911 Squirrel
A fun, informative podcast about life, training, and other insights, within the careers of all first responders (Law, Fire, EMS, etc). Telling stories, sharing insights on training, diving into serious subjects, and laughing at ourselves.
911 Squirrel
On The Road!
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
We go on the road to Hendersonville Fire Department and have a roundtable discussion (well, a lot of laughs too), with 3 of their finest! Everyone has a great time, and hopefully y'all do too!
One thing for sure, First Responders have the best sense of humor.
Got a thought? E-mail 911squirrelpodcast@gmail.com
Welcome to 911 Squirrel, a podcast for all the fine men and women who serve as first responders. Stories will be told if training is hot um, and everyday responder life is explored, all while having a great time doing it. So grab your coffee and watch those tails. This squirrel's gift is about to begin. And now, a man who considers the Walmart gas stations as a form of short track racing, please welcome your host, Brad Mack.
SPEAKER_07Well, hello and welcome to episode number 13 of 911 Squirrel, the podcast for first responders. As the Quick Tech Voice said, I am your host Brad Mack, and this episode is called On the Road. That's right, we left the studio behind and drove a few hours west. Uh yeah, episode 13. But don't worry, this is not gonna be unlucky because this is gonna be a lot of fun. And with any luck in planning, we hope that this is the first of many road trips across the country to come to your department or agency and meet all of you. With that in mind, if you want us to come and report report, we're gonna report the podcast. Come and record a podcast, send us an email to 911 Squirrel Podcast. That's one huge word, 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com, and let's work to make that happen. All right, first of all, may the White Cloud form, follow, and bless you all with fun and rewarding shifts. Okay. All right, well, we we are here in Hendersonville, Tennessee. We decided we're gonna come out here to Hendersonville Fire Department, who are gracious enough to allow us to come down here and interview three of the finest of Hendersonville Fire. Oh, the laughing. Oh, let's get the laughing going. Come on.
SPEAKER_02We'll see. I don't know where you got the information.
SPEAKER_07My parents proud. Anyway, so we have Travis Kimmons, Captain Travis Kimmons.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, there it is.
SPEAKER_07There you go. Say hello.
SPEAKER_02Travis is fine. Hey, nice to meet you. Hey, all right. Everybody out there.
SPEAKER_07We got Matt Stringer. Engineer. Engine, just an engineer.
SPEAKER_01Well, we were seniors, and then they just changed it to engineer. Ah, okay. Very classy name. More structured. Yeah, very structured, yeah. And then we got Corey Shell.
SPEAKER_02Engineer.
SPEAKER_07Engineer Corey Shelly.
SPEAKER_01Slash paramedic.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's right. Yeah, you got the paramedic thing behind. With many talents.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I can put a band-aid on really well.
SPEAKER_07Well, we're going to have a lot of fun today because uh the reason we came down here is we wanted to come out. We we love getting out to different departments and all that and just interviewing everybody. And because we want to make y'all the stars of 911 Squirrel. So we're gonna start with Travis over here. And you have uh two kids that are their middle school and one's about to start high school.
SPEAKER_02Yes, sir. 14, about to turn 15, and 10 years old.
unknownWow.
SPEAKER_07And you and so you you've been a firefighter for how long?
SPEAKER_0220 years.
SPEAKER_07It's been 20 years, really.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, man. Wild flies.
SPEAKER_07That's amazing.
SPEAKER_02We're old, dude.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, hey, you know what?
SPEAKER_02No, seasoned. Here's where the first words start coming flying. We're seasoned. Yeah, we're seasoned firefighters. Season and experience. Seasoned and experienced. Um more than I want to be sometimes. Yeah, but yeah, yeah, life's life flies. Enjoy it. Enjoy it because it's quick.
SPEAKER_07Well, 20 years, man. Who knew?
SPEAKER_02Right?
SPEAKER_07Who knew? Right. And Matt, now I know your wife, Amy. That is correct. I remember when you guys met long time ago. Long time ago. And you got two, you got two kids, and one's about to go to college.
SPEAKER_01That is correct. Uh it's a hard day. Um ready for him, just ready to swing some fly, but but you know, starts a new chapter of his life. Um, so we'll we'll see.
SPEAKER_07He's moving in Saturday, so and and you've been a firefighter for how long?
SPEAKER_01Sixteen years. Sixteen years.
SPEAKER_07And and you got the mustache to prove it.
SPEAKER_01It just now started coming off. It's taking some of us years.
SPEAKER_02Okay. As much as we'd like to.
SPEAKER_07Well, you're we won't get into shaving habits with Travis.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, don't shame me publicly.
SPEAKER_07Um no, no, no, no. I just I I just don't want the show to come along with it. And Corey, you've been a firefighter for how long? Fifteen years. Fifteen years. And you and your wife, Mabel. That's right. That's correct. Yeah. Two kids. Four and two. Four and two? Yeah. That's all they are?
SPEAKER_06The youngins.
SPEAKER_07Wow.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, they're wild, though. So it's that's why I have more gray hair at 36.
SPEAKER_07No, but that's I I I'm it's it's it when it comes to first responders, uh whether it's EMS fire or police, the family, the family dynamic is always like the most important thing of anybody. And it especially in emergency services, because we already have the camaraderie that comes along with the job. And so families basically are just another aspect of all that. So I think it's just I think it's great. So y'all's typical routine when you get up in the morning to come do a shift.
SPEAKER_05Oh, okay. Before okay, before.
SPEAKER_07Before you got not when you get here. We all know you gotta check off the truck, blah, blah, blah.
SPEAKER_06Um, well, mine's pretty uh regulated. Uh I get up at 4 15, go to the gym, be there at 5, get ready to come to work after that. So that's pretty consistent. Set the day. Most most of the time. At least at least 83% of the time.
SPEAKER_07Unless there's a clear liquid producent jar the night before.
SPEAKER_02Yes. And the older you get, uh, yeah, those tie on pretty quick. Yeah. They start hurting more and more. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07No, I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_06We're not no, I mean it's it's true. There's some days I don't want to get up. But consistency and try to make it disciplined in some sort of fashion and keep on going. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04So there's the tones. Who's going? Is that one? That's one. There's another one. That's five. That's a record.
SPEAKER_07Oh, okay. I remember those tones. What about y'all?
SPEAKER_02Uh well, let me wait for me. Oh, you know, I wish dispatch would get their own channel. Jeez. Yeah. Huh?
SPEAKER_07It doesn't matter. Um probably be a good idea for you know, for out the with with the adverse. Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Oh, stringer with a save. Turn the speaker down. You know, technology, it's a wonderful thing. Um I'm I fluctuated through the years. So years ago, when I worked with Brad, uh, I would go to the gym every morning and run a 5K. That was like on the treadmill. That was the way I set the day. And then I got kind of lax in my ways and you know, the stresses of life. But recently I've gotten back, I got back to that point, and it has been the best thing ever. I get up about four in the morning. Um, one of the better investments I made was a personal sauna at the house. So I will get in the sauna, I'll sweat it out for about an hour, um, intermittently, of course, and then uh do a little workout in the garage. And then I'll uh I'm fortunate. I'm one of the guys that lives close to the station, so I actually can ruck into work. So I started uh rucking into work with a weight vest. And man, I tell you what, there's days where I hate it, and then I when I get to the fire hall after I finish, it's like I'm glad I did it. It sets the day. And if you get that out of the way, uh it sets the day. You have some mental clarity and you got some drive and get to the hall, get showered, shade, get some coffee, and then the the fun starts. So that's kind of what I'm in doing lately, and it it seems to be working. So I'm gonna see.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, and a double scoop of pre-workout, and you're ready to go.
SPEAKER_02Well, you know, any good. Any firefighter worth his salt has at least 400 milligrams of caffeine right off the side, right off the rip. Uh you know, I like my coffee, my wrestling.
SPEAKER_07I'm ready to chuck off the truck. I'm ready to get it.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, my wrestling heart rate is below 90. We're not doing it right. So, you know, get it up there. Pump those numbers up. Those are rookie numbers.
SPEAKER_07What about you, Matt? What's your morning routine?
SPEAKER_01Oh, well, I sure don't get up. I don't know what you guys are doing. So I set my alarm for 5 30. I hit snooze five times and uh get up at 5 45, shower, shave, uh, make myself some mushroom coffee. Discovered that recently. Mushroom coffee rise. We're not sponsored, we're just mentioning it. Uh we would like it. We would like a sponsorship. It helps the whole biome, I guess. Uh get to work, usually at least 15 minutes early and then start the day. Uh right before I leave the house, kiss the kids goodbye, kiss the wife, dog, gone. Kiss the dog, huh? Love my dog. That explains a lot about Matt. Never wanted a dog. Really?
SPEAKER_07You never wanted the dog.
