What goes through a Firefighters Head!! posted 11/19/2007 4:59:58 PM | 5 kudos what's this?     report abuse

fightnfire29

It's 2:20am, your asleep in bed when out of nowhere you hear this voice..."Structure Fire"... The tones go off, firefighters scramble to there gear, they jump into their bunker pants, throw the suspenders over the shoulders, grab their bunker coats and helmets...run to the Engine, jump in, strap on their air packs...The Engine pulls out of the station...the cool midnight air blowing through the cab of the Engine, the loud pitch of the siren roaring as the engine screams down the road...I look up, take a deep breath as everything that is happening is racing around loosely in the mind...hearts beating 100 times a minute...ok focus, I tell myself! The Engine pulls up to the scene, I look out of the window to see flames reaching out the upstairs windows...I jump out of the engine, grab the cross lay, the Captain and I race up to the front door...I kneel down, take a deep breath, look at my partner, look back at the engineer...give him the signal for "give me water"...I open the door, we go in...searching for any possible victims. We ease up the stairs..."Fire Dept...is anybody in here" we keep going up the stairs, around the corner...open the door to the bedroom...searching as we go. "Fire Dept"...nothing...we spray the flames...the heat is so extreme...fire's out...whew!! Thank God!

As firefighters we think about the "Final Alarm". We don't dwell on it, but we do keep in the back of the mind. Most of our days are filled with routine tasks of checking out the trucks and equipment, cleaning the station and training. But once the alarm sounds everything changes. Everyone from the engineer who drives the truck, to the firefighters who ride in the jump seats, to the captain in charge, listens to the radio and the call. Every firefighter, from "probie" to the most "seasoned" firefighter, is preparing a mental checklist wondering what they may be called to do as they listen to the radio dispatcher giving the address and the call. No one at this point is really thinking the worst, but thinking of working as a team, of accomplishing tasks and safety returning to the station. As firefighters we are accustomed to the interruptions of the day, usually at mealtime, and just chalking it up to "just another day" around the station.

One day for someone, (and only the Lord knows who and when), it may be "just another day" around the station. For today might be the day that he or she is called upon to lay down his or her life in the line of duty.

Sept 11, 2001, will forever change the way we look at our jobs, ourselves, and the way those in the community view us.

A Firefighters Prayer

When I am called to duty, God
Wherever flames may rage
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age

Help me embrace a little child
Before it is to late
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert and
Hear the weakest shout
And quickly and efficiently
To put the fire out

I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me
To guard my every neighbor
And protect their property

And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
Please bless with your protecting hand
My family, children, and my spouse

Well, you know there's really know meaning of why we run "into" burning building while everybody else is running out...but, do understand that God gave us a job to do...and we fulfill that job to the best!!!

Thank you God for keeping us safe!

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