Article from Fire Engineering January, 2016. Written by Retired Providence Firefighter Michael Morse.
"The Buffs across the Street"
"Who are those guys" ? I asked one of the firefighters who was standing with me on the ramp at the Atwells Ave Fire Station. Ladder 6 was my assignment for the night. It was an overtime shift and my first night in one of the busiest fire stations in the Northeast.
"Dings" was the answer, as if I knew what that meant.
"What's a Ding" ? I asked.
"Those guys", somebody said and pointed across the street where six cars were parked and about a dozen guys stood around them, shooting the breeze, much like we were doing on our side of the street.
Turns out the "Dings" were the local fire buffs. I had no idea that people actually loved the fire service so much that they would wait outside the busy fire stations, listening to their scanners, and respond to the same fire scenes we did. Only with cameras instead of axes and poles.
"Why don't we invite them over" ? I asked. The other firefighters either laughed or walked away. I couldn't figure their response out then and I still can't figure it out. The way I saw it, those people across the street were out supporters. For whatever reason they just weren't able to respond to the fires with us. But I'm sure they would have loved every second of it if they could. Maybe they were on a list somewhere waiting for their chance. Maybe they had an injury or disability that prohibited them from doing the job that we took for granted. Maybe they were simply happy to be a part of our world in whatever capacity they could. Whatever the reason, I thought that they were a part of us in some way. "I still do".
Buffs, Dings, Uncured Hams - whatever people call them, I always liked having them around. At the risk of sounding condescending toward them, I thought it the ultimate compliment to us - the paid firefighters - to actually have what could be considered a fan club. As the years of my career went on, I got to know many of the people who buffed fires and learned they are very passionate about the fire service and advocates for it. Many of them knew more about the history, the workings, the politics, and characters that make up a fire department than we did.
Good thing I always respected them. Karma works always. Being retired gives me ample opportunity to "Ding". If I had a dollar for every fire truck I followed I'd have a lot of bucks. When at home my ears instantly tune into sirens in the distance. And sometimes it's all I can do to not get into my personnel vehicle (the one with those fire department stickers) and find out what's going on.
What can I say ? I was born a Ding. Then I became a firefighter. But once the boots came off, and the turnout gear was displayed in the garage, back to my roots I went. I have yet to sit across the street from a busy firehouse, but don't be surprised if someday you see a tall, grey, and devilishly handsome old man, outside your firehouse, watching and waiting with his scanner tuned to your frequency.
And if you happen to see that guy don't be afraid to invite him across the street to join you. He might have something interesting to say.
Michael Morse,
Retired Fire Captain
Providence (RI) Fire Dept.
