| March 2008 Luke 6:31 on the Fire Ground Words of Reflection by Rev. Jeff Wargo, Chaplain There are three priorities on the fire ground: 1. Life Safety 2. Incident Stabilization 3. Property Conservation On March 2, 2008, Station 42 personnel were called to the scene of a house fire in Williams Township. Upon arrival, the house was filled with smoke from a fire burning in the laundry room on the second floor. Three of our guys went in to perform overhaul near the fire. I found myself waiting near the porch of the house with two of our other guys and several firefighters from Station 28. I have no idea how long we stood there but, at some point, Lieutenant 42 came out of the house carrying a wire cage. Inside was a gerbil rescued from the smoky home's interior. Fortunately the pet probably inhaled some smoke but was otherwise fine. As he came out the door, he took quite a ribbing from me and the other guys around who were quick to compliment him on his "save." Firefighters love to rib each other. A week or so later, posters showed up in the firehouse with a picture of Lieutenant 42 and a very grateful gerbil. The humor was actually quite funny. But the reality of the situation is that Lieutenant 42 did his job that day--looking out for life safety. In this case, it was a gerbil. Other firefighters have had the occasion to rescue cats, dogs, or other animals, not to mention the moms, dads, sons, daughters, and other folk that come to mind when most people think about firefighters making rescues on the fire ground. After all, life safety is the number one priority on the fire ground: your own safety, your partner or team's safety, and then the safety of the occupants or victims to whom we attend. While we may rib and kid one another for the rescue of a gerbil, if it was our gerbil left in a smoky home, or our child's gerbil left in a smoky home, each one of us would honestly appreciate a firefighter taking the time to look out for our friend and bring him to safety. We may never say it out loud, but I'm pretty sure it is true. A week after this call, Station 42 personnel were again called out to a Sunday evening emergency. This time, they were called to the scene of an electrocution. The victim lay about 12 feet down an embankment and rescue personnel had to cross a creek to get to him. Our two EMTs and our own firefighters cared for the man until the paramedics arrived, starting CPR and trying to revive him. Unfortunately it was apparent that the man had succumbed to his injuries. Despite the death, our guys cared for that man as if he was their own brother, father, son, or loved one. They worked to shield him from falling debris as others made their way down to assist. They sought to preserve his dignity and bring him up to the ambulance with the proper care and concern due any individual. It is this characteristic that makes me proud to serve with these guys of Station 42. They may be volunteers, but they are professional in how they do their job and treat occupants or victims on scene. I'm not sure they would characterize it this way, but as I look at what they do (at what we do together) and, in particular, reflect on these two examples of fire ground activity, I see these brothers as living out a statement of faith based in Luke 6:31. This is the often quoted verse that reads, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." In many ways, the fire ground is all about this teaching. When we as firefighters enter someone else's residence, our goal is to contain and extinguish the fire with as little damage to the occupants' home as necessary. When we are called to the scene of a fire where someone is trapped, if the situation allows for a safe attempt, we are willing to risk our own lives to pull that victim out into the fresh air--just as I would hope someone would do for me should I be in their shoes. One need not be a Christian to live out this belief. One need not be religious at all. Though I see our actions on the fire ground as a lived-out statement of faith, others may see them simply as the very basis of all human relationships: we should try to care for others and look out for one another. Each time the tones drop and personnel don their turnout gear and board the engine or rescue truck, someone's life is in danger--be it that of a victim, or the firefighter him or herself. Some would say then, that responding to a fire call is heroic. That may be true. But from what I have seen and experienced, most firefighters aren't looking to be a hero; rather they are fulfilling a calling....a ministry lived out with Luke 6:31 as its foundation. |
| May 2008 Silence is Sacred... Words of Reflection by Rev. Jeff Wargo, Chaplain As I type these words, it is the 20th of May. To date this month, we have had a total of 3 calls: a marine rescue and an extrication, both of which were, basically, recalls, and a dwelling fire on Mother's Day. In the fire service, we train for fire and rescue. Many of the firefighters that I have met and come to know, live for the call. When the tones drop, the adrenalin courses through their veins like a fire all its own. But in months like this one, often it feels for them and, I must admit, for me, that we are all dressed up with nowhere to go. We train to fight fires; to extricate victims from cars and save lives. We train for the action. But when there is silence... Silence can be deafening. For some firefighters silence can be as oppressive as a brick wall that