After investigating a central station alarm ,we were returning to the house when a box came in. "Receiving calls for" came over the radio and my heart rate went through the roof.
I remember telling myself to remain calm or at least act like I am. The Lieutenant was saying something but all I could think about was it's make or break time. Was all the training and drilling going to pay off ? or was I going to drop the ball.
Pulling onto the street we could see 3 windows of fire showing, a line being stretched into the building and the first due Ladders aerial going up to the roof. The chief wanted a couple of members to go to the roof, first in ladder was doing primary searches.
We ascended the aerial carrying our equipment. I'm trying hard not to stare at the fire and remember everything I was ever told about venting the roof.
On the roof, the senior man (excuse me, fire fighter) started to sound off on the roof with an axe.
"O.K., right here" he said, so I put down the saw and started to scrape away gravel. "F*ck that drill school sh*t , just cut". As he told me where to cut I operated the saw. One piece of gravel to the face (cheek) reminded me to use my eye shields. After cutting a nice size hole another member, using the rake pulled up the roof boards, immediately enshrouding us in smoke ,while a third reached over the B side of the building and smashed the windows he could reach.Within seconds the smoke was replaced by fire.
I asked him what was that noise we were starting to hear from inside the building that sounded like a rumble and he said it was the line advancing into the apartment.
We cut another hole about 15' to 20' away from the original and I thought we were done. The senior man said time to find the Loo, he might want to show you some things inside.
After using the penthouse door to go down stairs we found the Lieutenant in the fire apartment. We started overhauling, pulling ceilings, moldings, cleaning out the windows and the like.
I remember thinking how tired I was after working for a half hour or so. I did demo work before coming on and thought I was ready for the work load. Wrong. Overhauling was wearing me out.
The little orange glows in the smoke blew my mind. Guys smoking in the smoke & debris, busting balls on who did what and who didn't.
Back at the house I asked the senior man how did he know the hole was 4' x 4', he said he didn't. He tries to make them the biggest he can. I also asked him how did he know where to cut and he replied where he felt the roof was getting a little soft.
A few things I learned from it was,
learn to pace yourself,
wear your eye protection when using tools,
don't be afraid to ask questions from more experienced members.
One other thing the senior man said to me, that I'll never forget, was no matter how long you're on you can always learn more. Never think you know it all. From your first tour to 30 plus years later you can always learn something new, don't forget it.
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