Fire Drills

I have been in Korea a little over a month and I have witnessed two fire drills.  One of those drills was at school this past Monday and the other one was at the immigration office in a city called Daejeon.  I went to Daejeon in order to extend my visa past ninety days.  While there I had filled out paper work and was waiting with number in hand.  One of the two English speakers in the building tells me we need to evacuate because a fire drill is about to happen.  So we proceed to leave the building and sitting out front was a fire truck and an ambulance.  They play with the real equipment during a drill.  The alarm went off and one of workers from the building ran out with a hose and started spraying the building.  A little bit later the fire truck started spraying its water onto the building too.  Meanwhile the workers from the ambulance go inside and “rescue” someone who was left in the building.  They ran the water for a little bit and then we were allowed back inside and the truck and ambulance was picking up to leave.  I think because it is a government building they need to practise the drill often. 

The school fire drill was a little different because the students obviously had to be evacuated.  So my school consists of a high school and then right in front of the high school is the middle school.  After lunch on Monday all the students were called to the soccer field out front of the middle school.  I say students because all the teachers weren’t out there and I guess they don’t care about the drill.  Right across the street is a fire house and so the fire engine, water tanker (they are separate here), and ambulance drive to the middle school and proceed to get the building wet.  Along with one of the administration person using a hose from the building too.  They also added a fire extinguisher and did light some wood on fire to put it out with the extinguisher.  Next all the students were told to go back to their classrooms and wait for the alarm.  The fire equipment went down the drive and waited for the alarm to drive up and do the same thing.  The alarm goes off and all the students come out of the buildings towards the field.  Bad planning was the students were in the way of the fire equipment to get to the front of the school so somebody had to stop them from walking.  On the field the students did have the attendance books for each class, but none of them were opened.  I guess since it was a drill they didn’t care much and the drill overall didn’t seem that effective.  It is a good thing the school is made out of brick so it would take a while to burn because the students weren’t in much of a hurry and the equipment there to fight the fire didn’t seem like it would put out the fire in a timely manner. 

I write this post thinking of how lucky everyone is in the United States for the service the first responders (including firefighters, emergency medical staff, law enforcement, etc.) do every single day.  For them it’s not a job but a passion for helping others.  This past Sunday, Phoenix, Arizona did lose two first responders who were both on duty.  A Phoenix firefighter and Phoenix police officer were killed during separate incidents.  This is a first for the city to lose a firefighter and officer on the same day.  Without much detail the firefighter was injured by some heavy equipment, later dying at the hospital, and the officer was hit by a drunk driver while on a traffic stop.  I have had the privilege to work with both of these departments and I know they will come together strong and remember there fallen friends.  I also hope the community stands behind these departments offering any service possible.  I write this post reminding everyone of the sacrifice these two individuals took, but also to remind everyone of the sacrifice these individuals take day in and day out.  Working long shifts every single day in potentially hazardous situations so that way everyone can sleep well at night knowing help is one phone call away if needed.  Every chance I did have, I did thank these first responders. Even when I was working side by side with them providing help and services for everyone involved.  A little bit of insight into Korean culture, but at the same time an appreciation towards all first responders working worldwide.  I believe next post will have some information on my school.  I will write later.