The Howling
Sleeping is part of the job of a Firefighter. The shifts are 24 hours long and after 8 p.m. Firefighters are allowed to go to bed to await a run. Some companies have very few runs and some units go all night long. So it depends on where you work to determine how much sleep you will get at night.
If you are fortunate enough to run at a company that has few night runs you may still have a problem getting a good night’s rest. The problem may be the people you work with. The scourge of a good night’s sleep is the snorer. Some companies may even have two or three snorers in their dormitories.
You can usually tell who the snorers are at the table in the morning. The snorer is the jolly one sipping coffee and telling jokes. The red eyed guys with haggard looks are the ones who stayed up all night listening to the howling.
Snorers can be put into several categories. There is the freight train, the cliff hanger, the Red Baron, and the dreaded werewolf . Within these groups are ratings from one to ten. Probably the best draw is the freight train with a one rating. The worst is a ten rated werewolf.
The low volume freight trainer can actually help one sleep. Once a person gets used to the sound it will act like a good rhythm and blues melody. The sound is a steady BZZ BA BA, BZZ BA BA. A good freight trainer never misses a beat.
The cliff hanger is a snorer who will give you a steady BZZ BZZ then stop. Those being kept awake will wait for the next breath to be drawn. Many times the snorer will have to be checked to see if he is still alive. Sadly he always is.
On an escalating scale comes the miserable Red Baron. As you nestle into your pillow the Red Baron takes off. He flies along with a steady BZZ BZZ looking for victims. Without warning the air combat begins. The steady BZZ BZZ will be interrupted by a burst of action that will sound like a brick being thrown though a beehive. There will be gasps, pauses, and staccato snorts. The sounds will be similar to World War One aerial combat. The Red Baron can be assured of light ground fire from those in the room with him. In the morning his bed will be surrounded by towels, socks, pillows, and an occasional shoe.
The fear of all Firefighters is to run with the dreaded werewolf. It is said the sound track for the movie The Howling was made in the dormitory of a Detroit Firefighter called Big Mac. A world class snorer like Big Mac could raise the neck hairs on a vampire with a sudden primordial scream in the stillness of the night. Many times the men would snap on the lights to make sure a werewolf with a toothache was not sleeping in Mac‘s bed. As the lights came on the werewolf would change back into Mac the kind faced Firefighter. Werewolf snorers can expect heavy artillery. His bed will be surrounded by shoes, chairs, books, and Voo Doo dolls with pins stuck through their necks. Some werewolf snorers complain of sore throats and finger like bruises around their necks.
There you have it, the story of night life in the fire hall. I have tried to show that a Firefighter does not always have it made because he is allowed to sleep at work. I have neglected to tell the stories of the night stalkers and practical jokers whom roam the dorms at night but that will be another tale for Fire Talk.
Stay safe my brothers and sisters.
"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