[bc-chris]

i've mentioned before that i have a fire/ehs (radio) scanner.

when the call went out for units to respond it was crazy. you could hear in the dispatcher's voice the magnitude of what was going on... it gave me that awful 'pit in my stomach' feeling.
when the initial units got on scene and started sending teams of fire fighters to help it was gut-wrenching. the platoon captain directing guys where to go - engine 1 respond to this location - we have people buried. engine 2 we need you at this location for more people buried... and so on.
the high angle rescue teams for both kelowna and west kelowna responded.
ambulances came in from all over... a number from as far away a vernon.

just listening in made me feel sick.

back in my 'youth' i worked in concrete forming & framing. anytime we were at a site with a crane and there was work to be done on the crane, everyone (with the exception of the crane guys) had the day off becuz it was too risky to have people around just in case something went wrong.

i had a band practice last night and of course this was something we talked about. the guy who runs the band - his daughter's boyfriend works in the building that got hit by the broken off piece of crane. two offices over from his office was the office that got destroyed and only this morning were crews able to recover the man's body.... again... just makes me feel sick.