BBVFD Ridealong – Nov 30/09

Bulverde, TX — Yesterday I did a ridealong with the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Dept (BBFVD) upon an invitation from Jordan Ghawi (twitter: @ghawi).   ‘Volunteer’ may be a misnomer as they do have PAID firefighters as many first responders.  And, some of the volunteers do get paid in certain situations.   Jordan is a firefighter, ex-Rackspace windows administrator, motorcycle racer, and co-owner of some interesting twitter mashups that conveniently repeat publicly available Fire (and police) Dept live incidents.  In fact, that’s how I first came to know Jordan; by following his unofficial twitter feed for the San Antonio Fire Dept (SAFD) twitter: @SanAntonioFires .

Northern Bexar County is located just outside of San Antonio, TX as you head north on Highway 281 just outside of the 1604 loop.   But the boundaries, and mutual aid agreements (helping out other fire departments with major conflagrations) for the BBVFD may find them inside the 1604 loop in territory one might assume would be covered by the San Antonio Fire Dept.   Oddly, the brand new high school located literally right next door to their Station No. 2 is NOT within their coverage area.   It is an area quickly being developed with subdivisions of million dollar plus homes, mixed among the traditional Texan country abodes.

The day started almost immediately when I showed up at Station #2 at 8:30am.  I met with Jeff K. at the door, but the rest of the station was quiet and dimly lit as Jordan was still sleeping, having just completed hour 25 of a planned 48 hours on duty.  I was still configuring my camera gear for the day.   On my Canon 40D I mounted a 18-200mm IS lens, and a 100-400mm IS L was on the 20D and stuffed into a ThinkTank Digital Holster 20.  I stuffed some rain covers into each bag as it was a cold, wet morning in Bexar (pronounced ‘bear’) County.   I introduced myself to ‘Grizz’ who said he would wake Jordan up, but before he could the station got ‘toned-out’.

Over the PA system, Dispatch was announcing the address for a residence that was reporting that their oven was smoking and on fire.  Wow, what a start to the day!  Jordan came running from the sleeping quarters and we quickly ran for Pumper 24, an E-One product and our ride for that day.   Someone pushed the button for the the bay door to open and we jumped onto the truck.  Our Engineer for the day, Adam Gibbs, started the truck and pulled it out of the station.  With lights and sirens blaring we had no problem getting underway and navigating through the first busy intersection.

To the people that got out of the way: thank you.  To the ones who didn’t I only ask them to think of this next time: ‘We could have been responding to a call at your house, for your mother/daughter/son choking’.  Do you really want to slow that truck down?   It can’t be easy navigating through busy streets and across heavy traffic on highways when you’re driving something that is the maneuvering equivalent of the space shuttle; and the braking power to match.   And, keep in mind, every accident I’ve seen of fire truck vs. passenger vehicle, the fire truck always wins.  (personal note: to the guy in the SUV who decided to play ‘Can I beat the fire truck?’, congrats, there is a train with your name on it coming to you soon)

With ‘Gibbs’ driving, and Jeff navigating, Jordan was busy donning his gear in anticipation of arriving at a smoke-filled home a few miles away.    The problem with dispatches is that there is very limited information: you could arrive to find a house ready to flashover, or merely burnt food on the stove.  Unless dispatch relays info as more phone calls come in, you never really know until you show up.  A kitchen fire can spread quickly, and what may have only started small enough to be put out with a handheld extinguisher, might soon need four or five trucks on site if it gets into your walls and roof.

There is an absence of smoke as Pumper 24 comes to stop on an incline outside the house.  The front door is open, and the garage door is slightly ajar.   Looks like someone was already trying to air out the smoke.   As Gibbs chocks the wheels, and takes his place ready to pump water, a suited up team of Jeff and Jordan rush to meet the owners standing just inside.   This time it’s just user error (what in the computer industry we’d call a PEBCAK: Problem exists between chair and keyboard): someone had turned the oven on in cleaning-mode.   So, whatever they were baking was doing so at near 500F!  All units cancel!

A good time to recharge the batteries and grab some breakfast.  What they didn’t get at the first stop of the day, they found at the next.  A Hot and Hearty Breakfast from Whattaburger.    After breakfast it was back to the station, and back to the age old tradition of cleaning the station.   At less than a year old, Bexar-Bulverde’s Station #2 is brand new, and inherently clean relative to it’s age.  Regardless, there is always something that can be cleaned, mopped, or trashed.  To paraphrase my old navy chief, ‘A clean ship is a happy ship’.  It held water then, and it’s no less true in any fire station around the world.   Nobody wants to come on shift to face a mess left by the previous shift.   Of course, if you’ve been out all night at a structure fire, sometimes it can’t be helped.

 But usually there’s enough time for even a light mopping, and if lucky, some time to study for your next level test and certification, catch up on some sleep with a nap in your favorite recliner, check your email….maybe even play some COD:Modern Warfare 2.

