Four firefighters, hose in hand, quickly doused a pillar of flames that engulfed a turquoise sedan Saturday morning. Of course, they also were responsible for setting the fire.
"That was awesome," concluded 11-year-old observer Bobby Love.
Bobby was among dozens of Salt Lake City residents and officials -- including his mother, City Councilwoman Jill Remington Love -- who attended the Salt Lake City Fire Department's "Fire Ops 101," a hands-on demonstration of the dangerous work firefighters do.
Fire crews showed attendees how to perform a tracheotomy on a person who's not breathing, rip open a crushed mini van with the Jaws of Life and extinguish flames in a garage fire. They also let participants don protective gear to see what it's like to be in a firefighter's boots.
The program, meant to foster relationships with city officials, comes at a time when Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has asked all departments to look at 10 percent budget reductions. But Becker, who attended Saturday's event, said it's doubtful spending cuts will slice that deep for police and fire.
"We're not going to compromise basic public safety," the mayor said.
Even so, firefighters repeatedly emphasized Saturday the need to maintain current staffing levels to ensure timely and professional emergency service.
"Ninety-five percent of our budget is personnel," firefighter Shane Moser said.
Becker, a one-time firefighter for the National Park Service, said he was impressed with Saturday's demonstration.
"These folks obviously know what they're doing," he said. "It's great to be able to see them in action."
Other VIP guests included City Council members Luke Garrott and Soren Simonson and state Reps. Jennifer Seelig and Rebecca Chavez-Houck.
But none arrived more prepared than 3-year-old Hank Hanssen, sporting his own fire suit -- tan with reflective striping, just like the big guys' -- red hat, rubber boots and plastic ax.
"Hank lives to be a fireman," said his father, Vernon Hanssen of Salt Lake City. Both Hanssens had had a firsthand experience with the city's firefighter-paramedics when Hank was 11/2: He had stopped breathing during a crying fit.
"They were there in less than 10 minutes," Vernon said, but Hank already had come around and thought meeting the firefighters "was the best thing ever."
Hank acknowledged he's "not big enough" to battle real car fires, but he's made up his mind on his future career.
He'll be a firefighter, he said, "because I love to save people."
In 1978 » Salt Lake City had 109 firefighters on duty each day and made 12,000 runs.
In 2008 » The number of firefighters on duty each day had dropped to 79, but the department made 32,000 trips.
Source: Salt Lake City Firefighters Local 1645
