All Blog Posts (7,007)

Good times, great friends, great life...

Hello to all of those here in the Nation... It's great to get a chance again to post something in here. Life goes so fast these days that it seems like there is never any time for myself, until now... For those of you who don't know me, I am a 33 yr divorced father with two wonderful kids, ages 6 and 5. I am a probationary firefighter with the Moab Valley Fire Department here in beautiful Moab, Utah. I have the most wonderful girlfriend a guy could ask for, and she came along right when I… Continue

Added by jared m snyder on September 10, 2009 at 10:21pm — No Comments

Always remember, Never forget!!!

Tomorrow is another passing of September 11th. I look back in solemn remebrance of that fateful day when we lost 343 of our bravest. I was working that morning, getting ready to go off shift when we turned on the news and were shocked to see the unfolding drama. We sat in silenced awe as we watched the news show the second tower being hit. Since we are on the west coast it was taking time for this to sink into our minds as the events continued to unfold. Questions ran though the crews watching… Continue

Added by Glenn C. Rex on September 10, 2009 at 8:33pm — 1 Comment

Capt. Mike Hayes is FireRescue's Company Officer of the Year

Best of the Best

FDNY’s Mike Hayes is FireRescue’s Company Officer of the Year

Captain Michael C. Hayes of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Ladder Company 28 is the recipient of the 2009 FireRescue magazine Company Officer of the Year Award, which was presented to him on Aug. 28 at Fire-Rescue International in Dallas (watch the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on September 10, 2009 at 6:30pm — 2 Comments

Make It Personal

I recently attended a seminar on preparation for line-of-duty deaths and firefighter funerals. If you’ve ever read one of my blogs on FirefighterNation.com, you know that I have very strong feelings about firefighter deaths.

But, for the first time, the subject really hit home with me. While it’s important to plan that stuff, if we really think about it, doesn’t… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on September 10, 2009 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

A Quick Review of Type 3 Construction & Associated Fire Danger

QUICK DRILLS

If They Build It … A quick review of Type 3 construction & associated fire danger

Story & Photos by Homer Robertson

In last month’s column (FireRescue, August 2009, “Warning Signs,” p. 116), I discussed two fundamental subjects that every fire department should cover in its training programs: fire behavior and building construction. Last month, I focused on flashover, which is just one small segment of fire behavior. This… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on September 10, 2009 at 8:30am — 1 Comment

fire dept patches!

hi to one and all in the service my name is Darren Somers, I im in the fire service in Ireland. Some people have already contacted me through FFN but i'm always happy to chat with paople to hear their stories, I'm trying to start my own patch and badge collection so anyone that can spare any they would be greatly received. My home address is 44 Rathsillan Carlow Road, Tullow Co.Carlow, Ireland. Also between myself and our station officer we are hoping to arrange some visits to fire houses… Continue

Added by Darren Somers on September 10, 2009 at 5:00am — 1 Comment

Training Ideas.

My fire department had an awesome training yesterday and I was wondering what are some training ideas that maybe any of your departments have tried? Myself and my fire department would love to hear your ideas and what some of y'all have done.

Added by Cory P. Taylor on September 9, 2009 at 8:37pm — 3 Comments

Firefighters that are weather junkies

Beside enjoying Fire & Rescue I enjoy Weather, the wilder the better. Occasionaly I come accross web sites dealing with weather, [ Pictures, Videos, Facts, etc; ]. So I am more than happy to share these with everyone, and get some feed back from others. So to start if you would like to see some great pictures of the Station Fire go to
http:// www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/09/wildfires in southern californ.html , let me know what you think

Added by Mike Elack on September 8, 2009 at 9:40pm — 1 Comment

Once in Lifetime...

Hey y'all, tomorrow is a date in time that few will ever see...09/09/09...it only happens every thousand years! It also happens to be my 47th birthday, and I'm humbled by the fact that this date will be seen by only those who are here now! Peace to all and may you all stay safe on this date and in the future!
Chris

Added by Christopher Smith on September 8, 2009 at 9:32pm — 1 Comment

9/11 anniversary

i sat with my wife last night and watched a documentary called "102 minutes that changed america". it used real life footage captured by ordinary people on the day the twin towers was struck. I can still remember to this day what I was doing and like so many dont think will ever forget because that day is etched into our memories so stay forever.I felt a great sadness then before i joined the service but its now more poignant since ive joined because of the brotherood that surrounds us every… Continue

Added by Darren Somers on September 8, 2009 at 5:34am — 3 Comments

Glad to be a part of FirefighterNation!

