Kimberley Lumber Mill, Working Fire

[D. Valentine]

* scrambling to clean up i look at the mess my dog made i think she passed whst she had to but im still running her to the vet just incase i shoot a text to jason and his wife maybe they can get her to the vet then i lock my cell  and pull my pants on removing my jacket from the rear drivers side door and climb in  shutting the door while pulling a headset on we roll out ill need to stash my cell in the cab when we get on scene, i remain silent for the bulk of the ride  then i hesr the mayday tone* shit.. * i utter having covered my headset mic when it sounds again  it starts to hit me just how big this might be* ‘ this must be a huge fire’

[H. Goodricht]

*A whistle disturbs me from my focus. Jesus, it HAS to be Jim.*

'Hey Henry! I got Medic 5 available in quarters if you need them for that incident!' I shout across the room as I lick the cheeto dust from my fingers.

'Send them. you're a godsend.'

*I think I'm starting to like Big Jim more and more. As I hear the radio crackle, the place goes silent. Or it feels that way.*

"County from Engine 16 we're on scene, stand by for an update."

"10-4 16, Advise of status."

"10-4 ERT, we've got two firefighters trapped. One lost contact in the D side of the west building, fully involved all structures. Second mayday was an attempted rescuer. Have had sporadic contact with the firefighters. We're going full offensive to get in. Do we have any foam units available? Structure is a total loss."

"Stand by 16, ARFF being requested."

*I go through the motions of activating ARFF, assigning escort units and calling the Red command to confirm on the phone.*

[W. Burke]

"10-4 ERT, we've got two firefighters trapped. One lost contact in the D side of the west building, fully involved all structures. Second mayday was an attempted rescuer. Have had sporadic contact with the firefighters. We're going full offensive to get in. Do we have any foam units available? Structure is a total loss."

"Stand by 16, ARFF being requested."

*It's worse than I thought. Fully involved. Rescue team needing rescue. Holy Jesus.*

"ERT, 50-12, I'm code 3 to scene. I'm going to divert to Delmore to meet ARFF, advise Red Command."

"10-4 50-12" I hear Charles respond.

*I still have a little way to go, but I'll probably meet them at the airport gates before they're even out. It takes a solid five minutes to get them off tarmac.*

[J. "Big Jim" Kowalski]

*I finish licking my fingers clean. I tap on the keyboard with my saliva covered fingers as I assign Medic 5 to the call. I send the tone for Medic 5*

"Medic 5, *heavy breath* respond working commercial fire *heavy breath* at the Kimberly Lumber Mill. *heavy breath* See MDT for tac channel and IC information."

 

[L. Sparks]

Just as I have a plate in my hand to grab and eat some pizza in peace the tone goes off.

"Medic 5, *heavy breath* respond working commercial fire *heavy breath* at the Kimberly Lumber Mill. *heavy breath* See MDT for tac channel and IC information."

'Fuck.' I say out loud as I hear the dispatch.

'Fuck it.' I say as I dive into one of the kitchen cabinets and pull out 2 paper plates. I grab like 2 slices of pizza for each plate and haphazardly cover them with a paper towel.

I fast walk out of the lounge and into the bay.

'Never fear Bobby. I got pizza for both of us. I'm not letting a little 'ol structure fire keep us from this deliciousness.' I say as I open the cab door.

*I get into M5 and put the plates of pizza down on the dash. I hit Enroute on the MDT.*

"Medic 5 copy, show us responding from station to Kimberly Lumber Mill."

[J. Hannahan]

*The update didn't help me feel any better. 16 is on scene and the place is burning to the ground. I'm almost surprised it hasn't been down to the ground yet, really. I take a deep breath and think for a while about what I need to do. We will probably be assisting RIT so I'll grab Irons at the very least. J don't think a pike is going to be necessary this time but I don't know. We are finally making it closer to the street we need to get on. The sign that we passed said "You have entered Kimberly". The smell is far stronger now too.*

[C. Aylward]

*Now that 16 has arrived, the rest seem to be coming in a flurry. 14, Ladder 32, Rescue 2, Q24, RIT, the tankers, looking now, it's just EMS and Station 1, aside from ARFF, that's due on scene. Dear lord, I hope that these brave souls can unfuck this mess.*

'If you thought things were bad before, they're about to get a lot more fucky.'

