24: What Can Happen in A Day

Michael Ford

Description

24-What Can Happen In A Day... Most people know that firefighting is an incredibly dangerous profession. The popular perception of firefighters is that they are fearless heroes who put their lives on the line to rescue people from burning buildings. That perception is mostly true. But there is so much more about firefighters and their community labor that is rarely revealed. 24-What Can Happen in a Day is a brilliant, intimate look into the daily lives of firefighters, from the experiences of Michael Ford Jr., who rose through the ranks from raw recruit to assistant fire chief. You will ride along with Chief Ford as he unveils the most interesting, disturbing, and adventurous firefighter escapades. You'll laugh and wince in sympathy as Ford offers you a behind the scenes view into a world of secrets, failures, misfortune, exhilaration and triumph. You will cheer as you are encouraged to transcend perceived limitations to advance in life. And more than anything, you'll be enthralled as you experience the inspiring, tragic, shocking, best and worst of humanity come to life, compelling you to treasure your family and friends with a more significant expression.Hilarious, profound, and deeply moving... this is a thrill ride you'll never forget.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Développement personnel
• développement personnel
• Self-help
• Inspirational
• Motivational

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 23 juillet 2018
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781977202062
• Langue: English

Extrait

24
What Can Happen in A Day
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2018 Michael Ford Jr.
v4.0

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

Names, dates, places, and incidents in this book have been changed. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely coincidental.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Promise Land Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-9772-0206-2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018948136

Illustrations © 2018 James Shipley. All rights reserved - used with permission.
Author Photo © 2018 Shantel Pettway. All rights reserved - used with permission.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


Dedications
I dedicate this book to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for blessing me with such an honorable and adventurous profession, and for His protection of all the brave men and women that serve their communities as firefighters and first responders, and all of the staff and family members who support them.
I dedicate this book to all the men and women that I served with during my 23-year career in the Louisville Fire Department, and especially Chief Gregory Fredrick who showed great confidence in me.
I dedicate this book to my wife and high school sweetheart Andrea, and to my sons and daughters who were always my motivation and inspiration.
I dedicate this book to my mother Wanda and father Michael Sr., who always encouraged and prayed for me, and whom I always endeavored to make proud.
I dedicate this book to my siblings Melissa, Mark, Scott, Candice, Shannon, John, Joy, Michelle, Stephen, Cory, Nicole, Larry, Shandy, Kim & Tonia.
Table of Contents
Introduction: “Anything Can Happen in 24 Hours”
Chapter 1: My First Day
Chapter 2: Fire Academy
Chapter 3: Training Days
Chapter 4: Lights and Sirens!
Chapter 5: My First Firehouse Family
Chapter 6: Final Moments
Chapter 7: Firefighter Comedy
Chapter 8: Gun Fires
Chapter 9: Animal Planet
Chapter 10: Domestic Encounters
Chapter 11: Anatomy
Chapter 12: Courage, Duty, Dedication, Honor, Infidelity
Chapter 13: Rescue Rangers
Chapter 14: What Can Happen In A Day
Bibliography



