Planning

Nothing beats the roar of the siren of a bright red fire engine!  If your little firefighter cranes his neck to watch the fire station in your neighborhood until it's finally out of sight, and looks on in awe as a fireman walks past him in the grocery store then a blazin' fire truck birthday party is just for you!  Sirens, whirling lights, the unforgettable color of your local hook and ladder - this is an easy party to pull off but one that is sure to delight!  And if you can manage a field trip to your local fire station for a tour and safety lesson all the better!  

What is your "Party Picture"?   Fireman themed party

• For a Fireman and Fire Engine Theme all you have to do is think RED, think fire and rescue vehicles, Dalmatians and safety.   This is a straight forward theme that is easy to pull off - and there are SO many pre-made things that work - if you aren't inherently creative you can still pull off an amazing party! 
• This theme goes beyond two dimensions fairly easily.  Incorporate whirling red lights and get your hands on a pop up fire truck (or make your own with a large appliance box) for the kids to play in!  You can even visit your local fire station for some coloring books, safety material or even schedule a visit with your party (if it's small and if it will understandably be dependent on their availability!) 
• Transform your guests into junior firefighters when they arrive - have red fire hats, and red T-shirts (if you get really into it you can stencil each guests name on the back and a fire symbol with your child's initial built into it for the front!)

Invitations

Communicating with your Guests   Fireman themed party

This invitation is all about the fire truck.  Absolutely no reason to be subtle here!  You can buy it pre-printed or find an amazing print yourself.  You can go in another direction, but you have to make it POP

• Invitations: 
• Pre-printed:  There are so many variations on the Fire engine theme, finding fun pre-printed invitations shouldn't be hard.  Just fill in and send!
• Sound the Alarm, It's a Party!  You can make a simple card simply by pasting a fire truck die-cut onto colorful paper.  Not much too it, even a novice crafter can do it!
• Firefirghter Ready!  Purchase inexpensive plastic fireman hats and write party details on the inside in Sharpie or attach a note with party details.  It will build immediate excitement for your little guys party.

• Thank you Notes:   Fireman themed party

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Dress It Up

Red, Red, and MORE Red!  Toss in a little black, a little Dalmatian, and maybe the neon yellow of the firefighter's rescue suits - but basically RED!  You can center your room around several toy fire engines (if your child doesn't have that many, consider complimenting your theme with birthday gifts - a couple of well selected theme related toys can be used to decorate as well as thrill.)  You can also purchase (or make, for you crafty folks) a fire engine for the kids to play and pretend in.

Decorate Your Party Space:   Fireman themed party

• Balloons on Fire:  Surround your party space with red and orange balloons - reflecting the red of the fire engine and the orange of flame! 
• Fire Wall:  Create "flames" on one wall with construction paper in orange, highlighted with red.  Then use gray crepe paper to create smoke from the "flame" up to your ceiling.

Tablescape:    Fireman themed party

• Fire Engine Centerpiece:  Use a great fire engine toy to center your table!  Attach some red balloons to hover over your table.

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Food/Drink

Refreshments   Fireman themed party

The type of food that would be present at a fire station, or that relates in our mind to firefighting (5 alarm chili, stew, etc.) doesn't really work for this age group.  Anyone who can convince a group of 5 year olds to eat chili, well, I'd be very impressed.  So, with this theme, use standard party foods, but present them or name them creatively to fit the fireman theme.

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Cake

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Entertainment

Activities

Activities:   Fireman themed party

• Fire Station Visit:  Contact your local fire station or volunteer firefighters (WELL in advance) to find out if they have any programs set up for group visits to them, or for them to visit you.  They may be willing to send someone to your home during your party to give a safety presentation, or you may be able to bring a group of children for a tour of their station house and fire truck!  Your local department most likely already has a program to teach children fire safety, and may even allow kids to see and possibly try on firefighter protective gear.  It's worth looking into - what a memorable visit your party could have!
• Water Brigade:  Well, it wouldn't be a fireman party if there weren't water!  Specifically, the transportation of water.  Carry water from one large bucket to another empty bucket using a ladle or small pail.  You can do this in one of two ways.  First, you can have each child go back and forth between their empty pail and the large full pail and race to get their own pail filled.  Have a prize as each child completes the task.  Or, you can have a teamwork activity where you line each child up and they pass the cup/pail/ladle between them down the line until the larger bucket is empty and the empty pail is full!
• Firefighter Training:    Create a rigorous firefighter training obstacle course in a large open space.  Have them climb over, under, through various obstacles, carry items, etc.  You can start the course with "firefighter" protective gear (large shirt, sweatpants, oversized galoshes and a hat) that have to be kept on as they go.  Don't make it too difficult for the little ones though!
• "Fire" Dance:  A derivation of the freeze dance - place pictures of fire engines around on the floor (use double sided tape to keep them stuck down), then play fun fireman related music as the children dance around.  When the music stops, each child needs to find a fire engine to stand on.  You don't have to eliminate anyone, just let them play and dance!
  • One suggestion for music is "Hurry, Hurry Drive That Fire Truck" on Barney's Favorites Volume 1. 
• I'm a Fireman!  For smaller children, pretend play is a primary entertainment.  So, what better way to play, than to pretend to be a fireman?  Fire hats, boots, over-sized rain coats, all make little firefighters.  Then take a piece of old garden hose and cut It into strips for each child to dress up and pretend to be a firefighter.
• Arts and crafts - painting Fire engines:  Red and black paint are all you need if you have a pre-printed outline of a fire hydrant for the kids to paint or color.  Or, you can have stencils of fire engines and sponges to dip in paint an pat.  Messy, but fun!
• Animal Rescue:  One element of a fireman's job is to save animals from imminent harm!  A great party favor would be small plush animals that the children save.  Hide them throughout the party space for the children to find and rescue!  You can set up a small rescue center with bandaids, face masks for "oxygen" and towels to cuddle and comfort.    
• Safety Dance:  What better way to celebrate firemen than to remind your guests of basic fire safety?  Try this version of the "freeze" dance where, when the music stops, all the children "Stop, Drop and Roll"!  Show your guests how to do it, then challenge everyone to see how fast and how well they can do it!

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Prizes / Favors

 

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