Tim Meehan, Antarctic
Firefighter (no
kidding!)
This is a picture of me
sitting on the treads of our "Crash-3" Nodwell firetruck
out near Williams Field, the snow-covered ski-way where
all the C-130 Hercules aircraft land...
Last summer, the Antarctic
Fire Department was looking for someone to help them
install a new computer dispatch system, and train their
dispatch staff in it's use. They got in touch with me and
offered me the incredible opportunity to travel to
Antarctica and get paid to do it. How could I say
"No?"
As part of my training, I was sent to a crash-rescue
training school in Arkansas to learn the intricacies of
airport firefighting and how to cut open aircraft. Then
Washington DC and Chicago, Illinois to learn more about
the specifics of their computer-based dispatch system.
It's been a great summer for frequent flier miles...
My official job title is crash/rescue-structural
firefighter. I work at the McMurdo Fire Department in
alternating 24-hour duty shifts with 43 other
firefighters. Our mission is to protect the town of
McMurdo and their ice-runway airport on the Ross
ice shelf. The McMurdo fire department is the largest
fire district in the world, covering the entire continent
of Antarctica. It is also the southern-most fire district
in the world. Our duties include fire prevention,
paramedic service, fire protection and training all year
round. All over the continent.
Whenever I'm not at the firehouse or the ice runway,
I'm spending almost every spare moment in the Crary
Science and Engineering Center (CSEC), the new $50
million science and research facility in McMurdo. The
town has an extensive network of DOS-based computers
running all over the area and far afield, but the
Crary
Lab has a good sized concentration of Macintosh
computers all on a Novell network. I was surprised to
learn that ASA does not employ a dedicated Macintosh
administrator. So I made a few inquiries and before I
knew it, I had a second part-time job down here taking
care of all the Macintosh computers! Great for these guys
as they were in need of some serious Macintosh support
(but that's another story...)
I've been keeping an almost-regular journal of my
experiences here, including all the most interesting
photos I've gathered. They offer an interesting look at
the people, the work, the environment, the science and
the life in Antarctica.
And
this picture was taken in January, the warmest month of
the year in Antarctica...
Tim Meehan
McMurdo Base, Ross Island, Antarctica
January, 1996
Tim Meehan