one must overcome. The more days that pass without a fire call, the more restless their mood grows, or the more irritated they become. Open pagers allow the die hard firefighter to live vicariously through the calls of mutual aid companies or other county companies. But there is always the thought, the hope....maybe today. The more days that pass with silence, the more the whisper begins that when the next call comes, it is going to be a big call... Silence doesn't have to be deafening however. Silence can also be life-saving. It allows one the luxury of time to reflect, to troubleshoot, to pinpoint, to train, to prepare. SIlence in the fire service allows a company time to check their equipment, run that drill that keeps getting postponed, hone up on skills, or simply meditate and run through the "what if" scenarios in one's mind... In the Hebrew scriptures, there is a story that I love about the prophet Elijah. Elijah is on the run from the queen, Jezebel, who has vowed to kill him. He runs into the wilderness and eventually finds his way to the mountain of God, Mount Horeb. God appears to him and says, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He cries out to God that he has been faithful, chastising God that he has obeyed and been a faithful prophet, and now they seek to kill him. God tells him to step out onto the rock, for He is about to pass by. But before he could move-- "Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence." (From I Kings 19: 11-12) The silence was deafening. When he heard it, he wrapped his face in homage and stepped out on the rock. Then he heard the still, small voice of God asking, "What are you doing here Elijah?" Elijah again responds that the people are seeking to kill him but that he has been faithful. And God says, "Go and return...and anoint another to do as you have done..." When Elijah first arrives at Mount Horeb, seeking an escape, God's call to him is one that he is not ready to hear. He is too focused on his own ways, too angry, too blinded by the experiences of the previous days. God reminds him of the power of things beyond our control: how wind can split mountains and break rocks like a tornado, how earthquakes can destroy, and even how fire can be devastating. But the scripture reminds us that God is not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire. These are not God's ways. God is, however, in the silence. Why? Because it is only after we experience the wind, the earthquake, or the fire--literally, figuratively, or emotionally in life--that we are ready to be taught. It is only when we create a space to hear God speak, that our souls are replenished. Silence is a sacred time, when the core of who we are is re-energized by whatever higher power in which we choose to have faith. After a series of calls, a time of respite is important too. These silent days can teach us more about our education, our motivation, and our self-care. These silent days give us the chance to learn, to grow, to develop our skills. The question is, do we humble ourselves enough to grasp the silence as the learning time that it is. Do we undertake a focus of self-care and growth? Do we reflect and re-energize? For after the silence comes the action. Like Elijah, we go to DO SOMETHING. In our case, train, put out fires and save lives. We too, are tasked with anointing others to our call and training those who will pick up the task with us. But the best teachers are those who know how to be taught themselves. How do you use the silence for the purpose it is given you? Silence is sacred. Silence is opportunity. Silence is a gift. May we use it wisely. |
| April 2008 In Preparation for Service... Words of Reflection by Rev. Jeff Wargo, Chaplain Last summer I responded to a late night call with several other guys from Station 42. We traveled down to Station 49 to provide coverage while they attacked a barn fire a few miles out from our location. Around 3 am, Engine 42 was called to the scene to provide additional manpower as an attempt was made to knock down the flames. When we arrived, the barn was engulfed and I went with Lieutenant 42 to the C Side of the building to man a 1 3/4" hose as we sought to keep water on the lower level of the barn. The pressure in the hose was quite high. I started that night as backup on the hose and, eventually, took a turn at the nozzle. In a matter of minutes, I became very aware of how out of shape I actually was. I could feel the strain in my arms and shoulder as I tried to hold the hose in place, the pressure pulling it back. Reality set in for me as I told Lieutenant 42 that I needed a break and couldn't do this assignment. I passed the nozzle and made my way around to Side A to seek water and a space to chill out for a while. After that night, I decided that weight training and weight loss were two priorities for me were I to continue in the fire service. Recently, I came across some writing that described a chaplain's role in the fire service as caring for the totality of the men and women that he or she serves: helping to teach emotional, spiritual and physical care. Now, I'm not one to preach to others how to eat, exercise or train one's willpower. The good Lord knows I haven't exactly been a poster boy for athletic prowess or self care in my life. I believe in many ways to preach by example. Since last summer, I committed myself to regular workouts, diet modification, an intentional attempt to get enough rest and