SHIJIAZHUANG — Ahead of National Fire Prevention Day on Nov 9, firefighters in Shexian county in North China's Hebei province received more than 1,000 paper cranes.

Notes written on the cranes revealed the well-wishers to be dozens of children from a school in a mountainous area. They made the gifts to express their gratitude to the firefighters, who have volunteered to support the education of children at the school for nearly three decades.

"You are my role model, and I hope I can be a hero like you to save people in danger when I grow up," read one note on a pink paper crane.

The relationship began in 1994, when firefighters in the county heard that a student who had an excellent academic performance faced difficulties continuing his studies because his family was barely able to make ends meet.

Although they lived on meager incomes in the 1990s, some firefighters donated half their wages to support the boy.

Moreover, as they helped students at Guanghua High School — which also formerly encompassed primary and middle schools — with their physical training before the start of each semester, they noticed that many came from impoverished households.

The firefighters decided to provide financial assistance to students at the school every year, donating in the name of their fire station.

The tradition has been carried on for 28 years, despite new firefighters being recruited and older firefighters retiring. The station's support for the children has never ceased. Many students have benefited from this support, with over 130 admitted to colleges, 13 joining the army, 20 becoming teachers after graduation, and some becoming firefighters.

Inspired by the firefighters, the students also learned to give back to society. "Two decades ago, I almost dropped out as my family could barely support my education," said Li Tianbao, now a teacher at his old school. "It was the firefighters who helped me out."

Li often tells his students that "no man is an island, and we should pass on kindness and love with generosity". Over 500 students from impoverished families have been sponsored by the firefighters in Shexian, with donations totaling over 100,000 yuan ($14,000) and nearly 4,000 books provided.

The school has grown from three classrooms with three teachers to a well-known local school covering 112,000 square meters. "Even after all these years, I can clearly remember the firefighters' faces and names because they are like our family," said Zhao Jiao'e, the principal of the school since 1994.

Xinhua