Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 28, 2010

I had a killer week so yesterday I took advantage of the quiet morning and decided to sleep in. At 9:40 a.m. I heard my pager from two rooms away asking for all members to report to their respective stations for hydrant duty at 10. I started to drift back to dream land and then POPPED out of bed. I never had hydrant duty before and figured it had to do with the foot and a half of snow we've had here in…

A tsunami advisory has been issued for the California coast this morning following the overnight magnitude-8.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Chile, according

to the LA Times. "An advisory means there may be strong currents,

but that widespread…

The Quick Response Media Corps (QRMC) is a free U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) initiative open to all members of the fire service. QRMC provides members with up-to-date information about the latest USFA public education campaign news. The goal of QRMC is to…

The Rush NY Stevens-Connor American Legion Post recognized three long time Rush firefighters at there February meeting. (Photo Left to Right) Firefighter/EMT, Past Chief, Present EMS Director and present Commissioner Robert Faugh was recognized for his 45 years of service and involvement with local, regional and state fire/EMS organizations, Deputy EMS Coordinator, NYS Fire Districts, FASNY committees, all the training he has provided on a local and state level and his 26 years of service to…

Firefighters from the 5th Battalion water rescue team held a drill this morning in Rush at the Oatka Creek on East River Rd. The purpose of the drill was to simulate a snowmobile accident where rescuers had to rappel down an embankment, cross the ice to rescue the victim.…

THE REAL PRISON

Chaplain Allen Tanner

Society often reads about correctional facilities and inmates, but many fail to understand what a prison really is. You see the real prison is not the one the outsiders know.



The real prison is different. It's a loneliness, which sinks its teeth into the very souls of men. It's a prison, which is overlooked and unrecorded by newspapers, seldom read about in books, rarely portrayed on…

Demolishing Anger and Resentment

Demolishing Anger’s Walls

Resentment

Allen Tanner

Anger, when channeled into the pursuit of change, can be a useful tool in our emotional palette. Most people experience anger, some more than others. It is when anger has no outlet and morphs into resentment that it carries with it the potential to cause great turmoil. Allowing us to assign blame for the pain we are feeling,…

Did you get enough training so far this week? Because you are a proud and

professional firefighter, I already know your answer. So allow me to offer some more.

Many…

Members of the Erie County Department of Emergency Services (ESU) watched from a safe distance as the county's 40-year old fire training tower was blasted with dynamite.



Seven pounds of explosives were used to blast out two pillars, collapsing the tower on to the area previously occupied by the smokehouse training prop, which was demolished earlier this week.



Click here to read the rest of the story and view this must-see video and photos:…