Thursday was proclaimed by local fire officials as Dawson’s Day. Dawson Deschaine is a 7-year-old Nevada County boy who is battling acute leukemia. He was made an honorary firefighter, at a badge-pinning ceremony at Station 84 of the Consolidated Fire District in Nevada City. Chief Jim Turner says Dawson was also fitted with his own uniform…

click to listen to Chief Turner

Dawson’s mother, Brianna, says this day had been planned for the last year, but her son had not been well enough to participate until recently…

click to listen to Brianna Deschaine

Turner says among the activities that Dawson participated in was a mock vehicle accident, where he was escorted in a fire engine to the scene to help with what’s called “patient packaging”, along with the Grass Valley and Nevada City departments. Dawson and his sister also got a ride in a REACH helicopter, before receiving a catered lunch