Spill Control

Got a call for spill control, responded class 3 (i.e. no lights or sirens), acid spilled from a battery. Usually those are found at wrecks of some kind, but not this one. This one was a dumpster sitting on top (!) of a car battery. (Presumably what happened was the trash company came by, emptied the dumpster, didn't see the battery sitting beside it, and set the dumpster down on top of it, cracking it.) Engine 2 and squad responded, w/me on eng. 2.

So we covered the acid w/baking soda, then used air bags to lift the dumpster off the battery and move it out so it could be disposed of. Turned into more of a training call than an emergency. Then we went back to the station, and cleaned off our gear with more baking soda and water.

I also got to talk to the chief about riding on the engine. The last few calls, engine 2 has been short staffed, and folks already on have told me to climb on, but I figured I should ask about it, and chief said as long as I'm not displacing someone who can pack (i.e. wear an airpack into a building), I'm fine to ride on the engine.