Mick Mayers

60, Male

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

United States

Profile Information:

Type of Organization
Fire/Rescue Department - Paid
Job Function
Battalion Chief / Division Chief
Years in Fire/EMS:
31
Primary Fire/EMS Department:
Hilton Head Island, SC
Years With Department/Agency
29
Dept. Web Site:
http://www.hiltonheadislandsc.gov/Depts/fire/firemain.html
Web Site:
http://www.sctf1.sc.gov
Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations
Hilton Head Island (SC) Fire & Rescue - Truck 6
SC US&R Task Force 1
Sea Pines Forest Beach (SC) Fire Department
Hilton Head (SC) Rescue Squad
Bluffton Twp. (SC) Fire District
Hilton Head (SC) Fire Department
Bridgeport (PA) Fire Company #1
My Training:
Savannah Technical College; Associates Degree in Fire Science
National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program
NPQ Fire Officer, Instructor, Driver/Operator
IFSAC HAZMAT Technician
NREMT Paramedic
US&R and Technical Rescue Instructor and Author
Truck Company and Tillered Aerial Operations Instructor
About Me:
State Urban Search and Rescue Alliance; Vice-Chairman
NFPA 1006 PQ for Rescue Technicians; Chairman
NFPA Pro Quals Technical Correlation Committee; Principal
Author for several webzines and blogs on special operations, technical rescue, disaster response, and emergency service leadership subject matter
Day Job:
Dad
Relationship Status:
Married
Facebook or Other Online Profile:
http://www.firehousezen.com/
Why I Joined Fire/EMS
Family; great-grandfather, grandfather, father, uncles, and my brother are/were all on the job.
Why I Love Fire/EMS
Creating a revolution in how we do things, while celebrating traditions.
Top Issues Facing Responders:
Enlightened and inspired leadership for emergency managers
Education of emergency leaders in political issues and action
Customer service in a diverse and largely unappreciative society
Getting leaders to realize that planning can be a good thing
Change will happen whether you like it or not

Comment Wall:

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  • Wendy Norris

    Hey Mick! Thanks for laughing at my blog entry for the driver's training! LOL The last time I had to drive was back in the Academy. So it was fun an intimidating to get back up in the seat. I definitely want to do it again but for now, I will gladly sit in the back and be driven around! :o) Glad to hear that your paper's done!

    Sep 10, 2007

  • Walt

    Hello Mick,ask your dad if he knows Mike bean,Bill Ratzkie...Bill Is the Captian at Willow Grove Nas? Yes Im a Truckie...LOL,I Run out of Warminster Station 90,just joined Warrington Station 29...Which they both have
    Ladder Trucks...I would not have it any other way....At warminster we will be taking delivery of our 125 ft truck in january...Im going to sign up on the web site that you left for me....May be you can help me,I haven't figured out on how to upload more pictures on here,i might be doing something wrong? lol....I have pictures of the trucks,i uploaded my picture on my home page.so if u can help me it would be great? have a great night

    Sep 12, 2007

  • Walt

    I tryed it and it did not work,I will try it again before i go to work in the morning,if i can't get it.I will work on it when I get back from the firemens convention in wildwood nj on Monday my next day off,Im turning in for the night.Nice talking to you talk to you soon,walt

    Sep 12, 2007

  • Walt

    Hey Mick,I got it thanks... I will add the truck when I get home from wild wood,here are a coulpe of pictures of when we were at the ladder 49 movie set,

    Sep 12, 2007

  • Melissa L.

    Hi back at ya. How's it going? Must be tough living in Hilton Head!

    Sep 13, 2007

  • CJ

    ya. that's how all the cool kids are doin it.

    Sep 13, 2007

  • Wendy Norris

    You know, I was kind of looking forward to Humberto, but noooo, he has to head back to LA. I feel bad that those areas that have been hit before got hit so hard again. I still am amazed that it was 30 miles from us and all we got was wimpy rain! We were all put on standby!

    Sep 14, 2007

  • Amanda

    HELL Ya! thank god I still want the summer weather so more rain.

    Sep 14, 2007

  • CJ

    ....humberto?

    Sep 14, 2007

  • Glenn Fournier

    Hi, I spent 4 years as a truckie. I'm now a pipe man, I just happen to be at the right place at the right time to get that job for that fire.

    Sep 14, 2007

  • NMB Truckie

    I'm in, How are you old friend? Hope all is well on your end of the beach. Be Safe.

    Sep 14, 2007

  • Wendy Norris

    I sure hope you don't get hit with that I storm. I need to do a check and find out where it's making a beeline for..

