By John Waters, Publisher

Terlingua Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief and Licensed Paramedic Greg Hennington is very pleased -- for several reasons.

Soon the firefighters and medics will move into a new state-of-the-art emergency services building, being built by Brewster County.

TFEMS recently received grants for training and equipment from the Brewster County Hospital District and the National Park Service.

And perhaps best of all, staff levels have never been better; the organization now has three paid medics and fifteen volunteer firefighters, plus a group of almost a dozen newly-trained first responders, in addition to already on board stalwart volunteer ECAs and drivers.

 “People have stepped up to volunteer. I couldn’t be happier,” said Hennington.

On September 19, TFEMS assembled at the Terlingua “Y” (intersection of Hwy 118 and FM 170) and — using empty buildings owned by the Big Bend Motor Inn — held a training session; buildings were filled with a non-toxic smoke and firefighters entered the near zero-visibility structure, searching for victims. In so doing, they experienced the smoke-induced blindness volunteers might encounter on a call.

Photo 1 (below, top): When entering the burning building, teams of two clung to each other. Crawling on the floor, the lead firefighter shouted to the second, clinging to the leader’s pant leg, about important obstacles and possible escape routes, such as doors and windows.

After firefighters exited the smoky building, Chief Hennington instructed the group: “One of the most effective ways to fight a fire is to get the smoke out.” Firefighter James Blankenship then demonstrated the use of a firefighting technique in which a water hose nozzle is turned on to create a fan-shaped shower of water and the hose is thrust through an opening in the burning structure, such as a window. The resulting “Venturi effect” created by the fan of water, sucks the smoke out of the burning building.     

Photo 2 (below, middle): Big Bend Gazette Publisher John Waters, wearing full structural firefighting gear and holding a halligan tool:  “Here I am, taking my first breath of air from an oxygen tank strapped to my back. After suiting up in heavy firefighting togs, known as ‘bunker gear,’ then I donned gloves, a balaklava, a backpack, an oxygen tank and mask (weighing 45 pounds), and finally, a helmet. In the coolness of a late summer Terlingua morning, with temperatures near 90°, I was really hot in minutes. I thought of myself as a cross between the Pillsbury Doughboy, the Michelin tire gnome, and Neil Armstrong. One small step for man, one giant step for journalism.

As I took my first few breaths from my oxygen tank through my hermetically-sealed face mask (lest toxic fumes seep in), I realized firefighting is not for the claustrophic.

As adrenaline raced through me, my nervous system sent information to my brain, which suggested: Do I really want to do this? I could just take a few photos of these firefighters, I mean, they are the story, right? They’re the ones who will show up when I call 9-11 day or night. Why risk a total freak-out inside a hot smoky building with zero visibility?

Too late, relayed my brain, as Gregg Hennington thrust the halligan into my hands.

Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred, I murmured into the tiny facemask, as I entered the building. Although this was a controlled exercise (the building was not really on fire and the smoke was neither toxic nor the hundreds of degrees it would have been had the building truly been ablaze) I was in a state somewhere between anxious and panicked.

Crawling around the building was stressful. Thankfully, the building was not 900-degrees, nor were various aspects of the structure exploding into flames, a situation the volunteers firefighters might encounter when they respond to a fire at your home, or mine.”

Photo 3 (below, bottom): Members of Terlingua Volunteer Fire successfully concluded their training in the 90° sun.

On emergency calls, the firefighters have one-minute to suit up. This reporter was able to don the gear in just under five-minutes and that was with assistance from one of the firefighters.

With assistance from Brewster County Emergency Services, TFEMS now have six “bunker suits.” The apparel, costing $1,200, can allow firefighters to enter burning structures and withstand 1,000-degree temperatures.

“Tom Santry[ESD Coordinator] has been our best friend and the E.S.D. has been very good to us,” said Hennington. “With a recent $11,500 grant from the National Park Service, the Department will be adding radios, tools and wildland fire gear, costing $300 per person.”