All Blog Posts (7,003)

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 22, 2009

Forgive me for writing a post that has nothing to do with firefighting. It has to do with drama and decisions.

My family is in crisis. Crisis over what has happened to our lives for two years of drugs and mood/bipolar. This past week, my 15 year old couldn't take the stress anymore and I had to bring him to the hospital. He told me he was feeling unsafe. As someone who doesn't open up very often, I took this rather… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 22, 2009 at 8:30pm — 5 Comments

wanting to learn

ive been a firefighter for 3 years now been around it all my life wouldnt change it for the world. always willing to learn and open to new ideas and or tips that will help in our goal of safety and the well being of patients and house preservation.

any and all are welcome no matter what kk thank you

matt

Added by matt on February 22, 2009 at 8:12pm — 2 Comments

Tactical Tips: Mobile Home Fires

The recent double-LODD in West Virginia has mobile home fires on all of our minds. Although it’s too soon for us to know what happened at that specific fire, or to draw any judgments about the tactics employed, it does provide an opportunity to review mobile home firefighting tactics. While our hearts go out to the families of Johnnie Hammons and Timothy Nicholas, our minds should turn to how we can… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on February 22, 2009 at 4:00pm — 23 Comments

G-XTREME Bunker Gear

My department is looking at purchasing G-XTREME bunker gear, I have some real concerns about the 32" coat length compared to the 35" coat length. If you wear this gear, what coat length do you wear and what are the pro's and con's to the lengths.

Thanks for your input.

Added by Ken 2405 on February 21, 2009 at 3:38pm — 8 Comments

TNT: The Accidental Runner: Of Pancakes and Concrete Shoes

Another “brisk” morning run…it was 22 degrees at 7 a.m., but factor in the gusty winds and “Lake Effect Snow” (what lake would that be in Albany, exactly.. ? )it made heading out kind of sucky, for lack of a better word.

We always start out enthusiastically, all chatty and chipper, feeling like we could run forever, until that first blast of icy wind smacks you right in the grill and suddenly the fun factor drops. That’s when you have to dig down and remember why you’re doing this in… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on February 21, 2009 at 10:38am — 10 Comments

Should Emergency Medical Services at least at the First Responder level be provided by local Fire company

now im not trying to start a rift or anything but i would like some feed back on wether EMS should be provided in the fire service by either vol or paid.

please list pros and cons.......and yes i know the last three letters in problems is ems

Added by matthew Baker on February 20, 2009 at 9:57pm — 4 Comments

Angel Flight(NE)

I was at my Ham Radio Club meeting on wednesday night and we had a speaker who gave us a half hour talk on this very important subject. I found to be very informative, as I did know about this service but did not know they were free and in this area Buffalo,NY. They are not related to Mercy Flight or Star Flight. Below I will tell you more about them and what they do.

Angel Flight NE is a non-profit organization that provides free flights in private aircraft by volunteer pilots, for… Continue

Added by Bob Allard on February 20, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Hey

Thank you all for the warm welcome!

Added by Danielle on February 20, 2009 at 6:30pm — 2 Comments

Near-Miss Reporting System & Common Voices Receive Sarbanes Award

CFSI Press Release (Feb. 20)--The Congressional Fire Services Institute and the NFFF just announced their choices for the Senator Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award: the International Association of Fire Chiefs for its Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System and Common Voices for its advocacy efforts around fire… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on February 20, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

ABC Looking for Firefighters Seeking to Reunite with Victims, Colleagues & Motivators

Are you searching for a victim, fellow firefighter, lost family member, or someone else from your past that had a great impact on your life? Share your story on a new TV show from the creators of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Secret Millionaire."

If yours is a story of separation and a desire to meet up again, then we want to talk to you! Are you a firefighter whose own life was saved by… Continue

Added by FFN WebTeam on February 20, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

The Greatest Ambition - The true test of a fire officer’s greatness is their devotion to instructing others

The late Edward F. Croker, who served as FDNY chief of department from 1899 to 1911, will forever be remembered for his saying: “I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman.” Chief Croker’s words epitomize the thoughts of many men and women within our ranks and many more who will soon follow.

