Sandy Hose Co. # 1

the Fireman's Prayer

When I am called to duty, God

Wherever Flames may rage

Give me the strength to save a life

Whatever Be its age

Help me embrace a little child

Before it is too late

Or save an older person from

The horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert and

Hear the weakest shout

And quickly and efficiently

To put the fire out

I want to fill my calling and

To give the best in me

To guard my every neighbor

And protect their property

And if according to your will my Lord

I have to lose my life

Please bless with your protecting hand

My children and my wife.

-unknown author.

A Firemans Wish...

A Fireman's Wish...

" I Wish You Could "

I wish you could see

the sadness of a business man as his livelihood goes up in flames

or that family returning home,

only to find their house and belongings damaged or destroyed.

I wish you could know

what it is to search a burning bedroom for trapped children,

flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees burning as you crawl,

the floor sagging under your weight as the kitchen beneath you burns.

I wish you could comprehend

a wife's horror at 3 A.M. as I check her husband of forty years for a pulse and find none.

I start CPR anyway, hoping against the odds to bring him back,

knowing intuitively it is too late.

But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was done.

I wish you could know

the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus,

the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling,

and the eeriness of being able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke

sensations that I have become too familiar with.

I wish you could understand

how it feels to go to work in the morning after having spent most of the

night, hot and soaking wet at a multiple alarm fire.

I wish you could read

my mind as I respond to a building fire, 'Is this a false alarm or a working, breathing fire?

How is the building constructed? What hazards await me?

Is anyone trapped or are they all out?'

or to an EMS call, 'What is wrong with the patient?

Is it minor or life-threatening? Is the caller really in distress

or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?'

I wish you could be

in the emergency room as the doctor pronounces dead the beautiful little

five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during the past twenty-five

minutes, who will never go on her first date or say the words,

"I love you Mommy," again.

I wish you could know

the frustration I feel in the cab of the engine, the driver with his foot

pressing down hard on the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the

air horn chain, as you fail to yield right-of-way at an intersection or

in traffic. When you need us, however, your first comment upon our arrival

will be, "It took you forever to get here!"

I wish you could read

my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of teenage years from the mangled remains

of her automobile, 'What if this were my sister, my girlfriend, or a friend?

What were her parents' reactions going to be

as they open the door to find a police officer,

I wish you could know

how it feels to walk in the back door and greet my parents and family,

not having the heart to tell them that I nearly did not come home from

this last call.

I wish you could feel

my hurt as people verbally, and sometimes physically,

abuse us or belittle what we do, or as they express their attitudes of,

It will never happen to me.

I wish you could realize

the physical, emotional, and mental drain of missed meals, lost sleep, and

forgone social activities, in addition to all the tragedy my eyes have viewed.

I wish you could know

the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of helping save a life or preserving someone's

property, of being there in times of crisis, or creating order from total CHAOS.

I wish you could understand

what it feels like to have a little boy tugging on your arm and asking,

"Is my Mommy O.K.?" Not even being able to look in his eyes without

tears falling from your own and not knowing what to say. Or to have to hold

back a long-time friend who watches his buddy having rescue breathing done on him as they

take him away in the ambulance. You knowing all along he did not have his seat belt on.

Sensations that I have become too familiar with.

Unless you have lived

this kind of life, you will never truly understand or appreciate

who I am, what we are, or what our job really means to us.

Our Dad is a Fireman

Our Dad is a fireman, a fact we state with pride

So pardon us for boasting, It's hard to keep inside.

We're very blessed, Indeed for a father such as he,

Who helped Mom raise us kids,Using this philosophy....

"Fortify your heart, with Righteousness inside,

It beautifies the character, Something you can't hide.

With beauty inthe character, There'll be no need to roam,

For the love our children need, Starts right here in the home.

Combine that love with God; They both go hand in hand,

For harmony in the home It's such a simple plan.

With harmony in the home,There'll be order in the nation,

And peace in the world, For everyone's salvation."

WE LOVE HIM FOR HIS WISDOM, THE BEST WE COULD HAVE HAD

AND PROUD THAT HE IS A FIREMAN, A MAN WE CALL OUR DAD.

the Last Alarm

The Last Alarm

My father was a fireman. He drove a big red truck and when he'd go to work each day he'd say,"Mother wish me luck,"

Then Dad would not come home again'till sometime the next day.

But the thing that bothered me the most was things folks would say,

"A fireman's life is easy, he eats and sleeps and plays, and sometimes he won't fight a fire for days."

When I first heard these words I was young to understand,

but I knew when people had trouble Dad was there to lend a helping hand.

Then my father went to work one day and kissed us all goodbye, but little did we realize that night we would all cry.

My father lost his life that night when the floor gave way below

and I'd wondered why he'd risk his life for someone he did not know.

