6th Sense or Intuition?

[Hosehandler]

My name is Lloyd and I have been a volunteer member of a small rural FF department in Missouri for the last 5 years. During my short time in the department I have noticed many changes on how I see / react to things in life. In speaking with fellow FF's from around the department and in the St. Charles / St. Louis Metro areas I have learned that many have similar experiences. The most prominent is that ability to sense when something is wrong and / or about to happen prior to the actual event. Some call it intuition, others call it the 6th sense. Either way many FF's around the country have unique stories about these types of occurences and how it has effected their lives. It is an untold story of the Fire Service. If anyone would be interested in submitting a personal story that describes a 6th sense experience before the tones hit or maybe an occurence that occured while on scene... I would love to read them. I have been thinking about putting together a book of short stories that reflect these types of experiences. Please include your name, rank and department - unless you would rather remain unknown. I anticipate this project to take 6 - 12 months to complete. I would also appreciate ideas / thoughts about starting a new charity that benefits Fire Fighters and their families. Please send me some feedback on this idea ~ positive and negative is welcome. Thank you for taking the time to read my post - I hope to hear from some of you soon!
Lloyd Wideman
MVFD - FF #2193
lloydwideman@yahoo.com

[E229Lt]

I have been awakened just prior to the tones going off.

I feel about as comfortable saying that as a pilot reporting a UFO!

[PFire23]

That's ok Artie. We had a weird experience here, sometime late last spring. We were toned out late at night/early morning, whatever you want to call it, so we responded. The location for the "smoke/flame sighting" was at the south end of our district, basically right at the border between us and Langford's district. We rolled on scene and as the Chief was turning the Rescue around to face North, I noticed a guy sitting on the barrier on the side of the road. I said "WTF, why is some guy just sitting there this late at night". I was told to go question him regarding the call in, whether or not he was the one who called etc. I asked him several questions, his answers were NO WHERE near the topic of what I asked him. He just kept saying " I didn't do it, I had nothing to do with it". I might also note that as I approached him I had a really uneasy feeling so I didn't get any closer than having about 4 ft between us. I went and reported back to the Chief. Meanwhile, NOTHING had been found, no smoke, no flames (the fire was reported to be on the side of the road). So we were packing up to go home. The rapid rescue rolled home first, we stopped by the Engine for a moment to talk to the guys, and lo and behold buddy is now all comfy on the barriers there talking to FF15. So we headed up the hwy home, then Engine pulled out behind us. FF27 was driving the Engine and he recalls looking in his mirrors after they had pulled away and had picked up speed and seeing buddy STILL on the barriers, so we know he didn't ride any of the tailboards. NO VEHICLES passed us on the way home, except for one just prior to our turn off, it DIDN'T turn down our road. We got back to base and were just going to put the trucks to bed, the engine rolled up and the guy WALKED OUT OF THE BUSHES that run beside the hall. I didn't notice him right away, but when I did I was a lil freaked out cuz there's NO WAY in hell he coulda walked and beat us, no way he could have ridden a motorbike across country to beat us....... there was NO explanation for his being there before us. You have to understand that it's quite a distance by hwy from the location of the call to our station, plus it's all uphill, across country is forested, mountainous terrain that can really tax you if you are not prepared for it. Our DC went and asked buddy what he was doing there and the guy replied that he just liked watching us work. We were like OOOOOOOOKKKKK, then as suddenly as he'd appeared he was gone. There were NO vehicle sounds of any kind after he left, he just vanished. We took a drive after putting the trucks to bed and there was no sign of him at all anywhere. All I can say is I'm so freaken happy that I wasn't the only one who saw and talked to him, cuz it was hard enough to believe as it was. It was a lil bizarre, and I must admit I was hearing the "Twilight Zone" theme in my head for a while after.

There ya go Artie, now you aren't the only one who shared. :D

[Hosehandler]

E229Lt ~ would you be interested in sharing the story?

About 2 years ago I was dating this girl who did not believe that intuition of this type existed. One night as we went to bed after a lengthy discussion on the topic, around 1:45 AM we were awoke for no apparent reason. As we sat there together awake... from out of no where the cold chills hit right in the middle of my spine along with the adrenaline... something had happened and it was to someone we knew.

She thought I was crazy as I got out off bed and began to get dressed... I told her the tones would go off soon and I wanted to get the jump on the call ~ right then the house expanded and settled as old country houses do when they breath. Then it sounded as if someone was walking on the roof right above our room - then there was a tapping sound as if a ping pong ball had been dropped on a tile floor... she began to get scared... I finished dressing and awaited the tones... but they never hit. She began to laugh at me and what had happened, she dismissed everything for one reason or another, then proceeded to tell me that I had more issues than sports illustrated and went back to sleep.

