Food at the firehouse brought some good comments. Seagulls are birds that inhabit coastal areas and dumps. They are also firefighters who swoop other people's food. We have all done it at some level, but some make it an everyday event. Most firehouses have three cabinets designated for the three shifts to keep their supplies in. Staples that are not covered by house dues are fair game to all. The private shift stash is sometimes locked to prevent "gulling." Big houses may have three… Continue

Most people on the street know firefighters eat at work and do other stuff as shown on TV or in movies. They have no idea of the complex social system that exits behind those roll-up doors.

While traveling in Italy years ago I visited a firehouse in Florence. While being given a tour, I noticed the cabinets in the kitchen had padlocks on them. When I asked, I was informed it was to protect against, "The other shifts stealing our food." Same problem the world over. Food and all that implies… Continue

LESSONS



In 1974, just off my year probation, Light Unit 10 was dispatched to a difficulty breathing call. I was higher classed as the driver and had a probie fireman with me. This was before EMT training, and the ambulances did not carry paramedics yet. When we arrived at the low-rent apartment complex we found a 60-year-old man down. Liquor was evident and two women were standing in the room. The guy was not breathing. He looked like he had been down for a while so I asked how long… Continue

In a good movie, in the first 15 minutes or so, there must be an inciting incident. This sets the theme.



In my career I had three in the first few months.



The first was an EMS call. The light unit was sent with me and a more experienced fireman: Code 3 to a nice house. A middle-of-the-night call to a difficulty breathing. At that time, we had not become EMTs yet and carried all our equipment in a small tackle box and a thing called a Flynn ventilator.

We were shown to… Continue

THE BOYS CLUB



In 1973 the citizens in San Jose, CA, rightly voted to add a forth fireman to its 28 engines and a fifth to its 7 trucks. At that time, before the computer boom, San Jose was a city going from a small agricultural town with wonderful orchards and flower growers to a major population expansion and industrial boom. I had taken tests all over the Bay Area and had only been to San Jose once before I put in my application. By adding the extra people, I was placed in the… Continue

Over the last 150 years or so or job has had 5 major changes. The first was when we went from hand pumpers to steam. This required horse power to pull the rigs. The next was when we lost the horses and about the same time lost the steamers and went to gas powered rigs and mechanical pumps. When I came on the job in 1973 in San Jose California we still had WW11 surplus rigs, open cabs, and 10 foot long engine compartments that required you to start your turns 20 feet before the corners. This was… Continue