SPEAKER_01Had had uh old Coco now for two years, and uh I mean, she's she's my dog. Like I get it. My mental health dog for sure. I get it.
SPEAKER_07Well, um since since we're we're taught since we brought up the the families and stuff, one uh one serious question is is y'all are firefighters, you all have been firefighters for a long time. Uh now I know Corey here, you you're coming from a firefighter family. I am because your dad's a firefighter also in with him. And how's he doing by the way? I haven't seen him in the year.
SPEAKER_06I think he's already counting down some retirement. Oh, really? I think we're about a little less than a year out, and I think it's it's coming.
SPEAKER_07But uh, but the question the question that I have for all of you, since y'all you got kids and everything like that, how do you you and y'all's family deal with the fact that y'all are firefighters with all the stress and everything else that comes with it?
SPEAKER_05Sometimes my wife says she's just really thankful for that day off from me.
SPEAKER_06That was a joke. Yeah, maybe he had a smile on his face when he said that at work. No, I mean it's it's just what the way it's always been for us. Like it that that's never been, I've never had a five-day-a week job. 40 hours, it's always been 2448. So from the day that we started dating when we got married, and the kids are used to it now, and so it's like, hey, dad's going to work. All right, we'll see you in a day, we'll FaceTime you. And other than that, yeah, good to go. So that that's thankfully that's been the way it is for us. It's just been the way it's always been. So what about y'all?
SPEAKER_02Uh you know, the fire service is a unique animal, and it has its ups and downs, and it takes an incredible um family structure to thrive in that environment. And and I envy that. I, you know, I see these couples in the fire service. I I we were talking about this the other day, like a couple that makes it the entire 30 years, like the spouse deserves an award. Like there should be some recognition. Which one? Yeah, like there should be some recognition for the the significant other not in the fire service because of all the sacrifices that are that you know, yeah, they go routinely unnoticed. Sometimes like it's a given, right? It's a fire service family. We do this, this is what we do. But at the end of the day, it does, it can take a toll. And uh for someone, for anyone or a family as a whole to thrive in that environment, what an amazing thing. That's a strong woman, in my opinion. Um, and it's very, it's awesome. So when I when I see that firsthand, it I always admire that. And and I think what a great family. Um but it yeah, the fire service does have its challenges. Um, you know, one thing that that people uh can struggle with on fire service is you know, we can't emotionally relate to our patients. We have to just be professionals for them and show up and they expect 110% and they call 911, and that's that's what we give them. Yeah. And so at work we have to flip that switch off, right? And and transitioning from work to the the home life, you have to flip that switch back on because they deserve that, you know, they don't deserve anything less. So that can be a challenge for some guys, you know, stresses can happen, and so it's it's a it's it's a fluid dynamic, the fire service and family life. It's it's never ending.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, that for sure. I can relate like flipping that switch back on just to being dad husband mode when you get back and being chipper and being positive, and you're like, I've been up all night, I've been on some rough calls, and I need to decompress, and it's like I need a minute, you know. It that's a difficult aspect of it that not a lot of people understand. They just expect, oh yeah, you spent 20, you slept all night, you just guys kicked back and watched a family guy or something like that.
SPEAKER_07Kumbaya.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, so and it's not always I mean, thankfully we do have those shifts like that, but a lot of times it's quite different, and there are some hard stuff that you gotta be a part of and turn those emotions off and then process it later. And then sometimes it's you gotta differentiate by the time you get home of like, all right, they didn't do anything wrong. Like it's just emotions that I've got to process and love you guys, but you know, just a little bit of space. But still be but still be present, and that that that's that's a difficult thing to uh uh overcome sometimes. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Well, even even not even emotional difficulties, but even a lack of sleep. If you get three or four calls after midnight, back to back to back to back, uh, and they're not even really they're trivial calls, you know, which nothing's trivial to the person calling 911, but to us, you know, a lift assist is just a normal call, right? And if you get three of those after midnight and you're running on no sleep, then you get home and the wife's like, Oh, I've been waiting for you to come home because now you can be the husband and you can be the father again, and your kids are jumping on you on the couch and they want to play and and you just want to take a nap, it's like that's uh sometimes that can be tough. It can.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, for me, it sounds like you guys are better men than I am because sometimes it's hard for me to come home and be the parent or the dad or the husband that I'm supposed to be. Like I'm still stuck in work mode. And you know, I've been married for 21 years now. We've been together, oh gosh, longer than that. So she's stuck with me, and she deserves an award. No doubt. No doubt. Uh uh, Matt, I would agree.
SPEAKER_02She definitely does it.
SPEAKER_01She definitely does. Like, so like there's been times when I come home and I inadvertently cast all the demons that I have that day on my family, and it's not fair to them. They don't deserve that at all. And I know that. But like you say, it's sometimes you don't get that decompression time, the 10 or 15, 20 minutes, ride home, whatever. And then you're you are maybe you are excited to come home and see your kids, but they've been bad the day before. And then some mom wants you to whoop their butt and you're like, oh man, I just want to come home and love them. But now I've got to be the disciplinarian, and you got to go into that role. So it's it's very, very tough. And I commend my wife for hanging in there because I'm not easy to live with, and I I try to decompress and I try to keep keep them separate. Uh, it's sometimes it's really tough.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, the stress can make you word vomit sometimes pretty easy on the on your loved ones, and those are the ones that the least.
SPEAKER_07Well, the one thing about the three of you, like your kids are close to elementary school, so they're they're really young. Yours are in high school or about to be in college, and then Travis's is right in that middle school, about to turn high school. So it it there's an eclectic array of like yours probably understands better than any of them on what your job is, but for for Matt. Yours are really getting into that understanding. Travis's kids are getting into understanding, but Corey's are they are they really they just want to see you drive, they just want to get in the fire truck and just go.
SPEAKER_02And you know what? That is a great time. I love it.
SPEAKER_07That is the best time. But are they starting to understand? Being as young as they are, are they starting to understand what dad does or somewhat.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah. I mean, they like I said, they're they're definitely more light sirens, cool big truck type thing still. So it's we're definitely in that stage of it to where and then dad's gone for 24 hours. So that's that's where we're at.
SPEAKER_02So wait, wait till they get to middle school and and high school, and then uh I think what they how do they say it? That Harper's telling me that her uh she gets major aura points because her dad's a firefighter. Um so she gets to be the popular with the cool kid in school because her dad shows up in the fire truck.
SPEAKER_01So for the record, that that wears off.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah. Well, you know what? I'm gonna enjoy it while I can. Absolutely, absolutely.
SPEAKER_07Well, here's a here's a good question, and and we'll start with Matt here. Um, what are some of the ways that you do decompress when your shift is over?
SPEAKER_01Does drinking count? I'm sorry. I'm kidding, you're kidding, folks. Uh just part of it.
SPEAKER_07I know what I'm doing later.
SPEAKER_01You know, now that I have a dog, she, you know, she misses me just like everybody else, but she actually truly loves me to the end. Um I don't really do too much, you know. Sometimes I have a second job, so I I just go focus on that. Um I like to watch TV. Uh I like cooking, so uh, I'll try to prepare the meal for that evening. Uh, with the kids uh and their sports, I love to go watch them play. So I can really decompress and just let it all go and focus on them. Because, you know, there's a lot of stuff that I've missed along the way. Uh so I pride myself that this year, my son was a senior. Uh I made it to every game, football and baseball, except maybe two. Uh I tried to make it to softball when I could, some of them at the same time. But now it's my daughter's turn and I'm gonna be there every time she's got a game, Lord willing. And uh that's really my decompression is just watching my kids play and hanging out with the dog, and you know, me and the wife will sit on the back porch and she'll have wine and I have a beer or something. So that's about it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02It's a mixture of things, really. I really enjoy if I'm having a bad day, like uh I I'm over the day, like we're done for the day. I'll I'll get in the sauna and and just really turn it up and sweat it out and kind of meditate, think about things. But also, man, I d I just like getting down the garage and turning wrenches. I got three or four projects at all times in the garage, and I'll just turn the radio on and just start, you know, doing something on the motorcycle, you know, and just kind of take time to myself and just be focused on one thing. That helps me calm down and and de-stress. And and but you know, like Matt said, I I really do get a lot out of spending time with my girls, and we love watching movies, so we'll have movie night and you know, the dog and the kids, and we'll cook dinner together. And I'm a homebody, I don't I really don't like getting out and doing anything crazy anymore, you know. I'm too old for that now. And um just spend time with my kids, really. But uh it's good to de-stress with the family, so but I also enjoy my private time as well. And you know, I even like getting out there and cutting the grass. I get in my head while I'm cutting the grass and I'm able to work through the stresses of the day on the mower. That helps a lot too. It sounds weird, I guess, but no, it's I really common again. It really is. Um, I really enjoy it. I I love cutting grass. Uh, you know, maybe one day I'll retire from the fire department and work for the parks department. That's the only way I'm gonna reach retirement eight.
