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Mine was a brush fire or more like a forest fire.  We went to the call and set up a command post. The officer on scene said that two of us should scout out and find the general location of the fire. Take shovels and see if it could be knocked down because it didn't look like much at first. When we got to where the fire was at it had spread quickly and we started heading back. The ff with me got stung by yellow jackets and he was allergic.  Before long we could see the flames everywhere we looked. Most of the flames were up in the top of the pine trees and we didn't know which way to go. I had the idea to head to the lowest area we could find and hope our gear would give us enough protection as the flames jumped from tree top to tree top. The ff with me wanted  to drop our gear so we could go faster . He was tired, hot and weak from the stings.  We both were hot and tired and we both were getting worried we would not make it out. I said , "no , lets keep out turnout gear and just keep moving forward though the lowest area we could" . The flames were getting closer from every direction but we kept calm and finally some how worked our way out .

Structure Fire, about 13 years ago, in an old house built with rough cut lumber, almost heavy timber.  There was the main house, which was original, and an addition off to the left of the house that was fairly new.  The fire was in the original house and just started to spread to the newer part when we stopped it.  But we couldnt extinguish it completely untill we got in and did some overhaul to the newer part.  It was in our neighbors district who called for us and 3 other departments for help.  Their chief came over to 2 of us and asked us to grab some pikes and go into the second floor of the addition and find the hot spots, there would be another crew on the first floor doing the same.  There was no stairs left, so we took an attic ladder and went up.  As my partner was going up the ladder I felt a few pieces of debris fall and hit my helmet and I thought nothing of it being I was still young and learning.  I had no pack on as the front of the house was pulled off and vented well.  I started to climb the ladder and heard this enormous CRUNCH behind me and felt something on my back....like someone running their fist down my back and rubbing hard.  It pushed me into the ladder....I heard everyone outside YELLING for us, and my partner was hollering for me and reaching for me, he grabbed my hands and I climbed (More like RAN) up the ladder.  The roof in the main part of the house COLLAPSED and if I was wearing a pack it would have caught the pack and pulled me into the debris.  Im usually the first person today in my dept yelling at people for not wearing their packs even to car fires but I was THANKFULL that day I didnt have one on.

I clambered up the ladder and we poked our heads out the first window and I remember seeing the chief breathe a sigh of relief as he saw us and he told the guys to throw a ladder to us.  They did and I did the first HEAD FIRST bail that I KNEW of before firefighter survival even came out!!!!! lol  My jacket had a burn on it and was slightly torn, but we were both ok.   Safe to say it was a bleach wash that night.......

Im glad you are OK too, those brush/forest fires can be very dangerous.  Especially with wind patterns changing from day to night with the cooling of the air and shifts in currents, and the fires paths of travel either by crowning (like you experienced) or through the "Duff" under the ground.  Before you know it the fire could be all around you when you thought you were safely working the head or flank of the fire...  Glad you two are safe too JC.

I know how you feel!!!!!!!!!  We had a massive barn fire that spread to another barn, and the LP tank started to vent on us too!!!  Shot a flamethrower into the sky atleast 50 feet....10 of us looking up at it like a cartoon... "ooooooooooh......Ahhhhhhhhhhh" than all of the sudden we realise the severity of it and we too took off like cockroaches!!!!  I like that description of it by the way!!!! LOL

Glad you all didnt get hurt.

Any other scary fires???

Scariest fire? That's easy, 2swfd late 19th/early 20th century. Remodeled God-knows-how-many-times. This house had more surprises than Christmas morning. Sent with crew of 2 to roof to ventilate. Back then we had no chainsaw, so it was whacks with axe to open it up. Over the years, the roof had been redone by stripping down to original roofing slats & covering with tar paper, plywood decking & shingles, shingles & more shingles. A real bitch to chop thru, trust me. We go up ladder, SCBA, hose line, axes & all, set roof ladder & go to work. Well, my axe gets hung up & to get more leverage to pull it out, I step 1 foot off the ladder & kept right on going thru the roof, thru the attic & land flat on my back on top of a highboy dresser, smashed it all to hell & gone & end up face down in the floor of a 2nd floor bedroom. Smartest thing I could've done (after I put my mask back on) was to stay put, they knew right where I was. But, when your eggs are scrambled & your lungs full of smoke & the house burning down around you, you tend to wanna get the f*ck outta there. So that's what I did. Well, I tried to, anyway. Started crawling along the wall, found the bedroom door, out into the hallway (no idea which way to go, 50/50 shot at it) made a right, or a left, don't remember which, & crawled along to a dead end in a closet, turned around & eventually crawled into the team sent to get me, who led me out. No broken bones, but lotsa bruises, concussion, sprains/strains & smoke inhalation.

I've used the long version of this experience in safety training over the years & challenged everybody to count my screw-ups. Believe me there were a lot of 'em.

Grendel says ...

even as a non ff i can join in on this one--------i helped to pull out fellow soldiers from a building that had been bombed and was burning bad,downside was we were in full nuclear biological kit with respirators and the weather was dammed hot. we didn't think about ourselves just worked on getting people out as the place went up. downside for me was a young kid about 19 i pulled out died in my arms and there was nothing could be done for him apart from talk to him and hold him. poor kid couldn't even see my face due to the respirator etc and to this day i dont know his name but i do know that had the situation been reversed he would have done the same for me and that is something that is true of firefighters to,you all got each others backs and like the military it is a special bond. during that night i saw another side of me that being just how calm i could be---mainly due to training but i have been told i can remain calm almost cold when others are flapping. ladyff08 has complained that i dont show enough emotion but hey thats me. oh well there you go a non ff scariest fire story

Military or Firefighter, we never leave anybody behind. By the way, I've been in the NBC gear in August. On the flightline, not in combat, but I can still testify it's hell to work in for 12 hrs at a time. A serious SALUTE to you & the others for this one. Just believe the kid appreciated you.

Black_Fire says ...

An old fat lighter house was a total loss and an LP tank vented.  Training doesn't quite prepare you for the real thing.  We looked like roaches after the light comes on!!

Been there!!! Both cases. And, you are correct. In both cases, what they tell you will happen does not hold a candle to what really does. I'm familiar with the "roach after the light comes on" actions. We once had a 40 pound cylinder vent directly into the living room window (we were in the living room). Loud and fast. So was I. Thankfully, we all came to our senses before anyone was injured.

As far as I'm concerned.....in some way....every fire is scary. Or, at least it should be. I always thought that a fine line existed between brave and stupid. Fear keeps us on the correct side of that line. If it doesn't, we are more of a liablilty, than an asset, to our department.

Very well put, Ravenfirefighter. I agree 100%