FIRE GUARDIANS

 

Artica traditionally ends with the burning of the big wooden effigy, traditionally Our Lady of Artica but modified for this year’s new location. The organization takes fire safety very seriously - it has to. Permits are required from the city fire department and one of their big pumper trucks is always on standby. There has to be insurance. There is a group of well-trained volunteers in full protective gear to manage it all.              

Conflagration

As noted earlier, the Sunday night of Artica ends with the immolation of a wooden effigy, Our Lady of Artica. The central figure is essentially the same every year but the details and surroundings vary. I liked this year's version with the multiple arms/flags suggesting a Hindu deity and the halo-like structure surrounding all of it. 

These pix could be better. I was seated some distance away and didn't have a tripod. What was scary was that part way through the burn a gust of wind blew up from the northwest, sending a blast of fire toward the crowd on the right of the lower picture. The crew were all in professional fire protection suits and several members of the STL fire department were on hand. Still, I'm told that some of the audience had a wow, cool man attitude and didn't clear out quickly. Fortunately, no one was hurt.                             

Fire Department River Drill

Where did the sunshine come from? It must have been fleeting. When I was cruising for pix last weekend I noticed a fire department crew hanging out by the Mississippi. That boat looked too small to be a pumper for marine fires (which do happen - STL is a large inland port for barge traffic. Note the line of them in the background.). It was clearly the city fire department. Anyway, my guess is that this was an emergency rescue team on a training exercise.