Featured Blog Posts – January 2009 Archive (26)

EMT killed in the line of duty

Graduate, EMT Class of 2007

TIERS VOLUNTEER MARK DAVIS SHOT, KILLED IN CAPE VINCENT

ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. — The New York State Police at Alexandria Bay are investigating a homicide that occurred at approximately 11:58 p.m., January 30, at 114 South Esseltyne Street in Cape Vincent.

The victim, Mark B. Davis, 25 of 172 James St., Cape Vincent, was serving as a volunteer EMT for the Cape Vincent Volunteer Fire Department, when they… Continue

Added by anne potter on January 31, 2009 at 3:30pm — 8 Comments

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

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

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

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...January 23, 2009
Today I received an invitation to my own graduation. I still have to take the written state test again. Maybe a good sign that I received the invitation (February 5th)? Still studying here in Morris Township.

Added by Denise Imperiale on January 23, 2009 at 9:21pm — 3 Comments

Chaplains in small towns

Being a Chaplain in a small town is very difficult.I say town, really I cover the whole county, 12 districts in all. Can anyone share some experiences of being the first Chaplain ever in a department? After 3 years I feel that most of the departments are warming up to the idea of having a Chaplain. But its my own call whether or not I respond. I have told various districts that if you don't hear me call in route and you feel I am needed on the scene, call me or have the dispatcher to call me. I… Continue

Added by Ted Gentle on January 23, 2009 at 7:53pm — 1 Comment

Disorientation and the Interior Firefight

by: Lou Angeli

(Anytown, USA) -- The fire service here in the USA is extremely fortunate to employ some of the bravest firefighters and most knowledgeable fire officers in the world. But firefighting is inherently a dangerous profession, and things will and do go wroong. When a firefighter loses his or her life in a burning structure it is usually a result of unanticipated or unexpected fire development, not the inadequacies of command or even a firefighter’s… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on January 23, 2009 at 5:47pm — 7 Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Close But No Cigar

So close, yet so far….we had a BUSY day at the department today.

First, I missed a fire call. No, not an auto alarm at the high school….nope…not a basement pumpout….it was an Honest To God, Mutual Aid, Smoke Showing, Signal “Real Deal” call. And I missed it. Not a bonafide structure fire, Not a ‘cooker” , but the closest I’ve come to one. Damn that paying job anyway…..

We were offered a recap of the call (chimney fire) during drill. Our chief ran down the “who-did-what's"… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on January 22, 2009 at 11:26pm — 15 Comments

Changing Times

Compared to many of you I am still just a Rookie. I come from a small Department in upstate New York. I will be starting my 28th year this April. So I guess that means I have damn close to 27 years. Realizing of course that not only have times changed but we have as Firefighters, EMT's have changed as well. But my question to ponder is this. Has everybody changed? Or were we just different to begin with……

When I started it was not uncommon a couple times a week to go out and practice. We… Continue

Added by Chief4free390 on January 21, 2009 at 8:52am — 1 Comment

The way we work in my station

My station is the 1st Fire Station of Athens (1ος Πυροσβεστικός Σταθμός Αθηνών). It can easily be found by searching for Mourouzi 4, Athens, Greece.

We are working on four (4) shifts. Three shifts are working daily and one is having day off. Our working week has eight (8) days. We start work having two night shifts (22:00 till next… Continue

Added by Georgios Savvidis on January 21, 2009 at 5:49am — 10 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...January 20, 2009

Today I woke up like many Americans with the bright hope for a great new future for our country. Not like all of our problems can be solved overnight, but the amount of hope that is shining out there is catching.

I had the same hope today when I went to talk about my daughter's placement and recent situation. Because of privacy, I cannot post what we did today, but suffice to say that I have been strong throughout my… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on January 20, 2009 at 9:16pm — 2 Comments

Everyone Has Their Parking Lot Somewhere

Like I was discussing in my blog at Firehouse Zen, experience is useless without learning from it. As an officer with a few incidents under my belt, I too have my parking lot somewhere as a stark reminder of my failures and inadequacies (this isn't it, by the way). When I need a little humbling, I take a little spin by the ol' place to remind myself of what I was like as a young officer.

Unless you… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on January 18, 2009 at 10:00pm — 5 Comments

That's Why.

FRIENDSHIP NY FIREFIGHTER TOM TORPEY FLANKED BY HIS MOTHER SISSY AND HIS WIFE JESSICA.

From: www.tigerschmittendorf.com

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I recently responded to a post on FirefighterNation.com from my friend… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on January 15, 2009 at 8:51am — 19 Comments

Health Care for Volunteer Firefighters

01/14/09 06:54 AM

Health care for volunteers is approved

By Nancy Gish

SOUTHTOWNS CORRESPONDENT

The Town of Wales may become the first town in Erie County to meet the state mandate on health care for volunteer firefighters, emergency medical service and ambulance workers.

The Town Board approved an agreement Tuesday with BlueCross BlueShield to provide coverage through the town for the volunteers, who will pay the premiums themselves. The… Continue

Added by Dave, NB 9 on January 14, 2009 at 7:51am — 2 Comments

A debt is owed to all who volunteer to fight fires

This is my response to a stinging series of features recently published in the Wilmington, DE News-Journal regarding the failure of the volunteer system in the state. The News Journal writers printed a great many inaccuracies, manipulated response times and, in general, skewed their stories to place the volunteer fire service in as bad a light as possible.

Here is letter to the editor -- published as the series was being presented.

"America’s volunteer firefighters and… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on January 13, 2009 at 8:46pm — 6 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...January 6, 2009

To all of my friends at Firefighternation.com, thanks for letting me blog this.

I am sitting home writing this article while my daughter is at the Morris County Youth Shelter, waiting to go to residential treatment for drug use. It took her almost two years to get there. I would like to share this story, in the hope that other parents can look at the resources I used to help us get the treatment she needs.

We… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on January 6, 2009 at 10:22pm — 3 Comments

It has nothing to do with Mrs. Smith …

. . . and everything to do with local political power

A guaranteed groaner when teaching a fire officer course is to talk about “Mrs. Smith” or The Phoenix Way. Firefighters are quick to point out that they are not in a retail trade. Users of 9-1-1 are called victims or patients,… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on January 5, 2009 at 8:00pm — 7 Comments

A New Year and A New Attitude

Just a quick note that this being a new year and since I had started in class in the fall I had fallen off of my exercising, and as it would be I gained weight that I didn't want to. that being said my new attitude is that I will start up again with working out and losing weight, not only so I can do my job better, but so I don't have any health problems at a fire scene, I wanna be able to do all the work I am assigned without having to catch my breath. All in all its for the better to get into… Continue

Added by John on January 5, 2009 at 9:15am — 2 Comments