I would ask all my friends to observe a moment of reverent silence for the ex-Laceyville, PA firechief, his wife, and daughter who lost their lives in a brutal murder in their own home, and also for their family who will feel this more acutely than we do. We as firefighters expect loss. Loss on scene of victims and brothers to this beast we all fight that we know as death. Loss to old age of friends and family who have lived full, healthy lives. Loss to tragedy as a result of the heinous…

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Speaking from personal experience, the job is a love-hate relationship with the fire. Don't let anyone fool you. Fire is a living thing. It breathes, it feeds, it grows, it procreates, and it has a good side and a bad side. Fire speaks, moans, screams, and it is intelligent. In addition, like most other living things, it will fight to preserve itself. Am I giving the beast too much credit? I think not. Lost in the dense mists of time immemorial is the story of how man first made the decision to… Continue