C-Shift Tech Rescue

 Friday in the Hill City turned out to be a busy one, with what seems like half of the department in medic class during varying parts of the day, we made do on the Engine by putting work in early on a few medicals along with the Medic. Truck 1 was down for the count, so Truck 2 had the city, which gave them the opportunity to run pretty much all day between both battalions, strong work fella's. Late afternoon, E6, M6, T2, R1, EMS-2, and B2 caught a pin job in the city near the hospital. I didn't get pictures so I posted the news link:

 WSET.com - ABC13 - Update: Man Hit By SUV In Critical Condition

When it was toned out, M1 and E1 were working on clearing from an assault a couple blocks down, naturally, being the tech rescue station, B2 got us to start that way with the trailers in case we had to shore the house in question. We got there a little late after they had transported the patient, but as usual, the second battalion guys did a helluva job mitigating the situation all the while providing aggressive advanced life support treatment to the patient. St. 1 ended up bringing USAR 1 and 2 to the scene after we were added to the run card. We cleared from that, got back a little before 7, and I finished cooking dinner, which I might add was delicious (not bragging or anything).

On a different note, St. 1 will be losing a member in 2 weeks, more on that later. We're back Monday, I'll be sure to keep you posted.

C-Shift Re-cap

1000 hits! Many thanks to the design and publishing team, aka myself, on accomplishing such a feat. Just kidding, but seriously, it's been awhile since I updated, so to bring you all up to speed on the happenings around here. B-shift caught an underground transformer fire downtown a week ago, and the pictures were too dark to even tell what was going on, but from what I hear, they were down there a good couple hours flowing water and foam to control it. The next day on C-shift, the Fire Prevention office lady, Jenny Mayberry, set up a station tour for some Kindergarten students from Lynchburg Christian Academy. I'm hoping the kids and parents had a good time, 4 yr olds are tough to read sometimes. Anyway, we were glad to show them the station and trucks.

The next work day I got shipped off to St. 3 to ride backstep on Lynchburg's busiest engine company (according to them). A. Morton chauffeured, while K. Turner rode boss. All in all a great day, we stayed busy during the day, knocking out a few fire runs and medicals. B. Barber (squadman) cooked a delicious salmon dinner, which, consequently we ate while watching a hellacious storm pass through the city which eventually dumped a couple tornados out in the county. The Rescue is OOS, something about a PTO, so the guys are using USAR 2 until they get the Rescue back.

A couple things before I get out of here, first, there's a possibility of selling some St. 1 t-shirts, custom obviously, there'll be a sign-up posted in a few days. Second, some of the guys are going to the Walter Sisk Memorial Truck School in Charlottesville, so I'll be sure to get the guys to take some pics. For now, Pebble and I are going to hold this little medic unit down 'til 0730 tomorrow.

Downtown 2-Banger

I take 1 day off, and I miss a downtown second alarm. Yes, downtown, which means its in the first due, also it was my engine/truck day...Naturally, the exact second that it came out I had already received a text from Thor (who by divine intervention actually missed a working fire) saying I was missing a worker. This was followed by, "Oh yea and they just struck a second..." Anyway, over the course of the next 12 hours, several (all) of the guys on my shift ("C") in both the first and second battalion, made sure I was aware of the fact that I missed a 2-banger, so thanks. Well, since I wasn't there, I'll give you the rundown as best as I can. The first alarm assignment looked something like this: E1, E2, E4, T1, R1, M1, B1, B2, and EMS-2. E1 arrived first on scene, reporting fire and heavy smoke coming from the 5th floor on the 8th St. side (side D). Upon notification of a working fire, T1's officer, struck a second alarm, which brought E6 and T2. M4 and M6 were also added due to the occupancy of the building. Quick side note, Steve Ripley (3-B), who apparently catches every working fire in Lynchburg, just happened to be on the second alarm riding backwards on T2, figures. E1's crew humped the high rise to the 5th and hooked up to the standpipe. E1 and M1 entered the involved apartment and were met with a well involved room and contents fire. M1 found the fire and performed a primary of the apartment, while E1 worked on extinguishment. T1 performed ventilation and searches. All other incoming units performed the rest of the necessary fire ground tasks, including the rest of the primary and secondary searches on non-involved floors, water supply and RIT. Miles Tranks (R1-C) in typical fashion, was fully dressed and packed up before setting the parking brake on the Rescue, and up 5 flights of stairs, waiting, before Kenny and Stewart (the other squad guys) had even exited the truck.

I had some pictures of the involved apartment, but I can't find them, sorry. This all went down on 03/03/2012. So, to catch up on some more recent activities, it turns out that St. 6, who notoriously, have been the most consistently busy station in the city (engine and medic) for a couple years, couldn't bring the pain like M1 did last workday. We pulled in 16 runs for the shift, although, we only transported probably 10 or so.  Now, I know that number seems low but we probably didn't run our first call until about 2pm. That day the rest of the station got to do the normal Friday maintenance.

I just want to point out the enthusiam that Pebble shows while sweeping the back of the medic. This will probably be the longest post yet, but since I have pictures of B- shifters playing around in the Blizzard of '12, I might as well put them up for your viewing pleasure.

Grass is mowed, kitchen is cleaned, leftovers are put away, and Ripley is driving the Engine...the night is young.