The diversity of The Fire Service.

The diversity of the Fire Service.

I think, that February 2018 was the month that it first hit me, just how diverse our skills as a Firefighter have to be.

We, of course have to learn a variety of skills, and if you’ve read my blog so far, I’ve noted the main courses that we have to do before going ‘on the run.’ That training continues on throughout your career, I am currently in what is known as ‘development’ and I attend regular training sessions (blog to follow) as well as drill nights, and will eventually have to pass more practical and written tests before becoming a competent firefighter.

I wanted to give you a brief insight at the diversity of shouts in my early days as a Firefighter, and it’s not just the job itself, it’s the time and day. You never know when it will happen.

The first was a Monday night at 21.41 hours.

We were called to a domestic fire, at a static caravan, right out in the middle of nowhere. I had not long passed my BA (Breathing Apparatus) course, and there was a chance that I was going to have a wear. Both myself and Mark prepared for this, only to be told BA wasn’t needed when we got there, but it was my first taste of putting on a set and getting mentally ready for my first fire outside of the controlled environment at BA school.

The second was on a Friday morning at 0400 hours.

Something that I would get very used to over the coming months – an AFA – a Fire Alarm at a very large local business.

After lots of walking, inspecting the site, using the thermal image camera, it was clear that there was no fire and that it was just a false alarm. I got home around 6am, around the time I usually get up. It was going to be a long day!

The third of four, was on a Tuesday morning, 00.20 hours!

We attended a fire out in the open, a small fire, warranting a bucket of water, and I was back home at 01.15 hours. After years of undisrupted sleep, a whole new life was evolving around me, where I knew naps were going to be the way forward wherever necessary during the day!

The last of the diversity was a Wednesday at around mid-day.

We were called to a standby at Dartmouth Fire Station. It was just at the start of the snow and Dartmouth had gone out to an RTC (Road Traffic Collision) so we went to their Station and watched the snow get worse. This was my first standby, I didn’t realise that all we did was just stay at the station and wait, until they came back. A small snowman was left with them as we returned back to our home station!

When that alerter goes off, you just never know, but, as they say, ‘variety is the spice of life!’