Pint-Sized Firefighter

Ellis Schmidt has his own equipment, a tike-size set of tools and even his own fire truck! The eight-year old boy is the youngest member of the Lillian Volunteer Fire Department.

"I think it's a great job," says Schmidt. "It's everything that you could ask for. I like the fire trucks the best!"

Ellis has loved fire trucks and firefighters since he could walk. His interest has grown into a full-time passion.

"He's a great asset," says Lillian Volunteer Fire Chief Ray Hogans. "He's very smart, dedicated and he reads the fire manual instead of children's books. He seems to take to fire service like a duck takes to water."

"I knew he was talented," says Ellis' mother Jana Schmidt. "It's his passion, his gift and I feel like I'm just hold on for the ride!"

Ellis has learned all the aspects of the fire truck and training equipment. He even knows basic first-aid and how to check vital signs on patients.

"We watch over him," says Hogans. "He's not allowed inside a burning building or inside the hot zone, but he can run the truck as good as any of my other guys."