Burlington firefighters help out with summer reading program

“It was funny to see these fearless, brave heroes getting a little nervous to read to children,” Ward said.

Yengoyan said aside from the initial apprehension, the firefighters have loved the event.

“We’re always trying to serve the community, not just when they dial 911,” he said.

The event began Thursday with librarian Jennifer Bell leading about 20 children in song and dance before a few firefighters took turns reading books to the group.

“The best part was the dancing,” 11-year-old Samantha Cecenn said. “It was really funny watching the firefighters try to dance.”

After the reading concluded, the children were eager to include the firefighters in a game of soccer.

“This is the first event of its kind but hopefully not the last,” Bell said. “We’re hoping this inspires other community organizations to get involved with the library.”

The library also invited the Boys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County’s Burlington club to attend the event, along with children from the Skagit Valley Family YMCA.

The four-week event with the firefighters is part of the library’s summer reading program.

“This program gives the kids a really great incentive to participate in the summer reading program and prevent that summer slide,” Ward said.

She described the summer slide as the backtracking that can occur when kids are out of school for summer and start to forget what they’ve learned.

Those who take part in the library’s summer reading program are entered into a drawing where prizes include a ride to school in a fire truck and a birthday party at the Burlington fire station.

The more the kids read, the better chance they have of winning a prize.

“We’re going to the library every single week,” said 10-year-old Sienna Bergsma, who attended the Thursday event with the YMCA. “I just read a Nancy Drew book.”

Ward said the library worked with the fire department to give firefighters tips on how to keep the kids engaged while the firefighters read to them.

“The fire department has really been making an effort to reach out and educate,” Yengoyan said. “When groups come to tour the station, we’re not just showing them around, we’re educating them at the same time.”

With attendance doubling since the first day that firefighters read to the children, Ward said she hopes the number continues to grow.

She said the city parks department has been generous to let the library use the space at Maiben Park because the library cannot accommodate large groups.

Two more reading sessions with firefighters remain — one at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 10 and another Aug. 17.