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Brigantine Welcomes A (Very Young) Firefighter

BRIGANTINE, NJ (CBS) -- The Brigantine Fire Department had a new firefighter Thursday, at least for a few hours. That new firefighter was a little boy who charmed everyone there.

Cameron Jackson isn't quite tall enough yet for firefighter gear, but thanks to the Brigantine Fire Department, he got to be a firefighter at the age of eight.

Cameron is autistic. Capt. Alan Weidner met Cameron in December at an event for special needs children.

"This is one of his lifelong dreams is to be a firefighter. So we thought it would be nice to bring him in for the day," said Capt. Weidner.

Cameron said, "I'm just being a fire chief for today."

So he spent the morning helping firefighters check all the equipment.

"This is big and heavy, isn't it?" said Capt. Weidner

"Yeah!" said Cameron.

He manned the truck's front seat and peppered the crew with lots of questions.

"Awesome little boy," said Chief John Frugoli.

Even his 3-year-old brother Brayden got to hang around while his brother had his big day and his parents looked on.

"I just really want to thank them for going above and beyond," said Kristen Jackson, Cameron's mother.

And what's a day in a firehouse without lunch! A burger was a delicious reward for a hard day as a firefighter.

For Dad, this day made him misty.

"It chokes me up that everyone in this town takes such good care of him," said Cameron's father, Mike Jackson.

What does Cameron say about the firefighters?

"I love them! They're heroes," he said.

Watch the video...

Reported by Pat Ciarrocchi, CBS3

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