Many of you have heard me speak of a house fire I had in 2007. My son is one of us that survived the fire. About 18 months ago, he told me he wanted to become a Junior Volunteer at the local fire station. I questioned hi on it, and he said that after looking back on what the firefighters did for us during our time of need, that he felt a need to do what he could to pay society back. Up til last night, the calls that he's been available (not in school or at work) to attend were car accidents, fallen garages, and the night before last, an SUV through part of a house.

Then the call came last night of structure with active fire. He was the first Junior to get to the station, and the second of all members to arrive. He normally rides in the van as a support team, but the Captain told him to get on the Engine and ride out with them...that they needed him ASAP. And need him, did they ever...

Fire destroys house on Second Avenue in Tarentum – AKVNEWS.COM

The homeowner is a parent of a girl he knows from school. The house is a complete loss. I listened in on the scanner as the entry crew were entering, and called out that they were compromised and had to evacuate the structure. At that point, the knew the structure was a loss, so they concentrated on saving the two neighboring structures. There was a total of seven stations called in, with one coming from across the river. It was difficult as a parent to listen in, but I needed to hear it.

This morning, he was numb. He told me that as soon as he arrived, in his mind, he was back at our house in Ohio when it was on fire...but he maintained control of himself, and performed his job well. He told me that a number of times he had to swallow back bile that was building up, because of what he was doing and the battle within him.

His Station Chief just left after coming by to check on him...they all know that he survived a fire, and they've all talked it out with him to help him. His Chief told me some of what my son did last night, and how having him with them really helped their machine operate more fluidly. He also told me that I should be damned proud of my son...which I am. My son, since he's under the age of 18 and missing the needed training module, was not allowed inside the structure, but that he fed them hoses, and when they evacuated the structure, drug the line out of their way. He also was part of the crew outside that set up the sprayers that stick into the ground and spray up (can't remember the name) and operated a water line and then a foam line to help get the fire under control.

As of last night, my son became a true Firefighter.

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

CONGRATS!

My son followed a similar path through a rural VFD. When he was twenty he had worked for the (regular) FD and at the time was the youngest to graduate the state fire academy just a week before his 21s BD. Not going to say I was disappointed but his siblings went off to get the BS and MA's and he kept on as a firefighter. Looking back now he kept his sites on the target. He has a BA in Public Admin, a Paramedic and recently married (waited till he was 29 LOL) and is a Lieutenant. He really has his sh t together and kept with his guns and I am very proud of him.

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
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That's great. My son wants to go to PTC and get an Associate's Degree in Welding Technology. I think it's an 18 month or so program, and he would benefit from the education as well as the job placement. When he turns 18 in January, he'll start up on the last training module so he can enter structure fires. He's not sure if he wants to continue as a volunteer and weld as a professional, or wind up getting on at the only station in town with paid firefighters. Knowing him, if the election goes as he thinks, he's liable to join the military after getting his welding training in, and find something there to do.

Being 17 still, he has plenty to choose from in the world to do for a living

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Glad he came through a dangerous call safely! Sounds like he will be successful in his life choices.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.