The First Responders Tree Lighting in McMechen, WV, sponsored by the ever-awesome Paw It Forward, went down tonight — and for once, no one lost feeling in their toes. The weather was suspiciously perfect. Like, someone must’ve bribed Mother Nature with bacon-wrapped treats. Instead of shivering, people were walking around in light jackets, sipping cocoa that didn’t double as a hand warmer, and dogs were panting like it was a summer barbecue with Santa.

The scene was peak small-town charm. Paw It Forward set up their tents, complete with dogs in festive bandanas doing their best to act dignified while kids begged to pet them. First responders from every corner of the community showed up — firefighters, police, EMTs — all trading their usual emergencies for candy canes and photo ops. Fire engines gleamed under the streetlights, and the only sirens were the kids hyped up on sugar.

When the countdown began, the crowd went quiet — for about two seconds — before the tree burst to life in a riot of color. The lights flickered across faces full of grins and phones held high. It was one of those weirdly wholesome moments where you half expect a choir to start singing spontaneously. And when it didn’t, people just started clapping like they’d all rehearsed it.

The best part? Everyone actually stuck around afterward. Families chatted, dogs sniffed each other, and a few firefighters tried to explain to toddlers why climbing the truck was “a no-go.” The smell of fresh cookies floated through the air, someone spilled a little cocoa, and for a rare night, everything just felt easy.

Events like this remind you what community looks like when it’s not behind a screen. It’s real people showing up — the ones who answer the calls, save the pets, fix the chaos, and still find time to make a tree glow for the town.

If you want to support Paw It Forward, check out their Facebook page and donation info. They do more than light up trees — they light up the lives of rescue animals and, apparently, half the county.