March 2011 Blog Posts (84)

Ramblings of a helmet collector #3

I've got a nice little German leather helmet that has sat on a shelf in my workroom for several years because I have no idea of how to restore it. It's made by Rosenbaeur around 1930 or so and has a two-piece hard leather crown with enamelled steel front and back peaks sewn on to it.

When I got it the crown had shrunk and become misshapen and the stitching rotted away. Re-stitching it is no…

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Added by Andy Turnham on March 17, 2011 at 4:25pm — No Comments

Advance Look at What Pierce is Unveiling at FDIC

Ok, that title made you click, didn’t it? I confess it’s a little misleading. True, I DID just get back from an event where the major fire service media were shown a sneak peek at Pierce’s latest innovation, which will be unveiled in a matter of days. However, I also had to agree not to disclose any details until that official unveiling. Well, that’s not entirely true—Pierce did tell us that we were allowed to share three details: it’s a new product, it has to do with increased space in the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on March 17, 2011 at 9:59am — No Comments

Recipe for Disaster: The characteristics & components of home-made explosives

By Martin Greene

The time is now for hazmat teams to develop and/or expand their working relationship with their local bomb squad. Why?

A house erupts in flames on Dec. 9, 2010, during the controlled burn of a home in Escondido, Calif., that was so packed with…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 17, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Free Fire Service Online Courses

Free online courses:

Fire Dex Routine Gear Inspection and Cleaning;

http://www.firedex.com/training/

Urban Search and Rescue, Structual Collaspe Awareness & Engine Company Decontamination;

http://www.florida-elearning.com/

Safety Solutions E- Learning; Flashover Survival Lecture & Vent-Enter-Search (VES)…

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Added by fire investigator 21 on March 16, 2011 at 2:31pm — No Comments

What's in a title?

I know there is a lot of sometimes heated discussion over the terms we use in the Fire Service to describe paid and unpaid Firefighters.

The term, "Professional" in ordinary usage by anyone outside of the

Fire Service means someone who "Follows an occupation as a

livelihood." (Random House Webster's Dictionary, definition 1) by almost

any definition, firefighters who are paid to be Firefighters and make their

livings as…

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Added by Greenman on March 16, 2011 at 8:29am — 10 Comments

Why Test Your Pump? A Quick Refresher

INSIDE THE APPARATUS INDUSTRY

A quick refresher on how to ensure your pump is ready to go

By Bob Vaccaro

Photos Courtesy Keith Klassen

Should you test your pump? You would think the answers would be a no-brainer; however, I’ll bet that if we conducted a survey around the country, we’d find that a large number of fire departments don’t… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 16, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

tales from a tailboard fireman

Doug S. is retiring in August. He was a captain when I came on the job in 1973. He is pushing 70 now and is captain of engine 1 in downtown San Jose. It is a running company, lots of calls at night and one of the busiest in the city. I don't know how he does it. When I was in my 30s and 40s I could be up all night and have a life the next day. I would get off duty and could work on my home projects. In my late 40s and 50s night calls would ruin me the next day, I would go home and nap , but I… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 16, 2011 at 1:30am — No Comments

You Probably Won't Die, No Matter What You Do

Does it sound crazy for a firefighter to say that? Maybe it does, but at All Hazards Contemplations, I've pointed out that statistics show that approximately 100 U.S. firefighters die in the line of duty each year, with a smaller number of annual non-firefighter EMS…

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Added by Ben Waller on March 15, 2011 at 10:39pm — 4 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 15, 2011

Note to self. It's 2 days now and I guess have to wash the smell of smoke from my hair tomorrow.

Darn.

