I knew we were doing a live burn training at the Tower last night, but my participation (and that of my other fellow probies) was in question until our Chief reviewed our SCBA hours....

Close, but no cigar. Red Tag City.

Anticipating an evening of basically sitting on my can at the side of the truck and watching the rest of the guys have all the fun, I took a shower and got ready to head out . My friend said before I left "Why are you taking a shower before drill? " I replied "I don't get to go in tonight, so it's not like I'm going to get dirty or sweaty".
Famous last words.

Rule number 1: Never give up your seat on the truck unless it's someone with seniority over you.

I was sitting in the exterior jumpseat on the Hahn and one of my newbie friends sauntered over and said "I've never ridden on the outside, is it fun?" To which I replied "Here Carl, take this seat if you want, I'll grab a ride on 3511." I walk over to the Pierce, and guess what, no room at the inn. The Brush truck is also full, and Augie Jr. and I realize that we have no place to grab a seat.....

Augie suggests that we go sit in the meeting room, grab a beer and watch the ball game....which at that point is starting to sound like a plan since I'm not going to get to do much at the tower, but then responsibility rears its ugly head and my inner voice (I wish that thing would just shut up sometimes) says "get your car and get your a** over there" --so I make the decision that we're going, we'll just go in my car, and we're heading out to the parking lot when the 1st Asst. Chief pulls up in his truck looking for us. Good thing we didn't decide on option number 1.

We get to the tower and as it turns out, Chief wants the red tags to make the hydrant and man the exterior safety line.

Rule Number 2: If you're partnered with someone and you've agreed on a plan, keep one eye on said partner.

Fellow newbie and I decide that we'll make the hydrant and Augie will run the line to the truck. "He who shall be nameless" (to protect the not so innocent) and I agree that he'll grab the hydrant tools, I'll grab the line and wrap the hydrant, and he'll attach the line. This was all fine and dandy in the beginning....The engine stops, I jump out and grab the line off the back, pull off the agreed upon two lengths, wrap the line around the hydrant, give Dick the signal to roll, and look up to find my "team mate" has wandered off about 100 feet WITH the hydrant tools and is chatting with someone.
I yell for him and he looks over like "what?" so I screech "I need the spanner!!" which is when he realizes that he's holding the tool bag in his hand and Dick is standing at the pump controls staring at us pretty hard.

Rule Number 3: Never assume you're not going to get dirty at drill.

The live burn teams go in and knock down the three fires (two down, one up) while we're manning the safety line (at least I got the knob on that one) and then Chief directs us to spray down the embers and get the pike poles and pull them down.
Then we get to collect all the wood and debris and toss it in the dumpster (small but important additional rule--if someone is flinging charred lumber from the second floor of the tower into the dumpster that you're standing next to, don't assume he can a.) throw worth a damn or b.) has good aim---I almost got nailed with an errant piece of picnic table)

We pack all the hose back up (yes, I'm now sweaty AND dirty) and head back to the station.

Three hours of washing and waxing apparatus in preparation for the parade later.....we finally wrap up some time between 10:30 and 11:00. I grabbed a hot dog and a beer (I don't remember chewing or tasting either), went home and fell in bed.

Rule Number 4: Do NOT work your arms at the gym prior to drill night.

I lifted and worked my shoulders and legs at the gym for an hour before I went to drill and ran four miles on the treadmill...and after the hose packing, the lumber tossing, the washing and the waxing....

It was all I could do to reach for the shampoo this morning, never mind reaching up to rinse it out of my hair.

Next week......who knows? But I'm having the best time of my life.
:)
Until next time.....stay safe, wear your seatbelt.