A little Unit 2...

So as I may have mentioned before, I'm happily into Unit 2. Unit 2 is more technical skills, that also happen to be (for the most part) individual skills. We've been learning how to cut holes in roofs for ventilation, extrication, and car fires. We went to perfectly good house in Mclean on a Thursday, tore the inside apart, cut holes in the roof, and left. Friday we ripped cars apart with the "Jaws of Life" and other extrication tools, and then Saturday we set cars on fire, just so we could put them out. Did I mention I'm getting paid for this!!! I hope y'all enjoy the pictures...just some of the stuff we've been doing...


122's ROOF!!!


Half of the roof after 122 was done with it...


"My Taurus is on fire!!!"


RFF Goza in action!


Up close and personal...

UNIT 1 IS DONE!!!

Unit 1 is done. I'm currently in week 13 of my 22 weeks of training. I have also finished Unit 1 which consist of all of the hoses, ladders, and SCBA. I passed all 13 tests on the first try which means no retest. Also managed to pull out a 100% on the written test. Not to bad if I do say so myself. :) Now it's onto Unit 2, which is some of the more technical aspects of firefighting. It's also more individual task, instead of the two firefighter evolutions that there were in Unit 1.

So I'm a little over halfway through. Thanks to everyone for your comments. It's nice to come home after a long day and read what you all have written in the little time I have to relax in the evening. More to follow...


Happy to be done with Unit 1!!!

Halfway there...

So 11 weeks down, and 11 to go. The end of this week starts Unit 1 testing. Then it's on to Unit 2. Busy week ahead, but I'll see if I can keep you all posted.

The world from 105'...Straight up!

And last, but certainly not least, the self pic from the top...

People certainly look a lot smaller from that height!

Truck 438 (West Centreville), and Tower 424 (Woodlawn) swung by the Academy yesterday to give the recruits a little fun, 105' of fun. 105' feet doesn't seem like a lot until you start climbing.

Burning...with hoses!

So we got to go into the burn building with hoses to put the fires out. It was awesome. I've attached some photos to give you an idea of what it's like...

FIRE!!!

Burn building on fire...

The past two weeks...

So it's been a busy past couple of weeks. Their have been some long days, hence the lack of updates. Last week consisted of four ten hour days, with Friday off for the graduation of the 121st recruit class. It was four days of SCBA practicals consisting of daily checks, donning and doffing, EBSS, and the maze. I'll explain.

Daily checks is our daily procedures for checking out our SCBA's. Donning and doffing is taking our gear on and off. The requirement for this is to put on your gear, get in the fire engine, put on the SCBA, buckle the seatbelt, get out, finish getting the gear on, and get on air, all within three minutes. The EBSS station consist of following the hoseline with a blacked out facepiece, to a downed firefighter, hooking up the buddy breathing system, and dragging the person out to the place that you started. And last, but certainly not least, the maze. It's dark, it's small, you crawl, climb, turn around when you have no room, take your SCBA off, put it back on, try not to get tangeled up, and do all this while making sure you don't run out of air. Good times.

This week has also been a long one. We learned about hoses, pulling them, and then reracking them. It's been extremely physical, but fun as well. We've been flowing water, although it's only been into the air. Tomorrow is the first day in the burn building (yes, we have to work on Saturdays, but don't worry, I get Monday off). It's only going to be with water cans, but it's going to be real fire, up close and personal.

In other news, my computer died, so I ended up getting a new one last weekend. I'll see what I can do about getting some action shots tomorrow, and see if I can't get them up on the blog to give you a good idea of what's going on with my academy life. So until next time...

SUPRESSION IS HERE!!!

The moment I've been waiting for, the start of supression, is finally here. Our first lectures will consist of Fire Behavior and Firefighter Safety. Friday starts SCBA's, which is the breathing apparatus that we use to breath in any IDLH (Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health) environment. Next week will consist of SCBA practicals, and other fun stuff. Our first day in the burn building is just around the corner (May 5th).

Also, I'm sure many of you are wondering the results of my EMT-B state test that I took last Thursday. Despite all the stress that I brought on to myself (as I am apt to do), I passed both my practical stations (trauma and medical), and achieved a 95% on my written test. So what does this mean? I am now certified as an EMT-B in the Commonwealth of Virginia until 2011, when I will have to recert. This is one step out of the way, and opens the door to supression (can you tell I'm excited about suppression?).

On a more somber note, on Monday morning, a Prince William firefighter was killed in the line of duty. It is the first line of duty death in the history of that department. He was a 24 year old firefighter, only out of the fire academy about 9 months. Despite not being from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, he is a member of the firefighter family. Please keep his family in your thoughts.

R.I.P. - Kyle Robert Wilson
May 25, 1982 - April 16, 2007
Technician I
Prince William CountyDepartment of Fire and Rescue

Swamped!!!

So EMT-B is a pretty intense course of study. But there are only a few days left. The state test is next Thursday (Apr. 12). So as for my lack of updates, it not for lack of want, it's more like lack of time. I'm not sure supression is going to be much better, but I'm going to try... As a side note, SCBA stands for Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. Kinda like SCUBA without the underwater part. Hope this clears things up for those that were wondering. Until next time...

-Karl

Week 4 begins...

Week 3 is done. 19 weeks to go. Week 4 is gearing up with some more EMT-B training. You gotta love trauma! I know this is the fire academy, so I'm sure some of you are wondering when I'm actually going to be fighting fires. The state test for EMT-B is on April 12. There are 3 or so days of EMT after that, then it's on to supression! (Starting with a really important piece of gear, the SCBA) Stay tuned, more to follow.

