Friday, May 7, 2010 Call them "interns" or "probies" or whatever else comes to mind. But they're the future of the Fire Service. My cautionary tale began almost two years ago as the "unusual pattern of thunderstorms" formed off the coast of Northern California in mid-June, early for wildfire season. Within a few hours, we found ourselves fighting a total of four fires simultaneously within our 40-square-mile district. I'd been with the department for five months and counting. Hadn't missed a call, training or meeting in my tenure to date. So it made sense that I'd be there ready when the worst happened, as it did. I had never faced wildland fire. Ironically the night before this all began, our "Safety Officer" ran a regular training to get us ready for wildland fire season. After spending a night on the ridge ducking for cover as rain, hail and lightning hit around me, I stood by my post. When the morning arrived, I was relieved of duty and headed down the ridge to open the main station knowing that the local community (even though it's small) would want to know what was going on. Long story short: I was assigned to a reported newly discovered blaze up on a higher ridge (I was told we were on a routine patrol). I was issued my webbing on the way up the ridge, but it was not fitted to me at the time. When I arrived on scene with the officer that brought me up, I was separated and assigned to fireline cleanup. The web gear was about two inches too small for my waist making breathing difficult, but the ops leader just yelled at me to just suck it up. I have lived among the coastal redwoods five years now, but I'd never seen a hundred foot tree go up like a matchstick. After about 20 minutes of brush cleanup I realized I was separated from the buddy pair I\'d been assigned to. I made it back, but I was dealt a serious blow of dehydration and panic. I was exposed to more than I could handle too early in my training. I had been separated from my buddy, and I had to climb back up a few hundred feet of smoke filled pathway. But not only did I have to deal with an ill-advised high-speed evac in a half full tender that ultimately took the apparatus out of service, but on top of everything else I was blamed for all that happened, particularly by officers who were not on-scene at this particular fireground to understand the scenario or the end result. There was no rehab. There was no follow-up. My repeated requests for CISD were denied, and as of last week my request for Workers' Comp was denied. I guess none of my former colleagues have dealt with PTSD. Not pleasant. Would never wish it upon them.

LESSONS LEARNED: Keep an eye on your "interns", "probies" or whatever you call them. They're the next generation of the Fire Service, but if they are thrust into situations they are not trained for, the chance for long term damage is great. If someone in your unit is hurt, PLEASE ensure they get the support and help they need from a chaplain, CISD or regular firefighters. The consequences are just not worth it. Bottom line: I have NOT quit the Fire Service despite the fall I took almost two years ago. I plan to follow in my family's FDNY footsteps in doing the right thing and finding a home within the Fire Service that will welcome me. My calling is toward dispatch, so when I have recovered I plan to work with County Fire/EMS Dispatch ECC.