August 2008 Blog Posts (161)

Aaaaaaand the Stats to Prove that We're Still Killing Ourselves the Same Old Way

USFA report highlights lack of seat belt use in '07

By FireRescue 1 Staff

A lack of seat belt use accounted for a number of vehicle-related LODDs last year, according to the USFA.

The Firefighter Fatalities in the United States 2007 report reveals that in 19 of the 27 incidents where seat belt status was known, 11 firefighters were confirmed as not wearing seat belts at the time of the incident.

During calendar year 2007, a total of 118… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on August 14, 2008 at 7:21am — 14 Comments

Help Us Equip in a Little way U can!

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ORmoc Rescue is a group of volunteers who in their own occupation and profession volunteered to be a part of the first Rescue Team of Ormoc City. Its member compositions are Professional Fire Fighters, Policeman, Instructors of Philippine National Redcross Ormoc Chapter, and Emergency Medical Technicians (trained by US Emergency Medical Technicians). Ormoc Rescue's inception was last September 2005 and was part of several operations both local and regionwide.

We are… Continue

Added by marvin on August 14, 2008 at 6:59am — No Comments

Rainy Day

Here I am sitting at home hoping for a good call. The weather is a cool 71 degrees compared to the 100 degrees that we have been getting. Its been raining off and on and here when it rains we usually get dozens of calls at the same timd for auto accidents. Some serious some not. As much as I would love a good house fire but an accident scene is just as good some days. The best thing about being a volunteer is that the idea that you can give to the community and you get alot of respect back. Its… Continue

Added by Thomas Doney on August 13, 2008 at 1:55pm — No Comments

Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial

What can I say, the pictures don't do it justice. This memorial will be built on the grounds of the state capital in Little Rock, AR. It is funded strictly through donations, it's been many years of hard work from numerous volunteers.

Added by Susan Heikkila on August 13, 2008 at 10:01am — 2 Comments

Finally together!!!

hey all just wanted to let youknow that mikayla finally came home to us august 2nd!!! she now weighs 3 lbs 13 oz and is kicking sme major booty!! i am so happy that we are finally all together without the trouble of being in the hospital and having to be in the forever watchful eye of the nurse b/c they don't think you knwwhat ur doing with children when u have children already at home..lol ut its all cool we are allhome ad dng great. jut drop us a line sometme. ttyl trish an… Continue

Added by Trish Girard on August 13, 2008 at 1:30am — 3 Comments

How did I Get Here? Part II

In late 1977 into early 1978 the local ambulance service sponsored an American Red Cross, Advanced First Aid course. Many of the junior and younger firefighters attended this training that was held at the fire hall several nights a week and on a few Saturdays as well. In fact, Smedley and I were only 15 when the class started and were not officially junior firefighters yet. We were learning how to do some good, how to help someone out in their time of need. Of course there was a bit of goofing… Continue

Added by Phil Ferris on August 12, 2008 at 11:30pm — No Comments

We received our new truck yesterday!

Maybe some of you would not understand the happines, but for us, firefighters from a country that doesn't spend much on Fire equipment, we are very very happy. Yesterday, on a cold, rainy morning, Miraflores 28th Fire Station received the new pumper truck, a new truck in 28 years! We didn't care about the cold weather, we were so exited to jump inside the truck and sound the horn to demostrate everyone in the city our entusiasm. We received this new… Continue

Added by Sharon Garcia Valle on August 12, 2008 at 9:35am — 4 Comments

miss the job

well i officaly hate iraq i can not wate to get into a structure fire ive got bran new gear to break in back home and its killing me that it is just sitting in a box insed of me using it. I got to get back to work soon or ill lose whats left of my mind. i also need some friends on here so if thers any one woho will talk to me let me know.

Added by Andy Perkins on August 12, 2008 at 9:18am — 3 Comments

Funeral info for DISTRICT CHIEF BOB LEEK Toronto fire

LODD Funeral Information for Active District Chief, Bob Leek

Monday August 11, 2008

ACTIVE MEMBER LODD

BOB LEEK

DISTRICT CHIEF OF EMERGENCY PLANNING

Full Department LODD Funeral

Visitation

De Marco Funeral Home

3725 Keele St, South of Finch

Wednesday 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Thursday 2:00pm to 4:00pm and 7:00pm to… Continue

Added by Brad Duncan on August 12, 2008 at 7:28am — 1 Comment

Buffalo Fire Department - over time - whats the cause - who's getting sick of what ?

Is overtime in the Buffalo Fire Department is out of control? Many fear it could hamper FF's ability to negotiate a new contract. Some Union Officials blame it on manpower, some feel sick time abuse may be partly to blame. Whatever the cause or causes - some changes must occur as taxpayers are growing tired of increased taxes.

