Baltimore County Fire Department hosts surprise celebration for Make-A-Wish Foundation Kid

When the firefighters at the Baltimore County Fire Department in Towson, Maryland, arranged a wish celebration for wish kid Khalil Reaves, they planned lots of surprises; and the best one of all came when they asked Khalil to step up into a very important position. Fire Cheif Preis is retiring at the end of this year, and he realized that he could use a little help between now and then.

On the evening of December 20, Khalil, a critically ill five-year-old from Baltimore was named “Co-Chief” for remainder of Fire Chief Kyrle W. Preis III’s term in a surprise celebration hosted by the Towson Fire Station and Make-A-Wish MidAtlantic.  

Khalil also received a surprise trip to Disneyworld from Make-A-Wish, a foundation dedicated to granting the wishes of critically ill children.   Khalil was also presented with a large toy fire truck and other goodies from the Towson Fire Station’s 1-C shift.

Chief Preis gave Khalil a badge and a hand-written memo on Baltimore County letterhead stating: “I hereby appoint Khalil Reaves ‘Co-Fire Chief’ effective today. This term expires at the end of my tenure as Fire Chief, on December 31, 2018.”

Chief Preis described the evening as one of the “most awesome” and touching he has ever experienced in his 28-year career with the BCoFD.

Division Chief Francis “Skip” DiPaula, who attended the event, said, “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

(Sources: Baltimore County Government and Make-A-Wish MidAtlantic)

~ Posted by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today  /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter