After working the chemical plant fire all night, I took off work and went to sleep at about 7:30 AM. About noon I woke up for some food and to make a few phonecalls. About 3 PM, the pager goes off for smoke coming from the 2nd floor of a house on Avenue B. While driving down to the firehouse, dispatch comes again and says as per the Chief on scene, it's a confirmed working house fire.
I took the officer's seat and upon approach of the fire, the Chief routed us to the block behind to try an attack from the rear. I took the guys off the engine, leaving the driver and one guy to drive to the end of the block, wrap a hydrant, and come back. I ran to a few backyards, looking for our best attack position, before finding one with a nice wide walkway and a clear shot to the heavy fire blowing out of the second floor rear window. One of our juniors already had a garden hose on the eaves, which looked funny but actually helped keep the fire from spreading until we stretched 2 lines to the rear of the house.
I hadn't heard about any interior attacks, and since we had a clear shot, I let the guys open up the line into the window and to start hitting the eaves and the roof. The second line next to me was directed at the house next door to keep it wet and cool. We shut down the line a few seconds later and then heard there were interior crews making headway so we put the lines down.
A call came across the radios stating that a 14 year old girl was possibly inside. A few minutes later, she was accounted for by her parents and an aggressive attack finally put that fire to rest.
We set up a few ladders and pulled the eaves as the fire darkened down and the crews inside began to fog-vent.
Later I learned that while our guys in the back were putting water into the window from the outside, there actually were guys in the fire-room. They told me the outside line screwed up the thermal balance in the room and they had to bail out down the stairs that they originally came up. I felt horrible. There were about 15 of us in that backyard, and no one had that line shut down for a good minute nor did anyone know there were crews up there until apparently it was too late.
Better communication would have prevented this but still no water should have entered that building from the outside regardless. There was plenty of fire blowing out that back window, so the vent was already doing its job. Hitting the eaves and exposure building should have been the extent of the rear operations. I consider that a horrible call and very preventable with a little forethought.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
All Night Chemical Plant Fire
Out of all the days to stay late at work, my boss asked me Tuesday to stay until 8PM for a late meeting. Around 4:30 PM my phone starts ringing off the hook with my guys calling me to tell me there's a huge factory fire on Garibaldi Ave. I checked with a few sources to make sure it would still be burning when I got home (being that my commute is over an hour) and they reassured me it would be burning for a long time. I left work with apologies to my boss and let's just say that was the longest commute of my life.
Coming into my town I could smell and see the smoke. I grabbed a few granola bars, got dressed, went to headquarters and grabbed my gear and drove to the scene. The smoke engulfed a few city blocks and when I got close, police moved the barricades to let my car in.
When I met up with my crew, they were standing and watching as all the tower ladders were in full operation, and I was told this was a 100% defensive operation as the plant had unknown chemical and plastic contents and was vacant. As everyone was unsure of the quality of the air, we were all issued filter-masks similar to the ones surgeons wear, and some agency was already on scene doing air-quality testing.
I found my Captain and as I'm stepping up as Lieutenant in a month, I felt this was a great opportunity to work side by side and get some things done. Even though Engine Companies don't have much function at a defensive fire besides pumping water to the master streams, we found a metal staircase to a lower-set rooftop that had a door that led to one of the attached buildings that was not yet involved in fire.
After giving a heads up to the Chief and all operating ladder streams, we took a 3 man team up the attached metal stairs to set up a 2 1/2 inch line up hanging up and over the parapet next to an attached roof-access ladder. Next to us was a door to the building, which we cut off the hinges with a circular saw. We stretched the 2 1/2 up the stairs, made a big U into the room and back out of the room, 3 feet up the wall and hung it over the parapet.
I was standing a foot into the room when they charged it, unaware that I was standing right in the center of the U the line made. Water rushed throught he lines and the weight pulled the 2 1/2 tight and I quickly realized it would sweep my legs right out from under me. I only had about a second between hearing water rushing and seeing the line whipping towards my legs. I jumped as high as I could as it swept under my feet like lightning and it just caught my heel, tripping me slightly, before flying out the door and almost down the stairs. That was an extremely close call as it nearly brought me down the stairs with it. Crisis averted and let this be a lesson to me and anyone reading this to stay the hell away from a 2 1/2 as it's charging, even if your pump-operator is more gentle on the throttle than mine.
