San Mateo County Fire Department employees from left to right are Firefighter Matt Hoffmann, Engineer John Hollander, Fire Capt. Jordan Motts and Fire Capt. Chris Schaefer.
If you’ve been keeping up on our newsletter, you might recall we had an unusually exciting Star Party July 3. The San Mateo County Fire Department came out to Crestview Park to turn off a streaming sprinkler. In addition, it was the second time the sprinklers went off that evening.
Of course we could count on Kevin Simpson, board member and most notables sharer of the starry skies, to remind them that we meet regularly at Crestview for Star Parties.
It was quite the pleasant surprise to see more recognizable faces October 15. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know them better.
“We wanted to see the comet,” said San Mateo County Fire Department Firefighter, Matt Hoffmann.
“Because of the sprinkler incident and we knew that there was an astronomy club that came here. And we know there’s good parking so we’re like, let’s check it out,” replied San Mateo County Fire Department Capt. Chris Schaefer. “We also know there’s someone with the telescope. And sure enough there’s someone with a telescope!” as he pointed to Simpson’s 10-inch Dobsonian telescope. Captain Schaefer was impressed that he could see it on Simpson’s phone.
Schaefer has been stationed in San Mateo County for two years but has worked for the Fire Department since 2005 and has worked all over the State. While Hoffman has been in San Mateo County for five years but working with the department for 10 years. He too has worked all over the State.
We’ll look forward to seeing them at future Star Parties.
