We had a fire down in the laundry room yesterday afternoon. One of the massive dryers caught on fire. To get an idea of the size of one of these things multiply the size of your home dryer by 12. Yes, they are that big. There is a hydraulic lift that will tip the entire machine forward so you can get at the lint trap. I only know this because it was the lint trap that caught on fire. When I heard there was a fire I immediately grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran downstairs. They had already spent 4 extinguishers. Mine wasn't really any more help. Especially since the fire had gone into the exhaust chute and was burning a large chunk of lint which at some point had gotten lodged in there. I followed one of the engineers back up to the main level into a storage closet the exhaust chimney ran through. When we opened the door smoke flooded out and choked us. The fire department had already been called, but we were beginning to get worried. I told all of the kitchen crew and banquet staff to clear the building. Just then the firemen arrived so we showed them the trouble. One of the guys dryly made the comment, "Well, we definitely have got smoke." They ended up having to cut a hole in the chute to get at the burning lint. Before I knew it the firemen had put out the fire and had gone on their way. I really wanted to thank them, but never got the chance. I'm sure it was nothing to them with all the emergencies they have to deal with, but I can't tell you the relief I felt when I saw them coming in the door. These men and women risk their lives daily to make sure the rest of us are safe. Unfortunately they don't ever seem to get much credit. In the city I am living in they have not recieved a pay increase for the last 3 years. I think it is atrocious. The police department has received raises, but not the fire department. I know the police risk their lives, but fire fighters do also. They just do it in different ways.