March 2009 Blog Posts (167)

I am finally done with the Louis F. Garland (DOD) Fire Academy. After 3 and a half months down there I just walked out with Fire fighter 1&2, Hazmat ops 1&2 and ARFF. I am feel so good about myself r…

I am finally done with the Louis F. Garland (DOD) Fire Academy. After 3 and a half months down there I just walked out with Fire fighter 1&2, Hazmat ops 1&2 and ARFF. I am feel so good about myself right now for being able to actually call myself a certified fire fighter. If anyone can get that school i strongly recomend it. Continue

Added by William Finnelli on March 23, 2009 at 5:37pm — 6 Comments

hey

hey everybody....just saying hi, and hope everyone is doing good.....enjoy and stay safe out there ....

brittany

Added by Brittany on March 23, 2009 at 5:12pm — No Comments

Preventing and Responding to SCBA Emergencies - Webcast April 14th from FR & FFN

Continue

Added by Firefighter Nation WebChief on March 23, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Should EMS Be Part of Public Safety?

I was doing research for an emergency plan that I am working on. I ran across an article titled "Should EMS Be a Part of Public Safety?" Here is an excerpt:

"One of the biggest issues facing EMS is that we’re not sure what we really are. Is EMS health care? Is EMS public safety? Is EMS public health? In its recent publication, the National Institutes of Health determined that EMS actually has components of each of these ( see Figure 1 ).[1] The responsibilities of each of these three… Continue

Added by Bruce C Ziebarth on March 23, 2009 at 12:38pm — 3 Comments

Single Parent

Hi again!

Since we've talked/exchanged messages for the past couple weeks, I started a specific work out plan in order to prepare for the test, I got my CPR cert. at a firestation from a firefighter, called a million schools offering emt classes and here I am, today, going NUTS over this little/cute/adorable part of my life: my son!

How do I do it? howwww? I have NO family here, I work from 8am to 5pm, commute for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour after work. How do I get this… Continue

Added by Maruska on March 23, 2009 at 10:05am — 6 Comments

Wanted "Swift Water Rescue & Technical Rescue Team" SOP's and/or SOG's

If any of the FFN members have a set of SOP's and/or SOG's for:

Swift Water Rescue and for Technical Rescue Team I am looking for a few sets.

I am in the process of proposing setting up a county team in our area and need

to draft some sop's/sog's for my proposal.

You can e-mail them to me at nrs5f@comcast.net Subject: SWR or TRT info.

Members of FFN your help is greatly appreciated.

Stay safe, train often and share… Continue

Added by Norman E. Flanders on March 23, 2009 at 7:45am — No Comments

LODD

LODDI regret to advise you that Salem VFD (Nash County, N.C.) Firefighter Greg Cooke has passed away in the Line of Duty at Wake Medical Center. Firefighter Cooke was operating at a woods fire several days ago and apparently suffered a cardiac arrest on scene. He was eventually transported by air to Wake Medical Center in Raleigh where he died in the Line of Duty, yesterday. Saturday, March 21st. As always, our sincere condolences.

Added by Patrick Mullen on March 23, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

FeDex cargo aiplaine crashed

March 23, 7:00JST (March 22, 18:00 EST) MD- 11 FeDex 80 was crashed in Narita JAPAN.

Two pilots dead.

I pray its soul may rest in peace.

http://news.bcst.yahoo.co.jp/news.asx?cid=20090323-00000653-fnn-soci-movie-001&media=wm300k…

Continue

Added by ninjanylon on March 23, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

Another day

I am sitting at my computer wandering thru FFN, Facebook and My Space amazed at the technology! I became curious after watching an old NCIS episode and seeing the actors talk about the internet sites to search for people and information. So I did. Very Cool!!

Added by Nursenancy911 on March 22, 2009 at 10:42pm — 1 Comment

PIC's

Ohhhh I know I am opening a huge can of worms,but thats me...

Why all these young girls pics have to be about the eyes or the boobs.. Come on girls where are the I have been in the firedept for 10 years and here is a pic of me fighting fire ,or in my turnout gear....

Makes me wonder really in a dept or looking to get how many guys to invite me to be a friend....

I am not knocking you ,but is this not a firefighting forum.. I am sitting here thinking who carrys what you look like… Continue

Added by anne potter on March 22, 2009 at 11:38am — 6 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 22, 2009

Yesterday I had to go to the scary place to visit my daughter. My stones help a bit, but I can't shake that feeling the rest of the day. Have to go today too. It just makes me feel uncomfortable, like a surreal experience. What keeps me from going insane is going to the firehouse later on to hear the stories. I love the stories!!!

