What do you think of RAF firefighters?

[skevans]

This is an honest and open request, please treat it as such and not a place to come and start having a dig at the firefighter trade.

I am truly interested in your opinion of the firefighter trade and would love to hear any stories or constructive points/questions you would like to make.

I realise that I am possibly setting myself up for lots of volleyball jokes just like last time I tried a sensible thread, however if you aren't as thick as a whale ommelette you will treat this request for what it is.

 

[bigsteviej]

seen it from both sides!!

trained at manston (3rd course IIRC!) and then for one reason or another remustered 18 months later after being posted ..

then in my new trade i spent two yrs or so picking up crashed a/c... one of which was a harrier gr3 that had a major mishap whilst in the hover at wittering...

long story, shortened.... pilot ended up paraplegic..was still in seat when a/c crashed AND caught fire... impailed on the column.. said a/c destroyed... seat off it's rail... fire crew dragged him out .... the nice men who give out free ties said seat was as good as live even though they had pinned it...

firecrew IIRC got QCB or something similar....

i have lots of pics of that a/c.... my hat goes off to those lads... big, big balls to do what they did.......




oh yeah and they do drink lots of tea and play even more volleyball....

 

[Justacabbie]

I was part of a team cutting up a phantom at waddo in '04 when we "accidentally" set it on fire a bit. Well we had a 90 litre foam extinguisher which we used successfully to put it out. Unknown to us, someone had seen the smoke and called the fire section, who duly turned up all sirens blazing after it was out and we had resumed cutting. They insisted we got off it as it "might still be on fire" and they had to check for hot spots. Anyway we let them have their moment, and when they were "happy" we had managed to sort it without their help, we were allowed to continue cutting albeit under their supervision incase of another fire. Obviously excited at the prospect of another fire they sat and hovered over us like expectant kids as we sparked our merry way through titanium with our disc cutters.
Well bu99er me if we didnt manage to ignite another tiny flame which didnt go out in due course as they normally do. The ensuing struggle between the SAC and CPL firefighter to get the hose and douse said flicker was to say the least highly entertaining as we sat back and watched the flame getting bigger as 10 years old f34 got a hold. The CPL finally pulled rank on the devestated SAC who relinquished the hose and the flames were expertly extinguished. The CPL then had a bit of a to do with our chiefy gang boss saying it was too dangerous to carry on. Well after about 20 mins the guys retreated to the fire section with their tails between their legs and we got on with cutting up the stubborn beast.

That said I worked closely with firefighters during Op Fresco in Dundee (most called out unit in Scotland) and they were as expected extremely professional and a pleasure to work along side. We had some massive fires, which were no doubt an experience for us all. Happily nobody lost their lives whilst we provided cover to the best of our ability. After all saving lives is what their job is all about!

OK so my story was a bit of a pi55 take, but they are all extreme professionals in my eyes and an essential trade which should be kept alive.

Thanks, guys.

 

[Sospan]

Honestly.....

The figherfighters themselves are Prima donna when they have safety in numbers, but when you can catch a moment alone with them out side the fire click, they are genuinely nice guys. If you get the chance to socialise with them you will find that the individuals are mostly complete head cases.

I know that the trade has some serious retention and OOA turnaround times and I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

So to sum up, good bunch of guys badly managed by the RAF.

 

[Rikster]

Honestly.....

The figherfighters themselves are Pre-Madonnas when they have safety in numbers, but when you can catch a moment alone with them out side the fire click, they are genuinely nice guys. If you get the chance to socialise with them you will find that the individuals are mostly complete head cases.

I know that the trade has some serious retention and OOA turnaround times and I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

So to sum up, good bunch of guys badly managed by the RAF.

Sorry but that made me smile : Pre-Madonnas unless I am missing something, I assume you meant Prima donna

 

[firestorm]

To be fair I suppose they try their best under some harsh working conditions and manpower constraints.

The problem I found with the trade was poor management, lack of work and trained by people with little or no experience.

In my opinion there was little to get primadonnaish about.

