August 2009 Blog Posts (88)

Pause for a Moment

I went to Catholic school my entire life (which to some, explains a lot), and I'd say I received a good education. I was taught to believe that people are generally good, that we're all more alike than we are different, and that life is a gift.

Life is a tricky gift, though, isn't it? You curse it on your worst days, you hope it never ends on your best, and as you get older, it seems to go by faster and faster, just when you need it to slow down, or pause, for a bit.

When… Continue

Added by Cindy Devone-Pacheco, FireRescue on August 31, 2009 at 5:00pm — 3 Comments

Remembering Jim Page: FireRescue board members share their thoughts

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Jim Page, FireRescue magazine's founder and the father of EMS in the fire service. Below, several FireRescue board members share their memories of Jim.

“I only knew Jim Page a few years. But because of reading his many columns and editorials, I felt like I know him my whole life. I first met Jim back in 2002 at FDIC. I had just started working for Fire Rescue Magazine as it's Apparatus Technical… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 31, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Highly Mobile Minis: HMA Fire Apparatus debuts 4 prototypes

Highly Mobile Minis: HMA Fire Apparatus debuts 4 prototypes

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

A new fire apparatus manufacturer has emerged with four new products for the fire service industry. HMA Fire Apparatus, based in Madison, Wis., is an up-and-coming fire apparatus and equipment company that’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.

I had the pleasure of spending some time at FDIC with Rory Groonwald, the vice president of operations and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 31, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

343 Memorial Climb Honors 9/11 Firefighters, Features Family Activities

343 Memorial Climb Honors 9/11 Firefighters, Features Family Activities

By Laura Carman

Named in honor of the 343 firefighters who were lost in the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001 and sponsored by the Fallen Heroes Family Support Fund (FHFSF), the Firefighters Benefit Festival aka 343 Memorial Climb will be held at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton on September 19, 2009 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm.

This year will have tons of fun family… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 31, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

A Long Stretch: Large buildings mean longer hoselines

FIRE ATTACK

A Long Stretch: Large buildings mean longer hoselines

By Greg Jakubowski

Large homes, schools, hospitals, malls, office buildings, churches, warehouses, industrial complexes and other large buildings all have one thing in common when it comes to fighting fires in them: Firefighters will likely need to stretch a hoseline longer than 200 feet from the engine company to the seat of the fire.

BUILDING CHALLENGES

Although the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 31, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

NIMS: It's Not Perfect, But It Does Work

It’s Not Perfect, But It Does Work

In defense of the National Incident Management System/Incident Command System

Story & Photo By Harold Schapelhouman

Recently, I finished reviewing the December 2008 National Incident Management System (NIMS) update. It wasn’t light reading so it took me a while to get through it, but it was a good review and an informative update. The 158-page document can be found at… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 31, 2009 at 5:00am — 1 Comment

Ramp Strikes, Mom's Name, and Survival

From All Hazards Contemplations...

Although I love to read, I haven't had much reading time lately. Work and completing the edits of my chapter in Jones & Bartlett's new Fundamentals of Technical Rescue has taken up most of my spare time. I have been able to complete a book I have… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on August 30, 2009 at 9:38pm — No Comments

SCBA breathing

Hello everyone, I am new to the community and look forward to learning from everyone.

I am new to firefighting and am going through our local class for FireFighter 1 certification. I have a question to post and see if anyone can offer up their experiences and advice on this subject.

I just joined our local volunteer fire dept. ( I moved back to town, I grew up here and want to give back), I have been a member of our water utilitie's (where i work) HAZMAT team so I have… Continue

Added by Jarrod McCaughey on August 30, 2009 at 3:45pm — 6 Comments

Professional Development gets an FRI Push

ED KAPLAN IS OBSESSED WITH FIREFIGHTER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

He is the architect of the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) initiative started 12 years ago at the National Fire Academy (click HERE for related article). He has encouraged, cajoled and conceptualized the concept of linking training with academic achievement and… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on August 30, 2009 at 5:28am — No Comments

RIP L B Stacy

On August-28-2009 Hyden volenteer Fire Dept lost one of their on Chief L B stacy #305 . L B started the first Fire Dept in Leslie county in 1975. he was aslo involved in helping the 5 other five depts in our county get started, L B had been the chief at Hyden FD for the last 3o some years, he was also the oldest chief and fire fighter in Leslie county he dedicated many days and hours to this county he has taught us alot not only as fire fighters but as people his fire dept was his second home… Continue

Added by Brittany Thomas Sparks on August 30, 2009 at 2:52am — No Comments

Slowly creeping into the 21st century

I know its been awhile, but its been busy department-wise lately. First off, we went from 2 certified DOT 1st Responders to over 10! Then came the firefighter grants. We're going for a newer pumper and equipment. Our turnouts are from 1998 or older, SCBA's are over 5 years old, pagers over 10 years old and most radios are over 4 years old. We also have no EMS equipment per say, just whats donated to us. Hopefully, these grants will come through to keep my personnel safer.

