Fire, Fire And More Fire…!

We’ve been pretty busy lately, as you can see. I don’t know why we are having so many fires, but it only reinforces what I have been saying to myself for some time now: If I could get out of this job today, I would!

Does that mean that I don’t love my job? No. I do love the job. Does that mean that I’m scared? Yes and No. There’s nothing wrong with being scared, my friend. It’s the minds way of making you think in a high pressure situation. And as firefighters, we are ALWAYS in high pressure situations. Whatever firefighter out there that tells you that he or she isn’t scared while going into a house fire, is a LIAR! That’s right! I said that! They are lying!

This job requires that you think, and fear allows you to think. Because sometimes as firefighters we get into this whole ” just another routine fire” thing. That’s dangerous because situations can change at the drop of a dime. We are currently undergoing training for our “bailout” gear. Yeah, it’s just what it sounds like: Gear that we use in case we have to BAIL OUT OF A WINDOW! Yes my friend, this job is dangerous and crazy. But we all knew that when we signed up for the job. As firefighters, we are all a little crazy. Who else you know trains to fight fires and jump out of windows just in case…?

In my opinion, this job is harder than being a policeman. At least they can shoot at their criminals. You can’t shoot at a fire. And putting water on it isn’t going to put it out completely. There are all kinds of situations inside the structure of a home that can go wrong while you’re in there. You got flashovers and collapses and my favorite, the backdraft. If you don’t know what a backdraft is, then I will show you the best way I know how, through a video. (Check out the video and you’ll see a good example of a backdrafts! And it’s not that Hollywood crap either!) Without being to scientific about it, a backdraft is basically a smoke explosion. 

Now before you start to think that “smoke exploding can’t be that bad!” One of those “smoke explosions” blew my Battalion Chief across the street! He was injured pretty badly, and he’s back on the job…now. After months being out injured! But his case only reinforces what I have told you about this job: Situations can change at the drop of a dime! When things like that happen, you start to think about your future and will you be able to enjoy your retirement. If you’re able to retire at all!

Like I said earlier, I do love my job. I love the adrenaline rush that you get when a call comes in. I love the fact that your neighborhood has got itself into a situation, and they have called you to fix it! I love to try my best to help people out of that situation. Sometimes it’s a thankless job, but sometimes it’s not. I know that Camden, N.J. gets a bad rap about a lot of things. But there are some good people in my city. Those good people are the ones that tell us that they appreciate the work that we do. Those are the people that I don’t mind working for…

Call me crazy but one of the best things that I love about my job is the aftermath of a fire. When you come outside and the whole neighborhood is watching you, and they don’t know who you are because of all the gear that you have on. But when you pull that mask off and somebody recognizes you…That’s the best to me! Sometimes they don’t even have to recognize you. It’s the look of awe on their faces that get’s me…

I love that memory. I’ve had it many times. I love my job. But I love my family more. And I just hope, pray and wish that I live to see my retirement…like we all do…

To see the videos of the recent fires that we just had, click on the links…talk to you later!

Magnetic Metals Fire 6/18/2012

Chambers Street Fire 6/15/2012