 

[prop135]

Saw a Victor land dragging hoses back in 90. A/C stopped and crew got out and ran off.....right past the crash wagons going the other way. I laughed my knuts off until we were told the Victor still had full tanks of fuel......I overtook the aircrew on the way down the runway!

The lads from the fire section at Marham were a top bunch of lads doing a v dangerous job with sh1te management. I have always had respect for them

 

[Douglas Bader's Right Leg]

Spent plenty of time sheltering from IDF in the firefighters' hut at BAS, thoroughly nice chaps and purveyors of the finest brews. Their PAR work was excellent as well.

 

[pie sandwich]

At Wittering in '03 we had a T10 throw a engine blade while doing rollers, it threw it at the start of the runway with an almighty bang by the time it had come to a stop 200 yds from the A1 the fire crews were coming around the corner going all out and were on the scene as the aircrew were busy getting down from the aircraft.

Plus my next door neighbour back in cyprus was a fireman and he was a top bloke, just a shame he was a hammers fan, his nickname was marshy so if anyone knows him point him this way.

 

[skevans]

At Wittering in '03 we had a T10 throw a engine blade while doing rollers, it threw it at the start of the runway with an almighty bang by the time it had come to a stop 200 yds from the A1 the fire crews were coming around the corner going all out and were on the scene as the aircrew were busy getting down from the aircraft.

Plus my next door neighbour back in cyprus was a fireman and he was a top bloke, just a shame he was a hammers fan, his nickname was marshy so if anyone knows him point him this way.

I was a crew commander on that incident. It was almost identical to the tragic T8 incident from the previous December at the other end of the runway. Our response time was recorded by ATC and we were on the scene 87 seconds from the original pan call, the fire was extinguished in less than two minutes from our arrival.

By the way I know Marshy. He is currently at Manston for his FT2 course. I will let him know where you are.

 

[Teh Wal]

My opinion of The String-vest wearing volleyball gang went up massively when I watched the crew at Chivenor pull some poor soul out of the backseat of a crashed Hawk, which was well and truly on fire, back in '92.

Young Wal has taken a recent interest in joining said profession but he is colour blind; I know that there are some restrictions in civvy world, is it the same for the RAF Fire Service?

 

[muttywhitedog]

They are the one trade everyone hopes are never busy.

 

[sparks will fly]

I have total respect for the guys who where out in Basra when I was there on telic 10, but I did get pi$$ed off changing the starter motors on their MFV's and RIV. Was always glad to get them back on the road though, they earned their corn out there.DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Sw EX Fairy]

When I was at Wittering back in the 90,s drinking my tea and enjoying the sun, an emergency state 2 came in; As the OCU only covered Harrier state 2, this one was down to HMF to cover. Looking over the airfield was a Hurricane from BBMF with black smoke coming out of the engine. Being a typical liney at the time I did not get out of chair, but it was quite funny to see CT, FS and the WO running out of there office to see what was going on. As this Hurricane came down the runway it crashed, I believe that the pilot jumped out just as it hit the ground and broke is leg? And this Hurricane (being made of wood) was burning like a Nov 5 bonfire on the runway. Well the boys in there red trucks rushed to the stricken plane to put the firer out, it amazed me at the time that they were shooting the foam into wind and about twenty meters short of the fire, but being pro’s they managed to put it out eventually, the next thing I knew was the tow tractor from HMF (fully of SNCO) waiting by our hanger to get clearance to go to the crash site, we typically made the obvious statement to them that they did not need a towing arm but brooms and dustbins to sweep up the remains of the Hurricane, they did not find our comments helpful. But they eventually got the message to go back to there desks.

