Familiar but urgent tones pierce the quiet atmosphere of the kitchen as I wrap up clearing the dishes away from the kitchen table. The tones are coming from the small pager sized emergency receiver my belt. The series of tones precede an announcement by the dispatchers at Amherst Fire Control summoning "Getzville Firefighters to 123 Boardwalk Circle, for smoke in the building... " I quickly put down the dish towel I was holding and yell out a quick "goodbye" to my wife and son. My wife, upstairs in our bedroom, having heard the initial dispatch on the scanner in our bedroom is already aware that I am heading out the door and calls out a quick "be careful." It's one of the colder evenings so far in this early week in October, so there aren't many kids out this close to dinner. Quickly surveying the street and I note that luckily it's one of the quieter times on our busy block traffic-wise. By now the first of our arriving assistant fire chiefs is pulling up on the scene and reports on the radio "smoke and flames visible in first floor windows." Adrenaline kicks up as I fire up the old pick up truck, take another look around for kids, pets, pedestrians, and traffic, flip on the blue light and pull out of the driveway. Keeping a close eye on the road, I drive to the fire station. Even volunteer firefighters need to yield to incoming emergency vehicles. As I pull into the fire station other volunteers are arriving and trucks are pulling out onto the pad. The sense of urgency builds as more reports come in on the radio as the officers on the first arriving apparatus give us a scene size up and chiefs call out specific assignments. Very quickly we gear up and pile on the trucks. Our drivers are already familiar with the location and we are soon heading for the scene "A Mode" or "lights and sirens." Skillfully navigating the big apparatus through the streets and what remains of rush-hour traffic, the drivers safely deliver firefighter and vital equipment to the scene of the neighborhood of the fire scene. With the knowledge that comes from living in the neighborhoods that we protect, and backed up by the information provided by the valued dispatchers of Fire Control, the veteran firefighter in the officer seat quickly locates the closest fire hydrant. Calling out assignments to the crew as we pull up, the hydrant connection is quickly secured to the Engine's pump connection. Hose lines are pulled toward the house and firefighters are positioned to attack the fire. Other arriving volunteers don air packs and grab tools from the engines. Having sized up the situation the “first in” crew enters the house and proceeds towards the seat of the fire. Fortunately, the quick intervention of the "interior" crew limited damage to the immediate area of the kitchen and the fire is soon extinguished. The fire may be out but the work has just begun. Before our volunteers can return to their families and regular jobs, there are still important tasks to be performed. Apparatus fuel and water tanks must be replenished. Tools and SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) must be checked out and put back in service. Hoses and apparatus must be cleaned. As always, young Explorers and Exempt firefighters pitch in side by side with our active members to prepare the company for the next call. Members of our Ladies Auxiliary prepare food and beverages to replenish our tired firefighters. With care and professionalism, our volunteers soon have the situation in hand and are ready once again to respond to the next emergency wherever and whenever it may come. Just as the crews settle down to enjoy a cup of coffee and a bit of conversation before returning to their day, the tones drop one again. "Getzville firefighters… Injury MVA, Maple and North Forest, APD on location…." Time to get back to work! |