[Leisler]

One time I was waiting to leave Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis. There is some mulch smoldering on a island. Guy gets out of his pickup pours a big gulp on it, and kicks it around with his boots. Done.

I'm still waiting as the line of cars is long, and the light quick. Up comes one of Barnstables five, yes five, different fire departments. A ladder truck(why?) with four guys, a pumper truck with about four guys, and a large pickup type truck with a couple of guys. Three trucks, ten guys, no fire.

I pull out and pull into McDonalds and watch the show, but first in the best Howie Carr tradition, get something to eat. I watch a assistant deputy to the deputy fire chief pull up in a full size suburban. All eleven of these guys now mill around for forty or so minutes, no fire, and tie up traffic.

It's different on the Cape.

[Calvin Locke]

Usually, the FD is also in change of hazmat first response.

No telling what might have been in the big gulp.