Fun Times

Wake Up! It's Time to Fight Fire

Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock........4:00 am. I awoke as low tones could be heard over the radio, and then suddenly, the BELL RINGS....Wake Up!....It's time to fight fire. Well no, that's not what the dispatcher said but something like that. In minutes we were racing at forty mph in the Engine approaching a large plume of smoke glowing in the dark. Arriving on scene, there before lay a house fully engulfed in flames. It was time for action!

Minutes ago I was dreaming, minutes later I'm fighting fire. What a thrill!

Now can I go back to bed?

Safety Tip

Last weekend I had the privilege of attending a two day class on New Car Technology and Vehicle Extrication. For the two days, we were updated on new car technologies such as hybrids and new vehicle construction and the various steel frames car manufactures use. Out of the many things I learned, I have developed a new found respect for airbags. On the first day of class, our instructor deployed various styles of airbags that are found in new vehicles today. He placed each airbag encasing on the floor upside down (so that the AB would deploy facing the ground) and attached to cables to signal deployment. Wow, the very first one he deployed sounded like a sparkler bomb and flew about 2 stories high and landed a few feet away. He Stated that AB deploy at an average of 200 MPH.

Though I still have much knowledge to gain as a new firefighter, I would like pass on a simple safety tip to all who have or may in the future be involved in a car accident.

First, be aware of where you sit in regards to proximity with the AB. People have been killed due to close proximity.

Secondly, avoid at all costs placing babies and young kids in the front passenger seat. Kids tend to sit fidget and move close to the AB. Now consider an AB deploying at 200 MPH. The middle back seat in considered in most vehicles the safest place for young kids.

Thirdly, if involved in car accident be aware that though your AB has deployed, most newer cars have a two stage AB in the steering wheel. For lighter impacts, there is a smaller AB that deploys. Yet for higher impacts, there is the larger regular AB that deploys. Depending impact, one, both, or none may deploy. So after a collision, be aware of this fact. Sit back as you wait for the arriving Fire Dept. Or if you choose to step out of the vehicle, be aware of not getting to close to your steering wheel.

The biggest thing, is awareness. Understanding the power of your AB could save your life. Some people may question the reason for ABs due to their inherent danger, yet, statistics and crash tests show much more dire consequences for occupants without an AB.

Upon arrival, Fire Departments cut the 12 volt car battery to avoid accidental AB deployment when extricating a person.

Daddy's Little Girl

Verses that Answer Our Doubting

Friday was a great day reaching the hearts of many students at Western. However, as Friday aproached, I was nervous because I felt so inadequate to share my faith. I would ask myself, will I be able to answer the deep questions thrown back at me? How will I even start the conversation?" Well as Friday came along, I look back and say that I definetely felt the hand of God as we walked around Red Square seeking students out. 1 Cor 2:4 states, "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." We are called to spread the Truth. How we perform, may or may not affect the witnessed, however, the Spirit of God is the ultimate determiner of a person's salvation. Things to think about.

Engine 41

Posing for a memorable picture right after ventilating a downtown restaurant. The building's ventilator caught on fire and pushed smoke rather than fresh air throughout the entire building. Fortunately, it self-extinguished upon our arrival. Since starting with the FD, the fellow (second to last on the right) has been a great help to me in learning how to become a better firefighter. He is very diligent in responding to calls even in the wee hours of the night. He has been a volunteer firefighter for over 11 years. Wow!

Engine 41, is a 1986 fire engine made by Pierce. She still works quite well and only has about 30,000 plus miles under her belt (no pun intended). We did have an incident were some of the Engine’s generator wiring caught on fire on the scene of a dumpster fire. Needless to say that was quite embarrassing. Great we had our hoses out already and began aiming at our Engine; I think the cops found it quite amusing.