Have a HAPPY and SAFE Halloween !!

The Melrose Misfits want to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween. We've got our "firemanzzz" pumpkin out and have gotten to see many trick or treaters thus far. I think I'll just post a bunch of the pics instead of my usual ramblings. It's gonna be a long post either way. Oh, and by the way, Lt. Bugg was the artist who carved our pumpkin...great job huh? And let me back up a and explain just a little about the first pics I'll post. Everyone knows that the FD is loaded with traditions. More often than not; for the men and women on the job, traditions are carried over into our family life, job related or not. Well, in my life, I have always helped my girls carve the pumpkin. This year is the 1st Halloween for my 1st grandson (the Buckaroo) but I've been on duty for 3 days straight. So, my daughter (Reba) brought him by the station yesterday so I could carve his 1st pumpkin with him ...



BOO! Ok so today, the Buckaroo came back by to show off his costume...and to get some CANDY! Tyrone's wife and boys (Jackson and Noah) also came by to show off their costumes...some great family pics at the station.



There's 3 future members for the Melrose Misfits.. (L-R) Jackson, Noah and Wesley (Buckaroo).And hey, Halloween isn't just for kids... we've had some adults stop by in costume... and NO, not the usual drag queens but just as scary... here's Raggedy Ann/Clown

And who needs the Million Dollar Man Steve Austin when you have the Hundred Dollar Girl? You know..."it takes a $100 dollars to make me holler, I get paid..." ok ok but it was a good song LOL WILD THANNNNGGG!

A couple of witches (non-firefighter wife types...WITCHES...with a "W")



and just a good, all around collection of goons, goblins, cheerleaders etc. we even had Micheal Jackson (back row, far left).



All in all, a good night so far. Wheezy's still on vaca and Bugg tricked Lt. Crouch into riding the night tour so he could take his daughter out trick or treating. Thanks Jason for filling in from #7-A. You know though..I think we could have gotten by and allowed Jason to spend Halloween at home with his family as well. Think I've found a pretty good fill in driver... really doesn't look much different than Bugg either.


LMAO!! Just kidding Bugg, enjoy the night off with Cora. I'll close with saying that tonight is fun and special for alot of kids but others use the occasion for mischief and shenanigans. Our brothers and sisters all across the country are often put in harms way several times a shift on Halloween night and for no good reason. None more so than our brothers and sisters in Detroit where "devil's night" has become famous for raging fires. To our brothers and sisters out there, wherever you may be pulling your tour, STAY SAFE!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!
Captain Wines

Drastic change from last day

Today has been extremely pleasant compared to last day. Beautiful weather and everything at a good pace. Not too much to blog about thus far tonight but I'll see what I can pull together. First I wanted to follow up on something I posted last day. Talk about a class act, this evening I received a phone call from Greg Doss. If you read last day's post, you'll remember that Gregg had family here in the Roanoke Fire Dept. and is now working himself on the job in Franklin Tenn. I also mentioned that he is their Union President and wrote about him because of his offer to help with anything I may need while I was down in Nashville. Well, he read the post and thought enough to call up here to speak with me personally and thank me for the posting.... TO THANK ME! Hell, he was the one offering help. Anyway, we had a great conversation. He grew up around Vinton and even volunteered there in the old days with a lot of guys who are now on the job or recently retired from here. The Obenchains, Tommy Overstreet, Mike Armstrong, and Chris Trussler. He grew up visiting old station #6 ( Peanuts was assigned there )just as I did as a child and shared memories etc of all of the men we both remembered so fondly. Capt. Swanson, Lawrence Breeding, M.H. Poindexter and more. He also told me that he is also kin to Tommy Hogan (now retired.. Tommy is Greg's mother's brother). So anyway, the fact that he took the time to call was fantastic and it reminded me of one of the slogans on our stations 2009 St. Patty's shirt. The slogan is Gaelic and reads "Braithreachas Thar Gach Ni" meaning "Brotherhood above all else". Here's a pic of the shirt. you can also view both the front and back (without the slogans) here. I was browsing through Rhetts site over at VaFirenews.com and found what looks like is going to be a great gathering for Firefighters up in Richmond on the 26th of this month. The event is hosted by the Halligan Bar and Grill. Check out the link here . The good news is that it's close to us here in Roanoke. The bad news is that it is scheduled on the weekend of our 2nd annual Officer's seminar. Anyway, it looks like something I'd like to attend, check it out if you can. I also found a pretty cool pic over at Firegeezer . Check this out... Talk about a "Deck gun"...boy if we could get one of those!!! Read the related article here. We had a few visitors today as well. The Buckaroo brought my wife and oldest daughter by for a Popsicle. It's probably a bad idea to post a pic of one of my girls cause I know how firemen think. So, give her a break....here's the pic (left to right, wife Donna, the Buckaroo, and oldest daughter Randi-jo). We had another visitor but I don't think he had as good of a time as the Buckaroo or the girls. We posted once in the past about the rats around here. Oh the stories we could tell. Here's the past post and here's a shots of his cousin...RIP. I guess I should also add here that technically, neither of the two should be considered rats. These are more like little field mice compared to the rats we have. This one was even too small to grill and had not nearly enough hide to make it worth while to skin him. Guess we need to wait till they get their winter coats on LOL. I'll end for now with a short video. One of our part-timers was in the back of the bay this evening praying. I know he was praying because tomorrow is Sunday and all of the members here on C-shift know I don't like the boys sleeping in chairs (in plain view of the public) when we have 18 beds and 2 couches upstairs. Anyway, he was praying and two of our neighborhood kids found him.