SPEAKER_06You hear that guy, I'm coming. No, I mean, really, it's quiet time. Like just away from everybody, maybe a cigar, just chill out.
SPEAKER_07You get cigars, and you don't call me.
SPEAKER_06You said you live like eight hours away. So that's what No, and I I love spending time with a family. I really do. It it's but that that quiet time first is very much appreciated, and just quiet, nothing going on, no nothing going on outside, and just letting me decompress. I like that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, cool. Well how often do you get that? I mean, or do you just try to prioritize it? Oh no. No, maybe no.
SPEAKER_06It just no.
SPEAKER_01Just no.
SPEAKER_02I mean phases with small people.
SPEAKER_06No, I I gotta brag. Uh my wife's pretty awesome. She she will, if it's something that is an issue that I've been like, hey, I need some time, and she's got she's not working all day. Uh she's like, all right, let's make some time, and she'll handle it with the kids and take care of them. That's good. And so I really appreciate that. You know, she does a good job. So what does she do? She works for Amazon Corporate, and she handles a lot of the uh safety for on the road truck drivers. Oh, nice. So, yeah, anytime you see an Amazon truck that drives off the back of my driveway and yard. Not the delivery trucks, the semis.
SPEAKER_02Hey man, while we got this up, I gotta I gotta you want grinds my gears. I gotta complain. I need Mabel's number, actually. They keep parking in the road and like right in the middle of the road. And I just, you know, can't we pull in driveways? What are we doing? Simus. Oh. She's over Simmons. Just Sim Us. The delivery drivers. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07We don't have anything to do with talk later. But that's the starting point. Just have Mabel call Jeff Bezos. We can get to the bottom of her.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, he can handle it.
SPEAKER_07Anyone can sell an ambulance. The real test is what happens after delivery. At 108, we provide full life cycle support for brawn, demers, and crestline ambulances from specification and delivery to service parts, warranty support, and fleet replacement planning. Because when your crews need help, you shouldn't have to wonder who to call. Learn more at 108fire.com or call 877-989-7660. 108 Fire and Safety, built on integrity, driven to serve. Oh my gosh. Well, we talked earlier uh before we started, and we were talking about camaraderie, and uh the camaraderie, like I I knew you guys when I was working at for EMS down here in Hendersonville, and I always thought the camaraderie here in Hendersonville was just over the charts, even back then. Is it still the same for you all now that you've got you know 15 plus 20 years plus there's new faces, you know.
SPEAKER_01Uh the old heads have retired, they they spent their time here, and so you get a lot of younger guys or just new faces that you have to build those bonds with. Uh and that always takes some time, you know. Um and of course, then there's you know, people promote and move shifts, and then your your guys that you were holding true to your hearts are gone. So now you gotta start forming those bonds with with the next guy that comes up. So it's uh when it's going good, it's going good. You try to cherish it because it'll change, you know. Yeah. I can't speak for I've only been here eight years, so uh I can't speak for the for them, but um there's been a lot of change just since I've been here. And I I try to rebuild those bonds whatever who comes in. But it's like any newcomer, you know, it takes time.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_02You know, I I've thought about this in the past. I've I've had conversations with people about what makes and I agree. Uh Hendersonville's always been that kind of department. It's always been a wonderful place to work on the like the crew level. Um we we have our ups and downs like any city-run agency, but on the crew level, there has been a a brotherhood, a bond that has been um tremendous for me personally. I've had so many good crews, like like Matt's saying, you know, you don't you wish you could keep a good crew forever, but but you can't because if your guys are that good, they then they're gonna succeed and they're gonna get promoted. And you want to see that. You want to see your guys win because then it's like, man, yes, good. Uh I want to see my guys rise up. That's bet better for them, better for their family. Um, and so you see, uh you see we're making jokes over here. Uh uh I missed out apparently.
SPEAKER_07In case anybody really wants to know, yeah, be serious.
SPEAKER_01I'm sorry, Kimans continue.
SPEAKER_02And the camaraderie continued. And that's what that's what I'm talking about. We're that's the uh the perfect illustration, you know, because that's exactly what happened at the coffee table.
SPEAKER_07I'm so glad this is the video podcast.
SPEAKER_02Oh, yeah. We're not lying.
SPEAKER_03Um gosh.
SPEAKER_02But to round that off, to because I was probably rambling, that's probably why Matt was was laughing. Um uh Hendersonville is like the perfect size for me because it doesn't have big department problems when it comes like you know, you go to these big bigger departments, everyone doesn't know everybody. Right. Uh and in smaller departments, there's a lot more competition for you know competing. I think we have a really good sized department because I I feel like I know 99% of people here by name. And I know, oh yeah, I know that crew, I know that guy. And and also there's room for growth as well. So there's a healthy camaraderie, uh uh healthy competition, um, and but also like everyone wants to see everybody win. And so I I I you know I I we had the rookies the other day, and and I told them, it's like, you know, I would put our department up against almost any department in the country. We because we just have such a tight bond on scene when it comes to calls. Most of the time we don't even have to tell each other or ask questions, we just do. And I've seen so many successes happen with us on scene. It just made I'm really proud to work here, and I just love the guys here. It's it's a really good place to work.
SPEAKER_05I mean, I I just echo what Travis said. It really is a fantastic place. I mean, just it's it's gotten even better over the years. The longer we've been here, you know, the more you get to know people, the more you gel with your crew.
SPEAKER_06Like my crew right now, I wouldn't trade for any other crew. You know. We had a guy test for engineer spot, and I'm like, all right, I really want you to do well, but just just miss the spot by one. Get a 69. Yeah, so that way we can keep you. Like, I know you're I know how good you are, and but just just bomb the just bomb the test this time. No, no. You know, you wouldn't you get to where you develop these relationships and you wouldn't trade these guys for anywhere. And you treat them just like you said, Crado, you treat them like you're their brother, your brothers, and being able to go help each other out off shift to being able to go to each other's house and hang out for a barbecue or grill out or smoke a cigar together, whatever, and just hang out and have genuine fun with each other. You know, that that's a lot something that many other uh businesses, many other professions don't offer. Right. You know, you you don't you don't have that option. Like you've got some people that you your co-workers maybe at a desk job that you know and that you coerce with on a day-to-day basis basis. Wow. But being able to build a relationship and then but because you're spending that 24 hours with each other, being able to build that bond through a third of your life together, you know, whether you're going and fixing dinner, whether you're watching a movie, whether you're on a hard call or on a fire or whatever, I mean, you're building bonds way more tighter than 90% of the other professions.
SPEAKER_01Oh, yeah. Everybody else is just clocking out and going home. Oh, 100%. It's like I have friends outside of work. Well, okay, maybe I have one friend outside of work. Thank you for being honest with me.
SPEAKER_07Your wife doesn't count.
SPEAKER_02The dog doesn't count, man. Dang it. Uh he gets me, man.
SPEAKER_07But the name is Guido. And he wears a long coat.
SPEAKER_01But the friends are your co-workers or your brothers or sisters or whatever you have at work here in the fire service, uh, especially here for me in in Hendersonville, uh, it's just different. Like, I can go out with my friends that aren't in the fire service and we can have a good time, but we don't converse like we I would with the friends I have here in the fire department. Because they get me. They get my dark humor, they get my satire, they they get all of that. And we get each other because we're in the same business together, you know? Uh and I feel more relaxed around them, you know. Uh, because we all are kind of the same way. We we don't like to be around a whole lot of people. We don't like to be in a lot of crowded places. We like our backs to the wall so we can see the entrance.
SPEAKER_06Oh, I've never understood that. Every time I go to a restaurant and I do that, she's like, What are you doing? But I'm like, just leave me. I've trained myself protectors.
SPEAKER_01When they sit down, my daughter and my son are like, get up at the dad's spot. Because they know that I want to see because we're here or protectors, right?
SPEAKER_02And you just kind of pick up things along the way. But it's a level of anxiety. If you have your back to the door, it's like a uh a level of anxiety you have the entire time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, especially these days, right? And so the the camaraderie and the friendships that I have here at the fire services are are probably stronger than my outside friends. Sorry, guys. Uh but that comes naturally.
SPEAKER_02They're equipped to understand how you feel and what you're trying to relay when you're talking about something that's tough. They've been there, they've done that. They got the t-shirt, and just being a part of a group of people like that, I don't think that exists many other places, to be honest. Uh guy, you you're trauma bonded. Yeah. It's what it is. You've been in the trenches together. It's just like, well, the military, just like soldiers, those guys relate to each other. And so that they can really understand it on an emotional level what's going on.
SPEAKER_07Well, when it comes to being in the fire department, I I think of it this way. One thing I learned was between fire departments and um police departments, you have a camaraderie because each one of you has to rely on the other because you never know what situation you're going to be in from shift to shift. And I think that's that part of the bond, a very important aspect of the camaraderie, because you all know that you got each other's backs.
