Many times throughout a County wide FF-EMS division, Departments actually fill in at other Dept’s for a variety of reasons. Special events such as Dept functions, Banquets so that the respective Dept. members can attend without the concern of being called out and can go relax and enjoy their function.
Most if not all Depts. have an 8hr No respond policy if alcohol is consumed.
Back in 2012, Myself and 4 others “volunteered” our time for a 6hr shift at a neighboring Dept, Free Food of our choice, Nice recliners, Big screen TV, I’m in!!
So we all met at our Dept, Grabbed our gear, Took our SCBA’s-(air-packs) as we use a different type than the Dept we will be assisting, Load up in a Dept vehicle and off we went. Upon arrival we were briefed on which Rig to use for what ever call, Lead Engine, Crash truck, Ladder Truck or a If MABAS call happens. Most Apparatus are pretty similar, But there are some differences as too where some equipment is stored, How much water is on board, Nothing drastic, So we did a walk around, Opened up compartments, We didn’t see any issue’s.
So we staged our gear, And headed into the Kitchen to order Food!! The respective Chief said order what ever you fellas want, No worries!! As expected, Differences on pizza toppings ensued, So our Officer took charge and said ORDER what You want, It’s on them!! Fireman like food, Especially on someone else’s dime!! So they called and placed the order.
Are you kidding me?? Now?? We just ordered Food!!!!!
Structure Fire with entrapment!! Visible smoke and Fire!! Where at, Anyone know how to get there??? Even though this Dept has the system on board, We rely on personal knowledge or Yep, Our personal phones and Mapquest. That’s the Bad news, The Good news, One of our fellas had lived in this City and knew exactly where it was!!!
Let me explain a standard in Fireman’s training, Getting dressed in PPE. State standards require to be fully dressed Correctly and on Air in 3 min. It may have changed, But during my time it was 3 minutes.
One this call, We were Fully dressed and on scene in…….. TWO Minutes, Not on air, But at the ready.
Lucky for us this Home was 2 streets down from the Fire House, We pulled up and Flames were rolling out the Front door, Smoke coming from the door area. I jumped off and grabbed a Line and headed up the driveway, Flaking out the hose, When a person came up to me Hysterical telling me too hurry, LE was there and I yelled Get them away!! Which they did. Our Officer radioed for Mutual Aid………… 2 story home, Upper and Lower Unit, Victim lives in the Lower which is involved. I was the Nozzleman, And the 3rd man on the line was a Big fella (a Paramedic as well) and the Officer said Ready, Lets Go!!!
I gave s short spray, And with one swing, That door flew off the hinges, That’s a rarity, In we Crawled, It was dark, I was spraying the ceiling, Feeling ahead of me with my hand for our Victim and then, ZAP!, WTH, Zap! The Officer was saying Move forward, Zap!! I’m yelling, Something is in my way and I’m getting shocked!! He couldn’t hear me, WTH, In my haste I didn’t turn on my battery operated Voice Box on my Mask, It amplifies your voice so others can hear you….
I continued spraying active Fire, Foam!! My mask is covered with it, Wipe!! The 2 behind me were sweeping, Feeling around for the Victim, Yelling fire dept!! Move forward!! Zap!!
What’s encountered when going inside can be interesting, The Heat, The smoke, Soot, The Orange Glow of Fire, You rely on your senses, Hearing the Crackle of Fire, If you don’t see it .The water being sprayed can all have an effect on Visibilty. The soot will cover your mask and reduce what you can see, So one will wipe their mask constantly, Spraying water in an upward fashion comes down on top of you, So its like being underwater in a sense.
At this point, I can’t see anything, Ventilation!! Timing of doing so is Critical, Do it at the wrong time, Might as well pour Gas on the Fire, I hear the Crash of windows, Still cant see, Wipe, I move a bit, Zap!! I’m feeling for a chord, Wearing the Leather gloves, One’s sense of touch is limited, I can’t find it!! My Officer went around me….
He’s Here!!!! Get him out!! Had I moved 2 more feet, The PT was on the Floor in front of me!! Unknown to us, A Capt from the Dept we were covering for had shown up as He was running late for his banquet and He came straight to the scene. With the Ventilation, The majority of the smoke escaped, I see the Pt, My officer and the Other fella scooped him up, Oh boy, They kinda dropped them, Oops, Ever tried to grab a greased Pig? Well the Foam acts in the same manner, The Person was covered and Yeah, Slippery!! The other Capt came in, So they All grabbed him and went out, The other Fireman came in with me as they went out, We didn’t see any more Fire, So we started Overhaul. No extension, We Licked this one!! Now then, What was affecting me? Turns out it was a lamp that had a long chord, It fell over and I kept getting caught in it, And Yes, Got a few Jolts as we say!!
Ems had taken the Pt to the Hospital…. Our fella that was the Paramedic went with, Fireman from the Dept we were covering showed up, They took over Overhaul, We went out. The Paramedic called in Flight for Life, Which came to the Hospital, And now it was a waiting game to get word.
Years of Training, Practicing Search and Rescue inside a Structure, Adapting to conditions, Dealing with the unknowns inside a home, All have an effect on what happens inside.
I’ll say this, When we arrived on scene, The Officer didn’t say anything to us, He didn’t have to, We knew what had to be done, Our Training kicked in and what looked like total chaos for those watching, Was actually a fine tuned machine in operation. The respective Chief came to the scene, Gathered us, And said, fantastic job, We knew the City was in good hands, The rush I experienced, I was shaking, I had too walk up and down the street just so I would calm down from the excitement of what just took place. Miraculous!!
The quick response was due too an alert neighbor that spotted the smoke and reported it.
The Victim, Not this time!! We made a save!! Smoke inhalation and Minor burns, The quick actions of EMS treatment, Medical assets nearby and others available to us are what make a difference.This person became a PT Patient, Not a victim!! Turns out they did 3-4 months of Rehab and they were able to function normally. A few weeks after the Incident, We all went and visited him! Met the family, Very grateful, Eh, we did our jobs as expected, That smile was huge on the Person we saved, Our Pt was challenged, But looking at them, Knowing they will be alright was the highest moment I have ever experienced.
Well after the incident, All 5 of us were recognized by our respective Fire Division, Fire Fighters of the Year! That didn’t matter, All of our Training, Experience, Paid off in a time of utmost need, At someones worst moment in Life.
Till next time, Good day!!