The Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch continued ringing in the Christmas season last weekend by bringing Santa Claus on the “Fire It Up Now” fire truck to Garfield Ridge and Clearing.
Santa, Frosty, and some of the neighborhood watch board members bravely boarded the top of the fire engine, faced the coldest Chicago weather of the season, and ducked tree branches.
Garfield Ridge residents of all ages raced to their windows, front doors, and porches to wave to Santa and shout a “Merry Christmas.” Others, bundled up in blankets and thick winter coats, camped on their front steps, sidewalks, and corners of the streets just to catch a glimpse of the tradition with their phones in hand to capture the moment to share on social media or keep in their photo archives as a memento.
Throughout both nights, residents were able to receive timestamps and direct locations of Santa’s coordinates courtesy of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch’s social media team. Not only did they regularly update residents with coordinates, but toggled multiple posts answering residents’ questions and concerns the entire night.
The tradition began in 2016, with the neighborhood watch bringing Santa on the firetruck and driving along Garfield Ridge. Clearing would be added the next year, thanks to popular demand and a longstanding relationship between the Clearing Night Force and the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch. The latter wanting to help their neighbors bring the holiday spirit to their community.
The M.A. Bells & Whistles fire truck was originally driven by Jimmy Sircher, a longtime friend of the Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch. Since the launch of Santa on the fire truck, retired fire engine M.A. Bells & Whistles has been bought by new owners, who renamed it “Fire It Up Now.” The antique fire engine rental company owned and operated by retired Chicago firefighter Doherty drove Santa around Garfield Ridge and Clearing this past weekend.
Janja Taylor, Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch Board Member, has been the organizer of the Beat 811 and Beat 812 routes each year.
This year was the first time that Taylor created the most efficient route for Garfield Ridge and hit every street on the map, spanning from the first blocks: 59th and Mobile north to the last blocks, Monitor and Archer north. This was all possible due to the patience and cooperation of the lead Chicago Lawn district police van, which helped with traffic and allowed this one-time to go down one-way streets. Santa drove a total of 40 miles and 7 hours, covering just Garfield Ridge.
On Sunday, December 16, Santa on the fire truck would visit Clearing. The ride there wasn’t smooth, with the fire truck breaking down twice due to the frigid temperatures and the initial findings of water in the diesel fuel. The Garfield Ridge Neighborhood Watch was determined to keep their promise to their Clearing neighbors, and adapted, ditching the fire truck and deciding with the Chicago Lawn District police to have Santa and Frosty in the police sprinter. Despite the obstacles and time constraints, Santa spent 3.5 hours in Clearing and managed to complete the entire Beat 812 map.
The Chicago Lawn District Police Officers helped Santa on the Fire Truck run both nights smoothly, offering traffic control, safety, and guidance with their police van leading the way and a patrol car following behind the fire truck, then the sprinter.
