We were standing on the apparatus floor listening to fireworks and gun shots popping everywhere. Ringing in the New Year with the boys at the station was sure to be memorable…..Sure enough, exactly what we were expecting……the lights come on, the tap goes off and we were out the doors to a second alarm in the north battalion.
What we had was a working structure fire in an apartment complex. Heavy smoke was pouring out of a single unit in the apartment building when we arrived on scene. Quick work by the boys from Engine 4 kept it confined to just one unit. Ladder 4 cut a text book vent hole. Another job well done.
We were able to get good video footage of our response, and some radio traffic….
‘Til next cycle….
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Got this message from retired SBFD Engineer Larry Fontaine:
I just found your stories on my computer, They are very interesting. You people are very lucky to have the wonderful equipment and nice stations you have. Go back to the past 1950 era
and see what we had. For smokey fires we had .M.S.A.. masks, 2 to an engine but they didnt like us to use them as the canisters cost $10.00 to replace. Also had a couple of Munson Lungs(Rebreathers)from WW11 submarine service. We used a lot of wet handkerchiefs,and generally vomited when we got out of the buildings. All this for $286.00 a month. I could tell many stories
but will close for now. You people have the greatest job in the world, Keep up the good work, By the way Frank Bartlett- Jack Tilley and my self spent 3 years converting G.I. 6×6 surplus
trucks into firefighting Tankers, Do you know what happened to them?
Larry LaFontaine Engineer Retired S.B.F.D.
Well that was a first to be climbing off the tiller bucket and hearing the hail of gun fire as we approached the midnight hour of New Years Eve. Soooo…. was that the last fire of 2007 or the first fire of 2008???
When we look back at New Years Eve of 2007 years from now, those of us that responded to this fire can say we responded in the middle of a war zone. Thats what it sounded like to me. I would clasify this as are last structure of 07 and the first of 08. Starting off to be a good year!!!!
Mr. LaFontaine,
It is so interesting to hear the stories from the firefighters that paved the way before us. I hope that as time goes on, we don’t lose even more of the skilled guys such as yourself that brought so much to the service above and beyond our normal duties. I think it is important that we all try to extract as much knowledge from the firemen of the previous generation.
I’ll see if our Chief in charge of apparatus (M. Alder) can answer your question about the old equipment.
Much respect to you Engineer LaFontaine.
Come by “new Central” some time and I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.
Eng. Serrano
You must log in to post a comment.