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DIA, Fire Extinguisher Inspections, and A Tribute to My Brother

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posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 03:52 PM
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First off, I'd just like to say that this thread is intended to be a tribute to my big brother, Mike. Three months before his life ended, I had introduced him to ATS and he was VERY interested in the subject matter here. It wasn't long ago that he became a member. You can view his profile Here, although there isn't much to it because he was more of a "lurker", although he did respond to a few of my posts.

What's all this about DIA and fire extinguisher inspections, you ask? Well, my bro was in the fire extinguisher inspection, sprinkler inspection, hood and alarm inspection industry. Around 2004 or so, he began working for a company who has the DIA contract, that means this particular company did ALL fire extinguisher and hood inspections for DIA. (I dont believe they did the sprinklers or alarms there, could be wrong though)

Mike was pretty much the ONLY guy, that did the extinguishers and the main guy that did hoods. I'm not sure if the company did sprinklers and alarms there. Something to understand here, is that DIA employs a small TOWN. Over 35,00 employees. The place is huge and brings in an enormous amount of revenue. To put it in perspective, it's not unreasonable for a tech to do over 300+ inspections a day on a big job. Every year, he showed up at DIA every Thursday for SIX MONTHS at a time for the job to finally be completed. He did this for years, and that doesn't count the days he had hood inspections. The point is, he spent a LOT of time there.

Mike actually grew pretty sick of DIA, and Denver for that matter. Back in Sept of 2015, he was really pushing his boss to get a new warehouse in Colorado Springs, because he had basically had enough of Denver. After driving in Denver traffic, it's easy to see why. He was one of only 3 people who was licenced in Denver at his company, so it was really hard for him to get away from the area. He wanted ME by his side in this proposed Springs project and convinced his boss to allow me to apprentice under him with the eventual goal to help him run the show down here in the Springs. (That was the PLAN at least,I live here in the Springs, about 100 miles away from Denver, so the commute was tough to say the least.)

I spent a few weeks apprenticing with him, and we went a LOT of places, holy moley. Fire extinguishers are literally EVERYWHERE, even places I never would have suspected there being one. On two occasions however, I went to DIA with him, but it was under very restricted access. I was only allowed to go with him to the loading areas, no-where else. He had long ago earned access to literally every area owned by the airport. Every room, every locked door, every corridor etc but even he needed an escort anywhere other than the loading areas.

During our time at DIA, we would talk about all the conspiracies surrounding it, and he was surprisingly very into conspiracies, government corruption etc, you name it. I got to know him better during this time than ever before.

What he told me was, basically all the talk about underground tunnels with some elite network of systems leading to places like Cheyenne mountain etc, were all bogus. (sorry to burst bubbles here) He was clearly disappointed to tell me this, as he really wanted it to be real, but he saw every single nook and cranny in that place for years.

Mike was very good at his job and knew his whole way around. He even had access to all the areas well beyond the airport, like the CDOT building, (which is just a dome filled with sand) and he impressed a lot of people with his knowledge of the history of the buildings, and little fun facts here and there. Another example of this type of know-how would be the Colorado School of Mines,which is where my son went to school for 4 years. He also inspected that every year, for years, just him. That's another small town, and he knew every single corner of the place. I went with him there for 1 day, (its a two week job) and the guy who had to lead us around didn't even know where everything was, even he couldn't grasp how Mike remembered where every single extinguisher was. It was pretty amazing.

He told me about the service tunnels far away from the actual airport, and how they ultimately went no-where, every single one. He talked about the baggage tunnels, and how there was no conceivable way they could have ended up going any other place than what he personally saw.

One thing that really bums me out, is that he said that one time he took video of the tunnels, covertly, and that he was going to send me the video. I told him that he should create a thread here on ATS and post a " DIA debunked" style thread, but he laughed, considered it, but then said he was concerned that DIA would find out he was taking videos and revoke his status there. Apparently, they are very strict about not having cameras, and employees have been let go for taking pics and videos in certain areas.Contractors and the like are no exception. That video probably still exists somewhere, but I have no idea where.

Now, I did find it kind of odd that DIA is strict about cameras, so if there is anything that could help feed the conspiracy, I guess theres that. It could be something to look into, but I suppose we would have to see how strict ANY airport would be about that.

Lastly, anyone can google this, but he told me that the guy who sculpted the "demon horse" outside the airport, was actually killed when it fell on top of him. Someone else had to finish the job. That's pretty creepy, IMO, and apparently it's well known to people in Denver. (I'm in the Springs, what do I know)



I worked with Mike for less than a month. He was the hardest working individual I have ever met. Obviously I've known him all my life, but I am so honored to have learned so much about him within that small time period. He was also the most genuine em-path I have ever known. He hated seeing people in pain, he struggled seeing people hurting. He was also extraordinarily funny, lol, you'd just have to be there, I never met a funnier man. People loved him, respected him and he knew his stuff. He took his own life in Oct, he was only 47 years old. I will not give any more details than that, but I can assure you it had nothing to do with the "elite" etc. Things have been very hard since then, I miss him very dearly.

Below is a pic of him, and a perfect example of his type of humor. People always approached him thinking he was a fireman, he was nothing of the sort, but people in that industry get that all the time. He used to have fun with it and say "Ok everybody, stay calm! The fire extinguisher inspector is here!" And here he is below, pretending to be a fireman.




