The City of Kenai Fire Department is encouraging families with children, and even folks of other ages, to reach out to them if a birthday is on the way. The fire department is offering “drive-by celebrations” for birthday boys and girls who cannot celebrate with their friends because of social distancing measures related to COVID-19.
In a release issued on Facebook, the department said: “We will drive past your home with a firetruck – lights, sirens and all! There will be no person to person contact. This service will only be provided to those who live within the city limits of Kenai. Please contact us using one of the following contacts and include the child’s name, age and your address: rmatthews@kenai.city – manderson@kenai.city – tprior@kenai.city.”
The Nikiski Fire Department has been offering the same service throughout the month of April. They have been sharing videos of their drive-by celebrations on Facebook, primarily consisting of sirens blaring as the department’s mascot offers birthday greetings to the celebration.
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce says that this is not only a welcome gesture, but it’s one that is helping area children who are going through a lot of hardship right now: “I give thanks to our emergency responders who have picked up on a national thing, and it’s a drive-by birthday wish. Many of our emergency responders, as they have time, they learn of a birthday of a young adult or a child, and they drive-by and what better way to change the atmosphere by seeing a firetruck pull up into your driveway and some emergency responders get out and sing happy birthday and maybe let you sit in the truck. You know, kids have been cooped up. They’ve been home-schooled, this has been a very different experience for all of us, and kids are no exception. I’m sure they’re doing their best; they’re trying times for all of us.”
Photo courtesy Kenai Fire Department Facebook page.