to work at toning my body in order to have more endurance on the fire ground. I actually adopted the NYFD workout regiment found in a book on Amazon.com and for the remainder of the summer, fall, and winter, dived into the program to see what would happen. To my amazement, I have lost over 45 pounds, toned up and gained energy in ways that I haven't experienced since high school. I feel great. And I feel much more able to actively participate on the fire ground where bunker gear and SCBA easily add another 10 to 20 pounds to carry. Month after month, FIREHOUSE magazine reports on Line of Duty Deaths for firefighters in the US. It is a constant reminder to me, month after month, to try to stick to my program--as I see the number of firefighters my age or younger, dying from cardiac arrest or similar health problems. I know there is no guarantee in life, but if I can do something to help myself, I'm really the only one who can make that happen. Romans 12:1 teaches us, in the words of the Apostle Paul, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Part of living this out is caring for the bodies that we have been given. Part of living this out in the fire service is caring for our bodies so that we may be spiritually and physically stronger in order to serve our community in the call which we have all answered. From the Christian perspective, if we care for the bodies which we have been given, we worship the God who created them for us to enjoy. William Goldfeder, in his regular column in FIREHOUSE magazine, likes to talk about how we should think about the "people in our wallets" when we consider how we take chances on the fire ground. Perhaps his words of advice should also apply to each one of us as firefighters as we consider how we care for ourselves in preparation for service. |
JANUARY 2008 Finding God in the Fire Service Words of Reflection by Rev. Jeff Wargo, Chaplain In March 2006, Community Fire Company #1, Station 42, Riegelsville, invited me to become an honorary chaplain, the first chaplain, of their department. It was one of those few moments in life where I have been speechless. Chief Myers presented me with a white helmet, emblazoned with the Chaplain's shield. He presented the helmet and the position with gratitude for the pastoral support offered to the department during the flooding of Riegelsville in April 2005. Since that day, I have been, and am honored to serve as chaplain for such a dedicated group of individuals who willingly put their lives in harm's way each day to protect and to serve the public. In prayerful reflection of the honor given me, I came to realize that I couldn't simply be an 'honorary' chaplain without understanding what it is that these folks do on an emergency call; and without knowing who they and their families are. So I joined the Fire Department. At first, I was uncertain what the presence of a clergy person in the firehouse would mean to the department. I was sure to let folks know that, though I am ordained in the UCC, I get up and dress the same way as they do, make mistakes the same way as they do, and am fully human in the same way as they are. I would hope my congregation would be some of the first to say that I am well grounded in their midst and do not like the whole "pastor on a pedestal" mentality. I am blessed in my ministry, but I am one of God's fallible human creatures and no better than anyone else. If I didn't believe that before, then entering into training with the fire department was a good way to learn that lesson. The first time on the fire ground, one is humbled beyond belief. How do you even put on bunker gear in less than a minute? How do you hook up a hose? What do I do when I jump off a truck? Are these boots and layers of material really going to keep me from being burned if I walk into the midst of that brush fire? How does one keep from dropping from the physical strain while fighting a fire? I immediately realized that this "calling" was going to be a new challenge and opportunity in my life. My first experience of God on the fire ground was in the support and nurturing of so many of the firefighters from Station 42, who were willing to take this local clergy guy and teach him how to climb through a second story window, conduct search and rescue exercises, pack up, or go into a burning building. In time, I began to acclimate to the process and procedures of the department. Now, a short 20 months later, I have completed firefighter 1 training and have found an uncertain but more educated place on the fire ground. But the question is always in the back of my mind when the tones drop: "Where will I meet God on this call? I believe that God meets us in our experiences. When everyone comes home to the department, God has blessed us. If we are able to extricate a victim and ensure emergency medical care and transport during the golden hour, God has blessed us. If just our presence brings a reassurance to a family watching their home or property burn, and we can make a difference, God has blessed us. Just in the idea of mutual aid; in the fact that if you are exhausted there is someone else to take the nozzle or line; in the very act of entering a burning building and coming out alive, God is present. And even on the tragic call...when a victim lies just out of arm's reach; or dies just moments before extrication; when the equipment fails or the timing is off; when it just isn't a good day, or if the unthinkable should