Local Firefighters
Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, October 6, 2021 | Ferndale Record
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Protect and serve
Left: A myriad of fire equipment can be seen at a tour of the Fire District No. 1 station in Everson. Right: Fire District No. 1 volunteer Josiah Dickinson and Captain Greg Macy conduct a tour at the District 1 fire station in Everson. (Elisa Claassen/for the Tribune)
Tour of Fire District No. 1; Everson agency accepting volunteers By Elisa Claassen for the Tribune
Fire District 1 in Everson recently gave a tour of what is in and on their fire trucks. Volunteer Josiah Dickinson and District 1 Captain Greg Macy opened the doors. Behind the doors, an aid vehicle, a tanker
truck and a fire engine side by side. Not everything is what it appears to be. “It’s a big toy box,” the two said together. From starting at the cab along the driver’s side, we worked our way to the back and around the vehicle as well as up to the top. Inside of the cab, there
is space for four. The men quickly described things using acronyms and were told to slow down. Whether paid or volunteer, all involved need to know what everything is and where it is – and know it in a hurry. Time is of the essence. One is SCBA, which means self-contained breathing apparatus. The driver pulls up, the occupant of the front seat, a navigator, is likely is looking at maps online through a CAD system or books and directing especially is
a source of water is needed. Flashlights. Communication devices. A Knox box is where universal keys are stored to unlock another Knox box at usually large public buildings such as schools to enter in a hurry without waiting for on-site employees. Not all fires are accessed down wide roads. Some are narrow driveways. They need to park and proceed with gear on foot. Alongside of the truck doors are pulled out or up to expose
various types of hoses and other equipment, depending on what is needed. There’s a pump panel, fold down steps that lead to the top, different lengths of hose that can be quickly rolled to the hose. Wrenches and mallets can be pulled out to work on the hydrant nasals. Several sizes of ladders are stored away too and even shovels and other hand tools, rotary saws, tarps and speContinued on next page