This from Eric Haak:
Here are a few quick images from an alley garage fire at 5955 S. Throop this morning (12/24). Engine 84 used their deck gun which knocked most of it out. A line was then stretched to mop up. Whole thing was done in minutes. Happy Holidays too all and especially to those who have to work the next couple of days away from family.
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
Eric Haak photo
#1 by RyanS on December 26, 2017 - 4:03 PM
Boston seems to have stepped out in the lead of fighting cancer in the fire service which is great. It takes a department-wide approach enforced from the top down. It requires a change in culture and is very expensive. Again, very expensive. To seriously instill changes, a department needs to fully support every aspect of this, again from the top down. Hopefully Boston’s efforts eventually make this a top priority though out the fire service.
That being said, some of the sarcastic comments bashing the brothers and sisters in the many different forums is downright crappy. These are guys that are out there busting their asses for 24 hours straight making 15-20 runs/day. Anyone who thinks guys are not wearing all their PPE to look cool or macho is clueless, at least to the realities of most busy city fire departments. Guys don’t wear all their stuff always because it’s hot, heavy, soaked, uncomfortable, exhaustion, hungry, trying to work fast but yet complete the job. Someone takes a photo of them overhauling with no mask. By the way, there aren’t enough extra bottles at the scene for eveyone to wear until a complete overhaul is performed anyways. After they get back to the house, that same guy you say is looking macho makes three more first responders followed by a first-in house fire. He has one set of soaked, sooty turn out gear that he puts back on to do it all over again.
This is a scenario that repeats itself nightly in many of America’s cities. It’s a job we choose and we step up and do it the best we can. It’s a dangerous job, it’s harmful to our health, but ultimately it’s about service to citizens that have no one else to turn to. I realize some of my points are excuses, just trying to make the point we do the best we can with the framework we are given to work, even if it’s not perfect. For the record, I’m not a Chicago firefighter but my reality is not much different.
#2 by Eric Haak on December 25, 2017 - 4:23 PM
A picture can say 1,000 words but can also lie. The smoke was clearly in front of the firefighter but I know you have an agenda and that would not fit your narrative. I understand your mission but also believe that shaming adults into compliance is not the way to get your message across because I don’t believe it is a strategy that works.
#3 by BMurphy on December 25, 2017 - 12:22 PM
Is a garage/car/house/dumpster/roof/etc/etc REALLY worth more than yours and your loved ones health and well-being?
If so, you need some help.
It’s way cooler and more macho to be smart and alive than dumb and dead.
Isn’t it?
#4 by David on December 25, 2017 - 12:22 PM
Nice shots from a Christmas Eve job, happy holidays to everyone!
#5 by Brian Kazmierzak on December 24, 2017 - 12:31 PM
Its only a garage – what carcinogens could possibly be in there.
Maybe Chicago needs to check out what Boston is doing: https://www.takenosmoke.org/welcome/