RIP, Mike AKA "Hedzred".
edit on 14-1-2016 by Wookiep because: (no reason given)

edit on 14-1-2016 by alien because: (no reason given)



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 04:02 PM
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a reply to: Wookiep
I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like he was a great guy.



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 04:08 PM
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Thank you for sharing all of that, it was a privilege to read such a loving tribute...

You're brother sounds like an incredible person, and I am so sorry for your loss.



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 04:26 PM
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Sorry fr ur loss amigo sounded like a cool guy!




posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 04:48 PM
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...what an awesome Tribute and honouring of your brother...

Having lost a brother as well...can say this:
The pain doesn't end - but it does change.
It softens yet still remains strong.
If anything it should stay strong...for in that strength they still *live* with you...every moment of every day.

Personally - I don't mourn the fact it still cuts me up and I still tear up whenever I think about him even near 10yrs later...
I'll mourn if there ever comes a time I don't.


Much strength to you...and may your Bro fly free now...


edit on 14-1-2016 by alien because: (no reason given)



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 05:02 PM
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a reply to: Wookiep

So sorry for your loss.

Thanks for sharing this great tribute with us all



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 05:57 PM
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Having just lost my father, I can relate.

Thank you for sharing that.



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 06:08 PM
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Wook I'm so sorry for your loss. Now he is free from whatever caused his unhappiness. I know you will miss him terribly, he sounds like a great guy.

My best to you and family,
liw



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 06:09 PM
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Mike sounded like an awesome guy.
I'm sorry to hear what happened to him.
Not mentioning any family left behind I can't help but wonder if he wasn't truly lonely?



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 06:30 PM
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a reply to: Wookiep

I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you, also, for the much needed information about the DIA.



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 06:32 PM
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Thanks for all the condolences guys. Im glad i got to share some of his story here. I wouldnt have been able to if i didnt get to spend his last month with him. Im very thankful for that.
edit on 14-1-2016 by Wookiep because: (no reason given)



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 06:38 PM
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a reply to: Wookiep

I'm really sorry that you lost your brother. That was a beautiful, moving tribute.

May he rest in peace.



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 07:07 PM
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I need to correct a mistake..it was sept of 15 (last year) that i apprenteced with him, not 2014. I have gone beyond the time to edit, doh! That was a pretty big mistake, no idea why i didnt catch it.

Edit: Fixed.

edit on 14-1-2016 by Wookiep because: (no reason given)



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 07:18 PM
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a reply to: Wookiep

Got it ...




posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 07:21 PM
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a reply to: alien

You rock, alien.



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 07:27 PM
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What a beautiful tribute to your brother, sorry for your loss.

Thank you for sharing with us.



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 10:41 PM
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Dad, this really is a beautiful thread. Mike really did deserve more then what he received. I still can vividly remember when he came to my puny, smelly dorm and told me how proud of me he was.

More importantly, he pointed out flaws in my thought process. I don't know why, but I really enjoyed that. It's not everyday that someone tells you that you are wrong but it is even more rare when that person is actually correct.

I remember the first time he came to visit me in Golden. He went through the common pleasantries of course (we exchanged weekly activities and caught up on politics or something), then for some reason became fascinated by the math I was doing at the time (and expressed more interest than any other family member than I can recall) and then by sheer natural instinct inspected my room for fire hazards.

Well, it was a dorm room, so most likely the exit wasn't properly accessible or maybe the room wasn't vented efficiently, I can't remember. BUT, I do remember how puzzled he was by the sprinklers in my room. Apparently, they weren't set up properly or weren't as functional as they should have been.

Being defensive, I told him what the Residential Assistants told me at the time: "If there is a fire in your room, then every person in the building will have their sprinkler system go off, and hence everyone's possessions will be ruined."

Ok, EFFECTIVELY that is what the RA told us (as a scare tactic I realize now). Uncle Mike looked at me, puzzled, and then set me straight. "Really?" he said. "Because there just isn't enough water pressure in this entire building to make just the first floor shoot water from each of the sprinklers."

Well #. That seemed pretty frickin' obvious after he said it. He wasn't just skeptical, he was leveled, experienced and wise. I sure do miss him a heck of a lot and I didn't even know him as well as you do! Nuts!

At very least, I know he inspired a few of us, and that is pretty important. And I just know with all my heart tht he loved and still does love you Dad. That makes two of us for sure



posted on Jan, 14 2016 @ 10:58 PM
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a reply to: PhysicsAdept

I have to admit, that post brought tears to my eyes. I can tell you one thing for a fact, he was VERY proud of you for your accomplishments and your incredible math skills, as am I. I know ive told you this before, but he really did brag about you a lot, most especially when I went with him to your school. He loved you very much, just as I do. He also loved talking to Ryan about your math assignments, which stopped containing numbers in your first year there. He was absolutely blown away by it.

I know he's still watching over you proudly. I picture him bragging to the angels about your math skills and all of your accomplishments. He enjoyed going to your campus, even when you werent there, he knew you attended a very good school, and it made him very happy. Aside from just schooling, he just really enjoyed being around you, he always wanted to come with when I came up to visit. Youre an outstanding young man.

Anyway, great post, your own experiences with him really adds to his tribute here.

edit on 14-1-2016 by Wookiep because: (no reason given)



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