April 2009 Blog Posts (166)

1000 Miles

So here is the long awaited update to my Fat Guy blog.

For those of you who dont know, I am riding for a cause.

Finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis Please feel free to make a donation here Sams Club MS150

With the ride now 3 weeks away I am ramping up my miles weekly, with a 200 mile week 2 weeks from now. The MS ride will be over 150 miles in 2 days, and I will have ridden another 150… Continue

Added by Allen Wahlstrom on April 9, 2009 at 5:30pm — 3 Comments

LODD

On 4-8-2009 approx 14:30 the WI DNR Lost one of our Air Attack pilots in a plane crash. The aircraft flown by Heath Van Handel was circling a fire in North Central WI when the aircraft came out of the sky. An investigation is ongoing at this time. Please keep Heath's Family in your prayers.

Thank you from all of us in WI

Added by Dozin Dan on April 9, 2009 at 2:02pm — 1 Comment

How to retain members on a volunteer department

Getting people to join and volunteer for you fire department is one thing. After you get them how do you make sure you keep 'em. Turn over rate can be high in many departments. Not only is this frustrating but also turns into a time consuming and potentially expensive situation as your department will consantly have to devote more and more time into training new members (hopefully getting them FFI/II certified) along with the expense involved in purchasing the training supplies or sending them… Continue

Added by Station10Capt106 on April 9, 2009 at 10:36am — 1 Comment

Taxi???

Been a bit since I have been on here, all is as well as can be. Seems like lately I am more of a taxi driver than before my step-grandson was born, its like everyday I am running them here or there. The only good thing is that up until today I have been workingout every day, Today I am feeling a bit under the weather and thought better of it. If I am feeling better tomorrow I will hit the work out room then. We had us a lightning strike fire in a structure last week, nothing to big just some… Continue

Added by John on April 8, 2009 at 9:34am — No Comments

4/7/09

Today we laid to rest one of our own. Jesse "Gump" Sweet was put to rest today. Gump was the firefighter that every department wanted he was always around willing to help out in any way he could. He was an even better friend. Though he was only 18 years old he was one hell of a MAN. R.I.P Gump I will miss u greatly.

Added by amanda on April 7, 2009 at 9:03pm — 8 Comments

How do you attract volunteer firefighters?

This question has plagued many volunteer departments for decades. People volunteer for many different reasons: everyone in their family has done so for generations so they do so also, to help serve their community and others, to enrich their own life and add to their experiences, and to seek the glory and spotlight.

The first and last reason are the hardest to deal with. If someone joins just because their grandpa and father were on and that is their only motivation then you will not… Continue

Added by Station10Capt106 on April 7, 2009 at 4:18pm — 12 Comments

Law Enforcement Training

I am also a Certified General Law Enforcement Instructor for the State of North Carolina and a Hazardous Materials and Explosives Instructor. I also teach Sheriff's Standards Fire Emergencies for the Jailors Certification Classes. I'm a SWAT operator level one, Graduate of the North Carolina Justice Academy in the CICP program for Criminal Investigators.

Added by Terry Parker on April 7, 2009 at 4:04pm — No Comments

Training

I have had training in multiple fields. I am a Internationally certified Firefigther level I & II. I am a Certified Level II Fire Service Instructor. I have also received my North Carolina Level One Hazardous Materials First Responder certification. I've taken the National Incident Management Systems ICS 700, ICS 800, ICS 100,200,300 400. I am a Certified Advanced Law Enforcement Officer, North Carolina First Responder, Certified Advanced CVSA Examiner.

Added by Terry Parker on April 7, 2009 at 4:01pm — No Comments

Interests

I like deer hunting in the fall, and riding ATV's with friends. I enjoy going to the beaches in the summer and fishing. I enjoy crusing the carribbean at least once every other year.

Added by Terry Parker on April 7, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

MUST READ FOR ALL FIRE AND EMS

This blog is to all fire and ems personnel there a vol fire figther in neeed of help from this brother in the fire and ems system he was involved in a really bad car wreck on Feb 20 2009 the he is went to court this moring and was charnge with and sencned to 14 mounths in jail due to medcail prombles he can not stay in jail the docs went and talk to the judeg this moring and he is back home but due to not wroking and injuries fromt he car wreck he is unable to wrok at this time. The lawer tell… Continue

Added by ashley on April 7, 2009 at 2:57pm — No Comments

Marine Corps

If you look closely at the picture above, you will note that all the Marines pictured are bowing their heads. That's because they're praying.