But, now I truly realize the greatest gift a man can give

is to lay his life upon the line so that someone else might live.

Fireman's Mom

Fireman's Mom

My son begins and end his day

Like every other son

Except as a fire fighter

His Day is never done

The volunteer has no "shift"

He's on twenty-four hour call

Never knowing exactly when

The tones are going to fall

He's up and dressed, still half-asleep

Now heading for his gear

Each Time I hear that backdoor slam

My heart is filled with fear

Is it a fire in someone's home

A car wreck down the block

A medical emergency

With life counting down the clock

Or is it just a false alarm

Someone's human error

All these calls, you must believe

Still fill my heart with terror

Fire is a living thing

It breathes a chilling breath

And reaches out so hot and mean

To cause untimely death

Yes, my sons a fireman

His life is always on the line

But I know he loves his job

And I pray he will be fine

Rules of Firefighting

Rules of Firefighting

FIREFIGHTER'S RULE OF GRAVITY:
Any tool, when dropped, will always come to rest in the least accessible place possible.

THE FIRST RULE OF EQUIPMENT:
Any piece of firefighting equipment will never malfuntion or fail until (a) you need it to fight a fire or (b) the salesman leaves.

SECOND RULE OF EQUIPMENT:
Interchangeable parts don't, leakproof seals aren't and self starters won't.

FIREFIGHTER'S RULES OF THE BATHROOM:
(a) If you have just gone to the bathroom, no call will be received. (b) If you have not just gone to the bathroom, you will soon regret it. (c) The probability of receiving a call increases proportionally to the time elapsed since last going to the bathroom.

RULES OF WARNING DEVICES:
(a) The use of a siren on a firefighting vehicle while responding to a call will cause acute and total (but temporary) deafness to the drivers of vehicles in its path. (b) The use of warning lights on a firefighting vehicle while responding to a call will cause acute and total (but temporary) blindness to the drivers of vehicles in its path.

FIREFIGHTER'S RULE OF LIGHT:
As the seriousness of any given situation increases, the availability of light to illuminate the situation decreases.

FIREFIGHTER'S THEORY OF WEIGHT:
The weight of the equipment that you are about to carry increases by the square of the sum of the distance to reach the situation.

FIREFIGHTER'S RULE OF RULES:
As soon as the firefighting rules are accepted as absolutes, an exception to that rule will immediately occur.

Lament of a Fireman

Lament of a Fireman

Fire is a mindless thing, uncaring of age or race.

It will take a life, destroy a home, it can strike almost anyplace.

I've learned to fear it more so than most, I've seen what it can do.

I've fought it hard, both day and night, and watched it take a few.

It has a friend who's just as bad, insidious and dark.

It creeps ahead and snuffs out life and doesn't leave a mark.

Some people never wake up.Some do but wretch and choke.

They're quickly overcome by this ally of fire. Smoke.

It's never nice, it hurts like hell, to have to be the one,

who finds inside a burning house a daughter or a son.

If only people understood and took some wise advice.

Detectors armed with batteries:it's such a meager price.

I wish I could give everyone the tools to save them all.

Common sense, intelligence, Detectors on the wall.

-submitted by ladmike@aol.com.

Firemans Tears

The alarm rang, as it had so many times before. He was the first of the fireman up and out, Awakened from his bed at the station By the clanging of the bell. Engine 10 pulled out of the bay, Dispatch paged another station. And all the firemen aboard the truck Were tensed with anticipation

"It's gonna be a nice 'un, boys," He said as he donned his gear. And the young bucks smiled at him As they drew ever near.

They turned onto his own street And he could see the fire's work He hoped their mother woke his kids To see their dad at work.

His heart sank as he saw the home That he so dearly loved Going up in Smoke and flames As he donned his gloves.

Agressively he hit the fire And searched the rooms above. And with a flare of personal vengeance He saved what remained of his home.

As he left the world of flaming hell He saw his little girl He ran quickly to her side and said "Honey, Daddy's here."

He would never forget what next she said As he held her close, "I love you, Daddy," she whimpered, And he began to weep.

She died in his arms that night The others, later on. His comrades gave him their respects but his family was gone.

He sits alone at the station, now, There's no more spring in his step. He stays detached from his fellows to avoid once again being hurt.

He risks it all in fires, now, No more concerns for his safety. He has taken a solemn vow. He won't let it happen to another, as long as he's around.

West Sandy Station # 36 ~~~~~ Dedication ~ Pride ~ Tradition ~~~~~

the Fireman's Prayer

A Firemans Wish...

Our Dad is a Fireman

the Last Alarm

Fireman's Mom

Rules of Firefighting

Lament of a Fireman

Sponsors

Firemans Tears