"Blackhawk Fire Protection"

Last night, we had an MVA with no injuries. Little old lady hits another car, and zoom! He goes down a ravine!

After the call, we sat around and just talked... remember that time...oh yeah, how about.... It was different because now we talked about the medicals. Our department has just become a First Responder department in the last four years. Yeah, we are vollies, but we have more calls than one of our paid departments!

Anyway, we were sitting there, and it is just amazing what you'll talk about. Like, remember the time we had the severe weather? We were all at the station and the sky was black as night at three in the afternoon. The tones start to go off for neighboring departments. "Severe weather alert, tornado sighted." So ours start going off... no big deal, right? We know what is is gonna say. WRONG! "Attention Blackhawk Fire. You have a vehicle fire." Oh, crap! In this weather? So, out we go. Us and the car in question were the only ones on the street. It was the first time I have every looked to the sky while putting out a fire. Tornado season is coming up, and we are ready, but we hope we never do that again.

Plus, we remembered the fires... the big ones... the funny ones.

But we all vented over the loss we had recently. A young boy had been hit by two cars, just this last Sunday, the 18th. He was killed instantly.

I had one from June. Two young men on their way to being seniors in high school had taken the car for a spin. They hit a tree at well over 85 mph broadside. They were gone on impact. But, the sad thing, the driver was a wonderfule singer and musician in the church choir and at school. Very big young man with a great personality. His friend was to be the starting running back on the football team. They had been best friends since they were in grade school, and died together on a back road, trying to get home before their parently knew. The driver wasn't supposed to drive the car he had without his parents with him. It was a red caddy with a beautiful wax job, his pride and joy.

I still think of these two young men. The passenger looked just like one of our new firemen and was just about the same age. Plus, like all small departments, a lot of our guys knew these kids, and the one who was killed Sunday. As a matter of fact, two of our cadets went to school with the young boy that was hit.

It made us wonder "Just why the f**k do we do this???" (sorry for the language). No one else goes out and sees death and dismemberment like we do. I know people who will never see this in their lives. So why do we do this? We do this to help people. We do this for the fun times we have. We do this because we are firemen. We are the toughest people on earth! We fight fires and our own emotions, and we do it daily.

To my fellow firefighters, I am here for you! You are my brothers and sisters, and I am my brother's keeper. We need to vent or we will never laugh again. So, look at the lighter side. Remember the time you got on to say your engine and squad was on scene, and it was the PA mike? And the Chief just turned and looked at you, and radioed, "tell the base, cause I know you're here." Remember! The radio is not the mike connected to the siren.

Todd "Bull" Pearson
Blackhawk Fire Protection

To read a little bio on Pearson, click here.