Throwing Airpacks I've just started my training as a Volunteer Firefighter - I'm about 3 months into my training towards my Firefighter 1 Certification. I LOVE it! (Well, I've got my FF 1 now!) I'm hoping to, one of these days, become a Smokejumper...

04/01/04
I'm now standing Duty Shifts as a recruit. Our class has finally started standing duty shifts alongside the regular firefighters as part of our training. We can't do a lot yet - take hydrants, work with ladders, put on and maintain airpacks, step-n-fetchit, and paperwork, but this is the best way to learn. So far, I have had Z E R O calls on my first shift and am waiting to see how I do on my 2nd shift today (4/8/04). So far, this is very, very cool.

I've had several fires on my shifts now and I have got to say this is the most amazing thing I've ever done. Although I hate seeing someone's property destroyed, I love the challenge and excitement that comes from facing a fire and knocking it out. The teamwork that is present is one of the most fulfilling feelings there is.

I've been lucky enough to actually handle the front end of the hose on one exterior attack - I was stunned to see how quickly the fog-nozzle was able to knock the fire out. There is even a beauty that goes with the final cleanup and restoration of the equipment. At this last fire, I was sitting on top of the engine under a broken sky, watching the moon play hide-and-seek behind the clouds, smelling smoke and waiting for the next section of hose to be passed up. It was sad to see the loss to the fire-building, but I was very happy that we were able to prevent the fire from spreading to any of the very-close-by structures.

I'm hooked.

Update 7/7/04 - We had our first training burn a few weeks ago. That was amazing - there's something about sitting in several hundred degree temperatures with flames all 'round and feeling cool and comfortable that is simply beyond words. Below are some pictures from that burn (click for full sized image - some are quite large) including one from inside, watching the fire grow before we attacked it. We were able to spend some time watching the growth pattern, knocking it down, and then watching again.


Update 11/10/04 - Here's a link to a fire I was just recently on. I'm the lead firefighter in the 2nd picture (My LT is right behind me). I fyou click on the 'More Photos here' link at the bottom of the page, I'm in front on Images 7, 8, and 10 as well - with the LT keeping me on track.

Update 1/18/05 - WOW! I won Recruit Firefighter of the Year!! I am COMPLETELY stoked. I've also been insanely lucky - I was on 16 of the 25 fires we had last year. The odds of that are REALLY long and I cannot believe how fortunate I am to have that experience. I've also been taking the 'Fireground Leader Academy' courses, including course work in Fire Investigation, Combustable and Non-Combustable Building Construction, the Incident Command System, Water Supplies, Managing Company Level Tactical Operations, and Incident Safety Officer as well as Wildland Firefighting courses. I absolutely LOVE this job and cannot believe I get to work with the folks I do.

Update 8/13/05 - I'm learning to drive the Rescue unit Code-3 now. That's an amazing rush. I'm still really hesitant and unsure though as I'm not really that experienced driving a 'big' truck, and I usually drive like a grandmother anyway. Most everyone at the station has tons of experience driving something this size or larger and drive Code-3 as easily as I drive my Saturn to the store.

It's hard to remember to slow down (believe it or not we have speed limits too!)and especially to slow down for every intersection. Part of the problem is that the Rescue unit is usually the 2nd through the intersection. People see the Medic go through and figure that's it - So they start through the intersection just in time for us to arrive with the heavier, slower Rescue. And I'm still constantly amazed how many people simply don't SEE us. I've followed one truck for 2 blocks, lights, sirens, the hole 9 yards and the driver simply didn't notice anything was even there. We finally got a chance to go around and did so, but c'MON!

We've had a few more fires, including a nice wildland fire (well, a small one anyway) that was a lot of fun. It's a very different experience from a structural fire - The fire can't really hide on you, but MAN it can move fast. I was really lucky because the firefighter/paramedic who was the Apparatus Operator (engineer) on the Grass Rig was really experienced and was a good teacher. He let me just dive right in and try everything from start to finish so I learned a LOT. It was kinda funny as since I was riding in the 'Officers' seat, I was the 'Officer' for the call. The reality is, of course, he was! LOL


(I'm on the right again)



(I'm the helmet all the way to the right)



(That's me front row, right)






I'm on the left here. We're just back after I was backing another firefighter on the 2 1/2" line at another house fire.





Getting ready for an interior attack on a Burn-To-Learn




All the way on the right watching a car fire to see if it's really out.
More photos at my Online Photo Album at Kodak's EasyShare Gallery.
More photos of Keizer Fire's Apparatus at Kodak's EasyShare Gallery.
Photos of a little Wildland Fire at Kodak's EasyShare Gallery.
Photos from the 2005 Scott Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge - That's 69 flights (778 feet) straight up in full bunker gear - 50lbs or so in a race to help generate money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
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