We are glad to be associated with the folks here at FirefighterNation and respectfully request you also learn more about us, Ted Corporandy and Paul Schuller at www.firenuggets.com We too, are all about firefighter safety and networking....

Stay safe,
Paul and Ted

Added by Paul A. Schuller on September 7, 2009 at 11:25pm — 1 Comment

Summer Acceleration Theory

Calcium Anthropologists Warn of Effects of Summer Acceleration

Unconfirmed fiction by: Tige R. Schmittendorf

Editor's Note: I know it's Labor Day. I should have warned you sooner...

One day while taking a requisite course towards my doctorate in calcium anthropology — the study of milkmen and their connection to mad cow disease — I had cause to stop, doze, and ponder the season ahead.

In the midst of my heavy R.E.M. sleep, I… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on September 7, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

From the X-Box to the Box Alarm

As I travel around the country talking with other firefighters, a commonly recurring theme of our chat is the future of the volunteer fire service.

The conversation always comes around to the topic of today’s firefighters and the next generation of firefighters. Some “more experienced” firefighters (notice I didn’t use the term older) share that they don’t understand the “kids” coming into the fire service today.

The veterans don’t think today’s recruits share the same… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on September 6, 2009 at 11:00pm — 9 Comments

Fortune Tellers

In my last blog titled “Dig In.” I talked about the importance of story telling in the fire service and how it serves as a means of sharing experiences, traditions and values from generation to generation. In this article I try to tell a story, and in that story, I hope you can find a lesson to share for generations to come.

Almost every firefighter I meet speaks of how they always knew, from the time… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on September 6, 2009 at 10:22pm — 6 Comments

Local Rotary to Donate Truck To Mexico

Our local rotary club has raised money a refurbished a firetruck to donate to small town in Mexico. They want to take some of the kids that helped raise money to the donation ceremony. We are wondering if the kids would be covered by their local US Medical insurance or if they'd need to purchase International health insurance? Anyone that can answer this questions would be greatly appreciated.

Added by Lincoln Builds on September 6, 2009 at 10:15pm — 1 Comment

What are you going to do about it?

A lot of people look to me for solutions to their recruitment and retention challenges. The fact is, we know what the answers are.

Join me for a conversation about the future of the volunteer fire service as I've signed on with Fire-Rescue Magazine (… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on September 6, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Disney-Marvel deal has $140 million termination fee

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Marvel Entertainment Inc (MVL.N) would have to pay the Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) a termination fee of $140 million if it terminates a proposed merger with Disney, according to a securities filing on Friday.

The $4 billion merger agreement, announced on Monday, contains termination rights for Disney and Marvel, including Marvel's right to stop the merger to pursue a "superior deal," the Securities and Exchange Commission filing by Marvel said.

Marvel… Continue

Added by Alex on September 6, 2009 at 4:59pm — No Comments

Loco politians

It was reported in our county paper this week that our county commission is looking into dissolving the E911 board and taking over until a new board could be formed. Let me say first off that I dont believe all the commissioners are for this.

The E911 board is to my knowledge not under the control of the county commission. They make decisions regarding E911 without having to get approval from the commission. I personnally believe they do a great job. The Director they hired (over protests… Continue

Added by Tandy Young on September 6, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

IS THIS YOU?

I was shocked, confused, bewildered, as I entered Heaven's door.

Not by the beauty of it all, nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven, who made me sputter and gasp -

The thieves, the liars, the sinners, the alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade, who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor, who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought, was rotting away in hell.

Was sitting pretty on… Continue

Added by Rev John O on September 6, 2009 at 3:25pm — 2 Comments

Getting Familiar with Unfamiliar Dirt

I recently spent a week on vacation that included a lot of reading on the beach. I was able to complete a six-book series, the Corean Chronicles by L.E. Modsitt, Jr... an excellent read if you're into the genre. In one of the books, a group of soldiers is deployed to an area with which none of them are familiar. They're tired from traveling and just want to… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on September 6, 2009 at 12:20pm — 1 Comment