Day 16- March 24, 2007

We ate breakfast at the hotel’s Qwick Express again this morning. I had to check out of my room, as it was booked for tonight. I moved all of my stuff into my brother’s room and turned in my key. The front desk people told me they’d get me a suite and I could check in sometime after 1400 hours. It was mostly sunny so the kids wanted to swim in the pool this morning. We hung around with the kids at the pool until around 1100 hours.

I headed into Mesa, where the ballgames were scheduled at 1400 hours. I stopped at Station 7 and Engine 2201 (an adaptive response unit) was filling in while Engine 207 was at training. The crew pulled it out so I could get a photo. I drove to nearby Station 4 and a driver from E204 was just about to pull some rigs out for photos when Engine 204 got a run. I took a quick shot of E204 as they pulled out. Another firefighter pulled out their tower and squad for photos. Just as I was taking a station photo Engine 213 (far east Mesa) arrived to report they had smoke coming from the chimney area of a one-story house. The fire apparently started in the insulation next to the chimney. I never did hear the run go out so I had no idea where they were.

I headed to downtown Mesa to see new Station 1. That is a big Station. I think John Degenhardt posted it when he was here last winter. Everybody at Station 1 was out except for the ambulance, so I did not stop in. I headed to new Station 2, one of the busiest companies in the city. I had a rig leave the area (no lights or sirens) when I was a few blocks away. I rang the Station doorbell, but no one answered. I headed in the direction I saw the rig headed and found them about a mile away on a very small HM run. E202 had a reserve and I got shots of that.

It was about time for the ballgame to start so I headed over to the fields. A firefighter on E202 invited me to stop by their station later. I told them I’d maybe try between games. Augsburg won the first game of the doubleheader 1-0, a great game. I headed back to Mesa Station 2. They pulled out Utility 202 so I could get photos. They have a really nice station, which was opened sometime after I was last here in 2002.

I went back to the second game. It was just perfect out, sunny and around 72. Augsburg got down by four runs but came back big to win it 15-5. It was 1800 hours when the games finished. Mesa or Gilbert had a fire near their border just before the game finished. It’s hard to tell sometimes what jurisdiction the fire is in as the closest companies go no matter where the fire is. I think Mesa Engine 205 was first-in and reported they had smoke and fire showing from the front. Most of the companies were Gilbert companies so the fire was probably in Gilbert.

We headed back to the hotel. I checked into my new room, which was very nice. When my brother Ron saw the room he asked if it was OK if they went to get takeout food from Applebee’s and eat it in my big room. I said, “Why not!” We had a great family dinner and the kids had a great time in my room. They took the cushions off the sofa-bed and made a fort under the table. Oh to be a kid again!

As I was watching the Weather Channel I saw the reports of the tornado that touched down in New Mexico. I was glad I had stayed an extra day in Phoenix. It would have been a pretty miserable day driving through the thunderstorms on the way to Albuquerque. I also noticed that it was still going to be raining Sunday in that area. I decided to stick around with my relatives until checkout time (noon) Sunday and then to head to Tucson for the night. That way the front of rain should be out of the area as I head home on Monday and Tuesday.

That’s all for now. I’m sure you’ve heard enough.

Your Roving Reporter