Fireman (2nd Ed, 1954)

this is the beginning of an exciting day for fireman Tom Briggs good luck tom shouts mrs. Briggs Tom's just finished a year's training with this fire company today he is starting as firefighter first class of fire department station one Tom's getting in just in time to join the other firemen now taking the place of men's who have been on duty all night it's almost 8 a.m. inspection time for fire marshal Jym doorman the fire marshal is reviewing the day shift of firefighters alright company he says you can go ahead captain Drake is the duty officer for today he leads Tom to the aerial ladder truck takeover he says Tom will be Tillerman his job is to steer the rear wheels of the huge ladder truck the truck is so long that it needs two men to operate it the Tillerman in the rear and driver in front just now the drivers checking the engine of the big truck to be sure it's working all right all the firefighting equipment must be inspected every day and each part cleaned and polished always ready to go just the minute the fire alarm comes in whenever they have time fireman practice what they might have to do in fighting a fire the area ladder is built to reach high places on tall buildings see the three ladders one placed inside the other they can be extended and turned with the help of a few levers but firemen use hand ladders to sometimes there's no room for the huge ladder truck then hand ladders must be used here comes Tom he's carrying a hose roller on his back his partner carries the rope Down Goes the rope and up goes the nozzle the hose roller makes it easy for Tom to pull up the heavy hose here's another way to get a heavy hose to the roof the fireman carry it with the help of hose straps these firemen practice saving a man's life one of them makes believe that he is overcome by smoke captain Drake shows them how to give oxygen to a smoke victim the machine forces oxygen into the lungs and pulls out the bad air other firemen practice life-saving with a life net fireman often save lives this way at a real fire what's this it looks like a fire will anyone see it a watchful policeman notices the smoke quickly he calls in the alarm over the police radio alarm 13 alarm 13 alarm third and mean real work for the firemen now on to the engines on to the trucks boots on helmets on everyone to his place tom was rushing up to his telemancy give us a signal to the engineer which means I'm ready and already the doors are opening the Chiefs car is out and away first engine companies follow or big area ladder truck is last 90 seconds after the alarm and they're on their way all traffic stops the siren shrieks clear the way here come the firefighters they must hurry Fire doesn't wait that's why fire engines may go through red lights on their way to a fire but firemen always drive very carefully Tom's keeping a firm hand on the tiller the truck and round another corner again one minute after leaving the firehouse and just two and a half minutes after the alarm was turned in the firemen are at the fire and letters up to the second floor first engine company move up carry up that hose boys second engine company pull up closer take the ladder truck to the rear of the house connect the hose to the water hiding open up the water rushes into the puppet the engineer puts the pumpkin operation graduates the balance the hose is swell in the water rushes through them already the spray is Camilla flame but the fire spacer look little Judy and her parents are very worried will the firemen save their home Marshall durban orders the area ladder up carefully the engineer lowers the any matter so it doesn't crush the rough up goes Tom just as easy edit fired step up the pressure more water into the windows more pressure for water up to the roof pounds opening a hole in the roof to release smoke and eat from the Attic smokes rushing up through the hole come that's another fool to let more heat out now the engine pumps with full force fireman with smoke masks go inside to see if all the fire has been put out fire seems to dive down firefighter Tom and captain Drake are happy that they could save Judy's house and her kitten the fireman's job is done Down Goes the area ladder the wet hoses are rolled up and go back to the truck each in its proper place now Judy can better understand why firemen are so important the firemen have done it this time and now they have to go back to the fire station on their way back they follow traffic rules of they sound like other cars no sirens need it now we're firemen and soon they are back at the firehouse ready to rush out again to protect their community from fires you