All Blog Posts (7,003)

She's finally here

I would like to announce the birth of my first child. On wednsday 12/17/08, Paityn Corinne Bates arrived at 6:34 pm , she is a perfectly healthy little girl weighing 7lbs 15 oz. and measuring 19 1/2 inches.she is absolutely beautiful, and her mother and I are so happy to have her. She was due on the 8th but wanted to be fashionably late, she really had her heels dug in and mommy had to be induced. If anyone has ever had to be a part of an induction… Continue

Added by Michael Bates on December 22, 2008 at 1:00pm — 16 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...December 22, 2008

Yesterday was our Santa Run, when we load up the ladder, engine and a pickup truck and drive around Morris Township and hand out candy canes to people that come and greet the trucks or are in their doorways. We also hand out dog biscuits to any dogs that come out. This picture is the view I had most of the day, sitting at the back of the Santa sleigh attached to a pick up… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on December 22, 2008 at 8:13am — No Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Screw The Holiday Season

Screw the Holiday Season?

Call me Ebenezer if you’d like. But you couldn’t be more wrong. I love Christmas.

It’s not my favorite holiday (I reserve that for the one holiday when I can indulge my passion for horror movies , haunts and costumes) but there’s an aspect of this Season of Giving that I embrace wholeheartedly……the opportunity for reflection and grabbing hold of what’s important. The opportunity to take stock and choose your priorities; the opportunity to… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on December 22, 2008 at 6:48am — 21 Comments

Everyday Heroes: Faith in Humanity

We're all dealing with tough economic times. Open up the newspaper and you are bombarded with dispiriting, depressing news....some of it heinous, and you sip your coffee and wonder how human beings can behave in such a depraved fashion. How can we treat each other with such cavalier cruelty?

It's not just the headline grabbers that I'm thinking about.....how about the driver who deliberately cuts you off in traffic....or the person who elbows you out of the way, steps on your foot,… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on December 22, 2008 at 6:48am — 6 Comments

Counting Your Blessings: The Best Damned Job In The World

I have no idea what's gotten into me. For the longest time I blogged on here like other folks change their socks (one would hope that would mean on a daily basis, but I take nothing for granted). Then I was sucked into a vortex of road trips for work, which coincided with a serious family issue. But lately, and fairly suddenly, I can't seem to contain my thoughts....even in blog format, particularly in blog format. Out of nowhere...I'm a Blogging Tour de Force...If rap were my milieu....I'd be… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on December 22, 2008 at 6:47am — 11 Comments

Hospital Visit YAY

Well tonight I left my pager/radio at home because it was going to be a night with the wife ( yea right ) so just make it into town when i see smoke to my left and being me i had to go check it out and to my surprise it was a house fire.... so i called the chief to let him know but we where already paged out so i gave him the size up (don't have my mobile in my new suv) so anyway we get the trucks all down this lil driveway when the tanker gets stuck... ok so i hook some chains to it and 32 and… Continue

Added by Jonathan on December 22, 2008 at 1:22am — 1 Comment

Emt-B

I just finished up my emt class @ the community college. I passed the final and the practicals. I take my state test on tuesday. I'm hoping for the best.

Added by missy on December 22, 2008 at 1:16am — 5 Comments

Fire Chief

A fire chief died and went to heaven. When he got there he saw a long line waiting to get in to the pearly gates. He told himself, "I am a fire chief, I'm not going to wait in line." He went to the angels guarding the gates and said, "Let me in, I'm a fire chief." The angels replied, "You'll have to wait in line like everyone else, sir." While waiting at the back of the line he saw a sedan pull up with red lights and a man got out wearing a white helmet that said "CHIEF." The angels popped to… Continue

Added by Fire medic 206 on December 21, 2008 at 1:52pm — No Comments

A Firefighter's Mom

On December 20th, 1948 the greatest women that I will ever know was born "My Mom".... I lost my mom in October of 2000 after a couragous battle with cancer... Some of you knew my mom but, for those of you that didn't she was not just my mom but she was my best friend.... She was everything to my family, and when we lost her there was a big crater left behind.... She was always the life of the party, and tried to make everyone around her laugh, and be happy... Don't get me wrong, and for those… Continue

Added by CJ Knapp on December 21, 2008 at 2:04am — 5 Comments

The Corinthos Disaster

The Corinthos Disaster

By Christian Lewis

A number of people who have Delaware County for the better part of their lives have come to know of the County’s major emergencies like the Wade Dump fire. However there is one event that was very distinctive and very dangerous. The Corinthos Disaster was unique in several respects most notably it was the largest disaster of its kind to be contained by an all-volunteer response. January 31, 2009 will mark the 34th anniversary… Continue

Added by Christian Lewis on December 20, 2008 at 3:23pm — 1 Comment

ISO and the "oh my god, they're coming WHEN??" that comes with it

If you're in a volunteer department and haven't had an ISO inspection in a while... start working on it NOW... because when you get that call, all your members will scatter like cockroaches when the light turns on...

