Featured Blog Posts – May 2008 Archive (46)

One of FFN's own has been kidnapped!!!!!

FirefighterNation.com Members,

Listen carefully! We are a group of individuals who represent a small but grammatically correct faction. At this time we have one of your fellow members and bloggers in our possession. Her member name is FASNYtraining, but many of you know her as the FNG(irl). She is currently safe and unharmed but if you want her to see the light of day and her computer keyboard again, you must follow our instructions to the letter.

Here are our… Continue

Added by Engineco913 on May 17, 2008 at 7:30pm — No Comments

The trials and tribulations of dating in the profession

As a new non-firefighter member here I have come to learn many a thing about having a romantic relationship with someone that has chosen this profession. That is actually why I decided to join...as a means of getting advice and opinions about being with a firefighter/EMT/soon to be police officer.

What I have found is that I do have what it takes to be that special someone to an admirable man of this profession. It doesn't quite seem I am the one for this particular man however I… Continue

Added by Heather on May 17, 2008 at 2:02pm — 5 Comments

Charleston

I just read the report issued on the Charleston incident. It's posted at Firehouse.com if anyone is interested in reading it.

It is a very well written and detailed report that covers the multitude of tactical errors that were made on that fateful day. It is almost disheartening to see that the people in charge of making sure their members go home safely at the end of their tour could be so inept at their jobs.

I would encourage EVERYONE to read this report. Get an idea of… Continue

Added by Engine 32 Capt. on May 16, 2008 at 10:00pm — 2 Comments

TNT: The Accidental Runner: Why?

It hasn't been a good day for some of our patients and survivors...

One of my fellow board members on the Board of Directors for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has a young son named Ben.

Ben's been fighting the good fight for over a year, and seemed to be doing better. but we found out today that his osteosarcoma (essentially bone cancer) has metastasized--meaning it's spreading. Osteosarcoma has one of the lowest survival rates for pediatric cancer. The news is worse… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on May 16, 2008 at 9:01pm — 6 Comments

First Major Wildfire

I had my first major wildfire yesterday. When I heard the page for a delta wildfire my adrenaline was rushing. Anyways, the fire started out to be only 13acres and by the time that we had finished up it was probably more then 50acres. My mom says that I am crazy because those kinds of fires are my favorite. I love the smell and it is amazing to watch. Even though at times it can be a lot of sitting and waiting for the fire to be where you want it or dont want it either way it is still… Continue

Added by Jessika on May 16, 2008 at 10:06am — 2 Comments

Going to see the Cubbies today

Today is the Cubs game and i am all fired-up. We went to Harry Caray's last night for dinner and it was fantastic. I hung out yesterday afternoon with the 'fellas at Truck 3 Engine 42 Squad 1. I always have a great time while here in Chicago. We are going to Howl at the Moon tonight mainly because it is right across the street from the Marriott.
Take care all.

Added by firegirl1 on May 15, 2008 at 10:55am — 1 Comment

Sister Needs Help

Hello fellow FFN Brothers and Sisters,

i didn't really know how to send this so I decided to use the "blog". This sister, Stephanie Smith, one of my friends, needs some help in winning a contest. If you would go to the link below and vote for her I would be greatly appreciative. If you would pass this on and ask YOUR friends to vote I will, well, never mind. Vote for photo #30 - P1, etc.... I thank you in advance and Steph thanks you as well. Stay safe out there… Continue

Added by Da Chief - Jim O'Neill on May 15, 2008 at 4:13am — 1 Comment

Disbanded fire stations and companies - a sad part of fire service history

I've moved around quite a bit in my career, and it's sad to see how many stations and units have been disbanded throughout the history of various fire departments. FDNY, Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and quite a few others have some pretty good historical photos and records of old fire stations and disbanded fire companies.

Some of the ones from my past that I really miss...

Hagerstown Community Rescue Service Squad 75A - I hated the slime… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on May 14, 2008 at 10:26pm — No Comments

Living Will ---My way.....

New Living Will Form

I, __________________________, being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of pinhead partisan politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it or lawyers/doctors/hospitals interested in simply running up the bills.

If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to ask for at least one of the… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on May 14, 2008 at 10:42am — 6 Comments

Critical Incident Safety Debriefing

Hello all! I hope everyone is safe and well. Today I would like to open up a topic about Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). As we watch the news for changing conditions in Iraq and Afghanistan and to possibly catch a glimpse of our dear friends and family members who are serving overseas, we do not see how some of the soldiers are returning home. Can you imagine how tired the soldiers are with the war now into it's 7th year? You can see in their eyes the fatigue, you can hear it when… Continue

