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Waynes Stuff 6
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHERE SOME GUYS WOULD GO SMELT DIPPING AND THE NEXT MORNING WOULD BRING A
BATCH IN. THE WHOLE ENGINE HOUSE WOULD HELP CLEAN AND THEN FRY THEM UP
FRIED SMELT, COLE SLAW, COLD BEVERAGES AND TELLING FIRE STORIES AT THE OLE
GAS PUMP, WHILE THE TRIALMAN CLEANS UP OUR MESS......................
A REAL "GUYS" THING.
DO YOU REMEMBER
SOMETHING THAT WE CALLED "CRAZY EIGHT'S" NO NOT THE CARD GAME.
I THINK IT HAD TO DO WITH MAKING OUT THE PAYROLL BUT I'M NOT SURE
DO YOU REMEMBER
A SLANG TERM FOR THE OLD SQUAD RIG.........THE PIE WAGON
THE TWO FUNCTIONS OF "THE BOX" ON THE SQUAD
RESUSCITATION & INHALATION
DO YOU REMEMBER
AT ONE ENGINE HOUSE THEY CARRIED A RIFLE ON THE ENGINE.
I WAS DETAILED THERE BUT I CAN'T RECALL WHAT HOUSE IT WAS AT. IT MUST HAVE
BEEN AT ONE OF THE EAST SIDE COMPANIES THAT RESPONDED TO THE DETROIT RIVER.
THE PURPOSE WAS TO FIRE SOME KIND OF PROJECTILE TO SOMEONE ON THE RIVER.
I DON'T EVEN RE CALL WHAT KIND OF PROJECTILE IT WAS
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW AT THE TRAINING ACADEMY THEY TOLD YOU THAT WHEN YOU HOLD THE LIFE NET TO
KEEP YOUR ELBOWS AWAY FROM YOUR SIDES.
THEN WHEN ONE OF YOUR CLASSMATES JUMPED INTO THE NET THE GUY THAT WASN'T
PAYING ATTENTION HAD HIS ELBOWS DRIVEN INTO HIS BODY
DO YOU REMEMBER
AT NIGHT SOME GUYS PUT THE TRIALMANS BED ON 4 POP CANS. THEY WERE HARD TIN
AND NOT THE SOFT ALUMINUM ONES WE HAVE NOW. THE SUB WOULD GO TO BED AND THEN
DURING THE NIGHT ONE CAN WOULD BREAK DOWN AND HIS BED WOULD COME CRASHING DOWN
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN YOU BROUGHT YOUR AIR TANKS TO THE SHOP TO SHOW OFF YOU WOULD CARRY 4 OF
THE OLD STEEL AIR TANKS AT ONCE.YOU PUT THE BLACK HANDLES BACK TO BACK AND THEN
YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO GRAB THE TWO HANDLES WITH ONE HAND. YOU DID THE SAME WITH
THE OTHER TWO. ONE OF OUR RETIREES SAID THE OLD STEEL TANKS WEIGHED 37 LBS
.YOUR HANDS HURT LIKE HELL...... BUT SO WHAT......IT'S ANOTHER
..............GUY THING
YOU WOULD SOONER DROP "YOUR FAMILY JEWELS " THEN DROP THOSE TANKS ONCE YOU
PICKED THEM UP.
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
ASKING SOMEONE TO "CATCH THE WATCH DESK" WHILE YOU GO TO THE CAN.
DO YOU REMEMBER
ENGINE 3 HAVING THEIR KITCHEN ON THE THIRD FLOOR
LADDER 12 HAVING THEIR KITCHEN ON THE SECOND FLOOR
DO YOU KNOW OF ANY OTHER COMPANIES THAT HAD THEIR
KITCHEN ABOVE THE FIRST FLOOR?????????
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN MANY ENGINE HOUSE WINDOWS USED CUTOFF BROOM HANDLES TO HOLD OPEN THEIR
WINDOWS AS THE COUNTER WEIGHT ROPES HAD ROTTED AWAY DUE TO AGE
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE EXPRESSION
BUTT & RAISE
DO YOU REMEMBER
THOSE ROUND DARK OAK TABLES THAT ALL ENGINE HOUSES
HAD. DID YOU EVER WONDER IF THEY WERE THERE DURING THE TIME OF HORSES AND THE
"OLD-TIMERS"
AND WHAT THEIR DAY WAS LIKE.
