So, I will be the first to admit that I am spoiled. I am on the ladder truck, which is the promary Special Ops truck in the city. My station also has the only rescue truck based out of it. Translation- rescue runs most of the medical calls and I roll over and go back to sleep. Life is GOOD.

Last shift, I knew things were going to get bad when the rescue crew returned from a call with an old duffer who couldn't breath and refused to go to the hospital. Sure enough, rescue got banged…

EVERY ONE BY NOW KNOWS THAT I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER SEPTEMBER OF 2006. WELL I HAD A DOCTORS APPOINTMENT THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND THE NEWS WAS GOOD!!!!!!!!! THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT ALL MY BLOOD TEST AND FROM WHAT SHE CAN FEEL IS THAT THE CANCER IS GONE AND THAT SHE DOES NOT SEE A REOCCURANCE. I AM TOTALLY EXCITED BUT SCARED TOO, I AM NOT GOING TO GET REALLY EXCITED UNTIL THEY DO ALL MY SCANS AND SHOW ME PROOF THAT THE CANCER IS GONE. BUT FOR NOW I AM GOING TO BE EXTRA…

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, except me and my spouse

The stockings were empty, no presents were wrapped

We were way behind schedule and our resources tapped…

Can anybody tell me how to download songs to my ffn.com website?

Thanks,

Ken Stahl

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the station,

All was quiet except for our snoring Dalmatian.

Our boots had been placed by the bunksides with care,

In hopes that the shift change would finally be here.

The lights were turned down and the TV was off,

The…

Angels fall,

heros die.

Friends weep,

families cry.

Life falls away

leaving behind,

elusive memories

flooding your mind...

they blur and fade,

time washes away...

you long for peace

but the skies are still gray.

Why take her away?

Why leave us without?

Why give us this pain?

We lose faith to doubt...

But still...

angels fall,

heros die...

Sometimes,

these…

Newly-established emergency response team to assist Katrina’s forgotten victims.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce the death of our Fire Chief- Ronny Allen Bennett. Ron was the Chief of the Orcutt Fire Protection District in Orcutt CA. He passed away suddenly from natural causes on 11/14/2007 while preparing to go enroute to a call from his home. He was 39 years old. I ask for your prayers for the Bennett Family and the OFD while we mourn the sudden loss.



Ronny was an active volunteer at our station for 23 years. He started as a fire explorer and he was…

As long as i can remember i have wanted nothing more than to be a firefighter/paramedic. Last year that dream came true. I have witnessed compassion and evil at its worst level. I was born to be a firefighter but as of last week a diagnosis of hypertension and chronic high bloodpressure has left my board of directors no choice but to remove me from duty. I have given 110% to being a firefighter and more than anything i am proud to have worn the uniform. You stand out in a crowd you are the…

I was working with a consultant recently who listed "training requirements" as one of the deterrents to why people join or stay in the volunteer fire service. I told her that those words jumped right off the page at me and for the first time, I was offended by them.

We have to change our complete attitude towards training. It requires a 180 degree cultural shift from the way we approach training. They're not training requirements - they're training NEEDS!

Training is what we…

Just a quickie post to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I wish you understood the things that I have to deal with every time I respond.

I wish you never understand the things that I have to deal with when I respond to an emergency.

I wish you had to see the things I have to see.

I wish you never had to see the things I have seen.

I wish you knew the feeling I get when there is nothing I can do but to watch someone perish.

I wish you never know the feeling I get when there is nothing I can do but…

I have just really begun being a volunteer firefighter and love it. I just recently completed my first responder class. Got to go on my first call and feel that this was the right choice for me. For every training I have gone to I learn that there is still so much more to learn. I love it. I like being able to help others and feel that this is the best way for me to do that. I…