Our strategy was to set up one firefighter sitting on the 2 1/2" hoseline on the parapet, one firefighter on the landing beside him for support, one firefighter a foot into the room with a thermal camera to watch for encroaching fire, and an officer on the landing to coordinate it all.
100 feet across the roof from the nozzle-man was a set of windows which at this point all had massive amounts of fire rolling and blowing out of them. The idea was to hit the right-most window to keep the fire from moving right and entering the attached building. Every 7 minutes we rotated positions and sent 1 man down to be replaced with someone fresh from the ground below.
The attached room was hot and had a haze of smoke that got denser as time went by. At the far end of the room was a hallway which had fire that could be seen with the thermal camera, but not yet with the naked eye as the smoke was too thick down the hallway. An interior attack was out of the question as master streams operated above us, even though they were aware of our crew. As we rotated guys more and more, we noticed the fire was making its way down that hallway towards us, and we debated whether to wait for it to enter the room and make a final stand with the 2 1/2 from the landing at the doorway.
After about 45 minutes of fire attack, no improvement was seen in the windows we were hitting and the fire was getting even closer down the hallway. Too many towers were in operation flowing water, and we decided our attempts were futile and we backed down the metal stairs. 15 minutes later that entire building was overcome by heavy fire, creating furnace-like conditions.
A few hours later, I took a walk around the front of the building, which now had heavy flame blowing out of 3 or 4 windows, catching a nearby tree on fire as well. Rehab was set up in a deli across the street, and everyone operating with me earlier on the stairs went inside for some pizza and O2.
We set up our deck gun later on the same building we were trying to protect earlier and stayed for another 10 hours pumping water to all the master streams in operation. About 7 AM, my crew was relieved by one of the 16 towns helping out through the night. I went home, called my boss to take off work, and fell asleep until the pager went off a few hours later for a house fire on Avenue B...
Coming into my town I could smell and see the smoke. I grabbed a few granola bars, got dressed, went to headquarters and grabbed my gear and drove to the scene. The smoke engulfed a few city blocks and when I got close, police moved the barricades to let my car in.
When I met up with my crew, they were standing and watching as all the tower ladders were in full operation, and I was told this was a 100% defensive operation as the plant had unknown chemical and plastic contents and was vacant. As everyone was unsure of the quality of the air, we were all issued filter-masks similar to the ones surgeons wear, and some agency was already on scene doing air-quality testing.I found my Captain and as I'm stepping up as Lieutenant in a month, I felt this was a great opportunity to work side by side and get some things done. Even though Engine Companies don't have much function at a defensive fire besides pumping water to the master streams, we found a metal staircase to a lower-set rooftop that had a door that led to one of the attached buildings that was not yet involved in fire.
After giving a heads up to the Chief and all operating ladder streams, we took a 3 man team up the attached metal stairs to set up a 2 1/2 inch line up hanging up and over the parapet next to an attached roof-access ladder. Next to us was a door to the building, which we cut off the hinges with a circular saw. We stretched the 2 1/2 up the stairs, made a big U into the room and back out of the room, 3 feet up the wall and hung it over the parapet.
I was standing a foot into the room when they charged it, unaware that I was standing right in the center of the U the line made. Water rushed throught he lines and the weight pulled the 2 1/2 tight and I quickly realized it would sweep my legs right out from under me. I only had about a second between hearing water rushing and seeing the line whipping towards my legs. I jumped as high as I could as it swept under my feet like lightning and it just caught my heel, tripping me slightly, before flying out the door and almost down the stairs. That was an extremely close call as it nearly brought me down the stairs with it. Crisis averted and let this be a lesson to me and anyone reading this to stay the hell away from a 2 1/2 as it's charging, even if your pump-operator is more gentle on the throttle than mine.
Our strategy was to set up one firefighter sitting on the 2 1/2" hoseline on the parapet, one firefighter on the landing beside him for support, one firefighter a foot into the room with a thermal camera to watch for encroaching fire, and an officer on the landing to coordinate it all.
100 feet across the roof from the nozzle-man was a set of windows which at this point all had massive amounts of fire rolling and blowing out of them. The idea was to hit the right-most window to keep the fire from moving right and entering the attached building. Every 7 minutes we rotated positions and sent 1 man down to be replaced with someone fresh from the ground below.