Early afternoon and it has started raining heavier; and rain may as well be snow to Texan drivers.  Traffic usually slows to a crawl, with the most likely cause being a Motor Vehicle Collision (MVC/MVA) along a major thoroughfare.  There is also the very real chance of roadways flooding and someone trying to push through a low-water-crossing at the wrong time.   ‘Turn Around, don’t Drown’ is the mantra down here, but in a city of over one million, there always seems to be at least one that takes the gamble.   And when that happens, it not only risks THEIR lives, but the lives of firefighters that need to come and rescue them.  Just like fire, firefighters train to do Swift-Water Rescues, but they would rather avoid them.   Luckily this day there were neither MVC’s or Swift-Water Rescue calls.

But, our next call is another that firefighters prefer not to hear, but are glad they can help: children.   In this case, the dispatcher tones out BBVFD for a 2 year old child having difficulty breathing.  Everyone rushes out the door to the truck bay and we are quickly underway: no need to dress in bunker gear for a medical call.  But the roads are wet and slippery now and Gibbs has to balance urgency with increased safety awareness.   Topped with another round of dodging passenger vehicles who also have to be wary of the slippery roads, and have an even harder time hearing the Pumper’s sirens over the rain beating on their modern sound-insulated automobiles.   A few blasts of the airhorn is usually enough to nudge them out of the way, and Gibbs can try to get Pumper 24 up to speed again.  The smell of burning brakes permeates the crew cabin.

We arrive to find that the contracted ambulance service has just arrived on scene.  The Pumper 24 crew run in to lend any hand they can.  Someone emerges to grab an oxygen cylinder from the ambulance.  It’s been about a 9 minute run.  BBVFD’s Rescue 80 from Station #1 arrives on scene a few minutes later.   Imagine yourself having a hard time breathing for 9 minutes the next time you fail to pull to the right as soon as you hear the sirens.   The child is stabilized and transported to hospital, and we clear the scene.   Time to grab some grub at the local grocery store for tonight’s dinner.

Back at the station, it’s time to work up an appetite.  The guys break out the basketball net and indulge in a few quick games of Twenty-one.  It’s apparent that, at over 6′ tall, Jeff has both the height advantage and experience over his shorter-in-stature crew, whom he has no problem outplaying, even two-against-one.   Even so, it’s all in fun and helps keep everyone in shape for when they really need it.

It’s just after dark when the next tones sound over the PA system.  I’m in the middle of downloading some photos onto my laptop, and have to quickly shift gears, pack the laptop and camera and scramble into the truck before it can take off without me.   It’s a report of a kitchen fire on the other side of the district.  It’s going to be a long run and every second counts.   The guys almost have their bunker gear on before I can make it to the truck and I throw my laptop and camera back in the crew compartment and scramble to fasten my seat belt.   We are going to be headed through San Antonio’s rush hour traffic headed home to this bedroom community.   And we are crossing through an intersection on Hwy 281 infamous for it’s MVC’s.   There’s no taking chances as Gibbs comes to almost a complete stop and lays heavy on the airhorn to make sure everyone is yielding to our two-ton car cruncher on the heavily traveled commuter route.   We may be trying to be ‘first-in’ but we want to make sure we get there safely.  A couple of pickup’s squeeze onto the shoulder to give the Pumper lots of room and we are on our way.   Just another few miles down some twisty narrow Texas country roads in the dark.   The strobes reflecting off the on-coming traffic signs bright enough to change them from their normal black and white into dancing blues and reds.

Another unit happens to be in the area of the residence reported on fire.  They enter the scene and determine that it’s just some burnt food in a

toaster oven.   All units cancelled while we were within a minute of the scene.  Oh well, as much as firefighters want to get into the thick of things,  they also don’t want to see people’s property damaged. And on the bright side, no report needs to be filed by Pumper 24.   After all, who likes paperwork?   It’s time for supper!

Firefighters certainly like to eat hearty, and tonight’s meal is no different.  One-pound hamburgers, chili, cheese, and French Fries.   Once Jeff gets those hamburgers on the grill we realize it’s the most smoke and flame we’ve seen all day!   With our bellies full, (darn good burgers by the way) the crew settles in for some Monday Night Football – Patriots vs Saints in NOLA – oy veh!  Not a good night for a Patriots fan.   Luckily the pain is interrupted by another call.   This time a residential alarm call.

For the most part, alarm system calls are going to end up false.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t respond to them with the same fervor used to answer every other call.   So, while halfway through another download of photos and video, I have to quickly pack the laptop and ready the camera.    This time Jordan is the Engineer, Gibbs being off duty since before supper.   Again, the address is on the other side of the district, and the route is even narrower, complimented by twists and dips, and dips that twist.   It’s dark, but lots of lawns decorated with Christmas lights: and at least it has stopped raining.  Putting your life in the hands of a young driver on those roads could be scary for some.  But, I used to drive similar roads in a truck filled with furnace oil….during snow storms.  Only the urgency of the driving being the difference: people just don’t need furnace oil as quickly as they need first-responders. (Although, some Texans might argue that HEAT may have priority on a cold winter’s night).  And Jordan is doing a bang-up job of not banging us up.   But alas, again, someone is closer and determines with the owner that it is a false alarm.  All units cancel.  We are a few seconds from the scene and cruise past, just in case.

