Slow Saturday with Franklin Fire "C" shift

Today I'm on shift with Captain Hicks, Joni, and Greg at the Franklin Fire Department. Evan and I did a little shift swapping to fix conflicts and so I'm on C shift today. One thing I've learned in all of the ride time I've done here is that everyone is friendly and has alot to teach me if I pay attention and contribute. Today was community day in Franklin, which consisted of a parade and street fair. We participated in the parade and hung out around the center of town where some off duty FFD guys were selling hotdogs. I saw Karen and Alexa at the parade and got all of the candy thrown from the parade for Alexa because Karen scares me! Anyways, we got back from community day and swept and mopped the bays. While we worked every town around us was getting calls but it was slow in Franklin. We tested 1000' of hose, 20 combined lengths which were 2 1/2" rear preconnects off Engine 1 and Engine 3. Greg and I packed the hose back on the engines in a Dutchman's lay with a horseshoe lay on top. (this is what you see when you are behind a fire engine and all the hose is neatly folded on top of eachother) The horseshoe is so you can reach up and put it over your shoulder at the scene of a fire for quick access. We finished up packing the hosebeds and were walking towards the kitchen when Lakes Region finally hit Franklin's tones. We waited next to the ambulance after the pre alert hit assuming it was a med call. A minute later, Franklins tones went, then the Franklin off duty tones, then Tilton's tones, then the short noise that indicates a fire. Slowly I realized what was going on. The call was for a reported structure fire! I zipped off my boots and hopped into my turnouts. Greg's gear was on the hook next to mine and he realized he had put his helmet down somehwere in the station. The Captain said , "you better get one quick" and got in Engine 4. I told Greg to grab Jason's but he knew that would be a bad idea so he took mine. Greg and I hopped in Engine 3 and pulled out behind Engine 4 as Jason was running into the station to respond with another piece of apparatus, even though he was off duty. Good thing Greg didn't take his helmet. The location was down the street and we could see some smoke showing and franklin police cars screaming by to block traffic for us. More off duty guys were on the way with the ladder and rescue truck already. Greg and I got on scene and prepared to stretch some 4" line to tag a hydrant up the street. Then the captain came over the radio and announced a small outdoor fire behind the building. There was no structure fire. It was a huge let down that we almost got to fight a fire but great to see how all of the off duty firefighters and call firefighters were so quick to respond. A reported structure fire is a big deal on any and every fire department. This time, it was a false alarm. Soon after the false, Captain Hicks took a rack of ribs out of his smoker from behind the station and we ate dinner and watched the Red Sox. His ribs were amazing! We did the station chores and had some dessert. I'm getting sleepy and thinking about bed, but there's a good chance we will be busy tonight, probably with med calls, because the day was so slow.