DO YOU WONDER IF THE GUYS ON THE JOB NOW WONDER WHAT
US "OLD-TIMERS"
DAYS WERE LIKE
DO YOU REMEMBER
SOME "OFU" DRIVER SCRAPING THEIR RIG ON THE DOORS WHILE BACKING UP. THEN
USING TOUCHUP PAINT TO COVER IT UP..................THAT "OFU" WAS SOMETHING
ELSE,
WEREN'T THEY. WE REPORTED ALL SCRAPES BY
TYPING 8 COPIES EVEN IF IT WAS 4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AS IT WAS THE RIGHT
THING TO DO...............YEAH...RIGHT.........
A LOT OF GUYS LIKED BEAT UP RIGS AS YOU COULDN'T TELL WHERE A NEW SCRAPE WAS.
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW INTIMIDATING THAT LONG TABLE LOOKED IN THE COMMISSIONERS OFFICE WAS.
YOU HOPED TO NEVER GO DOWN ON CHARGES.
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE NAME OF THAT ONE WOMAN THAT HANDLED THE PAYROLL ALL BY HERSELF
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW AT HEADQUARTERS, AT ROLL CALL, THEY HAD A LOT OF
GUYS....................THEN THEY DISAPPEARED TILL THE COOK YELLED ...CHOW...........
WHERE DID THEY
GO?????????????????
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE LITTLE TINKER BELL ON THE SIDE
DOOR TO ALERT US TO SOMEONE COMING IN
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN TWO OF YOU WERE ON THE LINE AND IT WAS SO HOT THAT EACH OF YOU WERE
WAITING FOR THE OTHER ONE TO SAY "MAYBE WE
SHOULD BACK OUT" BUT NEITHER ONE OF YOU WANTED TO SAY IT.
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN A CERTAIN REAR ORIFICE PUCKERED UP DUE TO BEING IN SOME PRECARIOUS
CIRCUMSTANCES
DO YOU REMEMBER
ASKING YOURSELF "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE"?
DO YOU REMEMBER
STRADDLING THE BURNED OUT STAIRWAYS AS YOU WALKED UP SO YOU WOULDN'T FALL
THROUGH
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THE "BAD GUYS" CUT HOLES IN THE FLOOR IN THE DOORWAY OF A DWELLING AND
THEN SET IT ON FIRE TO "GET YOU"......................
DO YOU REMEMBER
COOKING AND SOME GUYS WERE IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE
WORKING WITH SOME GUYS THAT THEY DIDN'T JUST WAKE UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF
THE BED.................THEY WOKE UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE WORLD
THEY REALLY MADE FOR A LONG DAY
DID YOU EVER LOOK AT OUR SHOESHINE BOX AND WONDER WHAT YEAR IT WAS MADE.
WAS IT THERE WHEN THE HORSES WERE STILL IN THE ENGINE HOUSE'S..............
I DON'T KNOW
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DO YOU REMEMBER
HEARING THE EXPRESSING "CHUD"........................BUT
NEVER KNEW WHAT IT MEANT
I JUST LEARNED MYSELF. I GOT THIS INFORMATION FROM "THE FIREFIGHTERS SITE.
CARNIVEROUS
HUMANOID UNDERGROUND
DWELLER
_____________________________________________________
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE GUYS THAT WERE 10 FT. BEHIND YOU PULLING LINE YELLING
"GET IN THERE"
YOU WERE "ON THE PIPE" AND BURNING UP.
YOU WANTED TO YELL BACK " COME UP HERE WHERE
THE FIRE IS AND I'LL DROP BACK AND PULL LINE " AND YELL AT YOU TO "GET IN THERE"
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW TO PUT THE LINE ON THE LONG HOSE RACKS WITH 2 GUYS
1 GUY WAS AT ONE END AND THE OTHER IN THE MIDDLE.
THE END GUY WOULD HOLD THE BUTT OVER THE END OF THE RACK.
THE MIDDLE GUY WOULD SWING THE LINE UP FROM THE FLOOR AND FLOP IT IN TO THE
RACK
THE END GUY WOULD GO TO THE OTHER END AND THEY WOULD REPEAT THE OPERATION
REMEMBER YOU HAD TO "TIME THE FLOP JUST RIGHT"
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW HARD IT WAS TO FOLD THAT OLD STIFF 1 1/2 LINE INTO A BUNDLE.
IT TRAPPED AIR AT EACH FOLD AND STUCK OUT EVERY WHICH WAY.
