All Blog Posts (7,007)

New Interative site for the International Fire Photographers Association (IFPA)

Behind closed doors, IFPA members have been working on a new interactive site. Those doors were opened today and the new interactive site is open to the public. The site is http://ifpaweb.ning.com. The original site at www.ifpaweb.org is still operational. This new site is designed to supplement the original site.

This new site now allows IFPA members to upload and share photos in one location. Members are… Continue

Added by Steven D. "Smitty" Smith on April 6, 2009 at 9:59am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...April 5, 2009

Time just seems to be whizzing by for me lately. This weekend brought us our pancake breakfast at the firehouse, and now that I am actually getting to know people, it makes it more fun.

I have been spending quite a bit of time around the firehouse lately, probably because I don't have any friends other than firefighters where I live, and my old friends live so far away. During this tough time getting close to Easter, even at… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on April 6, 2009 at 8:59am — 2 Comments

In loving memory of Nathan P. Brown

Today is April 6th, 2009. In another 5 days, it will have been 5 years since one of my best friends was killed in action in Sammara, Iraq. His name is Nathan P. Brown and he was one of the best men I've ever known. He was the type of friend that, though he may have not had much at the time, he woud give it all if you needed it. It's been hard for me and my circle of friends that were close to Nate. Every day I feel the loss of a brother that was taken… Continue

Added by Eric on April 6, 2009 at 8:50am — 2 Comments

Chief Robert Ray is a Golf Digest finalist--he needs your votes!

Do you enjoy a nice round of golf on a sunny spring day? Even if you don't, you SURELY want a firefighter to win a national golf contest when he's the only firefighter out of just four contestants left!

One of FireRescue's board members, Matt Tobia, sent us a message that his Fire Chief, Robert Ray, Chief of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, is a finalist in a Golf DIgest contest to win an all-expenses paid trip to play golf with Michael Jordan and other celebrities at the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 5, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

yet another loss... My Son's Daddy

To whom it may concern Jamie, Dalton's father was kill last night in a horrible car accident in mercer co.

Here is the info

Fiery Crash Claimed One Life In Mercer County

Posted: 1:12 pm EDT April 4, 2009Updated: 1:22 pm EDT April 4, 2009

FORT RECOVERY, Ohio -- Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reported that his office is investigating that county's second traffic fatality of 2009.

Central Dispatch received a call of a vehicle on fire in the area of Cooper… Continue

Added by Crystal on April 5, 2009 at 8:02am — 6 Comments

Pittsburgh Police LODDs

Sadly, and tragically, 3 Pittsburgh Police Officers lost their lives on April 4th, 2009, in the line of duty, at approximately 0715 hours. 2 other Pittsburgh Police Officers were injured in the line of duty. Officers Eric Kelly, Stephan Mayhle and Paul Sciullo III were shot and killed as they responded to a domestic dispute in the Stanton Heights neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. Officer Kelly was actually on his way home, a block or two away, but responded to back up his comrades… Continue

Added by Andy Marsh on April 5, 2009 at 2:08am — 6 Comments

Denver Academy

Hey not too long ago, there was a 'blog" about a retired Denver Firefighter that had made a movie about a recruit class going through the Rocky Mountain Fire Academy.

I purchased the DVD and I must say I was impressed. It goes through the entire 5 month acadmy of 24 cadets.

There is a second disk that has special features such as "hell night", "recruit lounge" and "The Denver Drill".

If you know anybody who is interested in starting a career in the fire service,… Continue

Added by Jake Fireman on April 5, 2009 at 1:33am — No Comments

Rolling the Window Down on Safety

From my newborn All Hazards Contemplations blog:

Skip Kirkwood's Jems Connect blog had an excellent post about the recent multiple shootings at the nursing home in Carthage, NC, Binghamton, NY, and todays triple police officer murder in Pittsburgh, PA. Skip made some excellent points about how to approach dangerous scenes.

Skip's post triggered reminders of some old street safety… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on April 4, 2009 at 10:57pm — 2 Comments

Need a siren

I am in need of a siren and speaker. The only problem is I don't have a lot of money with a wife and 2 year old daughter. Plus we just had to move. Is there anyone who can help me?