The week after I got laid off from my county fire wildland position for the season, my volunteer department got the call that we were having an inspection 3 days before christmas... how nice. just so happens, i had nothing to do....

... i have been at the… Continue

Added by krys on December 19, 2008 at 9:33pm — 8 Comments

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL BE SAFE AND GOD BLESS

Added by Dennis on December 19, 2008 at 4:03pm — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...December 19, 2008

I wanted to share this link with you guys. It's snowing here in NJ!!!

http://www.imeem.com/popmusic14/music/BrlA4pcz/yellowcard_believe/

Added by Denise Imperiale on December 19, 2008 at 3:30pm — No Comments

2 Alarm on Rivera Wednesday, November 26, 2008

@ 1600 The township box alarm was struck to 3992 Riviera Rd. The township companies along with Truck 63 (Green Ridge), Ladder 68 (MHTFD), Rescue 39 (Lower Chichester) & Rescue 45 (Parkside) as the Rapid Intervention Team were on the assignment. Squrt & Tower 61 hit the street right away. Fireboard advised the responding units of numerous calls being received. Squrt & Tower 61 arrived with a 1 story single heavy fire showing side C. UC-9 (Montello) arrived and struck the 2nd Alarm… Continue

Added by Tom Adams on December 19, 2008 at 12:50pm — No Comments

Last Medic shift

What a Night my last medic shift was right in the middle of a level I snow emergency in Montgomery County Ohio. The roads were real nsty and I am sure there were alot of places in just as bad a storm. the funny and not so funny thing was that my medic was already out when I came on duty, as well as one of my partners (a sqaud leader) our other partner was out on our medic already as she works a 24 hr shift. Well all you know what was breaking loose and they had all equipment out somewhere in… Continue

Added by John on December 19, 2008 at 9:23am — 1 Comment

Too good to train?????? WHAT???!!!!

I recently attended a training event involving firefighter rescue and firefighter escape. Very similar to the "getting out alive" or "saving our own" training that is becoming very popular. I took the "saving our own" training about a year ago and despite being incredibly sore and having a huge bruise on my leg for weeks, It was the best training I have ever attended. Anyway... So im at this training at a neighboring dept. and we are all practicing bailing out a second story window through the… Continue

Added by Dustin J. Millis on December 19, 2008 at 1:31am — 9 Comments

This prayer is dedicated to all those who have gone before me and who will follow me in the line

My we all stay safe and always be around to help others.

When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage,

Give me the strength to save some life whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child before it is too late, or save an

older person from the horror of that fate.

Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently

to put the fire out. I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me,

to guard my every… Continue

Added by Fire medic 206 on December 18, 2008 at 11:38pm — No Comments

Christmas Comes Early for Kentucky FD

I’m sure we’ve all heard, and maybe even experienced, how the world is “getting smaller every day.” There’s probably no other place that this phrase is truer than in the fire service.

The more we dare to explore outside of our engine room doors, the more we find that there’s a brave new world out there full of firefighters who, despite their differences, are very similar to every one of us. A friend once told me that, in the end, it’s only… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on December 18, 2008 at 10:25pm — 18 Comments

Definitions every Firefighter should know.....

Chief Leaps short buildings with a single bound.

Is more powerful than a ladder truck.

Is faster than a speeding bullet.

Walks on water.

Gives Policy to GOD.

Assistant Chief

Leaps short buildings with a single bound.

Is more powerful than a pumper.

Is just as fast as a speeding bullet.

Walks on water if sea is calm.

Talks with GOD.

Deputy… Continue

Added by Michael Fish #89 on December 18, 2008 at 8:46pm — 3 Comments

Snow

For the record I like snow. however I'm really not a great fan of 2 feet in 24 hours powder snow. Monday we had a high of about 10 degrees, it was a bright sunny, very cold day. yesterday and today the highs are in the 20s and it's been almost constantly snowing since sometime early yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon about 1500 I had a page for an MVA. I got to the station and we had been canceled. So I slid my way home and spent some time shoveling out my driveway. Probably moved about 6… Continue

Added by Patience Ryan on December 18, 2008 at 4:03pm — 3 Comments