I am a fireman
May 21, 2006
I am a fireman. For the past two years I have been putting out fires big and small, quickly and efficiently, using minimal resources. I’ve taught other people to become firemen and damn good ones too. I’ve written manuals on being a fireman, given presentations on firefighting, and if I were to toot my own horn further, I would say I drive the damn firetruck pretty well too.
As a good fireman, as long as the supply of water kept coming, I had no fear of ever being a less effective fireman. Sometimes I had surplus water that I could give to less fortunate firemen. Sometimes I would use surplus water to prevent future fires. It was a damn fine time for fire prevention.
Sometime last year the taps were sucked dry. I didn’t have enough amounts of water to fight all the fires I usually do. I had to ask for water supplies and ration everything. Here and there we were able to take small amounts of water too. As such, I spent more of the water on putting out deadly fires, emergency fires, and very little on preventing fires. Times were tough for all of the city’s bravest. Most, including myself, thought it was just a drought; a seasonal dip in water supplies, but after such a long drought I think even the most naive are beginning to doubt the water level and our ability to fight fires.
Well as if things weren’t bad enough, soon, water rations will be even more scarce than before. There will be no point in looking for water because even the ponds and puddles are drying up. Forget about official water rations because they’re giving out those tetra pack juices to fight fires. Now, we have to hold buckets outside and hope and pray for rain which certainly does not come everyday.
Obviously our fire fighting ability will be severely hindered. I’m hoping the fire chief is not expecting the same amount of fire prevention. No one, not even a firefighter as good as me, is able to exponentially increase efficiency with such a reduction in resources. The good old days of fighting blazes is over. At best we can put out birthday candles and sparklers.
If the city bitches that there are too many fires then I think my days of being a firefighter will be over.
May 25th, 2006 at 16:08
Wow. Are things getting worse at NOVA? I left ECC at the end of the last contract (so, the end of March) and I`m heading home soon. I`ve got to admit that I never had any problems at all at ECC. Rumour has it that ECC will be going public soon and I imagine that things will only get worse!
May 25th, 2006 at 17:23
Filip! Haven’t heard from you in awhile. What makes you think I’m writing about Nova? Wink wink. Ever since the fire department went public it’s been less about the firefighting.
When are you leaving? Where are you from anyway?
June 1st, 2006 at 15:37
I`m leaving on June 16th and I`m taking the long way back to Toronto (via the Trans-Siberian rail). 7 days with unwashed Russians. Sounds fun? I`m dreading it!
June 1st, 2006 at 17:42
You know, that Trans-Siberian sounds like a great adventure though. I’d go on it if it were on my way somewhere.
Good luck in the future and though we’ve never met, it’s like I’m losing a friend in Japan! Hope to hear from you once in awhile. Do you happen to have a blog?
June 5th, 2006 at 12:50
No, no blog, but I`ll continue to lurk here. Too bad we never met. Maybe sometime in the next life.
June 13th, 2006 at 16:46
Is it true that the “fire dept.” has had to close a whole buntch of newly opened fire houses? Im working(perhaps more like playing)with fires in China now, but Im set to return to Japan to continue in similar fighting soon. Are things really getting that though now? Ohh, lord…ain’t life grand!
June 13th, 2006 at 16:49
oops previous typo…tough should replace though…Thanks
June 13th, 2006 at 17:47
Things are getting tough. It’s definitely a hindrance to future opportunities.