This incident took place at a recent ceremony honoring the birthday of the corps, and it has the ACLU up in arms. "These are federal employees," says Lucius Traveler, a spokesman for the ACLU , "on federal property and on federal time. For them to pray is clearly an establishment of religion, and we must nip this in the bud immediately."

When… Continue

Added by Kevin on April 7, 2009 at 10:55am — 5 Comments

New Station!

We are in are new stations. It took a long time moving and it had to rain that day. To go from my old dept of 15 members. To go to my new dept that has 44 members 4 months ago. Then to move into two new station is a lot of change in six months. I will be putting more pictures up. Right now i put pictures up of the truck in station 1 in the new station. But i have some of my members from my old dept and a lot nice members in the new dept. To make one big family.… Continue

Added by Scott R. Alger on April 7, 2009 at 3:35am — 2 Comments

Pioneering Danbury fire chief to be recognized

From the News-Times

DANBURY -- Howard P. Stevens' tenure as Danbury's fire chief lasted just over a year, ending in controversy after a deadly 1885 fire that local historians have called the worst since British troops burned the town to the ground during he Revolutionary War.

But the changes the 27-year-old son of a factory owner helped bring about still impact the lives of firefighters across the… Continue

Added by ID536CT on April 6, 2009 at 10:24pm — No Comments

Slain Officers

Sending thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the three slain and two injured Pittsburgh Police officers of this past weekend's tragedy. Hoping the shooter gets what he deserves...

Added by Kevin Bacco on April 6, 2009 at 10:30am — 7 Comments

New Interative site for the International Fire Photographers Association (IFPA)

Behind closed doors, IFPA members have been working on a new interactive site. Those doors were opened today and the new interactive site is open to the public. The site is http://ifpaweb.ning.com. The original site at www.ifpaweb.org is still operational. This new site is designed to supplement the original site.

This new site now allows IFPA members to upload and share photos in one location. Members are… Continue

Added by Steven D. "Smitty" Smith on April 6, 2009 at 9:59am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...April 5, 2009

Time just seems to be whizzing by for me lately. This weekend brought us our pancake breakfast at the firehouse, and now that I am actually getting to know people, it makes it more fun.

I have been spending quite a bit of time around the firehouse lately, probably because I don't have any friends other than firefighters where I live, and my old friends live so far away. During this tough time getting close to Easter, even at… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on April 6, 2009 at 8:59am — 2 Comments

In loving memory of Nathan P. Brown

Today is April 6th, 2009. In another 5 days, it will have been 5 years since one of my best friends was killed in action in Sammara, Iraq. His name is Nathan P. Brown and he was one of the best men I've ever known. He was the type of friend that, though he may have not had much at the time, he woud give it all if you needed it. It's been hard for me and my circle of friends that were close to Nate. Every day I feel the loss of a brother that was taken… Continue

Added by Eric on April 6, 2009 at 8:50am — 2 Comments

Chief Robert Ray is a Golf Digest finalist--he needs your votes!

Do you enjoy a nice round of golf on a sunny spring day? Even if you don't, you SURELY want a firefighter to win a national golf contest when he's the only firefighter out of just four contestants left!

One of FireRescue's board members, Matt Tobia, sent us a message that his Fire Chief, Robert Ray, Chief of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department, is a finalist in a Golf DIgest contest to win an all-expenses paid trip to play golf with Michael Jordan and other celebrities at the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 5, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

yet another loss... My Son's Daddy

To whom it may concern Jamie, Dalton's father was kill last night in a horrible car accident in mercer co.

Here is the info

Fiery Crash Claimed One Life In Mercer County

Posted: 1:12 pm EDT April 4, 2009Updated: 1:22 pm EDT April 4, 2009

FORT RECOVERY, Ohio -- Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey reported that his office is investigating that county's second traffic fatality of 2009.

Central Dispatch received a call of a vehicle on fire in the area of Cooper… Continue

Added by Crystal on April 5, 2009 at 8:02am — 6 Comments

Pittsburgh Police LODDs

Sadly, and tragically, 3 Pittsburgh Police Officers lost their lives on April 4th, 2009, in the line of duty, at approximately 0715 hours. 2 other Pittsburgh Police Officers were injured in the line of duty. Officers Eric Kelly, Stephan Mayhle and Paul Sciullo III were shot and killed as they responded to a domestic dispute in the Stanton Heights neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. Officer Kelly was actually on his way home, a block or two away, but responded to back up his comrades… Continue

Added by Andy Marsh on April 5, 2009 at 2:08am — 6 Comments