[B.R. Jackson]

“ holy hell  i was a volly back in the county my familys ranch is in even we werent this crazy’ * i sprint back to the truck and crank it up reaching over to let logan in he hands me some pizza and utters something as the radio goes off again i oull outta the bay and flip the master  half driving with a knee the other on the wheel and one hand reaching fir the pizza i was offered taking as big a bite as i can * “ thanks logan  a nice meal before a good old fashioned clusterfuck have you heard some of the chstter?’

Edited March 7, 2020 by Vanguard

[L. Sparks]

'I have not heard any of the chatter. Let's find out what's going on' I say turning the handheld to the tac channel.

I listen for about a minute while I eat my pizza.

'Jeesh. What a clusser fuck' I say with my mouth full of food.

*I swallow my pizza*

'Better step on it Bobby. Sounds like a mess for sure.'

Edited March 7, 2020 by Chris07

[B.R. Jackson]

‘ im doing 50  she can go faster’ * i say as the engine revs up    Its mostly a straight shot thankfully* ‘ hows 75 do?’ * i tap into my   race experence tightening my turns the truck sways as i get around the few cars i see mindful of the fact this bus is a helluva lot fatter then my chevelle thankfully ive scarfed my pizza and both hands now grip the wheel*

Edited March 7, 2020 by Vanguard

[M. Stone]

*I whip onto the interstate behind the ladder, driving fairly aggressively. The damn ladder should've let us pull out first, we'd have left them behind already. I knew the engine could do every bit of it's governed speed, and probably a little more. The ladder was struggling to do 60.*

'They sending the tankers out, yeah? There ain't shit for water supply in Kimberley. I swear to God, we ain't gonna be doin no fucking water shuttle in this engine.'

*My gut drops as I hear the mayday sound from Kimberley. Oh god. I live out there. I know some of those guys. Except for that dickhead chief, they're mostly decent people. Terrible firefighters, but honestly they could probably be okay with some training and a better leader. And now that shithead has gotten two of them down, and maybe even killed.*

'Oh fuck, man. Oh fuck that's not good.'

*I wince as I watch L31 smack a deer and send it across the front of the truck. I stay behind the ladder, itching to move around them but knowing I couldn't with the traffic in the right lane.*

'Oof. Sucks for the truck. Hope it didn't damage anything too bad.'

*Traffic clears on the right, and I hesitate slightly before swinging into the right lane and accelerating past the ladder, honking the airhorn as we get up to speed and pass them. I merge back into the left lane and keep the engine running straight-out, starting to gap the ladder behind us.*

[J. Hannahan]

*I nodded watching the Engine speed past us, honking their horn. They sure we're in a hurry to get there but I for one gotta say I'm glad that j don't live in this town.*

[D. Valentine]

‘ my buddy  Sgt Patterson used to live in kimberly he apprently was neighbors with there cheif and he knows a few of there guys too this is gonna be fuckin bad  huh mike, two maydays’ i look back as were passing the ladder way far off i see what looks like EMS lights its either an ambulance or a response car i figure*

[E. Raven]

The engine and the ladder finally make the swing onto the scene. We are greeted with a complete shit show that appears to be straight out of a movie. Large orange flames fill the evening sky and a large plume of dark grey smoke rises forth. At the entrance KVFD's' tanker 1 is stuck in the mud, somehow making it into the ditch. The engine comes to a stop infront of us completely blocking us in as the rest of the entrance is filled with volunteer POVs, engine 16, and a bunch of other bullshit. 

I look in the side mirror just in time to see the next SCFD engine ram itself up our asshole. 

"Fucking Christ." I say offhandedly as Jennifer hits the parking brake. As I get out I look at the damage from the deer, most of the front of the truck is covered in blood, and aside from a moderate sized dent there's not much in the way of damage. 

"Ladder 31 to all incoming units, stage on the main road. Access is blocked temporarily. I'll have a scene report for you shortly." I say over the radio. Thankfully the chief's vehicle isn't far from the sea of pickup trucks with amazon special light bars. 

"You guys get your shit on and come with me, grab some tools." I say in the direction of my crew. 

