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On this page:  The October 14, 2000 Joint drill with NERT and the Auxiliary Communications, followed by the August 26, 2000 Joint Firefighter and Civilian volunteer "Hose Drill" on Treasure Island. Posted on Nov. 13, 2000.

The October 14, 2000 Joint Citywide Exercise.

In any citywide drill, there is a certain amount of "tunnel vision" that happens to any one individual participating.  This is also what happens in actual emergencies.  That having been said, let's look at the drill from my perspective.

As both a member of NERT and OES/ACS, I have responsibilities for both the communications arm and the response arm of the 'Disaster Preparedness Movement'.  This spreads me somewhat thin - too thin as some have suggested - but we'll deal with that later.  

I meet with some of the NERT teams and help them get communications going.  The firefighter that leads the program, Patty Yuen, has teamed up the civilian program leader, Leslie Williams, in a "browed" Chief's Buggy (Any vehicle that transports a Chief is called a "Buggy" in San Francisco).  This is going to be fun!  I follow the buggy as we visit various teams and stations.  

When I arrive at Station 15, the Ham operators there report that the antenna is misbehaving and that it needs to be fixed, pronto.  Well, there's no time like the present.  I have a replacement antenna at home and we bring it down to the station after the drill.  What follows is BIG fun.  

The antenna is atop the hose drying tower - a six story spire where hoses can be hung out to dry after use.  Unfortunately, the only way to reach the roof is via the ladder on Truck 15.  

Well, the Chief is most accommodating and lets us "borrow" his Truck Company for a bit.  They set up the ladder.  "OK, Boys, here you go.  Want a safety belt?"  We pass on the belt and look up. There's the offending antenna!

Click on the pictures for the BIG view.

OK!  Let's get to work!  Hump that antenna into position, and let's get going!  Hey, this angle is steep! 

All right, let's get to climbing!  We have to work ourselves up 6 (count 'em, six) stories, carrying a ten foot antenna between myself and Paul, my helper, bringing up the rear.  There sure is a lot of air between us and anything solid!

At this height, you're REALLY awake!  We notice how the wind can make the ladder bounce a little.  Still, we are perfectly safe as long as we hang on.  Firefighters have to be able to make this climb to 100', with no building to climb on, in a set time. That's only in training.  In real life, they have to do it at night, in the rain and with fire in close proximity, dragging a 5 inch hose.  Do I sound like a firefighter fan?  Well, my friends - after a climb like this - I really am.

We make it to the top, so now it's time to get to work!  It may not be the top of the world, but it's close!  One moves very carefully at these heights - especially with all the obstructions up there.  Unfortunately, we did not have the materials needed to complete the mission.  We left the antenna secured up there, and descended to climb again - another day.  

Photo Credit:  "Colt" Cereske, my Son.

The Drill On Treasure Island.

On August 26,  2000 the San Francisco Fire Department tried something NEW!  "Let's see what those volunteers can do".  And they did.  Working with the Red Cross, members of Red Cross, S.F.F.D. NERT civilian volunteers and OES Auxiliary civilian volunteers were invited to the new training facility for a HOSE DRILL.  As this was a first time type activity, kids weren't invited.  Being a "Daddy" weekend for me, that meant I couldn't go.  Oh, well.  There's always next time!  How did they do?  Let's see...

First of all, one just doesn't jump into these things!  Training!  You have to know how the plan works!  You have to know what goes where, how it gets there and how to hook it up safely.  At pressures from 150 to 300 PSI - at full flows - a hose that gets loose can kill you!

Here's the drill:  First you learn.  Then you practice.  Then you practice some more.In these photos, the recruits are learning the proper way to set up a "Portable Fire Hydrant".  It's a handy system to rapidly transport fire fighting water from where it IS to where it NEEDS TO BE.  

Then you get to play.  Here's Lovely Leslie Williams, Chief , cook and bottlewasher for NERT beginning to play.  Leslie is going to heaven, because - if she went to hell....

 ....She could - and would - JUST PUT IT OUT!  Here she is, handling between 90 and 150 pounds of pressure.  Does this picture qualify her as an exterior firefighter?  Why, Yes, as a matter of fact, it does.  Mike, on the right, gets his hands on a hose, but at a lesser pressure.  Are we challenging Leslie here?  If so, she passed!

Professional Fire Fighters were not about to be left in the back seat here.  We are here to learn to help supply their water needs, after all..  Here are some photos of SFFD firefighters shooting water from an UNEXTENDED ladder. Having been on an extended ladder, against a building, I can tell you that it's the thrill of a lifetime!  Firefighters have to do it - at any time of the day or night, rain or shine, no matter what, at three times the height here.  Is there any wonder that we call them "America's Bravest"? 

 Nonetheless, the water was supplied with the help of civilian volunteers, just like it was in 1989.