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_07So and then that just helps, just like you were saying, when y'all have been on part of calls that are that are, oh my gosh, the trauma and what you see and everything. So y'all can y'all have that that bond in there for everything that you see.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, nobody gets firefighter humor like other firefighters. Oh no. We offend everyone else. It's like, oh well, this was a good party. My wife came in and started talking to you.
SPEAKER_01She's like, what did you just say? I'm like, why would you say that? Like Corey and Travis would get it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Well, speaking of humor, this is this because we're talking about camaraderie, best practical joke.
SPEAKER_02Oh, man.
SPEAKER_07Because we just went through July, so I know those poppers were flying everywhere.
SPEAKER_02Man, you know, allegedly, allegedly.
SPEAKER_07Allegedly.
SPEAKER_06Can we can we say uh can we say hazing on the podcast? You can say it just we can't implement it. Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_07Just be careful on you know exactly the details.
SPEAKER_06We have a rookie that he's not a rookie now, but I still consider him a rookie. He gets abused a lot emotionally. Emotionally. In a fun, loving way. In a fun way. In the nicest way possible.
SPEAKER_02We would take a bullet for that guy. I'm living the dead. We're gonna love him the dead. You know, I think one of the best ones, I forget all the it's been so long. You know, I'm like, I got told you earlier, my brain's like a hamster on a wheel, you know. It's I struggle to remember all the things.
SPEAKER_07Oh, you definitely got the captain speak down. Oh, uh, cool. Thank you.
SPEAKER_02I've been working on it for a while. I I got them, I got them fooled. Uh no, uh, we had a uh guy, it's it's always fun when you get a new guy at the hall, right? Because they don't want to make any mistakes. They're they have this front they've put up, this bulletproof front front. They're gonna be perfect at everything they do. They don't want to let you down. And so uh the phone's always a really good mechanism to get a prank going. So we you know, we would get uh somebody at another hall would call the station line and pretend to be a citizen, a concerned citizen, and get the rookie on the phone, you know. And at that point, whatever you want to say it, right? You can you can really get them going, you know, five, ten minutes and have them sweating, you know. I've seen a couple of good ones like that where you know they just they're just white, they're they've lost all desire to live because they don't know what how to answer this really upset citizen. So that's a good one. I I I we use that one quite often when we have a new guy at the hall. But we so our our new guy he uh we were out smoking over there.
SPEAKER_06We were out we were out smoking cigars one day, and he comes out with this plate of leftover food, and it looks like leftover hibachi. And he's been here six months, and he's like, I found it in the fridge. It looks really good. I heated it up and he's just digging in. Well, at our station, we have a division chief here. Lo and behold, our division chief walks out the patio door, he's like, Where's my food? And he's mid-bite and looks up and is just the the just the whites, he just completely like a ghost. So, of course, at that point he's scarred for life. It wasn't three months later, there was another meal in the cabinet, and he's like, I wonder whose that is. He's like, I don't, I don't have dinner. You think you think I could eat it? And I was like, dude, go ahead. Go ahead. And so he's heating it up and he's getting ready to eat it. And I text our division chief, hey, all right, he's got a he's got a meal, he's got some noodles or something he's heating up. And it's I I tell him the the name of it, the color of the package, everything. The division chief walks in. Division chief walks in. Where's my pack of noodles? That's all I have. Again, the white just like a ghost that just comes and he just drains all the blood out of his system. And he's like, So we had him going for hours. Like he thought, like, dude, you this is the second time you've done it. You might get fired. You're still on probation. Like, they can let you go for anything. Yeah, man. And so he's like going back, like forming his resignation letter. You know, he's thinking about his other options, and we finally let him off the hook. And so that, you know, that was a good one. As as minute as that was, he we just capitalized on his initial screw up.
SPEAKER_02I'll I'll tell an old one because it was they got me, they got me good year when I was a rookie years ago. Uh I had my wife drove a Jeep, and so we were selling the Jeep, and so I parked the Jeep across the street in a little gravel area on the side of the road next to the fire hall. And I went out there to bring it back in and put it in behind the fire hall at night, and there was a ticket on the Jeep that I had illegally parked. And this can't be real. This is it's just you know, an easement off the road. Well, I didn't think I did anything wrong. And of course, the crews just, you know, oh man, that's real. That's that's real. That you're gonna have to go to court for that. They they man, let me tell you, they had by the time this was all said and done, this went on for about a month. By the time that it was all said and done, they had uh police officers come in by the station to confirm. Oh, yeah, that's a real ticket. Uh you know, you don't show up, you're gonna have a bench warrant. And I was sweating, you know. I'm you know, I was a rookie, you don't want to mess up as a rookie because you don't you want to get fired. You think anything you do is gonna be held against you. Lo and behold, our engineer Alan had found an old ticket book in the trash can next to the fuel pumps. These guys have gone out there and stuck a fake ticket on my Jeep. But it was good. Everyone had a good laugh. It was good because it was a good month. They had this thing going for a month, they were committed to the bit for sure. So, you know, leave it to your brothers to really make you sweat, make you think you're oh yeah.
SPEAKER_07You got a good one, man? I know you got a good one.
SPEAKER_01I've got some good ones. There's been a few that I've been a part of. Uh there's some that I've heard about that were awesome. I can't repeat them.
SPEAKER_02No wrong. Yeah, this is a part of show.
SPEAKER_01It's it's pretty clean, but I I'll stick with one that I was a part of. So it's sort of a part of. Like I didn't do the action, but I knew the action was taking place. So we got some newer guys on our shift, uh, and they're from out west. Um, and they and they they didn't know each other out there, but they're they click, you know, they're from California, they click, uh, and they're great. They're great dudes. Bruh. Um so to bruh.
SPEAKER_07Well, man, where's the engineer Springer, man?
SPEAKER_01So, so they're they're they're like two kids, but I mean, they're really good guys to work with, right? So they're going to prank uh we at our station we have two engineers. Um, so one of them, my engineer was off, other engineer was off, and they were gonna prank him. So they're like, what can we do? What can we do? Well, they go find his um his BDU shirt, right? It's hanging up in the day room, and so they get it and they're like, We're gonna freeze it. I'm like, like, yeah, he's he's only got one, we're gonna freeze it. It's classic. So I'm like, well, you know, maybe at least put it in a big ziploc, right? Yeah. Well, it didn't fold out right. So they folded it up, it wouldn't fit in the ziploc, so they stuck it in a pot of water, stuck his shirt in there and stuck it in the freezer with his name tag facing outward and stuck it in the freezer. Once it got solid as a rock, they took the pan out and just left it in there. So when he came back the next shift, he opened up the freezer, and there was his shirt in a solid block of ice with his name on it. This is why we can't have anything ice. He just opened it up and looks, and he knew who did it. And uh he just shut it back and he left it. He didn't even try to thaw it out. He was just like, screw it. Eventually, about two weeks later, they went and busted it out for him. You know, he's like, I knew y'all did it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Yo, man, why do you uh pick on me, dude? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But there are, you know, and I'm sure you guys have probably heard some, especially down at one. You've heard of some of the good pranks.
SPEAKER_02And now, Matt, what whatever could you mean by that? I don't I'm just kidding.
SPEAKER_07Well, I remember one paramedic that used to work at y'all station one, the great, the late great Shane Clifford. Oh, buddy. That was that was joke master.
SPEAKER_02Let me tell you, the stories that Shane could tell and that David Harrington could tell.
SPEAKER_03Oh, gosh, yeah.
SPEAKER_02We would be we would have a whole podcast series uh of the pranks that you know, station one is the oldest station, so it's been around the longest. The stories that we could tell about that place. But yeah, uh, what an um yeah, Shane was such a great guy. Yeah, really do miss him and him the dynamic between him and David at the station is just awesome.
SPEAKER_07That was that was that was almost like a war zone, if you didn't know it. I mean, you you were walking in to just cheer hell.
SPEAKER_02If you were a new guy and you walked in the doors, you were just like you leaned up against the wall. You didn't want to be seen. I don't want to get whatever that is, I don't want any part of it, but you didn't have a choice, you know. You're running that that was your crew, that's who you're running with. So oh man. Oh proceed with caution.
SPEAKER_07Yeah. Well, here's here's a question for just the three of you what inspired y'all to become firefighters. Don't we all speak at once?
SPEAKER_02Everybody's in deep thought. Oh my gosh. I guess I'll go first. Um it's nothing nothing profound. I think it's um it's changed throughout the years initially.
SPEAKER_07Well, what was the initial what uh your perspective always changes as the years go by. What was that first real Yeah?