I walk up to the command post, Engine 16's driver is already trying to move the sea of POVs to make room for more units. I don't see their truck officer or other firefighter though. The tank indicator lights show that E16 only has half a tank of water left, and there's a single line running through the chaos. I do however see a brand fucking new SUV, and next to it is an obese guy, wearing a brand new white turnout coat and white leather helmet complete with mesh shorts, a traffic vest, and crocs. The back of the turnout coat just simply says "Da Chief". This must be the place.

In one hand he has a cell phone that he's talking a mile a minute on, and in the other hand he has a death grip on his radio. 

"Hey are you in charge here?" I ask the guy. I get ignored.

"Hey!" I say and step in front of the guy. He pushes past me and says "I'm busy."

A switch inside me flips and my blood boils. This fucking leech and excuse for a fire chief can't even do the job he volunteered for, all while at least two of his crew are trapped. I go ahead and grab him by his collar and push him against his truck in a fit of rage. His phone falls to the ground along with a pager, and the screen shows that he had his calculator app open the entire time. I don't realize it but his death grip on his radio has now activated the transmitter. 

"Listen you stupid mother fucker-" I start to say but stop as I can hear myself yelling over the radio. He lets go of the radio, and I continue my barrage. "Why don't you stop being a fat cunt and actually do your fucking job? You have two people trapped over there and your fat ass is running around here pretending to talk on a goddamn calculator. Why don't you tell me what you fucking know so that we can fucking rescue them?"

"I-I-I-I-" Chief Mathers starts to say, "You're hurting me! My chest is hurting!" He finally blurts out. 

"Yeah and I'm sure the guys that you have trapped are also fucking hurting, you pathetic pile of garbage." I retort back. I bend over and pick up the pager that fell. "You dropped this." I say, he reaches out his hand to grab it and I throw it full force into the side window of his brand new chief's ride, breaking out the side glass. I turn and look at him as I walk away, "Stay the fuck out of our way, dipshit."

"Engine 16 from Ladder 31, what's your status?" I ask over the radio. 

"This is Engine 16's officer, we're still trying to locate the two missing firefighters, no radio contact with either. We can hear a PASS device, but there's a lot of heat and smoke, progress is slow." A reply comes back, it's muffled and I can hear someone breathing hard into a mask. 

"I copy Engine 16, you've got half a tank left, water is in short supply so we'll give you what we have, you have two more engines and a quint here, we'll get you our tank water. Ladder 31 is going to come in and help your search PAR 4." I say back. I take a moment to survey the scene and notice the enormous fucking forest next to the inferno. We don't have enough water to fight this blaze. 

"County from Ladder 31, suggest we start a public works dozer to start a fire break, also be advised, Ladder 31 is going to be in rescue mode PAR 4." I say, I turn to my crew that is starting to get ready, "Let's go boys and girls, someone grab me a TIC as well." I go ahead and mask up, I look at the 1 3/4 that's on the ground and watch as it snakes past a large concrete drainage canal covered with a metal grate, stacks of pallets, and towering stacks of wood products. Looking towards one of the buildings on site I can see KVFD's utility 1, in flames, burning against the night sky.  

What a fucking shit show. 

[H. Goodricht]

*Now that reports are coming in, I hear another F bomb dropped. Again. Jesus, the paperwork. There's a flurry of transmissions followed by a request for a dozer. I'm sure that won't take an hour or more.*

 

"10-4 Ladder 31, we'll put out the request."

'Aylward, call Public works, see their closest dozer or tractor they can spare for a fire break. See if we need a police escort too.'

*As he dials the phone, I hear Red command announcing they've got 1 and 2, as well as himself on the highway now with 50-12*

"10-4 Red Command, advise on arrival."

"Unit 22, ERT."