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW IT STARTED
ONE GUY WOULD PUT WATER ON ANOTHER GUYS CHAIR AND HE WOULD SIT IN IT.
THAT GUY WOULD GET A CUP OF WATER AND PORE IT ON GUY ONE.
GUY ONE WOULD GET A POT OF WATER AND RETALIATE.
THEN TOTAL CHAOS
IT WAS AN ENGINE HOUSE WATER FIGHT.
LINES DRAWN, ENGINE AGAINST THE SQUAD, YOUNG GUYS
AGAINST THE OLD GUYS,
OR EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. PAILS FILLED, GARDEN HOSES
HOOKED UP, THE ONLY RULE WAS THE WATCH ROOM WAS OFF LIMITS
WATER EVERYWHERE, IT WAS A
3 OR 4 SANFORIZED DAY. AFTER IT WAS OVER EVERYONE
INVOLVED CLEANED UP THE MESS AND WHAT A MESS IT WAS. THE CAMARADERIE, THE
SMILES, THE LAUGHTER,THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
THE "LITTLE BOY " GREW UP TO BE A FIREMAN BUT AT TIMES
HE STILL WAS THAT "LITTLE BOY"
REMEMBER WHEN YOU GOT HOME IN THE MORNING AND YOUR WIFE
SAW ALL YOUR WET CLOTHES. SHE SAID: HONEY YOU MUST HAVE HAD A REALLY BAD DAY.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST TAKE IT EASY TODAY. THOSE FIRES MUST HAVE REALLY TUCKERED YOU
OUT. ALL WE WOULD SAY WAS "YES DEAR IT WAS A VERY BAD DAY"...........AND THEN
SMILE INSIDE
AREN'T YOU GLAD ONLY THE
"OFU" DID CHILDISH THINGS LIKE HAVE WATER FIGHTS.
OUR UNIT WAS TOO BUSY STUDYING THOSE EDUCATIONAL
MAGAZINES WE GOT FROM LUDDINGTON NEWS
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW YOU WOULD BE SLEEPING AND THOSE OLD RADIATORS WOULD START HISSING AND /
OR BANGING.
DO YOU REMEMBER
BEFORE WE GOT OUR OWN BLANKETS WE JUST HAD "HOUSE BLANKETS" THAT ,IF WE WERE
LUCKY , GOT CLEANED ONCE A YEAR.
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE GREASE DRIP MARKS ON THE WALL BELOW THE KITCHEN FAN
IF YOU REMEMBER WHY DIDN'T YOU CLEAN THE WALL AND FAN RATHER THEN WAIT FOR
THE TRIALMAN TO DO IT.
I REMEMBER
AT ONE ENGINE HOUSE THE COOK TESTED THE DOUGH, THAT HE MADE FOR BISCUITS, BY
FLINGING IT OUT THE WINDOW AT THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR. IF IT STUCK, THE DOUGH
WAS READY. THE WALL WAS FILLED WITH DOUGH BALLS
DO YOU REMEMBER
BEING COLD, WET, FROZEN,TIRED (ACTUALLY BEAT) HUNGRY AND ON THE WAY BACK
FROM A MULTIPLE ALARM YOU CAUGHT ANOTHER FIRE. NO MATTER YOUR CONDITION, YOU
WERE NEVER OUT OF SERVICE.....................THE CITIZENS REALLY GOT THEIR
MONEYS WORTH FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
DO YOU REMEMBER
GETTING RUNS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN. IN ASKING THE PEOPLE WHY THEY CALLED US, THEY SAID "
BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ALWAYS RESPONDS....................
ALWAYS
DO YOU REMEMBER
WATCHING TV FIREMEN COMING BACK FROM A
FIRE AND THE WHOLE CREW TAKING SHOWERS AT THE SAME TIME.................WHILE US
GUYS ,IF WE DIDN'T GET ANOTHER RUN, GOT TO TAKE A SHOWER ONE AT A TIME , .MOST
OF THE TIME YOU JUST WASHED UP AS GOOD AS YOU COULD FROM THE SINK IF YOU DID
TAKE A SHOWER WE HAD TO HAVE OUR CLOTHES ALL SET UP ON A CHAIR AS IF A RUN CAME
IN WE STILL HAD TO MAKE THE RIG. NO RIG WAS EVER OUT OF SERVICE FOR THE
GUYS BEING TIRED OR DIRTY......................NEVER
HAPPENED.