Back at the station again, we look at the photos and video of the day.  Realize it’s after 10pm.  I’ve been observing for almost 14 hours now, and I’m exhausted just watching these guys.  Time to head home.

In conclusion, my GPS tracker determined that we traveled at least 75 miles in those 14 hours.  And I determined that the people and property of Bexar-Bulverde are well-protected by a crew of energetic, enthusiastic, and vigilant firefighters.   It was great meeting them and observing from the inside some what they go through each day on duty.

First Day of Fire Prevention Week

‘We don’t have conclusive evidence, but in my heart I feel that they would be alive had there been properly working smoke detectors.’
—–Halifax Regional Fire Inspector MacKenzie at the conclusion of a press conference announcing the cause.

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia – Saturday, October 6, 1996. 7:50am.
The beginning of Fire Prevention Week. And, the worst day of my career as a photographer.

I awoke to the tones from Dartmouth’s dispatch center and the call for a report of a possible structure fire at 26a Marilyn Drive; only blocks from my house. On my way to grab the camera I looked out to see heavy black smoke on the horizon. A chance for some hot shots!

A secondary dispatch came as I was entering my truck: ‘It’s reported that there may be children inside.’ My heart sank. My first thought was that they should be out by the time the pumpers arrive. (Three years shooting fires and they’re always out by the time I arrive.) If not I’ve got a chance to get some shots of my friends rescuing some children. A happy ending, so to speak.

Halifax Regional Police had the street blocked upon arrival so the truck was parked and a two block run was made to the scene. A little girl, running in the opposite direction, was yelling, ‘It’s Mandy’s house, Mom!’. I arrived to see little smoke and no fire; another ‘good stop’ by Dartmouth’s firefighters.

Just then, four firefighters emerged from the front door, half carrying – half dragging an adult; elderly: it could have been a man or woman. She was laid down on the front lawn and immediately firefighters and ambulance crews administered medical attention. Snap! I captured the image.

In the background of that picture is the image of a fully attired firefighter handing the limp body of an eight year old child to another. Firefighter Norman Sears wasn’t noticed until he was rushing straight past me for the ambulance. Click! Click! Click! I captured the image. Another child emerged at the doorway. Then another! The camera was put away and tears came to my eyes as I walked back down the street. Neighbours were out on the street with their kids. They didn’t know yet: but I did.

In conclusion:

The eight year old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The others, four and six year old boys died later in hospital. Their great-grandmother died in hospital days later. She never regained consciousness. All four were found on the second story.

The official cause of the blaze was deemed to be ‘accidental’ due to careless handling of ‘smoking materials’ by unknown persons. Fire Inspectors determined it started on the main floor of the house near a sofa approximately four hours before the first call. There were no evidence of smoke detectors, in either of the two units of the townhouse.

The parents, and an overnight guest escaped through a basement window where they had been sleeping.

Authors note: I realize this article is very editorial. The incident affected me profoundly and I was in a daze for days afterward. I took 16 frames on a roll of 36 – images frozen in my mind. Reading this story I hope you felt some of what I did or can relate it your own experience. The photos accompanying this story were not released without first speaking to the firefighters involved. They offered this statement: ‘If it gets just one person to check or install a smoke detector, and saves just one life, then it will be for the best.’ (There was a run on smoke detectors in local stores immediately after this incident. Also, the firefighters took it upon themselves to start a project where they would come install a smoke detector for anyone who asked…free of charge. First program that I know of like that, although they seem to be everywhere these days.)

PLEASE! Check your SMOKE DETECTORS! NOW!

April 22, 2008 – Every once in awhile I get reminded of this horrible incident. Some story about a child dying in a fire usually triggers it and I always think about how those firefighters must feel…because I felt awful. I remember returning from the scene that day and walking through the back door of my parents house. The smell of fried eggs and toast hit wafted through my senses. My parents were just awakening, but they knew I had been at a fire. My mom, standing in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room, innocently asked, ‘How was it?’. All I could respond with was ‘It was bad, Mom, real bad.’ as I continued onward downstairs to lay down. I laid on the living room couch for the rest of the morning listening to the radio chatter. Every once in awhile there was some coded statements, but you could tell they were declaring another person officially dead.

I still feel the same emotions everytime I think about this incident over 10 years later. Imagine what the psychological havoc firefighters must go through dealing with this throughout their careers. The firefighter mentioned above is of course one of many that day. He just happens to be the one in the photo that was awarded the Canadian Press Photo of the Month. He died of a heart attack a few years ago. I’ve been to a few firefighter funerals. I couldn’t make it to Norm’s as I was living in Texas at the time. I’m just glad my wife (at the time) and son had a chance to meet him at a firefighter’s exhibition one time.

I haven’t pursued fire photography as passionately after that incident. I love the colors, and the action, and trying to capture that moment when the firefighters are being heros…saving someone’s house, or business. But the truth is, firefighters are being heros just by being firefighters. In some respect, I guess I don’t want to have to live through what firefighters must face everyday: I don’t want to meet another Mandy.