[B.R. Jackson]

* hauling ass to the call im eventually forced to   slow down due to traffic i lay on the airhorn  going past where they said to stage ill use medic five as a traffic barrier if i gotta as theres probably gonna  a ton of fire trucks rolling towards us worse case i can move the truck as more fire vehicles roll in*

” medic 5 to county* i start in a break in the chatter* 5 is staged  on the main road  kinda blocking traffic for y’all, any eta on PD? Ive got the west lane blocked for y’all”

Edited March 7, 2020 by Vanguard

[W. Burke]

*As I get to the airport, I see the gates opening and a yellow SUV pulling out to block traffic, similar to mine, flashing Red yellow and blue lights. As he parks across two lanes, he flicks off the ambers and blues, leaving just the flashing red. I see the ARFF trucks pull out of the tarmac, and perform a U-turn, once I heard Red Command announce they're headed out, I key my minc.*

"Red Command, 50-12"

"50-12, Red Command."

"10-4 sir, want to run intersections until we get to the highway, and then just one in front and rear?"

"Sounds like a plan sir, the machines don't accelerate well."

"10-4. I'll head up."

*With that, I proceed back up the main road to the first set of lights, parking my unit in the middle of the intersection with the sirens running as I see the engines pull up behind me. It's been a while since I've done roadblocks, but boy does this bring back memories of a happier time.*

[M. Stone]

*I pull the engine into the scene, looking over the sea of flashing blue lights to the single SCFD engine ahead of us.*

"Engine 11 on the scene." *I hear Baker say over the radio. I jump off the engine, watching Raven storm past, headed towards Chief Mathers.*

'Valentine, Weston, pull a 2 1/2 with a Blitzfire and get it set up for exposure protection. This mill is going to burn, nothing we can do to stop it.'

*I hear Baker give the commands to Valentine and Weston. I look over our apparatus placement and decide we're best suited to be water supply, what with our positioning. I glance over to Baker, but she's way ahead of me, already on the radio.*

"E11, ERT. Engine 11 is going to be water supply. Have incoming tankers meet us at the paved road, we'll be setting up a dump site with the first-in."

*I grab a passing volunteer by the arm.*

'Hey! Get your tanker's fucking portapond over here, since y'all got it stuck in the damn ditch. Get it set up next to my engine.'

*The volunteer looks surprised that I grabbed his arm and barked orders, and quickly scurries away. What a fucking shitshow this was.  I see Weston get to work humping the Blitzfire towards the fire, with Valentine backing him up. I start shouting at the nearest POVs that still had occupants, yelling at them to get their blue light specials out of our damn way so we can go to work.*

[D. Valentine]

*as we tear into the scene and we get orders i see a medic haull past us and i swear i saw it powerslide into a hasty roadblock as i move to help hump hose after pulling my gear on i glance around seeing if i can spot traffic control of some kind* ‘ man oh man this is a fuckin disaster’ * i say as i keep humping hose i know kimberly had done decent work once or twice  so im not fully suprised by the zoo but  the fact two of my firemen brethren are hurt or dead pisses me off they might be vollys but they still run into fires when others run away* ‘ Weston ill head back and see what's up make sure they dont run ovet any of our shit’ * after we set the blitzfire up unsure if were supose to just standby or start hoseing shit down i jog back to   the truck im not even bothering for the radio right now* 

‘ what now mike were set just figuring  out what's goin on,do we have anything to go on or we just playing tanker?’

Edited March 7, 2020 by Vanguard

[P. Hernandez]

As I go to leave, boss man grab me. 

 

"Pablo, I need your ass on the flatbed with the bulldozer going down to the lumber mill, the firemen need the bulldozer to help with the fire." He say. I stop and look at him, why do the firemen need the bulldozer. 

 

"Pablo, get your ass-o in the truck-o and drive-o to the lumber mill" Boss man say again. I nod and get into the truck. I turn on the radio and listen to Son de la negra on repeat. 

[K. Summers]

*I register both the ladder and the engine on scene. Not long after, the sound of curses are broadcast over the open air and I groan. I don't want to have to deal with the fallout from this but for fucks sake. He isn't wrong though. This chief is a stupid fucker. And likely got people killed. I hope not but god. I pull up on scene, maneuvering around the numerous trucks, to park my vehicle out of the way. *

"Dispatch, Shift 22 is on scene, assuming Kimberly command"

*I stalk over towards where I can see Chief Mathers, and Raven walking away, aggressively. The scene is almost complete and utter chaos - clearly this chief hasn't done anything useful. There's volunteers milling about, some making attempts to actively put out the fire, some frantically running, grabbing tools, saying they're almost out of water and I take a deep breath.*

'So, Chief, have you been keeping track of your people? Or is even that beneath you.'