The attached room was hot and had a haze of smoke that got denser as time went by. At the far end of the room was a hallway which had fire that could be seen with the thermal camera, but not yet with the naked eye as the smoke was too thick down the hallway. An interior attack was out of the question as master streams operated above us, even though they were aware of our crew. As we rotated guys more and more, we noticed the fire was making its way down that hallway towards us, and we debated whether to wait for it to enter the room and make a final stand with the 2 1/2 from the landing at the doorway.
After about 45 minutes of fire attack, no improvement was seen in the windows we were hitting and the fire was getting even closer down the hallway. Too many towers were in operation flowing water, and we decided our attempts were futile and we backed down the metal stairs. 15 minutes later that entire building was overcome by heavy fire, creating furnace-like conditions.
A few hours later, I took a walk around the front of the building, which now had heavy flame blowing out of 3 or 4 windows, catching a nearby tree on fire as well. Rehab was set up in a deli across the street, and everyone operating with me earlier on the stairs went inside for some pizza and O2.
We set up our deck gun later on the same building we were trying to protect earlier and stayed for another 10 hours pumping water to all the master streams in operation. About 7 AM, my crew was relieved by one of the 16 towns helping out through the night. I went home, called my boss to take off work, and fell asleep until the pager went off a few hours later for a house fire on Avenue B...
Monday, June 15, 2009
I made Lieutenant
While on vacation, my company held elections and, although most of the guys said they'd nominate me for LT., I wasn't so sure. Although the old timers don't have much input on the fireground anymore, they still make a lot of the decisions around the firehouse and especially if the person involved isn't there to defend himself. Anyway, I got a text message while I was rushing back from the aiport that they unanimously voted me in as their next LT. I found out afterwards that the town also changed our terms for officers from 12 months to 18 months, so looks like I'm in it for the long-haul.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Fire while getting a haircut
My company was at a wetdown in another town, but I stayed back since I had a mother's day dinner that night. While under the apron getting a haircut, my pager went off for a house fire on Union Street. I jumped up, threw a 20 on the table and ran out. Another engine was already flying down the hill, they were apparently all in the firehouse waiting for their turn to go to the wetdown so they got out fast.
I ran to the firehouse, grabbed my gear and jumped in a buddy's car. As we got on scene, we saw light smoke coming from the attic window of the house. We ran to another engine and grabbed some Scott Pack's and tools. As we entered the house, there were already about 5 or 6 guys at the top of the stairs. We helped hump a charged line around the winding staircases to the 3rd floor. After that, we investigated the other rooms but so no fire or smoke. It started getting very crowded up there with other firefighters, so the Safety officer made his way up and kicked most of us out.
When I walked out of the front door and looked up, the light haze had turned to thick black smoke that was pushing out of the attic window - not a good thing. I went with a few others to the basement and first floors to investigate to make sure the fire hadn't started in the basement - something that has happened before, especially in Balloon Frame Construction. We poked a few holes and found nothing, then made our way back up to the 3rd floor.
The attack team was rotated out and we missed our chance to replace them as another team went up when we were in the basement. Walking around on the floor below the fire floor, the ceilings were gushing with water. I was afraid that the water weight combined with whatever fire-load was in the attic, plus the firemen, would be too much for the ceiling to hold, so my team and I began extensively taking down the sheetrock on the ceiling to let the water drain. Hundreds of gallons of water quickly flowed from hundreds of holes in the ceiling, covering all of us in char, soot and muck. After that, we heard on the radio the fire was finally knocked down and we just turned over the overhaul operations to a neighboring town's crew.
I ran to the firehouse, grabbed my gear and jumped in a buddy's car. As we got on scene, we saw light smoke coming from the attic window of the house. We ran to another engine and grabbed some Scott Pack's and tools. As we entered the house, there were already about 5 or 6 guys at the top of the stairs. We helped hump a charged line around the winding staircases to the 3rd floor. After that, we investigated the other rooms but so no fire or smoke. It started getting very crowded up there with other firefighters, so the Safety officer made his way up and kicked most of us out.
