Okay, I get to the top of the ladder and then what?
Saturday outside the fire station in Mount Albert (a village in East Gwullimbury), 17 new volunteers were learning the basics of what a fire fighter needs to know. The captain - dressed in tan and orange - was watching as one very brave soul climbed to the top of the ladder and then the ladder "grew" to extend even further.
Six of the new recruits
East Gwillimbury (92 square miles or 283 square kilometres) has three fire stations but only one of them is manned at all times. It's located centrally in the village of Queensville, 12 minutes away from this station. East Gwillimbury has only five full-time fire fighters, so when tragedy happens, volunteers assist.
Eek! That sure does look a long way to the top
Although each volunteer also has a regular paying job, each has an agreement with his/her boss to allow them to leave in an emergency. (One of the seventeen new volunteers is a woman.)
The volunteer reached the end of the ladder and is now... I haven't a clue
This is not a job for me. I'm too afraid of heights.
Learning the tricks of the hose
If you think handling the hose is any easier than climbing the ladder, think again. Each foot of hose weighs 10 pounds when it's full of water and the fire fighters normally use a minimum or 32 feet. Obviously a few firefighters are required to haul the 320 pounds around.
Those dials sure look confusing to me
Click HERE to see tons more photos celebrating Our World.
Wonderful guys and gals who do this everywhere. I admire them.
ReplyDeleteDarla
These people that volunteer for such a potentially dangerous job have my deep respect and admiration. Just climbing up the ladder would give most people a nosebleed. I noticed a slight and beautiful rainbow form on the ground by those heavy watering hoses. :)
ReplyDeleteApplause!!!
ReplyDeletemy cousin is a full time paid firefighter here and our nephew in PA is a volunteer one also. these are great photos and just looking at the top of the ladder makes me breathless since i would never ever climb that ladder even up against a building. they really are heros. great story here today
ReplyDeleteSuper post, EG! These guys and gals are too often unsung heroes. Fire-fighting is difficult and dangerous. I had to do some "make-believe" fire fighting in Navy boot camp and hated it!
ReplyDeleteYour photos really put what its all about into perspective. A lot of our communities have only volunteer departments, unfortunately. But thank goodness people are willing to volunteer!
It takes incredible people to do this job, not for me either!
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos..
It takes a special type of person to want to be a firefighter or policeman. Thank goodness there are those types because it is the furthest thing from what I would ever want to do. Interesting fact about the weight of the firehose. I'll think about that for one for awhile.
ReplyDeleteThey all have my deepest respect and admiration; brave and committed individuals every one of 'em. Three cheers!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like you are in good hands, should a fire occur. I first thpought that chap was going to trapeze fly over to the far ladder :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch a good My World post again.
I'm always amazed at how high that ladder can go. great shot.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I'm too afraid of heights.But I admire the volunteers,they're so courageous and helpful when we're in need. We saw them those last days, and were HAPPY to see them!
ReplyDeleteI always think that firefighters are the real heroes in this world!
ReplyDeleteI am with you...NO heights! Thank goodness for the heros that do not share our fear.
ReplyDeleteStairway to Heaven ?
ReplyDelete;-D
I hate to think what we would do without volunteers. We don't have any high rise buildings in the Glade, so the ladder on our fire trucks don't go quite as high as the one you showed. They do need to man-(and woman)-handle those fire hoses around trees, however.
ReplyDeleteGreat post from your world. I'm not afraid of heights but my balance has gotten so bad through health issues, I should be or at least wouldn't have any business on a tall ladder. What would petrify me would be the fire itself. I'm in awe of how brave people are who can fight fires.
ReplyDeleteThey are great people!
ReplyDeleteI do admire them
Greetings from Argentina
Elisa
Great post celebrating some unsung heros!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, EG! And, yes, it is a wonderful celebration of those unsung heroes that we sometimes take for granted without giving much thought to what it takes to be one! Terrific captures! Thank you so much for this!! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
These are such brave people. LOve your photographs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence this is! I was just watching some of our new recruits do this over the weekend. Not for me either, but I am sure glad some are not afraid to do it!
ReplyDeleteThese are great photos!
Thank you so much for sharing this today at The Creative Exchange.
Have a wonderful evening!
lisa.
I really do admire fire fighters and I could never climb to the top of the ladder. They GO! Wonderful images and something to think about too.
ReplyDeleteNerves of steel. Every time I have to trek up to a high and dangerous spot, someone will tell me how they can't do that because they're afraid of heights. To that I respond that I'm not so much afraid of heights as I am afraid of falling. Even then, the falling is not so bad... it's the sudden stop at the end. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHow do they dare?!! But it's their job.. And we the weak ones, having fear for heights, can just sit steady on the flat ground to watch them.. and do our photograph work.. :))))
ReplyDeleteAnd we are SO happy for them, wanting this dangerous job! :) They are doing a great work, right?
Great post, EG. Our communities are lucky to have trained firefighters, whether professional or volunteers. Like you, I couldn't do it. I don't like heights.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. I would only go up that ladder if I knew there would be someone in danger at the top. Then adrenalin would kick in. But go up it just to be 'way up there in the air? Brrrr.
ReplyDeleteOne of my father's best friends was a volunteer fireman, and they both worked right across the street from the fire hall. I have always admired volunteer firefighters, ever since I was old enough to understand the word "volunteer".
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
Great to dedicate a post to such dedicated and necessary volounteers.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and very nice tribute to the firefighters!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful shots;o)
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Have a nice and happy week****
True heroes at work.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness so many are willing to volunteer for such a dangerous job!
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of respect for fire fighters. I don't think I could do it. In one of my oilfield jobs we had to learn how to use a fire extinguisher to put out a pit full of oil. We had to get within five feet of it, and the heat was very intense. Plus the longer it took you, the hotter the oil got, and the harder it was to put out the flames.
ReplyDeleteGreat action shots!
ReplyDeleteTruly great people. Great captures.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! The volunteers are brave souls.
ReplyDeletei admire volunteer fire fighters--brave souls! i once climbed that aerial ladder with a fire fighter during a fire drill. it was a thrill.:p
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone can get me to climb up to the top with that "stretchable ladder". Kudos to all the volunteers.
ReplyDeleteI could imagine if you let loose the hose, with the water pressure, it would swirl like an S!
Thank you for this great series of photos. I never realised that holding a hose was so heavy. Climbing that ladder is very admirable but not my cup of tea, for I am afraid of heights. I am deeply impressed by the fire fighters' work.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. Roger tried to answer all the questions. He was good! He knew seven of the ten questions. So have a try!
AAARRRGGHHH! I'm getting vertigo just looking at it!! So grateful that firefighters can climb the ladder, hold the hoses and put out the flames!!
ReplyDeleteinteresting. THis is something we never see over here. :) I think it is a camera on the top of the ladder.
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar arrangement here, with a volunteer fire service in the country and a well paid professional on in the City. The city firemen have all the latest equipment and the country mice sell cupcakes for new hoses on old vehicles, put their lives on the line and too many lose them.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see your fire fighters have mush more sophisticated equipment than ours.
Fire and heights are two things that don't sit well with my system. I am grateful others can answer the call.
ReplyDeleteThe first picture is a masterpiece, but all the others are interesting...
ReplyDeleteour heros....what a beautiful tribute!!
ReplyDelete26 years ago, when my daughter was little, volunteer fireman was the favourite job for a boy.
ReplyDeleteWay out where we live, we are totally dependent upon the volunteer fire departments. The trouble is...by the time they get here, this old 110 year old frame farmhouse will be GONE! Love your pictures. genie
ReplyDelete