February 9 – “FD Testing … testing …”

I spent some time in the cold yesterday.  The annual physical agility test for those interested in being a Galveston firefighter was held at station four.  After a brief meeting downtown with the fire chief, just to check in, I made my way over there to meet the new hopefuls. 

As I understand it there were nineteen who made it through phase one, the city’s civil service exam.  And if I counted right just about all of them were there yesterday.  One woman, and eighteen men of varying ages and skill levels (And clothing choices.  Some were in shorts and a t-shirt.  Others had sweatpants and jackets.  It was … cold.  47 degrees with a wind chill of 37), all determined to make it through.  The candidates had to complete eight different tasks.  Each had its own time limit, and there was also a time limit for completion of the entire course. And there was nothing easy about it.  In fact I heard one of the guys remark that he had taken four such agility tests around the area, and this was by far the toughest.  So why would people go through such a rigid entry exam?  Of course it’s because Galveston Fire Department is the best in the state.  We just don’t have that much turnover, because when you work in Paradise, why would you want to move, right?

I want to give kudos to the fire fighters from GFD, though.  I didn’t count the number, but there were guys manning each station to ensure safety, to prepare after each candidate, and to explain and keep track of the timing.  There were proctors to walk with each candidate through his attempts at the course and to keep track of total times.  There were medics to check pulse and blood pressure before and after each attempt.  Battalion Chief Varela did a great job introducing and explaining the overall course.  And all of this in that bitter cold I might have mentioned earlier. 

On the inside front, Assistant Chief Olsen was there after each run to offer either condolences or an application (And a little humor.  He did his best to get someone to volunteer to run the course “just one more time.”  No takers, though).  And of course there was the ever-present “Real Chief” Trish Anderson, handling all the paperwork from the comfort of her table … inside.  Now all that remains for the five or six who proved their mettle is the application and interview process, and soon we hope to have some new recruits of the Galveston Fire Department.

Once again I was impressed and made quite proud to be associated with this group of fine individuals, the fire department family.  Nice job, GFD.

Psalms 139:11-12 says, “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

Father, thank you for protecting all the candidates and fire fighters yesterday.  Encourage those who didn’t complete the course.  Walk with those who now face interviews.  Amen.