Added by Firefighter 3205 on April 4, 2009 at 8:59pm — 2 Comments

Brother FF in need of prayer

One of my officers, who prefers I dont give his name, is suffering from serious back and shoulder problems. Anyone who believes in the power of prayer, please keep this brother FF in your thoughts and prayers. Stay safe and Thank you

Added by Dustin J. Millis on April 4, 2009 at 7:45pm — 9 Comments

To The Easily Offended

In my blog at Firehouse Zen today: I mentioned a great homily by Father Chris where he spoke about getting the message out (you know, THE Message). I specifically discussed one of his points about how, when someone in today’s society doesn’t agree with you, the expectation is that they have a “right” to be offended.

There are a lot of people who should pretty much… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on April 4, 2009 at 4:09pm — 8 Comments

LEOSAD: Rumors of Its Death Greatly Exaggerated

Notes from the IAFC’s WUI 2009 conference

We Americans, never quite comfortable with the Australian Leave Early or Stay and Defend (LEOSAD) concept to begin with, are less so now. The Victoria Fires that killed at least 173 people in southern Australia in February have given us, at least, pause as we consider applying this policy here.

But let me not generalize about Americans and take responsibility for myself. Among the first things I said to Keith Harrup,… Continue

Added by Crawford Coates on April 3, 2009 at 3:16pm — No Comments

Why so much drama? Where is the brotherhood now?

You know, it seems to me that as more of the "leather lungers" retire from the fire service and a new generation starts to work its way through the ranks, the brotherhood has started to fade. It seems, at least in the area that I live in, that the younger guys are more interested in their own agenda and cutting down everyone else than they are in taking pride and being part of this great family. They smile to your face and as soon as you leave they talk bad about you and stab you in the back.… Continue

Added by Firesqwasher357 on April 3, 2009 at 8:30am — 4 Comments

Brotherhood - Who are we kidding?

I find it fascinating as I search through the various discussion threads at the number of threads that find themselves debating passionately who is better paid or volunteer. We have always hung our hat in the fire service on the fact that we "are all brothers", "you go, we go", etc., etc. Ironically, the brotherhood term gets thrown around the most when one of us makes that ultimate sacrifice doing what we do. I say ironically, because I have unfortunately been very close to the action for… Continue

Added by drew on April 3, 2009 at 12:58am — 14 Comments

Iam Responding

Our department has just recieved iam responding where if you call it will show up on a screen that u are respong and you can make it say out of service and the cool part is it tells about you and your ETA.

Added by Brandon Dove on April 2, 2009 at 10:22pm — 6 Comments

Common sayings at the Fire House

1. Stay ready and you wont have to get ready

2. If you don't look professional you're probably not

3. A ball player is not PRO until he gets paid to be a ball player

4. No cook'in like fire house cook'in

5. I am a fire fighter because I would rather be in a raging fire than in a shoot out

Added by Yank2441 on April 2, 2009 at 9:08pm — 7 Comments

MUST READ FIREFIGHTING BOOKS

1. Working Fire BY: Zac Unger

Added by Kayli Borell on April 2, 2009 at 8:46pm — 5 Comments

Smoke Explosion Injures 2!

According to The Secret List, two Cleveland (Ohio) firefighters were injured on Thursday while operating at a dwelling fire. Firefighters say the fire took off quickly through the dwelling, and the two firefighters were injured when there was a smoke explosion as they opened an attic door. The firefighters, who were conducting a floor-by-floor search of the house at the time, suffered second-degree burns and were taken to MetroHealth… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 2, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

The Big Idea

Notes from the IAFC’s WUI 2009 conference

In my last blog post about WUI 2009, I mentioned how impressed I am with the fire service’s level of engagement in big-picture issues, exemplified by global climate change. This impression is due in large part to Timothy Murphy, deputy assistant director of the Fire and Aviation Directorate as the Bureau of Land Management, and his presentation on the 2009 Quadrennial Fire Review (QFR).

The QFR is a review of trends in… Continue

Added by Crawford Coates on April 2, 2009 at 1:00pm — 3 Comments

Love Affair With Buffalo's Firefighters Ends

Citizens demand that Firefighter overtime be eliminated.

BUFFALO, NY (April 2, 2009) -- Crooks, the millionaires club and greedy old men. Nope, these aren’t remarks about the scoundrels who have set this nation’s economy in a tailspin. Rather, they are comments being voiced by the citizens of Buffalo, NY about city’s firefighters, who find themselves defending the fact that they accepted $10 million last year in overtime.

Although I'm not a Buffalo resident, our small East… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on April 2, 2009 at 11:06am — 9 Comments