Firehouse Friday with W4Country in Saline

Members of the community gathered at the early Friday morning to show support for area firefighters and be entertained by Brian “Bubba” Cowan and his team from W4Country radio.  

This is the fifth year the radio station has been saluting firefighters.

“About five years ago there was a fireman named Matt Tuttle from Chelsea who was killed in a helicopter accident,” Cowan said. “We wanted to do something to honor him and the station.” 

Chelsea was the only firehouse visit the radio station visited that year, but they have been doing a Spring tour of ten different firehouses every year since.

Fire Chief Craig Hoeft was present with his wife Patty and grandson Mason.  “There’s been a good turnout today,” said Chief Hoeft.  

Detective Don Lupi of the was also at the gathering. 

“It’s a great event that pulls the community together,” Lupi said. “I’m here to support the Saline Fire Department. We work side by side.”

Refreshments were available for staff, families and other visitors. Kids received fire helmets, and vendors like The American Red Cross had information tables set up.  Kristi Harvey and John Hendricks both volunteer for The American Red Cross.

“What we do is assist people who have been victims of a fire,” Hendricks said.

Bubba Cowan always does a segment called “Will it burn?” on Firehouse Fridays.

“We’ve burned laptops, flat screened Tvs, all kinds of different things,” Cowan said.

The segment is similar to the “Will it float?” segment seen on the Late Show with David Letterman. Friday morning in Saline, the “Will it burn?’ segment featured one of the show’s producer’s pile of baby books.  They burned and were quickly extinguished.

For a complete list of Firehouse Friday locations, go to www.w4country.com. 

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