fire

A few years ago, I took an intensive course, EMT104, passed the national exam, and became a certified EMT-Basic. Another item crossed off my bucket list. I didn't have the time or resources (such as babysitting and time off work) to become a Paramedic or to get a part time job as an EMT. I got a very part time volunteer job in an emergency room, but I was needed at home and had to quit in my second week.

Fortunately, during my coursework and for a while after getting certified, I rode along with Station 17 - B shift of the Phoenix Fire Department. In this city, fire fighters are EMTs and Paramedics, and each station has fire trucks and ambulances. I LOVE those guys, and their jobs, and their comraderie. I left a piece of me there at that station when I had to stop 'working' there. While I was with them, we mostly did medical calls, such as diabetes, car accidents, stomach pains, heart issues, and severe allergic reactions. Once we responded to a gas leak but I was told to stay in the truck. Man! You should see how much faster and more excitedly those guys scramble when there is a possible fire call. It's what they live for. I really liked meal times with them. They all contributed to meals in ways they were good at, and the food was always delicious, healthy, and mountainous. I brought in groceries one Sunday morning and cooked them a huge Southern meal with ham, biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, the works...plus fruit salad and muffins for an appetizer just in case they got a call while I was busy working the gravy. Scott said "You sure are puttin' a lot of love in that gravy!" I'll never forget that.

There was a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a burned up mansion. The fire had happened two days prior. We weren't busy so we hopped in the truck to visit, I think because the entire fire department was talking about it. When we got there I realized why. Even my untrained eye could see the fire was set up. There were hip-high stacks of burned phone books in several places of the main room. I listened intently to the conversations of the fire fighters and the fire inspectors, and met the arson dog, Sadie. I learned alot that day. My untrained lungs and eyes burned for days afterwards from the ash and burned air smell.

Yesterday, this story was in the news! I hope the link works. This man was so far off the path of what is right and good and had no idea how to pull himself back up to the surface. I shuddered knowing that I had been at the scene of the crime.