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Tiger Schmittendorf

, Male

Angola

United States

Profile Information:

What State do you live in?: NY
Type of Organization: Volunteer Fire Department
Job Function: Fire Chief/Commisioner
Years in Fire/EMS:: 34
Primary Fire/EMS Department:: Erie County Department of Emergency Services-Fire Safety Division
Years With Department/Agency: 15
Dept. Web Site:: http://www.erie.gov/fire
My Training:: Nationally Certified Fire Instructor
About Me:: HERE'S THE BIO THAT'S INCLUDED AT THE END OF ARTICLES I WRITE:
Tiger Schmittendorf serves as Deputy Fire Coordinator in the County of Erie Department of Emergency Services which manages three training facilities, 45 fire instructors and the training of 97 fire departments and 5,000+ firefighters.

He is a Nationally Certified Fire Instructor and a firefighter since 1980.

Schmittendorf brings 15 years of experience in engineering, sales and marketing management to marketing the product he loves: the fire service. He specializes in recruitment and retention, marketing, training and management consulting for counties and fire departments around the country.

He suffers from an extremely dry sense of humor and routinely makes an ass of himself, often in public.
Day Job:: Deputy Fire Coordinator
Relationship Status:: Married
Facebook or Other Online Profile:: http://www.tigerschmittendorf.com
Why I Joined Fire/EMS: I grew up across the street from the firehouse and was a part of it from age 8. I couldn't wait to become our department's first junior firefighter when I turned 17 and then an active firefighter a few months later when I turned 18.

I proudly enjoy helping people but any firefighter who tells you they don't love it for the adrenaline rush... is lying.
Why I Love Fire/EMS: In addition to the great experiences I've enjoyed as a volunteer firefighter, I've been blessed to be able to make a career of it. There isn't anything I'd rather do. This is the best damn job in the world.
Top Issues Facing Responders:: Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters.

I believe the survival and success of the Volunteer Fire Service relies on our ability to create more opportunities, for more more people, to volunteer less time.

Comment Wall:

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Mary Ellen Shea

May 21, 2008
Mary Ellen Shea

death threat? THAT??
Oh you poor deluded boy....

LMAO

May 21, 2008
brian

tiger
could you send me details about your event for dennis allen. Our fund, terryfarrellfund.org would like to help if we can. we have been extremely active in assisting firefighters and their families throughout NY and this seems like a cause we can get involved with.
brian farrell
terry farrell firefighters fund
516-840-8839 cell

May 22, 2008
brian

you can always email us at terryfund@verizon.net or thru the website. I was thinking of having jim beam bourbon, our sponsor come up and help. we just did it in poughkeesi to help the guys and the company was great about it. we will do what we can.

May 22, 2008
Mary Ellen Shea

May 22, 2008
Dave, NB 9

Dan, under your desk? LOL...Not going there.................

May 23, 2008
Dave, NB 9

Oppss, Sorry Tiger, wrong page.....See Ya!

May 23, 2008
Tiger Schmittendorf

Do I need to enable comment approval settings for my page?

May 23, 2008
LadyChaplain

Well, comment approval settings are something to be considered because once the gang finds out that you're gone for the week.. they might have fun. oops... did I just type that out loud?

May 23, 2008
LadyChaplain

You'll have to peel it off of my cold dead feet!!!!

May 23, 2008
LadyChaplain

No, although I was very tempted to do so.

I opted for some nice, albeit pretty expensive sneakers.

May 23, 2008
LadyChaplain

I might buy some of those cool plug things they have to decorate the rubber clogs... those are awesome.

May 24, 2008
LadyChaplain

Oh, and I'll go on record saying that I stepped over to the dark side on Monday and had a cheeseburger for dinner.... although to you it probably would have been more likely associated with "boot leather"... but it was meat and/or meatproduct nonetheless.

May 24, 2008
LadyChaplain

Turkey burgers are still better!

May 24, 2008
Barbara Nelson

I took all the wildland pictures and all but 3 of the others. The picture of the house fire was taken by a person that made it on scene when we did. You should go back and look at it again. My son pointed out it looks like a dragon coming out of the flames. It was the first fatal fire we had in 30 years. We did get the fire out before it got to her.

May 24, 2008
Barbara Nelson

I am all about training and safety. I go to every drill and take outside classes as well. I have been to NFA and have attended Billy Goldfedders Firefighter scared strait class, Well worth your time. At that house fire all my training came into play. We can't stress enough how important training is.

May 24, 2008
LadyChaplain

My final grade for HG456 - Political Science Internship Experience was...... ::drumroll::

A!

May 24, 2008
LadyChaplain

Thanks :-)
I got a pretty stellar report card if I do say so myself... especially for someone who lacks a work ethic lol.

May 24, 2008
Barbara Nelson

Just wanted to let you know that I enjoy all your training and recruitment help. You have really great ideas. I like that you share the insights of your years of service. Thank You.

