We Didn't Start the Fire

Such a lovely garden entrance before!

Just a few weeks ago, some of my parents' good friends woke up in the middle of the night to the sound you only want to hear when you're making blackened tilapia: the smoke detector shrieking its warning. Very sorry to report it was not a false alarm but something had gone amiss in the attic and the pictures you see to the side and below are the aftermath of that blaze.  Mom and Dad had gone over in the middle of the night to help out, and I went by later on an errand.

The firefighters had returned because another 'hot spot' had been discovered, so the fire engine was at the curb.  The entire middle section of the roof was gone, and the fire chief wasn't very enthusiastic about allowing anyone inside (it was quite unstable), but he did allow their son to go inside and cart out important things like photos.  Several of us who helped carry salvageable items to kind neighbors across the street were allowed to go to the front door.  I had never been this close to a house fire so quickly after it had been extinguished, and as I walked up to the door I was all too aware of beams that appeared to be hanging by the thinnest of slivers of wood.  I guess I'm one of those people who have to experience something to really understand all of the ramifications.  I respect and admire firefighters, but in that moment I felt just a little fear for myself, and the point was driven home about what these men really face on every call: the possibility of death.  I don't think I'm a stupid person, but I think I just took them for granted, never fully appreciating the risks they take.

Close-up of the entrance

From a distance, the extent of the roof damage is even more stunning

Trying to salvage precious memories.

 That was a few weeks ago.  Just this past weekend, my parents and I traveled to Austin to see my son.  I also have a cousin who lives in Austin, and her husband happens to be a firefighter.  Jerry invited us to see the fire station where he worked, and we all very eagerly took him up on his offer.  We arrived around 3 PM only to find that the four-man crew had been called to an emergency.  Some calls last longer than others, and that one was relatively short.  When Jerry and his crew mates arrived, they tucked in to some of the delicious churros my cousin had brought for them.  In the meantime, Jerry showed us around the engine and explained its operation and some of the intriguing equipment stored in it.

Rajiv was allowed to use one of the smaller hoses

The tank holds upwards of 500 gallons of water, and with the larger diameter hose, can be emptied in about 5 minutes.  With the proper hose on the intake valve (and sufficient water pressure), it can also be filled in almost the same amount of time.  The pressures and flow rates for this to happen just boggle my mind.  In fact, all I could think of as Jerry was talking was how many exciting physics and chemistry lessons (real-life problems) could come from a fire engine (and an enthusiastic host!).

If you glance through the pictures below, you might get an inkling of the danger involved in this work and the mental and physical stamina required to be good at it.  Quite often, societal success nowadays is judged by how large a bank account one has.  I've no idea how much Jerry and his fellow firefighters make, but I'm quite sure it's too little for what they're really worth.  And I'm also quite sure that if they are willing to risk their lives to save another human's life, we will never be able to pay them what they're worth.  So the least we can do is admire, appreciate and THANK them for what they do.  And this is my very small way of doing that.

At the valve controls

Close up of the controls and gauges

Jerry demonstrating the size of the wrench needed to open a fire hydrant

All folded neatly away, one would never guess at the weight of this when filled with water.

Water cannon

More hoses

Absolutely vicious looking tool, but it can free people from wrecks as surely as the 'jaws of life'

Even pets can be rescued!

The truck and equipment looked clean, but Jerry's hands told another  story after the demonstration.

Mom and Rajiv in the truck.  Mom put on Jerry's hat backwards so you could see his name.

My favorite: the TIC (thermal imaging camera).  This can 'see' heat from a fire behind a wall or detect a human even through thick smoke.

Jerry suiting up: fully outfitted, his equipment weighs about 65 pounds.  And that doesn't even include the weight of the hose he must carry.

Everything except the gloves.  With everything on, his 'clothes' are worth about $3,000.  But Jerry?  He's priceless!!

We Didn't Start the Fire