SPEAKER_02So I was, you know, doing odds and ends and construction, and I ended up I ended up building boat docks here on the lake. I was working for a company building boat docks, and I enjoyed that. I didn't enjoy doing it in the dead of winter, you know, on the water in the wind, but I I enjoyed my work, and then we started to get into a little bit of uh marine salvage. And so we started diving and doing some salvage work with sunken boats and stuff at marinas. Nothing crazy, but it it kind of piqued my interest in diving. So I was looking at that and kind of weighing my options in life, and then you know, I forgot I forget who it was. Somebody said, Oh, you know, um, you know, there's a fire department down the road, number one fire department. They're a volunteer fire department. You should check them out. That'd be something I think that's right up your alley. You're a pretty technical guy and you're a hands-on guy, and you like helping people. So I started uh volunteering there and running a couple calls here and there with them and doing some training. And and man, when I started the training, I think it just it's like a light bulb clicked on. I was like, I think this is what I'm meant to do. I think this is it. Like I think I think I found my thing. I was really excited. And then um I started seeing the results of being all being able to help people and the satisfaction that that gave me. And so it was a win-win. It was everything technical that I love doing, and then also being able to help people selflessly, that was a big draw for me. I I really got a lot out of that. And just it was the timing of it. It just so happened there's this fire department down the road called Hendersonville Fire Department, which is the town that I grew up in, and they had just formed a dive team. And not only that, they were hiring 18 firefighters for the opening of their new station. And so it was like, well, what the heck have I got to lose? I'll go ahead and and try out and you know, shoot my shot. And and man, it just like the stars aligned. Back then, um so many people wanted to be firefighters. You really had to bring your A game to get high up on the list, you know. You had to have, you know, college surf uh uh certificates or medical uh certificates or military experience, prior fire experience. So I really didn't think that I was gonna get on. But I just I went in there with a good, you know, the attitude that I was gonna give it 110% in the testing process, and it just you know, everything aligned, and I I got high up on that list. And you know, they gave a they gave a a young kid a chance and gave him an honest chance, and and and I just went in with the attitude that you like I didn't I didn't know really anything, but I was gonna give it all I was gonna give it my all. And man, it's like it's it's gone behind a blank. I I haven't looked back. It's been such a rewarding experience for me. And um I could go on and but I think we're getting past the question.
SPEAKER_07Um let's get away from the captain here next next nerd.
SPEAKER_04I just wanted to fight the dragon.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_06I think uh I had no choice. Well, yeah. I, you know, at 13 years old, I'm at the volunteer fire department in Westmoreland getting some old expired gear. And you know, the back in the day when they still had the SCBAs that had the elephant trunk on it and you hooked it to your belt down there. And yeah, I was practicing on those and coming from that, you know, just getting experience there, I guess that really started my the the fire, the passion uh for the the job and the career. Uh as I went to college, went to college for it, fire science. You know, just setting myself up to like this is what I'm doing. Like there's n didn't even really like maybe for a second considered what other options out there, but it's like, no, this is what I want to do. So I want to help people. I want to be out there and and just run calls. And you know that was kind of what I was used to growing up and uh being able to be there in someone's time of need or being able to offer something to somebody that would make their day better. So I guess you could say it's in my blood. I guess. Oh I would say so. But uh I know your dad so you know I am thankful to be able to be a to start there and to be able to have that upbringing to where I could have had that start and had that experience early on. So it set me up set me up for success for this career. So I'm thankful for that.
SPEAKER_01Cool about you Matt I'm a little bit different um we've noticed good difference good difference good different good difference I was a little older in life uh when I decided to I was 32 so I got a buddy at a neighboring department um and he invited me to come watch him do his live burn he was in the academy and so at the time I don't know if you still can but you know family and friends can come out and watch the night live burn so uh I went out there to watch him and uh met a guy named Quentin here he was out there at the same time and I thought you know what this is pretty cool. I mean I've been in factories I was you know laying hardwood and and grocery stores and a bunch of other jobs that that didn't that I didn't really like and I was tired of and mainly construction right uh so I'm like you know what I'm gonna give this a shot so I got into a little po dunk 64 hour class you know to get my quick certification I guess you could say uh and then I'm like I want to make myself marketable so me and a couple guys decided to do the first responder so that was my first route and I'm like hey guys why don't we just go ahead and get our EMT out of the way so we can be more marketable. Well I'm the only one that went so I went through empt school and I don't know if you remember this or not when I was doing my checkoffs coming out of EMT school I believe you were already in EMT and so I went over to old EMS station on uh Southwater Southwater and you were my patient and I had to palopate you all over to find out what was going on.
SPEAKER_02Hold on slower Travis can leave the room listen you gotta buy me a drink first bro man I don't remember I don't remember this I don't remember what this is your injury this is the fire service regular Corey do you feel repressed memories come on no trauma where he touched I think I had already got done and passed my practical practical and I was trying to get a job in the MS and so uh we went there and and they kind of screened us and did all this jazz and um but lo and behold uh Gals and fire department was hiring and I put in for it and uh and got hired and uh you got hired on shortly after that we were in the same class I believe.
SPEAKER_01I'll come in you came in right after me because I was like when they first started their physical practical stuff. Yeah okay because we I remember us we had to go through the 10 week right so you know uh they gave me a chance uh spent eight and a half years there um learned every step of the way uh had a chance to had an opportunity to come to Hendersonville and I took it been here eight years and I've learned even more since I've been here so uh coming into this the fire service for me as a 32 year old guy I've already had uh several seasons under my belt like I've kind of been in the workforce I've seen things the your the way you think changes like you know like not to knock 25 year olds but you don't think the same way at 25 as you do at 32 or 40 or 50. So I think that really helped me being older and more seasoned. It helped me narrow my focus. I I had one child I had another one on the way so that really narrowed everything down and that's kind of what got me into it.
SPEAKER_07Cool cool see I already knew years. I already knew Corey so I mean no yeah because you were for Matt because you you did start late because uh because I I knew you all those years ago and I mean I didn't know you but I mean through Amy but Valbline right Valveline yeah yeah and then uh we kind of I think we come out hung out a few times uh I think you were singing at the time playing guitar oh yeah you know so yeah when he sent over the the email I'm like I know Brad yeah I'll do it may not be good at it but I'll do it yeah because Chief Edwards uh the chief here at Hendersonville I I I I contacted him and I said hey I'd like to you know come down and and just I was thinking oh I'll go station to station just interview whatever wants to interview oh I'll send out an email and he calls me up and he goes yeah I I got a whole list of people and I was like yeah send it over three I went okay well I guess it's a whole list but I you know but yeah I knew every you know I've known every single one of you guys you know from working here but yeah I've known you forever it's it seems like so yeah that's it's kind of interesting you getting getting later in instead of like you guys were in you were definitely in your early 20s you were what about 21 2 you man don't make the play like the game son I hit the need to hit the sensor button it's great that you guys got in early so you can get you know 30 years is a long time but you're still able if you choose to retire at 30 you're still a young guy.
SPEAKER_02Yeah 51 is young it's a whole there's a whole life ahead of you and I've I've thought about that at length you know what am I gonna do? How am I gonna feel when I get there?
SPEAKER_07Do I want do I want to keep going in to be determined wait a minute you're answering a it's gonna be a question questions.
SPEAKER_01Well Brad's cracking the whip edit that out Brad's cracking the whip all right slow down all right so final well I guess you could say mostly serious question ten more years where y'all see yourselves hopefully still alive hit the bottle like he does yeah hitting the bottle and I'm I'm I think I'm the oldest one besides Brad I'm the oldest one here.
SPEAKER_06Yeah screw you that's good that is good oh man years where you where you go first I don't know I I don't know I I don't know what the future holds you know I would be here you know I love being here yeah I enjoy this job you know I if I could you know hit the lottery and pay my house off I would you know and still come to work maybe well if you hit the lottery we'll take 10% or something like that.
SPEAKER_07Do I? We'll take 10% of hush money if you hit it.
SPEAKER_06Yeah yeah no absolutely no doubt uh you know 10 years I I just ultimately hope that I'm in a place where I'm setting my family up for success. Wherever we are you know whether that's emotionally spiritually financially physically I just want I want us to be able to set up as a family our legacy for the future. And so you know retire if I'm retiring from here you know so be it. And that's setting us up for success. Or if I'm moving to Guatemala, you know, whatever I I don't know I'm just throwing a random place out. You know I just want to ultimately be us everybody to be happy and everybody to be you know glad for the each season that we're in. And you know for 10 years I couldn't tell you what next year looks like at this point. I couldn't tell you what tomorrow looks like for me. Like I don't remember what I ate for dinner last night.
SPEAKER_07So that was like a perfect too much pre-workout for you right but we need some help old age you think y'all are old I'm 36. I don't want to hear it then now blow.
SPEAKER_02We're going to next I think we can get it we're good.
