Seventeen-year-old Kayleigh Carpenter spent her day riding in a bucket truck, touring the Chicago River on a fireboat, and helping put out a fire alongside Chicago firefighters. By the end of it, she had a new title: honorary Chicago firefighter.
The Chicago Fire Department held a swearing-in ceremony for Carpenter at Engine 18, according to NBC 5 Chicago. Carpenter, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, worked alongside firefighters throughout the day as part of a wish granted through Make-A-Wish Illinois.
Rashonda Hunt said Kayleigh's neurologist nominated her for the wish, and that Kayleigh was surprised and excited to see the fire truck arrive. Hunt also said Kayleigh watches fire-truck and ambulance videos at home, a detail that lines up with how much she enjoys watching fire trucks and ambulances pass by.
A Fireboat Tour and a Real Fire to Fight
Hunt said the fireboat tour on the Chicago River included a water show with water cannons, giving Carpenter a close-up look at one of the department's more dramatic displays. She also rode a bucket truck and helped put out a fire.
Chicago Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt welcomed Kayleigh into the fire department family during the ceremony at Engine 18. Actor David Eigenberg, who joined the celebration as a cast member of NBC's Chicago Fire, said the city looks out for one another.
Make-A-Wish Illinois Marks a Milestone, With a Discrepancy
Make-A-Wish Illinois CEO Casey Marsh said each wish requires a community to come together and invest in a child. Per the NBC 5 Chicago report, Carpenter's honorary firefighter experience marked the chapter's 20,000th wish granted. The organization's own chapter page states it has granted more than 19,000 wishes since being founded locally in 1985.
Make-A-Wish Illinois says its mission is to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, serving kids in all 102 counties across the state. The chapter reported a program service expense ratio of 70 percent for the fiscal year running from September 2024 through August 2025, and it says it receives no federal or state funding while operating as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Not the First Honorary Badge From CFD
Carpenter's swearing-in echoes an earlier gesture from the department. CBS News Chicago reported that the Chicago Fire Department named nine-year-old Indiana boy Owen Mahan an honorary firefighter during a visit to Engine 78, where he rode aboard the engine and radioed the 9-1-1 Center. Mahan also tested his aim with a hand extinguisher and left with a dress uniform, a firefighter's helmet, and a certificate naming him an honorary firefighter.
For Carpenter, the day capped off a wish built around her fascination with emergency vehicles, including a water-cannon show and an honorary title.
