It’s the little things that can sometimes make the biggest difference in someone’s life. Last week we had a residential structure fire that we ended up being the second truck in for. As the first engines arrived they found heavy smoke coming from the second-story windows of a two-story residential single family home. Flames were visible from the backside and there was a report of people inside. The first truck that arrived immediately started search and rescue while the first engine in took hose to look for the seat of the fire. We arrived next and were told to go to the roof and start cutting for vertical ventilation. We grabbed a 35 foot ground extension ladder, a roof ladder, two chain saws, a roof hook, pike poles and axes and went to work. Once the holes were cut, we got off the roof, went to the truck and grabbed the canvas tarps we carry, went inside and started covering the furniture on floor one to protect it from water damage.
The fire was extinguished on floor two and the report of people inside was thankfully just that, a report. Everyone got out of the house before we arrived. As we were overhauling (the process of cleaning up and removing debris from the fire room to prevent re-ignition) the owner of the home came up to us with tears in her eyes thanking us profusely for covering her antique furniture on floor one. We told her that it was “nothing” and that we always try to do it if conditions permit. She said, “You don’t understand. We just moved that furniture from my grandmother’s house to ours. She recently passed away and the furniture has been in the family for over 100 years!” Even though we didn’t smell very good (you never do after a fire), she gave us all big hugs and thanked us again. Deploying those tarps was a small unglamorous task but that day it made the biggest difference in this family’s life. We felt so good that we even helped the engine pick up their hose!!! (That’s a truck vs. engine joke…)
Speaking of fire hose, here is my recipe for Fire Hose Chicken Carbonara. Some of the ingredients may be a little hard to find but it is well worth it.
Suey’s Fire Hose Chicken Carbonara
by Michael “Suey” Sulak, Seattle Fire Department, Station 8, Ladder 6
Resources:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb guanciale*, diced
4 shallots, very finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, very finely chopped
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
6 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups white wine (or chicken broth)
Tactics:
In a large heavy bottom pot, heat the oil. Add the guanciale and cook over medium heat until most of the fat has been rendered, about 7 minutes. Remove the guanciale with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the shallots, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes and
chicken to the pot and cook over medium high heat for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Deglaze the pot with the white wine (or chicken broth), reduce heat to low and simmer the chicken uncovered.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes and drain.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the cheese, yolks, and basil. Remove the pot with the chicken from the heat. When the noodles are done, drain them and set aside. Add the egg and cheese mixture to the pot with the chicken. Add the hot drained pasta to the pot and stir to coat. Adding the hot pasta to the sauce will
finish cooking the sauce. Season contents of pot with salt and pepper to taste. Place the pasta into a large serving dish and sprinkle with parsley, black pepper and fried guanciale.
Serve with more cheese on the side at the table. Makes 8-10 servings.
*Note: guanciale is like prosciutto but from a different part of the pig. It is actually cured hog jowl. You can substitute prosciutto or as a last resort, even plain ol’ bacon.
*Note: The term “Beanery” is still alive and well in the Seattle Fire department and is still the name we apply to the kitchen today. Because of low wages early in SFD’s history, the firefighters could often only afford to buy beans for their meals. Beans were cheap and provided a high source of protein. The procedure was to soak the beans overnight and simmer them all day long in the kitchen…thus the term “Beanery.”
** Note: Bucatini and perciatelli are like spaghetti but hollow – hence “fire hose” carbonara!
Here you can see a news story on me making this dish.
