January 2009 Blog Posts (170)

a little about me

I became a firefighter because I wanted to help people and it is a family tradition. My father, four older brothers and oldest sister were all fire fighters even my youngest sister became a fire fighter until she got married and moved.

I joined when I was sixteen as a junior fire fighter.At twenty one I became a second LT. and rose threw the ranks to Captain. Was a Captain up until three years ago when I became Assistant Chief. I do a lot of training with the new guys' and ladies… Continue

Added by turk182 on January 2, 2009 at 10:46pm — 6 Comments

Marketing Your Fire Department: Opportunities and Tactics

I already posted this as a discussion, but felt it merited a blog post as well.....so here goes...

Unused Resources, Lost Opportunities

I’ve been struggling with something for a bit, and decided rather than trying to be politically correct, or trying to avoid sounding like I’m giving a good friend a shameless plug…..I’m going to give a good friend a shameless plug for all the right reasons, and if you don’t like it…..too bad; Freedom of Speech and all that.

Have… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on January 2, 2009 at 10:01pm — 5 Comments

oldest operating firehouse in united states is scheduled to close

As a resident of shelby county right next to the huge city of louisville, i really would rather not see engine 7 close down. Engine 7 started serving louisville in 1871 while ulysses s. grant was president. Mayor Jerry ambramson said this would help balance a 20 million revenue shortfall by louisville city government. Its estimated this will save about 1 million dollars annually and since there are 6 other firehouses in a 2 mile radius it should not pose a problem to response times.

The 24… Continue

Added by Jessica Travis on January 2, 2009 at 9:00pm — 4 Comments

New Year's Resolutions vs. the Same Old Stuff

A lot of us make New Year's Resolutions to break bad habits, make positive changes in our lives, or to set a goal that we want to meet during the new year. We often see firefighters who make New Year's Resolutions to improve safety for their departments. These changes can be as simple as reminding ourselves to pay attention to details, to base our actions on size-up and not on thoughtless reactions, or something similar. They can also be as complicated as implementing a new safety program… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on January 2, 2009 at 4:54pm — 1 Comment

For the Old Timers: Colonoscopy Awaits You

A while back, Chief Billy Goldfeder wrote a little story in The Secret List urging everyone over 50 to schedule a colonoscopy. He didn’t need to convince me; after my father died of cancer in 2005, I went to the doctor and scheduled a complete physical examination. Doc suggested that I have a colonoscopy, so I resigned myself to the medical profession for the procedure.

I don’t recall that Chief Billy went into details about his experience, so I thought I would share mine for all of… Continue

Added by Joe Stoltz on January 1, 2009 at 9:15pm — 19 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...January 1, 2009

Our company is preparing for our Officer's Dinner this weekend. It's fascinating being involved with the process. People on the outside don't understand that there are committees for everything and just like families you have the people that work hard and the people that just show up at the "party" and lend a hand then.

The other day I went to Costco with one of my friends at the… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on January 1, 2009 at 8:59pm — 3 Comments

our first call of the year ( fatal)

the first article is 99% correct the only mistake is the amount of firefighters that responded as mutual aid units

One Woman Dead in City of Tonawanda House Fire

Posted By: Rachel Kingston

One woman is dead following an early morning house fire on Stark Street in the City of Tonawanda.

Chief Charles Stuart says flames erupted in the rear of 86 Stark Street around 6:30 this morning. When firefighters arrived, the house was fully engulfed.

A male occupant… Continue

Added by steve price on January 1, 2009 at 7:00pm — 4 Comments

Love

Why is it so easy to fall in love but so hard to be in love

Added by Megan on January 1, 2009 at 5:01pm — 8 Comments

Digital Dumpster?

Is it just me or does it seem that the photo album has become a dumpster for digital photos? I used to enjoy going through and viewing the recent photos and finding the interesting ones (scenes, fires, training, and the occasional member pix) now it's just too time consuming.

Not to knock anyone's pix, but does EVERY photo you ever took need to be downloaded?

Maybe I'm just a crochety, old, grey-haired, wrinkle-a$$...

Have a great / safe 2009!!!!!!!!

Added by Daryl R. Brye on January 1, 2009 at 5:47am — 8 Comments

More Than Meets the Eye Part II

Ok,so alot has changed since I last blogged,I worked for a paid ambulance company an walked away after may issues both personal and work related.Big Mistake.My Child support got rasied a week before I left.My wife and I have gotten back togather,though at times it seems we may have been better off apart,but thats just apart of being married I guess.Recently I desided NOT to run for any position in my department.An apparently everyone was shocked I didn't,execpt me.But as it turned out my wife… Continue

Added by Tony Leonard,Jr. on January 1, 2009 at 12:32am — 1 Comment