Budding fireman thanks emergency services

Monday 02 September 2019

Two local parents are praising the emergency services for their kindness and support towards their five-year-old son, who hopes to become a firefighter when he grows up.

Daniel Le Poidevin loves seeing the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Team out and about, and goes on regular visits to the station with his family.

 "They are brilliant," said his dad Kevin Le Poidevin. "I got worried about it being too much, but it is never too much for them. I couldn't count how many times we've been up there and stood and watched them.

"Daniel drew them a picture and we took it up to them and one of the guys said to take it in, so we went through the door and took it to the firefighters. He got taken upstairs and shown the offices. It was really good of them. He gave them something for their fridge so they have him a Bernie fire engine fridge magnet back."

Pictured: Daniel hopes to become a firefighter.

Daniel often speaks to local firefighters and is even getting to know them by name.

"I gave them a picture with a fire truck and two firemen in the back," he explained. "Then I sat in the back of the fire truck and they got me to lift up those tanks that they put on their back. [It was] really heavy!"

The five-year-old already knows his way to the fire station, and regularly directs his parents there in the car on an 'emergency'.

"He's wanted to be a fireman since he was two," said his mum Michelle Le Poidevin. "He had this plastic helmet that he wore. Everybody knew that he wore his hat everywhere he went. Even at play school he wore his hat, in the bath, to bed. It was constantly on his head.

Pictured: Daniel has been interested in the emergency services from a young age.

"Right down to the clothes he wears now. I've got a job to get them off to wash them because that is the firefighter uniform, it's what they wear. He just wants to wear that all the time, wherever we go."

Daniel added: "Fireman Sam wears this. I don't have any more of these trousers, so I wear these every day I go to 'work'."

It is not just the Fire Service that have been helpful though, with Guernsey Police also being praised for their efforts. 

"[An officer] was in the estate on a callout and as he came out of the house, he spotted Daniel dressed as a police officer," said Kevin. "He made the effort to walk down and come and he see him. He said 'come with me and we'll have a photo taken 'and they did.

"It shows that Community Police are actually doing good, because there is a lot of bad press for the Police. They have been really good."

After learning that the Fire and Rescue Service work closely with Guernsey Police, Daniel has been interested in speaking with officers.

"I will help them when they need me when I am a firefighter," he said.

Pictured: Daniel had his photo taken with a police officer.

 Kevin and Michelle have thanked both services for the time and effort they put into keeping their son interested in the local emergency services.

"They're busy and they still take the time and as soon as they realise how interested he is they explain stuff and let him sit in the car," Michelle added.

"There's been a few of the firefighters that have been so helpful with Dan," Kevin continued. "Linda has been brilliant, Matt has been amazing with him, BJ Nicole is a retired firefighter and he's been brilliant with him."

Daniel is planning to work hard at school so one day he too can join the service.

"I love firefighters," he said. "All their jobs are saving and helping."

Pictured top: Daniel Le Poidevin.