H
Harpoon
Couple quikie notes here...
First off, I learned a few days ago that, yippie, I get FREE (yup, FREE) turnout gear... I had been told that if i wanted my own set, I'd have to pay one quarter of the cost of a set of gear because they got a FEMA grant for new gear but it only covered $1,500 per set (one set is two grand total.)
Ok, well I wanted my own set so I didn't have to rummage through to find stuff that fit every time I went to a fire scene but I really didn't have the extra cash on hand to pay for a set of my own, even at the grately reduced price.
Well then I find out that there was a second FEMA grant for the balance of the cost of the gear. Woohoo! Everyone in the department gets new gear if they want it ('cept maybe the paid guys, I don't know how their gear is procured) including me!
Actually, most of the gear is in and assembled except for visors for the helmets or so I've been told. Ones the visors come in, they'll start collecting measurements on everyone and distribute as needed.
One set includes a helment, coat, pants, boots, gloves, and whatever other accessories there may be (Nomex fire proof hoods and the like) plus a bag to put everything in.
I dunno if they'll put names on the backs of the jackets once the sets are assigned, I'm assuming every jacket is numbered though.
When I get my set, there will be a photo to share.
Today we had a work party. 10:30 am to about 3pm a group of us were cleaning out the hall. I helped in the truck bay, started out lifting "heavy" iron gratings from a long trench/drain that ran the width of the bay then clearing out all the junk that was in it. Well that was fun, and a lot of heavy lifting. Thanking my lucky stars for the steel toed hiking boots I have... =)
Also spent some time washing windows (including those on my car... SHHHHH! Don't tell anyone!) and then scrubbing down the truck bay floor. Also took some photos of the effort for the fire department.
You know, I gotta say that one of the coolest things is being able to do this kind of stuff after all the crap I went through in Cleveland. it's a big reason for why I joined the department and why I enjoy doing the kind of work I was doing today. I'm sore. My hands mostly but there's some soreness in my shoulders and a little in my back. But I FEEL great. I worked, hard, and I didn't have any trouble. It was a nice day too, 62+ with a light breeze, clear skies. Plus the other guys who were there are great and we had a lot of fun.
One of the older guys makes his own sausages and he brought a bunch for lunch after we finished working. Plus several bags of chips, macaroni salad, pop, and Labatt Blue.
Had a blast. Wish we could do that every weekend.....
First off, I learned a few days ago that, yippie, I get FREE (yup, FREE) turnout gear... I had been told that if i wanted my own set, I'd have to pay one quarter of the cost of a set of gear because they got a FEMA grant for new gear but it only covered $1,500 per set (one set is two grand total.)
Ok, well I wanted my own set so I didn't have to rummage through to find stuff that fit every time I went to a fire scene but I really didn't have the extra cash on hand to pay for a set of my own, even at the grately reduced price.
Well then I find out that there was a second FEMA grant for the balance of the cost of the gear. Woohoo! Everyone in the department gets new gear if they want it ('cept maybe the paid guys, I don't know how their gear is procured) including me!
Actually, most of the gear is in and assembled except for visors for the helmets or so I've been told. Ones the visors come in, they'll start collecting measurements on everyone and distribute as needed.
One set includes a helment, coat, pants, boots, gloves, and whatever other accessories there may be (Nomex fire proof hoods and the like) plus a bag to put everything in.
I dunno if they'll put names on the backs of the jackets once the sets are assigned, I'm assuming every jacket is numbered though.
When I get my set, there will be a photo to share.
Today we had a work party. 10:30 am to about 3pm a group of us were cleaning out the hall. I helped in the truck bay, started out lifting "heavy" iron gratings from a long trench/drain that ran the width of the bay then clearing out all the junk that was in it. Well that was fun, and a lot of heavy lifting. Thanking my lucky stars for the steel toed hiking boots I have... =)
Also spent some time washing windows (including those on my car... SHHHHH! Don't tell anyone!) and then scrubbing down the truck bay floor. Also took some photos of the effort for the fire department.
You know, I gotta say that one of the coolest things is being able to do this kind of stuff after all the crap I went through in Cleveland. it's a big reason for why I joined the department and why I enjoy doing the kind of work I was doing today. I'm sore. My hands mostly but there's some soreness in my shoulders and a little in my back. But I FEEL great. I worked, hard, and I didn't have any trouble. It was a nice day too, 62+ with a light breeze, clear skies. Plus the other guys who were there are great and we had a lot of fun.
One of the older guys makes his own sausages and he brought a bunch for lunch after we finished working. Plus several bags of chips, macaroni salad, pop, and Labatt Blue.
Had a blast. Wish we could do that every weekend.....