Gonna wrap it up here..it's GAME DAY! Va. Tech is playing Alabama and we hope to catch a little of it. The entire day has been planned to end with the game. Even the meals. One of our favorite bars...errrrr cafe even delivered some GREAT hot wings. If you have never been to All Sports, you're missing not only a great time, but great food as well. OUTSTANDING ribs, wings, burgers, wraps you name it. Affordable and ice cold beer...ahhh I meant milk, tea or cool-aid. We hit the Salem location mostly but there's one on Grandon Rd in Roanoke as well. Check out the link here and stop in for a glass or twenty with us some day. That's it for now, stay safe and quiet tonight. GO HOKIES!!!
Capt. Wines

C-shift sweating out our middle day

It's been a long hot middle day for the Melrose Misfits of C-shift. I'm not sure what today's temperature was but it was HOT. It's been steady running for the Medic, sitting on 9 while the Engine hangs on to 4. I had the pleasure of spending the last of 4 Sundays getting my "learn on" out at our regional training center. Now typically, I wouldn't be too happy about sitting in a classroom for 4 days but with Instructors like Battalion Chiefs Adkins and Manual, who could complain? Forget the endless chapters, the HOMEWORK, those color in all the dots sheets from DFP, the ENDLESS chapters,the HOMEWORK, reading assignments, 7 page papers in some kind of funny "format", the HOMEWORK, endless chapters, and lets not forget the 7 page essay and oh yea..HOMEWORK. With Teddy and Roger at the helm, it was actually not that bad. Here's a shot of Chief Adkins in action.

While I was gone (and due to Wheezy being off on vacation ... he's away at kick-ball training camp) we had a fill in from The Deuce (remember?? The Deuce because 1 is never enough...click here and scroll down). Anyway, we got one of C-shift's newest members FF/EMT Ward. They made a few EMS runs and then caught a vehicle fire. I had my camera with me this morning so they didn't get any pics but I understand Ward did a fine job. I guess the boys did miss me though because they had me a present when I got back. A little "Bling" is always good because it adds points to your street credit.


We opened the barber shop after dinner with Lt. Bugg wielding the shears again. Just like with Tyrone ( here and here )Things didn't look so good for Coon in the beginning...you be the judge

The good news is that it turned out ok. I was checking out my regular web sites / blogs this evening and found some really good smack. Anyone who knows me knows I'm sort of a FDNY buff. Well, firefighterspot has some GREAT vintage photos of the FDNY in action. Here's the direct link to the post, scroll to the bottom of the pic, look right and click view all images or just click here. I also found this really cool T-shirt over at the Happy Medic Again, scroll towards the bottom of the page and look at the right side bar.

You can purchase this shirt here
Well, that's enough for tonight, it's back to the hay fields again tomorrow. I have the Buckaroo in farm training as well as FD training. I'll end with a few shots from yesterday of the little fella helping out and doing what he seems to do best...EATING LOL




Stay in the house, if not remember to keep your members hydrated and cool. Get that gear off of em a soon as possible. BE SAFE! Capt. Wines

Emotional roller coaster for C-shift

I wasn't sure if I was even going to mention this first topic or not. Then I remembered the intent of this blog. We wanted to share a little of "fire house" life with our readers. Now, alot of what you see and read here is firehouse pranks, practical joking etc. but you also get a small glimps of some of the incidents we run. When I say small, I mean small and you folks out there on the job know what I mean. In no way can a few pictures or short narritives begin to explain what we see or the emotions we feel when responding to these incidents. I once wrote in a much earlier post of how while on the job we have to see and do things that most people never even think about. Well, today was another one of those days and sadly, it involved Medic 101. We have been fortunate here at #9 to have a part-time medic unit staffed Mon-Sat from 9am-9pm (in addition to our Medic 9). We are also fortunate that our part-time staff is a great bunch of Medics and EMT's (both personally and professionally). Today, 101 was staffed with probably the 2 youngest part-timers we have. Neither one looks old enough to drive, much less be working here. These 2 are also really good kids. Quiet, polite, eager to help and learn, too young to shave or to have picked up any bad habbits yet..you know the type. Never the less, despite their innocence; they caught the call (along with E5, RS-1 and later E9). You hope you'll never have to, but if you stay in this profession long enough, odds are you'll catch one too. You never get use to it, but after you've been on the job a while, you learn ways to cope. The point I want to make here is how upset I am that it was these two that had to see it and that they had to see it so early in their careers. But more than that, I want to say how PROUD I am of the job these two young men did today. They handled themselves as professionals both during and after the incident and we are proud here at station #9 to have them with us. They know they have the support of each and every member here in our house and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family as well.
OK, with that little vent behind me, I'll move on to some happier news and events of the day.
It's Friday so, Wheezy was off to EMT-I school getting his learn on. With him learning and Tyrone off to the beach, we needed a body. Short staffed as always, they had to pull someone from the "South Side". Not just any ol station either, we got a body from THE BIG SHOW! Meet "Pookie" aka Rebecca Smith.

I don't think they feed her too well down at the Big Show... notice she's digging for groceries while still in the rig. We hadn't even made it home yet LOL. Just kidding Pookie, Thanks for hanging out with us today, you're welcome back anytime. Speaking of Tyrone being off to the beach and being the caring Captain that I am; I can't help but wonder what he's into. Playing and teaching Jackson and Noah how to build sand castles I hope but odds are he's showing them shark wrangling or something.

Capt. Bedwell from B-shift acquired us a new Officer's tool and A-shift took the time to mount it for us yesterday.... can't wait to try this baby out. I can't believe they would, but in an attempt to fret; my boys moved the tool to the bucket (where it will get used) and put some medical thing-a-ma-jig in it's place.


Needless to say, the tool is back in it's home! We stopped by to check on the Measure of Progress..aka our new station.

She's comming along pretty good. The Buckaroo stopped by for a vist and took the time to give Lt. Bugg a few pointers on wheeling the War Wagon.

Alex, our "full time part timer" brought in steaks today and DAMN were they good! That gave Coon the chance to break out what he brought us back from his most recent vacation... HELL IN A BOTTLE!



Now, all anyone has to do is read the label to know not to put this stuff on a perfectly cut and trimmed ribeye much less put it in your mouth. Well, anyone except for a Melrose Misfit that is...

Yea...they cried. We finished out the evening with a game or twenty of corn hole (we are Champions you know).


That about wraps it up for now. Hope tonight is quieter than the last. Everyone stay safe and keep em in the house. We're heading into a 4 day break! Captain Wines.

C-Shift is back on the blog scene

Yea, yea we know! It's been quite some time since a C-shift post and it seems all of our "Roanoke Fire" blogs have not been keeping regular updates. In every one's defense, things have been pretty busy within the Department. Daily duties, training, hydrant flow testing, another big "shake up" with more moves / transfers to come, etc has kept everyone on the road. Our brothers and sisters on the South Battalion seem to be catching a lot of fires as well. Not to mention the fact that every one's "home life" has become busier with summer time (vacations, lawns / gardens, honey-do lists etc).As for me, I took 2 cycles of vacation back to back with plans of knocking a big dent into my hay crop. The bad news is that it rained almost every day I was off. The good news is that I've got some really good help this year and was able to get at least some hay made between the showers / t-storms. You all seen the pics of Coon's vacation (if not view here) and I assure you, his was MUCH better than mine. He has made a few trips down river since his return. The most notable being a canoe trip over Balcony Falls and yes I meant OVER and in a CANOE! Ask him about it but make sure your bladder is empty. Wheezy and bride made it down to the outter banks for a week or so. Of all the things a man would figure to loose at the beach, his eye lashes wouldn't be the first to pop into your mind. Ask him for another good story. Opie has been at home working on his FDNY tribute basement. Although he doesn't live in "TOWN" he is in Bedford County so I guess that's close enough to being in "Little Brooklyn". Tyrone, well I'm scared to say actually. It's just hard to tell exactly what he's been into and the honest answer is I / we probably don't want to know. Let's just hope it's been not much more than house chores, HVAC work, a little plumbing work (recently hired by the French Canadian from over at station #11 eh) or working on his beloved "snow commander. Bugg has been a busy little bee as well. Not to be out done by Coon, he also went to Balcony Falls (with our SWR Team for training) and went over in nothing but water wings and flippers. He has also been busy working for a boat cleaning company out on Smith Mountain Lake. His free field trip job...errrr substitute teaching has kind of fizzled out with the end of school. In other updates, a few of us traveled to Lynchburg back about the end of May to give support while picketing City Council NOT to impose a 3% pay cut to City employees. Good and bad news there. At the vote that night, Council decided to indeed cut worker's pay by the 3% (this included Public Safety). That cut made the children of new hire Fire and Police Officers eligible for the "free lunch" program in school! The good news is that Lynchburg's Council recently reversed that decision and gave the money back. Here's a pic that really hit home for me and I'll add that I stopped by Station #6 to change into some dry clothes (it POURED rain that day) and want to thank the crew there for their hospitality. If you're ever in Lynchburg and have the chance to tour that station, take it. Back at home, the boys caught a few jobs while I was off. A couch fire on the 9th floor of Melrose Towers, a few vehicle fires, a dumpster fire, a mattress fire, and an Apartment Fire resulting in an Arson arrest. Seems we've been catching alot of "burnt food" calls as well. Here's a few shots of the most recent with L2 going to work on PPV. We have been busy training as well. City wide, we've been going through EMS competencies. Now, I know how much you all love our funny videos when Tyrone is involved and wouldn't you know it... we just happen to have one. Here he is testing the boy's skills on immobilization...enjoy

