THESKINI.COM

July 2006

The Life of a Fireman as told by local Firefighter, Ben Page

By Martina Priadka

Firemen are worshipped by little kids who watch with wide eyes every time the big, red truck drives by. They are honored by adults as those who risk their life for the local community. They are sought after by women and men alike because of their power and sex appeal. We have seen movies about them, we have heard their stories on the news but none of us really have an idea about what goes on in the life of fireman. We don't see the daily routine or the beautiful wives and children they come home to after each long shift. Local firefighter, Ben Page, has given theskini a taste of his life in the station.

AppleMark

TS: When did your dream to become a fireman begin?

BP: Doesn't every little boy dream of being a fireman at one time or another? What really got me interested in it when I was older was the idea of not working in a restaurant or an office anymore .

TS: How long have you been doing it?

BP: Seven years already .

TS: What station do you work in?

BP: Station 6. I work on the heavy rescue rig which covers the whole south side.

TS: Were you truly aware of the dangers involved when you began?

BP: Some of them yes, the obvious dangers associated with fires, burns, smoke inhalation, etc. What I was not aware of were the other services the fire department in Minneapolis provides and the dangers that come with them. As an example MFD is a key component of the Emergency medical System in Minneapolis and this has the potential for exposure to countless diseases and dangerous situations. MFD also responds to all hazardous materials emergencies and those have their own dangers.

TS: Is there a large demand in Minneapolis compared to other cities?

BP: I would say that Minneapolis is just as busy as any other city it's size.

TS: What have been the major fires or events in the Twin Cities over the last year?

BP: "Major fires and events" is of course a relative concept. Every fire or emergency is major to whoever is directly affected. Having said that I am hesitant to name specific events for fear of not giving a fire or event it's props.

One that does stand out though is the very large and beautiful mansion on the Lake of the Isles parkway that burned down last December. MFD crews were there all night but the fire spread was too advanced by the time the Fire Department was called out and the building was destroyed.

TS: Is there a house dog?

BP: No, the house dog has gone the way of the dodo .

TS: Especially with the upcoming film giving the story of the World Trade Center events, Firemen are in the spotlight as heroes. Are there times when you feel heroic?

BP: I don't know that I have ever felt heroic, there are times I felt good about helping someone, and you always feel good when a call ends and no one got hurt, or if they were hurt they are getting the care they need. Heroism isn't really something that most Firemen think of, it is a job that can be rewarding and disappointing, getting caught up in the idea of being heroic means you get caught up in the other stuff that didn't turn out right. Personally for me it is about doing the job the best that I can and going home the next morning, God willing.

TS: What are the different jobs each person does on a team?

BP: There are Captains, they are in charge of the event, and responsible for everyone on their rigs safety.

Drivers, their job is to get us to the scene safe, fast, and home in one piece. Then there are the Firefighters, the guys that actually get the work done and get their hands (and everything else sometimes) dirty. That is it in a nut shell, and I kid a little, in a working fire though everyone pulls the load.

TS: What does a typical day/shift look like at the station?

BP: 7:30am. Get to work and relieve the previous shift, inventory the rigs, clean and check any gear they used the previous night.

8:30am clean the station living quarters, kitchen etc. Clean the trucks. 9:30am perform any special station duties, training.

11:00am Go out, do building familiarizations, inspections, shop for lunch and dinner.

12:00pm-6:00pm study, and more training, workout if there is time between calls.

6:00pm sit down for the "clutch" (common meal, cooked by one FFR for the rest of the guys on a rotating basis). The rest of the time and all the time through go on emergency calls.

TS: For you, what is the most important thing about being a fireman?

BP: Being safe, and helping others.

TS: What is your favorite part of the job?

BP: The camaraderie, I work with a lot of great people and we get to make a difference everyday in a city I love. How great is that?

TS: Is there anything you don't like?

BP: Going out on false alarms 5-6 times in the middle of the night. It makes for a long 24 hour shift. In my current spot that doesn't happen very often, so I am pretty happy.

TS: Do people every try to get in the way of what you are doing?

BP: Occasionally, and that can make a routine call turn very dangerous.

TS: Are you going to do a Fireman calendar? Hey, I had to ask!

BP: Not unless I find a way to turn these pipe cleaners into pipes.

...Now That's Theskini!::permalink

» send this article to a friend!