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN YOU HAD A GOOD CREW, THE HOUSE RAN
ITSELF
DO YOU REMEMBER
BEFORE APPARATUS DOOR OPENERS YOU HAD TO MANUALLY OPEN THE DOORS.. YOU
FIRST FLIPPED DOWN THOSE METAL RODS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORS AND THEN PUSHED
THEM OPEN. THE RODS PREVENTED THE DOORS FROM CLOSING. SOME OF THE ENGINE HOUSES
STILL HAVE INDENTATIONS IN THE APPARATUS FLOORS WHERE THE RODS DROPPED FOR
DECADES. I KNOW ENGINE 31, WHERE I STARTED, STILL
HAS THOSE INDICATIONS. NONE OF THE YOUNG " WHIPPER SNAPPERS " KNEW WHAT THOSE
INDICATIONS WERE.
I REMEMBER
A TRICK PLAYED ON THE TRIALMAN.
THE COOK PUT GREEN FOOD DYE INSIDE THE CENTER
PART OF THE HAMBURGERS.
HE FRIED THEM UP AND SERVED THEM. NATURALLY WHEN YOU BIT INTO THEM THE GREEN
SHOWED. ALL THE OTHER GUYS WERE IN ON IT . HE JUST TOLD THE TRIALMAN THAT HE GOT
A GOOD DEAL ON THE MEAT AS IT WAS OUTDATED.......................
THE TRIALMAN COULDN'T EAT IT.
I REMEMBER
THE COOK MADE CITY CHICKEN. HE PUT 4 PIECES OF SUET ON A SKEWER INSTEAD OF
MEAT, BREADED THEM AND BROWNED THEM UP. HE MADE TWO OF THESE FOR THE TRIALMAN.
THE REST OF THE GUYS WERE IN ON IT. SINCE THE TRIALMAN ALWAYS WAS LAST IN LINE
IT WAS EASY TO HAVE HIM GET THE SUET ONES.
I REMEMBER
THE YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" WAS COOKING HIS FIRST SWISS STEAK FOR THE
SECOND MEAL. HE ASKED THE GUYS FOR ADVICE. THEY TOLD HIM HOW TO POUND FLOUR INTO
THE MEAT WITH A MALLET OR THE EDGE OF A PLATE, BROWN IT UP AND PUT IT IN THE
OVEN ON LOW AND COOK SLOWLY
THEY HAD THE FIRST MEAL AND THEN THE GUYS TOOK THEIR 1 TO 4
RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST MEAL THE YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER"MADE THE SWISS STEAK
AND PUT IT IN THE OVEN.............................FOR
ABOUT 5 HOURS....................
THE MEAT DISSOLVED INTO THE THICKEST GRAVY ANYONE EVER HAD.
NOTE: I WAS THAT YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER"
MAKE SOMONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THAT FIRST BUILDING FELL ON 911 YOU KNEW IMMEDIATELY THAT MANY OF
OUR GUYS WERE GONE..................THIS WAS EVEN BEFORE THE ANNOUNCER SAID
ANYTHING
AS ALWAYS "OUR GUYS RUN IN WHEN EVERYONE RUNS
OUT
DO YOU REMEMBER
BEFORE 911 WHEN FRIENDS AND /OR FAMILY TOOK VERBAL SHOTS AT OUR
PROFESSION WE KIND OF LET IT ROLL OFF OUR SHOULDERS
NOW WE FIND OUR SELVES ATTACKING THOSE SOB'S THAT INSULT FIREMEN
DO YOU NOW FIND YOURSELVES WISHING YOU COULD HAVE DONE
MANY THINGS BETTER (A LOT
BETTER), WHILE WORKING, TO HONOR ALL THOSE WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES AS
FIREMEN...........................I
THINK MANY OF US DO.
"REMEMBER "
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN YOU CAME ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MOST LEAVE DAY JOBS WERE WINDOW AND WALL
WASHING AND HOUSE PAINTING
WHEN YOU RETIRED NOT TOO MANY GUYS DID THESE JOBS ANYMORE
DO YOU REMEMBER
DRIVING A TRUCK DOWN A VERY NARROW STREET WITH CARS PARKED ON BOTH SIDES. IT
WAS TOO NARROW TO PUT BOTH JACKS DOWN SO YOU PULLED OVER TO THE
NON FIRE SIDE AND JUST PUT THE
FIRE SIDE JACKS DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WAS SO NARROW THAT YOU HAD A GUY
GUIDE YOU SO YOU COULD PUT THE ONE SIDE JACK BETWEEN TWO PARKED CARS
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THERE WASN'T ANY CHAIRS AROUND YOU WOULD PULL UP THOSE WASTEPAPER
BASKETS AND SIT IN IT.....................I KNOW, I KNOW US GUYS DO SOME GOOFY
THINGS.
