For Retired Firefighter, Driving 'toy Truck’ A Holiday Tradition

For retired firefighter, driving 'toy truck’ a holiday tradition Retired firefighter Mike Walsh navigates the streets of the financial district while his wife of 33 years, Tracey, wipes condensation from the windshield of the 64-year-old fire truck they use to pick up toys. Most volunteers who pick up barrels of toys for the San Francisco firefighters union’s toy program use a streamlined red van. The 1950 Chevy looks more like an antique farm machine than a fire engine. Once it was one of the San Francisco Fire Department’s three trucks that carried large protective tarps called salvage covers to burning buildings. The tarps were spread across the lower floors to try to minimize water damage. [...] for the entire month leading up to Christmas, they spend three to five days a week picking up filled barrels of toys from businesses ranging from tech startups to tattoo parlors. Together they bounce along the bumpy roads wearing Santa hats and matching smiles. Since we’ve been retired, we’ve become this team.