week eight/ nine

finally through with the marathon that was the last two weeks. week eight was the completion of the firefighter one portion of the program. we took our written and physical test on wednesday. everyone passed with no problem. friday night was our night burn, which was a simulated propane fire. it was a lot of fun because our families and friends were able to come out and see what we have been training so hard for over the past eight weeks. beth and rob showed up to give suport , and beth documented the experience. last weekend was our RIT (rapid intervention team) training. the RIT is the team of firefighters that is standing by on scene in case a firefighter goes down on the inside. we learned a ton of cool stuff and we got to destroy some walls as well. it was another milestone in the program, and was also the bridge between ff1 and ff2. week nine was our second burn. this time we were doing a search and rescue inside two shipping containers. in one end the instructors had set up a wood pallet fire. while it was hot, there was not a ton of work to be done, at least for the first two passes. on the third pass, we had to breach a wall, chop wood for two minuites on our knees, and then complete the search and rescue. we were also given the opportunity to use a thermal imaging camera in the box. i think the hottest it got for my team in the box was around five hundred degrees. it was intense, but manageable. we also learned about vehicle extrication this week, and the instuctors turned us loose on some cars with the "jaws of life". it is amazing what those tools can do. in a matter of minuites, we were able to remove all the doors, roll back the dashboard, and remove the roof. this week was also our night senario. we were required to stay on campus thursday night, and at some point during the night, we were woken up to respond to an alarm. in my team's case, we were responding to a multiple car fire. it was a lot of fun, but because i was expecting to be woken up all night, i did not get a ton of sleep. but as the instuctors kept reminding us, that is the way it is going to be when we get on shift. next week is week ten, and we are all nervously anticipating graduation. just two more burns stand in our way. thanks for the comments and emails, keep 'em coming. hope everyone has a great weekend.

night burn

we had our night burn on friday and beth was able to take some great pictures. here is the link http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=bethwangelin&target=ALBUM&id=5401342844626296593&authkey=Gv1sRgCNb_6bS_lNH15AE&invite=CILAycgB&feat=email

week six/ seven

so this post has been two weeks in the making. i apologize for the delay, the program has been gaining steam and it has been a challenge to post at the end of the week. week six was rather slow. we began the week by doing a search and rescue simulation. the instructors had us blindfolded, crawling around an apartment searching for a rescue dummy. it was a lot of fun, and my partner and i were able to locate and rescue the dummy with no issue. we also had the chance to practice different ventilation techniques, from using fans or hydraulic ventilation (using the hose stream to pull smoke and heat out of a window), to cutting holes in roofs using hand and power tools. we also had two days of HAZMAT training which was brutally boring. week seven was quite the opposite. this was what has been dubbed "hell week", and that title is very accurate. we all knew going into this week that it was going to be tough, but i dont think we realized just how taxing it would be. the week kicked off on monday with a test and lecture. on tuesday we were back in the maze, only this time it was twice as long and multi- leveled. while i have become more comfortable in gear and on air, it was just as trying as the first time. it made it very clear that i will not be the first choice when my department is looking for someone to do a confined space rescue. we also worked more on our search and rescue techniques. wednesday we learned how to properly advance a hose line up a ladder and into a window to fight fire. while not overwhelmingly difficult, it does take some effort and i found myself using more air than i would have liked. wednesday was also our "garage attack" day, which was advancing the same 2 1/2 in. hose line that we had previously worked so hard to advance on our feet, now on our knees. making this task even more difficult was the fact that the water was making the concrete floor we were on impossibly slippery. im sure it was quite comical to watch, but i can assure you, there was nothing funny about doing it. by the end of it everyone was spent, and this was only wednesday. thursaday was devoted to practicing our burn evolution that would take place on friday. in teams of three our task was to carry three 50 ft. lengths of hose into the burn tower, hook up to our interior water source, proceed up to the fire floor, perform several different kinds of attacks, drain and carry the hose, and exit the building as a team as quickly as we could. all of this was to be done in gear, on air and in the dark. the steps were easy enough as we had been practicing them individually for a while. the part that i found most difficult was controling my breathing so as to not make my teammates wait on me as i switched out bottles. we were able to get in two runs on thursday, one to the second floor and one to the third. on friday we did the real thing with flame, heat, and smoke. everyone was pretty nervous because if at any time we came off air or ripped our masks off, we we out of the program. truth be told, it was easier than on thursday. i think this was due to the fact that we did not pt on friday, and because having fire in the building gave you something to focus on besides the work itself. much to all of our surprise, we actually had fun. everyone was able to complete three runs into the building, and we only lost one due to a back injury. while it seemed very unlikely at the start of the week, i am now looking back on "hell week" with fond memories. week eight will mark the end of fire one. we will be taking our written and physical finals on wednesday to see if we will be permitted to continue to fire two. this next weekend we will be required to stay on campus for additional training, so there may be another lapse until the next riviting update. hope everyone enjoyed the game this weekend, with the exception of my georgia kin, to whom i say "there is always next year". make sure to stay updated on beth's blog if you want your mind blown with science jargon that is way beyond me. everyone have a great week and stay safe.