happen...God is there--reminding us of how precious and fragile life is and how mortal these bodies can be...reminding us to spend time with our loved ones, respect one another, and do our best each day to care for one another and appreciate life. Finding God on the fire ground really isn't that hard when you stop to think about it. Whether you are a Christian, or believe only in a higher power or karma, it is not difficult to recognize that a greater presence; a greater intelligence perhaps, influences and surrounds us in all we do. The Christian scriptures mention the word fire 610 times. But one of those references brings reassurance to me in all things--from the Hebrew scriptures, the words of the prophet Isaiah: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." -- Isaiah 43:2 (NRSV) I believe this verse references the fact that God will protect us spiritually no matter what this mortal life may endure--even if it means this mortal life shall end. Does it speak to a physical protection as well? I believe the answer is "yes," but it is much more delicate to speak of this interpretation because people do die in floods and fires--even those who believe. I do not believe that God causes this, or wills this to happen. Instead, I believe God grieves with us. The text does open for us however, the hope that, as life has shown us, people can survive even devastating things--and sometimes miracles do happen. These timeless words also serve to bring reassurance and hope to firefighters and rescue workers everywhere who place themselves in the midst of fire and water to save lives and properties. For me, the two parts of this verse are a bridge that serves as a reminder of the flood that introduced me to the fire service, and the God that works around and through me and others every time the tones drop. Where do you find God on the fire ground? Pretty much...everywhere... |
FEBRUARY 2008 First Time In Words of Reflection by Rev. Jeff Wargo, Chaplain It was a crazy week and I had finally taken some time to relax and wind down. I took a nap. It was Thursday, February 14, 2008. Around 3:45 pm, the sound of the fire siren woke me from a deep rest and, for a moment, I lay there thinking "No, I"m too tired today." But then, the adrenalin kicked in and I roused myself out of bed and ran to put on some clothes and head to the station. I'm not sure why, but I stopped to comb my hair, pick up some trash that the dog had knocked over and use the restroom. Normally, I would have bypassed all of those things and gone quickly to grab my keys and go. In the back of my mind I thought, "I guess I'll miss the truck." Surprisingly, after driving the block to the firehouse, I found that the engine was still there. Running into the bay, I learned it was a dwelling fire and began to gear up. My mind started to race...my first fire. I was thinking of all the things I learned in Firefighter 1 last fall as I climbed into the truck. Lieutenant Hoagland started packing up beside me and I suddenly realized I needed to do that too. I put on the pack, helped him turn on his cylinder, grabbed a mask, pulled on my gloves and helmet, and buckled in. The ride seemed to take a while, but it was only a few minutes until we reached the scene on Center Hill Road in Nockamixon Township. Lt. Hoagland told me to grab the marriage and so, when the truck stopped, I jumped up and grabbed the irons then stepped off the truck. I recall seeing our Battalion Chief saying, "Be careful; we think it's in the basement and there are propane tanks in there." There were two doors to choose from. Lt. Hoagland picked one near the garage and I followed him to the door with the line and grabbed the axe to assist in popping it open. A few short blows and a swift kick from the lieutenant, and the door swung open. Thick smoke billowed out the door and banked down toward the hardwood floors of the house. Lt. Brady came up behind us as we took the line and went on air, crawling into the house. We headed straight in from the door and discovered another doorway into the garage on our left. Straight ahead, a second door was opened to reveal a small room, maybe 6' x 6' that could have been a small storage room with a closet. The room was empty. It was then that I realized we were in an unoccupied home. We backed up into the initial hallway and now turned right, deeper into the house. At this turn, the heat grew more intense. The hardwood floor seemed slimy as the finish melted in the heat of the dwelling. Lt. Brady had the TIC and it revealed a glow to the floor. By this time, guys from Station 49 had joined us inside and we turned a left corner on the hallway to find another hallway. I felt a small closet on my left and the floor was burning hot. The heat of the fire could now be felt through my mask even though I couldn't see flames. Lt. Hoagland in front of me reported that the floor was spongy and starting to slope. We backed out and pulled the line out of the building. My cylinder was at a half and so I headed down to the truck for a refill. All three of us changed bottles and headed back up toward the house where some firefighters from other companies were beginning an external attack on the basement. The evacuation alarm sounded and it was then that I learned that the first floor had collapsed. In my mind, I pictured a small collapse in a corner of the structure. We helped to get ladders and fans in place as ventilation began for an external attack and soon