Texas | woodchuck - 1/17/2026 15:05
Tommy always talks about how hard they are on their trucks.
Is that true or not.
Truck sitting in doors ready to go. Serviced regularly and anything not up to snuff fixed..
Unless drag racing I don't get how they are abused.
I understand lots of idle time.
We dont intentionally try to tear them up . For me anyhow if its a grass fire , i ease out of the station about like i do my pickup . I do go on ahead and get it rolling . All loaded pretty heavy so it takes a heavier foot to get you up to speed . We actually hit a ditch we did not know was there and bent a tie rod on our F-750 4x4
I think what beats the hell out of them is bouncing across fields and the engines eating smoke , air filters get dirty pretty quick .That off road stuff loaded like they are is tough on them .We are set up to drive and spray at the same time. We also have a place we can ride if you have 2 guys so one can spray too .
They idle for hours on scene so we can keep lights going .
Thats got to be rough on them too.
It totally depends on the call , and how bad it sounds . If its bad im coming out of the station as soon as i hit pavement its going on the mat until it gets up to speed .
If other departments are in a bad deal and its going to get other houses . Im coming out like a bat out hell , full sirens matted . You can hear them calling and that is just gets you wound up more .Im not driving fast or taking risks unless its a real bad deal .We have a saying “ only risk alot to save alot “ . That applys to the trucks , equipment or your life .
I am by far the most conservative driver along with cheif .
The young fellows thing every call is a on the mat deal .
I will say the absolute hardest part is to stay calm , that took me a while .
Its at least as hard on people as the trucks , a phrase is “adrenaline dump “ .That means when the tone hits your body hits you with a big shot of GO ! .If i were to get a call right now , go get it whipped . probally id get back at say 10-11 . Id still be awake at 3 am pretty easy .
Guys like my son get used to it . They can go get a person dead or anything bad , go back to station lay down and try to sleep . He said in dallas , you lay down your head and almost go to sleep and tone goes off again .
I have only had 1 day like that , big fire then a death that night at about 11 pm .
That day , i had got up at 5:30 about normal , worked on the farm all day , fire .About 3 pm a hell of a fire broke out , we had it beat down about 6-7. ( of course summer 100+ degrees ) .I was pretty well whipped by then . Got home . Was not home but a little bit , about to get in shower and a fatility . Well we all loaded up and went again .We have to stay until law enforcement does their deal . That can take a while .
It can get rough and test a man , those of us that do it . No way we would quit .
Most folks dont know , when we drive off and get to the station , there is pretty easy an hour putting up gear , rolling hoses , filling trucks , ect,
It does matter if its 2 pm or 2 am , that is done EVERY time . Thats a policy we have . That one is not be missed .
Does not matter how tired everyone is that is done every time . We are ready to go before we ever leave every time .
Someone has to service trucks , check air in tires , check pumps , mow grass at station , and a bunch of other things we do .
The really fun part is rolling up , jumping out and putting water on fire . Heck that aint the half of what goes on before we get there .
We do a whole bunch of tasks , that are not fun or cool , we go get old people up , get cats out of trees , and a bunch of othef things people dont know we do . There is a saying “ if it does not require a gun and they dont know who to send , then send the fire department “
Putting on your gear , dragging hose out and flowing water , you feel like the most cool guy in the world ( i do anyhow ) . Thats a very small part of it . You dont feel very cool sweeping the station or washing trucks :) |
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