    Sep 15, 2007

  • Kevin Bacco

    Thanks for the invite!

    Stay low...

    Sep 15, 2007

  • josh hodgkinson

    no, engine company but since we are a combination department we do just about everything

    Sep 15, 2007

  • LadyChaplain

    My class went absolutely WONDERFUL. I learned SO much and I can't wait 'til we get some cars donated to the firehouse so I can practice all the good stuff.

    Sep 16, 2007

  • Melissa L.

    Same ocean? Yes. Same setting? No. LOL.

    I grew up visiting the Outer Banks, NC. I actually lived in SC for 2 yrs. I love the Carolina's. We went to Corolla this summer.

    Your right VA isn't so bad itself. I love it here. Williamsburg is great as well as many other places. It is my home town though I was born in NY and frequent it as much as possible!

    Sep 16, 2007

  • Melissa L.

    oops Williamsburg isnt my home town. LOL.

    Sep 16, 2007

  • LadyChaplain

    With my company the issue isn't finding the cars... one of our life members owns a junkyard and he's always willing to give us a car or two. The problem lies within having one of our oh-so-dedicated officers running the drill. 9/10 times our drills are run more like work details because the officers don't put anything together for us to do except hose washing, rebedding or truck cleaning. As far as getting boots for Christmas... it'll never happen. My parents are sending me on a grad school visit for Christmas so there's no way I'll get any fire equipment... and even if I did... the hoops I'd have to jump through with my fire district to be allowed to use them would be pretty much a pain in the ass. Due to the way that the district insurance is, anything that the fire company/fire district is automatically insured and permitted - no questions asked. Anything that YOU provide yourself has to go through a proposal, an inspection and a few other steps before it's allowed out on a call or a drill. An order for new boots should be going in in the spring so I think I can wait it out. Keep in touch.

    Sep 17, 2007

  • CJ

    ya... we're north texas. we dont get hurricanes.

    Sep 17, 2007

  • CJ

    dont know. haven't checked all the trees yet.

    Sep 18, 2007

  • Kevin King

    99 bro

    Sep 18, 2007

  • CJ

    ya it kinda depends where you're at but there are a few places where trees are pretty scarce. =)

    Sep 19, 2007

  • Michael Finney

    thanks for adding your department... I used to live in SC... applied to Seapines a long time ago... looked very positive for getting hired on...but was way to immature to move away from home at the time. I've heard that there was a big merger down there. Now one big department. How is that going?

    Sep 24, 2007

  • Michael Finney

    Oh yeah... tell the guy you passed it on to... he's not limited to what has been historically been put on the department pages... be creative and do whatever he thinks will be interesting. With firefighters, I know that leaves too much to the mind to do.. but it is no problem on there.

    Sep 24, 2007

  • Tiger Schmittendorf

    Hi Mick -

    Thanks for considering me a "friend." I'm still not sure what all that means and I'm in the same boat as you as far as this social networking thing.

    I still don't admit to anyone that I'm part of a social network and have resolved myself to use it as a forum for test driving my ideas about recruitment, retention and leadership.

    I haven't read all of your blogs yet but I agree that that damn Dave has hit another homer. And, I'm not sure he could make it any easier to use.

    It's kind of like the phrase my wife uses: "It was so cheap, I couldn't afford to leave it on the shelf..."

    Keep me posted on your EFO progress. I plan to be one of two things in January - either Chief or a Student. The latter prospect excites me a lot more than the alternative.

    Take care and keep in touch. Maybe we can figure this thing out together.

    Sep 26, 2007

  • Sara Waid

    Yea, Ive been on here less than 24 hours... give me a break...
    Dont even know what Im doing...lol

    Sep 28, 2007

  • Michael Carpenter

    Hey Mick
    just checking on you man,
    Hope all is well

    Sep 29, 2007

  • Elizabeth Carter

    I definitely would love to find out who your friend is that lives in Lawrenceville. Last year (summer of 2006) when my family and I were in Hilton Head on vaca I did a ride-a-long at one of the HH Fire Stations. It was the station near Coligny Plaze... supposedly one of the business on the island. I say "supposedly" because I shut the frickin' place down. Not ONE call the whole 6 hours I was there. Then, of course, 15 mins after i left I heard them leaving lights and sirens. Figures! Next time we come down there, I'll have to try to ride at your station. You all will love it. 4th rider syndrome seems to follow me around so you'll have an easy day of it!

    Oct 6, 2007

  • Kellie

    I am new and still try n to figure this stuff out how do i join your truckie group.