Now normally I set my pager to scan at night because I live on the district line of two fire departments and I may be able to assist until the other department arrives... But for what ever reason this night I did not have that pager in scan.

The next morning I recieved a phone call that one of my best friends who was a brother to me was killed in a car accident 1.5 miles from my house on the border line of our fire districts... around the time that we were awakened the night before. This is the brief version of the story.

Needless to say the girl never again argued against the sense ~ maybe because she freaked out, maybe because she dumped me!?!?!

[hfd66truck]

Donning dark glasses so that I can't be recognized....

I have had the same experience as the good Lt. Several times I have woken up just a minute or 2 before the tones would go off.

There was also the time last year when, as we were going to bed, my wife looked at me and said, " there is going to be a fire tonight " and 2 hours later the tones went off for a house fully involved.

names and faces changed to protect the innocent

[Hosehandler]

The majority of FF's I have spoken with, have at one time or another experienced this or something out of the ordinary that is beyond any logical explanation. You are not alone. These are the types of stories I am looking for. Here is a chance to tell your story!

[tanker5117]

I'm with hfd66truck. I have woken several times just before tones drop.


Tanker

[Hosehandler]

Anyone else have a story they would like to share?

[Engine58]

Well for the past couple years....we've had something bad happen on New Years Eve. Most of the time it would be a house fire but around 1998 everything stopped nothing has happened. So last year we had a party at my first aid squad as we were hanging out, all night long I had a sick feeling in my stomach I kept saying I dunno I dont like this feeling. After about the 5th time of saying somethings gonna happen everyone told me to shutup. So I went over to the 1st Due Ambulance was checking it out. My friend goes what are you doing....I go oh nothing just making sure everythings ok for when we get our Trauma Code tonight. 12am hit we all went home....300 hit We were banged out for a Pedestrian Struck, unfortunatley turned out to be CPR in progress a guy was hit on the highway. The look on everyones face when we all got back from the call. Everyone looked like they saw a ghost. I was especially creeped out do to that fact I said we were gonna have one that night...no one let me live that down. Still gives me the chills when I think about it. A couple other times I've said I gotta weird feeling we are gonna get a structure fire and sure enough couple hours later or a day or 2 later we've had one. Havent had the tone thing happen to me yet..

[UsingAllHands]

I'm not saying this to "one-up" you guys, but not only do I very often wake up seconds prior to the bee-boop, but I usually know instinctively if it's a B.S. run or if it's the real thing. I don't know how, I don't know why, but this is very common for me.

Very often, my feelings are contrary to the popular opinion of the guys I'm riding with. They'll all be getting ready saying, "We've got a job." And I'm just thinking to myself, "ah, I don't think so."

Other times, the info we get sounds like B.S. and everyone else is treating the run like nothing and I'm getting myself ready thinking, "We're going to work, this one's for real."

[CaptainGonzo]

two cases of it for me..

We had a fire on the MDC (now MWRA...Mass Water Resources Authority property). Fueling up the Rescue at the City Yard after the fire, I pointed to a outbuilding (actually, as small house on the property) and told my partner on Rescue 1 "there's next fire..." I got relieved early, as my wife and I had dinner reservations with friends. We were on the highway when the scanner in car locked on our frequency. I heard the tones striking a box for a reporting a structure fire at the Marlborough DPW City Yard. The first due unit reported heavy fire showing... :eek:

On the first night tour of a duty rotation in January 1983, I had a extremely vivid dream that we were going to have a house fire with people trapped. I woke up the entire bunkroom when I started yelling "we have people trapped!"

Our second night... we did have a house fire with people trapped.... Two children died from smoke inhalation when they were trapped on the second floor of their home. :(

Another instance happened to one of my Brothers on the MFD. One Thanksgiving, after the entire shift pigged out, he said "what we need now is a smoky mattress fire at the Preston (it's a rooming house, 4 story ordinary construction). 15 minutes after saying it, the box came in for...the Preston.... and they had a smoky mattress fire on the third floor!

[firemanpat29]

I have wondered if my pager made a noise or somthing
before the tones dropped. Several times I have awaken
looked at the pager then had it go off!!. Glad I am
not the only freak:) :)

[stillPSFB]

I too used to wake up a few seconds before the tones went. I've been retired three months now, so these days I wake up about three minutes before I hear the truck sirens going past - seems like once a firefighter always a firefighter:)

[stillPSFB]

Oops, better change that signature too as the bottom line isn't relevant anymore!

[jaybird210]

Glad I'm not the only freaky one....

I usually fall asleep the minute my head hits the pillow, and while I'm a light sleeper, I never have trouble dropping back off.

Routinely, I will have trouble getting to sleep, and it never fails, we'll get that 2 or 3am call.

