Sometimes it's cool to be a rookie. Just ask Alex Clark.
As one of the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department's least-tenured members, the 17-year-old Catonsville resident worked the dunking tank at the department's carnival on July 21.
With temperatures soaring earlier in the day, Alex sat on the breakaway platform waiting for an accurate toss to drop him into the cool water below.
"I think I lucked out on this assignment. I'm pretty happy," said Alex, who starts his senior year at Catonsville High School this fall. "(It's) a nice relief. I don't have a pool to swim at."
The volunteer fire department's carnival happens on the third week of July every year, said Doug Simpkins, the captain of the department.
The consistent schedule, Simpkins said, allows families to plan vacations in advance and signals to students that the summer is half over.
It generally also means something else.
"Invariably, Mother Nature makes it the hottest week of the summer," Simpkins said. "We can't control Mother Nature."
The carnival began July 18 and ended July 23 at the firehouse on 5200 Southwestern Boulevard and saw temperatures around 100 degrees for its final three days.
Among those in attendance July 21 were Tameka Hall and her 11-year-old son Jeanoo Froneberger, who live in Baltimore.
To combat the heat, Jeanoo sipped on iced tea while his mother waited in line for a lemonade.
Once they finished their drinks, they had a plan to beat the heat.
"We'll probably get on some rides and enjoy the air," Hall said.
While Hall and Jeanoo enjoyed the wind against their faces, Mark Woodland of Catonsville sat in the air-conditioned bingo hall watching the action.
Despite weather reports urging people to limit time outdoors, Woodland said he came because his girlfriend, Stephanie Marinelli, brought her 3-year-old son, Michael, to experience the carnival for the first time.
Woodland said the trio had had a good time at the carnival.
"We did some basketball," Woodland said. "He's done the slide, every ride possible for the kids except the roller coaster."
Kate Koontz, 11, of Shelbyville, Del., braved the outdoors with her father, Dave, of Lansdowne.
Kate said she had a good time but lamented the fact that she didn't win a lizard at one of the carnival games.
She didn't leave empty-handed, though. She won a large goldfish and two smaller fish by tossing ping pong balls into glass cups.
By 8:15 p.m. on July 21, Kate and her father left the carnival.
As Kate noted, "(It's) very hot."