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March 11, 2013

Of stress and struggle

State critical response team to talk to first responders

By Jeff Noble The Times-Tribune

GRAY — For crews who fought Saturday's fire in Gray that killed seven people, the ride back to the fire station seemed longer.

Much longer.

Those who serve in the line of duty say they never know what they'll roll up on. And when it's a tragedy of such magnitude like the fire on Sam Parker Road, it leaves first responders with a heavy heart, and can take a heavy toll on the mind and soul.

"The toughest part of being a volunteer firefighter is that you know everybody. Every incident we go to is like family. You'll have friends and family in common. On the flip side of that, that's the best part, because when things work out good, you've got to help out friends and family," said West Knox VFD Chief Darryl Baker on Sunday.

Baker's been in the fire service for 26 years. But for those just joining the force, or have been with the department for just a few years, Saturday's fatal fire in Knox County is a first.

"For anybody that's joined our department for the last 10 years since the CTA explosion in Corbin, this would have been a new thing to them," he said.

Baker worked the explosion at the CTA Acoustics plant on Feb.20, 2003. The blast killed seven people and injured 37 others. He has vivid memories of what happened that terrible day.

He noted, "My wife's mother and sister were working there, and most of the members of our fire department had friends and family working there, too. Two of our firefighters who are brothers lost an uncle in the explosion. One of the brothers was one of those who helped pull his uncle out of the building. That was rough."

To help deal with the stresses of saving lives and protecting property, Baker holds sessions with his crew. After they returned to the fire station, they discussed what they did.

"We all got together at the station, and we talked about what happened for an hour-and-a-half. We talked about the things that we did, and how upset we were with the loss of life. Then we talked about our kids and our families. I talked to them as the chief of the department, about our quick response and the way we tried to give all family members access. We try to put ourselves in their shoes, and try to treat them like we want to be treated," he said.

Monday night at 7 p.m. at the West Knox station off the Old Barbourville Road, the Kentucky Critical Incident Response Team will talk to the firefighters about what they went through Saturday. Baker said they're inviting all first responders who helped out that day to come and join the group.

"The critical response team will give us a chance to talk about our feelings and frustrations to them. That's what it is. It's counseling. Us being firefighters and 'Men's Men,' we don't take the thought of counseling too well. It's not a man thing. We want to be tough. We like to be the ones giving help, not taking it. But their team will be here for us now."

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