Years ago I was in one of the local watering holes with some family. This place was multiple different businesses through the years; it spent a long time as a gas station/truck stop. As I looked around the place, and saw the carpet run four feet up on the walls, and the outlets hanging out of the boxes, I thought to myself, "If this place ever caught fire, we'd never put it out."

A week later, 8am, joint is on fire. We never put it out.....

[Weruj1]

Every once in awihle I can "feel" us getting a call, you know like we are going to have an arrest today or bad accident. And when I get the feeling I am not to often wrong and it does freak people out. The worst thing I can ever remember about weird things that was un pleasant is having my alarm clock and pager going off at the same time...........scared the _______outa me, thank goodness it has only happened once. Lets see.....I can also be good at this one too...ever hear another departments tones going off and before the dispatcher gives the address and nature you have already blurted it out ? ...........man does that send the troops a runnin' .........so ya I can say I have had those goofy "twlight Zonesque" nirvana.

[firenresq77]

I think we all have had a moment like that at least once.

Does anyone have something that "brings" you calls?

We have 1 guy who keeps his orginal helmet (one of the old Cairns sald bowls from the 80s) by his gear. Every once in a while when he is working our dayshift or he has the Echo unit all night, he will carry it with him. Probably 8 out of 10 times he has it with him, we are getting something decent, usually it's a structure fire or trauma or something.

[Hosehandler]

This is the first I have heard of taking superstitious items on ride alongs. Reminds me of my college football days when our defensive end would never wash his practice socks... I guess it worked for him because he is a starting linebacker for the Phil. Eagles and is making a moderate $1.2+ a year.

[jaybird210]

Hose, isn't that damn near what you're making?


:cool:

[Hosehandler]

Move the decimal over to the left about 3 places and you will be close.

[Hosehandler]

I want to say thank you to everyone that has posted a response ot this thread. It is good to know that what we feel and experience is not an isolated occurence and that many others have the same types of experiences. I have met alot of new friends in chat room and thru this forum... thank you! Please feel free to continue to post your stories here for the rest of us to read and relate to.

[LRFireE135]

I have two stories I would like to share. I will post them seperately. I know this first one may seem a bit farfetched... But on brother's honor I swear to you all that it really did occur.

Not too long ago, I was going through EMT school and one of my good friends was a paramedic whom I enjoyed riding with. After school was over, we went out to celebrate our graduation. While eating out, one of the paramedics began telling us a story she had been told by my friend earlier that day.

My friend and his partner had worked a fairly quiet shift. Later on that day, they received a dispatch for a priority 4 transfer. When they arrived at the hospital, my friend and his partner began filling out their paper work while their patient was brought down to them. The patient was being transferred from the hospital to a psychiatric ward at a different hospital across town. While filling out the papers, dispatch came over the radio and asked if they had picked up their priority 4 yet, and if they would like to run a priority 1. Since the patient was already in the truck, the call was diverted to the next available unit. The call ended up being a stand-by for a fire with children reported trapped in an upstairs bedroom. My friend was in back tending to the patient and finishing paperwork and had no prior knowledge of this call going out.

The patient was transferred and while the emt was filling out the final forms, my friend the medic went up with the patient. He came back down and just had a puzzled look on his face. When they got back in the truck, the EMT questioned him about it and he began to tell the following story.

"The girl we just transported was being committed because she claims to be able to see and talk to dead people. When I was in the back, I began to talk to her and asked her about it. When I asked her what she was seeing right now, she told me about a woman who was in her late 60's in a town to the north of the city who died a few days ago;

(I'm sorry but currently I can't remember the whole story and can't remember what all she had told him. I will try and get an update and then update my posting for the book.) ANYWAYS:

I asked her what else she saw and she described a guy in his early to middle 20's in a city about an hour north. She told me what he looked like right down to the clothes he had on his back and the type of shoes he was wearing. She told me that he had committed suicide because he was severely depressed "over his girlfriend breaking up with him." She said that she could see him crying and that he "shot himself."

By this point my friend said that he was starting to get pretty freaked out. He said that when they got about halfway there the girl started crying and he asked her what was wrong. She said.

"I can see a little boy who just died in a house fire. The fire was set by his brother in the little boys room. the brother was playing with matches and set the house on fire and the baby was in his crib and couldn't get out. She also described what the boy and brother were wearing and said that their parents had left them home alone."

