Valley View Mall Invasion

Last cycle A-Shift(northside) did a walk-through of Valley View Mall. This was a great opportunity to find out FDCs, fire control panels, and just get in the Mall to do a walk-around. Units that were able to attend were E-3, E-9, E-2, B-2, L-2, M-3, M-2 and M-9. Of course before we barely got in the door M-9 got a call and missed the tour. This is a great way to get familiar with your territory and in case the big one ever does happen could help us be a couple steps ahead when time counts.

Cancel the No-Hitter

Thanks to one of our regular, get drunk, fall down and go boom citizens, Engine 9 responded to a call this morning with Medic 9. So the No-Hitter is out for today. Thanks to Roanoke City's Finest we won't see that friend again tonight. Got our usual duties out of the way and cleaned up the beast. I believe she is ready for another fire. The other shifts have been pretty busy lately and we are thinking it may not be over just yet.

Above are the pics of Super Paramedic/FF/Preceptor Johnathan "been here forever" Dixon getting some nozzle time with FF/EMT-I Jerry "get away from my Little Debbie Brownies" Franks backing him up on the brush! You guys rock! Of course we know what happens when you clean hose and pack it up all nice.

Check out our links to the left, #3 and #6 are posting their blogs too! You can see whats up with their crews as well.

AND SO IT CONTINUES!

It hasn't stopped! I could have gotten a shot of Opie on the pipe fighting to save the block on this fierce trash can fire but my camera will take only so much heat. Other calls included a pt known in the neighborhood as simply "football" who was beat in the head with a wine bottle .... didn't even get a taste first, a "Gold Alert" stabbing that went out as a "scratch" and a 400 + pound pt who needed the bariatric stretcher and had to be pushed uphill as well. 03;45 am and we're still up! Worst thing is that A-shift will come in and have another NO HITTER!

Comments allowed

We are still in the process of deciding how and if to allow comments. Please be patient while we figure it out. For now, they are turned back on. We want to and enjoy reading your thoughts on our post, all we ask is that you keep them civil. Your ideas and / or suggestions on this issue are welcome as well. Capt. Wines

Busy day continues over to C-shift

Well, it seems as though B-shift's busy day yesterday has carried over to C-shift today. The morning started off kind of normal but got somewhat busier around lunch. We invited a couple of guest for lunch and that put TONS of extra pressure on Oppie (our ninja cook). Our guest were Mike Hanks and Tim Perry who have been putting in long hours while temporally filling the position of Secretary / treasurer for our Union (Local 1132). Tim is seated bottom right while Mike is at the far head of the table. Mike hanks is a retired Captain for Roanoke Fire / EMS. He is a past officer in our local and currently serves as a State Officer for the Va. Professional Firefighters Association. Mike was assigned to Station 9 years ago and said today that he believes it has been as long as the 1980's since he has had a meal in our kitchen. It would have been great to sit and hear some "old stories" of the shenanigans from back then but our meal was cut short when the tones hit. Engine 5 had been sent out single engine for a smoke condition and arrived to find a working fire. Capt. Graham requested a 1st alarm so 9 was on the road. We arrived to lay the line, assume command and then assist with interior operations. The incident was marked a "working fire" but additional companies were held. The 2nd picture above is looking from E9 towards E5 at the incident which was in the 1700 block of Essex (address sound familiar??) After getting good and hot, dirty and taking up, normally we head back to the station..not today (at least for the Medic that is). Tim "DoDo" Brown who is a past member of #9-B but was recently moved to #13-C back in the big "shake up" was assigned to fill in at #9 today while Wheezy was "getting his learn on"(attending class for you non-ghetto types). Upon returned to the Medic Unit they noticed a FLAT TIRE. DoDo returns to #9 for 1 day and breaks the Medic truck (pictured showing off his work 3rd down from the top). I guess he's gotten a little soft out at Camp Peters Creek with no medic unit (haha thanks for a good job today DoDo). While the Medic was being repaired, the Engine returned to the B-shift Collier Mansion for photos etc needed to create a "pass it on" notice for the other companies in the City. This is a pretty cool system that allows individual companies to notify all City stations of potential hazards etc. So, we get the lunch made, the fire put out, the tire fixed, a "pass it on" created and then we have to do some public relations work. Somehow or another we got wrapped up in helping install some smoke detectors for a local business. It was alot of work but things like that pay off in the long run. Station 9 (and many others in the City) have always been / tried to be active / involved within the communities we serve. As luck would have it, the business we were helping has what they call a "picture room". Basically, it's a well lit room with a wall mural that patrons can have their picture taken in front of. God help em but the boys at 9C never miss a chance to "get their BLING on" cause "that's how we roll"! It's the bottom picture...ENJOY!

A few more pics from todays fire

Here are a few more pics from the fire today. At top is Captain Scott Graham. Scott is assigned to Engine 5 who was initially dispatched to the address as a single engine for a smoke condition. After arriving and finding the house full of smoke, he requested a 1st alarm assignment bringing Engine / Medic 9 and Ladder 2. The fire was found in the attic and with Capt. Wines stuck in the yard in "command", Opie was the smallest / lightest inside. Guess where that puts him... in the attic. PPV was set up, but you can tell by his color and sweat that it was a little warm up there working in blown insulation. Speaking of the insulation, click on the next pic to blow it up and notice the birds nest in the making on "Coon's" helmet. The next photo is of Richard "Lips" off of Medic 2 assisting Gish with his SCBA. Gish is assigned to and was riding backwards on 5 Engine meaning he had the "pipe" on this job. Also in this photo, you'll notice some different color turnout gear. His name is Jeff Conner; a ride a long with E5 today, who is a Fire Technology Student from the College of Health Sciences here in Roanoke. We actually had 2 students riding in the city today, I don't know the others name but he was also on the incident having rode in with Ladder 2. The last shot shows Lt. Brown keeping a check on everything (our Lts. are the driver / operators and Brown is assigned to E5). Also shown from left to right is FF/Medic Trevor Shannon, Capt. Loren Thompson, and FF/EMT Richard Lipes "lips". There were several more men on scene who are not pictured. Our Lt. Bug actually got to get in and do a little work after securing the hydrant. Pictured or not, chaulk up another job well done for Roanoke's bravest.

A VERY busy Monday for the Brothers of B-shift

Sounds like B-shift got hit pretty hard yesterday. City wide there were 3 "working fires". Engine 9 was first in on a pretty hot job in the 1700 blk of Essex but would not make it to the other 2. Engine 5 on the other hand responded to all 3. My understanding is not much to the 2nd fire but the one on 1st street early this morning had the ladder pipes flowing. After a tour like that, I'm sure the boys will enjoy their 4 day break. With all that happening, Engine 9 also found another "Collier's Mansion" in our first due. I wont list the address but for all the City guys, we will do a "Pass it on" through the training division. The bottom 4 pictures above are of the conditions of this home. If you're on the job and don't know what a Colliers Mansion is, it's worth a google search. After the search, relate incidents such as this to "knowing your territory" and "pre-fire plans". Imagine running this address when there's fire involved. Another note is you never know where they are. This is the 2nd found in our 1st due. The top picture is of the 1st one we found. Capt. Wines is bent over to keep from hitting the ceiling and is in SCBA due to the odor which I'm sure you can imagine.