What may have looked like a group of early birds gathered outside the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue LobsterFest on Saturday, June 8, was actually a group of extended family and friends who were summoned to a gender reveal event for one of the company's officers and his wife.

SHVFR First Assistant Chief Ryan Clark and his wife Katelynn decided they wanted to hold an intimate “gender reveal” celebration. But instead of releasing blue or pink balloons, shooting off color-coordinated confetti, or setting off a gender specific colored smoke bomb, the volunteer firefighter literally tapped the water supply line for the department’s ladder truck.

As family members, friends, and curious members of the department gathered around and looked skyward, a huge stream of water — colored blue — shot from the top of the ladder, which was extended above Dickinson Drive.

With hugs and congratulatory handshakes all around, the expecting couple celebrated the news that they would be having a little boy.

Ms Clark said this is the couple’s first child, and he is due on October 24.