Added by Denise Imperiale on March 15, 2011 at 8:57pm — No Comments

Finding Reliable Web-Based Behavioral Wellness and Self-Help

The NFFF builds resources that address the behavioral aspects of health, wellness & safety for firefighters

By Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki

Following is the sixth in a series of seven articles that describe a new approach to mental and behavioral health in the fire service. Read the other articles:…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 15, 2011 at 8:30am — No Comments

Tales from a tailboard fireman~Taking Heat

I went to a retirement dinner for a good guy. He worked at our downtown station for 30 years. It was a multiple unit firehouse and he always made sure he was on the rig getting the most runs. Usually our union does large combined retirement dinners, but due to legal costs over the last year money is no longer available. This dinner was put on by people he worked with over the years. He was involved in some great rescues and when he realized he could not do the job the way he felt it needed to… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 13, 2011 at 9:04pm — No Comments

Future of the West Brighton FD

Rnews has a story on their web site about the West Brighton Fire Department.

After 85 years in service, the West Brighton Fire Department may soon no longer exist.

A report commissioned by the Town of Brighton and Brighton Fire Department suggests the mostly volunteer department can no longer meet the needs of the community.

To read the full story and view the video, please click the link below.…

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Added by Davin Eshelman on March 12, 2011 at 9:15pm — No Comments

Early Morning Bus Crash Kills 13 In NY

Share…

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Added by Dave Statter on March 12, 2011 at 11:37am — No Comments

Ramblings of a helmet collector #2

Here's a issue I've long pondered. Is it right to renovate or refurbish a vintage helmet? For many years I would do no more than clean up a helmet. I felt that to renovate it close to it's original condition would, somehow, degrade it.

I got to discussing this issue with other collectors and got differing opinions. Quite a few thought as I did, that they should be left "as found" but there seemed to be just as many who felt that, as long as it was in… Continue

Added by Andy Turnham on March 11, 2011 at 5:27pm — No Comments

Forcible Entry:What Are You Doing?!?!

Forcible entry is always an interesting discussion around the service. On one side, you've got the forcible entry purists (myself included). These guys can force a door with a safety pin, a rock and a piece of duct tape. Despite their McGyver-esk skills, they prefer the irons.…

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Added by SAFE Firefighter on March 11, 2011 at 1:21pm — No Comments

Are You Physically Fit? The Wrong Answer Could Cost You

REALITY CHECK

By Scott Cook

In January, Hood County, Texas, narrowly avoided our first line of duty death (LODD). Operating at the scene of a structure fire, a firefighter complained of some chest pain. When he was evaluated, he was found to be having a heart attack. Rushed to the hospital—and defibrillated out of v-fib twice during his course of treatment in the cath lab—he is alive… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 11, 2011 at 7:00am — 4 Comments

CO Turn Cyanide Turn False?

On Tuesday, March 8^th, 2011, my fire department was toned out for a CO without illness call in our district at 0724 hrs. …

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Added by Timothy J. Gaffney, Jr. on March 11, 2011 at 6:06am — 1 Comment

Assistance to Firefighters Grant

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter reported the Rochester Fire Department is receiving over $252,000 from the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The program provides funding for fire departments and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

The money will be used for…

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Added by Davin Eshelman on March 10, 2011 at 3:59pm — No Comments

Donations Would greatly be Appriciated! Thanks MCVFD Fireman Gavin Misko

Available: $500 GIVE

AWAY! All proceeds go to the Banks Family! Tanner Banks, Age 6. Has

Cerebral Paisy along with active Seizures. His Father Denny "Chubby" has

recently been diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. The tickets are $3.00

ea. And Winner is determined by the 7PM Daily Lottery number on

Saturday, April 16 2011! I have TICKETS! For tickets/info Contact Gavin

Misko @ 724-762-6274 Thanks!

ALSO HAVE ON… Continue

Added by Gavin Misko on March 9, 2011 at 10:59pm — No Comments

Ramblings of a helmet collector

I started collecting fire helmets about twenty years ago. It was just one of those things I fell into. One day I was chatting with the guys in the Fire Brigade Benevolent Fund and one of them mentioned that that they had a load of recently decommissioned helmets for sale as a fund raiser.

So I bought a couple, thinking my two young kids would love them. The did, for a few days and then they were buried in the toy box. But it sewed the seed, I spotted a MSA… Continue

Added by Andy Turnham on March 9, 2011 at 10:45pm — No Comments