Ever since I went on a ride along with a policewoman, I have been interested in finding out more about the jobs of peace officers and other members of the community. Being a working person myself, I find it riveting to learn about other jobs and opportunities for my future as well as out of curiosity.
I arranged for a ride along with some firefighters through a connection my father has to someone downtown at the Fresno Fire Department. I had to fill out a piece of paperwork and they did a background check on me before I was allowed to ride along.
Before heading out to the fire station, I had a positive view of the Fresno Fire Department and firefighters in general. I have always appreciated their hard work and the dedication they display every single day on the job by putting themselves into dangerous situations.
On the day of the ride along, March 28, I drove just a short distance from my house to the fire station on West and Herndon, station two. I parked behind the station and approached the location with high expectations for a fast-paced day.
When I arrived, I was greeted by burly, 6’5″ Peter Neff. Neff introduced himself and announced that he would show me around the station. I entered the combined kitchen-living room area to find two other men, who were introduced as the captain and the driver, and who both greeted me.
Neff began showing me the ins and outs of the fire engine, including the 1,000-foot, five-inch-wide hose and 100-pound ladder, as well as firefighters’ uniforms. The uniform consists of a helmet, pants, jacket, gloves and boots which weigh between 60 and 70 pounds total. I tried to imagine running into a sweltering hot, enflamed house wearing the thick, heavy clothes, but the situation was inconceivable to me.
I then watched as Neff gave the backup engine a quick wipe down. He continued to fill me in, explaining the day-to-day duties of a firefighter. I learned that a regular weekday consists of two hours of optional working out on the station’s treadmill and free weights. Firefighters must pass a physical exam each year, and since participating in rigorous activities is often a necessary part of the job, staying in shape is vital. The firefighters also clean the station, check fire hydrants for defects and inspect businesses to make sure they observe fire safety regulations between calls.
Minor alarm but prepared response
Before long, it was time for lunch. We drove one block to Me-n-Ed’s, ordered our grub and sat down. As often happens with firefighters, the radio beeped during the middle of lunch, alerting us of a crucial situation. We hopped back on the truck and drove to Starbucks on Bullard and West, only to find that a child had been locked in a car while his mother dashed in to get her early afternoon cup of java.
The paramedics had already arrived on the scene by the time we got there. As soon as we pulled up and parked, the three firefighters jumped out and grabbed some tools. I got a firsthand look as they tried to unlock the door, but unfortunately the unlock button was located in the middle console of the vehicle ? not on the left or right doors, where they usually are. The men struggled for several minutes and finally unlocked the door with a red “arm” which they extended into the car.
Just as the child was taken from the vehicle, his father drove up with an extra set of keys, but my companions had already freed him. The flustered toddler was rushed into the ambulance and ended up being okay.
They later explained to me that they could have gotten the child out in a matter of seconds, had they chosen to smash the window. However, they sized up the situation and took into consideration the amount of time the child had been in the car, the temperature and the property damage that would occur if they did break the window. They decided that it would be best to try to unlock the door with the arm first, and only smash the window if necessary.
‘Courage is the answer’
After the call, Neff picked up the pizzas that were waiting for us and we finished them back at the station. I also got to chat with the captain, Mark Martinez, and the driver, Emanuel Chavez.
Martinez shared some insight with me as to the on-the-job challenges and rewards.
“Dealing with injured or maimed children is the hardest part for me, because I have my own kids and it’s hard to see children suffering,” Martinez said. “But we can make such a huge impact; it’s such an incredible, rewarding job. We can make an impact if we are trained right and we can help people. It’s a very unique job.”
Neff agrees with Martinez that the job is demanding, but also exciting. He also explained the reason he has always wanted to be in a profession involving helping others.
“I have wanted to be a firefighter since I was five, when our house caught on fire,” Neff said. “I love helping people, and everyday is new here. Five minutes from now we could get called to the biggest fire in Fresno’s history ? it’s a very suspenseful career.”
The rest of the afternoon was pretty quiet. Neff and Chavez chatted with me and rested while Martinez filled out some of the necessary paperwork. Neff even shared a quote with me from the movie Ladder 49 which he finds inspirational and especially applicable to his life.
“‘People are always asking me: How is it that firefighters run into a burning building when everyone else is running out? Your courage is the answer,” Neff said.
We spent quite a while talking and getting to know each other. Neff and Chavez extended an invitation to my family to come and see the fire engines and say hello. My younger brother, Aaron, was goofing off and tried on their heavy helmets. They gave my family a brief tour and were very courteous.
Daily life at the fire station
Since there were no calls needing attention, we drove over to Starbucks on Herndon and Marks. We drank our drinks, laughing, joking and, in my case, learning all about the goings-on at the fire station. I learned that the guys like to play practical jokes on each other to lighten the mood of the station and offset the tragedies they sometimes see. They said they sometimes jam a toothpick in the sink hose, causing it to spray all over whoever uses the hose next.
For dinner, we sat down at Taco Bell. After we finished we went back to the station, where I continued to chat with the firefighters.
I learned that every two years there is a bi-annual draw. It begins with all the captains choosing which of Fresno’s 23 stations they want to be at, beginning with the captain with most seniority and going down to the newest captain. Next the firefighter with the highest seniority chooses which captain’s crew or which station he wants to be at, and it proceeds down the line until everyone has chosen a station.
There is an unspoken rule about breaking crews up: it is just not done. Since shifts last for 48 hours ? from 7 a.m. one day to 7 a.m. two days later ? and crews spend about 120 days per year together, they consider each other as close as their family members, in many cases.
There are three crews per station and since each crew works for 48 hours, the firefighters get four days off each week. Their schedules are based on a six-day week, causing them to work different days each week.
Practice routine prepares station
Since we didn’t have too much to do, due to a lack of calls, and I had not witnessed a real fire, my companions decided to practice a routine. I sat in the back seat in their engine as they sped down a street, lights flashing and siren blaring. We turned into a residential area and they masterfully navigated their way back into a cul-de-sac with a huge field behind it.
They quickly hooked the engine up to the hydrant and sprayed water out of a five-inch hose and over a barbed wire fence into the empty field. I was amazed by the water pressure and how quickly the men had maneuvered their equipment. Neff even allowed me to hold a much smaller hose and shoot some water over the fence, too. For a brief moment I felt like a part of the firefighting team.
After rolling up the hoses and turning off the hydrant, we got back onto the engines, which I found out cost between $250,000 and $300,000 apiece and need new breaks about once a year.
I also learned that many of the firefighters are still in school. Some enjoy furthering their education and others just take the classes required to keep them up-to-date on the newest techniques and safety regulations.
Before long, it was time for me to head home. I thanked the men for allowing me to spend time with them.
I came away from this experience feeling relieved and safe. I know that if I ever have any medical or fire troubles, I can call 911 and these trusty men or their co-workers will come to my rescue. They were nothing but kind and generous to me all day long and I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend a day with them.
