October 2008 Blog Posts (135)

Test

Well last night I went and tested for a department. When I got down there were thirty guys there testing for at minimum of 3 positions. Well sitting back watching what was going on 10 guys it seemed like already new the Captain giving the test so I'm thinking shit. Now hopefully I'm just reading to much into this, but with my luck I'm probably right on the money, I know at some other departments its who you know, not what you know, but I am going to hope I am wrong, and maybe I will get a call… Continue

Added by Jonathan on October 8, 2008 at 11:24am — No Comments

Hurricane Season Predictions VS Reality

In May I had posted the predictions for this Hurricane Season. They had predicted:

"The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on 1 June and may peak between late August and mid-October. According to specialists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it will be an active period with 12 to 16 named storms of which 6 to 9 are expected to become actual hurricanes. The nation’s premier climate agency also predicted that 2 to 5 hurricanes will be major ones of… Continue

Added by Bruce C Ziebarth on October 8, 2008 at 10:07am — No Comments

Daily Dumbass October 8, 2008

Today's Daily Dumbass from KCMQ.com. Original can be viewed here.

There comes a time when you have to stop doing something because you’re just too old or maybe your eyesight isn’t good enough any more. An Austrian hunter tried to shoot down a parked car, mistaking it for a wild boar while hunting. The 67-year-old man said he had briefly dozed off in his watchtower, and when he woke up, he thought the vehicle was wild game and shot at it.… Continue

Added by Bruce C Ziebarth on October 8, 2008 at 9:56am — 1 Comment

Pink Ribbon Tour is Coming to Colorado!

The Pink Ribbon Tour is a group of fire fighters conducting a cross-country mission from late August through October in a pink fire truck, pulling a 10’ ribbon. Their tour will make at least 32 stops—promoting the message of early detection and raising funds for breast cancer research & services. Breast cancer battlers and survivors are invited to come out and sign the truck as a national statement regarding the impact of this devastating disease.

Each of the 32 stops on The Pink… Continue

Added by Paulette on October 7, 2008 at 6:36pm — 1 Comment

Consistency and Standardization - Terminology Blog In Extremis

Well, I'm glad that there's been a lot of discussion about the terminology issue, but my point wasn't just about terminology and communications standardization being a problem for the fire service. Without digressing, despite some of the very considerate and well expressed views pointed out by readers in the Terminology blog I wrote, it is a problem- go back and look at the reports of any disaster… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on October 7, 2008 at 5:30pm — 13 Comments

Leading by "Looking out the window"

I’ve spent a lot of time studying successful fire-rescue and EMS organizations. One of the things I look for is how they establish their organizational structures and how those structures contribute to the organization’s overall success. One organizational structure element is present so consistently that I developed a simple model to explain it. The model is “Looking out the window”. In this model, the Chief and the Deputy Chief stand back-to-back at a picture window. The window represents the… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on October 7, 2008 at 5:00pm — 2 Comments

Lab Exam 1

Well nothing really bad to update on the Lab Exam, I passed the practical exam part of the Lab. The wierd part was that I was scheduled to take it at 11am but showed up about an hour early figuring I could glance over the Lab book. Well I was in and done before 11am and was actually home by about 10 min after 11 today. Now time to study for this Fridays exam 2.

Added by John on October 7, 2008 at 1:03pm — No Comments

Daily Dumbass October 7, 2008

Today's Daily Dumbass from KCMQ.com. Original can be viewed here.

Gun training should be a prerequisite for armed robbers - especially dumb ones. 25-year-old Derrick Kosch went into a convenience store in Kokomo, Indiana with a semi-automatic handgun and demanded money and cigarettes. The store clerk put the money in a bag, and had turned around to get him the smokes when Derrick decided to tuck his gun back into the waistband of his pants. The gun went off and he ended up shooting… Continue

Added by Bruce C Ziebarth on October 7, 2008 at 11:10am — 2 Comments

On the road again.....

Tomorrow I leave for a 2 night 3 day road trip around Wisconsin. I will be "visiting" some fire departments in the Central and Northern areas of the state. I say "visiting" because I will actually be working. Doing annual flow tests on their SCBA's. Now that I have a blog here I will do something that I have been planning on doing for over a year now. I'm going to take my camera along with me and take some pictures along the way. It may be the fall colors or fire trucks or anything else I think… Continue

Added by Tom Haupenthal on October 6, 2008 at 11:21pm — No Comments

Need a lil help guys...

We have a member that has joined recently who is a lil larger than most of the guys...not really sure how active he is going to be in the department since this is volunteer...until we see how things are going to go, we dont want to spend four grand on a set of gear just yet...If anyone knows or has a set of bunkers that are larger than large that they want to sell...please email me...4XL might not cut it...but let me know what ya got...I think we found some… Continue

Added by Chris Pegram on October 6, 2008 at 8:52pm — 4 Comments

Candles - people JUST don't get the danger!