SPEAKER_07We'll make it just a baby no buddy I hope that answers your question oh yeah that's cool that's a good answer I'm not saying I mean I it's just a question of when I when I ask this question yeah you nobody knows what the future holds I mean tomorrow I might be like hey you guys I can't do that but it it's just a question of where where where can what's possible what's possible that you can see in 10 years my goal in 10 years you know I'm pretty happy where I'm at right now I I've achieved a lot of goals and I had set for myself I wanted to be on the dive team I wanted to be a captain I wanted to be at station one I wanted to be a boat operator got it checked all those off I'm really happy where I'm at.
SPEAKER_02So I I don't have any like big dreams of of moving anywhere uh becoming you know rising in the ranks uh dramatically um I think my focus is gonna be on my mental health and my physical health you know Corey kind of hit the nail on the head when he's talking about his family's spiritual health and emotional health and man those are just really good goals and so wherever I'm at in 10 years I I'll be here for sure um because I'm gonna be finishing out my career for sure here at Hendersonville um but I just want to be better in some aspect or the same right I don't want to regress you know a lot of the guys here have talked about this you know it's like oh if I get old and I'm at my 30 and you know I'm if if I'm holding my crew back somebody tell me and I'll I'll go. And I feel like that's a common thought here. It's like if I'm if I'm if if my health is bad or like my mental state is bad or I'm regressing somehow or I'm I'm somehow bleeding that onto my guys. I don't I don't I don't want to be here at that point. I'll I want to go and if I have the ability to then I will um but no that that I want to I don't want to be that guy I want to be in 10 years I want to be like I want to I want to be somebody guys are like man Cap Captain Kimmons you know he's had a heav he's had a heck of a career and and you know my big brag right now and I'll end it on this I'll talk and talk and talk. Everyone that knows me personally knows that I got the gift of gab well I think everybody knows my big brag right now is that I still fit in my original class A pants from 2006. So it's all if I can make those last 10 more years I'm set.
SPEAKER_01So pizzas are up well you know cheat days okay cheat day's okay but you know Travis get yourself together where you see in 10 years Matt man um again I'm in a little different state than you guys um I've been with a a different department so that didn't have a state retirement so that was funded by me and 401k so which I've done a pretty good job at but uh for me 20 years here will put me at 60 years of age so I'm hoping to get to 20. I'm at eight now. Um hopefully have everything paid off you know that's always a good goal I've tried to do some things and and invest and do all that stuff to to help the family out. Uh my original goal for me personally was to become a captain one day. Whether that happens or not I don't know uh it kind of depends on departures and retirements and and what happens uh and then there's the whole testing process and how how that goes but uh I don't see myself wanting to do any other job like I've done the hardwood for since I was 19. I'm you know I'm well into my 40s now so and I still do it believe it or not and I'm really good at it but for hardwood you call Matt Stringer that's 615. Yeah that's a plumb uh but I I've already lost train of thought yeah so uh I don't see myself wanting to work anywhere else um I do enjoy the job um I've recently Corey you'll be happy uh recently got back into physical fitness uh uh I started I started here at 40 so I was in pretty good shape from my previous department and then I got on and a couple years went by and then I just kind of went stagnant you know uh early 40s 43 44 and just kind of stopped and then looking at my my parents they're they're older they're in their 70s and their health's not where it should be you know at all and I'm like I I want to try to do better for myself so when I if and when I get there that it it's more beneficial to my wife and my hopefully grandchildren and to be able to coach them and play with them. So I've kind of made that a priority now um but ten years hopefully be a captain okay or beyond Captain Streeter the sun shines its glory through the window you stretched and feel refreshed.
SPEAKER_07All you need now is the perfect coffee or drink to get the day started. At Sagebrush Sunrise Coffee get one of our signature coffees energy infusions or cold refreshers. Come to 109 Fairfield Road in Bethpage Tennessee to get your day started or keep it going with an afternoon drink. And nothing says love quite like an e-gift card. Sagebrush Sunrise Coffee the perfect beverage for that perfect day. Alright now's where we get fun this is what we call the lightning round these are a series of questions that I came up with it's all about silliness. I mean there's maybe one or two that make you think a little bit but the rest of them and just don't think about it just answer. Oh man that's gonna be so much fun.
SPEAKER_02The lightning round buzzer we have to buzz in no are we going to call this the edit round well that's my job all right first question and I don't care who answers first um what excites you doesn't matter for personally or professionally a ripper a ripper oh yeah yeah dude yeah bro oh yeah it's that heart racing when the tones go off and it just keeps going and you read the cabinet over the radio and like flames visible you're like all right there's one there's two there's truck five there's truck all right there's 202 there's truck there's your third here we go we got we got we got these engineers here they uh and I love it I'm all for it I'm all for it we got these engineers here that when we get an actual structure fire they'll just stand on the queue and just solid a queue the whole way and it's in you're not supposed to do that oh they can get me out and uh you know at one time I'm like hey man why do you do that? He's like because it gets the boys going. It's like it's it's it's an adrenaline thing. I don't think anyone will ever understand that when you're in the fire engine going to a call and you turn the corner and you see it just it's plain as day.
SPEAKER_01I mean that feeling you can't you can't mimic that that's are you in that same no they were that I the that's your professionally get y'all excited I was gonna say my wife personally like screw women and that's how you get to go home this guy must be in the doghouse. He's been talking about his wife the whole time uh yeah fire fire get you going uh fun quick story right I'm riding up two weeks ago and somebody just stopped stops by the station hey that that house down there is on fire um so we look out the front apron and sure enough there's smoke and we you can see it from the station so talk about the queue we get out I'm an officer and it's like 300 yards down the road so there's no time to get ready I'm trying to give radio information uh and my engineer is on the queue and I don't have my headset on because I'm still trying to get ready and he's just yeah that's 300 yards of the queue bro totally and I'm like we don't waste a yard I got the radio all the way up I'm able to you know turn it up and I can't hear and I I looked at him I'm like stop blowing the damn horn and you know so then we're there and I'm I'm trying to give a size up and they're asking for the road and I don't even know the road yet because I'm turning on another road it ended up being nothing by the way it was uh somebody was smoking some food but their smoker was putting it out dude we could see it from the station right and then somebody stopped by the station said something and asked we were leaving the telephone was ringing so we just knew it was a burner but uh I don't even know where I was going with that but yeah that especially fires yeah fire's cool yeah all right what sound do y'all love obviously at the queue I don't even know why we're even talking about this oh man um in all seriousness you know just an from a leadership position from like me being under a good leader like words of commendation after working really hard um goes a long way in the fire service like honest feedback like I had uh somebody I'll I'll leave him anonymous but I was just saying me and him didn't see eye to eye for quite a few years and after uh a call I ran one time he came up to me and he said man you know what it's like you're a good firefighter which is like a simple most people will be like eh okay and just that um I think for a firefighter in general to hear that is huge it's it's a it's so that's that it was cool.
SPEAKER_06I was just gonna randomly say the sound of laughter just because how often is this job got a negative side to it but if we do we go out and we do something that's very accommodating or if we go save a life or we go you know after a a good call that we you know it's a positive call and just everybody enjoying themselves and having a good time like that's minimalistic but that was the first thing that came to my mind.
SPEAKER_02Yeah that's real.
SPEAKER_01You guys are very good at this I like the sound of my why if you're listening to me if you're listening I love you I was gonna say the crack of a bat both kids play baseball drum ball that's America right there.
SPEAKER_02Just uh yeah just a good hit I mean most people won't get it but like it's just like you know yeah so see Matt gets to go home earlier yeah bringing the family into play I see how it is that's a good mixture of everything I like it worst odor uh vomited feces oh okay hands down lower GI bleed yeah yes oh yes one of our firemen's gas oh man the gut rot be alive and well with the station there's there's some infamous captains out there and I'm not gonna name a name there's a captain out there that when he lets him rip you need to put your SCBA there's some infamous hooters in this distinct in this in this department uh like serious like you could raise the ceiling tile they need a colonoscopy yeah they need you know what's great they need to get laying in the bunk room and and then you you your partner next next to you lets one rip and then all of a sudden you hear giggles.
SPEAKER_01Just five year old boys. Yeah and then the next one does it and then there's more giggles and then it becomes a competition.
SPEAKER_02So the to add to that we had a a a paramedic at our station and uh whenever one of the fellas would let one rip in the bunk room and she was in there she would send them a Venmo invoice request just like a swear jar but for fart because she's gonna be subject to the fart she's like five like you got to pay five dollars and gas is really good for you you know they say man I don't it's supposed to be welcome to the fire department I mean let's go on let's move on I think we've covered this yeah oh gosh favorite skill favorite skill as a hush comes over the ground any talents Corey's a deep thought Corey is a deep thought well so is Matt Matt's Matt's Matt's broken matter how to word it uh just word it so being able to talk to people okay for our job we we run a lot of medical calls right
SPEAKER_01And especially some of the newer guys, I don't really have a problem talking, even if you can't understand what I'm saying. Uh you try to get patient assessments. You gotta talk to the patient. Yeah, empathizing. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So I you get a lot from what they say, but you've you've got to speak to them first. And and and it's getting harder. I mean, we're all a little bit older, but some of the younger guys they're so used to texting and tweeting and everything else, it's like that communication face to face is not there. So getting that skill and communicating, which is huge in in any job, anywhere, but like getting that out, that's yeah.