The update you've all been waiting for...

So I'm at the midpoint through week 2. I started EMT-B (Basic) training on Tuesday. We also started working out on Tuesday. But let me get you caught up to this point first...

The first day we showed up at the Massey Building in Fairfax City. We (my class) were led into a room where we had assigned spots around a U-shaped table. Throughout the morning we listened to presentations by various members, of various ranks, from the department. We were then given our gear, and changed into our uniforms for the first time. It felt good to be back in uniform again. It comes with a sense of belonging that is hard to find outside of military/paramilitary organizations, and it feels good to be back. The rest of the day was filled with shots, pictures, and a little bit of waiting...

The next day (Tuesday the 6th) was our first at the academy. It is a little overwhelming to go into a situation where everything is new, and you know that you are the low man on the totem pole. The rest of the week was pretty straight forward. It consisted of lectures on department policy, how to act, where to go, where everything is, what's expected of us and so one and so forth. It was a lot of information crammed into a little time, but I'm so glad to be there, I was soaking up every minute of it. :)

Our second week (week of March 12) started off with a half day of lecture about exercise and nutrition, with the afternoon being filled up with a practical lesson in working out. Tuesday morning was our first run and morning workout. After a few laps around the academy grounds, we circled up for some calisthenics. It was a good workout. I am looking forward to the shape I know I will be in when I get out of the academy, because it is a shape I haven't seen in a while. ;)

Tuesday was also the start of our EMT training. In addition to being a firefighter, we're all trained as Emergency Medical Technicians. It's a full college semester of classes crammed into five weeks. We had some anatomy and physiology, as well as learning the history of the Emergency Medical Service. Today was lectures about the airway. Tomorrow is CPR.

On that note, I'm going to sign off, grab some chow, and hit the books. I hope this gave you a glimpse into what is going on in my life. Check back often for more updates.

-Karl

One week down, 21 to go!

Well, I made it through week one. Needless to say, as you can see by my lack of posting, it was extremely busy. I'll get some details up here shortly, but week two is starting in just a few hours, so I'm going to get some shut eye. If you've been here reading, I appreciate it, and will be sure to reward your patience shortly!

The Final Countdown...One Week to go!

6 days and a wake-up. That is all the time that remains for what is hopefully the beginning of a very long, fun career. It is the end of one chapter, but the beginning of another.

Fire Station Visit

I'm officially below the 20 day mark today. Only 19 days (including weekends) left until my first day. I'm hoping to get my leave for next week, which only gives me 8 work days at my current job (excluding today). I'm not sure how I'm going to be filling the time, but I'm sure I'll be keeping myself busy.

Last night I went to visit a fire station. From going to CPAT practices, I met a woman that is going to be in my recruit class, and she is a volunteer at Station 17 out in Centreville. She invited me out to the station to walk around, have dinner, and to try to get some pre-academy studying in. It also gave me a good look into what I'm getting myself into. And I like what I see.

The last time I was in a fire station, I was babysitting the station's (Coast Guard station, not fire) small boats during Hurricane Isabel for 2 days. Not as exciting as it sounds, trust me... So anyway, I got to learn the difference between an engine and a truck, some EMT terminology, and what firefighters eat for dinner (BBQ'd pork chops, mashed potatoes, and peas). The meal was excellent and I even got some ice cream for dessert.

I felt a little bit like a kid in a dream world, but the fact is my dream is now a reality. Well, in 19 days anyway...

The Countdown Continues...

I start the Academy in 25 days. I don't think the fact that I'm going to be in training for the next five months has really sunk in yet. It's getting there though...

Last week I went to get re-fingerprinted and pick up my employee packet. When you're filling out your direct deposit form for a new job, it helps make it just a little more real. I think what hit home the most was when I went to get fitted for my uniforms last Friday (sorry ladies, no pictures yet). I'm actually going to be a firefighter. My dream is coming true...

Getting In

Where to begin...in June of 2005 I applied to be a firefighter in the county that I live in. I had talked to some people that were firefighters and they absolutely loved their jobs. I enjoy helping people, and a lot of the aspects of the job look really cool (plus, who doesn't love a firefighter?). I took the necessary steps and applied.

I took a written exam, went through the physical test (called the CPAT-Candidate Physical Ability Test), and also completed a medical physical, polygraph test, and a psychological evaluation. I passed all the stages with flying colors and received a letter in late June 2006 saying the paperwork portion of my application was complete, that I was eligible for hire, and that I just had to wait for the call.

Fast foward seven months to January 2007. The next recruit class scheduled to convene was slated to begin on March 5, 2007. I heard that they were making calls. Finally it happened. Upon checking my messages on a Friday afternoon (January 26th to be exact, right around 2:30 in the afternoon), I had a message from Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. I was in. My wait was over. A new goal had been put in front of me: Recruit School.

That being said, I'm slated to begin training on March 5, 2007 in the 122nd Recruit Class of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

My hope is to keep you all updated as to what is going on in my life while in the Academy. I'm not going to have a lot of time, but I hope to keep this up to date as best as I can. I'll be going home at night, but mostly to study and rest up for the next day of training. I'll be around, but if I'm too busy to hang out, please forgive me. I'm planning on putting all my efforts in to passing and exceling in the Academy. Like I said, I'll try to keep this up to date as best I can, even if it's just a short post.

Please feel free to leave comments and words of encouragement. I'm sure I'll need them...