What drives us to be firefighters is something we may never truly understand. To the ordinary citizen, we are presumed to be a little left of center, a card shy of a… Continue

Added by Timothy Sendelbach on February 20, 2009 at 9:30am — 10 Comments

Did you You know this is a law.. I did not

Fire truck law alarming firefighters

Commercial license needed to return equipment to firehouse

By JORDAN CARLEO-EVANGELIST, Staff writer

First published in print: Friday, February 20, 2009

ALBANY — Firefighters across the state are roaring for the repeal of a little-understood section of vehicle and traffic law that allows them to drive their fire trucks to the scene of an emergency — but not drive them back unless they have a commercial driver's… Continue

Added by anne potter on February 20, 2009 at 6:58am — 6 Comments

Tanker Safety

So let me start by saying that when I say "tanker," I mean a truck. Not a helicopter, not a plane, a truck!!! LOL I know that the word "tender" is now the proper term for what I am referring to however I have decided that until county dispatch changes our "tanker box alarms" to "tender box alarms" that I will keep calling them tankers. I am only claryifying because I know that if I didnt, people on this site (cough Lutan1 cough) lol would be sure to point out that I am wrong in calling it a… Continue

Added by Dustin J. Millis on February 20, 2009 at 2:49am — 3 Comments

Financial Aid for a Volunteer Firefighters Child in Pennsylvania is there anything available??

Hi Everyone, Would anyone be so kind to tell me if there is any Financial Aid for a Volunteer Firefighters child that goes to a University in Pennsylvania and what the requirements would be for them to get the financial aid for College the student is taking up Architecture and is brilliant. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Hughie lkyspgot57@aol.com The 57 House GO PENS!!!!!!!!

Added by Hugh on February 20, 2009 at 2:30am — 5 Comments

Need for good chaplains in Fire Deptartments...

I have a very rich church background and like baseball players and football teams does your fire

deptartment have a really good chaplain who works with the crew and is actively at every fire call or

in the station for emergencies or has a asst. pastor there? Do the men have someone to talk to if they

are having marriage problems, personal problems, etc... Just think this would just add so much to

the morale of the fire deptartment. Does your fire dept. just pray "ceremony… Continue

Added by Ruthie Appleby on February 20, 2009 at 2:29am — No Comments

For the first time I couldnt do my job because the p.t. was a friend.......

This morning at 0915 we had a page for MVA semi vs car. I knew that it was going to be ugly, dispatch had advised 1 pt trapped and it was on a stretch of road where traffic travels at 55+. Opon arrival found .. ALS unit was there before me.......they where calling the pt.........I know this car it belongs to a very close friends 22 year old son........I lift the sheet and confirm my horror.......I could not do it...... I turned IC to my captain to complete the extrication. Once I thought I was… Continue

Added by Palmyra Chief Donaghey on February 19, 2009 at 10:13pm — 4 Comments

Im trying to find out how to change over ifsac certifications for my state

Hey everyone I am trying to find out how to change over my IFSAC certifications that I got through the military to normal state accepted FF I/II certifications. If anyone has any idea how to do this I would greatly appreciate the help. With that if anyone has or knows where to find a list of states that accept IFSAC certs alone it would be a handy tool to have also.

Added by Martin Majda on February 19, 2009 at 10:02pm — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 19, 2009

A few nights ago I got to try the thermal imaging camera. When you go to the Academy, they mention the camera when you hit the chapter in the book but the only way you get to try certain pieces of equipment is in the firehouse or at a scene. At a scene is not necessarily the best way to learn something but if it's not busy, it's a good way you can pick up some practical knowledge.

I was lucky enough to be with a volunteer… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 19, 2009 at 9:27am — 6 Comments

Positive Pressure Ventilation

Hi I'm an industrial firefghter instrutor in Belgium and I am searching for some video's (succesfull and unsuccesfuul ventilations) and background on positive pressure ventilation. Can somebody help me?

Added by Rony on February 19, 2009 at 9:19am — 1 Comment

Thanks

I want to thank all who commented on my Daughters Birthday, They do grow up so fast, Before I know it she will be talking to....Ugh should I say it.... boys on the phone LOL. She has expressed that she wants to be a firefighter when she gets bigger and all I tell her is that its a long way off to decide now, she then later says she wants to be a singer LOL oh well I'll worry about that when she gets there.

Added by John on February 19, 2009 at 8:44am — No Comments