Va. Firefighters Took Days Preparing for Prez Visit

Oct. 20--CHESTERFIELD -- For the firefighters at Fire Station 9, the operative words have been clean and excitement.

That has been the world of the roughly 28 Chesterfield Fire and EMS firefighters since Saturday when they learned President Barack Obama was coming to their firehouse off Buford Road for a visit Wednesday.

"There's been more cleaning than usual," Lt. Mike Martell said. "We take pride in being clean, but we've done more."

Martell said the firefighters were busy for the past two days getting ready for the presidential visit. "To be able to see and meet a sitting president is a pretty cool thing," Martell said.

Martell said there wasn't a lot of political discussion in the firehouse in advance of Obama's visit, but that isn't unusual among firefighters. "We have to live together -- this is my second family," he said. We try to leave politics and religion out of it."

Lt. Jason Elmore said firefighters were thrilled with the visit. "We're honored and excited that a Chesterfield firehouse was chosen to host the president," he said.

Chesterfield officials received confirmation of the presidential visit on Saturday, said Elmore, a spokesman for Chesterfield Fire and EMS. From that point on, preparations were made at the fire station that houses a fire engine, a fire truck and a medic unit.

"Clean, clean, clean was one of the things," Elmore said. "We did a little bit extra to make sure the president was in a nice clean firehouse."

On Tuesday, a professional setup company was brought in by the White House to prepare the firehouse for Obama's visit. A presidential podium with red, white and blue bunting took center stage, with a large American flag off to the right.

About 17 Chesterfield firefighters and police officers along with a fire engine formed a backdrop for President Obama. The three-bay firehouse was also packed with about 160 other people, including local dignitaries and other firefighters and police officers and members of their families.

The fire units Fire Station 9 at went inactive Wednesday morning, but other fire units were stationed at a nearby police station so that service and response time was not impaired, Elmore said. Obama told the firefighters: "I appreciate opening up the firehouse here today. But if the bell goes off, just ignore me. Do your thing."

While the firefighters were excited, it appeared the feel was mutual. "It is great to be here at Fire Station #9 with some of Chesterfield's finest," Obama said.

Obama even had a little fun with the firefighters while pitching his jobs plan to the public and Congress.

"And I don't know if these members of Congress -- maybe they haven't met some of these firefighters," Obama said. I don't think they want to tell them that their jobs aren't worth saving. Some of these guys are pretty big."

- Brian J. Couturier may be reached at 804-722-5109 or [email protected].