this is really twisted!

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Post subject: scenario.... smell of smoke in the firehouse!

Okay...

You and your crew just get back from a run when you can smell an odor of smoke in the firehouse. There is no haze, no fire, no alarms going off, just that "burning smell" that has an aroma of the combination of burnt food and burnt ballast (yecch!)

two questions...

1. Whatcha gonna do?
2. Who ya gonna call?

PS: have fun!

[RspctFrmCalgary]

GHOSTBUSTERS!

Sorry El Presidente I couldn't resist - I've never even seen the movie

[ff7134]

Call the Man in the White Hat, ALL FIRES go out when he arrives.


Seriously, first pull the trucks out of the station!!! Have one person check the fuse box, another check the stove. Also check the lights and see if you have any ballast out. Get the TIC out and check the building. Conact an officer and let them know the station is on fire and you have no idea what to do.

[Fire304]

Ans to Q1:
Make a pot of coffee and break out the TIC

Ans to Q2:
My wife, "Honey, this call might run a little longer," cause she's sure to have been listening to the scanner and would be wondering why I was not home 5 mintutes after signing 10-8, 10-19.

[Engine683]

The way I see it, you've got two choices... either find the offending odor or decide what pose you want to use for the local paper... the run you were on might get a line or two in the "Fire/Police" section, but burning down a firehouse get's you on the front page!

On the other hand, all your friends on Firehouse.com will get to read about your department!

[engine23ccvfd]

Make sure the smell isnt you, your gear, or your truck...Hell might even want to blow your nose to make sure its not residual smell....Definetly pull the trucks out...just make sure they are not on fire 1st

[E40FDNYL35]

sounds like a good time to drill on the thermal image camera....

[kenbailey]

I agree with the Thermal Imager, if not get out a pen and paper and start with the following:

Dear Chief,

[KingHippo]

Is this a run down station (like the one I was stuck in for four years)? With the cabinets coming off the walls, the hole in the floor, and the sagging ceilings that the city won't pay to fix?

If so, leave and come back in a hour (run some errands, look at those new houses under construction across from the high school, etc). If you're feeling frisky, open the back door and turn on the PPV before you leave.

With any luck, you'll be getting a new firehouse soon. Sure, you'll be the butt of a lot of jokes, but when you're kicking back in your brand new kitchen, or watching tv in that big day room with the skylights and aquarium, you won't really care.

[shammrock54]

As a former chief of my dept said in the 50's "do 3 laps around town hall to give it a firefighting chance" (hey a new station can be a good thing)

No in all seriousness I'd get the camera out, follow sops, come off avalibility for mutual aid w/ the county comm center and notify the chief or deputy.

[WWMedic3]

Having been with 2 departments that have lost stations, it is not a nice feeling.

Who am I gonna call.....make it a first alarm run for smell and bells
What am I gonna do......Investigate

Yeah you may get a new station out of it if it does burn down, actually they just rebuilt what got burned up. But, yes, you will be on page one of the local fish wrapper, the local TV News crews will wanna ak you a bunch of dumb questions.
You will probably be the running joke in the county, and those around you so some time to come.

Stay low, stay safe.

Ed Becher
FF/EMT