Yorktown Fire Truck Makes Educational Stop at BOCES

There was no need for alarm when students and staff at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Pines Bridge and Walden Schools recently looked out the window and spotted a bright red fire truck.

Wes Curtis, a behavior management specialist at the Walden School and a 35-year veteran of the Yorktown Fire Department, rolled one of the department’s pumper trucks right in front of the two schools, located on BOCES’ Yorktown campus. The annual fire truck visit has become a much anticipated and beloved tradition.

As students from both Pines Bridge and the Walden School approached the truck, their faces lit up. Up close, they were able to check out all of the equipment and controls, as Curtis explained how everything worked. A firefighter’s helmet turned out to be a big hit, with many of the students trying it on for size. George Jimenez, a Walden student on hand for the visit, exclaimed with a big smile, “I’m never going to forget this!”

The students weren’t the only ones caught up in the excitement; many staff members appeared genuinely excited to examine the truck’s controls and equipment and peppered Curtis with questions about the different features.

Curtis has brought the truck to the BOCES campus for many years and strongly believes that every student should have the opportunity to see an iconic fire truck up close. He said the best part of the annual visit was “seeing the kids smile.”

The Walden School serves children with social, emotional and learning needs and the Pines Bridge School serves children with multiple disabilities.