Wow. I've heard firefighters are typically excited to get a call as opposed to being bored at the station, but how did you feel going into that? At the time, you can't imagine what you're about to see or what you're going to have to do...

It really was a challenge. While oftentimes the dispatch information we get can be vague or inconsistent with reality (the number of times we go on structure fire calls that are really burn barrels, or a roof steaming in the sun, or a sunset reflecting in a window...), but with something like this, 911 is getting hundreds of calls and you know it's "real".

There's a lot of adrenaline. I think even the most seasoned, salty veteran would be lying if they said they responded to that call all cool, calm and collected.

But you go back to training. Which is instilled into you as "don't train until you get it right, train until you can't get it wrong".

Scene safety. For yourself, crew, bystanders, the involved.

Resource needs. More ambulances? Cranes?

Then setting up for a mass casualty incident - usually broken down into triage, treatment, and transport - assigning resources to those.

You're right though, it's hard - you want to not be bored, to have something to do, but you don't want someone to have a horrible day. There's a mental balancing act going on.

I remember one of my EMT students, on her first ride along, was for a bad trauma (felled tree bounced and hit someone in the back, causing significant spinal damage and chest injuries). We rendezvoused with a helicopter, intubated, did needle decompressions of the chest, and off they went. My student was a little 'off' afterwards. I asked if she was okay. "I feel so guilty!". I completely misread her, told her nothing was her fault, and said it was okay that she didn't participate as much as possible in patient care versus assisting. "No, I feel so guilty because that guy is so sick, but that was f-ing awesome to see!"

So yeah...

Those are really cool stories.