July 14, 2003

PRESS RELEASE EVENT TODAY
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2411, page: 675-2137

Firefighters to "Make A Wish" Come True

Shreveport firefighters will make a wish come true this morning when they visit Houston Hatcher, 15, of Bossier City . . .

Houston has been diagnosed with Medulablastomy and currently is battling two inoperable brain tumors and one spinal tumor. As a wish request, Houston wanted the opportunity to meet with real Shreveport firefighters that he calls "heros." The fire department went one better and on June 14, Shreveport Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran, firefighters, and fire engines will visit the teenager at his home and present him with all kinds of fire department equipment, including a real firefighter night shirt and helmet. The following are the specifics of the event:

What: "MAKE A WISH"
Who: Houston Hatcher, 15
Where: 2425 Waverley Drive, Bossier City
When: July 14, 10:30 a.m. TODAY!

The fire department participates in all "Make A Wish" requests that it receives. In this case, Houston’s father is a volunteer firefighter with Caddo Fire District 1 and the request was funneled through the Shreveport Fire Training Academy to Chief Cochran. ###