By Anita Weier
Northside News
Firefighters at Station 10 on the Northside work 24-hour shifts and need to eat during that time, while also being ready to respond immediately if a call comes in.
They solve that problem by preparing their own meals. Someone is designated to be the cook who plans and is in charge of cooking. Then the firefighters working that day chip in money to pay for the food to be cooked. Then a shopping excursion is planned — in the firetruck — which means that if a call comes in, the firefighters respond, and shopping is delayed.
When I went along on a shopping trip in late December, a call came in just minutes after we started out. Luckily, it turned out to be a controlled fire, so we continued to Pick ‘n Save, which is in the firefighters’ locality.
We also had to fill up the firetruck with fuel — 40 gallons. The crew said they often stop for gas daily because they want a full fuel tank in case they are called to a fire where they have to pump water for a few hours.
We eventually reached the store, where I followed cook Jonathan Clinkscale and his assistant Eric Wakeman. The shopping cart soon filled with a wide range of items, though somewhat heavy on meat. They acquired onions, pork sausage, bacon, pasta, eggs, milk, cheese, sweet tea, baby spinach and spices. A few substitutions had to be made. For instance, marjoram was too expensive.
Since each of the six people on duty had contributed $15, the total available for shopping was $90. They came in 93 cents over budget.
The plan was to have biscuits and gravy for a late brunch, and pasta salad and soup for dinner. “I have to serve soup because someone criticized my soup previously,” Clinkscale said, intending to repair his reputation for good cookery, which several firefighters said was an extremely good reputation of being one of the best cooks in the Madison Fire Department.
Another stop had to be made on the way back to Station 10 because an ambulance call came in from a condominium building on North Sherman Avenue. An ambulance had already arrived, but additional medical personnel are sometimes needed, so a truck was also called.
After an elderly woman was carried to the ambulance, the firetruck crew returned to the station and cooking began. Vast quantities were prepared, including large sheets of potatoes and bacon, and rows of biscuits and eggs.
I felt compelled to taste the spread, which was delicious, much better than the yogurt and granola I had gulped down at home. The meal included lots of gossip and kidding about who would try for a promotion and what the holiday schedule would be. The camaraderie from sharing a meal was robust.
Then someone who had been treated by a rescue crew a few days ago dropped in with some Christmas cookies to give thanks, and the community holiday spirit continued.