A conversation heard at a Midwestern fire department between Bobby, the Training Officer and his Chief:

 

Fire Chief:  Go away, Bobby, I’m eating.

T.O. Bobby:  Hey, Your Eminence, I have some good news and I have some good news.

Fire Chief:  You know me, Bobby.  Give me the bad news first.

T.O. Bobby:  There is no bad news, Chief.

Fire Chief:  There’s never no bad news, Bobby.  This is 2010,…

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From my friends at CSTI:   Do you ever wonder how long your air supply would last if your SCBA conked out?…

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We recently received several new fire engines. These beautiful Pierce Quantums are everything you could want in a fire engine. However, it seems there is at least one thing that some people don't want. The seats in the engines have sensors that can tell if someone is sitting there and whether or not the seat belt is buckled.

 

Last week, as I was gathering my gear from the engine, the Captain who relieved me asked the engineer if the engine had one of those seat belt…

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Once again, the country is honoring the First Responders who fell on 9/11. Big ceremonies are happening all over the land with politicians using the date to get photo ops with firefighters and police. Then on 9/12, they will go back and continue the fight to take away benefits negotiated by us, which we worked 25 to 30 years of daily danger for. When we left our families to go to work, our wives and children did not know if they would see us come home. Many of my friends have died…

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It was an honor to carry FF Van Hine's name up 110 floors during the Sacramento 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Even with the training I did it was an incredibly hard climb.

On Sunday September 11, 2011, at 8:00 am, a Memorial Service will be held at the quarters of Engine 40 Ladder 35 "The Cavemen" in remembrance of the members of The Cave who made the Supreme Sacrifice on 9/11/2001. Engine 40 Ladder 35 is located at 131 Amsterdam Ave and West 66th Street in…

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343 firefighters will climb 110 stories  at the Renaissance Building in Downtown Sacramento on Sunday 9/11/11. Over 3,000 others will complete a 5K Run/Walk on the Riverfront. After the completion of the Stair Climb and 5K there will be a tribute concert in the Capitol Mall.

 

This event is sponsored by the Local 522 Sacramento Area Firefighters, Placer County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Sacramento Police Officer…

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This truck fire appeared routine on arrival.  The driver reported no occupants in the truck and no hazmats in the box.  You’ll see a quick knock down with water and foam, but burning magnesium kept burning through the foam blanket. Usually more H2O will suppress this type of burning metal fire, but sand was used for final extinguishment in this case.

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Here are 343 brave men I was proud to work with.

Joseph Agnello, Lt. Brian Ahern, Eric Allen, Richard Allen, Capt. James Amato, Calixto Anaya Jr., Joseph Angelini Sr., Joseph Angelini Jr., Faustino Apostol Jr., David Arce, Louis Arena, Carl Asaro, Lt. Gregg Atlas, Gerald Atwood, Matthew Barnes, Gerald Baptiste, A.C. Gerard Barbara, Arthur Barry, Lt. Steven Bates, Carl Bedigian, Stephen Belson, John Bergin, Paul Beyer, Peter Biefeld, Brian Bilcher, Carl Bini, Christopher Blackwell, Michael… Continue

I recently updated the through-the-lock setup that I carry in my gear (see pics below).  For years I had used a modified set of locking pliers (ViseGrip style) with separate key tools and shove knife. This setup has proven extremely effective at both alarm runs and working fires.

 

I've decided to change my setup to a modified "Channelok" setup.  It's going to allow me merge 2 tools into 1 and I'll be able to store it in a smaller pocket.  I am actually using an Irwin/ Vise…

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http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/01/eveningnews/main20100679.shtml?tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District recently completed a Serious Accident Review. On May 31, members of Metro Fire were operating on a residential structure fire. A truck company was on the roof performing vertical ventilation when a roof collapse dumped one firefighter into the burning garage. The firefighter was successfully rescue by adjacent crews. Follow this link to the report

Ellsworth SAR…

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