When I walked out of the front door and looked up, the light haze had turned to thick black smoke that was pushing out of the attic window - not a good thing. I went with a few others to the basement and first floors to investigate to make sure the fire hadn't started in the basement - something that has happened before, especially in Balloon Frame Construction. We poked a few holes and found nothing, then made our way back up to the 3rd floor.
The attack team was rotated out and we missed our chance to replace them as another team went up when we were in the basement. Walking around on the floor below the fire floor, the ceilings were gushing with water. I was afraid that the water weight combined with whatever fire-load was in the attic, plus the firemen, would be too much for the ceiling to hold, so my team and I began extensively taking down the sheetrock on the ceiling to let the water drain. Hundreds of gallons of water quickly flowed from hundreds of holes in the ceiling, covering all of us in char, soot and muck. After that, we heard on the radio the fire was finally knocked down and we just turned over the overhaul operations to a neighboring town's crew.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Auto Yard Haz-Mat / Trailer Fire
It was about 3:40 AM on a work night when dispatch said there was a trash fire behind Shop Rite. I almost rolled over on the call, but I'm currently running for Lieutenant so I figured it'd be good to show my face for a B.S. call so close to the time I'd have to wake for work. Sleep's overrated anyway right?
Anyway, as I'm driving down, dispatch came through and changed the story 3 times, finally saying it was a trailer fire in the local Junk Yard. No drivers showed for our engine so we jumped on the ladder truck and pulled into the lot to see a huge plume of dark smoke above a heavy fire load at the base of a building. The main problem was a huge metal gate w/ a chain and padlock. We tried jamming a halligan through the padlock and beating on that with the flathead axe, but I got fed up and got the circular saw and cut through the chain in a matter of seconds.
My crew and I ran forward and the truck followed us, sneaking past the fire to get better positioning to put the ladder up behind the building. We stretched lines off the ladder truck as no engines had arrived yet, and just as we're about to throw it into pump, the Chief yelled to us to forget the line and to put the ladder up, as the fire was now climbing the side of the building. I saw how close we were to putting a fire-attack team into play so I ran and argued with the Truck chauffeur until he quickly threw the ladder into pump before going back to the ladder operations.
I oversaw two of our guys as they alternated keeping a 50 gallon metal drum of god-knows-what cool and attacking the actual fire on the building and rooftop. When they had it under control, I ran and grabbed 2 other guys and some tools and began working on the door to gain entry into the building. As I'm putzing around getting a halligan, one of my guys gave a swift mule kick to the door and it flew open. Not too smart if there was built up pressure and heat behind that door, but he swears to me that he checked it first.
We masked up and went in, surprised the visibility was great and there was only a light haze of smoke, and no visible fire. I was pulling a chain to open the huge garage door to vent when a captain from another company came over and started screaming "NO DON'T SHUT IT, OPEN IT." He was obviously confused on which way I was pulling the chain, and I yelled back for him to "calm the fuck down." ...Let's just say he didn't like that very much. He began yelling "what do you mean calm down? I AM CALM!!!!" Whatever. It was a misunderstanding and we both apologized to eachother later and it was squashed.
It was a smooth fire, we got outta there around 7 AM, I ran home, showered and went to work.
Anyway, as I'm driving down, dispatch came through and changed the story 3 times, finally saying it was a trailer fire in the local Junk Yard. No drivers showed for our engine so we jumped on the ladder truck and pulled into the lot to see a huge plume of dark smoke above a heavy fire load at the base of a building. The main problem was a huge metal gate w/ a chain and padlock. We tried jamming a halligan through the padlock and beating on that with the flathead axe, but I got fed up and got the circular saw and cut through the chain in a matter of seconds.
My crew and I ran forward and the truck followed us, sneaking past the fire to get better positioning to put the ladder up behind the building. We stretched lines off the ladder truck as no engines had arrived yet, and just as we're about to throw it into pump, the Chief yelled to us to forget the line and to put the ladder up, as the fire was now climbing the side of the building. I saw how close we were to putting a fire-attack team into play so I ran and argued with the Truck chauffeur until he quickly threw the ladder into pump before going back to the ladder operations.
I oversaw two of our guys as they alternated keeping a 50 gallon metal drum of god-knows-what cool and attacking the actual fire on the building and rooftop. When they had it under control, I ran and grabbed 2 other guys and some tools and began working on the door to gain entry into the building. As I'm putzing around getting a halligan, one of my guys gave a swift mule kick to the door and it flew open. Not too smart if there was built up pressure and heat behind that door, but he swears to me that he checked it first.