The other thing that I never got was

It was quite common on GR3 and T4 for fuel to collect in the APU, when the jet started up you usually got some flames shooting out and burn for 3-10 seconds then go out if it went on for longer two things used to happen 1) the growbag would look at the liney who in most case turn and runaway from the jet as the blades in the APU were about to be sent 50ft into the air 2) the growbag would shutdown and the liney would wait to see if the flame went out and if not put it out with the extinguisher, then the growbag and the liney would go back to the line hut and snag the jet, in this time the boys in their red truck would rush to the pan and sit there watching the jet for 30 mins to make sure it did not catch fire even though it has already been put out and was a common event on the line happened at least once a month and to my knowledge never re caught fire.
DT_Xtremez_15:

 

[skevans]

My opinion of The String-vest wearing volleyball gang went up massively when I watched the crew at Chivenor pull some poor soul out of the backseat of a crashed Hawk, which was well and truly on fire, back in '92.

I was there later that day, arriving from St Mawgan as a detachee for an excercise. I remember it well. It's ironic that one had to give his QCB back at a later date for 'misdemeanors, 2 were kicked out for discipline and one went on to become Mr gay UK, living with a very well known short irish comic as well!

One more of the guys was run over that night by his girlfriend, she thought that he had been out on the pull, and aimed sraight for him! Her name escapes me but she was a dental chick down at ST Mawgan in the early 90's.

The sixth member of the crew is now discharged and working for McDonalds!

Young Wal has taken a recent interest in joining said profession but he is colour blind; I know that there are some restrictions in civvy world, is it the same for the RAF Fire Service?

Yes, I'm afraid you cant be red/green defective in our world.

 

[Ex-Bay]

This is an honest and open request, please treat it as such and not a place to come and start having a dig at the firefighter trade.

I am truly interested in your opinion of the firefighter trade and would love to hear any stories or constructive points/questions you would like to make.

I realise that I am possibly setting myself up for lots of volleyball jokes just like last time I tried a sensible thread, however if you aren't as thick as a whale ommelette you will treat this request for what it is.

Good guys doing a difficult job they hope will not happen for real. They did not like being re-mustered/called "Fireman-Gunners" as part of the Regiment Flight.

DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

I saw the Wittering guys put out the Hurri Fire in 91 (The plane was only on fire for 15 seconds) and the crash work they did at Colt with the Jaguar that was taken down by the barrier.

They show their true worth out at places such as where this post is being typed. They are the first to venture out onto the airfield and do PAR (including the dark) and as we all know are one of the busiest sections out here.

I have also had a game of Volleyball with them as well!!DT_Xtremez_19:

 

[The Stig A.D.I.]

I was on guard nights at Bruggen in the late 90's (or was it 2000?) when, during duty supper, we (along with the Fire Fighters and Police) received a call to attend a fire at block 60. Anyway, after many years' experience of being turned out of bed at all sorts of unsociable hours to drive the crash ambulance to non-existant barrack block fires, off I went, albeit slightly miffed at having to leave the free nosh...

Within minutes, we had arrived at the block, only to find that it was already well alight with smoke billowing from broken windows, etc. the initial scene was one of chaos, but immediately they arrived, the Fire Fighters had taken charge and were busy both attacking the fire and organising extra manpower (us!) to open hydrants and break into and move vehicles that were parked too close and causing an obstruction.

So, while I was gutted at having to kick over a brand new CBR600F and help drag it across the road, AND smash the windows of the nice car parked next to the hydrant, so we could pass a hose through it, well, it was for the greater good!

By the time the local civvy brigade turned up, the RAF lads had it well under control and, although the block was completely gutted, the initial search for persons trapped and the swift professionalism thereafter meant that no injuries were sustained.

Until that night, I'd never really had any direct dealings with the RAF Fire & Rescue lads (apart from when I attended an accident where two SACs at Waddo had 'borrowed' a TACR2 and drove it, at high speed, into a tree in North Hyekam - but that's another story...), however, ever since then I've held them in particularly high regard!

Shame about that CBR6 though...

DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Teh Wal]

...
Yes, I'm afraid you cant be red/green defective in our world.

Oh dear, that'll upset him. :S

 

[firestorm]

Young Wal has taken a recent interest in joining said profession but he is colour blind; I know that there are some restrictions in civvy world, is it the same for the RAF Fire Service?

Contact your local fire service. It depends just how colour blind he is.