My Spouse, The Fireman by Sarah Littman

A New Volunteer

published 1/9/2002

One day as we drove past Glenville Fire Station my husband told me he was thinking about volunteering. I almost crashed the car, because it seemed so out of character. He’d never confessed to being a boy who was fascinated with big red trucks. The greatest interest he’d ever shown in firefighting was back in England, when we’d turn on the T.V. faithfully every Sunday to watch the latest episode of “London’s Burning,” a drama about the trials and tribulations of a fire station in the London’s East End. I figured it must be a mid-life whim and that the thought would pass as quickly as it came.

It didn’t. A few months later he told me he wanted to sign up for the Firefighter 1 course offered in September. It required a big time commitment – at least two nights a week plus practically every Sunday for three months, culminating with two exams, one practical and one written. I still couldn’t picture my husband fighting fires, but I figured as mid-life crises went it was preferable to trading me in for a girl half my age.

So I’ve been a virtual single parent for the past few months. When my husband isn’t in class, he’s been busy studying or practicing tying the kitchen chairs together with various knots. Why he didn’t have the imagination to practice his knots on me – well, it shows how seriously he’s taking his studies.

Over the last three months, Cedric’s learned some important things, and

not just about fire hazards. He’s learned that he could overcome his fear of heights and climb ladders. He found out how caring people can be when he “fades out”, an unfortunate side effect of being an insulin-dependent diabetic. Instructors and recruits alike remind him when it’s time to test his blood sugar; he jokes there’s no privacy because everyone checks the result over his shoulder to ensure he’s o.k.

Recently we were invited to Glenville’s holiday party, and I got to meet some of the folks my husband will be working with. I didn’t know a soul except for my Better Half and I was nervous. I was also the Designated Driver, so I couldn’t even have a drink to loosen up. But I didn’t need alcohol-induced bravery, because the warmth of the people there helped me relax. There was Denise Hawkins, Secretary of Glenville, who organized the shindig, and Fire Police Captain Michael Sandor, who explained the difference between the Fire Marshall and the Fire Police. CPR trainer Jeanne Yusko and her family welcomed us at their table. I recognized John Yusko as one of the firefighters who’d literally bailed me out three years ago, when the washing machine repairman forgot to put the drainage hose back into the waste pipe. The machine emptied all over the laundry room floor, resulting in spark inducing waterfalls from the light fixtures in the garage below. By the time the Glenville squad arrived that night, I was panicking.

“Where’s the fuses for this zone?” one of the firefighters asked.

“I don’t know!” I groaned, “Why does this stuff always happen when my husband is away?”

I felt like an idiot. We’d only lived in the house a short while, but it’s probably one of those safety features you should make a point to know.

With calm and good humor, they located the fuse box and found the right fuse to shut off the power in the garage so we’d be safe until an electrician checked things out in the morning.

Denise’s husband, Assistant Chief Scott Hawkins, told us of his family’s long history of volunteer firefighting. Many people there were second or third generation volunteers. As Glenville’s president, Firefighter James Heavey, said in his welcoming address, the fire service is like a big family. They help each other out. For example, Lt. Frank Napolitano gave willingly of his spare time to coach my husband on breathing apparatus for the practical exam.

Tobias Ostapchuk, Director of Volunteer Recruitment, told us that one of the best things about the Greenwich Fire Service is what a great leveler it is. Volunteers come from all backgrounds. The mechanic works next to the lawyer, with the electrician watching his or her back.

On January 1^st, Glenville will commence its 100^th year as a volunteer firehouse. Since the days when the fire trucks were drawn by the same horses used by the milkman, volunteer firefighters have been there, protecting our community.

My husband has to pass his written test before he can get his entry tag and can go out on calls. But I’m happy to be a probationary member of the Glenville Fire Department family, and what’s more, the children and I are really proud of their Dad.

.To find out more about being a volunteer firefighter in Greenwich, contact Tobias Ostapchuk at 618-8877

Sarah Littman lives in Greenwich with her husband and their two children. E-mail Sarah at sarahlittman@hotmail.com