All Blog Posts (7,003)

The Continuing Chronicle of the FNG(irl): Keeping it Real

We had our 2009 Installation Dinner last night.

First….a word about something near and dear to all of us…..the food.

Holy Slab of Prime Rib. I’m no slacker at the dinner table, and if I’m really hungry, I can do a lot of damage. That’s why I run….so that I can eat what I want when the mood strikes. I can usually clean my plate, but this…..this monstrously huge side of beef …..beat me down.

It was literally the size of my head, and almost four inches thick. I… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on January 31, 2009 at 10:03am — 14 Comments

Does your dog wear a sweater?

From my blog on The Kitchen Table at http://thekitchentable.firerescue1.com/

When my wife recently got Molly - our puppy - a sweater. I - in my most loving and tactful way - questioned the need and the expense. I think I said something like "Have you lost your mind? A sweater for a dog??? Frankly, I thought it looked silly and was unnecessary.

She then proceeded to explain that unlike our other dog, Molly's short hair… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on January 31, 2009 at 9:39am — 14 Comments

Continue

Added by Elvin A. Reyes on January 30, 2009 at 11:54pm — No Comments

Almost a Year in the Fire Service

Well its almost been a year since i joined the Fire Service, and its been a blast the entire year. Between the experince i have gained in the year with the various tranings my Esstinals and Basic Frefighting 101 and just the experince i have gained from the calls that i have gone on. Either it be a full out structrue fire or Grass fire or just a MVA. Sadly though i also have seen death, being my first call i went on for a very very bad MVA, where one person was DOA. So i got baptised very early… Continue

Added by Mike Yocom on January 30, 2009 at 6:09pm — 2 Comments

Night at the Museum

Christina, Kyle, Tiger and Dennis on

their most excellent adventure at the

Buffalo Fire Historical Museum

PHOTO BY: MARGARET COGHLAN

OK. I admit it.

It was a day at the museum but hey, nobody ever made a movie with the catchy title: "Day at the Museum."

Regardless, we had a great day recently when we visited the Buffalo Fire Historical Museum on William St. near Ogden St. on the city's… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on January 30, 2009 at 11:31am — 6 Comments

I NEED HELP TO FIND GRANTS !!!!

My Dept is looking for grants to build a new fire house,I need help finding them.I have been told that there are GRANTS that are no match or low match that is what im looking for,so if you can help or point me in the right direction i need all the help i can get. THANK YOU MATT

Added by Matt Elliott on January 30, 2009 at 9:52am — 1 Comment

Somethings I think I think (My version)

Many years ago, there was a writer for the Pittsburgh Press. His name was Phil Musick. He wrote a column that had the same title as my subject title. Every once in a while, I'll write some stuff down. It's mainly for my amusement and bemusement. I have been thinking on some things, recently and in general and I want to share. Respond if you like, but no need to. This is just me, not one of those funky forwarding e-mails.

There is no limit to how many friends you… Continue

Added by Andy Marsh on January 30, 2009 at 2:00am — 2 Comments

firefighter killed in 2 car crash

Sgt. Earl Morphew

Sergeant Earl Morphew was killed early wednesday morning around 430 am by a drunk driver travling the wrong way down I81. Earl was a sergeant at BRISTOL VA FIRE DEPT in Bristol VA. hes was aslo a volunteer at Chilhowie FIRE DEPT. Earl was aslo a flight paramedic for the wellmont health systems of Bristol VA.

REST IN PEACE… Continue

Added by derek duckett on January 29, 2009 at 8:37pm — 6 Comments

NG (New Guy)

Hey "Nation"!

I am one of 15 paid firefighters in a small combo dept. (10 or 15 vollies).

I joined the "nation" to maybe find individuals in the same boat???

We have a BOARD that doesn't communicate with us (paid staff) and we have vollies who don't communicate with us???

We are under the impression that if we speak up....we'll get fired???

So we come to work each rotation and do our job, train, and get certified in anything we can get our hands… Continue

Added by bolts21pads19 on January 29, 2009 at 3:26pm — 2 Comments

Snow

The winter storm is over, and we got about 8 1/2 inches in Southern Montgomery county Ohio. The good thing was there were no severe MVA's no major fires in our Township and it was a fairly normal night on the medic, both units had close numbers of runs. I figured we would either get slammed or sit all night. I commend my Department, as they staffed all stations with the volleys and had just 2 respond to medic assist calls with a staff car, while leaving 2 at the station to man the engine just… Continue

Added by John on January 29, 2009 at 11:53am — 1 Comment

pittsburgh's going to the superbowl...here we go...

i am off to pitt for the steelers pep rally.. then back to uniontown for the one at mall...cuz u know pittsburgh's goin to the superbowl... they r so good they get 2

Added by Fire Chick on January 29, 2009 at 9:09am — 4 Comments

Fire Department Physicals and what age should you change from interior to exterior

I have to ask this question and this is why. Last night we had our yearly department physicals. We ran the gambit of fit testing, the breathing test, eye exam, hearing test, EKG and physical exam.

