"It's good to be alive, feel the wind in my face, see the blue in the sky. Days like this I realize what a gift is...And it's good to be alive" Geoff Moore
The more I thought of last shifts post, I thought that I would try to add a song to each shift. Since music has been so central to my life, why not?
Today's Post I'll continue with my service time at Elmendorf Fire Dept. The first of three thoughts for this post include a fire that we had in the old Boiler House. At the time of this fire we were not aware that the plan was to remove the boilers and then disassemble this building. Holding to our training proved to provide an unknown safety net. I mean...we entered into this heavily smoke filled commercial building using a left hand sweep, that is holding to the walls on our left. Though we had been told that there was no one in the building, still we would extend our bodies out in attempt to located any victims. Eventually, entering into the third room we were able to locate the fire. After it was extinguished we exited being pumped at the opportunity to fight fire. During 'mop-up' some of our command staff entered to determine the damage done and cause of the fire. It was at this time that they discovered that the boilers had been removed leaving at least a couple 20' x 20' openings into the floor that extended at least twenty feet below. To think, any one of us could have easily stepped into one of these holes, perhaps for our last step. This one call would prove to be a defining object lesson that set the tone for my career, that says 'follow your training and enhance the probability to return home'. The objective that fire fighters want more than any other...to all sit down at the next briefing...to sit together at the next meal.
The second thought is regarding riding 'tailboard'. What an experience this proved to be. Though this practice has been in disfavor since the 80's, it was common during my early years. On the nice summers days, it felt like the chorus of the song I posted today. But when the weather turned, ouch! We had a tarp that would break the wind for us, but still when it was snowing, sometimes blizzard like, and the temps near zero...just holding onto the bar and tying-in made you wish you were back in the warm fire house.
Lastly, the weather in Alaska (as would be in any of the northern states) also made for some interesting and testing times when having to use your pumper. I remember times attempting to open the bail of the nozzle only to find that we had no water due to a frozen pump. What a totally helpless feeling.
Until the next shift...
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