Shed Fire

We almost made it through the entire Thanksgiving weekend without a call, but Saturday evening changed that! We were dispatched to a structure fire, fully involved around 6 pm. A few minutes later as I was putting on my bunker gear and headed into the back seat of the Engine, our pagers toned again. This was to ANOTHER fire in a garage. So, E-1 went to the second call and E-2 went to the first. E-1 stopped at the address for the 2nd fire and the homeowners were outside. They told us they had it put it out with a garden hose already and that we should go on to the big structure fire. We told them we'd swing back by after the structure fire.



By the time we rolled up to the structure fire, E-2 already had a inch and a half down, so we joined them with the trash line off the front of E-1. It turns out it was a metal garage enclosed on 3 sides. Unfortunately for us, it backed up to a Natural Gas business, complete with tanks and all. Fortunately, the two days of soaking rains prior to this fire wet the tall grass and trees down all around the burning structure, so we didn't have to worry too much about it spreading to the nearby houses or propane dealer. Several guys packed up to go inside the structure since we didn't really know what all was burning inside the building. Better safe than sorry afterwards!



We ended up rolling both Engines, the Tanker, the Rescue truck (for re-hab) and several POV's to this fire. Engine 1 cleared the scene first and headed over to the second fire we had been dispatched to originally. We spoke with the home owner and used the thermal imagining camera to scan the attic and garage area and be sure there were no hot spots hidden. After chatting with the homeowner and the family a bit we cleared the scene there and headed back to the station to put all the vehicles back in service.



Most people don't realize the time it takes to put a vehicle back in service after a fire, wreck or EMS call. We re-fuel the trucks then head to the station. Once there, we restock any supplies that are used, re-fill generators, wash the trucks and ancillary equipment and dry everything. Hoses are sprayed down if they are really muddy (like after this fire) and then re-rolled or re-folded to go back on the trucks. The trucks are washed by hand and then chamois-ed dry before putting them back in the bays. (Unless it's raining, then we wash them outside and dry them off inside...DUH!) Someone has to call dispatch and get all the response times for the report and write the report details while all the other activities are taking place.



Bunker gear, or turn out gear as it is sometimes called, must be washed, as well, then air dried. We are all responsible for washing our own gear and keeping it in service ready shape. Sure, I sit here and type that last statement knowing my own gear is still black and muddy from the metal building fire!! Cowgirl up and get er done!



Depending on how involved the call, it can take an hour or more to return the trucks to service. Sometimes the longest job is re-filling the SCBA tanks. We can only fill two at a time and it needs to be done gradually. If we're on a fire that uses 8 or 10 tanks, you can see why this could be a time consuming process. Fortunately, we are all good at picking a task and going to it. Once your task is done, you go see if anyone else needs help finishing up what they're doing. We try to all leave the station together and not leave anyone behind to work alone.



It is not unheard of for us to still be in the process of putting the vehicle back in service and be dispatched to another call. This has happened to me personally several times - especially with EMS calls or during severe weather - like and ice storm, bad thunderstorms or tornadic activity.