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Last updated on Thursday, September 8, 2011
(BEDFORD) - Bedford Fire Department firefighters freed a young boy’s foot that was trapped between the kick stand and frame of his bicycle Tuesday night. The incident happened at a home on the 2600 block of H Street.
"We removed the kickstand and he was out," said BFD Chief Jon Wagner. "He was not injured, just scared because he couldn't get his foot free."
Wagner said the boy was between 4 and 5-years-old and suffered no injuries.
BFD firefighters have assisted in some strange rescues, said Wagner, who is serving his 33rd year with the department.
"I can't think of anything we haven't seen," We've had hands stuck in bubble gum machines, legs stuck in shopping carts and stuck in some other strange places, bats in houses, cats up trees. You name it, we've seen it."
Wagner has some rescues that stay at the front of his memory.
One was when they freed a little girl's arm from a bubble gum machine at the former Old Buggy restaurant.
"She had her whole arm wedged in the machine," he said. "The trouble was we were just not sure how we were going to get her out. She sure didn't want to let go of that gum."
Firefighters covered the girl with protective gear and then broke the globe of the machine, causing gum balls to roll all over the restaurant. Then firefighters lubricated her arm and slipped her free.
Sometimes the simplest thing like dish soap works at freeing a child from a tight situation. Other times tools are needed.
"We had a little one, maybe 18-months, that got their leg stuck between the bars on a shopping cart at a business near Crane's Leather shop," Wagner said. "Those bars were made of hard-tempered steel there was no way we could bend them."
Firefighters had to use bolt cutters to free the child.
Wagner said there is more to being a firefighter then battling blazes.
"We are here to help everyone and help with anything," Wagner added. "We've faced a lot of bad times, but with every bad one, there is a good thing that happens that makes our job worthwhile."
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