 I was reluctant to even post these pictures because they don't do the maze justice. I had to illuminate this small portion of the path with a bright flashlight and camera flash to get the picture. I crawled back inside with a flashlight after completeing the maze to snap these photos. How accurately does the definition above describe your experience as you traversed the maze? What is the maze? Well if you're a NBFD firefighter, it was our most recent training challenge. I can only speak for myself although I've heard nothing but praise about it. It starts in pitch of absolute black. There is no relying on your eyes adjusting to the darkness, it's pure dark. Sealed in by layers of cardboard and thick black plastic wrap, each small box meticulously welded together with wire ties and duct tape by Division Chief Stacie Zercher and her maze apprentice Executive Secretary Gloria Herfurth. The journey begins in the kneeling position. Immediately, you are forced to make a decision. Search left or search right. My partner, Bud, went left. We stayed well within hearing range of each other as we described the unknown with our remaining senses. The tunnel big enough only for crawling. I slowly moved forward as Bud called out "dead end". He reversed his path, backwards, as there was no room there to turn around. The tunnel continued on my way. Within a few feet, another decision. Two paths to travel. I staged on the left and Bud went right. This time Bud had the hot trail. My knees were already aching, as I'd chosen to forego the pads. They didn't feel like they'd stay on and the duct tape pinched my skin. At this point I was wondering if the binding wouldn't feel better. They'll feel better once they're numb I thought to myself. Bud hollered out ahead, more forks in the road. Some we had to crawl on our bellies in, some opened in to strange black atriums big enough to stand in, with more debris and paths to choose from. Some circle back to where you started. Some go up, some go down, some go over objects, some go around. Dr Seuss couldn't have designed a better wigwag. I began to realize the complexity of this rat experiment and I was determined to find the cheese. You learn fast to hold fast and communicate with your partner while you or he/she checks out a new found branch. Perhaps it will be the exit, the goal, freedom, a victim, or possibly your life spared. Got to be approaching the end soon I think to myself. 30 minutes have past, and a voice, whose location is blurred by the muffled pathways calls out "you're half way". It's BC Zercher. Watching over us, as he has all his sheep, as did every Battalion Chief and DC Zercher. All the Bat Chiefs, the Fire Chief, even Gloria has been through here I think to myself. I'll just keep moving. Only half way? It's a little warm within these confining tunnels. I realize I'm soaked with sweat. Physical fitness is important to a firefighter!! Now I'm pulling myself up a 40 degree angle inside a 24 inch tube. I tumble out onto soft mattresses. Here I later learn we almost made a fatal mistake that would have taken us far in the wrong direction. Thank you voice of the darkness, for dropping that hint. We find the path and move on. Eventually, we emerge down the 12 foot fiber glass tube, to the welcome of fellow firefighters and a noticeable cool air conditioned breeze. We made it. Our time wasn't spectacular, but our communication was good. We managed to search almost every tunnel in the maze. I felt like we'd accomplished something. Yeah, it was cardboard boxes, tubes, wood, bridges, foam, wire ties and duct tape. But we made it, and it felt good. Kudos to Stacie and Gloria!! 7 rooms, over 70 hours of production, untold materials, blood sweat and even tears. It encapsulated me and Bud for 1 hour. It was a great exercise. My old knees and elbows are bruised and battered. My confidence to navigate and communicate my way out of the unknown is up. Let's do it again! -Capt Eliot |
