The Ferris Wheel - Tales from Bark Mountain

As the lights of the Spring Carnival glow across Bark Mountain, Rosie and Jimmy climb aboard the giant Ferris wheel for the ride of a lifetime. But when the big wheel suddenly stops high above the fairgrounds, fear spreads through the crowd. 

With sirens racing through the night, Fire Chief Steve, Goose the Fire Dog, and the Bark Mountain Fire Department must work together to bring the children down safely. This heartwarming story is about courage, preparation, kindness, and staying calm when others are afraid.

Music from Bensound.com

License code: JOMKAMTPZ2OJIAIF

Artist: : Benjamin Tissot

Check out goosethefiredog.com for pictures and more stories 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:13

Welcome to another tale from Bark Mountain. Spring was always brought on by two exciting things in Bark Mountain. The first was wildfire season. As the snow melted high on the hills and the grass slowly turned golden, everyone knew the warm winds would soon arrive. The firefighters would check the hoses, clean the trucks, test all the radios, and make sure that everything was in place and ready for wildfire season. But the second thing was much more fun, the spring carnival. Every year bright trucks and trailers rolled into town carrying rides, games, and enough lights to make the valley glow after sunset. Soon the fairgrounds would be filled with the smell of popcorn, cotton candy, mini donuts, and sizzling hamburgers. Children pressed their noses to the fences while the workers set everything up. Look at the fares, Will, shouted Rosie. It's huge, her little brother Jimmy said. By that Friday night the gates opened wide. Families poured in, laughing and smiling. Music bounced through the air, the ground hummed under their feet as the rides spun and rumbled. In the distance came the clack clack clack clack clack of the roller coaster tracks, and the happy screams of riders flying through the darkening sky. And Bark Mountain has never looked so bright when the carnival's in town. Rosie and Jimmy held their parents' hands as they walked through the big entrance. They walked by game booths stacked with giant stuffed bears and toy prizes. Can we ride the Ferris Wheel first? Rosie asked. Please, please, Jimmy added. Their parents smiled. First ride of the night, Dad said. The giant wheel turned slowly against the evening sky off in the distance, as each car lifted the riders higher and higher above the carnival lights. Rosie and Jimmy climbed into their seat, put their seat belts on, and waved excitedly to their parents as the Ferris wheel started to lift them up. Up they went, higher than the bumper cars, higher than the food stands, and soon they were so high they could see all of Bark Mountain below them, tiny streets, shiny rooftops, and the dark forest stretching throughout the valley. This is amazing, Rosie said. Then all of a sudden the Ferris wheel jerked and stopped. The lights on it flickered. Then the lights flickered again and went out. And everything went still. Seconds before, down in the operator's booth there was a beep, beep, beep, and red alarm lights flashed near the operator's panel. And that's when the operator looked at his instrument panel and it said mechanical failure. So he immediately hit the stop button. He got out of his booth and yelled Everyone stay calm. He phoned the fire department immediately. We have riders trapped at the top of the Ferris wheel. I'm not sure what's wrong, but there seems to be a mechanical failure somewhere on the ride. The Ferris wheel made a large screeching sound when it came to a stop, followed by a big clunk. Everybody in the carnival looked, and the music started to fade. People could see the Ferris wheel had broken down. Rosie and Jimmy looked down nervously. They were stuck at the very top, and down at the bottom their parents stared upward in fear. At the Bark Mountain Fire Hall, the crew had just sat down for dinner when the alarm sounded. Kids trapped on a Ferris wheel, spring carnival grounds, the dispatcher said. Chairs pushed back fast, boots hit the floor, dinner was forgotten. Fire Chief Steve grabbed his helmet and headed for his command truck. Goose the fire dog leapt in beside him, tail wagging, but eyes focused. The ladder truck, the engine, and the rescue roared to life. Sirens echoed through town as the entire fire department rolled out towards the carnival. When they arrived they could clearly see the giant Ferriswill towering at the very back of the carnival. No lights, just stopped in the dark. When carnivals set up, they always create emergency roads so that fire trucks and emergency responders can reach every ride and building quickly if they have to. That planning mattered now. The crowd slowly moved aside as the workers directed the firefighters through the open emergency lane. Fire Chief Steve's command truck rolled in first, followed by the rescue, the engine, and the ladder. Goose jumped out immediately and trotted straight over to Rosie and Jimmy's parents, who were holding each other tightly and looking up with frightened eyes. Goose sat beside them and rested his head against Jimmy's mother's hand. Sometimes comfort is its own kind of rescue. High above, Rosie squeezed her brother's hand. It's okay, she whispered, through her own voice that shook. Jimmy nodded bravely. Down below, firefighters Tom and Dazzle stabilized the ladder truck. Firefighter Izzy grabbed the megaphone. Rosie and Jimmy, you're doing great. Stay seated, we're coming to get you. Rosie and Jimmy were the only two people on the ride, while the other firefighters were checking the Ferris wheel to make sure it was locked in place and stable. And the long ladder was extending up to the top of the Ferris wheel. Slowly but carefully. Higher and higher into the spring night it went. The entire carnival fell silent and was watching the events unfold at the Ferris wheel. Even the game boost stopped ringing, everyone was looking up and watching. The only sound that could be heard was the ladder climbing skyward, and once it reached the top of the Ferris wheel, firefighters Red and Forrest started to climb it. Forrest led the way, and when he got to the top, he carefully stepped onto the platform beside the Ferris wheel car that the kids were in. He looked closely at the metal frame and his eyes widened. There was a large crack that ran alongside of the car and it was just about to break. Forrest knew they needed to get those kids out of that Ferris wheel car right away before it fell off. Forrest turned down to the children and kept his voice very calm and warm. You're both doing great. Stay very still for me, and then I'm gonna get you out of here quickly. But I want you to put these rescue harnesses on before you step out of this car into my arms. Yes, sir, Rosie whispered. Once they were secure with ropes and a rescue vest, Forrest helped them out one at a time, and they stepped onto the ladder. Rosie came down first with Red, brave and steady. Jimmy followed close behind with Forrest. The crowd burst into applause when both kids touched the ground. And when Forrest and Red disconnected them from the rescue ropes, they ran into their parents' arms. The cheers were even louder now. Goose barked happily and danced in circles. Then the crowd laughed and clapped. Silly goose, Dazzle said. Chief Steve knelt down beside Rosie and Jim. You were both very brave tonight, he said. Rosie looked at firefighters forest and read. You were brave too, and you rescued us, Chief Steve smiled. They are trained to be brave. We prepare for this, and that's how everyone came down safe, even our firefighters, Chief Steve said. Each one of the kids received a goose the fire dog stuffy, and they squeezed it tight. Soon the carnival lights came back on brighter than ever. The fair swill would have to rest for a few more nights. But the music returned, the laughter filled the air, and the fear slowly turned into gratitude. As the Bark Mountain Fire Department packed up their gear and started to drive their trucks out of the fairgrounds, the entire crowd applauded one more time. High above the carnival, the spring stars shine brighter than ever, and as the firefighters drove back to the fire hall, they knew this to be true. Sometimes courage is simply sitting quietly beside a worried parent and reminding them they're not alone. Sometimes the biggest rescues begin with noticing danger and then slowing everything down and taking one step at a time. Sometimes strength is staying calm when others are afraid, and sometimes we need to rise up to help others safely back down. One brave rung at a time.

SPEAKER_00 9:33

Thank you for listening. Please check out goostofiredog.com for more stories and pictures. Every Sunday the crew gathers around for another tale from Park Mountain. Please join us. Good morning, good day, good night, little firefighters.