We also finally… Continue

Added by Tandy Young on August 29, 2009 at 6:02pm — No Comments

Funny its been a year

Since my last blog here. Kind of fitting. Yesterday I went to the station to get my gear including my mask to do a ride along with another station. My gear was there but not my mask, without the mask I can't ride. It seems without my knowledge that I was regulated to non-operational status. No note, no phone call, email, nothing.

If the volunteer fire department wants to play reindeer games, well they can play them all by themselves. As of yesterday, Friday August 28, 2009 taking the… Continue

Added by Bill Brierton on August 29, 2009 at 5:58pm — 1 Comment

New Jersey Metro Fire Photographers Association (2009 Photo Night)

Save The Date & Spread the word The New Jersey Metro Fire Photographers Association to Announce their 24th annual PHOTO NIGHT SHOW Spectacular! Saturday Oct. 17, 2009 3:30 to 9:30 pm New & Old Apparatus displays , slide and digital shows... , video feathers and more! at the Harry P Becton Regional High School 120 Paterson Avenue East Rutherford , NJ 07073 Hope to see you all there

Added by Christopher Torello on August 28, 2009 at 11:02pm — No Comments

Saddened at the loss of a fallen brother. R.I.P. Joel Wiggins.

Today I found out that one of my friends and a fellow firefighter, a brother, died unexpectedly. He was a great firefighter, first-responder, and rescue squad member for our county. He always responded to a call, no matter how big or small. East Toombs 326 Joel Wiggins you will be dearly missed. As a member of South Thompson Fire Dept., his fellow firefighter and friend, I will miss working wrecks with him and having his assistance on fire scenes, fighting fire beside him as we have done… Continue

Added by Asst. Chief Bigshow on August 28, 2009 at 10:00pm — 1 Comment

First Structure Fire Run

Well ive officially been on my first structure fire run... lightning strike right up the road from the firehouse, no one home, toned out during junior training.. I was so freaking nervous i forgot how to change an air pack and i couldn't button my bunkers cuz i was shaking but i really enjoyed it. Firefighters had control within an hour and by the time we were allowed up there it was mainly clean up, still i loved doin it. Change the bottles, walk out the hose, pack it up drain the dump tank… Continue

Added by Jessica Travis on August 28, 2009 at 7:30pm — 10 Comments

Worcester 10 Years Later: An Insider's Look

By Janelle Foskett, FireRescue magazine

On Dec. 3, 1999, six Worcester (Mass.) Fire Department (WFD) firefighters lost their lives while battling a fire in the vacant Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire. Ten years later, WFD District Chief John F. Sullivan, MPA, spoke about the event in his Fire-Rescue International session “Beyond the Investigation Report: An Insider’s Look at the Worcester LODD Incident.”

Sullivan, who was a company officer… Continue

Added by Firefighter Nation WebChief on August 27, 2009 at 10:19pm — 3 Comments

Nightmares

My husband is going to be graduating from EMT school in october and after that heading into being a firefighter. As the day gets closer I have found myself having terrible nightmares about things that could happen to him. I'm terrified at the thought of losing him. We have 2 small children (3 &1) And I have been having dreams of them growing up without a father :( I wonder if the dreams wil fade eventually, maybe they are just coming because he is fixing to graduate. I hope that once he is… Continue

Added by Alexis Hughes on August 26, 2009 at 2:25pm — 11 Comments

Letter to the Editor: Creative hoseloads make long stretches easier

Letter to the Editor: Creative hoseloads make long stretches easier

By Scott Arthur EMT-P

Greg Jakubowski’s article in the July issue of FireRescue magazine touched on some hose evolutions that we have used very successfully for a number of years here in Snowmass Village.

We have a large number of homes with significant set backs or… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 26, 2009 at 11:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...August 26, 2009

I forgot to tell you about Sunday. I had a GREAT time at an exempt picnic at one of our firehouses.

In our township, you are exempt if you are with the fire department for seven years. I am not exempt, but the picnic is opened up to all the firefighters in the township.

Last year I attended the same picnic but this year I knew more people, and I knew some people a little better than I did last year. I even caught… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on August 26, 2009 at 6:35am — No Comments

Tennessee Lawmakers one step forward and two stumbles Backward !!!!

Tennessee has stepped into the 80's by making mandatory minimum training for vols before they can fight fire. The new law as of 6/25/09 mandates minimum training, I personally think its a large step forward but the state has allowed many counties to opt out or disregard the law. I received my first training in Navy but even that wasnt good enough for the state of NY in the late 80s. EF class was a prerequisite to setting foot on a fire engine back then. My fellas are trained in house and are… Continue

Added by Palmyra Chief Donaghey on August 26, 2009 at 12:42am — No Comments