TheBattalion.tv Firefighter Series - Fire, EMS, Rescue, Training
Harrisburg Bureau of Fire series continues with a two story structure fire. We arrive on scene with what the call, "Recall" since they only have 14 firefighters staffed, a structure fire brings out mutual aid with surrounding departments and Harrisburg firefighters off-duty are called in, we ride with Recall. In this possible Arson fire, a young boys favorite toy is burnt to a crisp and the firefighters find him a replacement, a real act of kindness.
We start the day at Station 14 with Captain Juratovac, who shows us around the beautiful original station at the Marina. A woman and her child drop of toys for the annual Toys for Tots drive. We respond to a few calls, then we head over to Station 38 with Firefighter Carol Bodin. This is Women on the Watch.
Night - Engine 3's Crew gets a few calls, not much. Morning, they are training with new SCBAs. The next night, a call comes for a commercial structure fire -- it's a guy who's a hoarder, but this guy's industrial. Sparks fly as they gain entry on A, B and D sides. The firefighters leave as the sun comes up.
Running out of Station 9, we ride with the Battalion Chief to a shooting not that far away from the station. A call comes in for "smoke showing". Morning, we're back at Station 11 at the shift change. We meet a young firefighter – a San Francisco Giants fan and his fiance at his home.
Station 4 "C" Shift. The four man crew staffs the Tower Ladder Truck, The USAR Rig that is also used for Water Rescue; they wish they could be a combination station again. This 48 starts out with a the team going over the equipment necessary for finding victims of an earthquake that may be stuck under the rubble. Time to go shopping for chow for the next 48 hours and, back at the station, they cook their lunch. As busy as this station is, they still find time to exercise. A call comes in – its a big roll of something in the water canal, possibly a wrapped body.
Night falls and Division Chief Frank Cardinale responds to a structure fire. In San Francisco the Chiefs still have drivers. When they arrive on scene, the driver is the person that tracks the locations of all Battalion crews from each station that has arrived on scene; it's old school but it works. Morning comes, which brings us to the morning meeting where they go over the calls, as well as the gear or rigs that need service. Next, it's some hose line training with Lieutenant Juratovac on the streets of San Francisco
Truck 4's "C" Shift arrives on scene of the trailer on fire that possible dangerous with an LP gas tank. The Fresno Fire Department sets a great example in many things, and one is their respect for the people in their homes and their personal goods, the truck crew starts salvage. Late afternoon, a call comes in as smoke in the back of a Dollar Store
Battalion Chief Bob Serrano has been in the department so long that no one really knows his real age, and he does not want to leave the fire service. We start this 24 with the Engine 9's crew and firefighter Annie Hoddinnot behind the wheel. We then ride with Rescue to a "smoke showing" call. Upon arrival we find Battalion Chief Serrano as IC. We see him in Command on a "Food on the Stove" call. In San Francisco, food on the stove has burnt an entire block.
This is a big show with lot's of fires. The crew of Engine 3's "A" Shift start their day with some of the best tacos in town, a call comes for a fire; the arrive on-scene to a mattress fire possibly set by a homeless person; THEN, the call comes in for a structure fire. They arrive on scene, the fire is blowing out the windows. Eng. 3 is first in- Captain Palmer takes Command and his crew go into action. Garcia on the pump panel, Silva pulls the nozzle up the steps, safely puts on his PPE and with the other Garcia behind him, flames blowing over thier heads..
Division Chief Cardinal and the SFFD Strike Team arrive in Los Angeles. They get deployed to an area with fire and smoke and us their small hose line to combat these fires. With such a small amount of water in their tank, and not much water tender or drafting from ponds, they have to also rely on the helicopters. We see them get their water and make the drops – we're with them in the thick of it. We are in San Francisco when they return safely home.