All Blog Posts (7,007)

California Burning -- Again!

Federal Engines Stand Idle as The Search for Trained Firefighters Begins

By: Lou Angeli

Big Sur, CA (July 8, 2008) -- With dry winds and low humidity in store, the day doesn’t seem to be a promising one for firefighters working fires on California’s central coast. The Basin Complex fire in the Los Padres National Forest has currently destroyed 74,985 acres and is only 11 percent contained. The complex is burning away at one of the nation’s most beautiful destinations, Big… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on July 8, 2008 at 11:16pm — No Comments

CELEBRITY NEWS: Michael J. Fox May Join 'Rescue Me'

From the celebrity news wires I'm hearing that Michael J. Fox may jump on board the cast of 'RESCUE ME' during the fifth season. The plan is for Fox to play a love interest to Denis Leary's character's ex (Janet). Entertainment Tonight is reporting this afternoon that Fox is considering the offer - which makes sense since Fox and Leary are longtime friends.

As you may recall, Fox suffers from Parkinson's and hasn't been on TV… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 8, 2008 at 4:50pm — No Comments

Louisville Ambulance Driver Didn't Report Convictions

Here's a good discussion: What are your department's policies in regard to the reporting of criminal offenses? Is it required to report traffic tickets? Misdemeanor convictions? Citations?

A story out of Louisville, KY regarding Tammy Renee Brewer who was involved in an accident while transporting a nose bleed patient. Brewer was found later to have a number of criminal offenses which were not reported to her employer OR the… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 8, 2008 at 7:00am — 2 Comments

Volunteer Firefighter Gets Spiked In The Brain!

A volunteer firefighter in Penrose, CO got a lesson in anatomy that he probably doesn't want to go through again. Chris Clear was helping a friend move a roto-tiller when SNAP! He said it was just like a rock hitting his face, but it didn't feel like anything went further than that. He went to his mom who said his nose was pouring with blood.

They drove to the hospital where they took an X-ray of his NECK (the focus of his pain)… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 8, 2008 at 5:00am — 6 Comments

TNT: The Accidental Runner; F.R.O.G.

Some people wonder why I run half marathons and fundraise for Leukemia, and I’ve posted some comments on here before in my TNT: The Accidental Runner blogs to explain, but I don’t think anything can say it better as to why I do what I do than the note posted below.

One of the kids that the Upstate NY/VT Chapter is running for is Dylan Mayo, 8 years old, from Clifton Park, NY.

He was diagnosed with AML M4 Leukemia on 1/9/07. He and his family have never given up hope. Their motto… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on July 7, 2008 at 9:36am — 9 Comments

WHOA! Morning Apparatus Check Interrupted By Oak Tree

Think about this one: You are minding your own business on a beautiful Sunday morning checking out the apparatus. The sun is shining, birds are singing, and the rookies are doing, well, what rookies do. Then all of a sudden CRASH! An oak tree falls in front of your station directly into the apparatus! That'll wake your ass up.

That's exactly what happened in Hillsborough County, Florida yesterday. An oak tree fell on Engine and… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 7, 2008 at 9:30am — 8 Comments

4th of July Weekend

Well, the 4th of July weekend is over, and amazingly enough, we did not have to make a response to Desoto Falls to pull someone out. Normally, on the 4th of July weekend we have to respond to the Falls to pull out someone who decides they want to jump the 70 feet to impress their friends. We all know the ones who do it, their famous last words, "Hey ya'll watch this!"

Added by Michael Stone on July 7, 2008 at 9:05am — No Comments

A must see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3340274697167011147

Added by Dale Lucius on July 7, 2008 at 8:50am — 1 Comment

A Badged S.F. Firefighter Goes Topless In Gay Pride Parade

What are your thoughts about this? If you are a paid firefighter for a city, county or otherwise AND you wear your official badge on your bustier while topless in a parade - should you be disciplined? (For the record, it really doesn't matter what the parade is - the point is about being topless in public while displaying your employers official badge).

We hear out in San Fancisco that an off-duty firefighter was… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 7, 2008 at 8:00am — 16 Comments

Evans Center Chief Dennis Allen Gets Double Lung Transplant

I am happy to report that my best friend and brother firefighter, Denny Allen received a life-saving double-lung transplant on Wednesday-July 2nd at the Cleveland Clinic.

He was admitted to the clinic on Thursday-June 26th due to complications from the pulmonary fibrosis he suffered from. I paid him a surprise visit early in the day on Tuesday-July 1st and got to spend about 5 hours with him. We shared lunch and had a great time… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on July 6, 2008 at 11:27pm — 4 Comments

9/11 Letter written by an Unknown NJ housewife

Letter from one 'Angry Woman'

I don't know who wrote it but they should have signed it. Some powerful words. This woman should run for president.

