see the different trucks (engine, truck, pumper), some of the insides of said trucks (who knew that besides the extremely long ladder of a tiller truck there are also a half dozen ladders inside of various lengths?), and what the mobile command center (back of the battalion chief's truck) looks like. It's not just physical work of putting out a fire. Firefighting involves physics and technology - it gets more interesting as I learn more about it.
I won't be back so that these guys can have their peace and do their jobs saving lives and structures. Next time, I'll probably take this kid to the police station just around the block from here, bother them instead. I'm grateful to Station 27 for the welcoming and educational experience! read more