I know that you should save the best for last. I think though that I will begin with one of the best. This is a story that I occasionally share with certain people, at particularly difficult times in their life. This story can be read different ways by different people. What this talks about though is social perception and personal perception. This is my favorite granddaddy story. Not just…

NVFC, FDNY and Virginia Fire Chiefs Association Receive Paul Sarbanes Award…

FireRescue magazine's Technical Rescue Web column

Natural Disasters: Are we prepared to respond anywhere, any time?

By Harold Schapelhouman



The recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, Japan and Turkey have people understandably wondering what’s going on with our planet, as seismic activity seems to be at an all-time high in many regions of the world, and whether an area near them may be…

Rural/Metro Medical Services will be adding 9 paramedics to the work force. The additional paramedics are graduates of the 2010 Monroe Community College Paramedic Program. The graduates are currently EMT certified employees and will now serve the community as paramedics, which is highest level in pre-hospital care. The EMT certification is a pre-requesite for the paramedic program. After completion of the 14 month program each graduate will receive a New York State (NYS) Paramedic…

Fire Rescue Magazine reported today that Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Firefighters met with representatives of the National Volunteer Firefighters Council at IAFF Local 4799 Fallbrook International Airport, PA to announce a new union initiative.…

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 31, 2010

Hi guys sorry I haven't written it's been crazy!!!!

Got a job - start 4/12.

Got divorced!!!!! Did the paperwork myself! Hot damn!

I am now Denise Imperiale again!!!!!

Have a great Easter

In my mind there are two types of people in the fire service—there are firefighters and there are people who work for the fire department.

Firefighters are people of…

The best thing to ever happen to me was when I became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Firefighter. On December 1, 2007, I met with the captain,

Jeff Bryant Senior, of the Amboy Volunteer Fire Department. When I met with

Captain Bryant, he and I discussed whether I would be an EMT cadet, fire cadet,

or both. After talking to my mom, I decided that EMT would be best,…

Please excuse my delay in continuing the “communications” blog. The Chief was out of town for 2 weeks. Why is it when he goes outta town and leaves me the keys to the caddie, things get busy. I’m not complaining though…Anywho, back on topic.…

I have never blogged on the internet before.

I only socially network here on FFN.com and jems.connect.com.

I have posted on view points on training or opinions of ideas, but never on my thoughts.

I'd like to say thank you, and a genuine thank you to everyone who have helped advance my knowledge over the past 10 months or so.....I have been pursuing my FF1...and am within a few months of that now...with my FF essentials being done for about a year,…

History in the Making: Response to the 2009 North Dakota flood By Captain Leon Schlafmann

Editor's Note: For more information on Fargo's 2010 flood preparations, check out FireRescue's interview with Captain Schalfmann.

When it comes to fire…

My daughter came to me about a year ago and told me she had written a poem. Knowing she was only 3 yrs old and had just mastered writing her alphabet I knew it would have been a miraculous achievement if she had actually written anything on paper besides the usual smiley faces and scribbled flowers. To my amazement she had not put it on paper; she had made up this poem in her head and had said it so…