North Carolina
North Carolina
Refuge Lights Up Holiday Parade
December, 2008
The holiday season came to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge when the refuge float was awarded first place at the local holiday parade in Manteo, North Carolina. Refuge employees, along with countless volunteers, represented Alligator River’s extensive fire program by choosing “Fire Can Be Friend or Foe; Have a SAFE and MERRY Christmas” for their float theme.
Volunteers awed the crowd by transforming into the roles of the Blue Goose, the American Alligator, and the ever elusive Red Wolf. Eight local children were dressed as Junior Refuge Firefighters-in-training, completely equipped with fire-resistant clothing, hard hats, drip torches, and water hoses. The sooty-faced Junior Fire Fighters both fought and lit fires of crate paper to demonstrate both fire suppression and the use of fire to enhance the habitat of the many species of wildlife found on the refuge.
The Marsh Master vehicle was also featured in the display, giving the public a rare look at a unique piece of firefighting equipment needed to travel across land and water in the pocosin and marsh environment of eastern North Carolina.
The float riders waved to the crowd as they journeyed along the parade route and wished everyone a “Merry Fishmas.”
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Participants on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge first place winning float, ready themselves to travel the holiday parade route in Manteo, NC. |
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