The Fill Line

June 2014

A column for firehouse reading by Thomas J. Parsons

While out Scoot-a-Pootin near and far. I have been on the road, of course that also meant missing the Ellis
County Firefighters Association meeting in Waxahachie. I hear attendance was low, as only a dozen reportedly
showed. Chrissy Rogalsky notes that while the face book page has been beneficial, it was suggested that a web
page be re-established. The officers of the association can be contacted for ideas to improve the group. The
2014 officers are Pres- Trey Moon (Wax FD & MayPearl FD), VP- Mark Jackson (Milford FD), 2nd VPKameron Raburn (Garrett Rural VFD), Secretary/Treasurer- Chrissy Rogalski (Ennis VFD). They are in the
process of rebuilding the organization and need to know what would bring you and your departments back to
the quarterly meetings. They also have a Face book page (Ellis County Firefighters), or check out the new web
page: elliscountyff@weebly.com
I was in NE Ohio and stopped by the new (to me) central station in Perry Township. I say new as this facility
replaced an antiquated building serving the township and the Village of Perry. The fire service area was
consolidated and is now known as the Perry Joint Fire District. Lt. Kirt West (A-platoon) met me at the door,
and gave me an informative overview of their operation. There are four on duty at this house (as well as staffing
a second station located in the south end of the district). A red HME Ahrens-Fox engine is first out (replacing a
lime yellow Darley that had the pump located in the rear of the apparatus), as well as chase vehicle, two squads,
air truck (Mentor City has one similar), and a 75 Pierce aerial. I find the aerial is another two-district purchase
as Madison and Perry bought this rig from Painesville City. Perry is first due to a nuclear power station by Lake
Erie, and I asked about the effect on the environment, as I know the apparatus was lime green the last time
around. Now they are red, or perhaps they just ripened? Speaking of colors, upon the return home, I found some
old Perry photos taken some time back while at station two. They were of a yellow rear mount Darley, a yellow
Ford tanker, and a silver Mercury sedan (1990s?) with Perry twp fire dept on the door with a small clear cover
warning light on top.
I was also introduced to Steve Simmons of B crew, who is a patch collector and showed me his effort to
display them in the hallways of the firehouse. By the way, he has one of the older styles of Fort Braggs, Rick.
Steve is also a member of the county honor Guard and showed me their patch: a Maltese cross with a dove and
olive branch for its centerpiece. The beautiful patch has a distinctive red with passive blue background. Steve
notes there are about a dozen members of the guard. Meanwhile, I hope the origin of that odd smell was
discovered, but really dont think it was that out of town visitor that caused it. (It was suggested a battery
problem and I could only think of the battery problem at Central High).
TV Firehouse Kitchen! While watching the antennae TV the other night, I discovered a show called
Firehouse Kitchen. It was on Dallas TV 47.2, hosted by Ray Cooney, a retired New York City firefighter. While
attempting to take a second floor window, back in November 2003, a back draft knocked him from his ladder.
His fall landed him in the hospital with extensive back and hip injuries. The injuries he sustained, forced him
into retirement. FK is a television show that explores the reality of being a firefighter by bringing together two
powerful elements of their life food and their heroic lifestyle. Firehouse Kitchen joins with PBS to produce
one of the first ever-cooking programs centered around the incredible food creations of the firefighter. With
over 2+ million firefighters in America, the result will be a brand-new form of cooking entertainment as
Firehouse Kitchen travels to different firehouses to cook up cuisine and discover inspiring stories of rescue and
hope. This new cooking entertainment is targeted to PBS and more than 350 member stations. Ray is now back
to finding new ways to keep his passion for the fire department alive as a member of the Bayport NY Volunteer
Fire Department class B volunteer firefighter. Ray truly enjoys visiting his fellow firefighters in their own
"Firehouse Kitchen." Tune into this show each week for delicious recipes, safety tips and stories of heroism. If
you want your firehouse to join Ray on Firehouse Kitchen or become a sponsor, just email Firehouse Kitchen at
info@firehousekitchenshow.com. Check out Tuesday evening, 8 PM on our Dallas 47.2.
Finally, I was able to finally get a snap of Mentors engine at station #4. Lt. Don Zimmerman had that and the
dive teams rig out while they tackled a project inside. By the way, Lt. Zimmerman (Zipperhead) is a major
player in the Mentor fire museum on Jackson Street, their old station #1. I did stop there and found Firefighter
Ernie Johnson conducting a tour of school kids in the Safety Village. Yes, Ernie, this is what old looks like,
(however the years havent seemed to effect him). Finally, Mentor training Lt. Rob Gandee was out of town on
assignment so the tour of Kirtland was put on hold for another Ohio visit.
Keep the hoses dry, and well see you out while scoot-a-pootin. Meanwhile, do the important stuff.
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North Texas FFMA Info; The officers for the North Texas District are as follows: Past President- Kevin RayAlvarado FD, President- Chrissy Rogalski- Ennis VFD, 1st VP- Ken Isom- Ennis VFD, 2nd VP- Tim GothardAnna FD, 3rd VP Jason Neagle- Eagle Mts Lake FD, 4th VP Steven Deffibaugh- Princeton VFD, Sec/treasurerMelissa Robinson- Retreat VFD, Chaplin- John Robinson- Retreat VFD, Mascot- Dawson Ray- Alavardo
Mick Moffitt- Zone Certification coordinator.
They are proud to announce that 3 posters from Ellis County are going to represent the North Texas District at
the state fire prevention poster contest. Two are from MayPearl and one from Ennis. Wayland Price of Lake
Whitney FD will be representing the district for the honor of State Firefighter of the Year.
The answer for: May In 1969 Pierce Manufacturing introduced a line of commercial chassis pumpers known as
a Suburban. A black vinyl-faced pump operator panel became a Pierce trademark.
Question of the month: June. Introduced in 1973, these new style aerials were called the teleboom, the
Teleflow, Telelift, and the Telerise. What fire apparatus builder would produce these for their product line?