INTRODUCTION
“Anything Can Happen in 24 Hours”
In late winter of 1994, I marched into the office of the Assistant Chief of the Louisville Fire Department to interview for a job. I had on my pin-striped blue suit with my solid red necktie, a white button-down French-cuffed shirt with a pair of gold cuff links, and to top it all off, I was walking in my dad’s black highly polished wingtip church shoes. That’s right, I was in my full power suit! Clean-shaven, too; I was here to impress, I was here for the job. I was twenty years old, a physical specimen of manliness, and with the ego to match. Here I was, going after one of the most coveted and respected professions on the planet, and in Louisville, a great-paying job with benefits. As I stepped through the interview door, I put on my championship smile, mainly to hide the fear and trepidation raging within me.
I stuck out my hand to the assistant chief. “Good morning, sir. My name is Michael Ford, and I’m here to become a firefighter.”
That old cuss just stared me down with utter contempt and disgust, as if he was trying to peer into my soul to see all of my inner workings. And without shaking my hand, he said sternly, “Just sit down!”
Now, every piece of real confidence and every ounce of the fake poise and self-assurance that I was trying to exude was fast escaping from my body, seeping through my pores in the form of perspiration. Just as I was destined to sink into the folds of this chair like the Titanic sank into the Atlantic, the other interviewer that was sitting behind the desk, a female with the rank of major, gave me the most beautiful, reassuring, sun on a cloudy day smile. Without words, she told me, “Calm down, everything will be just fine.” And on that note, the interview began.
The assistant chief and the major both asked me quite a number of open-ended questions; you know--d escribe your strengths and weaknesses; how well do you work in a team; what would you do in this or that situation; etc. And I was, without trying to be too braggadocious, knocking these questions clear out of the park. The southern charm had kicked in and I was finally winning them over to my side.
All of a sudden, that old chief asked me a question that I hadn’t properly thought through. He said, “Michael, why do you want to be a fireman? And don’t give me that bull-crap about how you’ve dreamed about being a fireman since you were a baby!”
So I pondered for a minute. I thought, This guy isn’t going to allow me to give him some simpleton answer off the top of my head like “I just need a good job.” No, this question actually required some introspection. Why did this profession interest me? It was true that I hadn’t wanted to be a fireman all of my life.
I flashed back over the last two years of my life since graduating from high school. I have been working in the local air packaging hub, sorting and loading packages into these white igloo containers all day, five days a week. It was a job that paid just above minimum wage. Though it was good, honest work, it lacked purpose; it was repetitive, routine, unimaginative; it was downright boring. Every person that I worked with hated their job; they absolutely despised the smell of the place. Even I found it to be a genuine chore to come in every day.
Then, “eureka,” it hit me. There were five firemen who were members of the same church that I attended. These guys, at some time over the past two years, had encouraged me to apply for the fire department. In every conversation, each of them would highlight the particular segments of the job that they enjoyed the most.
Firefighter Eric told me about how dangerous the job was, the sheer adrenaline rush that comes when that bell sounds, sliding down a pole from the 2 nd floor, racing to the fire truck, donning a full set of gear in less than a minute, jumping in the truck, legally speeding down any street, pulling up to a house that has flames pouring out of the windows, crowds of people screaming, and you have been trained and prepared to save the day.
Firefighter Melvyn explained to me how going to work at the firehouse is like coming home. When you arrive, there will be a group of men and women there, “family,” whom you are going to spend the rest of the day and night with, laughing, joking, eating, playing, and eventually going into battle with. You will mourn personal loss together, and you will celebrate every personal win together.
Firefighter Billy enlightened me concerning the serious commitment to service involved in being a fireman. “You are going to find yourself in some tough spots, where that fire and heat are laying down on top of you, and your inner voice will question why in the world you signed up for this? The thing that will keep you going is your commitment to saving lives, and your commitment to being there for your firefighter brothers and sisters.”
When I listened to these guys talk about their job, it was unlike anything that I had ever heard. I mean really, when was the last time you heard someone boast about how much they loved their job? When was the last time somebody told you, “I can’t wait to get to work each day” and was genuinely enthusiastic and proud of the work they do daily? I realized that something was very special about this firefighting gig. After hearing from these guys, I was almost convinced, but not yet. I wasn’t fully persuaded until Firefighter Jason gave it to me simple and plain.
“Michael,” he said, “most people hate their jobs for one reason--their job is meaningless and boring! They do the same thing every single day for thirty or forty years; the monotony is killing them. Michael, do you want to know what makes the fire department so great?”
I was thinking, Yeah, hurry up and tell me .
Then he said something that really stimulated my young and impressionable mind. “We work a 24-hour shift, one day at work and two days off. And Michael, in those 24 hours, anything can happen!”
I interrupted. “What do you mean, anything?”
He continued, “In the fire department there are no two days alike. Every day is different and will present new incidents, diverse challenges, and an array of issues that will stretch and broaden you as a human being. You will see and experience situations that are so strange and out of the ordinary that most people couldn’t even imagine! The fire profession is an adventure!”
As all of this flashed through my memory in an instant, I answered the old chief. “Yes, I want to be a fireman so that I can help people, and because it pays well, because of the brotherhood, but mostly because I want to be able to come to work each morning with the excitement and nervousness of the unknown, the thrill of facing extraordinary circumstances, and knowing that today, in these 24 hours, anything can happen!
That old chief cracked a crooked smile at me, as he sat on the other side of his desk, and said, “Mr. Ford, that’s why I’m still here.” And with that, he stood up, and shook my hand. A few weeks later I received an offer of employment letter in the mail, stating that I was to start the Fire Academy in April.



CHAPTER 1
My First Day
I n the spring of 1995, I was officially initiated into the profe