Friday, December 02, 2005

I was very surprised that I didn’t hear Tampa Station 13 (a block away) respond on any alarms while I was at the motel. I checked out of the motel this morning around 830AM and drove by Station 13. The engine was out and there were shadows on the station apron. I went by Station 18 (empty), Station 10 (engine home but very short apron) before arriving at Station 4.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Engine 4’s new Pierce Quantum. I was also surprised that they continue to buy Quantum Engines, but the new Quint was an Arrow XT. Oh well. I got photos of new Engine 4 (one of two brand new engines). Then I headed to the nearby Tampa Fire-Rescue Training area and hit a goldmine there.

Tampa Engines 9 and 13, and Aerial 14 (using a reserve) were there for class, so I got photos of them. Out in the training area were a n umber of Hillsborough County rigs going through an evolution using a tanker and drop tank to supply a ladder tower. I took photos of Hillsborough County Engines 7 & 31, Tanker 34, Ladder 6 and a Rescue unit. I got a little damp in the process as the mist was blowing everywhere. Being a dedicated fire buff, I toughened up, ignored the mist and took my photos anyway.

I went by Station 1 and was pleasantly surprised to see that the exterior of old Station 1, across the street, has been completely fixed up and the Tampa Fire Museum is now located in the old building. It looks pretty darn good, but sadly was not open. I should have stopped at headquarters and asked what the hours are.

I headed towards the airport as it was after 10AM. As I drove by Tampa Station 3, I noticed that they also had a new engine and it was parked outside. Light conditions sucked, but I got a photo anyway. Then it was on to Station 9 (also the Fire Department shops). I met a very knowledgeable firefighter there who updated me on the goings on since I was last in Tampa. He explained to me how I could get to Station 22 on Tampa International Airport property. Last time I was here I looked for it for a half hour before giving up.

Just as I was about to leave, the intercom cracked open and “Aerial 9” got a run. I took a quick shot of it as they pulled out and headed towards Station 22. I never, and I mean never would have ever found that station without his directions. I literally had to drive down a dead end street and then through a jungle to get to them. One of the firefighters there told me the area is so wild that they see Cougars and other wildlife running around and just last week killed a 4-foot diamondback snake just outside the apparatus door of the station.

The captain there introduced me to a firefighter who had me climb up inside their newest “crash” truck (although the pilots don’t like hearing them called that so they call them “rescues” over the ground frequency). I was told that Station 2 (on the east end of the airport) and Station 22 (on the west side of the field) will be replaced with a new larger station being built on the south side of the terminal between the parallel runways.

After the firefighter showed me the “Rescue 3” we walked out the station ramp, which is only 250 feet off Runway 36 Left. We watched a few planes come in at close range. Even the sides of the 250-foot station ramp (to the runway) are thickly forested on both sides.

Just as we walked back into the station, Karyle called saying her plane had landed. I told her I had just taken a photo of it from the west side of the airport. Karyle said that the passengers had to ride a tram to the terminal building to get their luggage. I told her I’d head over that way. I thanked the guys at Station 22 and headed back through the jungle to civilization. I did not see any cougars or 4-foot diamondbacks.

I wound my way around the airport and just as I was approaching the terminal Karyle called to say she was outside on the lower level. A minute later we were off to find a motel for the night. The timeshare week doesn’t begin until tomorrow afternoon. We checked out a couple places near the NW corner of the airport and found a nice Homestead Suites extended stay with full kitchen. The units are very nice and are only $59 per night.

Karyle wanted to rest a bit- as she was up at 4:30AM. While she rested, I checked my e-mail and got caught up a little bit on the firepics.net website. By the way, under “Apparatus” and under the subject “Tillers” there was a photo posted of Clayton Counties new ALF that I saw, but could not photograph, the other day.

Around 1:30, we went to lunch at our favorite, the Golden Corral Buffet. We did a little grocery shopping after and returned briefly to our unit to drop stuff off before heading down to Davis Island, just south of downtown. The island is full of very nice homes, quaint shops with great views of the shipping harbor and downtown Tampa. It was just a gorgeous day (in the high 60s) with not a cloud in the sky. We each took a number of photos from the island and then headed over to Harbor Island to see all the new shops and housing complexes built there in recent years.

We then took a little tour down the harbor along Bayshore Boulevard (full of old and very stately homes) towards MacDill Air Force Base. I drove by Station 14 on the way back, but the aerial was out (I saw it in the shops earlier) and I already had photos of their engine. We made our way back to the unit around 4:30. Karyle wanted to take a nap before going to a late dinner. We just returned from dinner and It’s now 8:00.

I am able to monitor Pinellas County Fire (St. Pete is with them) in addition to the Tampa FD and the Hillsborough County FD from this motel. Last night I couldn’t pick up any Pinellas County signals. I haven’t heard any fires here yet- lots of medicals though. They are having two Christmas parades in the Tampa area tomorrow- one on land and one on sea (with lighted boats). Hopefully we can take in one or both.

That’s all for today.

Your damp Roving Reporter,