January 2011 Blog Posts (61)

The Blizzard of 2011......

Its winter.....in case the temps in the teens, ice and snow had already told you....and now for the second time in almost two weeks the weather forecasters are predicting the storm of the century here in the wonderful midwest. With ice falling now...and over a foot of snow with 40mph winds to follow I look out the window from the day room.....see the ever depressing sight of my fellow citzens driving as if it were summer. I know I had better get a nap in....as the next 36 hours are likely to… Continue

Added by Erik Wood on January 31, 2011 at 2:57pm — 5 Comments

Organ Donation

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=2706

http://www.cfnews.org/ByrneInterview.htm

http://catholicinsight.com/online/features/article_935.shtml

If organs are only supposed to be taken from "dead" donors, when is a…

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Added by Rachel on January 30, 2011 at 9:30pm — No Comments

NY!

Going to NY in 2 weeks! Going to ground zero and fire museum!! Any other places to visit?

Added by Cassie on January 30, 2011 at 11:54am — 3 Comments

"MAKE A HOLE, MAKE IT WIDE" on Backstep Firefighter

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on January 29, 2011 at 6:51pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...January 29, 2011

Today is clear off a hydrant day at the firehouse. I even noticed in one of the online newspapers an opportunity for residents to get a free coffee for doing it to help the fire department out. I remember last year doing the clean off with my captain and driving through the complex that I now live in. There were alot of residents parking in the fire lanes.

I guess people see snow and don't think fire. But they…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on January 29, 2011 at 11:12am — 1 Comment

The Hubbard Street Fire: The 50th anniversary of a tragic dual collapse

By the time crews arrived at the warehouse on Hubbard Street, the seven-story structure was already heavily involved, with flames shooting out the windows. All photos courtesy Fire Museum of Greater Chicago

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 28, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

my fire squad

http://www.morningsidevfd27.com/

this is the best squad i have ever worked with you rock

Added by Jaymie Billy Johnson on January 27, 2011 at 11:40am — No Comments

Long Beach (Calif.) Firefighters Rescue 2 Port Workers from Crane

RESCUE REPORT

By Tom Vines

Editor’s note: For more on crane rescue, see “No Rescue Too High” in the January 2011 issue of FireRescue magazine or click here for the online version.

Crane rescues present… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 27, 2011 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

Icy Situation Provides Cautionary Tale for Winter Rescues

Story and Photos by Bob Kolva

When the pager sounded at 1800 HRS, the air temperature was 12 degrees F with a wind chill of -10 degrees F. We were responding to a motor vehicle crash (MVC) on a hill covered with compact snow and ice. A 1980s Caravan packed with young door-to-door salespeople had crossed the center lane, meeting a full-sized Cadillac head on.

With five passengers in the van and one in the Cadillac, there were plenty of potential patients milling…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 26, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Tips for Removing a Victim in a Tower Crane

No Rescue Too High

From the January 2011 issue of FireRescue magazine

By Andy Speier

Tower cranes run anywhere from 86 to 262 feet in…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 26, 2011 at 6:30am — No Comments

It's What We Do

This was written by Rel LT. John Gariti of the Chicago Fire Department and really hits the nail on the head of the best job in the world. Tell me what you think.

Running into a burning building sounds crazy Watching firefighters disappear into the black smoke sometimes even a vacant building because maybe there could be a homeless person. (It's what we do!)

Cutting a person out of a car that's on fire and then crawling inside of it to extricate someone! Why would anyone?… Continue

Added by paul on January 26, 2011 at 1:34am — No Comments

Losing It...

"Then we have that crazy moment where everything should be working, but it isn't... and we (in the 2 1/2 ton Attack Engine) start to slide downhill - backwards. The OnSpot's didn't engage. We start to slide faster - which gives you that really sick feeling in your stomach. Then the engine starts to swing around, leaving us sliding downhill backwards AND sideways... nose end coming toward the same drop-off..."

Life as I Live It

*Sigh*

I just want to write a little something about what the fire service has done for me lately. Right now i am going through alot of personal strife involving divorce. Yes there are kids involved and it makes it that much harder for me. Lets just say I screwed up things pretty badly with my wife and now i am paying for it. About the only thing that is helping me out is the fire service.

Keeping myself busy working shifts at the stations is helping to not go…

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Added by Lt. Shane Peterson on January 25, 2011 at 4:39pm — 1 Comment

Who’s Telling Your Story? Use compelling "save" stories to build support for funding & enhance public education

Who’s Telling Your Story?

Use compelling "save" stories to build support for funding & enhance public education

By Chief Marc Revere

The primary role of the fire chief is to advocate for his/her agency and the fire service as a whole. A powerful way of orchestrating this is by listening to and retelling the stories of… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 25, 2011 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

Pumpers first job

We have had this 2500 LPM pumper operational for less than a month and it finally got a run at a decent job that required a lot of water. It was a massive potato processing shed full of wooden crates and God knows what else. One water source located 200 meters away and a whole lot or rural tankers with crew that don't know how a pumper works. Around us tankers roll as first attack as water can be located few and far between. So we weren't called till around 30 minutes after the job started. We… Continue

Added by Andrew Salinger on January 25, 2011 at 3:21am — 2 Comments

FirefighterNation Contributors Remember Bob Barraclough

Bob Barraclough, chief columnist for Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment magazine and past president of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA), passed away on Friday, January 21.

Barraclough was an icon in the industry and leader in the field of fire apparatus safety. Today, FirefighterNation contributors are remembering the influence Bob had on them. …

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 24, 2011 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

Remembering "Sweet Ol' Bob"

FireRescue Publisher Jeff Berend pays tribute to fire service luminary Bob Barraclough

The fire service mourns the passing of Robert Barraclough, 70, who died at his home in Plano, Texas, on Friday, Jan. 21. A renowned expert on fire apparatus, Barraclough often referred to himself as “SOB—Sweet Ol’ Bob,” but he was also an amazing advocate for the fire service and a dear friend to all who knew… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 24, 2011 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Safer Grant Awarded

The Canandaigua Fire Department has received a $973,862 SAFER grant to hire Firefighters. We do not know how many firefighters they plan to hire or when they will hire them.

The Messenger Post is reporting that City Council will have to decide if they formally want to accept the grant.

Added by Davin Eshelman on January 24, 2011 at 8:34am — 1 Comment

FDIC

How many people here attend FDIC in Indianapolis???

Added by Tyler Williams on January 23, 2011 at 4:46pm — 2 Comments

Why am I a Jr. Firefighter?

Wow, I can't believe how many people ask me this. In fact, now the teachers are even asking. Some look at me like I am insane, or just plain stupid. I smile and say, "Why do you teach? It was a calling". And it really was.

I live on a pretty busy road. There have been numerous accidents, and me being me, I would always watch the firefighters work on scene. When I was younger, I would climb up a tree and watch them work. I always felt so helpless. A year or two ago, someone died in… Continue

Added by Sarah on January 22, 2011 at 10:56am — 5 Comments