8 January 2008 Laurie and Ferrell Were Under the Weather

Journal

Local Posting Day and Time- 1-8-08 9:05PM Central Standard Posting Day and Time- 1-8-08 2:05AM

McMurdo Weather Temperature- 31F Wind Direction- Southeast Wind Speed- 15 mph Wind Chill- 21F

Answer to Yesterday's WATIZIT

Congratulations to Travis, Ann Berne-Rannow's class, and Ms Nelson's class; Yes it was the Piston Bully's seat cushion.

Notice the seats, and that Shelley and Jonas talking to each other

Today's WATIZIT Picture

WATIZIT

Today's Events

Ferrell and Laurie were feeling a little under the weather, so the three meteorologists hitched a ride on a helicopter and flew out to doctor them. Ferrell's address is 77.871 S 170.819 E and Laurie's address is 77.517 S 170.801 E. How does that compare to yours?

Well that's not exactly true, since Ferrell and Laurie are both weather stations but they were in need of some repairs.

Meet Ferrell

Meet Laurie

While the ailing weather stations were being treated I was on a mission to answer some questions that Barney's students in Washington, asked last week about how the firefighters fight fires when it can get so cold here.

I walked over to the fire station to visit with some of the firefighters. There are plenty of scientists in Antarctica, but there are a lot of other people and jobs here also. If you call 911 you will get the fire department, because there is no police department in McMurdo.

To work as a fireman with the McMurdo Fire Department, first you have to be a fireman back in the States. Some people are volunteer firemen, like Cassidy who I talked with the most, and some work for city fire departments.

McMurdo Fire Truck

The fire crews are here for three main reasons. They support the Air Force and National Guard when their planes land. There are always fire crews at the airstrips in case of a fire. The fire crews are also here to fight any fires here in town. They are also all either paramedics or EMTs. In fact, while I was talking to Cassidy, another fireman was helping treat and evacuate someone who was injured in a snowmobile accident miles away from McMurdo.

Some of the McMurdo Fire Crew

Cassidy explained that if there is a fire involving a plane they will use chemical and foam extinguishers not water.

But here in town, depending on the kind of fire, water will be used. There are 8 fire hydrants here in McMurdo. The water lines are all above ground but are all insulated and heated to keep the water from freezing.

McMurdo Fire Hydrant and Above Ground Water Line

If they are fighting a fire during the winter when it may be 30 below zero, or colder. Cassidy said they have to make sure that the water keeps flowing through the lines. If it stops moving it can freeze inside the lines fast. They also have to make sure they drain the lines quickly so water doesn't freeze and stop up the fire hoses, or even break the lines or valves.