The Fire

It's Friday,
the start of rush hour, the start of the shift,
and I'm rolling out of the barn.

Dispatch reports Fire responding
to possible business fire nearby.

I accelerate, Code Three,
to confirm the fire, and then
block the streets.

Eleven blocks away, I see
a stout column of smoke:
black and brown, thick and heavy.
Oil is on fire.

I request the only other clear car
to block westbound traffic.

I take the east.

There's been an explosion at the auto shop.
The building is engulfed in the flames.
Two engine companies are on scene.
The battalion chief, oxygen truck,
and fire investigators are on the way.

We give the firemen a two block cushion in each direction.

I'm coning off the streets
and taping the intersections
of the main street as fast as I can,
but I've dozens of cars
and a hundred pedestrians to redirect.

As I work my way to the fire,
an SUV drives over two fire hoses.
He's come from a side street I have yet to block.

I bark.

He's sheepish, apologetic.
He won't do it again.

The next car, another SUV,
stops on the first hose.
Wheels pressing down,
he watches the fire, dumbfounded.
He doesn't know what to do.

I yell. I bark.

GET OFF THE FIRE HOSE!
GET OFF THE FIRE HOSE!
GET OFF THE FIRE HOSE!

He looks at me stupidly.

I hussle. I shout.

PUT IT IN REVERSE!
YOU'RE ON THE FIRE HOSE!
GET OFF THE FIRE HOSE!
BACK UP!

He stares at me blankly.
I'm sucking in smoke.
Traffic has started to pile up behind him.

"I don't know where to go!" He cries.

JUST BACK UP FOUR FEET. I'LL MOVE THE CARS.

My face is enough to make the other cars reverse on the narrow street.

The SUV slowly backs away as I finally block the street.

Comments

[RD]

I didn't do this justice when I came home from my Friday shift, I was mad and tired and had had a bad day. After the filter of the physical therapy of a good work out, I tried again.

RD

[Chris Rigby]

People are idiots. All of them. Some (your guy) more so than others!

[Peppypilotgirl]

Figured there was more. Not sure if I'm glad to know it or just discouraged that people are such idiots.

[Jade]

I can feel your tension in this one.

It sounds like the driver was in a bit of a panic mode - Not sure of where to go or what to do and afraid of making a mistake... afraid of going the wrong direction and making things worse. He probably couldn't fully process the instructions "get off the fire hose" because his mind was so focused on the chaos of the fire that he hadn't realized he had driven over a hose to begin with. To respond to "get off the fire hose" they have to realize that they had driven on one, calculate where they had come from, and take action to remedy the situation. "Back up four feet" is easier to understand - there's no need to process the situation & comprehend what is going on - it's just a direct action.

[RD]

Excellent Point.

We are taught to give commands in threes.
If the commands don't work, if you have the time,
change the instructions.

He panicked.
He needed easier directions.

THX,
RD

[Jade]

:) I have anxiety issues and have had more experience with panic attacks than I'd like to admit (more than once I've been told that I'm the kind of person the lifeguard would have to knock the frack out to save me from drowning) We don't mean to be in the way or to not listen... we just freeze up and our ability to comprehend anything beyond the fear is a bit faulty. Absolute instructions that don't require thought work the best.