What is the best experience you have had in your firefighting career?

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The most memorable fire I have had was when our local middle school caught fire. It was in a neighboring town. We were paged to a mutual fire with them. It was initially paged has an possible electrical fire in the general purpose room. My Lt and I just happen to be in town so we responded directly to the seen. We checked in with IC and he assigned us to the intial investigation and attack team. We made entrance with a 2 1/2 and began making our way across the secondary gymnasium. We saw alot of smoke coming from the stage area behind the thick curtains. My Lt blast the currents with a 30 degree pattern to cool them off. When the curtains began to move we saw that we had a fire storm a starting behind them. I went up there and pulled the curtains back. My Lt. began working the fire and had we were just a working away beating the hell outta this thing when...someone made the wrong call. This large general purpose room had large windows at the ceiling level all the way around it. Someone had made the call to start breaking windows (ventilation is good but everyone needs to be aware of what is going on.) The next thing that we new this fire just raged on us with that nice refreshing breath of air it got. We had 15-20 foot flames that just jumped out at us. I quickly evaluated the situation and we made way to the kitchen that had a fire door. I kicked open the door and we got inside to see what our options were. The flames began to lose its quick burst of energy. My Lt and I saw this has our chance to get out of there. We came out of the kitchen and began battling the flames again. we pushed them back to the stage again and then another problem arose...we ran outta water. So we began to back out and my Lt took off running towards the stage. I looked at wonder think "what in the hell is he doing?" He came running back at me holding something. We got out and that is when I noticed what he had, it was the american flag that was by the stage. Now normally I would have been alittle upset over something like that. That complete wing of the school was a lose and we ended up stopping the fire before the complete school was gone. Them venting that fire gave it more life then we could handle but now that flag is at my Lt's house. They let him keep it. Every time I see that I think of that day. I got to experience kind of a flashover in a large room and I got to say it was freaky but kinda cool to see. After that we have done alot of educating about proper ventalizing. Yes, we lost the war on that one but we sure as hell put up a good fight.
The brotherhood that you get all over the world. You can stop in any fire house and always feel at home!
I have to agree with Tim. Whenever I travel, I always try and stop in at a firehouse. I am always treated like visiting royalty. So as Tim said, "the Brotherhood". Stay safe!
The best experience I have ever had as a firefighter was the week before Christmas in 2006. We received a call for a working fire in a dwelling on a outskirt road in our district. (no hydrants) We arrived on scene and were greated by a 10' high candle of flame (the chimney) with a 10x10 area of roof around it on fire, and flame from a 2nd floor window on the D-side. While we were in the operations process, the Christmas presents were discovered and covered heavily by canvas tarps. They lost their ability to stay in their home, but were allowed to still have their christmas.
December 23 of that year we received a knock on the firehouse door. The homeowners and kids were at the firehouse dropping off homemade cookies, brownies and candy for the folks at the firehouse for saving their home and it's possesions. While the owners were silent in going into detail, the wife mouthed a silent thank you and hugged each of us at the firehouse at the time. No explination was required.
It doesn't get any better than that!
I'm still in FF1 training, so far I love every minute of it!

Thanks for asking. :o)
I just dont have one great memory I have several. Each time it just out does the previous one. Obviously you do not forget your first interior attack job. The stuff outside of fires you remeber to like when you are out doing a community event and children come up and want to see the fire truck and you put them on it the smile of the child makes you feel great.
I'll agree with you on this one TIm, does not matter where in the US you go your always welcomed:)

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