Tales of the 7th Battalion 9
Engine House Cat
Dick Hoffman was the best running mate in the world. He was born and bred in the 7th Battalion. He went to Western High School where he was an all city athlete. He was a first class Firefighter and smart as a whip. His entries in the company journal looked like something out of an 18th century ship’s log. His handwriting was beautiful. He wrote with outstanding penmanship that included long graceful letters and stylish curls to each word. Dick had a repertoire of one liners that could make a clam laugh. He also liked to drink beer. You could say Dick was the complete Firefighter.
Once on a trip to Las Vegas with a few friends he ran into Buddy Hackett at the bar. Hackett was a headliner at the Stardust Casino back in the 1960s. It was early in the morning and the beer was flowing freely. Dick and Buddy started exchanging jokes. The one liners Dick was using had Buddy roaring with laughter. Buddy told Dick he was a fantastic comedian and should quit the Fire Department and go on stage in Vegas. Before he left he gave Dick a handful of free tickets to his show. Lucky for us Dick never left the department. We continued to enjoy his good humor until the day he retired.
When Dick Hoffman was promoted to Captain he was assigned to Engine 29 in the 7th Battalion. Engine 29 was a notorious Fire Company. It was known as the Black Hole of Calcutta. Their company logo was a Jolly Rogers. If you were a trouble maker in the 7th Battalion you ended up at Engine 29. Oddly enough this was a great firefighting unit. Many times this company was alone when responding to a fire. Their location was cut off from help by a busy railroad track and two rivers that defined the borders of their fire district. They were a rag tag bunch but a group you could depend on at a tough fire.
Dick loved to tell the story about his first day at Engine 29. Dick said he came into the building from the parking lot through the back door. Most companies, at that time, had a company dog. Not Engine 29. They had a company cat. He was wretched looking creature with one ear, a bent tail, and a battle scarred body. The cat hissed and hunched his back when Dick came through the kitchen door. Dick dropped his gear and helped himself to a cup of coffee. He leaned over and called to the cat. He received a low rumbling growl and a scowling glare. The cat then walked to the door and turned to look at Dick. Dick walked over and opened the door for the cat. The cat walked back to his box near the stove. Dick started to drink his coffee and the cat walked back to the door. Again Captain Hoffman opened the door for the cat. With a mean glare the cat returned to his box. Just then one of the company men walked into the kitchen. Captain Hoffman said, “That’s a weird cat you guys have. He keeps going to the door and when I open it to let him leave he just goes back to his box.” The Firefighter started laughing and answered, “That’s a smart cat Captain. He doesn’t want to leave. He wants you to leave.” It was the start of another typical day down in the 7th Battalion.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry