What am I getting into? THINK!

This week the 123rd Recruit Class will be graduating from the FCFD Academy. Congrats - now it is really time to learn what this profession is about! Scared?

Thanks to Charles Bailey (tinhelmet.com) for use of the article below. We'll be posting some articles pertaining to Fire Tactics from Bailey in the near future.

What Am I Getting Into? -- Keeping things in perspective
Bill Carey for Tinhelmet.com

It’s a little after midnight, and Engine 7 and Ladder 3 are responding to a reported house fire. As the engine briefly stops at the hydrant, and the truck pulls around, the Probie can hear the Ladder 3 officer transmit the working fire over his handie-talkie. The engine pulls up and our Probie runs to the rear, waits a moment while the nozzleman grabs his folds of hoseline and then steps up and grabs his. It’s a short distance up onto the yard and to the front door. While the interior team of the truck is forcing the door, the nozzleman and officer are donning their facepieces. “Start flaking that out” his officer tells him, and the Probie works furiously to make wide bends and get rid of kinks. No sooner is he done, and then he looks at the front door and sees his crew and the crew of Ladder 3 entering.

Hectically he drops to his knees, and fumbles with his facepiece. He has cinched it down tight on his face and after a short inhale, realizes he hasn’t turned his bottle on. Once this is corrected, he pulls up his hood, puts his helmet on, and makes his way inside, crouched down.

He shuffles his way forward, completely unsure of where he is going and what is ahead of him. In a moment, he remembers to follow the line and he drops to his hands and knees and feels around for it. Instantly he feels something hitting him from behind, and then a cursing directed to him to get out of the way. A foot steps on the back of his leg... for the rest of this important article click here.