Hotter than Hades- A Blog from the Past

Thick smoke came billowing from the structure. Flames danced about and the fire was getting hotter and bigger. The potential for serious damage was increasing. The brave firefighters, dressed in their heavy fire gear, entered the burning structure. The pair hit a wall of heat immediately upon entering the treacherous scene. The estimated temperature inside the flaming building was 500*-600* Fahrenheit. The two firefighters clung to the fire hose in their hands; their life line. Crouching to escape the heat, the courageous crew sprayed short intense bursts of water above the fire in hope of cooling the thermal heat layer that was intensifying, without creating too much steam. Next, they shot powerful floods of water at the base of the fire. Soon the fire was extinguished, but the building was still hotter than Hades and the smoke-steam combination made blinding conditions. The fire team slowly and carefully backed out of the room following their hose as a lifeline. Outside in the fresh air, the fire fighters ripped off their muggy face masks and collapsed on the ground. I sat on the ground, exhausted, over-heated, and quit proud of myself for surviving the first practical phase of the basic safety training; fire fighting. I couldn’t believe I just stared deadly fire in the face and I began to wonder what in the world I was doing as a nurse, dressed in fire gear? Then I remembered if the ship that I live on catches fire, it isn’t like we can call 911…we (the crew) are 911… I was training to be “911!” Before I had time to really catch my breath, I was pulling the pin out of a fire extinguisher and spraying down a simulated Class C, electrical fire. Next, I found myself with a team of others, trudging forward with a heavy hose, shooting a powerful spray of water toward a dangerous fire. One step after the other, working as a team, we made a water spray-shield to protect one of our team members from the heat of the fire as they shut off the fuel supply to the boiling, liquid, fire in front of us. Training exercise after exercise, continued all morning long. Sweating and physically drained, I made a mental note to thank all the firefighters I know for their hard work and service to the world. Finally, the long day on the fire field came to an end. My heart and mind raced with adrenaline after the intense day in the heat and heavy fire gear. I had successfully faced some incredible physical challenges and I was on my way to completion of the US Coast Guard’s Basic Safety Training Course. It was actually fun and an adventure, I dare say I would be willing to sweat, get scared out of my wits, and fight fire rather than sit in class any day! With one course down, only First Aid, CPR, and sea survival ahead!