MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – REACH Air Medical Services, South Lake County Fire Protection District and Lake County Assistant Superintendent of Schools April Leiferman worked together to give Minnie Cannon Elementary School After School Program an experience to remember.

On Friday, April 15, students from Minnie Cannon After School Program were escorted to the South Lake County Fire Protection District station in Middletown where they were greeted by firefighters from Cal Fire and South Lake County Fire Protection District, and Melinda Waters from REACH Air Medical Services.

The students in the After School Program ranged in grades from kindergarten to sixth grade. Most of the 60 students in the program were evacuated due to the Valley fire in September.

Because of the fires, the children would get scared when they would see the helicopters or hear the emergency vehicles.

After Cindy Adams, director of Child Development, informed Leiferman of the children’s reaction to those events, they decided to team up with REACH and the fire service to put on this event for them.

Leiferman and Waters worked together for several weeks, through many obstacles, to make sure that this event would happen for the 42 students who attended.

The purpose was to show the children that the vehicles and helicopter are there to keep them safe and to help.

“By giving the children a positive experience, we hope to desensitize the children to their fear of the helicopter and sirens from the emergency vehicles,” said Leiferman.

The students rotated between three areas. They were taken through the fire station and shown where the firefighters eat, sleep and hold meetings. They also got to explore the many vehicles that the fire service uses and ask the firefighters questions.

The helicopter flew above the children as they were walking into the station and were greeted by the flight paramedic, Melinda Waters.

They got to meet the flight nurse, Deb Yoder and pilot of the helicopter, John Wilson, while walking through the helicopter and were shown the medical equipment they use while in flight.

The older children were allowed to sit in the cockpit under the supervision of Wilson, while he showed them all the gears and switches.

Smokey the Bear was there as well and took pictures with the students and gave lots of hugs. Many students were taking picture in the helicopter and fire station too.

Toward the end of the event the students received gifts from REACH and the firefighters, including beach balls, fire helmets and Frisbees.

The event ended with the students and emergency staff eating dinner together in the fire house. Dinner conversation consisted of the students telling their personal stories of the Valley fire as the emergency responders comforted each of them.

The event was a success due to Leiferman and Waters being an advocate for the students and this event.

For more information about the After School Program, please contact Cindy Adams at 707-263-4563 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Annie Mills is a communications specialist with the Lake County Office of Education.