So this post isn't really about firefighting. It's just about go getters, customer service, and a positive attitude.
I was working overtime the other day in a different district than my own. The captain was on overtime too so we decided to eat out and try a new place neither of us had been to before.
We pulled up in front of the place and noticed that there was a pretty decent line inside. We figured we'd give it a shot anyway. The line was almost out the door and we just fit inside with the doors at our back. The place seemed pretty hoppin' which was a good sign. We got a couple "Oh hellooo firemaaan" from the ladies in front of us as they primped their hair (directed at my captain and young firefighter no doubt) and I saw my captain waving off one of the workers behind the counter. A young man with a great big smile and a lot of great energy had signaled to him to see if he could just get our order going. We had no issue with waiting in line so politely declined. As we got closer to the register the ladies in front of us offered to let us go ahead as well and we again declined. We began chatting with the young man behind the counter about how it seemed busy.
"You think this is busy?1? Oh it gets way more hoppin' than this."
We chatted a bit about the nature of having to bail on food or shopping or meals in our job and just as we stepped up to the register to order we got toned out for a medical call.
We waved and bailed out of line and headed out to the medical.
After the call we debated going back and having to wait in line again but decided to give it another try. As we parked in front of the place we noticed the line was out the door this time. We decided to stick it out and had just gotten off the rig when we got banged out for a structure fire. We grabbed our gear, changed real quick, and leapt back on the engine. As we were pulling out I saw the young man with a clipboard in his hand coming out of the restaurant and calling to us. I think he was offering to take a to-go order for us. There was no time to wait though and we pulled out with lights and sirens to the fire.
The fire was in the next district over and when we were just about a block away from the scene we got cancelled by the first due company. It was just an outside fire pit. False alarm.
Decision time.
Do we try one more time or get out of dodge and back closer to our home station and grab something there? Or do we head back again? To my surprise the captain said let's give it one more shot. So we returned, got out of our gear, and headed over.
This time as we were crossing the parking lot to get in line the young man was waiting for us out in front with his clipboard ready.
"Third time's the charm!" I called out to him.
"Oh yes sir, it is. What can I get for you gentlemen?", he said with that big smile.
We placed our order and he ran it inside, brought us our drink cups and made sure we were taken care of. When my captain came back from paying he told me the kid had given him a big discount which he tried to refuse. He wound up putting about $25 in the tip jar instead and told the kid if he was ever interested in the fire service to come see us. He said, "Oh most definitely!"
We got our food and got back on the rig talking about how that kid was going to be going places and how you just don't see that kind of hustle, attitude, and joy in the workplace much anymore.
We were driving away and had got about a block from the restaurant when the captain said "Wait. Wait. Hold up!" We stopped the rig and I could see him looking back out the window and I figured something had happened or we were getting flagged down by somebody on the street. That's when I saw the kid running down the street after us calling out to us that he forgot one of our sandwiches in the bag!
He chased the fire engine down for a block and a half!!
We pulled into a parking lot and the captain walked back with him to the restaurant and got his food.
He returned even more impressed.
Needless to say we were all duly impressed. We need more of that guy in the world.
