Getting a run in the middle of a drill isn't the easiest situation to rebound from quickly. Trying to get all the equipment back on the rig with speed and efficiency is often comical to watch. Plus, we have learned from experience, and hopefully someone remembers to go down each side of the apparatus on the way to the crew cab to make sure the compartment doors are secured in the closed position. Seeing the dashboard's open compartment light and hearing the warning buzzer go off when the chauffeur puts the rig in drive only add to the delayed response. While responding to a report of "smoke in the area" on the highway, most of us thought that with the cooler weather we most likely would encounter some homeless people surrounding a warming barrel/"campfire." Slowing down near the scene, we scanned the area and found nothing. The dispatcher informed us of another call for another location, so we headed in that direction. As we pulled up, the chief was on scene and reported that a jogger on a bike path reported smoke from the stairs of a monument. Initially, we thought someone dropped a cigarette into one of the cracks and maybe rubbish or leaves were burning and that this was going to be a simple "can" job. We used the apparatus to block two lanes of the highway for our safety, which was one of our paramount concerns, and began our investigation.
展开▼
