12/7/07 2nd story Suicide Attempt

On Friday, my crew responded to a attempt suicide where a female decided it was a good idea to dive head first out her second story window. We got the call approx. 11am, which was 1hr after she did it. She was found by a maint. worker lying in the grass. It was a miracle she did survive because the temp was only 20 deg. outside.

Tis the season - for this kind of stuff. I would rather blog on stuff like my last two - fires and stuff, but this stuff is my job day in & day out.

Copes

11/19/07 Water Tower Fire (late entry)

This is a late entry, from 11/19/07, 4 days before the last post I had (Thanksgiving Day Fire), but we just got the pictures back and it was very cool.

On Monday 11/19/07, I had one of the most interisting fires EVER. I've been a fireman for apporx. 14 yrs and have only read about 1-2 other fires like this one.

We had a fire inside a 125+ ft  -  Water Tower.

Contractors were spot welding and sandblasting the inner tank for repairs and started a small fire with some rags and towels they were using for cleanup. Everybody got down quickly when the fire got out of control - it spread to the inner lining and spray linner they use for insulation. When we arrived it looked a lot worse that it really was. Heavy black smoke was coming out of the top and we really did not have anyway to get up there - our ladder truck is only 100 ft. So the only way to get up there was to climb a ladder (no cage or protection) 125+ ft straight up.......

Well to make along story short, we made it easy as possible and just had to turn on the tank pump and fill the inner tank. It took like 1 hr. but did put out the fire without risk to anybody. The contractors will be cited by the state inspectors for other job safety violations. The lift they were using was cited and pulled off site due to it being weight restricted and not safe - we could not use it for fighting the fire.  

I attached some pictures below - I was one of the coolest runs I have ever been on. One of the pictures, I'm standing with my air pack on, looking at the tower in the back ground with our fire marshal on my left (in blue coat). http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#223390279-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#223391365-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#223390821-A-LB

Copes

11/22/07 Thanksgiving Day Apt. Fire

Yes......some of us firefighters & police do have to "Work" on Thanksgiving Day. The following pictures were taken from a fire, me and my crew had at approx. 3pm Thanksgiving Day.

Oh did I mention that it was right after we ate a huge meal then had to fight a fire - Holy PUKE.....ha ha ha

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#224450228-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#224449925-A-LB

http://www.tenmilemedia.smugmug.com/gallery/2030226#224449577-A-LB

No one was hurt and the family was not home at the time when it started, but did loose everything. We made a great stop - preventing the fire from spreading into other apts. No fireman were hurt and I had the great job of driving that day so it means that I was the engineer (pumper). So I got all the boring stuff but still an important job - I froze my ass off. The life of a fireman, working 12 hrs on holidays and puking from eating to much right before a holiday meal - I LOVE IT.

Hope everybody had a good holiday

Copes

8/8/07 - Zamboni fire

One of the most unusual fires I've ever seen. Very cool day at work.

Repost from "Off Topic" see link below.......

http://www.2old2play.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=335493#335493

Copes

7/13/07 Patient saved today on

Just wanted to let everybody know that FRIDAY 13 can be a good day.

Today, my partner (another "probie") and I got a good save. It was on a 80 yr old female in total respitory arrest. Upon arrival we found patient "very" blue in color but with a pulse. We started all usual care and life saving stuff. After approx. 6-7 min female was responsive, talking to us, and on her way to the hospital. Female would have been dead, if it not for a nurse - making rounds, doing her job, and calling 911 right away. This nursing home patient was in was one of the better assisted living homes in our city and today proved it.

I thing about all the varibles which could have led to this going very bad - nurse missing the room, nurse not actually "looking at the patient", 911 call being delayed, or routed wrong, Us making great on-scene time and having all our equpiment work correctly, sct........................ There is so many things that could have gone wrong, but today it didnt. If any one of these million things went just the smallest way "the other way", this patient would not be here today.

Friday the 13 (7/13/07) was a great day for me, and my "probie" partner - with his first ever SAVE. 

Copes