Tag Archives: Roanoke Fire/EMS

Despite the overwhelming support I received following my last post ("A Firefighter's Boots"), I was NOT able to return to duty and put mine back on. It wasn't because I didn't want to ... I did and you folks were a HUGE part of the reason why.

I've been in a dark place following my brother's death two weeks ago and my boots continue to consume my thoughts. You can tell by just the few examples I gave above that we have many options (or choices) when it comes to our boots. One of the biggest however is the one I didn't mention and the same one I'm facing now ... knowing when (and how) to put them back on or to just hang them up.

My life has revolved around "the job". It's what I was taught and all I've known. A lot of times (most times actually), my Fire Department family came first because my home family "understood". They were or should have been as strong and tough as me (or so I thought). They (the home family), could and would "do without" certain things knowing that I was somewhere else because that's where I thought I was needed most. Today I know I'm not near as smart or tough as I thought I was and that I was more often than not in the wrong place.

by 11pm most of the men's ties are off and around their heads like sweat bands. I've even been to a few where the dresses were over their heads too ...LMAO.

Captain Dillon is an "aggressive" firefighter who has seen more than his fair share of work. When he says it was a "hot" one, what he means is that it would have melted the paint off the gates of hell ...LOL.

It's our job to continue building upon what they started and to never forget where it (or we) came from. The sacrifices made and lessons learned along the way. The names, their faces and all those stories in between that were told on the back step or around the kitchen table. They define us ...it's who we are.

The good news is that none of the injuries sustained were serious and all 4 members were released from the hospital by late yesterday evening.

What he was unaware of was the PRIDE my Company has. PRIDE in all the aspects I mentioned above ... Hunter, Carolyn and Baron would get nothing less than 100%.

My "black cloud" followed me the entire cycle, Friday was no better than Monday or Wednesday.

I was first in with the Chief's buggy to find smoke showing from the attic (sides Delta and Bravo) of a single story, wood framed, family dwelling. I gave the size up, marked it a working fire and established Command.