- Joined
- Aug 11, 2009
- Messages
- 34
I walked into E33/TL9 at The Bowery "U", Manhattan, one night, back in the late 90's. I wanted to see if they had any T-shirts for sale. There were about 3 or 4 guys sitting in Housewatch (to the left of the apparatus, looking in the firehouse) watching the Yanks-A's divisional playoff game. The Lt. from the Engine asked where I was from, I said "Los Angeles". As one of the guys went to fetch me a shirt, the alarm tone went off. Housewatch yelled "Everybody goes!" The Lt. says to me: "You wanna go with us?" I said, "Uh, sure!" Next thing I know, I'm sitting backwards in E-33 tearing off down the street, sirens going, horns blaring, and the Ladder right behind. The Lt. was yelling "Second Due, Apartment, 15th floor!" prior to us pulling up to the fire. When we pulled up, I could see Ladder 3, Ladder 8, Engine 24 & 55 and a BC's car. The officer told me:" You stick with the chauffeur, 'til we get back." I did what I was told. There was a small kitchen fire in a unit on the 15th floor, which was put out pretty fast. The Battalion Chief I was standing next to told everyone but 2 companies to "Take up" and return to service. E-33's crew came down the stairs and we got back in the rig, and headed back to the firehouse. On the way back, they asked me "How long you been a fire-fighter in LA?" I replied:
"I'm not a fire-fighter; I'm an airline pilot. All I wanted was to buy a shirt." They laughed and said "We thought you was....oh, never mind."
I often wondered, after seeing the fatal casualties suffered by E33/L9 on 9-11, how many of those great guys I met that night lost their lives. May all 343 Rest in Peace.
"I'm not a fire-fighter; I'm an airline pilot. All I wanted was to buy a shirt." They laughed and said "We thought you was....oh, never mind."
I often wondered, after seeing the fatal casualties suffered by E33/L9 on 9-11, how many of those great guys I met that night lost their lives. May all 343 Rest in Peace.