Thats cool, you just sounded like someone I know from Semmes fire.. Its all good.

Nope, not Semmes.  I do not live within a 100 miles of there but I have a home there and all my family is there.  I would rather not identify myself further, nothing personal but some people research everything you type on here and can get really freaky when you disagree with them.

Which dept are you with being a Vol. and 1st resp. I am guessing Semmes.

Well I wouldn’t say it was common practice but I am woman enough to admit when I have made mistakes and I do learn from my mistakes.  My motto is if I am a big enough girl to do it, then I am a big enough girl to take my butt chewing for an err in judgment.  Nobody is perfect and anybody who tells you that they have ALWAYS made the best decision in the heat of the moment is most likely forgetting some moment in their past.

Back on point though, with things they way they are today with drugs and drug labs, WE CAN NOT BE TOO CAREFUL and MUST TAKE THAT EXTRA 90 SECONDS OR SO to be in complete gear.  We can not help if we become a victim ourselves…..

Must,
  Thats cool I understand how it is. Like I said it just the way it was read, just made it sound like it was common practice..

mob1:  Well I can honestly say that I have grabbed a charged line to make an initial attack without full turnout gear on…  Smartest idea, no.  Do I have training and certifications? yes.  Do I know better?  Yes. 

Now, did I ever run in fully involved structure fires without my gear, No.  However, there have been times when we have pulled up and PUTTING WATER on the fire to keep the flames back and keep other property from the danger of the flames was what was priority and I have made an initial attack from the outside without full gear.

Would I suggest others do this?  Do I allow my son or others who I now outrank to do this?  No.

The old saying do as I say not as I do (or have done) really does apply here.  I am not saying I was right, I am not saying that I could not have been injured.  I will say that God has protected me and has allowed me to be a VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER/FIRST RESPONDER for 17 years.

Mustuknow,

” I can honestly say I use to be the first through the door, now I can honestly say I make sure I am in full gear and have a charged hose line before I approach because the risk is far to great. “

I was just wondering something about this one statement, was it common practice for you to enter the house without Full turn out gear and a charged hand line while being the first one in?

I am not trying to be sarcastic, its just the way it reads as if this was common practice for you.

If the structure had no windows and a collapsed roof then WHY was electricity still connected to it???  Don’t get me wrong, I am not disputing the state of structure but it seems to me that Gulf Power should have long disconnected power from the structure if it was in this bad of shape…  Or was the power run to the structure by extension cords???  Typical meth lab type structure….  (just an observation)

And another thing, if the neighbors noticed the fire then surely they have noticed it being abandoned and falling in?????

As a volunteer fireman in another state I can tell you we have come across more and more structure fires that end up either being current meth labs or previous ones.  I can honestly say I use to be the first through the door, now I can honestly say I make sure I am in full gear and have a charged hose line before I approach because the risk is far to great.

I do not know if this was a meth lab or not but I will tell you that as citizens we need to be more vigilent of our surroundings, keep our children close and report suspicious activity to LEO’s.  It is better to be safe than SORRY and in this day and age there is no such thing as being too vigilent.

Know your neighborhood.

I just googled it, the house had no windows and a collapsed roof on the right side. Fifty K ain’t no way!

I was wondering the same thing Bama