This month of March 2018 has been a very hard month for us in the fire service. We have lost several of our brothers and sister through out the country. We pause to remember them, FL Hollywood FD FF Daryel Richards, GA Cobb County FD FF Stacey L. Boulware,…

It doesn’t matter if you are active or retired, career or volunteer, instructor or student.

“When one hurts. We all hurt. That’s who we are.” - Ryan Pennington…

FireBot, a low cost device that automatically activates in case of a fire to properly extinguish a stovetop fire.

Able to attach to the range hood, unseen, battery operated like a smoke alarm, triggered by an out of control fire, which activates fire suppressant to extinguish any type of fire.

A solution for 50% of all home fires, which start on stovetops, numbering over 116,100 per year costing more than 500 lives, 5,540 injuries, and 1.1 billion dollars in…

Over 2 years ago, I wrote a post discussing what I felt was happening to the Fire Service and the next generation of firefighters and medics. I just wanted to post it again because I feel it is still relevant and it’s a problem that looks to continue and get worse. I am also seeking feedback and solutions.

From 22 July 2015

”What the hell is the fire service coming to? It is supposed to be a brotherhood / sisterhood. Well, thanks to the “new”…

Building the Unbreakable Future…

The fire service culture of an “aggressive” nature in its current form may be attributed to dominant ideologies and the subsequent societies that have developed. In order to further identify best practices we must first investigate cultural diffusion and the elements that are allowed to reside within…

Listen to our latest podcast with Chief Emeritus Charles Werner of the Charlottesville VA Fire Dept., as he discusses the use of UAS - Unmanned Aerial Systems or drones in public safety. Even if your agency is already using one, make sure it is following all federal regulations. They can literally be a lifesaver! Go to our Dalmatian Productions website

2008 Toyota  Prius small battery episode!

After dinner at 7:00 PM, I jumped in my 2008  Toyota  Prius car and pushed start button. Felt  that I did not push brake enough to start car so pushed start button second time and pushed again with brake pushed. All dash board light illuminated and stayed on with engine check light, as usual they go away immediately and engine runs in another 40 seconds. So I pressed start button to shut down and repeat start three four times.…

Just finished the first of two very interesting interviews with Chief (ret) Charles Werner of the Charlottesville Fire Dept. regarding new technology for first responders. Today's episode is about UAS, aka drones. There is no doubt that these units will be a "game changer" for all first responder agencies.

On Thursday, Chief Werner will join us again to discuss new 3-D technology that will allow an IC to see exactly where in a structure firefighters are.

The first episode will be…

The Ohio Sheriff that thinks there is a need to change the manner in which fire drills in schools are conducted may be a hell of a good sheriff, but he lacks the understanding of fire behavior, fire spread and the many children that have sacrificed their  lives so we have current fire drills and fire alarms  in place in schools.  The systems and codes we have in place did not happen by accident - they were brought abut by deaths - a lot of deaths. THEY WERE PAID FR BY THE DEATHS OF HUNDREDS…

The “dawn of a new day” is supposed to allow us to start fresh from whatever troubles we underwent the day before. Sadly, today that notion holds no water. Whether you live here in South Florida as we do, or you live “off the grid” and you heard the news on amateur radio, today the sunlight is obscured by the ethereal gun smoke that still hangs over our community where this tragedy occurred and that also drifts over our society as another mass shooting occurs.

We will soon…

February 10, 2018 - We released another episode of our podcast, "5-Alarm Task Force," this morning with a longtime follower and friend, Chris Tobin. In this episode, Chris talked about the importance of multiple levels of mentoring in the fire service. Even after 8 years with his current department, he still considers himself the "rookie" in the firehouse, always seeking to learn from those with more experience. On the other side of this coin, he has recently re-established h…

http://www.averagejakefirefighter.com/2018/01/29/engine-company-search-ranch-house/

I just completed reading the book Relentless Optimism: How a Commitment to Positive Thinking Changes Everything by: Darrin Donnelly. The book is a motivational book that provides a million and one ways that positive thinking can better not only your life, but those around you as well. It uses the story of a major league baseball player that is bumped back down to the minors and his struggle to make it back to the big leagues. The book had two very memorable quotes…