Power Hawk Hellbender Squadron

I have to apologise for this post is about 2 days late. But I had to do some research to make sure all my facts were correct. I looked everywhere to find reference to the Power Hawk Hellbender Squadron on the manufactures website but found nothing. The VHS (yes VHS) we watched was obviously an older promo video that has since been updated and had all awesome names removed. Here is what the manufactures have to say about the system in the year 2010 - believe me when I say the original VHS presentation shat all over the future.

The 'Hellbender Squadron' ready to get to work.

I am not exactly sure who this is with the disc cutter - but he chopped that car good.

This is Ryan channeling the unbelievable power of the Power Hawk to do believable things.

I am off to Hobart tomorrow for a week of aviation rescue and fire fighting practical. There will be big flames and some really good pictures coming your way.

Power Hawk - da na na nah (that's the Star Wars music)

This week has been crazy with late nights studying for back to back exams over 2 days. The main theory is now done and out of the way and we are looking forward to getting into some solid practical work over the next 2 weeks.

This afternoon we got started on some of the rescue equipment we will be using. All the stuff we need to chop into planes and cars to rescue people. We were only in the class today, but we will get a chance to use this gear on a few cars that have been out the back since day one – woot.

But first, here is a picture of my new room mate for when we go to Tasmania. He is from Hobart so it will be good to get a local insight. He does know how to smile, he just forgot for a second.

The ‘Super Poser’ demonstrating the correct facial expression to use with the Power Hawk.

My current room mate Ross using the Powerpusher and Power Hawk in perfect harmony. They are technically called “The Power Hawk Hellbender Squadron” I wish the name was bullshit but it’s true.

Richard working the shaft as team mates look on in awe of his skills.

KA-BLAMMO!!!

We have been locked up in the classroom doing exams and studying new material for more exams. Despite the sleepy and at times gassy conditions in class, we were allowed out yesterday for a bit of 'extreme' fire fighting. One of the lessons we covered was LPG fires. These things are dangerous and can go ka-blammo if not acted on in an efficient professional manner (which is what we have now instead of blood).

As you can see the LPG cylinder is on fire - the instructors aren't huddling in fear, they are working out who they will place in extreme danger first.

It turned out Mr Griggs was the lucky man.

As Mr Griggs (or Griggsy) started cooling the cylinder an attack line was set up to get in close.

The attack line gets in close enough to turn off the cylinder valve by hand - which they do.

In the afternoon we came back to the smoke hut and did our first 'hot fire' session. We got to go inside when there was actual fire and feel how hot it gets. Just so you know ,it gets hot, so hot in fact you have to get down low and go go go or your ears will burn off.

Montage

It’s been back to the classroom and study for a small block of exams the last few days, so it’s time for a montage. I got some pictures from some of the other guys on the course so I have some material to work with.

This is Dave on the branch in front and Josh doing a fine job stopping Dave from blowing away. Behind him is Rory – also known as McCafe.

The brains trust or a handsome competition? You be the judge.


Ryan and I waiting to get our BA’s on and enter the smoke hut.


Me channelling the awesome power of the tiger.


Everyone just chilling out in the theater room.

Brad gets his very own fire truck

I felt like a special little kid today. Because I am the only recruit going to Brisbane and the only one that needs to learn the Mark 7 fire truck, I had my own tender (that’s what firemen call fire trucks) and my own driver. My job was to point the monitor (the shooty thing on top) at the plane and make it moist.

I got to shoot it heaps. In fact, despite the water restrictions here in Melbourne, I went through about 10,000 litres in a few minutes. But it was all in the name of learning how to save lives so I guess that’s OK.


The rest of the week is exams so it’s study, study, study.

Auditions

Today the instructors were kind enough to park a fire truck around the back of the classroom so we could work on our calendar poses. I got in early and started with a fairly straight forward ‘holding the truck up’ stance.

It proved to be a very poor choice, as the other guys were favouring the classic ‘look what I just killed’ pose.

Josh is an excellent poser and we all need to take a master class with him when time permits. Check out the awesome close up.


I should have really learnt something by this stage of the course. The rule is to let someone else go first and let them screw it up, then follow on and look like you knew how it was meant to be done.

Fire Hut

I promised pictures of the fire hut last week and not being one to disappoint, I have delivered. We have been at the fire hut all this week and we will be there tomorrow too. The training each day is split up in to 3 sections hoses, breathing apparatus, knots and ladders. We just rotate around each station and started adding bits from one station to another. I guess the idea is that by the time we get into the course a bit more we will just be doing everything in our drills – but enough talk here are the pictures.

Here is Luke opening a stand pipe – our favorite Canadian is photo booming in the background. He isn’t actually from Canada but while the Olympics are on he just says he is.

This is the smoke hut with a couple of guys practicing ladders and knots.

Paul carrying a hose aloft.

I would take a picture from inside the smoke hut but it is dark and smoky. Most disappointing of all is that there is no disco music to match the disco smoke – only on the bus.