For new Columbus Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Mark Ward, today was a baptism by fake fire.
In his first shift as one of the three heads of the five Columbus fire stations, firefighters responded to a pipe bomb scare in the 1300 block of Fifth Street South and a large surprise training exercise just after midnight.
The Columbus Air Force Base bomb squad was called in Sunday night when a woman discovered a suspicious package at her house.
Then, Ward and about 20 firefighters were called to the old Parker Furniture building at College and Fifth Street South, where fog from a smoke machine was pouring from the windows.
In more than an hour of practicing, firefighters “rescued” three young victims and two “incapacitated” firefighters.
At the end of his shift this morning, Ward sat down with The Dispatch to go over his first day and what it”s like to be a firefighter.
Looking back over the day, how do you think you did?
Being totally surprised, I think we did well. Accountability was good. Communication was good.
I thought it was a good evening. I think the training woke some people up.
I saw a few things that need to be worked on, but I was proud of the guys and the effort they put into today. Hopefully, we can do more of these exercises in the future.
What”s your experience and what do you do now?
I”ve been at Columbus Fire and Rescue 24 years — 18 on shift, then chief training officer. Now I”m back on shift.
I”m one of three battalion chiefs, who each are over one of our three shifts. The battalion chief is responsible to make sure his firefighters get their training in that time and oversee any incidents that come up.
How does it feel being back on shift?
I”d been off shift six years — going back on was like falling off a log. Also, you get closer together.
You started at Fire and Rescue when you were 21. What got you interested in fighting fires?
I”m Columbus, born and raised. When I was young, my mother always said — even though I don”t remember — I wanted to be a fireman. I had some friends and they encouraged me to apply. I did, and it”s been a great career. I”ve enjoyed helping people. We”ve got a young department now, but a good department.
When I first started, all I did was fire calls. Now, we do so much more.
When you”re not at the fire station, what do you do?
I like to do — not yard work — but piddle around my pool, do a little landscaping, hunting. I like to fish.
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