Inside A Trial By Fire (With Photo Gallery)
November 13, 2012
Completing a 160-hour training course to become a certified volunteer firefighter is nothing like being in a classroom when the final exam becomes a flaming reality.
For a newbie volunteer, being told that you will sit on the floor of an abandoned home as a fire is lit and you will experience a “rollover” can be unnerving. In a rollover, hot gases at the ceiling level begin to ignite and “tongues” of flame begin to lick above your head. It’s a step that often precedes a “flashover” — one of the most feared phenomena among firefighters where hot gases explode into flames at or above 1,000 degrees. A flashover is often the deadly point of no return for anyone in a room — including firefighters.
Saturday morning in Atmore, dozens of firefighters gathered for a “live burn”, where an abandoned house was to be burned to the ground as part of a training exercise. For volunteers from Nokomis and Appleton, it was the final part of their 160-hour certification with the help of the Atmore and Poarch fire departments.
For a photo gallery from the firefighter training, click here.
For a photo gallery of the home burning, click here.
The day started with baseline medical checks of volunteers and last minute safety briefings. Then it was time to suit up and heat things up.
As firefighters put on their breathing apparatus, the fear in one firefighter’s eyes became apparent. Her eyes flashed nervously about the crowd. She had been fighting a bit of claustrophobia throughout the classroom portion of the training. There was no more hiding it from her fellow volunteers. Coupled with the embarrassment, it became even worse. Off the came the breathing mask, as other firefighters tried to assure her that it was all going to be OK.
She was devastated, concerned that perhaps her days in the fire department were over. She was reassured that firefighters do much more than race into burning buildings, and there would be a place for her in the department. Volunteers, she was told, are needed to drive trucks, run pumping equipment, help the injured at car accidents, run medical calls — the list just goes on and on for those willing to volunteer their time.
The volunteer firefighters were divided into three groups for their first live burn experience. Some laughed, joked and posed for pictures in their new, clean gear before going into their first house fire. Others stood quietly, shuffling on their feet and wringing their hands.
They moved inside, and sat shoulder to shoulder on the living room floor of the abandoned wood frame home. In the next room, through open French doors, instructors lit a fire.
Slowly, the fire began to smoke, flames dancing higher and higher in the corner of the room. The new volunteers watched with apprehension as the flames reached the ceiling. Outside the home, old single pane glass windows began to creak and pop from the heat. Smoke began to roll from under the eaves of the room. Even the spiders began evacuate, dropping on the ground around the house.
Thick smoke began to layer down toward the firefighters. Slowly, the rollover began. Tongues of fire began to appear in the smoke, licking along the ceiling above their heads as the fire was quickly brought under control to prevent a flashover.
Three groups took part in the experience. As the last group exited the burning house, the volunteer that had experienced the bout with claustrophobia exited and pulled off her face mask to the applause of her firefighter family. She had beaten the fear, and beaten the trial by fire.
For a photo gallery from the firefighter training, click here.
For a photo gallery of the home burning, click here.
Pictured top and bottom inset: Firefighter trainees inside a burning home in Atmore. Pictured top inset: The home on Carver Avenue was burnt to the ground as part of the exercise. Pictured below: Firefighters train on hose usage. NorthEscambia.com exclusive photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Honoring Veterans With A Parade
November 13, 2012
Veterans Day obeisances were held across the area Monday, including a parade attended by thousands in Pensacola that ended at the Veterans Memorial Park and the Wall South.
For a photo gallery from the Pensacola Veterans Day Parade, click here.
Pictured top: The Tate High School Army JROTC marches in Pensacola’s Veterans Day Parade Monday morning. Pictured inset: The parade ended at the Wall South. Photos by Cheryl Casey Photography for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: NHS Band, Dance Team, NJROTC; West Florida Band
November 12, 2012
For a photo gallery featuring the Northview High band, dance team and NJROTC, and the West Florida High band, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Correctional, Forest Service Hold Trail Ride For Special Olympics
November 12, 2012
Century Correctional Institute and the Florida’s Forestry Service partnered for a recent trail ride to benefit Florida Special Olympics.
Riders with about 65 horses and five wagons with teams turned out for the first annual trail ride, which was followed by an auction. The event raised a total of $2,350 for Special Olympics. Organizers said a bigger and better event is being planned for next year.
Donations for the event included: one free shoulder mount from Cooper Taxidermy in Pace, a rifle scope from Mike’s Gun Shop in Jay, gift certificates from Circle J Western Wear in Chumuckla and Penton’s Farm Supply, halters and harnesses from Cantonment Feed, and handheld radios from S&K Communications in Century.’
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Senior Night
November 11, 2012
Northview High School honored senior members of the football team, cheerleaders, dance team and NJROTC during Senior Night.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: Northview senior football player Chad Smith along with his mother Tammy Smith and brother Cody Smith during Senior Night activities. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview, West Florida Cheerleaders, Mini Dance Team
November 11, 2012
For a photo gallery with the Northview and West Florida cheerleaders and Northview’s special mini Dance team, click here.
For cheerleader and mini dance team photos, click here.
