Kat's On Fire: October 2011

Okay, when I said this blog was launching on January 1st, I didn't realize that I would be in Spokane on the weekend of an open house at a fire station. However, FaceBook informed me that I would be - and you know I'm not passing up the opportunity to hang out with a bunch of firefighters, especially on a day when it's not really cold outside and my hair looks good.

So the Spokane Fire Department Station 2 on North Foothills Drive is the very first "featured house" of our new blog. For all of you fire houses to follow, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you have some big shoes to fill. These guys were awesome and I felt like a rock star. I would have to say my favorite part was when they actually let me drive the pumper/ladder truck down Foothills Drive with the sirens wailing.

Okay, they didn't really let me do that. But then again, I didn't ask.

I was put into the very capable hands of Lt. Wisniewski, who gave me the station tour and answered my questions. (Poor guy.)

(Scene: Tina and Lt. W standing in front of this truck)

Lt. W: This is our pumper/ladder truck. Do you know what it's for?

Tina: Why yes, I do. You see, I watch "Rescue Me", so I know that you use this truck to access flaming upper-story apartment windows, where people fling small children out to be caught by Tommy Gavin and hauled to safety.

Lt. W: Uh, yeah.

I think he was really super-impressed that I got it right.

They didn't let me try any of this stuff on. But then again, I didn't ask.

Turns out that Station 2 has a Water Rescue Unit:

And I'm saying that the only thing hotter than a guy that's willing to yank your sorry, oxygen-deprived panicky ass out of a burning building is one that's willing to yank your sorry, oxygen-deprived panicky ass out of the Spokane River. Seriously.

You know what I love about the Spokane Fire Department? I'll tell you what I love about the Spokane Fire Department. They have NO AGE LIMIT for their new hires, unlike some other fire departments which shall remain nameless. (cough FDNY cough.)

(Scene: still standing in front of the pumper/ladder)

Tina: Did you know that you can't test for FDNY if you are over 29?

Lt W: Yes, I think I remember hearing that. We don't have an age limit.

Tina: Well, I was going to test for FDNY this year, but believe it or not, I'm over 29.

(crickets chirping)

Lt W: Don't you also have to live in New York?

Tina: Minor detail.

It just occurred to me that Lt. W didn't immediately run into the fire hall and get me some sort of academy application. Must have slipped his mind.

So I got to see some pretty spectacular pics from the SFD slideshow:

And got my hands on a few stats. Turns out that Engine 2 was out of service for several years due to budget cuts, and was put back in service on July 25, 2011. Since then, Engine 2 has responded to 49 structure fires. Yeah. FORTY NINE in 3 months. Here in the boonies, we call that a DECADE of responses, not a QUARTER.

Go Engine 2. You rock. And hello, Mayor/Council of Spokane - you mothball the big, shiny fire truck when you want to save some dough? That was your BEST idea?

So, here's one final shot of Station 2 - oh, and me. Thanks for letting me crash your party, gentlemen.

Spokane Fire Department - Fire Incidents
Incidents	2006	2005	2004	2003
Alarm System - Two Apparatus	1,489	1,337	1,425	1,422
Structure Fire - Single Engine	891	827	783	785
Service Call - Single Engine	349	382	416	342
Structure Fire - Full Response	334	353	345	334
Alarm System - Single Engine	367	343	361	344
Vehicle Fire - Single Engine	229	252	243	236
Hazmat - Investigation	257	208	234	291
Brush/Wildland - Single Response	128	94	92	108
Refuse/Trash/Dumpster Fire	82	73	82	72
Structure Fire - Working Fire	55	72	55	84
Brush/Wildland - Medium Response	39	54	38	77
Brush/Wildland - Low Response	48	46	59	38
Brush/Wildland - High Response	56	43	21	67
Hazmat - Full Response	41	31	37	34
Extrication - Full Response	22	20	26	36
Marine Rescue	19	12	7	12
Investigation	8	8	4	6
Tech Rescue	3	5	2	3
Hazmat - Team Response	4	1	4	4
Brush/Wildland - Extreme Response	14	0	8	6
CISD	0	0	1	2
Total Fire Call Incidents	4,435	4,161	4,243	4,303

Monday, October 24, 2011

Featured House: Spokane Fire Department Station #2

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Come Back Later!