Mayday, Mayday, Mayday!

I don’t go on all the runs. Sometimes I wish I could. But my truck doesn’t have those flashy lights and wailing sirens to get me through traffic or onto blocked highways. Then again, as a volunteer Chaplain, my time is often tied up in work and other things.

This was one of those calls I just couldn’t respond to. Additionally, it was a mutual aid call with Station 24 with my department, 27, standing by as RIT - a Rapid Intervention Team - put on standby just in case something goes foul. I generally don’t go on mutual aid calls. So, with all those ingredients, I intently listened. I found out later this was a burner; fully involved, attached row homes in the adjacent borough.

To be honest, I don’t recall whether there were two or three Maydays. As soon as I heard the first, I became hyper-focused. A firefighter had fallen through the floors of the structure and the voice calling the Mayday sounded familiar! My heart stopped. My mind raced. Who was it? Was it one of my guys? Are they Okay? Command gave the order to clear the building as Station 27 RIT engaged. Silence.

There are a lot of things more horrible to hear on the scanner than silence. But I have to say; this night silence was not good. It seemed like an eternity before hearing the report that the firefighter was okay. The only thing I could think of was, “I should be there.” But then all I could do was pray.

The next day I was perusing social media when I learned that it was one of the Station 27 guys who fell through the floor - two floors to be exact! Landing in a closet, feet first seemingly unscathed, coming face-to-face with a firefighter from Station 24, walking out he met the RIT at the front door. Panic and relief all mixed!

I had a good talk with the near-casualty the next day, hearing his side of the riveting story. I spoke with the guy who called the Mayday, who had seen his buddy disappear in an instant. Checking in on how they were both doing, they seemed okay, but I kept an eye on both for a bit. They don't always realize I'm watching, but I do. Not critically, but caringly.

I care a lot about this township. My passion for assisting First Responders as a trained Chaplain only grows the more time I spend with men and women in turnout gear and law enforcement uniforms. That’s why I started this website, FP Chap, to help them be better and for communities to understand what they face every day. Men and women around the world sacrifice health and lives making the world a better place and keeping people safe. They want to go home at the end of each shift. That's a noble thing.

I’m honored to be a Fire and Police Chaplain. Destiny put a crazy, firefighting neighbor in my path years ago and I’m so glad I’ve met the sacrificing men and women of PMFD Station 27 and Palmer Police Department. I'm honored to serve them. No more Maydays, okay, guys?