We masked up and went in, surprised the visibility was great and there was only a light haze of smoke, and no visible fire. I was pulling a chain to open the huge garage door to vent when a captain from another company came over and started screaming "NO DON'T SHUT IT, OPEN IT." He was obviously confused on which way I was pulling the chain, and I yelled back for him to "calm the fuck down." ...Let's just say he didn't like that very much. He began yelling "what do you mean calm down? I AM CALM!!!!" Whatever. It was a misunderstanding and we both apologized to eachother later and it was squashed.
It was a smooth fire, we got outta there around 7 AM, I ran home, showered and went to work.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Creepy graveyard fire
We trained at the fire academy for hours doing RIT Training (read about it here) and got back into Lodi about 11:30 PM - exhausted. I fell asleep when the pager went off about 1 AM for a "Fire in St. Nick's Cemetary." I thought to myself "what the hell is there to burn in a cemetary" as I walked out of my house and immediately smelt smoke.
As we're driving on the engine to the cemetary we can see the smoke plume and thought a building was on fire, but pulling in gave us a clear view to about 15 or 20 separate brush fires all throughout the cemetary. It looked like a scene from a movie where people are holdling a seance in a graveyard with rings of fire. As I'm pulling our hoseline off the reels on the side of the engine, I was laughing with our chauffer about how creepy this all was.
Anyway, laughter turned to labor as we stretched and charged all 250 feet of our attack line (inch and 3/4 diameter) and began putting out the fires. They were spaced out enough that after hitting one fire, we had to lift and move the entire length of charged hoseline over and around tombstones and corners to reach the next fire. We did this about 5 times in total until the reach of the stream was far enough to hit the last, and furthest fire. Let's just say my shoulders got a good workout this night.
My guess is some punk was walking around with a box of matches and just went to town, since we saw a lot of tombstones knocked over as well (along side the few that our hoseline happened to shift or push.)
As we're driving on the engine to the cemetary we can see the smoke plume and thought a building was on fire, but pulling in gave us a clear view to about 15 or 20 separate brush fires all throughout the cemetary. It looked like a scene from a movie where people are holdling a seance in a graveyard with rings of fire. As I'm pulling our hoseline off the reels on the side of the engine, I was laughing with our chauffer about how creepy this all was.
Anyway, laughter turned to labor as we stretched and charged all 250 feet of our attack line (inch and 3/4 diameter) and began putting out the fires. They were spaced out enough that after hitting one fire, we had to lift and move the entire length of charged hoseline over and around tombstones and corners to reach the next fire. We did this about 5 times in total until the reach of the stream was far enough to hit the last, and furthest fire. Let's just say my shoulders got a good workout this night.
My guess is some punk was walking around with a box of matches and just went to town, since we saw a lot of tombstones knocked over as well (along side the few that our hoseline happened to shift or push.)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Pinto Garbage Truck Fire
We're moving apartments, and I was exhausted and fell asleep around 9:30 PM. When the call came through, dispatch said a caller reported a "fire inside the complex of Pinto's on Route 46." I woke up and was in a daze, confused on which apartment I was even in. At the firehouse, only 4 of us showed up in total.
We came down Rt. 46 and I didn't see smoke or anything yet. AJ called back to us from the front officer's seat and told Brian to get the hydrant, wrapping both of our rear 3 inch lines around the hydrant as we slowly rolled forward. I jumped out and pulled both line's off our rear reels so he'd have enough length. I went to grab tools when AJ said "forget the tools, we'll work off their truck, lets just go."
When we got close enough, I saw it was a garbage truck fully involved, and the Chief ran up screaming for us to hurry and get up there. Once again, I hate when people get hyper at car-fires if there's no exposures to concern us. The truck is already a loss, why should we run in 15 degree weather when there's black ice everywhere just to gain 10 seconds on a fire that's already totalled the truck or car.
Anyway, the safety officer yelled at 2 guys from Engine 614 to mask-up, so I dropped to a knee, masked up and walked over to back up the former Lieutenant of another company on his 1 3/4 inch line. Fire was ripping through the front cab of the truck, but after a few seconds of straight-stream, the fire quickly darkened down. We hit it again in the wheel wells before walking around to the front to see if it was completely out. It was, for the most part, so we continued just hitting hot spots before quickly putting up a ladder to view down into the truck for any other extension.
