Cold Weather Firefighting

[VollieFireman]

This was posted on a local list serve that I subscribe to. I thought it was interesting and thought provoking (not to mention funny). Please post some of your comments/experiences

=====

Boy this cold weather brings back a lot of memories from many years ago in my firefighting career. I would like to share some of my memories with you and maybe in return you can e-mail me some of your cold weather firefighting experiences.

Now back to cold weather calls, Let's seen I think I will list them:

1. Bay doors in station freeze shut will not open when call comes in.

2. Ice on windshield,Do not cover with cardboard it gets wet and then!!!

3. Water freezes in tank of engine because someone forgot to drain pump.

4. Trying to get 5 inch hard suction cap off and it is frozen.

5. So a hydrant wrench rather than a rubber mallet is just waiting to be used to break loose that 5 inch cap steel on steel some thing is going to give, cap breaks in half.

6. Hydrant will not turn on and when open no water.

7. All hose lines are not drained fast enough and freeze solid,
have to fold in half an lay on a flatbed tractor trailer and put inside building to thaw out.

8. As water flows from nozzle it freezes and you loose your distance capabilities.

9. You did not put any socks on as you jumped into your gear and of course, you just put on a light jacket it is most likely going to be a false alarm.

10. You chock the wheels on your truck and as you begin to pump the
engine is sliding down the road that was dry when you parked it.

11. Try walking on Ice with fire boots,boy have I seen some guys slip and fall

12. And after you have put out the fire you may have wished you
didn't so you could stay warm, or you are looking to build a fire to keep warm.

13. Dispatcher wants to know if you need hot dinks for your firefighters?

14. Thunder during white out snow storm 22 degrees.

15. Chains !!! how do you do that????

[VollieFireman]

Here is the first batch of responses on the list serve

===

Response to Cold Weather Firefighting from you-all:

1.Beating the Ice from your snaps on turn coats just so you can take it off.

2.Filling engine from water tower because hydrants are frozen. Also, same instance being sprayed with water while filling engine and freeze top of ear, instant frost bite. Top of ear lost to frost bite.

3. Its so cold the snot from your nose freezes into what is lovingly termed, "snot-sickles"

4. You man a 2 1/2 line later to find the prone position you are in has left you frozen to the ground.

5. After a fire you return home, only to have to get into the shower with your bunker gear on just to get out of it.

6. You leave your pick up running all night knowing a fire alarm will come in around 2:30 AM.

7. It is so cold, any object you touch sticks to your gloves.

[blueeighty88]

Carry something for anti-skid around the pumps, walking areas b/c goshdamn it hurts when you fall w/ an SCBA on! O-U-C-H!!!

Brass hydrant wrenches, if you have them, set them aside for the winter months. We've broken many brass wrenches in half fighting with frozen fire plugs!


Corrogated tubing, hook it up to the trucks exhaust, put a homemade 2 1/2" coupling on one end, and use it to thaw hydrants. Or hook it to a canvas sack and slide it over top of a hydrant.