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Oil Tanker Fire,
Texas A&M Brayton Fire Field

When I was a volunteer firefighter, my chief would love me because I would call random PT in full gear in the middle of the day. I live in El Paso, Texas, where 100 degree heat is no big deal. When fully geared up, this would mean, for example, running ladders (solo carrying a single story ladder 75 feet, propping it up, scaling it 5 times with 75 pounds of protective gear, plus an axe) until someone had the bravery to quit. When the newbie/probie would eventually say that it was HOT, I would answer that our gear is rated to protect us to between 750-1000 degrees and the average fire is easily that, but our skin is NOT. So if they could not stand the heat of average summer day, how the heck would they survive a real fire?

You know what? Gimme five more for asking dumb questions!

In this pic, we are easily 50 yards away from this fire and could easily feel the heat.

And yes, my partner and I were jealous :)

Daytime pics at my Stories, .

In the Fire up the Night photo essay.