Buff It!

When I was seven years old my father joined
the fire department. His father and grandfather were both volunteers when he was growing up so naturally progression kept up with interest of the fire service. I didn’t know really the family history until I was much older but living across the street from a firehouse I got to watch my dad head out to calls.

The bells would ring and Id’ count them, Id’ head to the bathroom window as he was running down the stairs and across the street. The truck would pull away and Id’ run to the scanner to listen in. If it was a good fire Id’ have my mom drive by the next morning on the way to school to check out what happened.

Eventually growing up I would ride along with him in his step side truck going to calls.

Standing around the scene taking it all in.
And yes,Backdraft was watched endlessly.
There was something mesmerizing about watching a three story ballon frame burning. Windows stacked in perfect rows,crews running in and heading to the top floor to cut it off.

Growing up in the fire service was amazing but
I didn’t realize that until I was much older. My buddies were sons of the other guys in the fire service in town. We would talk about the calls
at school. Next thing ya know we are fourteen joining the junior fire department and getting our taste,at least of what we could.

Diving deeper into rabbit hole than we realized and before you knew it we were chasing fires on our own. Listening to the scanner,jumping into the car to head to neighboring towns to buff some fires.

The valley definitely had its share of good fires. We got to meet other guys and created a network we didn’t realize we had.

The internet wasn’t started yet so the only way we heard stories was from word of mouth or the local newspapers. Once in a while wed’ get lucky to come across a VHS tape of the fire.

Yet every time there was a good fire we were always looking for more photos or more stories. Buffing these calls made us want more of the action.

One day during high school I was in the lunch line waiting for food. I looked out the window and saw the biggest smoke column ever. I left the cafe heading down to the office where an aid was sitting in the hall. I explained to Mrs. Willis there is a big fire and I need to go. Luckily for me her family was involved in the fire service and without question she made up some excuse for me so I can leave.

The fire turned out to be one the biggest since the 1970’s in our area. I ended up finding my dads engine and worked with the crew for a little bit.
It was freaking awesome. Hell,it was better than buffing a fire.

Growing older I jumped into photography buffing anywhere and everywhere I could. I couldn’t get enough of it.

I still have the thousands of photos that I browse through. Looking back at them I can recall the fire and who I spoke to on scene and some of the great friends I made.

Fast forward some time I found myself struggling to keep the feelings I once had for the fire service. Scrolling through Facespace I come across a photo of a guy crawling between the rungs of a ladder.

Yup Fire Service Warrior brought me back in the game. Following these guy along their beginning stages was exactly what I needed. They had an energy and a sense of lets get out and try it. Next thing ya know I’m weighing myself in full gear to see what I actually weigh and compared it to their results.

Reaching out and making a few contacts,these guys keep the fire in my life. It felt exactly like my younger days.

Eager to get new knowledge on what is going
on. I started checking out pages like Search and Destroy and Refined By Fire daily. I eventually started a page with two other like minded dudes.

What I needed is what my childhood had. I didn’t realized what I had lost. It was buffing fires,talking about fires and working at a craft I didn’t realize was a craft. I never knew what a buff was until I was in my teens as I didn’t put much thought into it.

Yet today I consider myself a bigger buff than
I was back then. Still seeking that information about a fire or how they rescued the victims or a down firefighter.

When time permits I still try to get out and take some photos. Especially if my son or daughter is with me. Id’ like to give them a taste of what I had.

You don’t have to call yourself a buff,but you need to invest your self in this line of duty. Seek that info,that taste,that eagerness to be good on the fire ground. I was truly blessed to have grown up in this service,growing up as a buff without even knowing it.

Get out and buff some fires. It’s worth the energy any day of the week.