SPEAKER_02Communicating with patients is huge. You make a big difference that way. You can change the whole dynamic of a room. Yeah. One person can. But is that your favorite skill or no? I mine's a little bit different. I was just adding the maths. I agree with that. Yeah, but that was actually in my um it was in my thought process, those things I wanted to say, because it it really does matter on scene. And it makes you make it you can make or break somebody's day, and it's very important. I was leaning towards, you know, I've I I don't know how I came about this. Um, I kind of got baptized by fire when I was promoted to senior because my captain through some injuries was off quite a bit in his recovery. And it was like as soon as I got promoted, it was it was on. I had the black cloud. And so, you know, uh either swim or drown, right? And so I swam. Um, and I and I learned something about myself. And I'm I guess I I don't know if it's a talent, I don't know what it is, but I'm really good at just making clear, concise decisions on the fly. Um, with when there's a lot there could be a lot of emotion involved. I I I'm not affected by emotion when it comes to all I'm under pressure. I guess that's the way I maybe, but like I was just forced to become something that I wasn't planning on becoming, and it just kind of happened naturally, and I was like, oh, well, I guess that's something I'm I'm good at. So I guess that.
SPEAKER_07So the decision making.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, just decision making under pressure.
SPEAKER_05Yeah. And those are two good ones.
SPEAKER_02But what's your favorite favorite?
SPEAKER_06It doesn't matter what the rest of the crowd says. I mean, I value I value uh problem solving a lot. Now, is it my favorite? Absolutely not. I don't like just having a load of problems to have to solve. But it's a valuable skill to be able to say go into a situation and be like, hey, what's our best use of resources here? What do we allocate where? What do we do logistically? I really enjoy that. Um that the logistical portion of it. Now, continually solving a problem, it's not my favorite, but I value it. Now, I don't know that I have a favorite off the top of my head unless something that I can't say on the podcast. You can say whatever. I mean, I love sex, so how is it a home?
SPEAKER_01Why did you guys lock eyes? I don't understand. So, is that where your problem solving comes in? How do I make this happen? I love you. Yes.
SPEAKER_07All right, what surprised you most about the job?
SPEAKER_01I I will say no one warned me at all about the amount of poop calls that you have to deal with in this line of work. Yes, sir. Never brought up one time in fire school, it was never brought up in EMT school. Nope. It's here's your skills to fix people.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Not they're covered in diarrhea with a hurt leg and they can't stand on their own, and you gotta get them up and carry them, and it's still coming out.
SPEAKER_02Listen. Nobody warned me. Sometimes the turd falls and hits your shoe, and you just gotta keep going. You know? Oh man, I think I was surprised about the sheer magnitude of just growth, like elderly nudity that we're 100%. Like, there is no shame in their game, dude. Like uh once you get to a certain age, you just don't care. You just let it all hang out, bro. It doesn't matter where homes, residences, nursing homes, grocery stores, it doesn't matter. Uh somebody's naked. And uh at some point you're just numb to it. You're like, huh, okay. There it is.
SPEAKER_06The um the amount of calls that we go to that are nothingness to us, right? Yes. No, no, no, no. Well, we we went to a medical quote unquote medical alarm one morning to fix a lady's Wi-Fi.
SPEAKER_02Oh, well, that's a true emergency, let's be honest.
SPEAKER_01Call 911 for it. That is absurd. We I mean stuff like that. Anyone in the community listening, you know, we're firemen and we're emts and we're paramedics and we're EMRs. That's what we do. And we're here to help you. But we're not the phone man, we're not the cable guy, we're not uh electricians, we're not plumbers.
SPEAKER_02So yeah, if you're a 36-year-old man and you call us to get on a stepladder to change a light bulb in your garage, uh, I'm gonna need that man card. 100%. We'll do it, we'll do it.
SPEAKER_07But well, I remember I remember a call. It was in it was in threes zone, and it was a he was third, he was no, he wasn't even 30. He was 29. Still living at home, called for back pain. Any guesses? Kidney stones. Kidney stones, that's always a good one. Kidney Stones lives with his mom, and his mom's there.
SPEAKER_02Oh, those are always the good ones when they want to go by for toe pain, three-day old toe pain ride, viable ride, yeah. Like there's five cars in the driveway, there's 15 people renting the house, a room and something.
SPEAKER_06It's been hurting for two weeks, but today, today's the day.
SPEAKER_01Today's the day. Yeah, and it's at 3 a.m. 3 a.m. Those are always classic. We went on one uh at a pr when I worked somewhere else in the and it kind of got heated because my officer was like, So, a little bit of backstory. Uh, we went to this place a lot, and we had gone several times, and it was pretty much just a ride to the hospital.
SPEAKER_03Okay.
SPEAKER_01Uh the the gentleman had some trauma in his life, you know, but it was I've got a headache. And my officer was like, told his dad that was there was like, look, we're not a taxi service. And my goodness, it blew up. And of course the dad didn't appreciate that, right? Now I understand, you know, your your your adult son is is hurting, but he didn't have a car. The hospital was right across the street, and this had been going on and going on. And so that kind of came to a head, and then lo and behold, we went back out a shift or two later, and I told my officer, I said, You just stay in the truck.
SPEAKER_02This guy's not a good thing. And I'm just a fireman, and I'm like, no longer works here.
SPEAKER_01Let me because because his the patient's father was out there and he was eyeballing who was coming. And I said, Just stay in the truck. I got it, you know, and and I handled it with grace and care, and but I'm like, whoo.
SPEAKER_07Well, speaking of uh, we're talking about the old poop shoots. Yeah. Um, and we got called over there for a possible mental whatever. And uh the great, great Don Dahl and back was the officer at the time. And they showed up before we did. And we show up, it was me and uh Darren Jeter. Y'all remember Darren Jeter? Oh, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Oh, yeah.
SPEAKER_07We we walked toward the door, and there's Don, and he goes, like, he Darren's like, what's going on? And Don just goes, that way. Welcome to the show, folks. This guy, he he he did, he had some kind of mental breakdown, and he took a big old dump on the floor. I mean, huge, just plasmatic full, rolled around in it, start naked. Oh man, and then we got caught. Perfect, man. But yeah, he rolled around in his poop. Just starting, just the the old toga wrap.
SPEAKER_02You gotta just wrap them in. Yeah, that's what we did. I think you were on that. Yeah, man. We I can't tell you how many patients we've done that too. You just you know what, just just wrap them up. Yeah, burrito style. You just wrap them and go.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02All right.
SPEAKER_07Now, I know we talked about this already, but we're just kind of a question. What profession would you all do if you weren't doing this?
SPEAKER_02Aircraft mechanic. Really? Yep. I'm really good with my hands, love airplanes. I I thought about actually retiring and going to aircraft mechanic school when I'm in my 50s. But yeah.
SPEAKER_04That's what my wife did.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04Wow.
SPEAKER_01Uh Matt? Does it have to be like realistic? Like, no, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_07Just what what is a what's a profession that you would if it's something that you hey, that might be cool.
SPEAKER_01I used to want to be a singer. Really? Yeah. So high school and my first stint through college. Um, you know, I was in the some people call it glee cub, choir, whatever. And like I I wanted to do Broadway stuff. That's what I wanted to do. Interesting. No shame. And ask anybody I work with. I'm singing all the time now. It's gotten worse over the years because I don't do it as often. Throw us down a couple bars. Well, the reason why I quit singing, to be honest, this is a true story. I got so confident, you know, back when I was in uh college the first time, we would go down to the local lupe, local lupe's. Remember that Mexican joint? Yeah. They would have karaoke night. Of course I was underage. I would go in there, show them my fake ID, get beers, and we'd get drunk. Allegedly. Allegedly. Allegedly. Uh and and we would we would practice our tunes, whatever we're singing, solos, whatnot. We'd do that all night long every week, you know. Um and so I wanted to, I was in that life, I wanted to sing. And I theater, not theater, but like Broadway productions, because it's singing and dancing, right? I so want to hear Matt go send in the club.
SPEAKER_02So you didn't work at Opera Land? You would have thrived at Opera. I was a little too young. You missed it.
SPEAKER_01I mean, I was I was of age at the time, but like this before I really got into singing, you know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you would have loved that, man.