We also have another picture of our new station's construction. A measure of progress ... I'll close for now but add to keep C-shift Captain Clayton Martin and his family in your thoughts and prayers. One son had a trampoline accident that resulted in a very nasty fracture requiring surgery while his oldest son Nick was involved in a major vehicle accident leaving him in critical condition at RMH NTICU. Nick can not have visitors yet but drop by the 9th floor waiting room (9 Mountain) to check in on Clayton and Beth.
Station #13-C is headed over tonight for a 4th of July cook out. I will try to update tonight with pics etc of the gala. Until then, have a SAFE and HAPPY 4th of July! Captain Wines

Busy 1st day back for C-shift

Sometimes, it takes just a little bit of a push to get back in the groove when coming off a 4 day break. Sometimes it's an early call but there are also times when we need a little outside "boost". Well, the boys always check the back of my truck (aka the Cowboy Cadillac) and this morning they found a little surprise. Always quick on their feet, they decided to get a laugh out of the boys of B-shift..OK out of one of them anyway. Here's the set up and YES it's real and DEAD.

Don't ask how or why he was picked but it seems as though it was Zuga's day today. I'm pretty sure I haven't heard him curse until this morning... never knew he had some sailor in him (lol). Anyway what we really failed to capture on the video (due to the camera position)was him damn near hitting the ground. Here's a hint Zuga.. when on fire, Stop, Drop and Roll. When stepping on a snake...RUN! Here's the video.

After we got ourselves off the floor from laughing, it was time to get to business. Normal duties and then the calls started. A MVA with roll over right off the bat. No pic there, handled by our brothers over at "smoke and more, running 4". After getting back in the house and starting breakfast, BOOM!...and I mean BOOM! Apparently one of our neighborhood squirrels had taken all he could stand. Yep, killed himself by jumping onto / into a large transformer located in the substation just across the street. The explosion shook the station. Power (including all traffic lights) was out for several square blocks. Well, then comes all the alarms etc associated with power outages. Made for a busy morning, and left breakfast half done. Again, always quick on their feet and in an electrical conservation manner that would make our Hippie friends over at the "Green House" proud, the boys got out and fired up the gas grill. Worked great and despite tyrone's pleading, we had sausage gravy and NOT squirrel gravy. No calls from PETA or Station # 3 please.

Washed trucks, washed out the bay and sat down with an old neighborhood friend. Many of the guys on the job here in Roanoke have most likely heard stories from Station 5 about Junior. He always walked the streets around Loudon and always hollered his hellos to the firemen... "SAY FIRE..THAT'S RIGHT..FIRE DEPARTMENT". Just brought back alot of old memories for me but a little before the boy's time. Anyhow, here's a shot of June.

A few more runs including a "code blue" with the part time guys from Medic 101, then dinner and a visit from the "Buckaroo". If you're not a follower of our site, the Buckaroo is my first grandson and next generation firefighter...growing like a weed. Here's a few pics


That's it for now, time to write all these reports.. we'll update later if we get anything news worthy (Saturday night in North West...you never know). Until then, be safe and keep em in the house, C-shift is back Monday and Wednesday. Oh yea, I almost forgot, to all of the mothers out there tomorrow, HAPPY MOTHER's DAY! And to all the firefighters... don't forget, tomorrow's MOTHER's DAY.
Remember, Talk's cheap but it takes money to ride the train! Capt. Wines