Sometimes, life plays tricks on you. Hank Bauer is now playing a few tricks himself – and having a wonderful time.

After he retired from military service, Bauer said, he chose work as a volunteer firefighter in Putnam and Morgan counties as a way to continue to serve in his community.

There, he met a fire safety clown named “Fireball,” aka Bill Carmen, and Bauer said he suddenly knew that’s what he wanted to do.

“I think it’s improved my life greatly, and I thank Bill for introducing me to it,” Bauer said.

With support of both local fire chiefs, Bauer attended the clown fire prevention class at the Georgia Fire Academy in Forsyth in 2003.

He learned clown history, types, ethics, costuming, makeup, character development, balloon sculpting, juggling and how to perform fire safety skits.

http://www.msgr.com/news/community/article_c3bd1476-02a9-11e2-aa28-0019bb2963f4.html