Written by a housewife from New Jersey and sounds like it! This is one ticked off lady.

'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?

> Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day,… Continue

Added by Michael Fish #89 on July 6, 2008 at 11:21pm — 3 Comments

1st week in July

well July is supposed to come on with fireworks and it sure did the natural kind, we had lightening the last evening in June and the first of July, the Monday lightening created a fire called the Rattlesnake point fire which was pretty tame until July 1 at 1700 hours when a new cell started its thing with High winds. The fire was pushed across containment lines to the east and became a threat to structures in fire district 3. Two Stations responded to DNR's request for Structure protection and… Continue

Added by Gordon Hennigs on July 6, 2008 at 10:42pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

I am sure many people are wondering why I haven't written a Notes from a Rookie Firefighter column this week.

I was going to quit. Going to the Morris County Training Academy full-time had to be one of the most grueling and demanding things I've done. I was all battered up, frustrated from the heat and distracted from my children and my lack of work. I had a little doubt about having the fortitude to continue. My husband then realized that one day I would be going from a red to a… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on July 6, 2008 at 3:32pm — 3 Comments

MERIT BOARD INTERVIEW!!!!

Hey!!! what is up everyone?! Well, I made it through the CPAT! WOOOP WOOOP!! and now it's time for the merrit board interview...this should be interesting. i know every dept does it differently but its the same idea...any1 got any potential questions you think they'll ask?!!! any help would be amazing

Added by Sarah Hagerty on July 6, 2008 at 2:00pm — 2 Comments

Man Cut Free From 'S&M' Chastity Belt By Firefighters

News from across the pond in the U.K. - firefighters had to cut a man from a titanium chastity belt used for sex games. This was after the man spent ALL DAY trying to free himself before calling for assistance. Personally, I would have worked at least 48 hours before letting firefighters come rescue me! Apparently, it took about 45 minutes to free the man. During this period, he reportedly slippped in and out of consciousness due to… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 6, 2008 at 1:30pm — 3 Comments

I know this has happend to others out there...kinda funny now.

Okay, last nite at 2045hrs my engine was heading to the local highschool to do a fire watch for the fireworks... We had a full engine of members and our girlfriends/wives/kids. We also had sevral personal cars just incase we had a call. Well, just before the school we get a medical call for a young girl who fell from 12 feet in the air. We just run our own cars as first responders. So we pull the engine over and myself and my capt jump out and swap from the engine to his truck (driven by his… Continue

Added by Matthew Cosgrove on July 6, 2008 at 9:46am — 2 Comments

California Firefighter Collapses at Wildfire

firehouse.com news

UKIAH, Calif. -- A firefighter died Thursday of an apparent heart attack suffered while assisting with the massive California wildfire.

Robert Roland, 63, was a member of Anderson Valley Volunteer Fire Department.

Roland started having trouble breathing while helping to lay hoses about noon Wednesday at a fire near Philo, according to published reports.

He was taken by ambulance to Ukiah Valley Medical Center where he died… Continue

Added by YOU GO, WE GO on July 5, 2008 at 10:06pm — No Comments

Paramedic Charged With Sexual Battery In Back Of Ambulance

Down in Clearwater Florida, we are getting reports that a Pinellas County paramedic molested a patient in the back of the ambulance on the way to the hospital. The patient, a female, reported to police that she had been touched inappropriately. This all happened back on June 26. The paramedic, 38 year old Patrick Livingston was arrested yesterday (July 4) and subsequently charged with sexual battery. Livingston is being held on a… Continue

Added by Rockland USA on July 5, 2008 at 9:00pm — 5 Comments

Georgia on my Mind

For those of you who are fortunate to live in Ga you are so luck. There is going to be some new millionaires living there very soon. I have seen this happen in Texas with many, many people and if you are in Ga. and would like to see this happen to someone you know or yourself please contact me. I want to know who you are so that I can say I knew them before they became so wealthy. The great thing about this is, it is not a pyramid scheme, and it really is a good thing to come to Ga. I cant wait… Continue

Added by Dale Lucius on July 5, 2008 at 6:23pm — 5 Comments

My Nephew

Timothy came off the Ventilator on wednesday, he is doing better but we still have a long way to go. His friend is still fighting for his life. The man who hit them got out of the hospital on Monday and was arrested for drunk driving, it was said that his blood alcohol level at the time he was braught to the hospital was at .11 holy shit. That is crazy.

I am sure that when he goes to court for this that he will certainly do some time as it is said that this is his 3rd DUI.. and… Continue

Added by Michele on July 5, 2008 at 12:29pm — 1 Comment