The Fill Line

April 2014

A column for firehouse reading by Thomas J. Parsons

While out Scoot-a-Pootin near and far. I was out for a Dallas area task and found a great place for a
breakfast/brunch. JPs Caf is located at 8111 ERL Thorton Freeway, west at the Jim Miller exit. They serve a
home-style buffet as well as a menu for specific plates. I especially enjoyed the grits. The hours are 6 AM 2
PM seven days a week. Tell them you read about them in the Fill Line .
The latest Ellis County radio system status as reported from Kenny Ray Isom. 1. The main County Repeater
site and radios are working well on the new county tower including the full backup power system. 2. The Voter
System hardware is installed, while two of our four remote sites are working. (Bristol site became fully
operational, Milford site is fully operational, Maypearl site is NOT working, and Ovilla site is NOT working
due to a radio problem at that site). Remember, if you have a communications problem be sure to try your
mobile radio and not just rely on your handheld radio and document where and when the problem occurred. As
usual, please review and document each of your department's findings to your fire chief or ESD management
and then email any feedback to isomk@airmail.net or just call him @ 972 825 7265.
During February I was in Colorado and was able to connect with members of the Mile High Hook and Ladder.
Things found were that Kira OKeefe and Darren Jacobson live in a historical part of town with a one-way
street and limited parking. (Things sure look different in person than on a map). Their latest adventure is
restoring an 800 series American LaFrance. Kira provided the most wonderful refreshments for our meeting,
while Darren shared a signed by the author copy of American Fire Engines since 1900 by Walt McColl. Darren
referred to the book as the bible of fire apparatus.
Also let it be known that Chad Christensen has a nicer station than I do to keep his immaculate (city of)
Vernon CA vintage Crown pumper protected from the weather. His building, known as station 11 is in the
Highland Ranch area with ample room for two rigs and provision for a heated area for club functions and more
storage. If you want to know about the show Emergency, or Crown fire engines, Chad is your connection.
Finally, John Mullin and I shared some java and a thought or three on several subjects at Peetes, a renowned
coffee shop in Littleton. I consider all the meetings successful.
Photo opportunities came when an MPO named Jason (?) of LFR had a reserve quint aerial on the ramp at
#18. I was given a tour of their other stations apparatus, and another day find he was detailed to #12 where they
had all of the apparatus out for a recording of history. (Ill have to tell you the technique they use to clean such
an immense apparatus bay sometime). I say history since I found that Edgewater VFD, Colorados 13 th
organized fire department has disbanded. They are now a part of the Wheat-Ridge Fire District as station #73. I
am so glad I recorded EVFDs apparatus a year or so ago. Finally I was able to discover WWW5280fire.com, a
combined effort by area fire buffs. Eric Hurst was the POC. The 5280fire website covers the state with photos
of current and past apparatus, their stations, and lots of history notes. I love local history and focused on
Arapaho and Denver county, reading about the transition of Centennial, Cherry Hill Village, and Castle Pines in
pictures long before they became South Metro, for example. Denver had some interesting annexations and
contracted areas as well. There were lots of 700 series ALFs, with other yellow or white varied rigs (including
a nice LFR Pirsch stick) of the day. The nice thing was to be able to scoot-a-poot around the area without
leaving the house. Keep the camera handy and dont be afraid to record tomorrows history.
I have committed to writing an article for Back Draft Magazine, a volunteer fire service publication. Editor
Mark Greenfield is based in Phoenix AZ and fun to interact with. Further info on this exciting publication can
be found at www.backdraftmagazine.com. The focus is my own Central High VFD located here in Ellis CO
TX.
On January 1, 2014 Richmond VA has abandoned the total-quint concept made famous by St. Louis MO,
who abandoned their concept in 2011. RFD closed twenty quint companies and reestablished 18 engine and four
truck companies. In the meantime, or until replaced, the apparatus will respond as assigned. Two platforms will
be placed in reserve status and cross-staffed by members of that house.
The answer for: March, Pete, Jim, and Tom take their places with E-37, as a reported 50,000 people are
standing along Woodward Ave. watching the April 10, 1922 change from horses to motorized fire apparatus.
This was the last fire company in the city of Detroit to make the transition. Oh, Pete, Jim, and Tom were the
horses assigned to pull the steamer from the firehouse.