May 25, 2008
Richard Giuliani

Tiger,

Thanks...we take a lot of heat on the trucks not being ripe yet.......Alos, I was appointed in Aug 2007 as Deputy Coordinator of Training here in Dutchess. Took over from Tom O'Gorman who retired (I think you must know him). I have been working on a web site for training for Dutchess (there really was none) and I used your Erie County training web site as a model. Thanks for the help, I am sure I will see you in Albany or Montour soon!

Rich G

May 26, 2008
LadyChaplain

That was a collaborative effort -- I had to write a paper too, ya know.

May 26, 2008
Tiger Schmittendorf

Dearest Loyal Fans -

I'm at the National Fire Academy from Tuesday through Friday. Thus, I have wisely turned on comment approval preventing the inmates from taking over the asylum while I'm away.

Say what you want - but you won't see it here first.

I'll check them out upon my return as I will be studiously studying the entire time while at the NFA.

Sincerely,
TWHW

May 26, 2008
LadyChaplain

Now you're learning. Comment approval is a GOOD thing.

May 27, 2008
O'Kitty

Just checking.

May 27, 2008
Engineco913

Good luck at the NFA.

May 27, 2008
Chris Couell

hey that works! cool

May 27, 2008
Kimberly A Bownas

Hey Tiger, how is the NFA? Hope you are having fun....

May 27, 2008
Engine 32 Capt.

Hey Tiger;

Not only will we give you ride time, but we'll feed you.

Come say hi.

I like your blog, and I'll keep you up to date on how your ideas work. Thanks for sharing.

May 28, 2008
LadyChaplain

Next time - log off your FFN account before you leave town. I could have been destructive if I wanted to.

May 29, 2008
LadyChaplain

It wasn't that fear, trust me -- it was my own OCD tendencies and the desire to log on to see who left me comments on my own page.

May 31, 2008
LadyChaplain

So did you actually LEARN anything this week? I know I had a lot of fun at the office without you there... lol.

May 31, 2008
matthew

Yeah I did. Im always looking for new areas to discover I realized that I wasn't going to get any advancement with S.H so I am trying this area out and see what happens.

Jun 1, 2008
LadyChaplain

I thought you were sick. Stay home! :-P

Jun 3, 2008
matthew

charlotte NC, also my training records was not updated. Im actualy trying law enforcement now. Mecklenburg CO Sheriff's dept needs detention officers starting at 15.35hr Im in the process of the background check now

Jun 3, 2008
matthew

someone said that you moved to buffalo from California??

Jun 3, 2008
Mary Ellen Shea

Dear Mr. White-Hatted-Wonder......

I wonder when you're going to submit your article.
I wonder if you're aware that the deadline is TOMORROW
I wonder if you know that you give me chest pains and a sleepless night on the 5th of every month
It's a wonder I haven't killed you in your sleep yet.

Step it up buttercup, tick-tock.

Jun 4, 2008
Wendy Norris

Hi Tiger! I would love to read your Fire Service Funeral Blog! Would you mind sharing it with me? Thanks for the comments too about the honor guard. It was awesome to get to be a part of such a great group of people. And it was even more awesome to pretend for just a moment that I was part of that group!

Jun 8, 2008
matthew

do you know of any fire depts hiring without a civil service exam

Jun 9, 2008
Mary Ellen Shea

you = dead meat.
You need to get Yahoo IM...I'm a reluctant convert, but we're having an uncensored blast.

Jun 9, 2008
matthew

thanks man for the info...

Jun 11, 2008
1901

Thank you. I plan to be down there when is your presentation?

Jun 11, 2008
Engine 32 Capt.

Thanks for the comments Tiger. Somehow I always seem inspired.

I have broad shoulders too. It's not the men under my command, but those outside that need "encouragement" to change.

With the information you have provided, and the encouragement, I will make the endeavor to reach out to all the Chiefs in our county to impress upon them the need for a unified and dignified fireman's funeral.

Thanks again for your insight. Your thoughts, knowledge and words of encouragment push me to be a better leader.

Jun 11, 2008
Engine 32 Capt.

Tiger;

Regarding the playground drill: There is a video of this drill posted on my page. In addition, there is a link on the first page of comments (for the video) of how this drill is laid out and intended to function.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Stay safe.

Jun 12, 2008
Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

Hey Tiger;
Hope you're feeling better. Looking forward to talking with you. We need to follow up with FASNY....

Jun 12, 2008
Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

Lets talk this weekend or early next week. I'm usually working late at night also, so I'll email you and we can talk then

CJN

Jun 13, 2008
Michele

Hello,

Thanks for checking out my site. I think I will donate a mirror. What address should I send it to?

Jun 13, 2008
Chan Rivera

hi welcome from Ulster Co. NY

Jun 15, 2008
LadyChaplain

I'm still not well yet :-(

Jun 15, 2008
Mary Ellen Shea

Honeydippers?
Charming, there's a nice visual.

Jun 16, 2008
Joe Stoltz

"OMG Joe -

I just realized where Bristol is now. We hear your skip every day on our monitor at the fire academy. It comes in better than our local dispatch centers.

That's too funny. I'll have to start listening for you on the radio."

Well, thanks for realizing there is life beyond Marilla! If you hear 102 or Car 99 on Grand Island's frequency, that'll be me.

Jun 16, 2008