Going back to pack up at the engine, I learned that Brian didn't wrap one of the 3-inch lines tight enough around the hydrant and as the engine drove forward, the line got loose and was pulled down the street. Left with just one line, he hooked it to the hydrant but opened the hydrant too early when a Chief called for water, when he should have waited for his Driver/Pumper to call for water instead. The water flow caught the driver off guard but he got it under control in time.
Things like stretching lines, wrapping hydrants, and pulling hose off our reels are the essential things at every fire, but it seems our guys have gotten so cocky with their knowledge of our engine that they don't want to drill on those things anymore. Then we get stupid little mistakes like these that could really cause havoc if it had been a structure fire instead of a truck fire.
We came down Rt. 46 and I didn't see smoke or anything yet. AJ called back to us from the front officer's seat and told Brian to get the hydrant, wrapping both of our rear 3 inch lines around the hydrant as we slowly rolled forward. I jumped out and pulled both line's off our rear reels so he'd have enough length. I went to grab tools when AJ said "forget the tools, we'll work off their truck, lets just go."
When we got close enough, I saw it was a garbage truck fully involved, and the Chief ran up screaming for us to hurry and get up there. Once again, I hate when people get hyper at car-fires if there's no exposures to concern us. The truck is already a loss, why should we run in 15 degree weather when there's black ice everywhere just to gain 10 seconds on a fire that's already totalled the truck or car.
Anyway, the safety officer yelled at 2 guys from Engine 614 to mask-up, so I dropped to a knee, masked up and walked over to back up the former Lieutenant of another company on his 1 3/4 inch line. Fire was ripping through the front cab of the truck, but after a few seconds of straight-stream, the fire quickly darkened down. We hit it again in the wheel wells before walking around to the front to see if it was completely out. It was, for the most part, so we continued just hitting hot spots before quickly putting up a ladder to view down into the truck for any other extension.
Going back to pack up at the engine, I learned that Brian didn't wrap one of the 3-inch lines tight enough around the hydrant and as the engine drove forward, the line got loose and was pulled down the street. Left with just one line, he hooked it to the hydrant but opened the hydrant too early when a Chief called for water, when he should have waited for his Driver/Pumper to call for water instead. The water flow caught the driver off guard but he got it under control in time.
Things like stretching lines, wrapping hydrants, and pulling hose off our reels are the essential things at every fire, but it seems our guys have gotten so cocky with their knowledge of our engine that they don't want to drill on those things anymore. Then we get stupid little mistakes like these that could really cause havoc if it had been a structure fire instead of a truck fire.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Screaming at a car fire
As I'm driving down Rt. 46 to Home Depot we get paged out to a car fire on Kipp Ave. We're busy Scotting up when we pull up behind the house where the car is. The car happens to be next to a white fence in someone's back yard. I hear screaming on the radio really loud as the Captain of another engine company is yelling "I NEEEED WATER NOWWW." It so happens their engine was nearly out of water when they pulled up but instead of waiting, they still stretched a line and tried to do what they could.
It still amazes me at how excited even some of these seasoned men can get at a car fire. Unless a car is against a building or other exposure, and unless there's someone trapped inside, there is NEVER a time for excitement in a car fire. By the time we get there and start putting water on it, it will always be past the point of being totalled anyway. There is no saving a car in a fire and no point to get people hurt trying.
Hearing a Captain screaming at the top of his lungs like that, seeing the panic in his face, and watching him yell at someone later to get a saw to cut the hood is disheartening to see. We're supposed to look at these older guys for guidance and to keep us new guys calm, not to get us ralled up for no reason.
...and to think, this guy wants to run for chief next year...
It still amazes me at how excited even some of these seasoned men can get at a car fire. Unless a car is against a building or other exposure, and unless there's someone trapped inside, there is NEVER a time for excitement in a car fire. By the time we get there and start putting water on it, it will always be past the point of being totalled anyway. There is no saving a car in a fire and no point to get people hurt trying.
