Sometimes I do wonder if anyone reads my Pearl ramblings—sometimes I get an affirmation that someone at least scans over one occasionally—the last time this happened was in the dark as FF Heavilin and I awaited the arrival of a tow truck on our Lindsay Lane call. Most others were diverted to another call at the same time on Parkwood Lane. The snow was deep and the roads crappy on our travel to our end of Lindsay Lane destination where a fellow hit a tree while coming down a fairly steep driveway—amazing how much damage can occur to a nearly new Ford Pickup traveling pretty slowly—double airbag deployment (no one hurt)—adding to this “odd” call is the fact I know the guy who hit the tree (doesn’t live there, just visiting)—he has been a long time EMS/fire provider in Glacier Park (recently retired).
But back to the story—Rob and I decided we really did not need to be at the scene any longer as it was on private property, no MHP coming (found out on another call the trooper gave up on that adventure at the Church) and nothing we could do other than bullshit and get snowed on. We did however discuss we did not really want to be headed out on this crappy road with a wrecker headed in so we decided to wait. After many quarters of hours we decided Rob would head out to see if he could find the wrecker. It was only a few minutes later that he returned saying the tow truck was about 300’ down a hill, somewhat crosswise in the road and in some trouble. Off we went walking down the hill and around a corner to find the truck somewhat hanging off a bank, only sort of on the road—it was about a forty foot drop had he continued on the path he was one. The driver (whom I also know) was in the snow, on his belly, grumbling and grouching about how it is much easier to be prepared before something happens as opposed to waiting for something to occur and then having to deal with it. In this case he was referring to putting chains on before you need them—he said he knew better but thought he could make it. He damned near made it over the bank and down a hill into the trees—so, what became an hour plus long chain up session could have been accomplished in a few minutes on level ground where the snow was not many inches deep-have you ever tried to put triple-railers on in deep snow? And, he would not have to find himself extracting seat cushion out of his butt for the next few days—I am sure it was a result of him sliding backwards in the dark as were many words you would not utter around your Mother.
As Rob and I helped out a little (more so just stayed out of the way and held lights) Rob said something about my Pearls and how this episode might become one. He was right. This is another “lesson” that does not need a lot of explanation as most of us can figure out how this could have been avoided. What might need said though is the “lesson” is not just about chaining up before you are in trouble—it is also about how there is little what we do in our fire world that does not (at least should) require some pre-planning and a reminder of something you hear often—a couple of things actually—one is “slower is faster” and the other is “be quick but don’t hurry”. In a later note I will expand on the latter but for now I want to reinforce that being in a hurry to do something or get someplace might result in a much slower response or execution of the task. I can tell you that as I drove 2553 on Lindsay Lane that night I too was “sucking in the seat cushion” a bit. Probably a bunch when I headed down the hill where a guy crashed last week into the trees and most likely totaled a pretty new truck. Here I was with 340+ gallons of water pushing me with the thought “I hope it is not as bad as last week” and that if I start sliding, get ‘er pointed the right direction, stay off the brakes and hang on. Well, I did make down (and later back up) but all the time I was thinking about not being in a hurry. That tow truck operator is actually the company owner and a fellow who I admire a lot—a very good friend and a guy who knows his business. I have watched him perform some incredible things with a wrecker—he is one of those common sense kind of guys. And it was him who commented how he knew better than to attempt the trip on Lindsay Lane without chains. How often have you said “I knew better” but then did something stupid? We all have but we need to learn from those times and not repeat the performance.
This then takes me to the call sometime after midnight on Sunday Morning on Snowberry Lane/Trail off Foothill Road. It was obvious access was pretty limited—not a place for an engine unless absolutely necessary. It was a place my Jeep could go so up the hill I went with other staging at the bottom. Getting up was not too bad—got to the scene where two full sized pickups “head-oned” when one was stuck and the other was coming down the hill to help out and he could not stop until he hit the stuck truck—bent a bunch of stuff. After the scene assessment and after a phone call with MHP I decided to head back down as there was nothing to accomplish on the scene (no one hurt). It was a bit hairy coming back down—not so much so I guess if you like sliding sideways. I got it headed the right direction and down the hill I went—I could have buried the rig in a snow bank if necessary but all was good eventually. When the two trucks arrived the first operator of the beat up wrecker shunned my advice about the necessity for chains to accomplish his task and off he went up the hill—have no idea if he made it or not. The second tow truck operator (different company) said he would be chaining up for the seventh time that day—it was one of those “chain up now when I don’t need them (on flat ground with lighting) rather than when in a snow bank sideways and in trouble). I don’t know what the final outcome of the towing adventure was as we cleared the scene and left it to Highway Patrol (he owed us for couple as he had not made the Lindsay trip and he left the scene on CF’s Stage earlier to go to another call). He too was shaking his head at the first guy—ten foot tall and bullet-proof (stupid might be a better word) is no way to attack a situation. In the case of the Snowberry wrecker guy it is my assumption he was just lazy—something tells me he paid the price later—imagine if you will a larger ¾ ton four door pickup on the hook pushing your piece of crap wrecker down a very slick hill with a couple corners looming (did I mention it was dark and snowing?).
So, the lesson for today is “plan for the worst and hope for the best”. Pretty simple stuff it would seem. As the tow truck operator on Lindsay Lane said, “I knew better”.
Stay Safe!
Gary