Everything went as normal for me, I filled out the normal papers and then I started going through the stations. Vision which was pretty normal, oh yes they asked for a urine sample. Nothing serious they just check and make sure there are no abnormalities in it. Did my hearing test, it was… Continue

Added by Kimberly A Bownas on January 29, 2009 at 8:12am — 19 Comments

Wesleyville Fire at J&L's on 1-28-09

Just wanted to thank any and all fire Fighters that assisted us (The Wesleyville Hose Company) on Wednesday 1/28/09 with thwe Structer fire at J&L's Sports bar. It was a long cold day for most and I am very glade we keep the fire to the origanal Bldg. With the way that whole block was set up it could have been a real mess.
Thanks again

Mike Slupski
Chief
Wesleyville Hose Company

Added by Michael Slupski on January 28, 2009 at 10:30pm — No Comments

From My Mother.

My mother e-mailed this to me. I figured I would share it with you guys.

A Mother's Prayer

The alarm goes off, ready to go, all with no hesitation. Time to save a soul or a home, straight to that destination. This prayer's for my daughter, as that fire calls. Protecting the innocent and fighting flaming walls. Guide her with your strength, the courage to pull her through, give her that breath of air if she gets down to her last few. By chance she may get weak do give her… Continue

Added by Christian Cossey on January 28, 2009 at 10:17pm — No Comments

My Dad Was A Firefighter.

My dad was a firefighter. He'd go to work everyday and say wish me luck. Then he wouldn't come home til sometime the next day, but the thing that bothered me the most is when people would say a firefighters job is easy. He eats, sleeps, and plays, and sometimes won't fight a fire for days. When I first heard these words I was too young to understand but I knew when people were in trouble my dad was there to lend a hand. Then my father went to work one day and kissed us all goodbye. Later that… Continue

Added by Christian Cossey on January 28, 2009 at 10:15pm — No Comments

My Brother Has Fallen.

My brother has fallen. His name is Johnathan. We don't have the same family, but we are still family. He lives in one town, I live in another. It doesn't really matter because this man is my brother. My brother I call him because he has worked by my side on almost every call. I have brothers and sisters all over the place. You see we are firefighters and our families are one. Around the world, a brotherhood of unity. A closeness, a bond that most people could never understand. I watched your… Continue

Added by Christian Cossey on January 28, 2009 at 10:15pm — 1 Comment

I Wish You Could Know.

I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for trapped children at 3 AM, flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight as the kitchen below you burns. I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at six in the morning as I check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything… Continue

Added by Christian Cossey on January 28, 2009 at 10:14pm — No Comments

Cold Weather Firefighting Quiz

With much of the nation locked in by cold and ice, I thought it would be useful to share a quiz that deals specifically with cold weather firefighting. If you're game, here's the scenario:

It's 0212 hours and the crew of Ladder 9 have been dispatched as the 2nd due truck on a building fire. For Ladder 9's crew, this will be the 4th response of the evening, two of which were working fires. Because of the previous jobs, there's some standing water remaining in the ladder pipe and the… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on January 28, 2009 at 9:42pm — 1 Comment

Returning to National Fire Academy in '09

I have received confirmation that I will be attending the 2009 NYS Weekend at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg! I will be taking Leadership Skills III: Statagies for Supervisory Success. I will be returning with Paul Zemla, my Second Assistant Chief, this will be his 3rd NYS Weekend.

Added by Joseph Sajdak on January 28, 2009 at 7:55pm — No Comments

Fishing Stories and the Cool Cat...

Ok, so many of you know that I celebrated my 55th birthday with some other firefighters at a local lake that included some fishing. So why not another fish story? Here's mine...

We drove down to the shoreline and saw a boat anchored off the shore and assumed it was owned by a friend of ours. With this being the mind set, I went out to the boat, climbed aboard and noticed a fishing pole in the water with some slack line laying on the surface... What an opportunity for some quick down… Continue

Added by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on January 28, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments