Over The Hill Gang, But Sill Active

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Permalink Reply by james w. hunter on July 17, 2009 at 5:26pm

back in 88 we were in middle of a waterball tournament when siren in village sounded. Reported as a shed fire six miles from town. Asst chief had 1975 international 2000 gal tanker with no running boards. When he pulled up on scene, five firemen climbed down from the top. Asst. chief didn't know they were there. home owner couldn't figure out why we had 50 firemen on scene. 12 5-man teams were participating in the waterball games.

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Permalink Reply by Capt. Mick on July 17, 2009 at 6:55pm

Hey James, Thanks for adding to the discusion. I gotta say those were the day's.
Do that today, and you get your ass handed to you. Nothing like the good O'l days.
Be well, and stay safe Brother.

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Permalink Reply by Ralph L. Carr IV on September 12, 2009 at 4:16pm

Whew, I`m not there yet. Here, I thought I was the old guy at work. 44......These medics I work with are my kid`s age.....lol.....

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on September 12, 2009 at 7:41pm

Would rather be Over the hill than to be under it......LOL

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Permalink Reply by Eng Co 4 on September 19, 2009 at 1:38pm

Well............I'm over 55. I started in the fire/rescue service in 1966 first as a dispatcher
and office help for a private ambulance company (a friend's uncle owned it) and when I got
my FA training (no EMTs back then) and made it to age 18 I became an ambulance attendant.
At age 16 I joined the Volunteer Fire Dpeartment where I lived. That was in 1967. Got interested
in all of this because of the Civil Defense drills and training at school (Remember the Cold War
and the Missle Crisis?) Took an Emergency Medical Course (CD) in high school and that did it.

Got to be in the middle of the 1968 riots (DC) and the Anti-War riots and protests in the 1960's
and early 1970s. (MD and DC) Real fun there. NOT! Stayed with the ambulance company for a
few years, then moved on. It was fun, ike "Mother, Jugs and Speed" we cmpeted with a couple
of other companies in the area for trips! Love those old Caddys and Pontiacs! The VFD had an
ambulance as well! An International Travelall with the raised roof! Hey! "State-of-the-art" back
then! Our private ambulance company probably had the first van ambulance around when we
converted a 1968 Ford Econoline into an ambulance ourselves. Gutted it, paneled it, mounted
cabinets and stretcher, etc. Fairly simple and it worked well.

You really WERE something back then if you had ADVANCED First-Aid and that new-fangled CPR!

In the fire service, we ran open-cab apparatus (trucks and pumpers) well into the 1970's. The riots
basically put an end to that and closed cabs (canopy type) became the norm. Yeah! Riding the back
step and laying out! Riding open jump seats masking up standing up enroute! Tin Cairns Senator
helmets (turned backwards to keep the heat off!), 1st generation Scott packs, 15 minute sling packs,
3/4 boots and those old "Mickey Mouse" gloves! Going in and getting HOT!

These are things that today's fire service people will never know about! "Rehab" on the fire scene was
getting a drink of water out of the hose!

Began my paid fire service in 1973. We used open cab rigs where I worked for a few years. One was
a 1959 GMC 750gpm pumper. COLD in the winter!

Saw a lot of changes take place in the industry before I retired in 2001.

Some good and some not so good.

Come on! Let's hear from some of you other "antiques"!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on September 19, 2009 at 5:16pm

Well, not that old....But...our first ambulance was a converted Oldsmobile hearse, and the catch phrase then was snatch and carry....Paul

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Permalink Reply by Jay R. Dudley on September 19, 2009 at 10:55pm

O.K. Here I am. I' m over 55 and am currently a Fire Commissioner. I guess you can say I still have my fingers in the pie??? I retired after 30 + years as a Firefighter and moved to Idaho.

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Permalink Reply by Doug on September 22, 2009 at 10:45pm

Mick, just came across your discussion and im 57 and am still acitive, holding the title of asst. chief, training officer and incharge of all interior fire fighting. Ive held every position from luient. to chief. held asst. chief for the past 18 years,

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Permalink Reply by Russ on September 22, 2009 at 11:24pm

i'm close to being 55 and i'm medically retired but i still keep in contact. i was the old guy on my shift before i got out and i loved it. i loved being the senior man that the young guys would come to for stuff. i remember when i was a young guy looking up to the senior guys and being in awy of their expience and ability. When i hit my 20th year i asked another senior member "do i get to be in the group that actually runs the department now?" he said yea kid, you're in now. it was like becomming a "made guy" in the mob-lol, running the department is fun

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