Myself with astronauts Rick Linnehan and Gregory Johnson at NASA Shuttle Orbiter Rescue Course.
I am an Air Force fire fighter currently stationed at Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colorado Springs, Colorado. I am Airport Fire Fighter, Fire Officer 4, Fire Inspector 2 and Fire Instructor 2 certified. I am also a Nationaly Registered EMT. To learn about Air Force Fire Protection, visit the website for our fire school located at Goodfellow AFB, TX. or Fire School History.
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But let's go back several years. My grandpap and father were volunteer fire fighters. Every summer, I would spend a week or two with my grandparents. I would get up in the morning and just after breakfast, my grandpap would take me to the fire station. I can still remember that distinct smell as the front door opened. The slight smell of smoke still lingering in the turnouts hanging on the ready-rack mixed with the smell of exhaust from the engines, and a little musty too. I would climb on the tailboard and wrap the strap around myself then jump up and down on the back of the truck, imagining we were roaring down the road, lights flashing, and siren screaming.
My parents always took me to the parades, especially when it was at my grandpap's department,
Beech Bottom,
West Virginia. One year, as the trucks rolled by, one of the trucks stopped right in front of my family and I. The driver got out and talked to my father. Then my dad took me by the hand, opened the cab door, and lifted me in. My dad proceeded to climb in and drive the engine the rest of the parade. I could not stop smiling for the rest of the month.
My grandpap gave me an old (not very old then) MSA helmet. Just like the ones Johnny Gage and Roy DeSoto were wearing in my favorite TV show, "Emergency." I took a pair of work gloves and put them inside the helmet. Everytime I would hear the fire whistle go off, I would grab that helmet and run to the street corner waiting for the trucks to go rolling by. I would see some of the neighbors come down the street with the red light flashing in their dash as they headed to the station. I wanted to do that. Years passed and my intrest in the fire service grew. I would sit on edge as I listend to the stories my father and grandpap told of their time in the fire department. My father was usually the driver for my grandpap. Those were great stories, and I still remember some. I would go hunting with my father and we would pass a house and he would tell me when he and my grandpap responded to a fire at a house that was there.
As soon as I turned 16 years old, it was my turn. I volunteered with
Hooverson Heights VFD
in Follansbee, WV. Although I could not fight any fires, I still got to go to the runs and help out. Mostly, I learned. I attended a few fire schools hosted by West Virginia University and some specialized rescue schools hosted by Weirton Heights Rescue School. I learned many things about fire and fire fighting thanks to many dedicated people at HHVFD. Some of them we good friends with my grandpap. At the age of 18 (1989), I entered the Air Force and became a Fire Protection Apprentice. Since that time, I have been assigned to Zweibrücken, Germany(1989-1991), Mountain Home, ID (1991-1993),
Clear, Ak (1993-1994),
Offutt, NE (1994-1997), Ramstein, Germany (1997-2004) and Cheyenne Mountain (NORAD) (2004-present).
I was a volunteer fire fighter with my local German village, Bruchmühlbach-Miesau. This link is to the village fire department (Feuerwehr). I completed the basic fire fighter class (in German) in April of 2000. To learn a little more about the German fire service, go to Feuerwehr.
The hours of most Air Force fire departments is 24 hours on and 24 hours off. Most normally work 6 shifts and then your 7th shift is off. It is called a Kelly Day. We provide fire protection for both aircraft and facilities on base, with a touch of Haz Mat, EMS, and technicial rescue. We have 2 stations, one 4X4 pumper and 2 4X4 mini-pumpers, one that has been converted into a rescue truck. And NO, we do not use golf carts as most Air Force fire fighters seem to think.
I am an avid fire memorabilia collector. My two favorite items are a white MSA helmet that my grandfather wore. He was Chief at Beech Bottom for 35 years (1946-1981). The other helmet is a 1997 leather Houston helmet. The Houston was a gift from my bride, April, as a reward for getting promoted and completing my Fire Officer 1 and Instructor 1 certifications. I currently have 80 helmets and about 800 patches from all around the world. If you would like to trade helmets, patches, t-shirts, or anything else, please email us at rescuesmurf@yahoo.com
For a listing of fellow collectors and traders, go to Collectors/Sammler.
I am interested in helmets, patches, and all other kinds of collectables, but usually not t-shirts. However, I will trade off my department shirts. Trades are usually helmet for helmet or patch for patch.
Contact me at rescuesmurf@yahoo.com
Here are some other related links!
If you want to look up other Air Force fire fighters (and ex-Air Force fire fighters), check out The Fire Club.