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Saving lives from the monster . . . and sometimes failing . . . make firefighting 'not all it is cracked up to be, but worth it' By
Laren Hawkins
Its black mist shrouds you like a heavy, holocaust cloak. It smothers as it tears its way around your body. Intense popping and snapping fill your ears as this ferocious monster threatens to destroy. One foot after the other, you clumsily trek your way through this beast's belly. Your arms search for obstacles, flapping like two flags in the heat of a Texas wind storm. Frantically you try to locate the next piece of furniture that will obstruct your path. The temperature is rising . . . 130, 140, 150. "How
do you tell a mother that her son The monster will soon use its ultimate weapon, "flashing over," bursting into flames all around you like the inside of a propane rotisserie oven. If this happens, it's over. You lose. You must hurry. You must save lives. You must get out. For Logan firefighters, facing this type of enemy could occur daily. They are required to work 24-hour shifts and 56-hour weeks. At night, when duty isn't demanding action, they sleep in rooms at the fire house, similar to military barracks with several rows of bunks. Showers are communal and short. Meals are prepared individually in a kitchen not unlike a well-equipped residential home. These meals are often interrupted by the ringing of the alarm. It is mentally and physically demanding work, even for the most willing and prepared. So why this profession? Joseph Bach, a 12-year veteran, husband and father of three boys, is clear on why he does the job. "It's the chance I have to help save lives." Bach recalled a time when a team of firefighters saved the life of a prominent businessman in Logan. The man was sick and had taken a prescription that made him drowsy. His wife had brought him some dinner. He fell asleep while eating it and choked. When Bach arrived along with a team of firefighters, he looked at the man's wife and saw her fear and helplessness. The man's children lined the home's halls and doorways, desperate to be of help to their father. It took several minutes to clear the object from the suffering man's throat. The minutes passed slowly, as if they were deliberately prolonging this man's agony. The team placed the unconscious man was on a gurney, while tubes were forced down his throat helping him breathe. Bach and his paramedics team carried the man from his home and raced to the hospital, sirens blaring, as they frantically tried to save his life, Once at the hospital, the paramedics finished their responsibilities and turned the remainder of the life-saving procedures over to the hospital's personnel. A few hours later, Bach recalls seeing this man in a recovery room. He was expressing to his family how he felt like he had been on the TV show, Rescue 911. "It was like a movie to him . . but to us it was a good day. It was an excellent day! Because we made a difference in his life and the lives of his family members," says Bach. The most difficult part of being a firefighter for Bach is knowing that the emergency's outcome won't always turn out the way he'd like it to. "Firemen are not God. . . . we can't save everyone," reminds Bach. He recalled a recent experience when a young boy drowned. The boy was discovered by his mother in the family's backyard pond. When the emergency team arrived on the scene, they attempted to revive the child. They restored a pulse but the boy eventually died on the way to the hospital. "How do you tell a mother that her son will never be able to say 'Mommy' or 'Daddy' again? How do you explain to his loved ones that they will never see him again? How do you tell them he is dead?" questioned Bach. "That is the hardest part of the job." There is however, another side of being a firefighter that is difficult. Angie Helstern, the wife of a firefighter, describes their family lifestyle. "When Rhett is working, I have to play multiple roles -- mother, father, and repairman," she sighed. Angie related a story of when she had to respond to a problem with their dishwasher in the middle of the night. In an attempt to fix the machine, Angie accidently broke the hot water pipe running to the dishwasher. "Water was gushing everywhere. It looked like a geyser. Before I figured out how to turn off the water, the basement was flooded and its ceiling was caving in," explains Angie. Times like this make it difficult on the families of firefighters. "But," as Angie explains, "when Rhett is home, he appreciates his time with our boys. I think it's because he has seen so many disastrous times with others, and he realizes life is fragile." New firefighters are encouraged to learn and understand all of the demands on family, education and fitness. It is required of new firefighters to have completed their emergency medical training before they are allowed to join the force. It is not always necessary that they have fire prevention training. This is usually taught after they have joined the team. Continual training for firefighters is important. They must constantly learn different ways to increase knowledge of fire prevention and emergency medical knowledge. Physical fitness is heavily incorporated into a firefighter's life. The clothing worn to fight fires weighs over 55 pounds, the average weight of a 6-year-old child. It is made of fire-retardant material similar to an animal's hide - course, thick and stiff. The weight of the equipment that must be carried is in addition to the weight of the clothing worn. One of the many hazards of being a firefighter who works after dark is traffic and lighting. The risk of causing an accident while trying to respond to an emergency call greatly increases as it gets darker. Also, fire personnel and other drivers are usually tired and not fully responsive late at night. Bach recalls many times when he has had "close calls" while driving at night. Many drivers seem to ignore them or don't realize they are coming and in a hurry. Many boys and girls dream of becoming firefighters. As Bach says, "It is not exactly all it is cracked up to be, but it is worth it." Firefighters put their lives on the line day and night for complete strangers. They make a difference in people's lives. For some it is a glamorous career that brings excitement and daily change. For others it is a horrible responsibility of reporting death. Or maybe it is a little of both.
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