February Winter Event: Love Firefighters History

What an incredible day on Saturday, 2/28/26, of history and horsepower! 🚒 The Krome Kitty Meow Mixer took a step back in time today at the Kansas Firefighters Museum, and we are still buzzing from the experience. Here’s a recap of our afternoon at historic Fire Station #6: 🚒 Living History at Station #6 Built in 1909, this station originally housed seven brave firefighters and two very important fire horses, Bill and Jerry. We learned that Wichita has always been a leader in fire safety—a local fireman even invented a “quick connect” harness to get those horses ready in seconds! He sold throughput the nation. Fun fact: the Wichita Fire Department became the first in the nation to be fully mechanized in 1918. 🔥 Engines & Innovation We got up close and personal with: • The 1902 Steamer: The museum’s “proud gem.” This beauty pumps, yes, it still works,1,000 gallons per minute—nearly rivaling modern apparatus that pump 1,200–1,500 gpm! • The Model T Fire Engine: A true classic. • Upstairs Secrets: We saw “pompier” ladders, ticker tape dispatch system, and buckets with pointed bottoms. Why pointed? So people wouldn’t “borrow” them to milk their cows! 🐄 🚨 Beyond the Equipment It wasn’t just about the trucks; it was about the evolution of the job. From air packs and dispatch systems to the Jaws of Life, we saw how technology has changed the game. We even saw the exact photo of the moment our guide Gary Friedman’s “job” truly became his “career.” 🏁 The Grand Finale The highlight of the day? We actually got to ride in an antique 1932 fire truck! The smiles and laughter didn’t stop the whole way. After our ride and photos at the memorial, we headed to Playa Azul for some well-deserved food and fun. 🙌 A Huge Thank You and massive shout-out to our amazing tour guides and retired Wichita Firemen: • Gary “Switch” Friedman • D.D. “Panda” Wilson We are grateful to them for sharing their stories and their passion of firefighting with us. It was a fun-filled afternoon of living history! We missed those who couldn’t be there.