The Fire Insider: "Let it freeze so we have our own hockey rink..!!"

I'll try and paint the picture here. Over the past month or so, we've had lots of snow and very cold, if not freezing temperatures here in Connecticut. Looking at our firehouse, our apron and left side of the parking lot is paved, including a small driveway that goes to the rear of the station. To the right side, once it gets past the Tanker's bay it turns to dirt, and goes about two and a half car lengths until it meets the woods. Years ago, there weren't as many members as there are today, so the area gets used frequently now. In fact during meetings and trainings, we sometimes have to double park in the dirt section.

Well, the town highway department has been plowing the dirt section as best they can over the past few months, but obviously they can't drop the plow all the way down because it's dirt, of course! So the snow and ice, has become even more ice(walk-able but it's still ice). Well with yesterday's storm bringing lots of snow, then lots of sleet, then lots of rain, it's all been plowed into even larger snowbanks. Of course with all the rain, and the dirt section being on a lower grade than the rest of the parking lot, all the water drained onto the dirt section, and the ice "floor" and snowbanks acted as a dam.

The water had built up to where it was quite impressive amount, running the entire length of the dirt parking section(approximately a foot of standing water). While we were outside the station tonight after playing cards(pitch to be exact), we were debating whether we should let it freeze over or un-dam it. I made the suggestion that we let it freeze, as there were two trees to the back of the snowbanks that would make an excellent hockey goal. But to my dismay, everyone else thought it would be better to drain the "pool" so members who were unaware of said puddle/ice rink, wouldn't slide across it and crash into the snowbanks. DARN I SAY!!

So one of our younger members, "Jacko", donned a pair of bunker boots and a shovel. Sorry, technically they were the second pair he grabbed, as the first pair he grabbed were out of service "utility" boots, with a leak in them! HAHAHA, "How's the water Jacko??!!" Anyways, he knocked out a hole in the back of the snowbank and it was like the Colorado River Rapids! The water had receded back several feet towards the woods within a few minutes by the time I was leaving the station. I luckily had my camera in my truck tonight, so I snapped some pictures. I apologize for the poor quality of the photos. It was a rather tough shot, with it still raining the flash was ineffective, along with it being night, and the glare from the street light at the edge of the road. Sorry, but enjoy some laughs...

Our pond...