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Show 18 HiSItop August 24, 2000 School snack drive benefits fire crews collected everything from applesauce to chips and soda. And Laura said she Hilltop Times staff made sure to include plenty of her favorite Laura Brautigam has been treat watermelon Jolly Ranchers. takeoff and land from I was just so happy because they got watching Hill just like hundreds of other kids. lots of snacks and goodies. I felt really She knew they were fire planes filled happy and taking everything to them was with people whore helping extinguish the part I liked most, she said. western blazes. Laura added she immediately knew her She thought what they were doing efforts were appreciated. was pretty special and decided to help fire After I got there they said thank you in own her efforts way unique fighting very much and started eating. They were while working her way into firefighters really ready to have some snacks. hearts through their stomachs. After the sisters delivered the goodI felt sorry for the firemen and thought ies, they received a personal tour. it would be nice to have a snack drive, Laura learned what many of the planes she said. buttons go to and about the slurry thats Dad (Tech. Sgt. John Brautigam) and used prevent the spread of fire. mom Qohanne) thought theyd make the Lauras teacher Vanessa Leggett and but when Amy Madsen helped organize the schools snack drive a family event Lauras classmates and teacher at Lay- efforts. Lincoln Elementary will collect tons Lincoln Elementary School heard ' snacks through Friday and make a secabout her project, it spread like wildfire. ond delivery. Madsen said the kids have Over 600 Lincoln kids began collecting seen and heard the planes takeoff and some sacrificed from watched news on the fires. snacks last Friday lunchboxes. By Tuesday, Laura and her Knowing that they personally did someschoolmates collected enough treats to thing to help was important for them, fill the back of a large pickup truck. She she said. and her sister Molly helped In return for their thoughtfulness, deliver treats that day. firefighters invited the kids out for a field The two were treated like heroes by fire- trip to meet the pilots and crewmembers fighters who spent almost an hour sort- wholl be eating the treats as the fire ing the goodies by category. Kids had season continues. by Mary Galbraith Nine-year-o- ld C-lS- C-1- 30 six-year-o- ld . D Suits, from page 17 ally a benefit. The uniform youre wear- ing underneath the JLIST is shorts So its like wearing and black a duty uniform everyday thats nice and cool. Beck said the Air Force is also considering changing some of the -oriented protective postures so T-shi- rt. mission- firefighters wont be required to wear equipment that increases their body heat level dramatically - unless there are severe fire circumstances. The tests proved that for short durations, firefighters can survive and perform in the gear Beck said. During the testing no one fell out or had any problems despite soaring temperatures. He added that their tests only lasted -- treats they helped assemble at Laytons Lincoln Elementary School. Tim Grantham, a Forest Service liaison officer from Colorado Springs who works with the Modular Airborne System, said the firefighters were impressed by the efforts of one so young. I think everybody thought it was pretty special a young kid would not only come at the base are from different states and appreciate that local children and community members acknowledged the work theyve been doing in such a big way. The fire fighting efforts from the Forest Services Tanker Base at Hill have truly been a national effort. Guardsmen and Forest Service personnel from California, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina and Wyoming have spent rotations here to combat western blazes. about an hour, and during long stints in the suits firefighters may not hold up as well. He said offers a commander, in a wartime environment, the option of saving a critical building when multiple assets are on fire because of an attack. you were doing was stopping the fire Fire-Fighti- ng up with the idea, but rally other students to bring in the volume they did and we really appreciate it, he said. Grantham said almost all of the personnel re Before in a wartime situation it would be you werent saving anything. All from spreading. Beck said the testing proved the suit works. It can be safely decontaminated and personnel wearing the suit can also be safely decontaminated. He added it was a privilege conducting the testing at Hill and hes excited to see shipments of the suit reach stateside duty stations. |