4 Weeks Complete

A full and complete week!

First female in California to get Hydrogen Fuel Cell Fire Training.

Tuesday was a full morning of lecture including “classroom instruction, group exercises involving incident scenarios and a quiz” (Direct quote from Whittier Daily News).

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/ci_15679439?IADID=Search-www.whittierdailynews.com-www.whittierdailynews.com

(That is the link to the article)

I really enjoyed the hands-on live-fire exercise. Even though the water pressure was only at 100 psi, it was still pretty tough for me to get a hold of the hose and keep control. I was very thankful to one of the Chief’s from Washington conducting the training, to take extra time with me to help me learn the technique of staying low and really using my legs and lean into the hose. It was fun too.

Class 75 was the FIRST class to ever get this training. “This is first time it has been conducted outside of Washington state.” This making me the first FEMALE in CA to get the training. I feel pretty proud about that! If anyone would like a signature you may ask me on the weekends. haha

Wednesday we did 3 different training exercises. The first consisted of putting our flash hoods over our faces and hooking up to our SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus). My partner and I were then lead up to the 3rd floor of the tower and then put on the nozzle of the hose. We were then instructed to follow the hose out before we ran out of air. I lead my buddy and me all the way out. Almost didn’t make it.

The second exercise involved doing our physical abilities test (Biddle) as many time threw as possible while being timed on air (without the dummy drag, ladder carry, and tower section). It also added an additional hose bundle exercise and connecting and disconnecting a hose to a fire hydrant. It was to show us how long we can make our air cylinders last when we are working. I was on a 30 minute bottle. The average is 12-15 min (50% of the bottle’s indicated time). I lasted for 17 minutes. When I was taking the test, I was trying to breath as many deep breaths as possible. I was so jealous of the guys that used their bottle up within like 8 minutes. One guys I felt so bad for. He accidentally grabbed a 45 minute bottle. He went for 32 minutes straight. He said he kept looking at his pressure gauge and kept getting disappointed when it was going down. Poor guy.

The third exercise involved going into a fully dark and fog-filled room with a partner, finding our SCBAs, clicking into air, and getting back out. I did fine except that the fog made my eyes sting so bad!

We then did all went through a 16″ whole in some ply wood. Super easy for me. I went straight through it with no adjusting or squeezing. The instructor said, “Taylor, we need to make a 12″ hole for you.”

The last little section of this exercise was scooting on our backs through strung across ropes to practice if we fell through something and there were a lot of wires. I flew through this too. As long as the cadets listen and understand why the cadre are telling us to use a specific technique, the exercise is easy.

Thursday was our first time Platoon A and Platoon B were split. I am in Platoon A and we did our first Hose Lay. Most of the morning we learned how to put the hose back onto the apparatus in an organized way. The three ways we learned were flat, accordion, and horseshoe. It is important to make your hose look organized and neat in the back of your rig because it is a direct reflection of you.(This picture is a neatly laid accordion)

In the afternoon we ran through our first hose lays with a Captain, Engineer, Hydrant man, and Nozzle man. I had really fun time with this. It is fun to see how everyone works together to do such a big job. I was the Captain when I did it. For the next month we will perfect both the straight lay and the reverse lay.

Friday was our first ladder day. It was a day full of new thoughts and new strivings. The next month is full of Hose Lays and Ladders.

So far the things I have learned from ladders:

-Do NOT make them have to repeat telling an individual to not do something

-Listen to directions

-He yells at your because he wants you to learn what is right

-Take the little advise that they do give you

-Take an Ibuprofen every 6 hours or less

-Stay on your toes

-Keep your head up

Keeping my head up, looking to God for the strength, staying positive, and believing in myself will help me get through the next month.

“How bad do you want to be here?”

“I want to be here so bad!”

“Why are you here?”

“I am here to spend time and effort in learning the techniques and skills to become a firefighter!”

Do you like it………”I LOVE IT!”

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