2019 marks four anniversaries for the Traunstein Fire Department:

• 40 years: The Fire House at its current location
• 50 years: Cooperation with the Educational Center for Special Needs
• 70 years: Fire Department Youth Program
• 160 years: Founding of the Traunstein Fire Department

That is a lot to celebrate.

7:00 am, 4. May, 2019 – Open House

Yesterday was the Fire Department’s Open House. Thomas and the rest of the department were out at 7:00am to pull out the trucks, set things up and be ready for people of all ages to come and see what they are all about. About 1000 people showed up to explore the Fire House, inspect the trucks, meet the fire fighters and try their hand at putting out a fire.

I forgot to take my camera and am regretting it right now. I have no pictures for this post. No pictures representing the Fire Department that has been a part of Thomas’ life for over 25 years. No pictures of the men and women who volunteer their time and lives to make sure we are all safe. It was a big mistake. When I wanted to run get it, it started to rain. Literally washed out.

I left to get groceries and take care of responsibilities at home and returned at 6:00 pm to check-in and see how things were going.

2:00 am, 5. May, 2019 – People who work for food

After the Open House, there was a dinner for the volunteers who had worked so hard during the snow chaos. Grilled chicken, fries, beer and fun for people who literally work for food.

Thomas made it home early this morning after a very, very long day and climbed into bed to sleep-in. He deserved it.

As he is nodding off, he told me to look out the window. In a freak turn of nature, it was snowing—in May!

8:50 am, 5. May, 2019 – ALARM!

Thomas jumps out of bed and rushes out the door. Yes, in his t-shirt and boxers. In the snow.
He also put on shoes, I’m pretty sure.

We live close to the fire department, so he can reach it on foot running in just a few minutes.

I hope the alarm was not major and he will return to bed in 5 minutes to warm up. After all, most of the fire fighters are sleeping-off the results of a party in their honor.

Within 5 minutes the sirens tell me he and his colleagues are underway. The sirens continue as truck after truck are filled and leave the fire house.

I get up to check the alarm on the cell phone: Kitchen fire in one of our favorite restaurants. I make coffee and wonder how long he will be gone.

The plan was to do laundry today, but as the laundry room is right off the main bedroom, I decide to postpone that plan so that he can climb back into bed to sleep if he wants.

1:00 pm, 5. May, 2019 – 4 hours later

I hear Thomas at the door.

He enters wearing a “Fire Department” track suit and his old fire department coat. Everything else is wet (and let’s face it, he didn’t wear much over to the Fire House in the first place).

He looks so tired, but his arms are filled with rolls and left over food from yesterday. I will freeze the rolls for the month and leftovers will be for dinner today or tomorrow.

I am just finishing prepping two of the five meals I was planning on getting ready for the week.

I offer to make coffee, but Thomas just wants to get in bed. I am thankful that I have made the bed fresh and there are no clothes in the washer. The shades are lowered, Thomas has changed into a new t-shirt and falls into bed. I promise to look in when I am done in the kitchen, knowing full well that he will be sleeping deeply.

2:00 pm, 5. May, 2019 – ALARM!

I rush to grab the beeper to turn it off, but it is too late. Thomas is up and running. No time to get dressed, he heads out (again) into the freezing weather in his sleep clothes.

This time, I know what is going on. I check the alarm: Garden shed in flames.

The sirens go off as Thomas and his colleagues fill the trucks and head out.

Within 10 minutes, the alarm goes off again. The fire is not contained and is growing. I have gathered up a change of warm clothes, as well as the track suit and his coat to take them over to the Fire House.

When I arrive, fire fighters are still showing up, responding to the second alarm. The hall is empty except for the two trucks waiting for the fire fighters to change and get in.

While I am waiting, 8 people rush in by car and race into the changing room. My goal is to be as invisible as possible as they call to each other, making sure that the trucks are as full as possible before leaving.

The final trucks take off, sirens screaming. There are still 5 people in the Fire House when I head to Thomas locker.

As I am leaving, a final truck shows up and the final fire fighters board and as I return home, I hear the sirens as the last truck heads out to the fire.

6:00 pm, 5 May, 2019 – Home again

Thomas is home, sleeping on the sofa. He got home less than ½ hour ago.

The home that they were sent to was saved. The carport is gone, but the fire fighters made it in time to prevent the fire from jumping to the house and causing more destruction. Every truck was sent. Every firefighter was needed.

After the fire was out, they spent time cleaning up and making sure things were safe.

Supper is on the table. It can wait. Thomas is going to be hungry when he wakes up.

Reflections

Days like this are rare. The reality here is that the fire department can go months without a large fire. Their calls are not as dramatic. The time they are gone is not as long. But each time there is someone needing help. Someone looking for a solution to a problem. Someone looking for an every-day hero.

None of the over 100 fire fighters here in Traunstein are paid. We have a volunteer fire department, because the need is not there for a paid team. All of them rush to help despite being exhausted and quite possibly slightly hung over.

No one thinks they are heroes. Well, maybe except me and the other family members. We see what they are willing to do; what they train to do. We see their passion and their sacrifice. We see their love; their strength; their courage.

I am honored to support my amazing hero.