During our fire station remodel M34 was sent to live in the upstairs training room. There was a little AC unit up there and the space was big enough for a couple beds and a couch. It was cozy. And we didn’t spend much time there. We were often down stairs with the guys or out on calls. M34 was a busy station so mostly we were out on calls.
I was working very hard to read my book between calls and I was determined to find out who done it today! I was so close! So we pulled back in the station and I hopped out and ran upstairs. It was hazy. Like almost smoky but not really. I actually said to my partner "It smells like cancer in here" I whipped out my handy fireman skills and started checking everything. Found nothing. But the AC was blowing very hot air. So ok just turn it off right? Nope, It cannot be turned off. In fact the buttons no longer do anything. (Why in this moment I did not think to unplug it I do not know.) So clearly this is going to require someone with more skills, more AC know how, more height as I can barely reach the unit, and better fireman skills. So basically anyone else. I march down stairs to find Mixx. He’s the boss. He can fix it or delegate it or whatever he wants to do. And I can finish my book. Ya well Mixx is gone. The ladder is gone, the engine is gone, the MR is gone. Only M34 is home. Greaaaaate. Whatever. I’m reading. I go to bed, lights out, lamp on, book in hand. Gonna see who done it.
Next thing I know they are thundering up the stairs and turning on the lights. This time the room seemed way more smoky than it had before. The guys were torn between looking at the source of the smoke (They can’t help it. Being a fireman is in their blood) and looking at me like I was sprouting a second head.
Me: What?
Firemen: WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHAT?
Mixx: ERIN CAN YOU SMELL THAT? THAT'S FIRE!
Me: I think the AC is on fire. And I only have a couple chapters left of my book!
Firemen: OH YOU THINK? (then some crying about how I was burning down the fire station or some bologna like that. And more crying about me burning up in my bed reading my book. It was very dramatic.)
They seemed to be having an emergency I was not experiencing. I was trying to finish my book and truth be told I had a headache. (No input needed here)
The guys had the forethought to unplug the AC (They were not distracted by their book) and they did fireman things and the smoke stopped and the AC was dead. By dead I mean the firemen had dismantled it into about 27 pieces and left in on the floor. But it was no longer burning, so good for them. I still had not finished my book. And then the firemen did the unthinkable. They began telling the story of how L121 rescued M34 from a fire. Ok, book has been set aside. No way am I going to allow them to post something for the whole dang county to read. I was not rescued!! I was happily reading! Plus rescues are very exciting and romantic and this was none of that.
Sometime later the Chief shows up so I aim and fire " Hey Chief, Mixx broke our AC unit upstairs" Chief fired back "Hey guys! Good Job! Not everyday you make a grab in your own house!"
I CAN'T EVEN WITH THESE GUYS!!
Now here we are…all this time later and I see on FB “Remember when we had to rescue Erin from the AC fire?”
Boy don’t start that! I will cut you! Catch me outside bro how bout dat!
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