I had just finished cooking breakfast for the family using Challah bread I bought a few minutes earlier. After eating my first piece of this great french-toast, I was about to dig into the plate when I had a serious case of beepilepsy.
Reaching for my pager, I read:
--------------
2705 MARYANNES CT-MONTG
FTR-TRASH/DUMPSTER FIRE
TRUCKS: 18E
XST: 3308 HEMMINGWAY DR-MG
NOTES: IN FRONT OF....
-------------
Challah or fire call. It was an easy decision. I gave the kids and Sarah a kiss and ran out the door. Arriving at the station along with Frankie D, I got suited up while Frankie started up the Squad. In short order, Bernie, Carmen and Michael jumped in the back while Seth rode up front in the officer's position.
En-route, I helped the others get their gear and SCBA on. Upon arrival in the development, I was looking for smoke or fire but couldn't see anything. After rounding the final turn, there it was: A dumpster fully involved with flames licking out the sides and smoke pouring out the top.
This isn't the actual picture but its close:
Other FFs put the fire out using the front-mounted hose off the Squad. I assisted by giving them the tools they needed (eg. pike poles, etc.). After the fire was out, they gave me a walk-through of what they did to knock it out and why they used various tools.
The fire apparently started because someone threw the remnants of their fireplace in the dumpster. I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy so I usually like to think people are smarter than that, but this just proved me wrong.
Afterwards, we cleaned up the hoses, and re-filled the tank. I left with strict orders to update the blog as I've been neglecting this po' baby for a few weeks. Many apologies.