worked our way around to the C side of the building. It was only then that I saw for the first time that the entire C side of the first floor had plummeted to the basement below. Looking in the direction we had entered, I realized that the hallway in which we paused to feel the heat and sloping floor seemed to be the only section on the B side of the house that still was intact. Gradually over the course of the rest of the call, the reality set in of just how lucky the lot of us were to get out of that house before the floor gave way. I cannot speak for the other guys, but for some reason it took me longer to get to the station that day. What if we had been on scene a few minutes earlier and had been able to advance inside just a few minutes earlier...perhaps getting a few minutes deeper before feeling the warning signs? What if we had gone in the front door instead of the one we chose. We would have headed straight back into the area where a crater now rested. I'd read other firefighters' reflections on calls they had gone on; on fires they had fought; on the close calls they had experienced. My first time in, all their words resonate so strongly. We talked about it..why did we make the decisions we did? What if we had... Riding back on the truck and even later at the station as we debriefed, I silently offered prayers of thanksgiving...for God's blessings on us all that day... Was it luck? Providence? Skill? In my faith, I believe it was a divine hand guiding us, protecting us, and bringing us home.... But no matter what you call it, I have learned one thing that we can all call it in common: a good day! |
| June 2008 It Takes a Certain Type... Words of Reflection by Rev. Jeff Wargo, Chaplain One thing that I have discovered in the fire service is that it takes a special type of individual to volunteer for this line of duty. I don't say that egotistically, because, Lord knows, I didn't seek out the fire service. It, in essence, called or captured me. However, I do believe we are all granted gifts of one kind or another and, for the men and women who fight fires, one of those gifts is a certain steel-edged personality. I discovered this the first time I responded to a traffic accident fatality and the first time I was faced with a fire fatality. It changes you. It definitely makes you pause and see the fragility of life in a clear, new lens. It also challenges you. I know guys who have told me that they started in the fire service and were excited by the challenge but, after that first fire fatality of a civilian, they had to walk away. Firefighting isn't for everyone. I have been quite surprised, in fact, to see that, for some reason, the idea of running into a burning building is not as terrifying for me as I thought it would be several years ago. It goes against common sense that if a building is burning, you would run inside. But these brothers and sisters who fight fires, they have steel blood running in their veins, faith in their hearts, and a dedication to saving lives. Of course every fire station has its personalities. There is the hero who tells of all his or her exploits; the diligent who goes about his or her duties with a seriousness of study; the laid back who lives to fight fires, but really doesn't like the cleaning, preparation and training pieces of the job; the wise elder who has fought more than his share of fires and has sage words of advice for the younger generations; the precious goof who can be counted on to make people laugh and find humor at the time they need it the most; the... The list could go on and on... What personality type are you? Why do you fight fires and volunteer for this service? Quite often I pause and do that check-in that counselors ask individuals to do all the time. Look within yourself and ask what makes you happy; what motivates you to do what you do; where do you see value in life; what brings meaning to your life? After months in the fire service, I am often surprised that when I ask myself those questions, my role as a firefighter seems a natural extension to my role as a minister. I can't quite explain it....I guess it is saving lives in a different way. However, the concept that each brother and sister in turnout gear is, in fact, a minister of good news; of new life; would probably not be the first response if you were to ask a firefighter to describe him or herself, but that is the way that I see them. Imagine if you will, being the victim in a burning house and seeing someone come to your rescue. Or being trapped in a car and having another person come to get you out...come to bring you new life. Every time a firefighter answers the tones, he or she steps into the role of minister...a bringer of good news; one who care for another...one who is given gifts for service and called to bring life and to safe lives. Being a firefighter takes a certain type of person and grants them a special calling. Everytime the siren screams, a firefighter risks his or her life to save others, knowing that there is the off-chance that it will be their last call. It is something often unspoken in the fire service. It is something innately understood. In the Christian faith, it is taught, "No greater love hath a person than this, but to lay down one's life for their friends." To the firefighter, every possible victim is a friend in this context... Thus, every firefighter is a minister of life and new life.... Have you every stopped to think about it that way? |