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Question of the month: April. The 2011 Kassbohrer Gelandefarzeugal Piston Bully 100 is used at the Denver
International Airport in Colorado. What is its function?

The Firehouse kitchen. The break of warmer weather will allow the gang to flow some hydrants. After
committee work and an ample review of the process over several egg sandwiches and numerous cups of coffee,
Engine 13 is on the street. Captain Snut suggests Tees and shorts but Curbs declines being self-conscious with his
white chubby thunder thighs. Even the captain enjoys cool attire despite his very scrawny stature, while the others
figure what you see is, well, what you get regardless of what the fashion police think. The gang agrees the high
cost of cleaning and normal wear and tear on their uniforms is bad enough after the city took away their uniform
allowances and issue uniforms only as needed to save money. In reality, Captain Snut used his money for fishing
trips, while Books was to have picked up real good deals on fire items on e-bay. Reach socked his away in a super
saving plan hoping to make better interest, while Curbs kept his wood shop tool box updated. Dink was the only
one that kept up his uniform issue current with regulations, as directed to do so by his mother.
B-shift has decided to flow the plugs west of Langdon Street, so this leaves four apartment complexes and
several small neighborhoods for the gang. Each member takes a turn on the plugs as Curbs maintains his position
behind the steering wheel of the rig. Even Captain Snut twists some stems figuring the lesser of the evils and
enjoys the absence of Curbs constant whining. Reach has brought along some goodies for the gang to munch on,
as Captain Snut wants to keep them on the street to get completed as soon as possible. About two in the afternoon
Dink suddenly notices his turn out gear is missing. Uh, Omigosh its gone cries Dink and accuses Books of
kicking it off the tailboard or some neighborhood delinquent snaring it off the engine to trade for drugs or other
inappropriate activity while they werent looking. After a check of the rig, Captain Snut figures to back travel the
area looking for Dinks gear figuring it may have just fallen off the rig. Dink fears the worse as according to
regulation, the mis-use of, or any other reason for loss will result in the assigned member to reimburse or repurchase gear appropriate to adhere with regulation #20-15 the guide for protective clothing. In other words,
todays cost of gear is astronomical. Dink continues to whine that space aliens or some Johnny Gage wanna-be
has his gear and how his mother will not understand the loss.
After an hour and a half of backtracking, they are about a block from firehouse 13 and Curbs announces he
just has to use the bathroom, so Captain Snut diverts from the hunt. About time they stop in front of quarters
Reach hollers, Theres Dinks gear, setting at attention along side the wall, right where he left it. Books drops
off the tailboard to guide Curbs onto the ramp and chides Dink about the loss of productivity. As the pumper
stops, Curbs sets the wheel chock in place, no use making him the center of attention as he races toward the
bathroom. By now the day is shot and the gang will stay in quarters.
Captain Snut will brave Curbs scented air, as he will have the first shower after the sweaty efforts of the day,
(rank has its privilege). As he turns the faucets wide open, the captain takes the last of his soiled clothes off.
Reach is in the storage room getting some items from the freezer when he see that the hot water heater has self
destructed and there is hot water is all over the floor. Reach hollers out, Theres no hot water, and dont use the
shower!!!
Meanwhile, unable to hear the warning, Captain Snut leaps into the shower stall to get the full effect of the
rushing water.
Have your copy yet? You can place orders The Firehouse Kitchen at 1-800-834-1803, or go on line at
bookorders@rosedogbooks.com. They are also available at Rose Dogs Yahoo! Store at the following;
www.rosedogbookstore.com the book is also available at Amazon.com. Thank you for checking it out.
Prayer portion. Mark 1v2-3 tells of sending a messenger to prepare the way to hear the Word. I used this text
during a Sunday school class. The messenger is John the baptizer, but I suggested that we could also become that
messenger to the wilderness, or better the world. The consensus was the right moment is now, regardless of what
we think. The Holy Spirit puts the right words in our mouth, when we become vocal. This may be the only
moment that someone may gain the knowledge of the good news. Are you willing to share the thought? Praise
God!
Thats all for now, meanwhile, keep the hoses dry 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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