SPEAKER_01And and oh, I forgot this is why I stopped singing. So I got confident and comfortable on stage and stuff, and then I had a few people ask me to sing in their weddings, and um I did, and uh, you know, I knew the song so this might have happened to you before. I knew the song so well, but then all of a sudden on stage I totally went blank on what I was supposed to sing. So I would have to start making up words.
SPEAKER_02And it's the same thing on scene, it's really cool. So that happened that happened a couple times.
SPEAKER_01Did you say 115? It happened a couple times and I kind of got gunshine, and I was like, you know, I stepped away from it.
SPEAKER_06And here I am now. So are we talking like anything? Like you can do you got any skill set you want. Anything. I think I would have uh in another life, I think it would have been cool to be like an NFL scout and work my way up to the general manager's role.
SPEAKER_07Like, yeah, but knowing you, you'd be at UT the entire time and wouldn't leave. Well, you know.
SPEAKER_06I'll be alright with that.
SPEAKER_07No, but that I mean that's a that's a different yeah, it's different.
SPEAKER_06It's just I've always loved football. I love I love the statistical analytics behind it and moving pieces, moving play, whatever. I like the the money part of it, the back end, and it's nerdy, but no, I mean it doesn't matter.
SPEAKER_07It's it's it it's it's just an idea of anything outside of being a first responder, and it's it's it's an eclectic array of answers that I get to that. Yeah. Uh because everybody's got different interests. Um, and one and what I'll go into that here in a minute, but let's get to the final question. When you get to heaven, what do you want God to say to you?
SPEAKER_01Oh, Anrin, my faithful servant. Yeah, well, well done.
SPEAKER_02I'm about to say it's it earlier, and I'll say it again. He did a good job.
SPEAKER_06Yep. That's that's all I'd require.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think I would fold like a wet sack of potatoes if he doesn't on the comical side.
SPEAKER_01Uh you did the best with what I gave you.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh but enter in is mine. My big one, you know, I guess, because without it, you're not going. Right.
SPEAKER_06Yeah. No, that you just be like the skin of your teeth. Like just I I you're in.
SPEAKER_02I can't imagine having that moment and him saying I was with you in every single moment that you didn't that you didn't think I was.
unknownOh yeah.
SPEAKER_07Cool.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_07Cool. Well, anything, anything else you guys want to discuss? I mean, this is this is the free-for-all moment now. I mean, I know you gotta go back to shift, but yeah, I'm on shift right now. Oh, you are? Yeah, I guess you are on shift. Yeah. Who's who's the captain here?
SPEAKER_06Shoyer, Ryan Sroyer. Ryan? Uh I'll talk to Ryan. I've already texted him. Look at me.
SPEAKER_02Okay, it's fine. I know. I am the captain. Man, thank you so much for coming and talking to us.
SPEAKER_05Oh, yeah, thank you.
SPEAKER_02This is cool. This is a lot of fun.
SPEAKER_07This has been this has been a blast. I might use the whole thing. Yeah, I might not even end it. No, minus this next part. We should probably end it back.
SPEAKER_05Just five seconds.
SPEAKER_02I'll tell you sometimes dark people. Uh we we we don't know him.
SPEAKER_07Do pump jump. No, it's all uh I appreciate y'all uh wanting to do this, and and I appreciate Chief Edwards allowing me to come down and do all this. Yeah, it's good fun. This has been a blast.
SPEAKER_02Good seeing you again, man.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02All those years ago, we had such a good crew, and uh you brought up Don, man, such so many good memories with him.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, Don for everybody, uh Don Donald Back, he was the captain here um at Station 5 for gosh years.
SPEAKER_06He was 30 years.
SPEAKER_07It was right over 30 years, yeah, then he um man, he was he was such a great guy, such a nice guy, fair, yeah the whole nine yards. And um the one that I mean to hear his to hear about his demise, you know, you go on a cruise and then all of a sudden you get a cough, and then a month later, after you find out you've got cancer all over, it's just that's just brutal for for somebody like him to you know to pass away. I mean to me he was Mr. Hendersonville. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06And I mean he he had he had the you know, we talked earlier about being empathetic and being able to relate to patients and being able to still talk with them and be on their level in their worst, he could do that.
SPEAKER_07Oh yeah. Yeah, and he did that with everybody across the board. Yeah, he was he was he was one of the one of the great ones.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so I had the pleasure of working with Don under Don for about 10 years, and so he molded me more than he realized in my career. And um you know, something that really blew my mind after he passed was I thought I knew Don and I didn't. Um so many people came out of the woodwork to sing his praises and things that he did selflessly that we never knew. We never knew. And I I worked with a man for 10 years and I I never knew these things. And and he had um he had a finger on the pulse of this community, especially with the youth that I as I myself aspire to one day have. He was a great man.
SPEAKER_07Does he have any kind of plaque or anything that any witnesses are are they working on?
SPEAKER_01He's got one at Station 5. Does he? Okay, good. He's being inducted into the fallen firefighters in Colorado. Oh, in Colorado, awesome. That's that's coming up. I'm not sure the date, uh, but it's September daughter-in-law are gonna fly out there and yeah. That's great. Um I guess I don't know how this works. I guess receive the honors. Yeah. So that's that's really awesome.
SPEAKER_07That's great. Well, anything else? Uh any other new uh amusing tidbits or uh no? Now that we've brought this to us, Solomon.
SPEAKER_02Just uh, man, if you're in the service, just and I think you know anyone can relate to the things we've talked about if you're in the service. And my advice for those guys is if you're young in the in your career and ride the wave, man. Ride the wave. You're gonna have ups and downs in your career, and there's gonna be moments where you're like a second, maybe doubting some things, ride the wave.
SPEAKER_01I would say also, you know, the times have changed, uh mental health is still at the front now. And uh I think we can agree we're all more open with each other and and talking about any issue or just talking about the words mental health. Uh that's so important. Um this stuff stacks up on you over time, even if you don't realize it, even if you haven't had that one defining moment that's like, oh, that's catastrophic catastrophic for me and I can't go on. Like, the even the little stuff adds up over time. And being able to talk to your brothers, talk to somebody, your your EAP. Is that how you say it? EAP? Okay. Obviously, I hadn't used it right. Um, but you know, talk. You know, we're we're more open to talk. If something's bothering me on a call we went on, it may be bothering the guy that was on it with me. And and getting that out and uh just kind of releasing it and and it helps so much.
SPEAKER_07Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I don't know what the demographic is for your listeners.
SPEAKER_07It is all over the board.
SPEAKER_06Right. Well, I mean, just like Kim and said to the younger crowd, I mean, don't stop learning. I mean, you're gonna get to a point to where it's like, all right, I've done all the classes, I've done all the stuff, I'm I'm just gonna ride it out. But I challenge you, don't stop learning, push yourself somewhere somehow. We've all got potential, untap potential no matter where we are in our career. And you can always push yourself to do something, to learn something new, to do something more, to be a better man or a better woman. Don't stop. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04That's that.
SPEAKER_07Amen. Oh gosh. But yeah, thank you all for doing this, and I hope you all had a good time. A blast, man. Thank you. Great. Well, ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm applause for our three wonderful firefighters, Corey Shelton, Matt Stringer, and Travis Kimmons. They'll be applauding.
SPEAKER_04Thanks, guys.
SPEAKER_07Well, we have come well on airplane. Uh we have come to the end of this episode of 911 Squirrel. Uh episode 13. Yeah, go figure. But it wasn't unlucky. We had a we had a great time. Hopefully, you had uh a fun time listening and maybe learned something. Who knows? Uh I had so much fun catching up with Corey and Matt and Travis. Um, the only reason um I knew all of them is because there was a time where when I was in EMS, I was stationed down here in Hendersonville, so I got to work with them and all the fine, all the fine people here at Hendersonville Fire. I could learn to speak. Uh I want to sincerely thank Chief George Edwards and all the command staff here at Hendersonville Fire for allowing us to do an episode here. And I I said before, if you would like for us to do a 911 Squirrel podcast at your department, send an email to 911 Squirrel Podcast, all one big word, at gmail.com, and we will try to make it happen. Our next episode will be from the studio unless it's adamant about coming to their town, so you just never know. We we might get a phone call or an email saying, hey, come over to you know this this uh whatever this town, this vill, this town, this village. Uh we'd love for you to come over and we'll we'll try to make it happen. Uh if you know someone you want to spotlight, have questions, comments, have a recipe, you want us to train on something specific, please email us at 911 Squirrel Podcast at gmail.com or go to our socials on Facebook, Instagram, all under 911 Squirrel Podcast. Subscribe to our podcast, leave reviews, uh, let us know how you're doing, or how yeah, how you're doing, but how are we doing? Or, you know, are we fulfilling our promise? Uh, but thanks for listening. And remember, you are part of the team, help each other, stay safe, and God bless you. Thank you all for joining us, and we'll see you next time on 911 Squirrel.