We just had a news story about a person who found a pipe bomb on the beach and transported it to our local firehouse. Why someone would do that escapes me. I know we are the ultimate fixers, but come on. If you think this is a one-time event, I have a story.



One afternoon Gary and I were sitting in front of the apparatus door watching the world go by. A car pulled up and two guys got out. They carried a package to me and I thought they were… Continue

I was working at Engine 7, located in the oldest working firehouse in San Jose. It was built in the early 1930s as a federal work project. It was a small Spanish-style house with 2 bedrooms, a small galley kitchen, and a living room. The basement had weights and a T.V. but this was before cable. The older firemen working when I came in went back to WWll and did not watch much T.V. They were great card and cribbage players.



Station 7 had walls about… Continue

There are some pictures and memories we retain that are so painful we try to block them but they still are there. This morning over breakfast they crept out again. My steel has been tempered in the hottest of furnaces. I have seen death and told families when we could do no more, but the death of children still brings tears to my eyes and a deep pain to my soul.



A good family friend, a young paramedic had a call that involved the death of a baby. I know this will be with her forever.… Continue