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.