week five

just finished up week five. this week was our first chance to come face to face with fire. on Wednesday we did our car fire evolution, which consisted of putting out fire in two cars with a simulated fuel leak in between them. we did it in groups of two, with one man working the nozzle and the other pulling the hose. one run through took maybe two minutes and then we would switch positions. i was pretty nervous going into it because we were going to be on air having to pull hose which can be taxing. the last time i was on air doing work was on maze day, and it had left a bad taste in my mouth. but i guess pt is serving its purpose because it was no sweat; actually it was great fun. while the hose can be a bear to control, it is also like wielding a sword when you are going up against the fire. when me and my partner were finished, i immediately wanted to go again. i cant wait until the next evolution. pt has been increasing in intensity. we have been starting every workout with a mile and a half run at capt. belger's pace, and we have to do 100 burpees for everyone who doesn't finish with him. needless to say, i have yet to finish with him, along with a few others. we are currently up to roughly 2000 burpees. we will be working on paying those off for the rest of the program. the running is helping as it is forcing me to work on my breathing, which is making working on air much more bearable. as far as class time, at the start of the week i held the top GPA in the class. by Friday i had dropped to second. i just cant seem to shake this annoying streak of 96's. everyday the program is becoming more fun, and everyday i feel like i belong here more. with every skill we learn and every push up we do, i feel more like a fireman. thanks again to everyone who has been sending their love and support, you guys are such a vital part of my success. uncle Bo, thanks so much for the letters and such. unfortunately this next week an integral part of my support system will be absent as Bethany will be jet setting in Berlin for a conference and other fun activities. while i was sad to see her go, i am so excited for her and i know she is having a great time spreading her pixie magic around Germany. hope everyone has a great week. enjoy the cool weather while it lasts.

week four

week four is in the books, and what a great week it was. several more tests, and no grade lower than a 96. this week was devoted to water sources, fire streams and fire hoses. a lot of class room time in the beginning of the week, which is always a nice break, especially considering the fact that the weather has been unusually hot and humid. Thursday we started actually working with the hoses, learning how do do various rolls and loads onto the engine. we had one student get taken to the hospital because it was so humid and he became dehydrated. he returned the following day with minor bumps and bruises from passing out a couple of times. we also lost a student at the beginning of the week due to a broken finger, and another due to grades. we are starting to establish the core group that will continue through the rest of the program. several weak links have been weeded out, and it is starting to make a difference in the performance of the group. Friday our class had the opportunity to take part in an annual ceremony that the college does to honor firefighters that have been killed in the line of duty. it was quite an honor to be able to play a part in the ceremony; it was also very sobering. this program has forced me to compromise the feeling of invincibility that accompanies youth. while the instructors are training us to be able to handle any situation that we find ourselves in, they also stress the possibility that this job can kill us. although it is not something to dwell on, it is in the back of my mind. we also started working with charged and flowing lines on Friday. it has given me a whole new respect for the power of water. we worked on advancing a charged and flowing 1 3/4 line, as well as 2 1/2. the 1 3/4 line can be advanced by two firefighters relatively easily. the 2 1/2 was another story. it took two of us all we had to advance it roughly 100 feet. we then had to aim it in different directions, witch is something that can only be accomplished if both people are on the same page and giving it all they have. we spent the rest of the day learning how to catch a hydrant off an engine. the program is starting to take on a new level of fun as we are getting to apply the knowledge that we have been learning in the classroom. next week will be our first burn: a simulated car fire. should be challenging but fun. i wanted to thank everyone who has been following along, and say to keep the comments and emails coming. it has been nice to hear from you guys, and the encouragement has helped more than you know. hope everyone has a great week. one more thing for those who are interested, my girlfriend Beth is currently studying for her phd qualifying exams. she has a blog chronicling her harrowing journey through academia. you can find it at http://massaintermedia.blogspot.com/

week 3

three weeks down! this week was definitely the hump. started the week with more tests and classroom time. grades are still staying in the mid to high 90s. while there is a lot of material, it is just a matter of figuring out how to take the tests. it has been very necessary to read the chapters thourouly, but since beth is such a good studier, it has helped me to commit to immersing myself in the material. wednesday was the ladder tour. this was the day that i was dreading more than any other. we spent about two hours carrying various ladders around campus. they ranged from a 24 ft extension ladder up to the 50 ft bangor extension ladder. while we didnt lose anyone, there were a few who voiced their desire to be done with it all. but seeing how we have already lost close to half the class (we are currently down to 28), we refused to let them walk away. i would be lying if i said that the thought to quit never crossed my mind, but i was able to stick it out and was actually given some love by one of the captains for my efforts. friday was spent learning how to raise te various ladders, as well as getting to watch the class ahead of ours graduate. it was a nice end to the week, and we were all anticipating the weekend and a chance to rehab. now that the tour is behind me, the fear and trepidation that had accompanied the first three weeks is gone. i knew that if i could get through that, i would be able to handle the rest of the program. now i am able to focus on not only surviving, but actually excelling. while i do not anticipate that the remainder of the program will be easy, i have learned a bit more about my limits. i have also been challenged by one of the captains to assume a more aggresive leadership position. it is nice to know that the instuctors see qualities in me that they feel are leader worthy. pt has been continuing along, and we have all started to see a drastic change in our abilities. i am actaully looking forward to week 4. we will continue to work with the ladders, as well as move on to working with the hoses. a quarter of the way there. evryone needs to make sure they tune in this weekend to watch the gators beat up on the tigers. hopefully tebow will be ready to go. hope everyone is having a great week.

