Okay... I'm just getting over a cold/flu and not completely up to par in strength but when you get a page you go! I'd imagined that I would be staying at the hall because I still haven't been completely trained on fires and what use am I today?
Apparently a lot useful. Hee hee I had the pleasure, (adrenaline rush kicking in here) of riding on the first truck on scene. Was putting on air tank when the Deputy Chief said not to bother. He had something else in mind for me. Once at the base of the driveway a local drives into the area and a woman, jumps out freaking out about her grandparents. I look at DC and he just nods and waves his hand at me. I turned to her and proceeded to talk with her. She really wants to get up to the house to see her grandparents. I told her we couldn't let her do that until we knew what was happening. Once everything was under control then we could help her get closer. She started to feel cramping, yes she was pregnant and the anxiety was starting to take hold. I gave her instructions on taking deep breaths and relax so she didn't go into premature labor. Fires and labor just wasn't in our plan but we could have worked with it. I'd prefer not to. One new experience at a time for me, thank you very much.
We talked about her pregnancy and she seemed to calm down a bit so she went back to her truck and waited. She was feeling twinges and I warned the Captain. He said he'd keep an eye on her. I then turned to the Deputy Chief for further instructions and he had me check the size of hose we neede for the hydrant. I get the information to him and someone came to double check my sizing. It was correct :)
Then DC had me grab the hose and follow the truck up with it, letting him know when it gets tight. Hydrant hose in hand I proceeded to follow him up the hill. He then asked me to hook up the hose to the truck at the top of the hill and get it ready for the hydrant to be opened. Ok, I've not done this before! He mentioned, hose wrenches... uhhhhh where? Oh to the right. Ok, got them. Then at some point he swore, don't worry it wasn't me he was mad at, adrenaline rush here people! I softly said, "Sorry sir, never done this before. Might not be the most experienced but I can learn fast. Tell me what you need." He looked at me, smiled and gently told me how to hook things up while he unrolled more hoses. The attack team was getting the hoses to the fire while another member hooked up the two attack lines to the truck. By the time DC and I got the main hose hooked up, the attack lines were ready to go. "Let her rip!" DC hollers into the radio.
I never knew structure fires could be sooooo loud. It was deafining. I just assumed they would be like a fire in the fire place or pits... was I wrong.
After we attacked the fire got it out and did our perimeter check. DC pulled me aside and said I did good for a first timer. I was proud of our team. We were short on members and the three of us rookies kept our heads and did what we had to do. Four members stayed on scene for a couple hours while the rest of us were sent back to the hall.
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| Smile :) |
Back at the hall we were undressing and just as I was hanging up my gear, putting on my shoes, we got an MVA call. Here we go again! Something new and sounded really serious. I looked at my Chief, he nodded and said, "Go". I grabbed my gear and donned it again. Hopped into the truck and off we went. Get almost to the scene when we were cancelled. Ugh, turn the truck around and head back home.
It's now 3:30AM and I'm finally slowing down. Think I'll sleep in today.
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