Added by M Clark on May 11, 2008 at 11:40pm — 2 Comments

ITS A SAD DAY TODAY

ITS A SAD DAY TODAY AT THE RHODESTOWN VOL. FIRE DEPT MRS.RITA ZIMMER #1337 WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD TODAY 5-11-08 AT 3:30 AM.. OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND THE FAMILY . YOU WILL BE DEARLY MISSED.... WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU AND ALL THE GREAT THING YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND COUNTY.. YOU TAUGHT US ALL ALOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND SHOWED US WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.. YOU WERE ALWAYS THERE WHENEVER ANYONE NEEDED YOU.. YOU NEVER SAID NO IF SOMEONE HAS ASKED FOR YOUR HELP... WE… Continue

Added by Michael Bird SR on May 11, 2008 at 5:38pm — 1 Comment

Why are we Firefighters

Many years ago a great President asked “ask not what your country can do for you, ask what can you do for your country.” Although many of todays firefighters are too young to remember these famous words spoken more than a few years ago by President John F. Kennedy. The word still ring true, even in a small village like Eastlake where our great country begins there are a group of people who dedicate themselves to serving their fellow man. They do not do it for money, fame or personal gains, they… Continue

Added by Eastlake Fire Department on May 10, 2008 at 10:01am — 1 Comment

The Good Ol Boys 2

So it sounded like a maybe upset a few of the readers of The Good Ol Boys of the Firehouse, I apoligize right now for doing this, that was not my intent at all. After reading some of the comments on the post i decided maybe I should answer some of the questions that were posed to me about the post. First of all, Idk why we would tear down a wall during a defensive attack on the structure, I didnt even think about that until it was brought to my attention. Secondly, nothing upsets me about my… Continue

Added by Dustin J. Millis on May 10, 2008 at 9:00am — 3 Comments

The Good Ol Boys of the Firehouse

I havent been around the fire service for a very long time, just about a year now. Ive been through mandatory training, Firefigher 1 and 2, and EMS Academy. Being surronded by all of this training makes me realize all of things that some of my officers do that really arent that safe. Now don't get me wrong, I have all the respect in the world for these guys, they have definatly put in their share of time, some of them 30 years or more. Normally I don't say anything to them and just kinda let… Continue

Added by Dustin J. Millis on May 8, 2008 at 12:46pm — 8 Comments

Back Again

I haven't had a chance to be real active on the boards lately because we just got back from China where we adopted our first daughter. It's been a whirlwind experience. I tried to visit a fire station while we were there but it's government controlled, so we weren't able to visit or take pictures. I was pretty bummed. I guess they probably wouldn't trade patches either?

I have managed to get Firefighter Ministries website updated with… Continue

Added by Wendy Norris on May 8, 2008 at 11:41am — 2 Comments

Recruitment Clearinghouse - ERIE COUNTY NY

Recruitment & Retention Toolkit: The Recruitment Clearinghouse - Samples of Success: Erie County NY

By: TIGER SCHMITTENDORF

This article is one in a series of toolkits focusing on recruitment, retention, fire service marketing and leadership. It first appearing in the May-2008 edition of FASNY's The Volunteer Firefighter magazine.

In Part 1 of… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on May 7, 2008 at 11:19pm — 10 Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Zippers and Velcro and Vents....Oh My

This isn't going to be one of my longer ramblings......not that I COULDN'T bore you to tears with 20 paragraphs about what I had for breakfast today... and one of these days I just might, but this is just an equipment quickie today. (However.....I was contemplating some grapefruit and a bowl of---oh never mind. )

In a stunning turn of events, I was selected, along with nine other members of my department, to be fitted for brand-spankin new turnout gear!! I'm not sure how or why I… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on May 7, 2008 at 7:02am — 13 Comments

SC-TF1 at South Carolina Vigilant Guard Exercise

From NATIONAL GUARD MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDATE RELEASE

Release Date: April 30, 2008

Release Number: VG-042908

Local, regional, state and military emergency crews conducted a full-scale disaster response simulation in Beaufort County. This five-day-long exercise involved nearly 2,345 military and civilian personnel responding to a mock earthquake scenario with partially collapsed… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on May 6, 2008 at 11:00am — No Comments

Motivation- It's What Moves Us

So if you think I haven't been motivated lately, and thus no recent blogs, you are wrong; just busy, is all. Motivation is all around us; like beauty, it is in the eye of the beholder. if you aren't feeling motivated by something, you probably aren't looking.

Motivation is what differentiates us sentient beings from ameobas, but even then, some painful stimuli from time to time will get even the lowest form of life to do something relatively modest and therefore, if we are just… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on May 5, 2008 at 10:58pm — 10 Comments

The Show goes on

Well its been another month for on the dept. Things are awesome i am learning alot and have been able too see quite a bit of calls to learn off of. I just completed my basic esstintals class over the weekend and boy let me tell ya what it wore me out lol, but i had a lot of fun and learned alot from the class as well as myself and what i can do. im still waiting for my frist major structure fire, have seen two barn fires but no house or ect... anyways just thought i give a quick update as to my… Continue

Added by Mike Yocom on May 5, 2008 at 1:21pm — 1 Comment