made it through week 2, and it has been something. thursday was the maze, which was essentially a wooden apparatus, about two feet wide, and at best two and a half feet high. at certain points the only way to progress was to get as skinny as possible and shimmy your way through. about 10 ft in my air pack got skewed to one side and it seemed everytime i tried to move, it would get hung on something. they also worked in several dead ends where you had to find doors to advance. add to this the fact that it is completely dark and we were on air for the first time, it was intense. several times during our run i had to stop and reassure myself that i was not going to get stuck and suffocate. two people went through at a time, and you were expected to finish with your partner. me and my partner, shane, got separated towards the end and the instructors were not very pleased when i emerged almost empty of air and sans shane. other activities of the day included chopping wood on air for 5 minutes, as well as learning how to don and doff the SCBA, and fill tanks. i made the mistake of skipping lunch and paid for it that afternoon. by 6 o'clock i could barely stand and my vision was starting to go blurry. luckily i made it home with minimal liquid regurgitation, and Beth was waiting to feed and comfort me. the week took its toll on the rest of the class as well; we lost 7 on thursday, which brings our total down to 34. it was quite an emotional day as one of the friends i had made in the class dropped. he was a great guy, he just decided the job was not for him. he will be missed. the instructors have really kicked it up a notch. they are starting to demand a lot more of us, and i anticipate loosing a few more before next weekend. friday was devoted to knots, which thanks to my rich nautical upbringing, i had no problem with. although tying said knots while wearing firefighting gloves is another story. we will be expected to tie the knots in gear next week in under 45 seconds. next week will also be ladder tour, which is supposed to be hell. as best as i can gather, we will be carrying a 50 ft extension ladder around campus in full gear for several hours. should be fun. needless to say i will be enjoying every minute of this weekend. hope everyone is doing well. i look forward to hearing from you. go gators.

http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1362430257#/photos.php?id=1362430257


Also, this is a link to some photos of the pt we have been doing. you can almost feel the humidity and smell the puke.

week 2

half way through week two. a couple more tests to report. 94 on the first responder final. pretty happy with that, although i think i could have done better. i scored an 88 on the first test of the fire portion, which was mostly covering administration type topics. while i am not very happy with the score, it is not info that is going to be vital in the field. and to be honest, i did put in, at best, a "b" effort in studying for the test. live and learn. test two is tomorrow. it will cover our gear (bunker gear, SCBA) and it will be covering only one chapter so studying should not be as big a problem. we will also be out of the classroom for the first time. it will be to go over getting into our bunker gear and donning our SCBA. thursday is also the day that we go through the maze, which i am told you will have a problem with if you are clausterphobic at all. i dont anticipate any problems, but time will tell. i have adjusted somewhat to pt, and despite being continually sore, i can feel myself improving. looking forward to the weekend to allow the body to recover. onward and upward!

Week One

So this is the start of the Fire School blog. I figured this would be more efficient than sending out emails, and i figured you could all use yet another distraction during the week. I will update as often as i can, at least once a week. If anyone wants to get in touch with me, and please feel free to do so, my email address is coltfrye@gmail.com. Hope everyone enjoys.
This first week has been devoted to three things: PT, First Responder, and establishing our turd status on campus. Firstly is PT, or for you laypeople, physical training. It starts every morning at 7:00 am and lasts at least an hour. It is led by several of the most insanely in shape people i have ever seen. It generally has consisted of cardio, core, and upper body strengthening. Day one half of the class vomited. I am proud to say that i was not among them. Secondly has been the First Responder training that we have been receiving. It has been excessively boring, but necessary. The main issue has been that we have to go through a 500 page book in a little over a week, so you can imagine the pace that we have been keeping. That is one thing that has been painfully evident from the start, that fire school is all about pace and efficiency. Thirdly has been everyone's overwhelming willingness to remind us every chance they get that we are the very lowest men on the totem poll. I don't mind this to much because i enjoy the idea of having to prove my self to recieve respect. Unfortunatly not all of the class feels this way, and before long, I am sure there will be repercussions for members of the class getting "to big for their britches", if you will. My goals from the start of this thing have been to not only complete the training, but to fininsh at the top of the class. There are two titles that i am striving for: Top Gun and Top Acidemic. Out of the three grades I have recieved this week the lowest has been a 90%, and if i want the top GPA in the class that is going to have to remain the lowest. This first week has been tough, but a lot of fun. I know that it will only get more intense from here on out, but that is what it is alll about; pushing us to our physical and mental limits. I can already see a difference in the comrodery of the class from day one. I am looking forward to growing closer to these guys and earnning their trust and friendship. Week two will finish up the First Responder training and begin the firefighting portion. I can't wait.