Fireman for a day

Chuck Kajer, Managing Editor

The adrenaline was pumping through my system.

The New Prague Fire Department was planning on burning down a house for training purposes. The owners of an abandoned house just west of New Prague offered the building to the department so they could gain experience in how to battle a burning building.

The department also asked three people - New Prague Mayor Craig S. Sindelar, City Administrator Jerry Bohnsack and me - if we were interested in going inside a building and seeing for ourselves what it was like.

So it was that two days before the fire burn I was at the New Prague Fire Station trying on some equipment to wear on that day. Assistant Chief Ron Rynda had me put on the overalls and boots first.

Those alone weighed at least 10 pounds. Then the jacket, another 10 pounds. Next was a protective head covering.

Make sure all your hair is underneath