The Excelsior Springs Fire Department took part in Hero Storytime at Mid-Continent Public Library recently. Firefighters spent an afternoon with community children reading stories, singing and dancing. Children of all ages had the opportunity to meet their local heroes and experience stepping inside a firetruck and ambulance. Leading storytime was Kayla Bainbridge, the library’s early literacy associate, who explained to the children should an emergency occur, the firefighters and paramedics would have to leave. “Even though they are at storytime with everyone, firefighters still have a job to do,” she said before leading the children in a welcome song for their heroic guests. Cameron White, assistant fire chief, introduced Brittnay Olds and Joseph Cherco, who would be reading to the children. Olds read “Flashing Fire,” penned by poet Tony Mitton, and Cherco read “Firefighter Flo” written by Andrea Zimmerman. After the stories were read, the children sang a farewell song to the…