So it didn't take Sherman to burn down Seattle - it merely took a paint and woodwork shop that caught on fire and quickly spread over 100 acres in downtown back in 1889. I won't spoil the underground tour for you since I know you're all going to come visit and get all of the juicy details in person, but long story short, this fire is quite famous up here, and basically for good as much as for bad it recreated the city from underground up back in the late 1800's. This fire was close to the waterfront in a district known as "Pioneer Square".Dating back for some time (although I'm pretty sure not all the way back to 1890), Pioneer Square has embraced this fire history and appreciation for its firefighters (yea!). So as a girl with several firefightin' brothers, I have to appreciate that even before 9/11, this city was celebrating and embracing (let alone actually paying half-way decently) their firefighters. Woohoo! Enter the "Fire Festival" which is held each year - Clay and I just had to attend, and I'm so glad we did! My only complaint is that we had to do so sans any Crawford boys to help us truly appreciate all of history and camaraderie with first hand experience - so I expect you all here this time next year boys!!! Don't worry Jake - they even allowed a few cops around, including some tshirts with the comforting phrase "if you can't stand the heat, become a cop".
There were kids activities, bands playing all day, about 2 dozen historical fire trucks and
ambulances, the free for admission fire museum, the normal fire/ems/jaws of life demonstrations, the fire dept pipe and drums corps, all sorts of vendors with every possible fire-associated memorabilia to buy, a beer garden (turns out EVERY festival out here has one of those complete with the make-shift chain-link fence walls, and, depending on the neighborhood you're in, perhaps a creative sign strategically placed on the outside such as "tourist zoo, please feed"), and the main attraction - the firefighters challenge!
The challenge was nothing short of intense - teams from up and down the west coast competing against each other for a spot in the finals in Vegas. I had heard it referred to as “the toughest 2 minutes in sports” and first thought it was merely marketing, but after watching them climb a 5-story tower, hoist, chop, drag hoses and rescue a life-sized, 175 lb "victim" in under 2 minutes...well....needless to say Clay and I were both impressed! They had both male and female teams (ok there were only 2 female teams - and surprise, surprise - they had an extra minutes to do the challenge); and both 5 man teams as well as 2 man tandem teams. So what do you say Josh and Kerry - a Crawford tandem??? Come on boys!!!!! :D If you're looking for sponsors let me be the first to lay down my wallet. Of course I also saw the team of Air Force boys who supposedly do nothing but compete professionally with professional equipment and are paid to do nothing but train and compete all year - so Jake maybe that is your calling for your next assignment in the AF??? You could probably beat Josh and Kerry anyways.... Hm
mmmm or maybe no Crawford could win regardless.................Have I spurred any of you three on enough yet???? ;)
ps-mom-totally random - but the OU Duck was there so I had to get this pic just for you!! :)
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