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Platoon Chief Christoâ€" pher Collins says this is to ensure the firefighters know what gear was used, so supâ€" plies can be restocked. Oxyâ€" An unidentified local firefighter nears the practise fire set up at the Waterloo regional training facility, located on Erb Street West rom scrubbing toilets, Fresponding to medical calls and chopping onions with teary eyes, Waterloo firefighters have diverse days. For those curious how firefighters spend a shift at the stations when they‘re not battling raging infernos and rescuing cats from trees, a day spent with the fire department can provide enlightening answers. The dayâ€"shift for Waterâ€" loo firefighters starts at 7 a.m., just as the night shift is coming to a halt. The two shifts get together, and disâ€" cuss what happened the night before. From the frying pan to the fire VoOLVvo for life LOOKING FOR A NEW VOLVO? ry St D. Watehs From Conestoga Mai By T Musety For The Chrontcle Bâ€"K VOLVO 885â€"5091 gen tanks are refilled and batteries are set to recharge, as the drivers of the tankers tour their trucks for damage. "After that, it‘s a coffee," Collins said, as the firemen gather inside the lounge at the Weber Street station for the dayâ€"shift‘s morning meeting. After the meeting, an hour of professional develâ€" opment time is given to the squad. _ Collins said this time is for the team to prepare The professional side of the conversation varies from which streets in the city are closed today, to what hydrants are out of service. The news and memos of the previous evening are read. The firefighters warn not to report the details of the perâ€" sonal side of their conversaâ€" tion, in which they make common references to the police hockey team. A day in the life of Waterloo‘s firefighters CITY NEWS paper work, exercise in the gym, or to repair any gear that needs immediate attenâ€" tion. "I worked my ass off to get here, so I‘ll smile while cleaning a toilet, no doubt," he laughs. Drove said every day is a new challenge, and that‘s what makes the job so excitâ€" ing. Just two weeks ago, Drove said, he helped put out his first house fire. "Everything is always changing," he said. "You cannot beat the team atmosphere here, it‘s the best thing in the world." Now that the bathroom is clean for another day, it‘s time for half the team to leave for practice, while the other half remains at the station to complete chores and wait for emergency calls. Sitting in the cabin of a fire engine, Dean MacDonâ€" ald, a threeâ€"year veteran, explains how important teamwork is between the day and night shifts. Pointing out various pieces of gear, from oxygen tanks, detailed city maps and rechargeable flashlights used on every call, he said if a firefighter doesn‘t know which equipment has been used, they‘re in trouble. "If you don‘t have an oxyâ€" gen tank, and you have to go into a fire, you‘re in trouble," he said. Then come the chores. Fireman Dwayne Drove, a Newfoundland native and member of the local force for the past six months, fetches a basket of cleaning supplies, and heads to the men‘s bathroom. Whiie scrubbing a urinal, Drove shares that becoming a fireman has been a dream of his, so he doesn‘t mind a little housework. "This is me, being with people, helping people. Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be a firefighter." This is a common theme among the firefighters. MacDonald pointed to various binders and boxes stuffed in between the front seats of the truck, and pulled out various maps. Every street in the city is mapped and located in the binders, with detailed accounts of street numbers, closed roads and outâ€"ofâ€"serâ€" vice hydrants. All major buildings and universities are also mapped in detail and located in the trucks, to save time when there is a major fire. He said the fire departâ€" ment responds to all kinds of calls, from cats in trees to heart attacks to industrial fires, so the team is always prepared. Not too long after this discussion, the alarm sounds in the station, and the men scramble, taking off towards the fire engine. A wail of sirens erupts from the pumper ant the bay doors slide open as the department receives a call to aid a man who suffered from what appeared to be a heart attack during lunch. The call is just around the corner from the station at a local restaurant, where the man is already waiting Firefighter Peter Klausnitze helps others on his team climb the ladder to practise entering buildings. Within â€" minutes â€" of pulling up to the scene, the paramedics arrive, followed closely by a Waterloo Regional Police cruiser. A quick call for the department, the crew packs up and heads back to the station for lunch. On the menu today is a vegetable stir fry with green beans and barbecued chickâ€" en breast. The crew begins discussing who will prepare this coming Sunday‘s brunch, as the men settle into their chairs to relax. Humble beginnings The fire department started out in Waterloo with more humble roots than the current highâ€"tech, highlyâ€" trained team. outside. Luckily for the man, his pacemaker took over after he lost consciousâ€" ness. "That‘s a typical response, beating the paraâ€" medics by a few minutes," Drove said. The department‘s history stretches back to 1857, when the first twoâ€"storey brick building, popularly called "Das Spritzhaus", the fire hall, was constructed. Not only has the number of stations and firefighters grown, but so has the level of fire suppression technolâ€" ogy in the hands of Waterâ€" loo‘s force. Volunteers pulled the engine to the fire, where the hand pump was operated, drawing water from underâ€" ground tanks throughout the city. In 1889, when Waterloo installed water mains and hydrants, a horseâ€"drawn hose truck was purchased. In the last century, Waterâ€" loo has seen its fire departâ€" ment grow from the simple horseâ€"drawn pump to a staff of about 100 firefighters in three stations, with the goal of providing public educaâ€" tion, prevention, suppresâ€" sion, inspections and medâ€" ical responses. The lower floor of the building was the fire hall, the upper floor held council chambers. One of the first bylaws in 1957 was a $1 preâ€" mium for the first person to carry two gallons of water to the scene of a fire, and 50 cents to the second. Continued on page 5 "iM MURPHY PHG"O