The Roanoker - March/April 2015 - 27

MY DAY IN THE LIFE
Let's be clear: I did not spend an
entire "day in the life." However,
writing this article did allow me
several hours over several days
with some of our valley's most
excellent - and humble - fire and
rescue personnel. I am excited to
share some of those experiences
with you.
Salem: It's 9:15 A.M. I am walking into Station 2 with a tray of
Starbucks coffee in hand. Just as
I am making introductions the
alarm goes off. Lieutenant Elston
grabs the coffee from me and motions for me to follow.
"Let's go. You're comin', too."
"Yes, sir." If you met Mike
Elston, you'd obey, too.
Despite my witlessness, we are
on the truck in under a minute. I
climb in the back, trying to look
serious and calm. We fly from the
station, sirens blaring - which
sound muffled from the inside -
and clearing traffic. I can barely
contain myself.
"Is this your first fire truck
ride?" one crewmember asks.
I can't help it. I turn to him, my
whole face grinning.
"Yes! I mean, yes...it is." He
smiles back kindly. I think maybe
he isn't bothered at my tagging
along.
Hours later, scenes from my
first response call still play vividly in my mind. It was a sad call.
But in the moment I was only
concerned I would do the right
thing. Afterwards, on the way
back to the station, we reflected
together. This, I begin to realize,

is why fire and rescue isn't simply
a job. It's a brotherhood/sisterhood.
Roanoke County: At Cave
Spring, I arrive in time for
homemade chili and cornbread
(Roanoke City Station 4 fed me,
too), chores (which, thankfully,
I'm not asked to do) and some
down time. The guys show me
around and I even try on their
gear - all 75 lbs. of it (Imagine
climbing multiple stairwells in
that!). Shortly after enjoying a
"Painting with Bob Ross" episode
(a favorite mid-day indulgence),
an EMS call comes through. The
guys decide to take both ambulance and fire truck. I step
up onto this truck (it has shiny
metal stairs that automatically
drop down) and off we go.
I always wondered why fire
trucks respond to non-fire related emergencies. After this call, I
understand. Each vehicle holds
2-4 people. It takes all five responders to move this particular
patient. Once she is secure, the
ambulance heads to the hospital
and we go back home...I mean,
to the station.
But really, the fire station is
like home - including the upkeep: everything from scrubbing toilets to waxing floors,
mowing lawns and maintaining
vehicles. The firefighters check
hoses, deep-clean and wax the
vehicles, send out broken equipment to be repaired; all this in
addition to non-emergency civic
duties. The truth is, there isn't
much time for Bob Ross.

certificate typed on a typewriter, hanging in an 8 x10
gold-trimmed frame. "That's the reason I'm here."
Johns is referring to the day - June 19, 1952 - his
father, Charles Lindbergh Johns (better known as
"Lindy"), helped dedicate the Eagle Rock Station to
the service of the community.
Other than six years serving in the Army and then
several more out west, moving around and fighting
fires in places like Colorado Springs and Alaska,

WRITER SHARI DRAGOVICH HEFTS
FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT.
Eagle Rock: I am early for
my interview with the Larry
and Georgia Knighton, and as
such, am sitting in my Suburban wondering how to kill time
in a cliff-side community of 200
(read: no Starbucks). Just then, a
pick-up truck comes rushing towards me, red flashing through
its front window. The truck pulls
into a narrow lot across from the
station and out jumps a young
man, fire gear already on. As he
runs toward the station, another
flashing truck drives up and the
process repeats itself (except this
man is older). I watch like a hid-

den insect as the older man drives
the ambulance out of the station.
He pauses, and the younger one
hops in. Off they go.
Within minutes, a fire truck
fills my rearview mirror then
roars by (It's Darryl Johns coming from work). Shortly after, my
interviewees - the Knightons
- pull up in their truck and haul
out with the second ambulance. I
smile at my luck at being so early
to an interview.
Of course, I'll have to reschedule, but I don't mind. I have just
witnessed the power of the volunteer. -SD

Darryl Johns has always called Eagle Rock home. He
began "chasin' lights" formally in 1977 at the age of
16. Now, he and his wife of 24 years, Tina, help keep
the all-volunteer Eagle Rock Station fit and ready for
serving its 160-square mile run area.
Tina is a former first responder and current
911 operator for Botetourt County - 19 years and
running. Hers is the voice Darryl often hears when a
call comes through his scanner.

27
The Roanoker - March/April 2015

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