In the field: Shift 4

Today started off like the first two....SLOOOOW!!

I picked up some eggs on the way to work for breakfast. After checking out the engine and all of my gear, I went into the kitchen and made eggs and toast for the crew. Then it was on to other things that the Captain needed completed.

Since the county dissolved the volunteer board that used to oversee the station (The county is a volunteer & paid combination system, with volunteer organizations owning all stations and apparatus), we have become a county owned station. With that, we have had to inventory EVERYTHING: hoses, EMS supplies, radios, every piece of equipment on the engine and medic unit, cleaning supplies, etc. Much of the day was spent doing an inventory.

We didn't have ANY calls through lunch, and enjoyed pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches and fries. After lunch, we continued doing various tasks including house duties. By dinner time, we still hadn't received a single call and I was beginning to wonder if we would have our first day of not running a single call. I walked into the kitchen to get ready for dinner (grilled cheese and soup) and set my glass of ice water down. I assisted the Lieutenant by occasionally stirring the soup.

*BEEP* *BEEP* *BEEP* "Engine Respond"....OUR FIRST CALL OF THE DAY. It was sent out as a structure fire. We head out to the high bay and quickly got dressed to respond. While en route, we listened to communications reports and FINALLY...they reported fire showing side B.

(Quick Sidetrack) Houses are referred to by sides Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta. This allows for easy reference rather than saying "Front, Right, Back, and Left"....my right may not be your right. Interior portions of the house are referred to by quadrants for similar reference rather than saying something like "I'm in the back left corner of the house," you can say "I'm in the Bravo quadrant"



(Back on track) We pulled up to see flames coming from the side of the house and beginning to light the house next door (referred to as an exposure, or exposure side B), jumped out with our airpacks on, and grabbed our tools (a halligan bar and an axe). The Captain told me to pull a line and get ready to make entry. The first engine on scene pulled a line to maintain the exposure and keep it from lighting the house on fire. We were second on scene and we were going in to attack the seat of the fire and try to stop it from spreading into the remainder of the house. I pulled an attack line and laid it out, called for water, and then we advanced in. We went in through the front door, up the stairs, and down a hallway before meeting the fire (which had been primarily contained to the bedroom where it started). There was some fire extension that I had to knock down before I was able to turn the corner into the bedroom.

(The upstairs looked something like this from what I remember...scale is somewhat off)



After getting control of the fire and knocking it down, we then started to pull the ceiling to check for any extension into the attic space. Due to the fire damage, some of the ceiling (back corner bedroom) actually collapsed without any additional help from us. After extinguishing the little extension that was present, and soaking the insulation to ensure that it would not rekindle, we walked out of the house and back out towards our engine. On the way out, I looked around at the house and surprisingly there was little actual fire damage to the remainder of the house. The fire was contained (for the most part) to the room. The smoke filled the second floor and everything was covered in soot. The first floor appeared to be untouched.

Once outside, we dropped our packs and assisted with rolling up hose and getting ready to leave.

Here is a picture of the house that was on fire that I managed to snap prior to use leaving the scene.



We got back to the station and cleaned our insulation covered gear, refilled our airpacks, and finally ate our dinner.

We managed to get to sleep at a reasonable hour after all the cleanup and showers. At about 0400 in the morning, we got a call for an injured male just down the road at the gas station, with police on scene. When we got there, we saw the guy handcuffed on the curb with TONS of police surrounding him. He had abrasions to his head and face. After arriving on scene, we found out that he was driving under the influence when he was pulled over by police. He then attempted to flee on foot and was tackled on the concrete (this was the source of his injuries).

The house fire was a TON of fun...I can't wait to do it again.