Future firefighter attends first training

Ten-year-old Weston Bartsh didn’t always plan on becoming a firefighter. That changed on a cold day in February when he and his mom, Elizabeth Potter, were on a walk. Weston witnessed the Lake City Fire Department (LCFD) responding to a critical house fire.

Moved by their hard work, Weston turned to his mother, Elizabeth Potter, with a request: could they buy the crew lunch from Heidi’s Huggamug? While a full lunch for the entire department was a tall order, Potter was touched by her son’s initiative. They settled on a delivery of cookies and treats to keep the firefighters fueled.

The gesture didn’t go unnoticed. In a public statement following the fire, Chief Dan Patterson offered a special shout-out:

“We would also like to recognize a young man named Weston (future firefighter) for bringing us cookies. Thank you, sir! We have an application for you at the firehall—stop on by!”

Potter says her son took the Chief’s invitation literally and kept asking when he could stop by the firehall. On Tuesday, April 21, his wish was finally granted. Weston was invited to join the crew for a training session, where he was immediately treated like one of the team.

Suiting up in fire turnout gear, Weston hopped into the front seat of the ladder truck and rode along with the crew to the day’s training site near the entrance of the Jewel neighborhood.

The drills focused on rapid response: establishing a water supply and deploying hose lines. Working side-by-side with the Lake City firefighters, Weston donned a helmet and learned a variety of skills, including how to approach a scene and pull the hose off the truck.

The best part according to Weston? “Spraying the hose!”

While Weston still has a few years until he can officially apply, he isn’t waiting until then to serve. He is already planning to volunteer at this year’s Fireman’s Dance and is willing to do anything the department needs—even the cleaning.

According to Potter, her son is also a talented cook who hopes to one day cook eggs for the crew. She says Weston is a kid who shows initiative, kindness, and determination – all skills that would serve him well at the LCFD.

His commitment to helping others is an asset to the community and we are lucky to have a future leader like Weston Bartsh.