2015

The Fill Line

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February

A column for firehouse reading by Thomas J. Parsons ------------------------------

While out scoot-a-pootin! A local TV station had first on the first New Years Day. I was
able to take in the pilot show Emergency. Check out those attendants and ambulances used
by Mayfair! Talk about grab and run. For those active today as paramedics, the show may be
sort of dated, but was a start of sorts of the idea of hospital care in the field.
January 1, ushered in new leadership for the Midlothian Fire dept, as Dale McCaskill took
the fire chief slot. Phillip Brancato will assume the assistant chief position, coming from
Ovilla. We wish David Schrodt the best and give him many thanks for the support of the Fill
Line over the years.
Carla, this is for you. We respond to the faceless voice from our radios with the hope they
know the goings on and will always have the answers; as we make request for utilities, law, or
medical when we want them. Sometime we question their ability and their return to our
short answers in a timely fashion as we watch the incident unravel before our eyes. We often
take them for granted and can criticize them without warrant. However they always seem to
be there as we are notified from our work or at home with the family. Around these parts,
they are the staff of the Communication Division of the Ellis County Texas Sheriffs
Department. They were recognized recently with two major awards during the annual PSAP
Supervisors meeting in Arlington. ECSO day supervisor Carla Rolland noted the Comm. Team
of Heidi Smith, Jeff Shepherd, and Gloria Meyers for their performance during the Milford
pipeline explosion in Nov 2013. Night supervisor Becky Rogers commended Nancy Brinker,
Brandy Songer, and Caitland McClelland for their efforts during a police matter. Kristie
Brewer was the dispatcher for the year, Becky Rogers Supervisor of the year, and Jennifer
Pitts was awarded the 9-1-1 Professional award. A very detailed report was given in the Jan 8
issue of the Ellis County Press. We thank you in all that you do. In a related matter, a Mentor
Ohio police dispatcher with 25 years of service assisted a caller with CPR instructions for her
to assist her husband who was having difficulty in breathing. The man survived. Way to go,
to the dispatchers who make it happen!
The Ellis County Texas Firefighters Assn. Met in Palmer TX. I always enjoy the fellowship
with those not always seen day to day. A countywide apparatus number system was
illustrated by Fire Marshal Joe Stewart, with the Chiefs Association to be tasked with
implementing the changeover. It is a start, as too many have worried about initial cost, so
just let it happen over a period. Oh, and the last time this idea was presented was by me in
2003. Two year terms have been approved for the association president, VP, and 2VP etc, and
a Chaplin will become present again. Amy Tims graciously accepted the secretary treasurer
position after Chrissy Rogalski resigned from the position. Finally monies for A&M schools
have been dropped. Thanks to Palmer Fire Rescue for providing the grill cooked meal at their
firehouse on Sherman Street. Next meeting is in April.
PS. Rick, that old Ennis Ford-C pumper was sold to another department.
In passing. Edward Warren Yonker has passed. Ed applied to the Fort Collins Fire Dept in
1955. In 1965, he became Chief. After he retired in 1976, he became involved in the Glacier
View Meadows Volunteer Fire Department, and served as president of the Fire Board for 15
years. He wrote, and had locally published, The History of the Fort Collins Fire Department:

The First 100 Years. Also, Harvey Eisner passed away in late October 2104. He was the long
time editor of Firehouse Magazine, and started as a firefighter at Stillwater Oklahoma while
he attended Oklahoma State University.
I received my Ferris Fix as I hung out at the FFD for a while. Ferris is a neat department
with personnel displaying lots of energy, and are focused on their assigned task. I caught the
new engine with the camera, so that was a plus. Chief Birdwell has reorganized staff for
maximum participation, with their responsibilities. The station has their quarters in the end
of the police/fire department facility (had engine bays at one time) but now are office and
rooms for the troops, including a kitchen and a bunk room. They do lots with little. Anyway, a
building with their two main fire engines is close by. There is also another building about a
mile away that houses their brush trucks. Overall I think they are proactive and more power
to them. Im always inspired on a visit and need to get by Ferris more often. On a side note, if
you want to know about vehicles turn signals on a drivers test, ask Firefighter Justin Townly.
Side note, I wonder if snorkels are slowly becoming extinct?
Question of the month: February. In the pilot show Emergency, John Gage was assigned to
what vehicle or company?
Answer for January. A part of the Los Angeles Fire Dept since the 1960s, engine one-half,
is used in public education campaigns. The chassis, a 1923 Ford Model TT, had bodywork as
a chemical hose car.
The Firehouse Kitchen As Chief Burns retrieves the contents of his satchel, Captain Snut
looks over the realignment orders. With the city in a financial decline some stations are being
closed, and members are being reassigned or offered early retirement. Firehouse #13 will
become firehouse #5. The new number will be put in the number slot, though the red and
white five contrast to the lime green engine. Engine eight and the truck will remain, though
squad four will now be assigned to that house. With the closing of firehouse seven and
twelve, the hose work will be done by engine three, five, eight, and nine. The truck work will
be assigned to ladder one and platform three. Only two squads, three and four will run from
their assigned stations. A private ambulance will transport. Its all in there, just a sign of the
times, notes Chief Burns. Meanwhile, Captain Snut whispers, Hope everything else is in
line. Chief Burns just nods. The retirement papers have been completed and all they need is
a signature.
Chief Burns leaves the station unnoticed as Reach asks the captain if Shorty was coming
back for lunch. Uhh, don think saw as he has some meeting with Books buddy Shnook or
uh whatever his name is, with some fire truck refurbs. Reach returns to the kitchen and
plans the afternoon meal, as Curbs grabs (another) cup of coffee and waits for the bathroom
to become antiseptic. Books and Dink complete their committee work.
Captain Snut calls the gang into the firehouse kitchen to hear the latest in down town
politics and how it will reflect upon the department. Lt. Hart had left his five year plan he
calls Organizational Focus for the gang to review. As the gang looks at the accumulation of
paper, Books notes the leather helmets have an Engine 1-3 on the front. Chief Burns calls
that a galdanged incidental, and every member with a 5-A type lid will get a new shield, and
he will even buy them himself since only a few still exist on department, says Captain Snut.
It was to be a surprise, but he held out till the union signed off on the transition. Reach
asks, How long has everyone else known about this action? Captain Snut replies that it

was a big secret until after the city elections. Curbs wonders if there are any other changes,
as the union apparently ignored him with this information. Nuttin else boys, so lets get on
with the events of the day, as Captain Snut slips the retirement papers into the envelope.
To this point the new numeral for the company is the only thing affecting their firehouse.
Prayer Portion.
We ask prayer for all those in our readership. We offer up request for financial, physical or
other needs beyond our scope of understanding. But more important we thank Him for the
result, as He is in control and we should thank Him freely expecting His will in all matters.
Wait, watch, and let God. We can approach the day with the knowledge that we can focus
on our task at hand as we are in the hands of the Master. Praise God. Call those in your
circle; let them know youre thinking of them today.
Thats all for now, meanwhile and well see you out while scoot-a-pootin. Connect with me at phone: 972-8780562, or e-mail me at: labwdp@academicplanet.com Remember! Dont leave the station with out your FILL
LINE!