06/13/2024
I wanna say it was early spring 1995. I was 15 going on 16 living off Gorman road. I hear sirens and see a line of fire trucks fly by behind our house. They make a left into the neighborhood behind us. I don’t see any smoke or fire but I was curious as to what was going on. I walked down to the corner of Gorman Rd and Jeanne Ct. A Savage Volunteer Fire Company truck sitting there. The Driver sees me standing across the street, he waves me over. I ask the driver what is going on? He tells me some knuckle head put hot coals or ash to close behind there house. (Funny thing is I learned over the years this happens very often). The drive asks my age and if I ever thought about being a firefighter. I tell him I’m 15 and that being a firefighter never really crossed my mind. He told me I could take classes as young as 16, which was only a few months away. We talked a bit more and his crew came back up to the truck. I walked back across the street and they all waved as they drove way. My grandparents were excited of the idea of me being a firefighter, but I had to wait a little bite longer. Spring of my senior year in high school I joined. That Driver was Ray Wines! Thank you Ray for introducing this world to me. Rest easy my friend.