Buffalo City Officials say:

Fire overtime in the first pay period of the new fiscal year hit its highest level since Byron W. Brown became…

Continue

Added by Rick on August 12, 2008 at 1:00am — 7 Comments

WTFD Ice Cream Social

On Sunday 8/10/08 our Association for the Fire Department held its 60th annual Ice Cream Social at Station 41. It was a beautiful day for the social and lots of people came out for the BBQ chicken, burgers, dogs and corn, Oh did I mention the ICE CREAM. They were also entertained with music and live demos from all of our Firefighters. My Station (45) did a tanker ops demo as well as a bucket brigade game for all the kids, (sadly there were no losers in the game it was a tie), the next demo was… Continue

Added by John on August 11, 2008 at 5:11pm — No Comments

Lessons Learned

Okay, so I've been here for a long time (in FFN terms anyway) and have yet to make a blog post. I'm going to cheat and use a part of the speech that I gave Saturday night when I was installed as President of the Vermont State Firefighters Association....

There are many lessons that I have learned over the span of my fire service career. I’d like to share a couple of them with you.

The first is “don’t run”. We all know, or should know, that running on the scene is to be… Continue

Added by Kristy Oxholm on August 11, 2008 at 5:02pm — 3 Comments

A Fire Department having too many volunteers?

I was a part of one fire department or another from 1992 until 2003. When I moved away to another part of the county, the fire department there said they already had too many volunteers? Ever since then I have often wondered this....HOW CAN A FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE TOO MANY VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!! I would think they would want more....I really miss being on the department....love helping others....Can anyone give me a reasonable explanation of this.....

Added by Brian on August 11, 2008 at 4:31pm — 9 Comments

Chemical reaction Of Fire...

Chemical reaction

Fires start when a flammable and/or a combustible material with an adequate supply of oxygen or another oxidizer is subjected to enough heat and is able to sustain a chain reaction. This is commonly called the fire tetrahedron. No fire can exist without all of these elements being in place.

Once ignited, a chain reaction must take place whereby fires can sustain their own heat by the further release of heat energy in the process of combustion and may… Continue

Added by alex on August 11, 2008 at 10:07am — No Comments

September 11th

Does anyone know if they have any sort of ceremony on the 11th any more? I will be out near that area during that time and would love to attend if there is something going on?

Added by Bob on August 10, 2008 at 11:25pm — 1 Comment

Heart Of A Hero

Did anyone see the opening ceramonies to the olympics? Yao Ming walked in with a 9yr old child that was trapped in his school after the eartquake. They said that he got himself out and then WENT BACK IN and rescued some of his classmates. When asked why he said, "I was hall monitor, and watching out for his classmates was his responsibility" I can't speak for the members of firefighter nation, but i want to make him an honorary chief. That story put a lump in my throat and reminded me about the… Continue

Added by Russ on August 10, 2008 at 7:30pm — 1 Comment

we sadly regret line of duty death of a Toronto firefighter today in a explosion i can not give anything eles at this time

Toronto firefighter dies in the line of duty today

BOB LEEK

ACTIVE DISTRICT CHIEF

OF EMERGENCY PLANNING

DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AT THE SUNRISE PROPANE INDUSTRIAL GASES FIRE ON SUNDAY AUGUST 10, 2008.

FUNERAL INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED WHEN KNOWN

BOB LEEK

ACTIVE DISTRICT CHIEF

OF EMERGENCY PLANNING

DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY AT THE SUNRISE PROPANE INDUSTRIAL GASES FIRE ON SUNDAY AUGUST 10,… Continue

Added by Brad Duncan on August 10, 2008 at 7:00pm — 6 Comments

Another busy day.

So much for a relaxing Saturday. Had to do a pr function at the creek front for most of the day. Got to do some show and tell with the kids. When home after that and immediately had my pager go off for a first responder run. Then about a half hour later pager when off again for an accident. Drove engine 6 to the scene and got there just in time to turn around and go back the way I had came to sit up an lz for medevac. It was really interesting backing the engine up a two lane country road the… Continue

Added by Lester Pearsall on August 9, 2008 at 10:24pm — No Comments

My photos

I've just added a few more photos. Please feel welcome to look at them individually and leave comments - I like to hear from people! I don't post ( or even keep!) all the photos I take, I keep only those that I think are of at least reasonable quality. Digital is nice and cheap of course, but back in the days of film I used to be very happy if I could get two out of a roll of 35+ that were worth keeping!

Added by Tony P on August 9, 2008 at 8:50pm — 3 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

For those of you that have kept up with my column, many of you know about the anxiety I've felt trying to manage going to the Fire Academy full-time with the antics of my teenagers, the horrible real estate market, and trying to do it all like many business women my age.

Today I did something I was really nervous about. It may seem soooo simple to some, but today I rode a motorcycle. Just like flying, I was nervous about this. Being uncoordinated, and hating rides and motion, I was afraid… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on August 9, 2008 at 8:00pm — 1 Comment