The Firehouse kitchen. Reach had again rediscovered the red notebook while looking for a copy his
promotion papers. It is a time of inspiration for Reach who feels his time at firehouse 13 has met a peak and it is
time to move on. He also thinks it is time to write his book. (The others wondered what he had for breakfast).
The old red notebook had several pages of the happenings of the firehouse written by Captain Snut who quietly
kept some notes of some of the foolishness and runs in the firehouse. He was going to put all of the info into a
book he was calling firehouse follies, but got discouraged when he heard that Chief Burns would produce a
book called a stations activity. Chief Burns effort was a flop with sales of only 50 or so books (bought by
Chief Burns himself). Reach had looked at some of his old runs and reflected upon the activity. It was time to
act, so he bought a laptop to record the effort. Now Reach only has to figure out how to operate the new
acquisition.
Dink is now thinking of a motorcycle with a sidecar so he can take his mother with him when he rides with
Mac, although the idea hasnt been a big sell to Mac at this time. One day Lt. Hart happened to ride his old sport
cycle in to shift and offered it to Dink for a reasonable price. Lt. Hart was amazed at the fact a motorcycle could
go so slow without falling over as Dink drove it around the parking lot. Dink thinks the price is out of his pay
grade, but will ask his mother for an increase in his allowance or a loan.
The gang has just set down to some egg sandwiches as Curbs positions himself for first cup at the coffee pot.
Captain Snut is planning a class on hose maintenance when the firehouse gets a box alarm. This abrupt change
in the routine catches the gang by surprise as normality is suddenly interrupted. As the gang leaves the firehouse
kitchen, Dink discovers he has forgot to place his gear on the engine again and runs back inside to the basement
as departing Curbs drives over the wheel chock, and Reach wonders if he has cut off the stove. Books about
misses his grip on the rear step pulling up his hip boots as the Curbs tries to recover.
Dink is at the overhead door as engine 13 goes through the intersection. Uh Omigosh, uh oh! But it is a
short run as Chief Burns reports no one at the box, and engine 13 returns.
Dink is madly waving as he stands in the overhead bay door as the engine backs in off the street. Chief Burns
has caught up with the returning apparatus with the anticipation of an egg sandwich (or three) and appears
happy that a spotter is finally in place. Unknown to Chief Burns, Dink (who missed then responding engine) is
attempting to stop Curbs from running over the wheel chock again. His efforts go unnoticed.
Prayer portion. God has a plan for each of us. After a recent report of an overwhelming situation from an
associate, I can only think that most times His test are beyond our ability to cope, let alone us just trying to get out
of bed each day. That is often called a test of faith. How we react is through networking with those close and
more important, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is a big demand as we are only us, and we dont always know our
limits. Put your trust in the Lord. Somehow it works. Lord we pray for Your assurance during these test times,
and our daily walk. May God bless you.
Thats all for now, meanwhile and well see you out while scoot-a-pootin. Connect with me Thomas J. Parsons
at phone: 972-878-0562, or e-mail me at: labwdp@academicplanet.com

Remember! Dont leave the station with out your FILL LINE!

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