Farenheit451 — Geocache of the Week – Official Blog

What did the firefighter say to the burning building? “Cool it.”

This week, you’re invited to a site that is full of history, honor, and has a geocache celebrating Chief Thomas Cunningham, who tragically lost his life in 1920 while responding to a blaze.

It’s not every day your GPS takes you to a fire station. Tucked away in the heart of Centralia, Washington, you’ll find Farenehit451 (GC5XRMT). This Geocache of the Week is more than just a quick find; it’s a moment to step into history.

The journey begins at a stately brick landmark—a fire station that has stood watch since the early 20th century. The Centralia Fire Department started in 1890 as a volunteer fire company, becoming fully paid on July 22, 1908.

As the cache page instructs, to find this geocache, you must first pay tribute to the Centralia Fire Department Chief Thomas Cunningham. Upon further inspection, you’ll find exactly that to the right of the building, along with a hint to guide your search.

This small difficulty 2, terrain 1.5 (D2/T1.5) cache is not far off on the property and is perfectly placed for a walk through town or a stop on a road trip. Accessible year-round, it’s an easy grab, yet meaningful enough for geocachers of all levels.

As you scan around the property, a particular corner stands out. To the right of the fire department’s entrance are some bright red objects that are sure to raise any geocacher’s suspicion.

The placement of the geocache is clever enough to make you pause and think, as fire hydrants are a staple when searching for caches and a usual suspect to be searched. However, being depicted in the memorial, it’s the fire alarm that is of exceptional interest here.

After careful inspection, the alarm opens up, and the container reveals itself. On theme, an attached fire hose coupling houses the log sheet. Here, you’re not simply signing a log sheet; you’re connecting to a piece of Centralia’s legacy.

This unique geocache is maintained by firefighters from the Centralia Fire Department. The owner of the geocache, sdub360, is a professional firefighter and geocacher.

Have you found a geocache like this before? Let us know in the comments below!

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