A DAY WITH HOSES, HEROES.Byline: LISA The first personal computer to include integrated software and use a graphical interface. Modeled after the Xerox Star and introduced in 1983 by Apple, it was ahead of its time, but never caught on due to its $10,000 price and slow speed. M. SODDERS Staff Writer SHERMAN OAKS -- Dressed in a dainty pink dress, 4-year-old Samantha Dea happily rattled rat·tle 1 v. rat·tled, rat·tling, rat·tles v.intr. 1. a. To make or emit a quick succession of short percussive sounds. b. off the names of Disney princess-heroines, but her current career goal is a bit more unexpected. ``When I grow up, I'm going to be a firefighter, because then I'll get to hold the hose,'' Samantha said, after taking a turn doing just that Saturday at an open house at Station No. 88 in Sherman Oaks. All across Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. on Saturday, neighborhood fire stations held open houses for Fire Service Recognition Day, welcoming the public to learn more about their work. A few of the larger stations, including No. 88, hosted more elaborate demonstrations by hazardous-materials units, urban search and rescue The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. teams and more. With the help of Los Angeles City Fire Department Explorer Juan Zepeda, 21, of Van Nuys, Samantha got to hold a real fire hose and direct a stream of water at a target, and then shut it off as beaming parents Jerry and Coco Dea of Sherman Oaks watched. For 2-year-old Xander Tralins, of Sherman Oaks, the trip to the fire station -- including getting to climb on one of the firetrucks -- ``was better than Disneyland,'' said father Keith Tralins. ``He loves any emergency vehicles,'' added Xander's mother, Jennifer Tralins. ``It's good to get out in the community -- kids need to be aware of everything (emergency personnel) do to keep us safe.'' It was hard to tell who was having more fun Saturday -- the youngsters in their plastic firefighter hats and badges, or their parents, who peppered the firefighters with dozens of questions about equipment, firefighting 1. firefighting - What sysadmins have to do to correct sudden operational problems. An opposite of hacking. "Been hacking your new newsreader?" "No, a power glitch hosed the network and I spent the whole afternoon fighting fires." 2. and rescue operations and training. ``Isn't it wonderful, all the things they do?'' marveled 78-year-old Maxine Marracino of Woodland Hills, who came to see her grandson Grandson (gräNsôN`), Ger. Grandsee, town (1990 pop. 2,473), Vaud canton, W Switzerland, at the southwestern end of the Lake of Neuchâtel. , Explorer Vincent Yarumian, 16, also of Woodland Hills. She was particularly impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: by the helicopter water-drop demonstration: ``I was amazed a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. at how close to the ground they got.'' Firefighter Joe Kovacic, 46, drew cheers from the crowd as he jumped off a station garage roof -- a good 25 feet off the ground -- and landed safely in a 9-foot-tall inflated rescue air cushion air cushion n. 1. Trapped air that supports a vehicle a short distance above the surface of land or water. 2. A device that uses trapped air to absorb the shock of motion, especially in vehicles. Also called air spring. that the department uses to catch would-be suicides threatening to jump from bridges and people trapped in building fires. For more realism, Kovacic flailed his arms a bit as he jumped, but tucked into a ``cannonball'' position before he hit the bag so he landed on his back, instead of legs first. Parents and children watched, wide-eyed, as firefighters took off the roof and doors of two cars using the ``Jaws of Life'' and showed how a tool about the size of a ballpoint pen could shatter shat·ter v. shat·tered, shat·ter·ing, shat·ters v.tr. 1. To cause to break or burst suddenly into pieces, as with a violent blow. 2. a. a car's windows in an instant to help firefighters reach a trapped victim inside. Jessica Vincent, 33, of Sylmar, said she brought daughters Mikayla, 4, and Kyandra, 10, to the open house because she believes police and firefighters don't get the credit they deserve. ``I don't want my little girl to be afraid,'' said Vincent, a preschool principal. ``What if we get into an accident and the firefighters have to get her out? You never know these days.'' lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3663 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) Riley Krieg, 3, tries on coveralls coveralls overalls with full cover for the arms, trunk and legs; popular protective clothing for veterinarians working on farms. with the help of Explorer Cory James during Station No. 88's open house in Sherman Oaks Saturday. Part of Fire Service Recognition Day, the station hosted elaborate demonstrations by hazardous-materials units, urban search and rescue teams and more. (2) Haseba Qasmei, 6, sprays a fire hose with some help from Explorer Ricky Mohamed during on open house at Station No. 88 in Sherman Oaks Saturday morning. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion