General Discussion

bvar22

(39,909 posts)

69. I'm getting close to the end too.

Wed Jul 4, 2012, 03:56 PM

Jul 2012

The Number ONE killer of Fire Fighters is Heart Attacks.
I'm too old to hump hoses and work on the squirty end in full turnouts and SCBA,
but I still get a kick out of hustling a 40 year old Pumper Truck with a thousand gallons of water over these Arkansas back roads, but even THAT is is getting to be too much in this heat.

The economy and lack of jobs has forced many of the young people in this area to stay home, and a few of them are showing up at our department to help. We are glad to see them.

It won't be long before I'm one of those old guys with a Scanner Radio
who fights fires vicariously through the radio chatter from my kitchen chair.
....and I'm OK with that.

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Highlight:

A warning for the Fourth of July [View all] MadHound Jul 2012 OP

Fire hazard conditions will be extremely high. Uncle Joe Jul 2012 #1

And be careful and attentive with the grill!! arcane1 Jul 2012 #2

kick hedgehog Jul 2012 #3

Surrounded by tinder with about 50 animals up here, including about 15 horses EFerrari Jul 2012 #4

A round of mild sedatives, then?? Woody Woodpecker Jul 2012 #8

I know what you mean... Inuca Jul 2012 #16

I'm going to try to get fire extinguishers in each of those stalls. EFerrari Jul 2012 #19

baby monitor in the barn? magical thyme Jul 2012 #27

The horses are not in one barn. EFerrari Jul 2012 #38

No drinking either Skink Jul 2012 #5

"He who comes forth with a fifth on the Fourth.... lastlib Jul 2012 #34

thats a good one! dionysus Jul 2012 #68

Metaphoric bongbong Jul 2012 #6

Yup. Yup. Agreed. 100% Woody Woodpecker Jul 2012 #7

save the fireworks, just shoot your guns straight up NightWatcher Jul 2012 #9

I live in an area in North Georgia where a lot of dumb asses RebelOne Jul 2012 #46

I used to live in Hall County and we'd stay downstairs NightWatcher Jul 2012 #47

I live in Los Angeles and there will be a hundred "sky shooters" out tonight. Watch out! xtraxritical Jul 2012 #48

given local laws, using blanks can be fun. aikoaiko Jul 2012 #62

What's the appeal of fireworks, anyway? Auggie Jul 2012 #10

Sparkly and explodey OriginalGeek Jul 2012 #11

People need things to look forward to, especially during tough times. nt EFerrari Jul 2012 #13

Ah, if you don't get it, I can't explain it to you. MadHound Jul 2012 #12

lol, that "unexpected" part would worry me OriginalGeek Jul 2012 #43

Be careful, everybody.... Wounded Bear Jul 2012 #14

Ah, so you're the ones hogging all the rain, MadHound Jul 2012 #15

Seriously, it's so green out, it's starting to look like Day of the Triffids out there. AtheistCrusader Jul 2012 #20

Well, you're a bit far away for me to travel, MadHound Jul 2012 #21

The Sun Came Out After 3 Days of FoggyDrizzle Here AndyTiedye Jul 2012 #45

I'd say 'impossible' but some overachiever would find a way... AtheistCrusader Jul 2012 #51

or you can make your own bombs... snooper2 Jul 2012 #17

Umm, no. MadHound Jul 2012 #18

You haven't lived until you're out there with a garden hose in your hands EFerrari Jul 2012 #26

Oh, I've done better than that MadHound Jul 2012 #29

The horses aren't in a barn. They're in individual structures EFerrari Jul 2012 #33

That is a nightmare. MadHound Jul 2012 #39

How about a wireless linked set of smoke detectors. Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2012 #70

Watch out for pets if neighbors indulge themselves, they can get very agitated from the noise. freshwest Jul 2012 #22

If my neighbors indulge, I'm going to go over and tell them to stop immediately MadHound Jul 2012 #25

There are in neighborhoods those we can't see. Just saying. We need to support our local ordinances. freshwest Jul 2012 #30

Don't have those sort of local ordinances, MadHound Jul 2012 #32

One of my dogs cowards in her house SoutherDem Jul 2012 #36

It's painful for them, almost as bad as sirens. Keep them in if at all possible. I was just... freshwest Jul 2012 #37

When I was in grade school... Iggo Jul 2012 #23

When I was in grade school, all the parents on our block came out into the street EFerrari Jul 2012 #31

Fireworks are banned in Indy LittleGirl Jul 2012 #24

+1 pinto Jul 2012 #28

my FD launches our own fireworks belcffub Jul 2012 #35

Hose your trees just before dark. Spitfire of ATJ Jul 2012 #40

I drove from Wisconsin to Minnesota the week after the big flood in Duluth...So Minnesota looked midnight Jul 2012 #41

Zero danger of that here. July fourth is not a holiday here, and it's 60° and drizzling. DFW Jul 2012 #42

Thank you for the warning csziggy Jul 2012 #44

And please keep your pets safe - TBF Jul 2012 #49

Post removed Post removed Jul 2012 #50

Well, I was going to discuss the error of your ways, but I see that you're already gone MadHound Jul 2012 #56

Why do you hate loud noises, veterans of war, pets, and small children? uppityperson Jul 2012 #58

I'm in one of those lucky places JNelson6563 Jul 2012 #52

I thought it was a warning about the hideousness of Brad Paisley just1voice Jul 2012 #53

During my 30+ years in the fire service permatex Jul 2012 #54

When I fought fires I always pulled July 4th MadHound Jul 2012 #55

So true permatex Jul 2012 #57

No fireworks this year... cynatnite Jul 2012 #59

It's a day people with PTSD hate, too. Odin2005 Jul 2012 #60

I have a fireman on my street... He's glowing Jul 2012 #61

THis old Rural Volunteer FireFighter thanks you. bvar22 Jul 2012 #63

From one old RFD volunteer to another, MadHound Jul 2012 #64

I'm getting close to the end too. bvar22 Jul 2012 #69

Burn ban signs all over retrogal Jul 2012 #66

My aunt worked as a surgical nurse for an eye surgeon - hedgehog Jul 2012 #65

I dont like fireworks. darkangel218 Jul 2012 #67