One ordinary afternoon,some 15 years ago,I was standing by the Saldanha Metro entrance(in central Lisbon),waiting for somebody that I don’t recall anymore, when I heard the distinctive sound of a fire rig dual tone siren.

Looking to the origin of the sound I saw one RSB MERCEDES Medium Pumper entering the Saldanha Square ,after leaving its 200meters away Station ,at full speed and rotary blue lights on,responding most likely to a fire call.

As the big rig,with its crew of six,negotiated a sharp turn it inclined a little more than usual , one rear side locker suddenly opened and two rolls of diam.50 mm flexible hose popped out and felt into the street behind ,without being noticed by none of those in the Pumper ,which kept on rolling towards me.

The next instant I moved forward to the street and waived both hands above my head,trying to communicate with the speeding vehicle.And I did,because it stopped by me and the Sub-Officer shouted from the front seat:

-what is the matter?

-you have lost some hose,just look back!I told him

-Oh boy!,he said after checking by the mirror and then,facing the back seat:

-grab that hose and catch us when you can,he said to one Firefighter

-close that locker,on a double!,he ordered to another one,which he did returning at once to his seat.

The Pumper left immediately ,siren and blue lights on,leaving behind one confused Firefighter,one hose roll under each arm ,standing in the middle of Saldanha Square without the slightest idea of what to do next…

A few seconds later,however,one beautiful brand new and certainly very expensive private car,of the limousine type,fully braked by the Firefighter.

The driver,dressed as he was on his way to a party ,stepped out of the car and said to the poor Firefighter:

-Don’t you worry!Come on,I will drive you to the fire.

And so it was.The Firefighter entered to the front seat ,still holding its hose,and the car left after the fire rig,at good speed,trying to reach it.

I couldn’t avoid laughing for what I imagined it would be the next episode of this incident:the usual bystanders at the fire scene,would have seen: first,arriving and stopping a fire rig ;but,immediately after,a limousine driven by a smartly dressed gentlemen would also arrive,park behind the Pumper and,front door opened,a Firefighter would get out with the hose and join his crew,as if it was the more normal thing in this earth!

What a sight it would have been to watch some astonished persons on that instant…

J.L (98)