Wow, 10 below, brrrr. The first fire scene I was on with the ladies aux. was in winter, around 10 above, and my teeth would not stop chattering, then my whole body was chattering. Most of the other ladies were fine, they had more meat on them than me! Couldn't imagine below zero temps.
My inlaws had a siren right by their house, their one dog would howl along with the siren!
My husband WAS the fire call once, 7 yrs. ago. He was in a head-on collision. My then 16 yr. old son rode to the scene on his bike to make sure it wasn't his girlfriend's mother who had just left, only to find it was his father. When I got to the scene, despite the shock and horror (hubby was stuck in his car with live wires across it) I was at ease seeing all his fellow firefighters right there taking care of him. They, and you, are an amazing bunch of people!
YIKES!!! I was on a small town department, and going to a friends house, or coming on someone you knew was a very strange thing. What a shock for your son, and then his Mom!! And it is very comforting knowing it is your friends taking care of you and yours.