Burke

I hear a person come behind me and see an SCSD tactical uniform. 'any contact yet?' "He's speaking with me through the door, looking for Secret Service." I turn my attention back to the door. "Alright man, come on, let us in so we don't have to force ourselves in, you know what the secret service gets like."

Wondering where my backup went, I head up to the front door and knock on it. "Sheriff Department" I say, stepping slightly off to the side of the door. Because you never know. "Sheriff? BUT THE PRESIDENT USES THE SECRET SERVICE?!" "Well, the secret service is busy... Evacuating the president. I was sent in their place. If it helps, I'm wearing black."

I pull up on the scene and park two houses back, just to be safe. "ERT 204, I'm on scene now, I'm going to head in and make contact with the individual." I undo my belt and get out of the car, leaning in to grab my hat before walking towards the front door.

"Negative 211, no records on this address or individual. Be advised, caller repeatedly stating he has a bazooka."

"Copy 204. Matthew Hennebury, 03-12-2001. No priors, DMV has him at 6'0" 210lbs white male, blond hair." I let go of the mic and clack away at my keyboard, reviewing another call when the speaker comes to life again. “Dispatch, this is unit 206. Show me responding to the call. Is there anything else I should keep in mind?” "Negative 206. News reports do have the president in Washington at this time, Secret Service has not been contacted."

Presidential Assassination? Hooo boy. "ERT, show 204 responding, I'm going to proceed non emergency traffic to this. Do we have a subject description or name?"

"Sheriff Units respond to EDP, making assassination threats against the president. Suspect stating he has a bazooka. 21 Cross Street Unit A, Oxnard." NON EMERG >> MALE CALLER REPORTING WILL ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES WITH BAZOOKA OBV DISTRESS ON LINE, SUB CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF PRES. DOES NOT WANT TO MURDER PERSON REPEATED USE OF WORD BAZOOKA LIKELY EDP, PROCEED WITH CAUTION NO OTHER WEAPONS.

Coming in a little late but better than never I take a seat "here" I say, pulling in my chair

With the cones out, I head back over to the side compartment to grab a rake. "Engine 1 pump, send the good stuff" I hear called out over the tactical channel. I walk towards the smoke with the rake and wait for Campbell to clear enough space for me to pull up some dirt. At this rate, we'll have the entire park fully turned over. What's this #2 for this shift this year? As Campbell wipes out some of the fire, I tap his shoulder and walk forward with the rake. Hopefully he'll get the hint to go elsewhere with his stream, and I start pulling over the dirt for hotspots.

Pulling up on Fourth, I can see some flames licking at the grass. Not much, but, yep, that's a fire. "ERT, Engine 1, we're coming up on scene now, we've got a small grass fire burning, no brush on fire now, we're going to lay a line, no further units will be needed." Hanging the mic up, I press on scene on the MDT, and turn back to Campbell. "We're down a man, so when we pull up, Cook will run the pump, I'll get you to grab the trash line off the back, I'll grab a rake out of the side and we'll make quick work of this." As Cook parks the Engine blocking the outside lane on Bay, I open my door, and walk around back. I pull a couple cones out and give us some working room, because I don't trust drivers to not kill us, and start laying them out.

As Campbell climbs in, I answer Cook. "Aliens, obviously." Cook pulls out of the bay, and I step down on the Q siren. It won't be a long drive, but nothing beats a Q in the morning. "ERT, Engine 1, we're en route. We do have a little smoke visible on the horizon already." I say into the mic, as I press the en route button on the MDT tablet.

As the toner sounds in the station, I stand from my chair in the shift commander's office. A brush fire in November? Good lord. At least the frost might keep it slow. I guess they aren't sending the brush truck on this one since they don't expect anything to it. I walk out of the station office onto the apparatus floor and see the door starting to open. Yep, this is a full gear and a hat day. I step into my boots and pull on my jacket and a beanie from the locker before making my way over to the Engine.

ENGINE 1 , REPORTED BRUSH FIRE IN HARBOR PARK, ENGINE 1, BRUSH FIRE, HARBOR PARK, AREA OF BAY STREET NORTH AT NORTH FOURTH STREET. RESPOND ENGINE 1. "911 What is the location of your emergency?" "HARBOR PARK!" "Okay ma'am, where are you in harbor park?" "By fourth street." "Okay, in North river, right?" "uhuh, there's a fire!" "What's on fire?" "I don't know, it looks like some grass again!" Jesus, it's November and we're still burning grass? How in the hell? "Okay ma'am, I've got the fire department responding. Are there any structures nearby?" "No, no, it's only a small little bit of grass right now, it isn't really moving fast. I guess the frost is slowing it down." "Okay, I understand. I've got the fire department on the way to you now, if anything changes call us back right away." I process the call and dispatch a modified response of just one engine, instead of taking the rescue off the run to staff the brush truck.