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW GOOD YOU FELT IF A PERSON WAS RESCUED AT YOUR FIRE
DO YOU REMEMBER
NEVER GETTING PAID FOR ACTING OUT OF GRADE. YOU DROVE TRUCKS, ENGINES AND
SQUADS , AND WERE IN CHARGE OF THESE COMPANIES AND YOUR PAYCHECK DIDN'T SHOW ANY
INCREASE IN PAY
ANYONE KNOW WHEN WE STARTED TO GET PAID FOR ACTING OUT OF GRADE????
DO YOU REMEMBER
AT HEADQUARTERS AT 0630 HRS THEY WOULD YELL ON THE INTERCOM:
630........GET YOUR CARS OUT OF THE BASEMENT
THAT WAS SO THE "OFU" COULD PARK THEIR CARS. WE COULD PARK IN THE ALLEY AND
THE STREET WITHOUT GETTING A TICKET.
THEN IN THE LATER YEARS ,WHEN HEADQUARTERS LOST SOME OF THEIR APPARATUSES,
THE GUYS WERE ALLOWED TO PARK ON THE APPARATUS FLOOR RIGHT AFTER THE EVENING
MEAL
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET COMFORTABLE IN THOSE RED CHAIRS . YOU SAT IN
THEM THE REGULAR WAY FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, THEN SLOUCHED AND PUT YOUR FEET ON
THE RADIATORS, SHOESHINE BOX, THE ARMS OF ANOTHER RED CHAIR OR THE WASTE PAPER
BASKET (UNLESS SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN IT)
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE "SOUND" THE LINE MADE WHEN IT WAS
DROPPED FROM THE HOSE TOWER.
THINK BACK, ...........YOU REMEMBER
DO YOU REMEMBER
ALWAYS LOSING COUNT WHEN PUTTING THE 2 1/2 LINE BACK IN THE BED.
DO YOU REMEMBER
FILLING OUT HOURLY THOSE ENGINE HOUSE WATER PRESSURE SHEETS FROM 0700 TO
MIDNIGHT. DID YOU EVER WONDERED WHO CHECKED THEM AND WHY?. DID YOU EVER CHEAT
AND PRE FILL THE SHEET OUT?
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
FIRE STORY TOLD TO ME
THE GUYS RESPONDED TO A FURNITURE WAREHOUSE THAT WAS TOTALLY INVOLVED. IT WAS
ONE OF THOSE REAL SMOKY ONES WHERE YOU COULDN'T SEE 6 INCH IN FRONT OF YOU.
THEY MOVED FROM SECTION TO SECTION OF THE WAREHOUSE AND
DIDN'T RUN ACROSS ANY OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE FLOOR. THEY STARTED TO
BACK OUT AND RAN INTO ALL TYPES OF CHAIRS THAT WEREN'T THERE WHEN THEY CAME IN.
IT WAS STILL SO SMOKY THEY COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. THEY HAD NO IDEA OF WHERE
THEY WERE AS NOW THE ONCE CLEAR FLOOR WAS FILLED WITH CHAIRS. THEY EVENTUALLY
GOT OUT . WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT THEY FIGURED OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
DO YOU KNOW????????????
ANSWER BELOW
IN SOME WAREHOUSES, TO SAVE FLOOR SPACE, THEY TIE LIGHTER FURNITURE,SUCH
AS CHAIRS. TO THE RAFTERS WITH TWINE. THE TWINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DROPPING
ALL THE CHAIRS ON THE FLOOR.
I REMEMBER
ENGINE 9 HAD ALL YOUNG GUYS ON DUTY WITH THE ONLY OLD GUYS BEING THE TWO
BOSSES AND THEY WERE "GOOD GUYS"
IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE HOUSE THE CITY LEFT ROLLS OF SOD TO DO SOD WORK THE
FOLLOWING MORNING.
THE TWO BOSSES WERE OUT BACK WASHING THEIR CARS.
