The Battalion

Night with Engine 3 Fire Department in Fresno, CA.- Engine 3's Crew gets a few calls. A call comes in for a commercial structure fire, it's a guy who's a hoarder. Sparks fly as they gain entry on A, B and D sides. It takes the Fire Crew all night to fight the fire.

Firefighter/engineer Chris Garcia's family drops by for Easter Sunday. The guys are in the kitchen cooking up lunch, and a call comes and they are onto the rig. The Fire Company arrives at the scene to a shooting. The police had been in a pursuit of gang bangers in a black SUV. They find them and a shoot out occurs and the police shoot a suspect to a killing. Next up, a vehicle accident. Night falls and a call comes in for a commercial structure fire. Eng. 3's "A" Shift is 1st in on a Antique Store fire owned by a horder.

Station 4 "C" Shift. The four man crew staffs the Tower Ladder Truck, The USAR Rig that is used for Water Rescue; The 48 hour shift starts out with a the team going over the equipment necessary for finding victims of an earthquake that may be stuck under the rubble. The shift goes shopping for chow for the next 48 hours. As busy as this station is, they still find time to exercise. A call comes in, something, possibly a wrapped body, has been found in the canal. The Team responds in the USAR rig. The arrived on scene put on their gear and dive to the bottom of the canal to see if this is a recovery effort.

48 Hours with Truck 4's "C" Shift. They arrive on-scene to find a small trailer blazing and a possibly a dangerous situation with an LP gas tank near the trailer. The next day they are called in to a large apartment fire and our directed to perform one of the many things that the Fresno Fire Department does right, 'Salvage". They is where Firemen do their best to protect and preseve the belongs at the homes where there is a fire incident. Their respect for people's homes and their personal property is something we have never seen with any other department. The truck crew starts salvage. In late afternoon, a call comes in as smoke showing from a building. The Truck Company arrives on scene of a Dollar Store and are directed to the rear. In the storage area, it is filled with smoke. The Crew bring out their thermal imagers and scan for hotspots.

The 2nd half of this 48 with Eng. 3's "A" Shift. Firefighter Silva is on a strick diet and a full regiment of exercises. He takes advantage of whatever time he has in between the large volume of calls at Station 3. A call comes in for an additional engine is needed at a fire out in the west side of town, because there are no hydrants out here. But before they get there they are called off and head back to the station. On there way, they drive through one of the many homeless camps, that have overtaken the Downtown Fresno Area. It has become a very dangerous place for drugs, and prostitution. Back at the station, the guys open up a box of goodies they ordered online, some very cool glasses and Matt received the watch he has wanted for a very long time. One of the locals drops by and serenades the crew.. A call comes in, they are out the door, they arrive on-scene to a vehicle accident, no one is hurt. Next up, they are dispatched to a vehicle fire, they arrive on scene to find a Hummer fully in flames. Back to the station for a quick dinner, then, an EMS call, then, a fire at a homeless camp.

Then night ends with a structure fire started by an electrical problem created by a contractor doing an re-model. All engine companies must test their hose lines periodically, today is that day for the "A" Shift. Late afternoon, a hot-water heater fire in a garage destroys a birthday of a young girl. Then late night, a call comes in for a commercial fire at an office complex, this is where we first meet Captain Oney Durney, nearing retirement and a true Firemans, Firemen.