Coming down the road, I see the reds and blues of 206 in place already. I turn off my siren and approach more or less silently, while the swordsman discusses with one of our people. "ERT, 204, I'm pulling up, show me out" I park the Durango, undo my belt and look over in my bag. I see a little length of paracord, and grab that and shove it in my pocket. Just in case. I pull on my yellow hi vis jacket, without doing it up. I walk up slowly without announcing myself. I blocked two lanes with my car, just in case. I keep a hand rested on my taser just in case, but I can't help but wonder what the saying about bring a taser to a sword fight is 'I've had ENOUGH of these women coming out here and ruining the world. Ever since they've got all this independence, they don't look after nice guys like us anymore. Look. Not a single one of these cars has a man. Just women!" Well, I think to myself, it's a good thing that we sent two guys.

Driving down the road with STILL no one else taking the nutjob waving at cars, I key my mic. "Yeah ERT, show me on it too, 204" I activate my siren and lights and head towards the scene.

Damn budget cuts. Another day with "below minimum staffing." I size up the crews and decide that the 3 man engine is probably the best way to go for now. "Alright everyone. Looks like we've had a few call offs today and they haven't been filled as of yet. I've got 3 on the engine and 3 on the ladder. Rescue, expect to see yourselves out a little more than usual, looks like we've got 15 off across West platoon, so you'll probably be running manpower backup. Assignments are as follows: Engine 1 acting Fire Captain Noel Firefighter Cook Firefighter Paramedic Campbell Ladder 1 acting Lieutenant Rickart Firefighter Jacons Firefighter Coggins Rescue 1 Fire Captain Hewitt Firefighter Paramedic Currier Firefighter Paramedic White Firefighter Rerick Fire 1 Firefighter Guerra Squad 1 Fire Lieutenant Smith Firefighter Paramedic Richards Unit 22 acting West Platoon Chief Stone

Sitting down in back, I survey the backs of heads, trying to get an idea of who will ahve my back today

Taking advantage of the rank, I walk into the office at the last possible minute. "Morning."

As the patient goes up, I explain everything the the deputy and hear another siren approaching, probably his backup. I guess we can't say much, we bring four to a scene for every scene. Once the deputy takes over, I make my quick notes in my notepad and head up the hill, seeing the patient already loaded in the ambulance. "Alright, if you guys are good, I guess we'll clear." I get a few nods from everyone, and key my radio. "ERT, Engine 1 Command, we're going to be clearing the scene. Patient care transferred to medic 1, we're en route to station."

I notice 206 pull in to the side of the road, and I park behind her. Getting out of the car, I approach her as she does the same "Hey, notice anything on the way up? Not seeing anything jumping out at us. Yet anyways." While she's answering, I look around and see the Jefferson monument with the markings, but no would be hoodlums nearby.

As the basket lowers, I aid in packing the patient for extrication. Looking to Boorne, I give him clear direction to take over getting the patient up. "Looks like you boys will have to hoof it back up." I say to the EMTs, before looking away towards the deputy walking down the bank. "Hey, just over here. We were trying to get her out and my shovel contacted this here."

As we finish the digging, I hear a siren chirp, probably the sheriff unit. "Alright, On your count Boorne." I say, with his hands at the patient's head. "Let's get this nice and slow, and then off to EMS. We're going to use the basket from the ladder, it'll be a nice and easy ride up top. Pain still okay?" She nods. "I'm going to stay down here, you good going up with her Ian?:"

I pull up on scene and see bushes along the park. Man, where is that monument again? I'll have to slow roll and find it. At least I'm not in a car with a bar. And the hybrid means no motor noise. "ERT, 208 I'm in the area, looking around."

"I'm still not convinced one of those legs isn't a shotgun" As Mark approaches, he says "'Evening y'all, love y'all could make it out. Jen, Allen, good to see you guys. I don't think I know you, I'm Mark, Evelyn's other half. Nice to meet you.'" Before anyone answers, I notice a new costume arrive. Man, that looks like that legend they keep telling haunts the ERT. Great costume guy. After not long, Evelyn rejoins us, "Mark, is that one of your coworkers? The guy dressed up as a repairman?" While she goes to answer the door again, I give my suggestion. "You know, I think that's someone dressed up like this urban legend I've heard floating around. There's a guy from public works, so the story goes, that just shows up and does the craziest shit. I heard he mowed the ERT's lawn in February once. " Evelyn comes back as we're laughing at the absurdity, "Alright, the pizza has finally arrived, find out what you like and dig in." About time, I'll probably figure out this masked singer with no voice.

Not far out of the station, I hear a call come out. "Yeah ERT, 208, show me responding." I hang the mix back up and proceed along with no sirens or lights to not surprise anyone.