Santa, Helpers Truck Through Neighborhoods Volunteer Firefighters Keep 25-Year Tradition

Volunteer fire captain Ron Knudtson has been guiding the old 1941 Bumper Truck through North Side neighborhoods at Christmas time for 25 years.

The Bumper Truck was one of the first used by Kaiser Aluminum when the company first started doing business. Kaiser retired the truck in 1972 and donated it to Fire District 9.

Since then, volunteer firefighters at Station 92, located at 3108 E. Farwell, have used the classic rig to haul their Christmas float and Santa Claus through the neighborhoods they service.

Knudtson, 44, has been there from the start.

“Whenever we see kids, if they’re out playing, or if they just want to come out of the house, we let them get on up there to tell (Santa) what they want,” Knudtson said.

“As long as we can keep enough volunteers, we’ll keep it going.”

For most of last week, Santa, played by Al Beebe, rolled through Mead, Rolling Hills, Shady Slope and Camelot.

The exception was Dec. 8. Beebe, 60, was out of commission that night because of heart problems.

Pinch hitting for Beebe was Amy Moses, his 28-year-old daughter.

“Nothing against Al, but she was the cutest Santa I ever saw,” said Al’s wife, Sherry Beebe. She serves as one of Santa’s helpers on the fire truck.

Amy’s stint as Santa was short-lived. Al was back on the float the next night. For the rest of the week he proceeded to roll across the frozen tundra to meet kids and pass out candy canes.

The Beebes have been riding with the float the last seven years.

“It’s exciting, it’s fun,” said Sherry, who is 58. “It’s fun to ride around on that engine and see all the kids running to see Santa. I guess we’re just big kids at heart.”

Knudtson said he recognizes many of the young parents on Santa’s route.

“We have young parents bringing children out who sat on Santa’s lap themselves 20 years ago,” Knudtson said.

Knudtson estimated that volunteer fire crews meet between 700 to 1,100 kids per year.

Rumor has it that last week was Station 92’s last run with the Christmas float.

Knudtson said there is no need to despair; the same rumor was going around last year.

“We’ve always managed to find enough volunteers,” he said. “As long as we’re here, the float will roll on.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo