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Allen Moore and Chris Haynes, Chickasha Fire Department paramedics and haz-mat team members, inspect a mock ricin lab. Each man carries close to 50 lbs. of gear and must undergo rigorous training in order to handle volatile materials.
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HAZARDOUS DUTY
Reporter dons fire suit, learns about hazardous material
By ELLIS GOODWIN
Staff Writer
t’s hot. I’m wearing 50 pounds of bulky gear. Sweat is dripping into my eyes, and if I make one wrong move I could be killed.
That’s how it is to handle hazardous material. It’s dangerous with the potential of being deadly, but that thought never crosses my mind. It can’t, because if it does I won’t just fail my training, I’ll fail my team and the citizens I protect. I’ll drop the ball-and dropping the ball in this field could be a one-way ticket to the morgue.
Each year the Chickasha fire department and 17 other hazardous material teams take a training course. The course is a refresher for emergency personnel, and keeps firefighters up-to-date on the latest hazards and deterrents.
The life of a firefighter can be difficult, especially in Chickasha. They wear multiple hats and must be trained to handle fires, hazardous material and injuries. Constant training amidst daily emergencies and 100-degree heat can wear you down, but saving lives is what we live for.
The job offers a rush and rewards at the same time, and constant training keeps our confidence levels up. They run, lift weights and do anything they can to stay in the best physical form possible. Carrying so much gear in this high stress environment demands physical fitness, but it also demands finesse.
I found all this out the hard way on Friday, when I joined them for a portion of their hazmat training. The boots are like bricks tied to my feet. The jacket is big and bulky, and the helmet and respirator block my vision. This training is as lifelike as it gets.
Here's what a fire fighter might think as he approaches hazardous material:
As I approach the jar filled with an unknown liquid I fall back on my training. I forget about being hot and sweaty, focus on the task at hand and go over a checklist in my mind.
I take it slow, try to remember my training from last year and recall all the technologies and techniques at my disposal. The jar could have anything from anthrax to zinc.
These are real chemicals and hazards. The exercise itself isn’t hard, but I know that one lapse of concentration could spell disaster. This refresher course is important. It keeps us sharp, and if we’re careful we will all go home safely.
Later, we approach a chemical lab in a home. On first glance it seems it could be a methamphetamine lab, but that would be a serious mistake. After studying the contents we believe it is used to make toxins. We don bright orange haz-mat suits and respirators and again approach with extreme caution.
The heat is sweltering and the smell of mildew fills the air. We find the lab is used to make ricin, a highly toxic chemical extrapolated from castor beans. A piece equivalent to half a grain of sand can be deadly. The lab looks real and is real, except for a few key ingredients.
These training exercises are no joke. They are treated with the utmost respect and performed rigorously. At any time we’ve got to be prepared to strap in, zip up and safely remove any dangerous materials.
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Transformations
What comes to mind when you think of the word, “Transformation”?Do you have fantastic thoughts of people or things changing into something amazing for example, Clark Kent turning into Superman or Bruce Banner becoming the Incredible Hulk or possibly something a little more down to earth like a caterpillar miraculously changing into the beautiful butterfly?
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GRADY COUNTY FAIR RESULTS
Plants
Potted Plants
(Several varieties combined)
First: (Adult) Ann O'Bar
Second: (Adult) Joyce Riker
Third: (Adult) Jallane Link -
AROUND THE AREA
SEPTEMBER 2
Poetry Reading
• When: Sept. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, Private Room, 3127 S. 4th St., Chickasha
• Details: Featured Poet is Carol Hamilton, writer, storyteller and Poet Laureate of Oklahoma 1995-97Hamilton’s website is www.carolhamilton.org. There is no admission fee to attend the Poetry Reading, and refreshments are available for purchase. For more information, contact Rockford Johnson, 224-0160 or 317-7506. -
Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
OSU's Gundy still learning on job
STILLWATER (AP) — Mike Gundy hasn't lost his love for dialing up the right play to keep Oklahoma State's offense purring along.
That passion, which he has called the most enjoyable part of his job as head coach, was bred into him as an offensive coordinator. And he is a former starting quarterback for the Cowboys. -
Whimsical metal work, jewelry part of big art show at USAO
A showing of whimsical metal work and jewelry is scheduled to be on display at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma during Helen’s Show Sept. 10-Oct 1.
The show will feature the work of USAO graduate Helen Shafer. The exhibition will be open daily during normal business hours in the Davis Hall Third Floor Art Gallery on the USAO campus. The show is free and open to the public. An opening reception is scheduled Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. in the gallery. -
High-speed chase lands 1 in jail
A high-speed motorcycle chase down Highway 81 last Wednesday landed a Ninnekah man in jail and a felony charge of eluding a police officer.
Court records show that James William Hutchins, 21, blew by Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Timothy Parrish at U.S. Highway 81 and County Road 1460 and was clocked going 144 miles per hour in a posted 70 miles per hour zone.
Parrish reported that he was sitting stationary at that location at about 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 25 when he observed a red motorcycle traveling southbound. He engaged his emergency lights and siren and pulled onto the roadway behind the Triumph motorcycle. -
5 inmates denied parole
Parole was recently denied for five Grady County inmates serving sentences with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
The following individuals were denied at the August Pardon and Parole Board meeting:
• Jeremiah Daniel Cline, who is serving a five-year sentence for distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and a five-year sentence for possession of a controlled dangerous substance, began his sentence in August 2008.
• Warren P. Diego, who is serving a 15-year sentence (10 years PTS) for lewd molestation, began his sentence in February 2009. -
Judge recuses herself from pharmacy case
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A state district judge has stepped aside from the first-degree murder trial of a pharmacist accused in the fatal shooting of an unconscious would-be robber.
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Transformations
