Early morning call

Monday morning we were toned out for an assist to Ferry Twp. Fire on a house fire.  Hesperia was second due so we were third in.  We were short manpower big time, only had five guys and that included me. Luck for us they didn't need a lot of water, our tanker dumped once.  Deputy chief, lieutenant and one firefighter made up our contribution in manpower.  I was sort of a gopher, we already had 2 chiefs and 1 assistant on the scene by the time we got there. Spent the better part of an hour overhauling, extinguishing and looking for a possible victim.  One man was missing and we all thought he was in the building as did his family.  At a while he was found asleep in the camper on the back of the property.  There had been a family situation and his wife and kids had spent the night at family members, he had stayed home. No sure as to cause, but glad he was okay, but sure would have liked him to have come forward.  Would have saved us a lot of time.  It was -4 at the time we got the call, and everything was freezing at the scene.  Only guys who had a job that didn't get them froze were the tanker drivers.  My fingers were froze and thankfully, as I hooked up floodlights, I could put my hands and fingers by the generator exhaust and warm them up.  Keep thinking maybe time to retire.  My car, the one I use for fire calls is acting up, so tomorrow it goes to the shop.  Hopefully, we won't get any calls while it is down, because my wife's van doesn't have a light bar or siren.  So I will be one slow chief if we get a call in the next day or two.  Hopefully, it won't be anything major. Had officers meeting tonight, and while I usually look forward to these, tonight, I would have just as soon stayed home.  Heart was difinitely not in it tonight.