From the ongoing series sent in by author and Luciole Press contributor Kurt Kamm: WORDS OF FIREFIGHTERS -56- SAVING THE SNAKES!
Posted by kluciole at 1/22/2009 12:33 AM 
Categories: Animal Rights, Science, Literature, Friends, Cultures, National, Luciole Press
Categories: Animal Rights, Science, Literature, Friends, Cultures, National, Luciole Press
WORDS OF FIREFIGHTERS -56- SAVING THE SNAKES!
One of my first structure fires was an old converted Victorian era home. We were called in for mutual aid to this fire and were only minutes into the fire when they blew the horns to clear the structure. As we pulled out there was the usually sniping about being pulled out when we feel that we have the fire.
We got outside and they started sending crews back in. Thats when the Chief asked for a crew to enter the rear second floor apartment. With one requirement! You must like snakes!
I have always been an animal lover and quickly grabbed my Captain and volunteered us for the job. We were told that there wasn't much left in the rear apartment but the police had an upset tenant who had several exotic birds, lizards, snakes and a cat in that apartment. We made our way in and found the normal scene. Ceiling tiles fallen down and charred. Burn marks halfway down the walls and the dead cat that had tried to make it out the window.
As I started to give up hope I spotted a fish tank with a screen lid that had collapsed into the tank filled with brackish water. I reached over and removed the lid. I saw the snake on the branch inside the tank and expected it to be dead. I started to reach in to poke it when all of the sudden the tongue flicked.
It never dawned on me that the snake was cold blooded and probably enjoyed the heat! So I grabbed the snake behind its jaw and pulled it out of the tank. The snake began to wrap around my arm and up to my biceps. As I exited the room and made my way out to the living room area we spotted the Asst. Chief. He spotted the snake and tried to jump through the wall and started yelling like a scared little kid. "Get that snake secured! Get it out of here!" As I passed him by I noticed that in the next room was another tank with another snake. I grabbed my captain and asked him to give me a hand.
We put the first snake in to the tank with the second one and carried the tank out. We made four more trips to get the birds and lizards out and the smile that came across the tenan’s face when he realized all wasn't lost made me feel so good about helping him. Later on at the wrap up session I was given my official nickname, "Ace Ventura." To this day crews from the all the agencies that responded to that fire call me Ace Ventura.
We got outside and they started sending crews back in. Thats when the Chief asked for a crew to enter the rear second floor apartment. With one requirement! You must like snakes!
I have always been an animal lover and quickly grabbed my Captain and volunteered us for the job. We were told that there wasn't much left in the rear apartment but the police had an upset tenant who had several exotic birds, lizards, snakes and a cat in that apartment. We made our way in and found the normal scene. Ceiling tiles fallen down and charred. Burn marks halfway down the walls and the dead cat that had tried to make it out the window.
As I started to give up hope I spotted a fish tank with a screen lid that had collapsed into the tank filled with brackish water. I reached over and removed the lid. I saw the snake on the branch inside the tank and expected it to be dead. I started to reach in to poke it when all of the sudden the tongue flicked.
It never dawned on me that the snake was cold blooded and probably enjoyed the heat! So I grabbed the snake behind its jaw and pulled it out of the tank. The snake began to wrap around my arm and up to my biceps. As I exited the room and made my way out to the living room area we spotted the Asst. Chief. He spotted the snake and tried to jump through the wall and started yelling like a scared little kid. "Get that snake secured! Get it out of here!" As I passed him by I noticed that in the next room was another tank with another snake. I grabbed my captain and asked him to give me a hand.
We put the first snake in to the tank with the second one and carried the tank out. We made four more trips to get the birds and lizards out and the smile that came across the tenan’s face when he realized all wasn't lost made me feel so good about helping him. Later on at the wrap up session I was given my official nickname, "Ace Ventura." To this day crews from the all the agencies that responded to that fire call me Ace Ventura.
Kurt Kamm writes a blog featuring “Firefighter’s Words” which are submitted by firefighters/EMT and rescue personnel. He also writes novels about fires and firefighters. A resident of Malibu, he has lived through several wildland fires. He is a regular visitor at the fire camps, stations and training academies of L.A. County Fire Department and CalFire. To learn more about his novels, One Foot in the Black, and Red Flag Warning, visit http://www.kurtkamm.com.
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