Fire fighters at the South Pole.
Temperature: -23.7C, -10.7F Windchill: -31.1C, -24.0F Wind: 4.9 knts. Grid 127 Weather: Clear and Sunny with high clouds, however, all planes canceled because of a storm in McMourdo.
In the past, fire fighter volunteers had been trained to protect the station. For the past two years we have had a fire department at the South Pole who also train the fire fighter volunteer brigade for the summer and winter season. The department consists of four professional fire fighters: Lieutenant William Molidor, David Palmer, Christopher Cavanaugh, and David Breitenfeld.
The fire fighters at South Pole Station
The fire fighters at South Pole Station inside their office: (fr. l. to r.) Chris, David Palmer, William Molidor, and David Breitenfeld.*
Lieutenant William (Will) Molidor has been at the South Pole for the past two years. He is originally from Texas, and went to the Marines for 4 years after high school. He also spent time in Iraq. He will winter-over at McMurdo this year. Dave Palmer is from New Zealand and is also a carpenter, Dave B. Is originally from Colorado, and Chris grew up in Massachusetts and has a degree in Anthropology. Part of their job is to take care of all the safety requirements of each building here on station.
Inspection of the old Dom.
Safety officer Carolyn and fire fighters Will, Dave P. and Dave B. are leaving the old Dom after an inspection.*
Return form an inspection
Safety officer Carolyn and fire fighters Dave P., Dave B., and Will are returning from the inspection and passing the arches.*
One of the other responsibilities are safe-guarding the planes while they are at the station.
The fire track near the ski-way
The fire track is about to drive onto the ski-way while passengers are waiting to board the plain. We have had very low visibility during that day.*
I recently had a chance to attend an air-craft-stand-by inside the fire-fighter track.
Air-craft-stand-by: facing the "Herc”
Air-craft-stand-by: facing the "Herc”. The fire track is standing directly in front of the "Herc” right on the ski-way. The structure on the outside on top of the hood is a spraying device in case of an air plane emergency.*
Facing the "Herc” during an air-craft-stand-by
Once the air plane is ready for take off, the fire track is standing parallel to the "Herc”
Air-craft stand-by.
Air-craft stand-by: the fire track is standing now parallel to the ski-way while the "Herc” is passing by for a turn and then take off.
Elke and Chris in the back of the truck
Elke and Chris are in the back of the truck during the air-craft-stand-by. (Photo by David Palmer)
It has been interesting spending time with Will, Dave, and Chris. Thank you for all your hard work and protection! (For the MCI drill see Journal December 21st)
Answer to yesterday’s question of how Paul Siple and his team communicated with the rest of the world during the IGT: The team only had short wave radio and they had to use the Morse system for communications.
Question: When were the first and the second pole stations established?
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