First Call as a Reserve Fire Fighter

[Boone]

I just graduated from Reserve Fire Fighting last Tuesday, June 25. Last night, I went to my fire station at 1600 to hang out, read safety guidelines and "hope" that I will be able to attend my first call. At 1809 we were toned to a structure fire. There were four of us, the Driver, Officer, Hydrant Man (me), and the Nozzle Man. When we got to our location (mobile home park), there was black smoke coming from the rear of the mobile home. This was the real deal. There was no hydrant to take so I grabbbed my Irons (axe and halogan bar) and followed the Nozzle Man to the front door. Of course it was locked. Without hesitation, I took the axe and started chopping at the door and dead bolt. After about 6 hits, I put the axe down and started kicking the door. Finally after about 4 kicks, the door flew open and tons of smoke came out. We pulled the attack hose in through the living room and down the hall to the rear bedroom. We found the fire and did an indirect attack at the fire. We opened a rear door to ventilate, when the smoke cleared, we found a victim at the foot of the bed, laying face down. We grabbed her and pulled her out the rear door but she was already gone. As it turns out, this was no accidental fire. Our Dept. was there 2 hrs prior to this incident, she was having an arguement with her boyfriend and she said she swallowed bleach (turned out to be negative). Anyway, it's being looked into whether this was suicide or done by her boyfriend. Our Engine went back into service at 2143 and headed back to the Station and I was introduced to paperwork. Around midnight lastnight, I finally wrapped up and went home. A long first call. The Lt. said that the Cheif wants to get us four together next week and talk about the incident to make sure that we are ok and if we have any questions. "What could have I done better? What could have I done faster? Was there a chance that we could have saved her?" keep going through my head.
In closing, I just want to say thanks to all of the Career Fire Fighters and the hard work they do. I was able to be a part of something that not a lot of people will see in their lifetime.
God Bless all and be safe.

[Red Hornet]

You did all you could Boone. I do volunteer brush work for the local reserve firefighters, not the same as finding dead bodies. One of the locals is a retired Fire Chief & has all the stories to tell. Arson figures in too many fires now-a-days both city & back-country.

You might enjoy the flic BACK DRAFT w/di niro, baldwin, russell, if you haven't seen it already.

Cheers,
-RH

[Possum]

Boone I was so sorry to read about this person's tragedy. However, as stated by RH, you did all you could. There is no reason for you to question if there was anything else you could have done.

Reading your posting you gave 110% of yourself. Please do not let this question the actions you took.

I know several firefighters and police officers, when these things like this happen they question themselves on their own abilities, even after years of duty. I do not think the loss of a person's life is something that any firefighter, police officer, doctor, etc gets use to.

My thoughts and well wishes are with you my friend.

Respectfully,
Dan

[maxmadden]

Boone

Hang in there buddy. I wished there was something I could say to make that feeling go away. It just comes with the job. You never get totally used to it and it's ashame your first structure involved a casualty, most don't. We sit around hoping our next call is a structure fire because it's a fun part of our job and thats what we train for, but it's always at someone's expense.

Hopefully you will have many more rewardable experiences. It really is a rewarding job, but you are exposed to things you would rather not see. Just do the best you can do and don't blame yourself. Almost everything you respond to is a tragedy for those involved, you can only do your best to help out and hopefully make the best out of a bad situation.

Good Luck, Max

[Tundra Rose]

Boone,

As each one has said, these feelings are going to be with you as a thinking, caring, and conscientious person. Your challenge is to understand where they come from, to be able to recognize what WAS good about your performance and to look at things you'd like to improve for the future...and maintain your sense of self in the process. You will probably have times when your actions may not be as ideal as you'd hope...and things may end up less than they could as a result. That, too, is part of the job. We can't always do our best performance in every situation...but what we do accomplish IS the best we were able to do - given all the circumstances and conditions - in that particular moment. Being in such a critical position, you will have to handle much sorrow and tragedy that you can't "make perfect". Your being there made a difference. At least the fire did not spread to others as well.

My heart goes out to all our fire, police and emergency personnel. All our lives are safer and richer because you dare to be there.

THANK YOU.

~Judy

[Simias]

Boone,

sorry for the late response, but i agree w/ what everyone else is saying! you are a great person for doing what you're doing! keep up the good work and God bless!

Chris