Kids love fire trucks. They just do. And you will be a pretty cool parent if you take them to visit your neighborhood fire station. Most fire departments in the region – Seattle, Edmonds, Everett, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Renton and Kent to name a few – offer public tours as a way to reach out to the community. Parents can even arrange to tour Leschi, the city’s fireboat, with children 9 and older. 

Kids will get a close-up look at fire engines and firefighting equipment on their tour, and get a chance to talk with firefighters about their jobs. They will see fire gear demonstrations and check out the digs, and probably leave with some good safety tips. Because firefighters are typically "on the job" during tours, be prepared for the visit to end abruptly if a call comes into the station.

Check out the website of your neighborhood fire department to see if they offer tours and for their specific guidelines. Tours usually have to be prearranged with a fair amount of notice, and there are often age restrictions. Check out the "If You Go" sidebar for some helpful links.

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