CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QC Life) - Families have holiday traditions; communities do too.
That’s certainly the case in the town of Unionville, where each year Santa comes through town a couple of weeks before Christmas, driving house to house.
But his sleigh isn’t quite the kind you’re used to. Rudolph, Donner, Blitzen and the rest of the gang are nowhere to be found. This seasonal chariot is manned by Unionville firefighters.
It’s certainly the type of fire call you want to be on.
“It’s nice to be out there with the community and not necessarily with them when they are having their worst day,” Chief Ken Brown said.
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They have been working towards this night for an entire month. When finished, brush truck 215 will be transformed from its usual firefighting duties to being a different type of sleigh for Santa Claus. It’s a tradition that started about a dozen years ago.
“We saw some things on the internet where someone took a fire truck - a ladder truck as a matter of fact - and put lights all over it and put it to music. The challenge went out to a few people saying we should do that. And everybody was saying, ‘You can’t do that,’” Brown said.
Tell a firefighter they can’t do something and watch what happens.
Within 24 hours of the challenge, members had figured out how to put lights on a fire truck. They have come a long way since that first year. Now they cover every inch of the truck with LED lights.
As night falls, not even a last-minute light outage can phase this crew. Like fighting a fire, they spring into action and replace the lights, just in time for the guest of honor.
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“Got my own helmet that they give me. And the people of this community are great,” Santa said.
There’s no Rudolph, but there’s still plenty of red to light the way.
When families hear him coming, they start gathering in yards and driveways to catch a glimpse of Ol’ St. Nick.
“It means a lot when you see those kids face when you ride by and are able to share a little Christmas with them,” one firefighter said.
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