^{Copperopolis Fire Protection District}

                               ^{In an emergency dial 911}

^{Saving Lives}

       Phone:      785-2393

       email:        cfpd

Think about a wife’s horror at 6 in the morning as you check her husband of 30 years for a pulse and find none. You start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it’s too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible was being done to try and save his life.

Think about the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able to see absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that you will become too familiar with.

Think about responding to fire call at 3 a.m. wondering if it’s a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed? What hazards await me? Is anyone trapped? Will I be on the first team in? Or to a medical call. Is it minor or life threatening, child or adult? Is the caller really in distress or is someone waiting with a 2x4 or gun?

Think about your brother firefighter/paramedic who calls the death of the beautiful five-year old girl that you’ve been trying to save during the past 25 minutes, knowing she will never go on her first date or say the words, “I love you Mommy,” ever again.

Think about thoughts that might cross your mind as you help extricate a teenage girl from the remains of a wrecked automobile...Where’s my teenage daughter right now?

Think about returning home to your own family and not telling them you almost didn’t make it back to them. You only discuss that with your brother firefighters.

Think about doing all of those things alongside some of the finest people you will ever meet.

Learn some history