WELL GUYS GUESS WHAT.......... A COUPLE OF THE GUYS GOT UP AND PICKED UP
ROLLS OF SOD AND THE SNORKEL OFFICE GOT A BEAUTIFUL GREEN LAWN. THE TWO BOSSES
TOOK IT VERY WELL ,IN FACT THEY ASKED AROUND IF ANYONE HAD A CAMERA SO THEY
COULD REMEMBER IT, BUT NO ONE DID. IT WAS A MESS TO CLEAN BUT THAT WAS THE PRICE
OF LAUGHTER.
STORY I HEARD
SOMEONE TOLD ME YEARS AGO OF ONE OLDTIMER THAT USED TO TIE A ROPE TO A
SPANNER WRENCH THAT HE KEPT IN THE POCKET OF HIS FIRECOAT . HE USED IT BY
THROWING IT TO BREAK OUT WINDOWS WHEN HE DIDN'T HAVE A PIKE POLE
DO YOU REMEMBER
DOING THAT" LITTLE JUMP "AT THE SAME TIME
YOU PULLED BOTH STRAPS TO ADJUST THE TANK ON YOUR BACK.
COME ON YOU REMEMBER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS
THOSE STEEL TANKS . IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THE WEIGHT LIFTERS
"CLEAN AND JERK"
AS YOU PULLED ON THOSE STRAPS YOU DID THAT LITTLE
JUMP TO RAISE THE TANK AND THEN KIND OF DROPPED YOUR KNEES TO DROP
BELOW THE TANK AS IT ROSE ON YOUR BACK................SEE OLD TIMER NOW YOU
REMEMBER..........
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THE OUTSKIRTS COMPANIES WERE THE SLOWEST AND THE INTER- GRAND BLVD
WERE THE BUSIEST. TODAY SOME OF THE BUSIEST COMPANIES ARE THE OUTSKIRTS.
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
BEFORE THE CASCADE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED, AT VARIOUS ENGINE HOUSES, YOU EITHER
HAD TO GO DOWN TO THE SHOP OR ASKED IF ANY REPAIRMAN WAS GOING TO BE NEAR YOUR
ENGINE HOUSE COULD THEY DROP OFF SOME AIR TANKS FOR EXCHANGE
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN CHOPPING A HOLE IN A ROOF YOUR ARMS AND HANDS WOULD BE SO TIRED THAT AT
TIMES SOMEONE LOST THEIR AX IN THE HOLE ON ONE OF THEIR SWINGS
DO YOU REMEMBER
SOME TIMES THE FIRE BROKE OUT IN A HOLE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR LADDER
AND YOU SAID................................OH SHIT
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN YOU RAN OUT OF "OUT OF SERVICE RINGS" HOW YOU WOULD INDICATE A DEFECTIVE
HYDRANT
YOU CROSSED THE HYDRANT CAPS
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE ROUNDED HYDRANTS STEMS AND THE
BRASS FILINGS AROUND IT FROM SOMEONE USING A PIPE
WRENCH TO OPEN IT
DO YOU REMEMBER
THOSE LARGE CHROME BELLS ON THE FRONT OF OUR RIGS THAT THE BOSS USED TO
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG ON THE WAY TO RUNS......................WHAT EVER HAPPENED
TO THEM????????????????
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW THOSE NEW ALUMINUM BUTTS GROUND DOWN MORE FLAT SPOTS FROM BEING DRAGGED
ON THE STREET THAN THOSE OLD BRASS ONES
DO YOU REMEMBER
AFTER 3 OTHER CREWS TOOK OVER YOUR ENGINE AT A MULTIPLE YOU KNEW THAT YOU
WOULD BE MISSING LINE , AN AX, PIKE POLE OR NOZZLE
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT YOU CALLED A MESS OF LINE AT A MULTIPLE
SPAGHETTI
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THE SHOP HAD TO PUT HASPS ON MANY OF OUR RIGS COMPARTMENT DOORS.
THE RIGS WERE SO RUSTED OUT THAT THE DOORS WOULD OPEN UP ON A RUN AND WE
WOULD LOSE OUR EQUIPMENT.