    Oct 10, 2007

  • Deron P. Wilson

    Mick
    Things are going great in Sandy Springs. we are extremely busy but thats the way that I like it. It has been a challenge building the department but with leaders like Jack he makes it easier everyday. I will tell him that you said hello. I am sorry that it has taken me so long to respond, but I have been extremely busy the past few weeks. How are things in HH? when ever you are near the Atlanta area please stop inSandy Springs and visit us. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.

    Oct 19, 2007

  • Elizabeth Carter

    Did you ever send me your friend's info? I don't remember seeing it, but then again things can get crazy around here! I met a fire fighter from Cobb County last weekend. His name is David "Hoppy" Hopkins. Great guy!!

    Hope all is well on the island! Take care and stay safe!

    Liz

    Oct 20, 2007

  • Stephanie

    Soooo......guess what??!! I've got an interview this Thursday for a volunteer position nearby. They are looking for people with their fire and EMT-B cards (ME!) to move up to part time after a few months of volly work. Wish me luck!

    Oct 28, 2007

  • Stephanie

    It's the original department I applied for in June. Nice, with 3 stations and lots of action. Last Saturday at a wedding I somehow ended up sitting with a member of the fire board from another department as well....turned my application in there the next day. Funny, I had been holding onto their completed application for months. So I think I'll be hearing from them soon, too. Then they can fight over me!!

    Oct 29, 2007

  • Stephanie

    Ugh....got my rejection letter today....I keep telling myself that it just wasn't meant to be, but I AM disappointed. I don't think that the interview went well, and they didn't really get to know the real me. I wish I could do it over again.

    Nov 9, 2007

  • Tiger Schmittendorf

    Hi Mick -

    My wife's boss is semi-retired in Hilton Head, on a golf course somewhere (naturally.) He keeps threatening to have us visit.

    I hope I can count on you for some HH ride time while I'm there. Now, that's a REAL vacation.

    Nov 30, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    Word on the street is that this is the safe harbor in the ongoing search for intelligent life on the Nation.
    Hope springs eternal.
    :)

    Nov 30, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    I will, however, have to beg off on your chat. I'm not stimulated in that arena.

    Nov 30, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    Nothing against your chat...but if I have to sit through "were RU from" "Kewl"...again, I might gag.

    Dec 1, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    By the by....I told a mutual friend of ours (Tiger5) that not only do you "get it" as "it" applies to intelligent discourse on issues related to the fire service, but that you may well have written the definitive blog on "it".
    I applaud you, for your caring, your sensitivity, your intelligence, and your general "fly by the seat of your pants Monty Pythonism"

    Dec 1, 2007

  • Tiger Schmittendorf

    Every man has a dream...

    I'll definitely look you up if we're headed that way.

    Dec 1, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    I enjoy your posts.....keep up the good work.

    Dec 1, 2007

  • 5-15-Radio

    great to be online with all the truckies around

    Dec 3, 2007

  • John "Jack" Wilson

    Hey Mick,

    Sorry you could not make it to Ocala. Just surfing the net one night and found this site...Stay Safe Jack

    Dec 3, 2007

  • Dennis

    ok mick thanks for the invite be safe my friend

    Dec 3, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    Hey Mick,
    Thanks for the comment on my blog piece. I actually (eesh...I'm such a GIRL) got choked up writing it. I also cry during the Folger's coffee commercial when the son comes home and surprises the family at Christmas, so take that with a grain of salt. :) I don't know those guys...and I strongly suspect that you're still laboring under the delusion that I'm in the Buffalo area. You're in the right state, wrong region. I'm in Albany, aka Smallbany.
    Go Jets. ;)

    Dec 5, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    Egads.....I'm exhausted just from reading it!!

    Dec 5, 2007

  • Mary Ellen Shea

    I strongly suggest that you get out the industrial shop vac before your wife gets home.
    It reminds me of one of my VERY early babysitting gigs (I have four older fertile sisters, you do the math)--and my niece Casey asked sweetly for a pomegranate(she was three...she wanted the "pretty fruit") I'd never even eaten one before so she told me that Mommy "cuts it" and gives it to her. I shrugged...well? why not? Cut the thing in half and gave it to her at the kitchen table and took a phone call. Who knew that pomegranates stain like that? Casey was purple, the kitchen was purple, and Cathy walked in the house and (god bless her) burst out laughing.

    Dec 5, 2007

  • LadyChaplain

    That cannot be a serious question...

    Dec 5, 2007

  • Melissa L.

    Thank you Mick!

    Dec 6, 2007

  • justin critchfield

    the reason i have a ladder truck pix on is we r due to get our 2008 sutphen 75 ft ariel an i will be postin pix of it when we get in the middle of januruary

    Dec 10, 2007