Featured Blog Posts – March 2008 Archive (22)

Before The Fire Service

I have always loved firefighting, I love the enviroment, the firehouse, the adrenaline. I hung out with the kids who lived in "scanner land" and were just dying when nothing was going on. I had always planned on being a volunteer, but my original career choice was Forensic Psychology, specifically, Criminal Profiling. I took college psych when I was in high school, and I loved it. I also became an explorer at this time and actually got to do training and learn firefighting technique first hand.… Continue

Added by Leigha on March 31, 2008 at 2:50pm — 3 Comments

Fire Service Funeral Practices

Here's a hot topic that might set off some fireworks. It might even incite a reader to leave a comment.

This is something very near and dear to me and something I feel very strongly about. I've wanted to write about this for a long time and a recent conversation with a…

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Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on March 31, 2008 at 12:23pm — 26 Comments

Canine CPR

The picture of a dog licking the face of a firefighter who had rescued her and her unborn puppies from a fire reminded me of an experience that happened earlier in my firefighting career.

On a hot July day in 1995 I was heading home with a carload of groceries when our mutual aid department was toned out for a house fire. “Great, we’ll be called in next; I hope it’s nothing because the ice cream’s going to melt in the car…” Sure enough, my department was toned out, so I changed… Continue

Added by Joe Stoltz on March 30, 2008 at 1:31am — 6 Comments

SCBA - Manage your Air!

'To many firefighters, ‘air management’ still means waiting for the low-air vibration alert or alarm to sound, signaling it’s time to leave the building. This occurs when three-fourths of the air supply has been consumed. Many consider that such a procedure is acceptable during a routine room-and-contents fire in a small building. However, take a look at how many firefighters have ‘run out of air’ in residential fires and lost their lives! In larger structures, or where there are large numbers… Continue

Added by EuroFirefighter on March 29, 2008 at 9:09am — 4 Comments

First Fire as an Officer 21-9-2

I finally got my first real fire as an officcer...It was Saturday March 15th..My buddy Joe and I were sitting in his livingroom watching tv, and the tones went off....A working garage fire next to the garage we had only six months before...We had a great knock down and it felt great finally getting that first fire under my belt and I know I have a lot to learn about being an officer...Peace and God Bless to all...

Added by Bulldog16 on March 29, 2008 at 12:01am — No Comments

The hardest day of my life as a firefighter...

A CRASH ON INTERSTATE 40 CLAIMS THE LIFE OF A JACKSON MAN AND TIES UP TRAFFIC EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO THE TENNESSEE HIGHWAY PATROL. 77-YEAR-OLD JERRY EWELL DIED AFTER HIS TRUCK FLIPPED AND WAS HIT BY AN 18-WHEELER.

TROOPERS SAY EWELL WAS HEADED WEST ON I-40 WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS TRUCK AND WENT INTO THE MEDIAN.INVESTIGATORS SAY HE THEN ROLLED INTO THE EAST BOUND LANES AND IN FRONT OF THE SEMI....

..This was the news report to a wreck that i responded… Continue

Added by Caleb:EngineCo12 on March 27, 2008 at 2:10am — 6 Comments

Why Do We?

Why do we?

Its a job that we do, to some its not clear, why do we do it, 24/7 365 days a year? We do it for people that we just don't know, In rain, hail, sleet or snow. Its a job that requires the best of the best, Not something that you can expect from the rest. We do it in the darkness of night, The persons life lies in the fate of our fight. We do it for free, and expect no reward, We never step back, only we push forward. We are called heroes, some may tell, Of our adventures… Continue

Added by Jennifer Harmon on March 27, 2008 at 12:27am — 3 Comments

Los Angeles City Firefighter Killed, Second Critical in Explosion

LA Times -- A Los Angeles firefighter was killed and another critically injured Wednesday afternoon after they were apparently hit by exploding manhole covers while responding to a call in Westchester, a department spokesman said.

The firefighters were called to Sepulveda and La Tijera boulevards at 1:57 p.m. after a report of smoke from a possible fire. Once they arrived, there was a… Continue

Added by Firefighter Nation WebChief on March 26, 2008 at 9:00pm — 68 Comments

" Always Care For Yourself First "

Hi I'm Jim; I just have a short but to the point of doing the job you love to do. To me it wasn't just a job it was something I always dreamed as any other kid and did. I was a Firefighter, EMS Provider; Also a First -Aid CPR Instructor for the Red Cross and The American Heart Ass. I had done this for seventeen out of twenty one years. Started out as just a firefighter and worked my way from there. The thing is from there I didn't care for myself as I should have and just made twenty six hours… Continue

Added by Maxwellhouse B 21 on March 25, 2008 at 2:00am — 1 Comment

Respect. Earned or Given?

I was surfing some blog posts and I thank Tiger and Lutan for their takes on the respect issue in the fire service. I am a firefighter who has been in the business (so to speak) for 15 years. I have not learned all there is to know, and I know I never will. I have taken strides to further educate myself through training in house, and also outsourcing for more technical programs my department may not offer. I have seen the fire service evolve in the short 15 years I have been a… Continue

Added by Engineco913 on March 24, 2008 at 4:45pm — 10 Comments

Nothing Is More Despicable Than Respect Based On Fear.

Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear- period.

I tire of hearing of newbies and probies being ridiculed, questioned, demoralised and many other forms of "harassment" and "punishment" by the older generation in the emergency services.

There's simply no need for it. Resepct should be given from day one that the newbie walks into the firehouse.

I'd suggest that if the older generation firefighters (and other emergency service personnel) want… Continue

Added by lutan1 on March 23, 2008 at 2:00am — 11 Comments

How to get more Volunteers

I posted this on the Missouri Firefighters and Rural Firefighters groups in reply to the same question, how do we get more people into our department. I decided I would add it as on of my blogs also, sorry it is not about politics like my normal blogs.

From everything I have read it seems the National average for volunteer fire department membership is 0.3% of the population severed. That is to say for every 1000 people in your service area you should expect 3 volunteers. Some… Continue

Added by Rob Fritsche on March 22, 2008 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

Mercury Spill Control 101

Beads, vapor characteristics make step-wise cleanup vital

Since the early 1990s, U.S. environmental regulations have eliminated the development of mercury as a new product. Despite these changes targeting mercury use, alternatives have been slow to develop, and in cases such as precision measurement devices are not possible. As a result, mercury has been mined through reclamation and recycling processes.

Consumers can still find mercury in high-pressure sodium lamps, fluorescent… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on March 21, 2008 at 12:13pm — No Comments

First Night running on the Medic

Well my first shift running on the Medic was quite easy because we only had two calls all night, and I know how that can change very fast. It was lots of fun and the crew I am assigned to they are great and am looking forward to this Friday night when I am scheduled to be on again. I was so hyped up last Saturday that I on;y got about 3 Hours of sleep and then got home and slept for maybe 30 more minutes before I had to go to the Station for Driver Operator class for the Engine Whew by the time… Continue

Added by John on March 19, 2008 at 8:50am — No Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Private Benjamin

First, if I have to explain who Private Benjamin is, you're clearly up past your bed time....move along and find something else to read, because no explanation is forthcoming.

The drill du jour (is it wrong that Tuesday nights are fast becoming my favorite night of the week?) this week was not really a drill per se; we had a company rep come in and demo the Holy Grail of SCBA's. The MSA (may we have a moment of reverent silence for the MSA) is, to my inexperienced eyes, the Cadillac… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on March 18, 2008 at 10:42pm — 11 Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Throwing Ladders

I ambled into drill tonight fully expecting yet another evening of videotapes or chalk and talk.

Noticing that the projector and a/v system wasn't set up, I inquired "What are we doing tonight?"...

The 1st Asst. Chief grinned at me...."Hope you're feeling limber, we're playing with ladders and hoses tonight"

(Gulp)

Here's the gig....I have what I like to call a "situational" fear of heights. There are certain circumstances that inspire that ooogy… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on March 17, 2008 at 4:01pm — 24 Comments

South Carolina House Rigged To Explode - Size Up Considerations

In the category of "If this job isn't dangerous enough", add the following to your list of early size up concerns: Houses set up to explode

Real estate agents were shocked to find a home for sale in Anderson, SC loaded with natural gas. Turns out the oven in the home was manipulated to cause a major gas leak. On top of the electric oven sat a burnt rag that didn't totally take.

The real estate agents called 911, and with that fire investigators arrived on scene to find a… Continue

Added by Firefighter Spot on March 14, 2008 at 8:20pm — No Comments

Firefighter Challenge training. I'm too old for this s**t!

Allright, this being my first blog, I'll try to stay on task. I started strength training about three weeks ago for a Firefighters Challenge coming up at Cody Fire School in May. It will resemble a CPAT test and a few of the same challenges at the National Challenge (not as long of a course). I am turning 40 in June but dont feel it. I am in pretty good shape (so I thought) and am just trying to finish as close to the top 10 as I can. Chances are good because they appear to only have 8 or 9… Continue

Added by Doug Fisher on March 13, 2008 at 7:30pm — 4 Comments

'The Fire Came Down on Us'

"It seemed like a routine house fire in the early evening .... the fire began in the first floor living room and burned slowly at first but with enough intensity to burn through the ceiling into the second floor. When we arrived on scene there was heavy dark smoke issuing from the chimney and all windows in the front were heavily darkened from smoke. There were just five of us on one engine.

We managed to get in quick and pull an unconscious woman out from the first floor before… Continue

Added by EuroFirefighter on March 8, 2008 at 7:24pm — 1 Comment

Pledges, Promsies and P**sing In The Wind!

I'll begin by stating quite clearly that here in Oz, it has been a national law since the early 70's for every person (Including emergency responders) to wear a seat belt, so I'm at a loss to understand the mentality of some.....

Having said that, here's my random rant for the day!

What are we coming to?

Today a little switch in the back of mind flicked into the on position, or was that the p**sed off position?

What have we come to? We need to… Continue

Added by lutan1 on March 8, 2008 at 3:30am — 1 Comment