Kendall Kids Clear 40+ Fire Hydrants on Snow Day

A snow day challenge in Kendall, New York turned into something bigger than anyone expected when over 40 kids picked up shovels to help their local firefighters.

The Kendall Fire Department posted a simple contest on Facebook on January 24. Kids who cleared snow from fire hydrants or neighbors' driveways could win a ride to school on a fire truck.

Fire Chief Randy Davis thought maybe four or five kids would participate. Instead, photos poured in from more than 40 young volunteers, most of them elementary students braving the cold to dig out hydrants across town.

Nine-year-old Jeffrey Lutes spent 30 minutes clearing a foot of snow from a hydrant near his home on Petersmith Road. "It was hard," he said, pointing to the bottom of his coat to show just how deep the snow reached.

Ten-year-old Emmalyn Grabelle tackled a hydrant on Smith Drive for about 20 minutes. "The snow pile put a barrier, so I had to dig through the barrier," she explained.

The temperature that day barely reached the teens, but that didn't stop the young volunteers.

Sunny's Take

Captain James Fox said watching kids brave the cold and take initiative to help their community was one of the department's proudest moments. Clear hydrants mean firefighters can access water quickly when every second counts during an emergency.

The response overwhelmed the fire department in the best possible way. Local businesses stepped up too, with J&M Repair donating pizza, Partyka Farms providing ice cream, and Hamlin Pizza Shack contributing fried dough for a thank-you party on February 3.

The department originally planned to pick one winner for the fire truck ride. They ended up choosing four: Jeffrey Lutes, ten-year-old Presley Cole, seven-year-old Brantley Cole, and seven-year-old Nora Rasmusson.

Nora, a first grader, had been in a fire truck before but was still excited. "They're just really cool and you get to see how they work," she said.

The kids agreed the pizza party was worth the effort. "We all shoveled. We dedicate our time to go and do it," Emmalyn said about earning the reward.

Kendall Elementary School Principal Kevin Watson said the school plans to make this an annual event, encouraging students to use their free time helping others.

What started as a small idea to keep kids engaged on a snow day became a powerful demonstration of what happens when a community works together.