Just after lunch we had a visit from the airfield manager, who told us that we were not to do ARFF training this afternoon, since we had a reporter coming down on the C-17 that was due in at 1330 (about 20 minutes from then), and it's never good to remind people in a plane that accidents happen. (ie, ARFF should be invisible to the public). The C-17 was not far out, so we went outside to watch like we normally do. Our captain had just come down (he does the "Follow Me" truck, which is a truck that leads the airplane to where it needs to go, a necessity down here where there are no real defining marks telling you where you are), and we suddenly got a call that the LC-130 that had taken off about 20 minutes ago was inbound again, declaring an in-flight emergency.
We all got in our trucks and went to where we thought we should be. (Where we thought we should be wasn't exactly where we needed to be, but it was ok). The plane landed safely and turned around at the other end of the runway and came back to where we were. They stopped just before getting off the taxiway, so that we could do a visual inspection of the outside of the plane, which revealed nothing. They finally relayed to us what the emergency was...an electrical odor and a light haze of smoke in the cabin. We cleared them to go to the marshalling point, where they stopped and shut down engines, and we set up our 3 trucks just in case. Actually we were a little far out from where we should have been, but no harm done. Our LT and another firefighter went on board to see if they could find the cause, but the smell and smoke had gone away on landing and shutting down engines. They off-loaded the people (all those poor people who have been waiting to go to the South Pole for several days now), and our captain did a little debriefing and told us what to do next time.
Here's a shot of the C-17 passing the other LC-130 on the apron, with our trucks.
We didn't do much in the afternoon, except move trucks around to get the other giant yellow monster (Red 2) down here and plugged in, along with all the other trucks that need to be plugged in too. We finally figured it out, and then found that one of our little red crash trucks (the ones we normally use) had an issue with the power steering. The LT in charge of the trucks came down to look at it after dinner, and discovered a HUGE spill on the ground from Red 1 (the first big yellow monster). We're pretty sure it's foam, and it was about 30 gallons or so. So we plugged up the still spewing leak (well, it wasn't spewing anymore...but pretty heavily dripping) and sent Red 1 up to town to try to figure out why the closed valve was letting foam out, while the rest of us set to scooping up the spill.
Now, if any other department on station has a large spill, they call the firehouse. So do we. That starts the spill team, who is supposed to come out to help us clean up, file the paperwork, and so on.
We called the spill team. We scooped up the liquid stuff (there wasn't much, most of it was frozen), and then spent about an hour and a half chopping up the dirty ice and putting in a barrel. We still have about two 5-gallon buckets full left to pick up, but it's still all frozen and it's not going anywhere. The ice is only slightly discolored now, but it is very bumpy, and not all smooth like the rest of the ice down here.
The spill team never showed up.
Now it's really late, I don't have a bed (the bottom 2 bunks were claimed and I can't climb into the top ones) so I get a sofa tonight. Hopefully we won't have an issue when that LC-130 comes in at about 5am or so.
4 comments:
Hey Jen,
Glad there wasn't anything wrong with that huge bird. It would have made a big mess.
Not fair that you had to sleep on the couch. Don't those bunks have ladders so you can climb up without bothering the person below? I would have climbed up anyway. If they are that sleepy then they will go right back to sleep.
Going to lunch with some friends today at the Macoroni Grill. They have the best desert called desert ravioli. I am telling you Jen, it is to die for. It is a snickers bar (I think) and it is in a thin dough and fried (which I dont usually eat fried anything except ff, Who doesn't eat those) Then it is served with vanilla ice cream and carmel and chocolate sauce. OMG LOVE IT!!
Getting colder here, not looking forward to it. You know how I am in the winter. Yesterday it was 33 when I got up and this morning it is 43. My nose is cold, my hands are cold and so are my feet. This would be like being on a tropical island for you. I have to admit the trees are beautiful. Especially with the view that I have. Just nobody to look at it with. Don loved this time of the year. He liked the crisp weather and the cool nights. We used to sit on the porch (me under a blanket) and look at the trees in all there beauty. I miss him.
Wow, Jennie, I'm glad it wasn't a worse emergency. And I hope they found the cause of the smoke and odor! For how long were the people going to the South Pole? Brrrr! I agree with Linda. We've been looking for cooler weather for so long. But now that it's here I don't know why I was! I'm freezing! I don't want to turn on the heat because it bothers my nose (and Andrew's) but it looks like I'm going to have to . . . We're wearing many layers and many blankets. I was thinking of you last night when I couldn't get my feet warm ;D
I think you mentioned before that waste is removed by outgoing planes and ships. Is this correct or did I imagine it? Does that mean that the foam (frozen) has to be removed in the same way? What about when you have a real emergency and use a whole lot of the stuff? Does that have to be cleaned up, too???
Well - have a great day and stay warm!
Love, Leslie
Why couldn't you climb up to the upper bunk. Isn't there a ladder? or are you just to short to reach? If that is the case shame on the other people for being inconsiderate and leaving you with the sofa. Hope you got a good night sleep.
What are you going to do with the frozen foam you scooped up now that it is in a barrel? Do you fill in the hole with water so it freezes and makes the ice smooth again. Shame on the spill team for not showing up. Who does all the paperwork now?
So what are the news people reporting on? Did you get a chance to find out when it is going to be on TV? I would think they are just taping it now and will edit it later when they get back to the studio and then it will air. Try to find out when. Hope you get to be in the show. That would be fun to see.
Stay warm, keep that coat zipped.
Love Mom
What are you talking about...reporters, TV, show, did I miss something? I think there is secret writing going on.
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