On another note, I had some time yesterday so I created a whole diagram in Publisher of the… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on March 22, 2009 at 7:33am — 2 Comments

Professionalism and Education

Qualifications. Training. Education. These are

all words that are spoken frequently in the fire

service. In my experience, it is typically lip

service and when real teeth are put into a policy

or guideline for promotions, pre-employment, or to

maintain a level of proficiency, they suddenly

become a cliché and no longer a mission.

I recently had a friend, who is not in the fire

service, ask me about the classes that I take. He

wanted to know if my… Continue

Added by Jason Hoevelmann on March 21, 2009 at 9:08pm — 4 Comments

A Select Few - Those who join our profession must meet the highest physical & academic standards

Earlier this year, I was sitting in “balmy” St. Cloud, Minn., (-33 degrees F; now I know why those old men were so grumpy) eating dinner with a few firefighter friends of mine. As the night wore on, we each shared our fire service equivalent of a Minnesota fisherman’s fishing story—cold, longwinded and filled with exaggeration. At some point, one of the instructors spoke of his experience teaching recruits and the reward he felt when they eventually achieved success in the fire… Continue

Added by Timothy Sendelbach on March 21, 2009 at 8:13pm — 4 Comments

NEW TRUCK NEW DAY

CHIEF, CONGRATULATIONS, NOT ONLY ON THE NEW TRUCK, BUT THE CHOICE OF A GREAT COMPANY TO BUILD IT FOR YOU.....YOU WILLL BE PROUD, HONORED, AND COMPLIMENTED FOR YOUR ACHEIVEMENTS.

Added by John H. Love on March 21, 2009 at 6:22pm — No Comments

YOU NEVER KNOW?

Did you know that your break could be sitting right next to you on a plane?

Or perhaps standing beside you at a garage sale buying an antique? Or

they could be someone who you deem as insignificant on a set. Or

someone at a party that you were rude to because they weren't your

type. Any one that you discount, could be a huge factor in your success.

That is why you need to always be on your best behavior,

be prepared and dress for success where ever you… Continue

Added by George on March 20, 2009 at 7:36pm — 2 Comments

The Bonus

So...Im on vacation.

The morning we are to leave Ft Worth to drive home, I am awakened by my lovely wife with a plastic stick 3 inches from my nose. My first thought is, "Damn, is my breath that bad?" But no, it was not a tooth brush, it was a pregnancy test...

After a second to get my bearings, I say, why is there a pink line?

To which Tammy says, we are pregnant.

Was this really in the plans, well not so much. BUT...

In a way,… Continue

Added by Allen Wahlstrom on March 20, 2009 at 4:11pm — 4 Comments

MDA Fill The Boot 2009

Hey to all, our department had it's meeting for this years MDA Fill the Boot. This year we are trying to beat another record for a small fire department. Our goal is $5,oo0 this year(hopefully a lot more). We were ranked 9th last year and hope to improve. Just wondering how many other departments out there get involved in this. It's a wonderful thing to do for people in need. Just wishing you all the best in your efforts. Iwill update progress as we go along.

Added by Deanna on March 20, 2009 at 3:34pm — No Comments

3-16-09-3-17-09 this is all the fun we had, crews were out on scenes for over 15 hours each day.

A light rain brought a little relief Wednesday night for firefighters and others exhausted from two days of battling wildfires all over Laclede and Camden counties.

A haze of smoke lay over much of Laclede County Wednesday afternoon and evening as 2,000 acres of brush, a house and two vehicles were ravaged by flames.

Scores of firefighters from outside the two counties were called in during the crisis. Three firefighters had to have hospital treatment for injuries suffered during that… Continue

Added by Deanna on March 20, 2009 at 2:59pm — No Comments

The Haunted Firehouse!!!!!

Okay kids... Who doesnt like a good ghost story???

After watching an episode of SciFi's now famous tv show; Ghost Hunter's, I started to think about all the spooky things that go on at my firehouse. I could tell you how radios turn themselves on and off, doors open and close when no one is around, and emergency vehicle lights turn on without anyone even being in the truck. I could tell you all of those things... but they wouldn't be true LOL.

Despite the fact that I think… Continue

Added by Dustin J. Millis on March 20, 2009 at 9:00am — 4 Comments

Our Reputation

The fire service, as we all know, is a proud

profession that is rich in history. We are a unique

group of individuals who are looked up to by young

and old and who kids dress up like for Halloween

every year. We are in the public eye both on and

off duty. Our actions are continuously being

monitored and scrutinized.

In the day of instant information via the

internet and text messages and mutli-media

messages, we can be recorded in the heat of… Continue

Added by Jason Hoevelmann on March 19, 2009 at 9:25pm — 1 Comment