At this point he was kind of half and half on blowing her off or being scared. The EMT then informed my friend that their was currently a fire in the city with a report of people trapped and my friend just kind of looked at his partner in disbelief. It was at this point that dispatch called and asked if they were available and dispatched them to the fire standby as the unit that was on scene was enroute to the ETC with a class 1 Trauma. They were dispatched to the scene for standby and when they got their, they got out and began to talk with a few of the firefighters in rehab about what was going on. My friend noticed a chief officer he knew and went over to talk to him. While they were talking, my friend mentioned this story to him. After hearing the story, the chief just looked at my friend with a look of disbelief and said, " You aren't going to believe this but that patient that was transported was a 3 year old boy who was found upstairs in his crib. We had severe smoke inhalation and didn't make it, although he had been run hot to the ER. The fire had been started by the child's brother who was playing with matches and the children were left home alone. My friend was just in shock and when they cleared they went back to the ER to confirm the childs death. The child had died and when they looked in the obituaries, they found the death of the 20 year old and the elderly woman.

So as it turns out, this girl was not crazy at all. She was actually able to communicate with the deceased and was living in her own unbelievable hell. Sadly, she was to spend the rest of her life in an insane asylum because no one believed her and passed her off as nuts... :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Tell me that is not just freaky and I'll say you are nuts!

[LRFireE135]

My second story involved my first fire. My Cadet Lieutenant and myself had been up playing games on my console, which I brought to play since we were both spending the night at the station. We had talked about how I had yet to be on a fire and how much work they really were. I told him that we were going to have a fire between the time we went to sleep and end of shift. We went to bed on a bet. 0615 rolls around and our tones drop:

Report of a Commercial Structure Fire!!! XXXX Eaglecrest St. XXX Horse Trailers.

I was awakened right away and rolled off the couch (we only had three beds at that time and four people on shift!) I sat on the end of the couch and began to put on my shoes, thinking this would be another medical... When I heard the words 10-70 structure, I rolled over the back of the couch and busted out the door... I had on my bunker pants, my nomex hood, had the door rolling up and was throwing on my coat as the other guys were coming down the stairs in their boxers. We pulled out of the station and upon turning the corner, were met by a dark black header.

(At this point I was about to crap myself! Hey gimmie a break I was new!)

Upon seeing that, my captain immeadiately requested a second tone out for a confirmed working structure fire and request for mutual aide to head our way ASAP! Now for this next part I have to go back to before the fire call or the night before that.

:FLASHBACK: :FLASHBACK:

A few months prior we had a new guy join the department. He had claimed to be a former paid firefighter for a Dallas suburb. He rarely showed up for training and had yet to make a call.

:NORMAL: :NORMAL:

Upon arrival I get off to the truck and begin to assist and readying the engine for sustained operations. I then went with my captain and followed him as he made his size up. We were met by this new guy coming from the side of the building telling us where and what was on fire. I was in shock to even see him there and asked him how he knew about the fire. He simply stated that he was here when it started. It was to have been his first day of work at this place and it burns down. After this fire, this guy disappeared off the face of the earth. Never heard from him nor saw him again... I always felt fishy about that, and about the fire. I will not come out and say this fire was incindiary in nature, because as you all know that is illegal. But shortly after this fire, the companies brand new offices opened across town in a huge new building. The fire happened in the last month of this companies moving process to the new building. Thus, I have always wondered about it.

I dunno... What do you all think?

[expvol]

For alittle background I have been a fire/ems/police explorer for about 6 years. I have run alot of calls in those years, I usualy do about 2 13 hour shifts a month and a 24 every 2 months. I switch between fire and ems every other shift. I started to notice the weird stuff happening around dec of 02.

Back in june I was just sitting reading and I got a very weird feeling, very hard to explain, kind of a floating feeling. I dismissed this feeling as just bad food (this was about 10am). I got the same feeling 3 times later that day, about 12 pm, 1230pm and 3pm. When we were all around the dinner table that night, someone from dispatch called the station and told the captain that there was a problem with the automatic dispatch computer program (avl) at the dispatch center. We actualy had 4 calls that day that were in our district but we were not dispatched to them, the calls were toned out at 10:01 am, 12:05pm, 12:32pm and 3:03pm. These times coincide with when I was feeling weird. The captain got these times from the dipatch database which is avalible to the stations. Very weird.:eek:

Just last month I was doing a EMS shift and we were doing our daily inspections, the radio was on and the song hemorage by fuel came on, seconds later we were toned to a code blue, the song came on later that day 2 more times, we ran 2 more code blues within five minutes of the song coming on.

The one that scared the crap out of me was in december of 02 I was napping in my easy chair after lunch and was jolted awake by something, I dont know what it was, a minute later tones droped for a code1 structure. Later that afternoon I was jolted awake right before a vechicle accident. These were my first encounters the 6th sense/intuition.

[Hosehandler]

Fire Fighters, EMS and police Officers around the world experience this phenom. Is it explainable? Is there logical reasoning behind it? It amazes me to no end that so many of us feel this occur and do not know why. You all have been sharing some very good stories and I cannot wait to read more.