Warm weather brings a busy day for Andover Fire + Rescue

Today started with Greg coming into the bunk room at Franklin and turning on the lights. I sat up in bed and looked out the window and saw sun and blue skies for the first time in a while. I had a cup of coffee around the table during shift change then headed to Proctor to get breakfast. I spent the morning finishing my hall table in the woodshop. After that it was lunch time, then I went swimming in the Blackwater river with a bunch of people. I went back to the room to change and my pager triple toned (tones for east andover, andover, & andover rescue) followed by the fire noise. Fire in a building on racoon hill road. I bolted down the stairs, hopped in my truck and headed to the station. Zach met me there followed by Jake and we rolled Engine 3 and Engine 4 before the first re tone (6 minute mark). For a volunteer department during the day this is fast. Upon arrival we found a 2 1/2 story wood frame with two occupants outside, a clear driveway, but the nearest water source (a dry hydrant) far away on a cross road. (COAL acronym from my previous post). Fortunately the small oven fire had been extinguished and I started to evaluate a patient with burns to her hand with Heather, Jenn, and Mac. She denied hospital transport. Later that day after dinner my pager went off again for headaches charlie level. I got to the scene a little late as it was across town, but I got there and Officer Shaw from Andover PD was there and gave me an update. Heather, John, Andrew, Jeff, and Zach were there and the ambulance was parked in the driveway. The patient had an unknown sickness complicated with nausea, vomiting, and general discomfort. We were only an EMT Basic level crew (unlike Franklin who is usually at the paramedic level) so we did every assessment possible but were concerned when the patients orientation decreased a little bit. Luckily by then we were pulling into the hospital and we transferred the patient to them. The hospital was busy as it was, and another fire department was on the way with a working code (cardiac arrest). I quickly dressed the cot so I could watch them transfer the patient. I scanned the door open for them and saw the patient and paramedics giving care as they rolled by to the trauma room. Tomorrow I'm on at Penacook Rescue for the day. Back to their different ambulance and equipment but I'm ready.