Register Reporter Straps On Gear, Trains with West Haven Firefighters

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Register Reporter Straps On Gear, Trains with West Haven Firefighters

Published Sunday, December 30, 2012

By Susan Misur, Register Staff

As soon as I put the oxygen mask on my face, I had to ask: What did I just get myself into?

There I was, my 5-foot-tall stature drowning in firefighter gear, with the kneepads of my pants bunched at my ankles, suspenders cinched to the max, a heavy jacket, some kind of white babushka on my head and now an oxygen mask.

I was getting fitted at the Benham Hill Fire Station for my “fire outfit” as I called it on a recent afternoon, just a few days before I was set to enter a burning building during firefighter training for an unusual reporting assignment.

All in all not a bad article, a few technical misunderstandings aside. I liked the idea of getting the reporter that covers our area in to get a taste of what we do. Anyone else do anything like this?

[firefighter36 52]

Great article minus the technical symantics. Great press coverage laid out to readers in layman's terms. We offered this same opportunity to a team of reporters from a newspaper in Dutchess a few years ago when they were writing their series of articles concerning salaries, pensions, and benefits. Interestingly enough, they turned down the opportunity. The fact that a reporter is willing to step outside their comfort zone to get a real story speaks alot about their character. Good for you guys!

[JetPhoto 626]

“Did ya like it?” a few firefighters asked me while I took a break. “Ummm,” I stammered, wondering how I could answer honestly without offending them. “It was pretty bad. You couldn’t pay me enough to do this for a job.”

And people think it's easy

[SageVigiles 1,194]

And people think it's easy

A little perspective goes a long way, hopefully buys us some understanding. We'll see though. Interestingly enough, the Register's last Police/Fire reporter was just hired as the Bridgeport Police/Fire PIO

Edited December 30, 2012 by SageVigiles

[x129K 1,393]

I can see it now - Morning Pride now offering PBI babushkas...LOL

[Dinosaur 844]

It's a start. We can only try our best to educate people about what our jobs really are.

This is a good start!