Firemen at Leisure or how to Justify you job.

One summer night, on or about the 4th of July a house down the street from the fire station caught on fire, apparently from fireworks. The firemen responded so fast that the homeowner, who was in the house at the time, only became aware of the fire when the firemen vigorously battled the fire and successfully put out the fire without significant damage.

How were the firefighters able to respond to rapidly? As they work 24/7 they got bored during the middle of the night and decided, since it was the 4th of July, they would set off rockets in front of the firehouse. While doing that they decided that find out what would happen when you lay a rocket on its side and set it off. As it happens, at least some of the rockets will travel down the street, hit a rock, bounce in the air and land against the side of a house. As it turns out, tumble weeds (Russia thistle) really do blow down the street and pile up against building, fences etc. It’s also true, just like in the old cowboy movies, that a single match (or rocket) will ignite tumble weeds a create a fire that looks like gasoline was used to get it going. The firefighters got written up in the local paper for their rapid response (small town few fires and less news) all the while unaware that it was the firemen who started the fire that earned them the praise.

I got the story direct from the men involved about a week after the bid event. Unfortunately, I now live in NY and the Grants Daily Beacon (now called the Cibola county Beacon) doesn’t have electronic archives that I can access. [Cibola county was broken off from Valencia county in ~1980-81, eventually resulting in the newspaper name change]

Paul Lynch 516-545-2564 (w)

ps I gave all the additional details in the hopes that its obvious that I lived in San Rafel (just outside of town) and add credibility to my true story.

Submitted on 06/16/2006

Submitted by: Paul Lynch
Reference: Grants Daily Beacon 1980

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account
While it is hard to pinpoint exactly who was responsible, I have to say I really like this story! Naturally, it wouldn't qualify for either a DA or HM, but PA's generally cover the gamut of stupidity, and we have a lot of license with PA's! Of ALL people, firemen should know better! The readers might get a chuckle out of this one as well! Thanks, Paul!

Jorge said:
Definitely Keep: Personal Account

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