Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...November 8, 2008

Last night was our second live burn at the Academy. I am starting to get it with teamwork. Instead of groups of three, we were put into groups of four, and our squad of twelve had to haul charged hoselines into a garage area where we were taught about rollover, with re-inforcing the ceiling S pattern, and hitting the seat of the fire.

I was really sick though last night and knew I would not be as strong as I usually am. But I got through the night and when on the outside all we did was haul charged hose inside and outside the building for about two hours.

What I took from the night was a few things...Whomever came up with the idea of throwing a rope around a charged hoseline to haul is a genius. We were told by a NYC firefighter about a month ago that the best ideas in the fire service came about quite by accident, usually with someone needing to get a job done and then other firefighters picking up on the idea. I can tell you I will ALWAYS carry a rope somewhere on me in the future now.

The other thing I took away from last night is this: there is a young guy on our squad who I know is going to be a career guy in my neighboring town. He is nothing short of amazing and last night I told him that. He thinks of things for us to be aware of, never fools around, and is I would say the best rookie I have ever seen inside or outside of the Academy. Funny note about him - on Monday night we were all sitting around waiting to be released and he said to me - you've been on my refrigerator for 6 months now. Everyone looked at him like "What the heck are you talking about?" I never told anyone I was a realtor. At the Academy I'm just another student. Even funnier? I have no clue how my card got on his refrigerator.