CARLYSS — Lori Primeaux-Coleman said she “can’t put into words” her experience of having Al Roker broadcast “Wake Up With Al” live Thursday from the Carlyss Fire Department.

Last week, Primeaux-Coleman, the department’s secretary, along with her husband, Patrick Coleman, and Carlyss Fire Chief James Stanley flew to New York City to be on the “Today” show. There she learned she was one of three winners of a contest to have Roker do a “Wake Up With Al” segment live from her home.

Primeaux-Coleman, also a volunteer firefighter for the Ward 6 Fire Department, along with her husband, said in her contest entry that she didn’t want Roker to come to her home but to instead visit her “second home” — the Carlyss Fire Department.

“I cannot explain this whole experience. There are no words that could say how amazing this has been,” she said. “We’ve shown him pretty much what a day is like for a firefighter.”

Primeaux-Coleman said firefighters showed Roker how to do a truck check — the first thing they do in the morning. The also showed him how the ladder truck works, and he did a segment of the “Today” show from the ladder, extended high in the air. Roker also learned how to “pump a truck.”

“It’s been a lot of fun showing Al everything that we do, and he’s having a ball. He’s laughing and really enjoying himself,” she said. “It’s a blast.”

Stanley also did a cooking segment on the “Today” show with Roker; they cooked bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin.

Roker told the American Press that his experience at the fire department had “been great.”

“We stayed at L’Auberge and had a fantastic Cajun feast from the chef there,” he said. “Then we came (to the fire department). The only downfall with doing this is we don’t get to spend very much time in one place. We’re here less than 24 hours.”

Roker said Primeaux-Coleman’s contest entry stood out because the show wanted to “honor folks who do really great things.”

“Fire departments all across the country volunteer, and they’re the backbone of first responders. So, we wanted to honor that,” he said.

Roker broadcast from a dairy farm in College Grove, Tenn., Wednesday and will broadcast from a school in Silverspring, Md., today.

Al Roker broadcast ”Wake Up With Al” live Thursday from the Carlyss Fire Department. (Rick Hickman / American Press)