By Grayson Schmidt
The Ames Tribune
AMES, Iowa — After having between 30 to well over 100 children attend Story Time at the Fire Station in years past, this year Ames Firefighter Todd Moomaw felt that 98 was the perfect number.
“This wasn’t bad. We’ve had as much as 240 kids, and that was almost unmanageable,” Moomaw said. “This was a nice-sized group.”
On Friday, the Ames Fire Department opened up Fire Station 1, at 1300 Burnett Ave., to almost 100 preschoolers, to give them a glimpse into what being a firefighter is like. As with every year, Moomaw said the mission is to ensure that children understand the importance of smoke detectors, not to be afraid of fire fighters in full bunker gear, along with the importance of reading.
"(This group) listened to our story and listened to what we had to say,” Moomaw said. “There have been years where it seems like it’s almost out of control, but this was an excellent group this year.”
Moomaw brought the idea to Ames Public Library Youth Services Manager Jerri Heid 10 years ago as a way to give kids a tour of the fire station, and promote reading as well as fire safety. Growing up in Newton, Moomaw said that he would go on tours of various businesses around town during the summer, and wanted to bring that experience to the children of Ames.
“I learned a lot, and it’s why I became a fire fighter,” Moomaw said. “I wanted to create that for the kids of Ames too.”
For Heid, she was on-board with the idea as soon as she was approached with it, and after seeing the excitement from the children year after year, she said she is reminded of why they keep the program going.
“It brings me great pleasure and happiness to see that not only in my position I’m able to share the importance of reading and community, but also bring them to a place that they typically are never at,” Heid said. “Having the children receive that education is priceless.”
Heid also said that events like these exemplify the relationship that the Ames Fire Department has with the community.
“It speaks to the dedication our firefighters have for the city, and not only when there is an emergency, but in the community itself and providing that education,” Heid said.
But for Moomaw, he said this is just something that he loves to do.
“I just told my wife this morning, this is one of my favorite days of the year when I do this,” Moomaw said. “It reminds me of when I was a kid going to the fire station for the first time.”
The next Story Time at the Fire Station will be held Monday at Fire Station 2 -- 132 Welch Ave. -- from 2 to 3 p.m.
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(c)2016 the Ames Tribune, Iowa