Today I attended a training session with Dauphin Island Fire and Rescue. Oh My Gosh! I am so stoked!!!!!

When I first arrived there was noone there and I felt for sure that I messed up the times or was there on the wrong weekend. I walked through the station to an open door on the far side. One of the police officers, Noal, was out back so I spoke to him about it. He radioed Ben, one of the Public Safety Officers, and Ben said it wasn't until 1 or 2. He was actually wrong, but I believed I had read the email wrong until I walked out the front door and saw the fire chief, Brad, walking up.

We first looked over all of the trucks and other random things. Then we took the two trucks and did some hose drills. It is amazing how interested folks get when they see a bunch of emergency vehicles on the move. I went to the airport and then over to a back raod instead because a large group of birders showed up at the airport marsh.

When we got to Cadillac road, we learned how to hook up the hoses, open fire hydrants, stretch the hoses out, and load them back on the truck. That was just exciting! I knocked over a traffic cone with the smaller hose.

We ordered pizza for lunch and while we were waiting for it I tried on some turnout gear. The boots fit pretty well, but the pants were too long, though they worked out for me. I will definitely need a smaller jacket because the sleeves were long and there was alot of space in the body of the jacket. Apart from those articles, I had a hood over my breathing mask, a helmet, and gloves.

When we went into the training trailer they had a simulated bed fire. It felt fairly hot after a few minutes, but I gained alot of confidence when I realized it was not unbearable. At first, I did not want to do any enterances, but now I think I can. I was concerned that I would be too scared, but the more I did the more I became comfortable with everything.

The mask I wear forms a good seal, but it is loose at the top of my face. This is a problem I have with my diving gear as well, so I was not surprised by it- just a little dismayed. I was timid to put the mask on but remembered what I have learned in diving: I always think I will not be able to do something and then when I do it I am surprised. Remembering this, I approached every task remembering that I am capable. Still, I was surprised every time at my ability. I did not fail.

Ben said he will be ordering me turnout gear that I can carry with me in a bag. I am so excited! I wish I could have gotten some pictures, but I guess that will be another time. What is best is that everyone said I did very well. They were surprised that I wanted to learn so much, that I was not concerned with getting dirty, and that I really wanted to do everything. That made me feel only that much better about it!