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Show features@statesman.usu.edu 797-1769 W CAPT. SCOTT KENRICK AND ANDY SCHOCK respond to a fire at Serendipity Hair Salon on Main Street in Logan. FIREFIGHTERS FROM THE LOGAN FIRE DEPARTMENT'S C UNIT carry a fallen victim on a gurney. Capt. Scott Kendrick said they get an average of 10 to 12 medical calls a day. ith Sept. 11 close around the corner, the tragic events of that day are still in the forefront of many people's minds. This is especially true for the firefighters of Logan Fire Department's C Unit. "It's got to hit you in the heart," said a solemn David Hull while contemplating the fallen firefighters of Sept. 11. "It makes me proud that these guys were doing what I'm doing. It changed me a little inside. In our daily routine we got to go on, and they didn't." Though the firefighters feel sympathy and sadness for the people who died in New York, life at the Logan Fire Department goes on and is anything but somber. "We have jokes and pranks," Chad Griffin said. "The second night of the shift we get more rambunctious." Water fights and pranks, such as putting tree limbs in the passenger seat of another's car, are just some of the things the members of the C Unit do to entertain themselves on the rare occasion they aren't busy. Brian Holbrook, who has been the recipient of many pranks around the firehouse, said, "When you're the new guy, they pick on you. They all seem to think it's funny." However, it's not all fun and games. The men are busy, and their days can often become unpredictable and hectic. "The calls are thrown in whenever they decide to come," Merrill Harrison said. Whenever the department gets a call, whether it's a medical or fire call, the men immediately stop whatever they are doing to make sure they can provide their help as soon as possible. Each unit at the department works one 48-hour shift a week. They eat, sleep, work and play at the station. During the shift, the firehouse becomes home, and the firefighters become family. "There's nothing like the fire department," Troy Hooley said. "We take care of each other. We know each other better than our wives know us." Usually the firefighters will grocery shop together the first day of their shift. From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the men do things such as paperwork, learn about new medical practices and clean the trucks. "People think we just sit around and do nothing. It's not like that," said Capt. Scott Kendrick. "We average 10 to 12 medical calls and two fire calls a day." The C Unit firefighters look forward to the excitement and adrenaline of going on a call, though they never know when to expect them. "I love going on calls, whenever they come," said Andy Shock. "Unless we get a lot of them. Then I look forward to going to sleep." After 5 p.m., the men get some free time. They work on projects, watch the news and eat dinner. If they have enough time, Hooley said he will sometimes treat the rest of the unit to his famous Dutch oven ribs and potatoes. Renting a movie is also a popular way to spend the evening at the firehouse, though the firefighters generally have to stop and start the movie three to four times in between calls. Continuing education is a major emphasis at the department, and a lot of the men in the unit use their time between 5 p.m. and bed time to work on their Internet classes. The unit is currently working on a ladder operations class in order to become more informed about and more comfortable with their equipment. "Education is never over for these firefighters, who realize that keeping up with new medical procedures and refreshing their knowledge is crucial for rescuing lives," Hull said. "Each day brings surprises, and they have to be prepared for anything. "You never know what you're gonna do that day. Every moment is a mystery. Tt'° fun but unnerving at times." The firefighters of the C Unit have a strong brotherhood and watch out for each other, they said. When Hooley's wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, he said the men took care of him. Within hours of finding out about his wife's condition, the other men in the department had volunteered to take over each of his shifts so that he could spend time with her. "These guys have been incredible," Hooley said. "Man, they took good care of me. They mowed my lawn, not asking to be paid back. They even brought me a credit card with $500 for gas. Incredible. You don't get that anywhere else." Despite the fact that firefighting doesn't make men rich, the firefighters are rewarded in many other ways. Doug Fullmer said his favorite part of the job is that he gets to make a difference in people's lives every day, while Harrison said he loves the opportunity the job gives him to interact with kids and remain a big kid himself. "It never fails," Harrison said. "Every time you see a kid, a little boy, little girl, they clue in on that fire truck, look up and wave. I'm getting paid to be a big kid. I get to drive the big red wheels." From Hooley, the self-proclaimed "renegade" of the unit, to Hoss, who is known as the comedian of the bunch, to Holbrook, who was described by Shock as "a rock, a good wholesome farm boy," the C unit has a little of everything. But what is important is these men know and trust each other, and when it comes down to it, these are definitely the guys people could trust with their lives. -rac. ch@aggicmaiL usu.edu MERRILL H A R R I S O N TALKS T O A C H I L D during a training exercise at Merlin Olsen Park.The firefighters are involved in continual education and are currently working on a ladder operations class so they can better use their equipment. • C A P T S C H O O T K E N D R I C K talks to his team at the scene of a fire. He said the C Unit usually receives two fire calls a day. Photos by Patrick Oden, Story by Rachel Christensen |