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE NAME OF THAT FUNNEL LOOKING CONTRAPTION THAT YOU ATTACHED TO THE FRONT
OF THE FOAM NOZZLE
SHAPER
DO YOU REMEMBER
SPENDING ALL THE MONEY FROM SELLING FIELD DAY TICKETS AND HAVING TO BORROW
THE MONEY FROM THE CREDIT UNION WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PAY YOUR BILL
DO YOU REMEMBER
TAKING YOUR CHILDREN TO THE "FIREMEN'S
FIELD DAY" AT BRIGGS "TIGER" STADIUM AND WATCHING THE
EAST SIDE PLAY AGAINST THE WEST SIDE. THE ANNOUNCER WOULD ASK THE CROWD TO CHEER
LOUD FOR THE EAST SIDE AND THEN THE WEST SIDE AND SEE WHAT SIDE OF TOWN WAS THE
LOUDEST........YOU REMEMBER CHEERING DON'T YOU.
REMEMBER THEM WHEELING OUT THAT BIG RED BARREL THAT HELD THE TICKETS FOR
THE DRAWING FOR THE 25 CARS.
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW EXCITED YOUR
CHILDREN GOT WHEN THEY OPENED THAT FAR GATE AND YOU
HEARD FIRST ONE SIREN AND SAW ONE RIG COME OUT ON THE WARNING TRACK.
THEN ANOTHER SIREN AND RIG UNTIL THERE WERE
MANY RIGS ALL WITH THEIR SIRENS BLARING. THEY KNEW
"THAT'S
WHAT DADDY DID"
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW TO HOOK INTO THE ROPE WITH THE POMPIER BELT AND THEN SLIDE DOWN IT
COME ON OLD TIMER YOU CAN REMEMBER
YOU TAKE THE HOOK WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND AND HOOK IT TO THE ROPE
WITH YOUR LEFT HAND YOU DO ONE LOOP OVER THE TOP OF THE
HOOK
YOU HAVE THE LOOPED ROPE AROUND THE NON OPENING SIDE
OF THE HOOK.
YOU GRAB THAT WITH YOUR LEFT GLOVED HAND
WITH YOUR RIGHT GLOVED HAND YOU GRAB THE ROPE ABOUT 3 FEET BELOW THE
HOOK AND SWING THIS BEHIND YOUR BACK.
THEN YOU JUST STEP OUT OF THE WINDOW.
YOUR DESCENT IS DETERMINED BY A COMBINATION OF YOUR
LEFT HAND SQUEEZING THE ROPE AND HOOK AND YOUR RIGHT HAND TIGHTENING OR SLACKING
UP ON THE ROPE.
I THINK I HAVE IT RIGHT , CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
.....IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 42 YEARS AGO
DO YOU REMEMBER
BEFORE THE STAPLE FUND AND BEING ABLE TO BUY "KITCHEN BOUQUET" YOU DARKENED
GRAVY BY PUTTING EITHER FLOUR OR SUGAR IN A FRYING PAN AND HEATING IT TILL IT
TURNED DARK BROWN. YOU THEN ADDED THIS TO DARKEN PALE LOOKING GRAVY.
DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT ENGINE HOUSES HAD A WALL SEPARATING A COMPANY FROM ANOTHER
(NOT EMS)
I REMEMBER
1 WALL SEPARATED SQUAD 6 FROM ENGINE 50 AND LADDER 23
1 WALL SEPARATED ENGINE 42 FROM LADDER 21
1 WALL (IN THAT BACK ROOM) SEPARATED SQUAD 5 FROM ENGINE 40 AND LADDER 17
(OLD QUARTERS)...........I CAN'T RECALL IF THERE WAS A WALL THAT SEPARATED
THE ENGINE FROM THE TRUCK...................ANYONE KNOW????????????????
1 WALL SEPARATED SQUAD 2 FROM ENGINE 5 AND LADDER 20....................I
CAN'T RECALL IF THERE WAS A WALL THAT SEPARATED THE ENGINE FROM THE
TRUCK...................ANYONE KNOW????????????????
DO YOU REMEMBER
HOW EVERY ENGINE HOUSE AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD EACH HAD CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS
OWN
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE SAYING "S_ _T P_ _ S F_ _ K
DO YOU REMEMBER
THE SMELL WHENEVER YOU OPENED THE LIFE NET COMPARTMENT.
ALWAYS CATCHING THOSE SPRINGS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE COMPARTMENT WHEN YOU PUT
IT BACK AFTER INSPECTION
THE YEAR THAT THEY REMOVED ALL LIFE NETS????????????????? I DON'T
_________________________________________________________________________________
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
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