(Band photos will be published Monday)
For a game summary and action photo, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
First Baptist Bratt Is Operation Christmas Child Central
November 11, 2012
Volunteers will be busy for the next week at the First Baptist Church of Bratt during “National Collection Week” for Operation Christmas Child. For the 18th year, the simple, gift-filled shoe boxes will bring Christmas joy and evangelistic materials to children in over 130 countries across the world.
National Collection Week for OCC is November 12-19, 2012. The First Baptist Church of Bratt will be the official OCC Relay Center for the north end of Escambia County, Florida, and Escambia County, Alabama, again this year.
“This is not about the FBC of Bratt”, says Student Pastor and Relay Center Coordinator Tim Hawsey. “Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational non-profit organization that has mission’s opportunities all over the world. This is about being a blessing and bringing God’s love and hope to children in poverty around the world that would not receive it otherwise. We have gone through the intense process of been approved as a church to be a Relay Center to collect the boxes from individuals, families, and churches of our area, document and pack them into special cartons and take them to the next level for Samaritan’s Purse, and we are blessed to do it.”
Collection hours at the First Baptist Church of Bratt will from 9 a.m. until noon each day through November 19.
Operation Christmas Child boxes should be packed in a specific manner. For more information, call Hawsey at the First Baptist Church of Bratt at (850) 327-6529, visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ, or call (800) 353-5949.
Ernest Ward Middle Honors Veterans (With Gallery)
November 9, 2012
An emotional program honored veterans Thursday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School in Walnut Hill.
Much of the program centered around the story of Albert Hunninghake of Walnut Hill. Appearing in a video produced by the school, Hunninghake provided a firsthand account of the attack on Pearl Harbor days after he enlisted in the Navy. He told of being stranded afloat in a life raft in the Pacific for 28 days, an ordeal he survived by thinking of being back on the family farm.
Hunninghake also watched nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll, and watched from a neighboring ship through long binoculars on September 2, 1945, as Japan surrendered aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
The program included a slideshow of students’ and faculty members’ family members that have served in the armed forces, along with music from the EWMS band and choir.
Each branch of the armed forces was recognized in a solemn hat ceremony as members of the Patriot Guard and the Northivew High School NJROTC stood at attention.
Many wiped tears from their eyes as the students prepared a small, white table with a place setting for one in front of an empty black chair. The ceremony represented the never-ending hope for the return of MIA soldiers.
The annual Veterans Day program at Ernest Ward is a longstanding community tradition, held annually for about the last 20 years.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured: Seth Killam, Ian Schneider, Zach Sheldon, Mitchell Singleton and Triston Long take part in a hat ceremony honored the branches of the military Thursday morning at Ernest Ward Middle School. Pictured top inset: Scores of local veterans attended the program. Pictured bottom inset: A table set during a ceremony to remember MIA soldiers. Pictured below: The Ernest Ward choir performs a patriotic selection. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Northview Honors Veterans
November 8, 2012
Northview High School held their annual Veterans Day Program Wednesday morning.
“I want to encourage you to find someone in your life who is a veteran and say ‘thanks’,” guest speaker Captain Carl Mock, , USN (Ret.) told the students. Mock is the former Commanding Officer of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) located at NAS Pensacolaand served 38 years before retiring in June 2005.
The program also featured a flag ceremony, special music and drama, and recognition of veterans.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A flag ceremony during the annual Veterans Day Program Wednesday morning at Northview High School. Pictured inset: The program also featured a drama presentation. Pictured below: The Northview High chorus performs. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Local Resident Signs Nashville Recording Contract
November 8, 2012
A North Escambia resident has signed a Nashville recording contract.
Dusty Sanderson, 20, has signed with Lamon Records Nashville. He was in Quad Studios in Nashville recently recording original songs for his upcoming EP release, which should hit the street early in 2013.
The Molino native has been playing guitar since he was 10 years old and singing since he turned 14. “It all started around a bonfire on the river,” says Dusty, “with just me and my guitar, which eventually led to me getting my first real gig in my hometown at a little place called the Fugly Worm.”
Suddenly, the young aspiring artist was landing professionally paying gigs at all the bars and clubs in the area. His deep baritone voice is reminiscent of great country singers like Vern Gosdin or Lefty Frizzell, yet he makes every song his own.
“Dusty has a very unique quality to his voice and a viable music style of what he’s writing,” says his producer Dave Moody, president of Lamon Records. “It’s very ‘now’ … a mixture of backwoods country and hard driving high energy rock. I think he’s drawing from the best of today’s country artists, and classic outlaw artists too, like David Alan Coe, Waylon Jennings, and others. Whatever he’s doing, it seems to be working.”
Asked about his songwriting, Dusty says, “I’ve been interested in writing songs all my life, but I didn’t get serious about it until I was 17. I had a girlfriend that I spent all day, every day with, so when she took a trip to LA for a week I had no clue what to do with my time, so I sat down in my room and started writing.” And he’s not stopped since.
Pictured top: Dave Moody, president of Lamon Records, and Dusty Sanderson in Nashville. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.