By Jennifer Morrissey

First-grade students from Albert Einstein Academy got to experience firefighters racing into action on a recent visit to Fire Station No. 11, on the corner of Broadway and 25th Street in Golden Hill.

The academy is a German-immersion International Baccalaureate school with an elementary school in South Park and a middle school in Grant Hill.

As a part of the students’ unit of study about communities, the first-grade class walked to the local fire station for a tour, checked out the fire trucks, and learned about the gear that firefighters wear to protect themselves when battling fires. One of the firefighters put on all of the gear they wear during a blaze and advised the children that if they ever experienced a fire, someone dressed like them might come to their rescue and to not be afraid of them, that they would be there to help them.

The students’ teacher, Frau Narveson, shared what happened next.

“We were in the middle of our tour at the station when our fireman tour guide told the children that there was a fire close by,” she said. “He asked the kids to quickly go outside so that the fire trucks could immediately leave. Very quickly, the fire trucks were driving away and the giant garage doors came down.

“As we walked the mile back to our school on Ash Street, the kids saw black smoke billowing from the canyon in the direction of state Route 94,” Narveson said. “The students’ talking stopped as the kids stared at the reality of what these brave men and women do to protect our community. It was a lesson that they will never forget!”

The fire they saw was caused by a motorcycle that crashed on SR 94. The crash sparked a brush fire on an embankment and burned a quarter-acre before the fire was put out. No injuries were reported. The children send a “thank you” to the firefighters for the tour, and for protecting the community.

— Jennifer Morrissey is a local freelance writer.