One of the reasons May 4 was selected as International Firefighters’ Day is because it’s the feast day of Saint Florian, the patron saint of firefighters. It was created in 1999 after five members of a Fire Brigade perished in an Australian wildfire. Observe International Firefighters’ Day with education, with prevention, with a poem.

Hey, Chief! – by Don Mathis

“Hey, Chief! Your replacement’s here,”

the fireman shouts with a smile

as a young child,

complete with suit and boots,

enters the station.

Wide-eyed wonder

is shared with all

waiting for a call.

“What’s that? What’s that?”

Tailored explanations,

politely proffered

by hard flame-fighters,

saturate and satisfy

a five-year-old mind.

“Show me the tool that you can

open up a car like a can-opener.”

This request stumps the guide

and brings a smile

when he realizes

the answer is

“The Jaws of Life.”

“Why? Why? Why?”

is the answer to each answer.

“Two steering wheels?”

“A pick-ax?”

“A mask?”

But no one can come close

to, “Who enjoyed it the most;

the firemen or the five-year-old?”