*My voice is dripping with contempt and sarcasm, and the chief is visibly shaking. I notice the smashed window and groan internally. If I know Raven, this was his doing. I know where 16s crew is, where my ladder crew, and my engine crew is. Mathers can't get any constructive words out and I shake my head.*

'You're a fucking disgrace, you know that? Your officers are the ones in charge of this scene, not you. They're out there with their crews, trying to keep their men alive. But do you even care about them? Or just the results they get you.'

*I stop for a moment, my words don't seem to have any major effects on this man and I decide he's not worth my time. I have a job to do, and he wouldn't understand that.*

'Get the fuck off my fire scene. Get out of my way, and don't interfere with my people - or yours for that matter.'

"All units on the fireground, Kimberly command. Status of your units"

*A flurry of status updates start coming in, and I know the priority is to rescue the two maydays - Raven's ahead of me on that. Not for the first time, I thank all the gods for my team.*

[C. Aylward]

"Dispatch, Shift 22 is on scene, assuming Kimberly command"

*Unit 22 is on scene and thank god.*

"10-4 Kimberley command, advise of status of scene."

[J. Noel]

*I park the Ladder, and debate what we'll do. With our temporary location away from the fire totally useless to use the ladder, I look around at the other trucks, and see Rescue 2, as well as Kimberley Command, Our Unit 22.*

'Hey, any chance we can use the rescue to get the Tanker out of the way? I want to get the ladder somewhere useful.'

*I haven't let go of my driver's door yet, but when I see the blood still spackled on my grille, I decide to toss some snow on it, just to cover it up. Jesus, I don't need that on the front page. Metaphor for something I'm sure.*

 

[W. Burke]

*Coming up on the highway, where I expected smooth sailing, I see a wall of traffic. Jesus christ Russo.*

"ERT 50-12"

"50-12."

"There's heavy traffic. We need police to keep these roads clear, ARFF might be a little delayed, as well as all others"

*I cycle through the sirens, airhorns and bursts to try to push my way in and make a hole large enough for the Panther behind me.*

*Chosing my last call, I dial @Z. Russo.*

'Where is your traffic divsion?'

'Um, what?'

'You've got 9 traffic cars. I want them all opening the highway to Kimberley. I'm stuck in traffic right now with two ARFF trucks because there's rubberneck fever.'

'Burke, we're working on it.'

'Work. Fucking. Faster. This needs to be fixed.'

*I slam the phone shut, and realize after, I definitely need to buy this man a beer. But right now, I just need to get through this traffic.*

 

 

[K. Summers]

*I key up my mic to answer dispatch, when I'm interrupted by the chief, storming back at me.*

'You..you can't do that! This is my scene, you have no rights to control my crews, and just because you're paid your guys think they're so much better but we train twice as hard as any of you.'

*He keys up his own radio and starts giving orders to my men, about how they should set up the water supply, and how his men should put out the fire.*

'Do you even HEAR yourself? Are you trying to get more people killed? You have men trapped in there for god's sake. You're busy over here involved in a fucking pissing match with me over who's in command - your LACK of command is what got those men to call a mayday in the first place. This fire should have been upgraded a long fucking time ago but your useless fucking PRIDE got in the way. Your men may not go home tonight. They have families for god's sake.'
'I'm in command here, you spineless bitch. I'm a chief, you're a captain. Highest ranking officer is ME.'

*It's taking all of my self control to avoid slapping this man. He definitely deserves it and the only thing stopping me is the thought of more of an ass chewing than I've already set myself up for. That and integrity, which this man clearly doesn't have.*

'You asked for help, you got it. Now you hand over command, or we're getting your firefighters out - without your interference - and turning the scene back over, packing up, and leaving. You and I both know, if we do that not only is the mill a total loss, so will the whole goddamn forest.'

*I'm bluffing. We couldn't do that. I know this, but I'm hoping he doesn't. Because he is right, he is the highest ranking officer - but clearly he's unfit for command since he's failing all of the crews on this scene. I can't let anyone else go down, or god forbid, die today.*