Hearing a Captain screaming at the top of his lungs like that, seeing the panic in his face, and watching him yell at someone later to get a saw to cut the hood is disheartening to see. We're supposed to look at these older guys for guidance and to keep us new guys calm, not to get us ralled up for no reason.
...and to think, this guy wants to run for chief next year...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Mutual Aid - Woodridge House Fire
Saturday night I went snowboarding, got home late and fell asleep around 1 AM. About 5 Am, dispatch requested our engine to Woodridge to stand by at their firehouse for a working house fire. As I'm running down the stairs without my car keys, I stop short and run back up to grab them when dispatch states Woodridge now wants us to the scene to go to work.Running into headquarters, 3 guys were there ahead of me so the Chief told them to go ahead in the Rescue Truck since Woodridge "needed" manpower asap, so I waited a few more minutes for a couple of guys, then we started off.
When we got to the scene, we staged around the block but it was still dark out and I could see flames blowing out a window and a plume of smoke. I helped the Chief gear up and we walked to the scene with our SCBA, axes and halligans and flashlights.
We were told to stand by as a F.A.S.T. Team, and we basically watched them fight the fire for an hour. Woodridge has 60 minute air bottles, and they must have did a solid interior attack for 3/4 of that limited time, I was impressed. I know how exhausting it is and 45 minutes of solid firefighting is enough to knock anyone on his / her ass.
Basically all we were useful for that night was to pack up their hose, which was rough since in the 9 degree weather, everything that had even gotten misted was now a sheet of ice. We helped pack up 5-inch line that, with the solid, frozen contents, probably weighed 200lbs per length. I've never seen inch 3/4 line freeze SOLID before, making rolling and folding impossible. The sub-pumps we were using to pump out the basement after a long fire attack were hosing down nearby trucks, people and EMS gurneys, turning them almost instantly into ice sculptures.
This reminds me of the fire on December 9, 2006 where my wet jacket froze solid and I had icy water in my boots after the water-main in the basement fire broke.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Car vs Pole - Car wins!!
Just walked in the door and the pager goes off (around 2:50 AM) for a "motor vehicle accident with entrapment." I didn't even notice the address given, which was right down the street from my house on First Street, nor did I hear the accident when it occurred. There were enough of us that responded to the firehouse that most of our guys went with the Rescue truck, yet me and 2 other guys rode with the Engine.
When we got there, the guy's car was on its side, a wooden utility pole was slightly tilted, and the Rescue-Jacks were already in place stabilizing the car from rolling or pitching. I stretched a hoseline off the Engine to the front of the car before a Chief brought my attention to the leaning utility pole right above my head. I then restretched the line in a safer direction and stayed there with one of our new guys.
Turns out the driver was very drunk, and comical. He wasn't hurt at all and was able to climb out the sunroof once two of our guys ripped it off. Then he said "I hope no one else was hurt," to which we said "Sir, you were the only one in the car" to which he replied "I was???" Also, while sitting in the ambulance he made us promise to let him know when the ambulance got there. We got quite a kick out of that.
The odd part of the accident was that there was quite a bit of split wood sitting next to the wooden utility pole that he hit, yet the pole was pretty straight on the ground with no visible damage. The car ended up taking a 3 foot section right off the bottom of the pole, and the pole simply dropped down 3 ft into its original hole. Pretty cool once I realized what I was looking at.
When we got there, the guy's car was on its side, a wooden utility pole was slightly tilted, and the Rescue-Jacks were already in place stabilizing the car from rolling or pitching. I stretched a hoseline off the Engine to the front of the car before a Chief brought my attention to the leaning utility pole right above my head. I then restretched the line in a safer direction and stayed there with one of our new guys.
Turns out the driver was very drunk, and comical. He wasn't hurt at all and was able to climb out the sunroof once two of our guys ripped it off. Then he said "I hope no one else was hurt," to which we said "Sir, you were the only one in the car" to which he replied "I was???" Also, while sitting in the ambulance he made us promise to let him know when the ambulance got there. We got quite a kick out of that.
The odd part of the accident was that there was quite a bit of split wood sitting next to the wooden utility pole that he hit, yet the pole was pretty straight on the ground with no visible damage. The car ended up taking a 3 foot section right off the bottom of the pole, and the pole simply dropped down 3 ft into its original hole. Pretty cool once I realized what I was looking at.
