Fire during the cold snap!!

[fireman17]

Well, the day was progressing along just fine yesterday with no runs during the day then it happened. At 8:30 last night the fire department in the next town over was dispatched for a house that was filling up with smoke. We started listening closely seeing that we were to be dispatched on a working fire. The first engine arrived and reported smoke showing so, we made our way to the engine to start getting our gear on and then they struck the first alarm and we were off.
We arrived and the Chief assigned us to the roof to vent the roof for the crews inside. We made two openings and I looked behind us to see heavy fire coming through the ladder we had just climbed up. What happened was that someone on the ground had knocked out the window before checking with us so now we are cut off from getting down.
They ended up using a hose line below to knock down the fire so we were able to get down.
Then don't you know as soon as we start down the ladder they open the hoses by the windows and all of us get covered we turned to walking icebergs and once you get that cold there's no turning back.
I think I finally thawed out but know every muscle aches.
Hopefully tomorrow will bring a quiet shift because since the start of new year we've been to seven different fires.

 

[L107ANGEL]

Thank you for all you do!

 

[Dismom+two]

so happy to hear your got through your shift safely!! May the good Lord always keep you safe!!

 

[miss missy]

Awe that must of been sooo COLD (I can't find the burr smiley)

Hope tomorrow is better!

I would think you would see a lot more fires with the cold? Between people being home more, heaters and fires places and such?

 

[GeorgeG]

I spent over 40 years with a volunteer ladder company 30 miles NW of NYC and went through the ranks to Chief of Department. Fighting any fire in cold weather is usually going to be a miserable job. My rule was to never go to a roof or upper floor without an alternate way out and down. of course, that's not always possible, but when it is, go with an extra ladder or two. It's better to haul and extra ladder off the truck and not need it than to wish you had.

Hope you thaw out soon.