People really DON'T get the dangers of candles - do they? I used to love the smell of scented candles but I only used them on special occassion when I knew I wouldn't forget them or fall asleep because of the known dangers. Then my husband and I had a baby and a few years later we got a puppy - well let's just say the candles got put away before baby and have never returned. BUT I am very happy to share that I found a GREAT alternative.

You all know my fire service connection from my… Continue

Added by Pam Tichy on October 6, 2008 at 3:36pm — 2 Comments

Update on Ryan Hoover and Benefit dinner coming up please read!!!!!

Ok I would like to give some of you all a udate on Ryan Hoover the burned race car driver that I helped out on 8/23/08 @ the Glen ridge motorsports park. As of 10/5/08 ~ There will be a benefit spaghetti supper for Ryan Hover on October 25th at the Craryville Fire Station, located on Rt. 7 in the town of Craryville. Hours are 4p.m.-8p.m.Cost is: Adults, $8.00, Children, $5.00, Under age 3 free. I would like to hope as many race car drivers can make it, to show their support. All race car fans,… Continue

Added by Curtis Rouse on October 6, 2008 at 3:06pm — No Comments

Trip to the Rockies

Well I've been back for a couple weeks but life has been crazy hectic so I'm just now gettin' on to write about my trip. Colorado was flippin amazing!! The weather was like 65-70 degrees the whole time we were there, and everything was just so beautiful. We went hiking quite a bit and got to hear some elk bugling which was really cool and different. Once I get around to gettin' pictures developed I'll post some up here, I got one of an enormous bull elk like 3 feet away from the walk path just… Continue

Added by Ashleigh on October 6, 2008 at 2:47pm — No Comments

Daily Dumbass October 6, 2008

Yet another stupid robber. Taken from KCMQ.com.

From the “nice try” department, we get today’s dumbass. A robber broke into a house in Australia and was caught by the homeowners. When police arrived at the scene, the 42-year-old robber insisted she hadn’t broken in on purpose - she was just sleepwalking and didn’t know what she was doing. The police didn’t buy it and arrested her anyway.

Added by Bruce C Ziebarth on October 6, 2008 at 1:19pm — No Comments

Down time games

When I first joined my department I found that the older members after a meeting, drill, work detail or even on a Sunday morning or at quick call on a Monday night would play a card game called Euchre. Now let me tell you, I love card games and I am always willing to learn how to play a new game.

In my department I was lucky cause I knew all the guys that played so, they decided in their great wisdom to teach me this game. It is not an easy game to learn and I will tell you don't try… Continue

Added by Kimberly A Bownas on October 6, 2008 at 12:28pm — 7 Comments

Thank You All

I want to thank all who responded to my forum on training fires, I appreciate all the responses and it definitely helped with my thoughts on them, and gave me a whole new perspective on what to do, and to help the newer people on the department.
Again a Big Thank You to All who Responded

John

Added by John on October 6, 2008 at 9:45am — No Comments

Looking for other Christian firefighters that are close to Dayton Ohio

My Husband is a Firefighter/Paramedic and I am a strong christian RN and i'm comfortable at church and he's comfortable at the firehouse and around other firefighters. I would like to be able to meet other Christian firefighters to be able to connect the two. Thanks and God Bless, christina

Added by christina on October 6, 2008 at 12:14am — No Comments

yall should read this im i the news paper

PRAIRIEVILLE — When Ashley Norton and Andrew Sanchez signed up to be junior firefighters, it wasn’t just a passing phase.

The Dutchtown High School students both have been junior firefighters with the Prairieville Volunteer Fire Department for more than a year.

The two teens were recently named Junior Firefighters of the Year by the Knights of Columbus.

Brent Villenurve, firefighter and junior… Continue

Added by Da Fire Rescue Girl !!! on October 5, 2008 at 12:41pm — 2 Comments

Election Time.....

Well here in the states we are preparing to elect a new president. Meanwhile those of us in the volunteer service are preparing for the time honored tradition of electing new officers. It's the time of year all sorts of stuff happens around the fire house. Member's you haven't seen all year start showing up, so to be sure they're eligible to vote. Friendships are broken and alliances are formed. Usually some young guy's start campaigning on the change platform. The he said she said rumor mill… Continue

Added by Michael Bates on October 4, 2008 at 7:58pm — No Comments

alive and well

to all my friends sorry i havent been here but as you all are busy so am i

with family friends and fire house its been a hell of a few months

just hope all of you are fine and safe and getting ready for a cold winter i think with the temps dropping early and the economics we may be seeing a rise in arson fires

i have already seen a rise hope you dont oil is hurting us all especially those of us on fixed incomes becareful and be safe… Continue

Added by Dennis on October 4, 2008 at 9:41am — No Comments