Hancock Hope has received a request for any manpower that can spend some time at fire stations affected by Hurricane Sandy in Nassau County. The request is for firefighters and emt’s that can spend three to seven days.

If you can assemble a group to respond in the near future, please contact Hancock Hope at hancockhope.org or…

Hancock Hope needs to restock our backup supplies. If your department has surplus gear, supplies, gloves, helmets, airpacks, or any other item typically used in fire and ems operations, we can put it in the hands of a department that needs it, when they need it. The majority of our inventory was requested and delivered to Queens,NY in response to Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts.

 Visit HancockHope.org or feel free to call Dan Macakanja @ 716-952-4575

 Thank…

This photo shows a way to make an SCBA face piece for your RIT bag/kit glove friendly. You can use a garden hose or any kind of rubber tubing or hose that would be easy to grab with a gloved hand. We used a small bungee cord and ran it through the bonnet and attached both ends to the hose. This allows for easy feeling and grabbing the back of the mask with gloved hands.…

Lt. Bronner sent the following notice about getting your cold weather bags together as the temperature drops.  If you have a cold weather bag share what you have in it so others can get an idea of what works and what doesn’t.  Stay warm.  Read On.

Since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, Hancock Hope has been helping fire departments through tough times. Whether the need is long term manpower, equipment, or gear, Hancock Hope finds a way to make it happen.

Hurricane Sandy is no different. Joining hundreds of firefighters from all over the country who have descended on the New York/ New Jersey area, members of Hancock Hope’s National Response Team will travel…

Hello everyone!

Yesterday I was at my firehouse in the parking lot and a member of the OEM was in his truck. He was waiting for the word to drive some water to a nearby neighborhood whose residents couldn't get off their street. I am a member of the OEM but since I am also a volunteer FF, I seldom get to do OEM work during an incident. We were chatting and I mentioned that I was basically camped out at the firehouse. He said, "playing den mother?" Boy, I was insulted but being…

Brothers and Sisters,

My book, Hot Zone: Memoir of a Professional Firefighter, is now available through your favorite on-line book retailer. It is going through the normal review process, but early "informal" reviews show that readers, both civilian and emergency service personnel, are enjoying the book. Ten percent of proceeds will be donated each year to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Signed copies can be purchased through the author's website,…

If anyone has had a rough time in the Volunteer Fire Service it has been me. I've done everything in my short time being a fireman from starting off being completely ignored as a new, younger generation jr. fireman and no one would teach me anything, to almost being arrested for things I didn't do, to sitting on the opposite side sitting at a police station after a member went down for something big. And now, I'm one of the leading fireman in my company, with thousands of hours of research,…

Hello everyone:

This is Jonathan, I’m a Firefighter Medic in Southern California, and like all of you, love being a Firefighter, serving others, alongside the finest men and women I know!

I just wanted to take a moment and invite you to be a part of an incredible book that is all about Firefighters and the joys and hardships of our job! We are currently compling, editing, and carefully selecting the best stories to be featured in our book! These are the stories of men and women –…

Here is a great "memory jogger" for Command Functions and Size Up from one of our instructors, Scott Hulsey.  I know it's short, but these little cheat sheets can be used during training evolutions or at the kitchen table to stay sharp as an incident commander.

Size-up Matrix…

Seems like forever, doesn't it?

I am ALIVE and well!!! I hope you are all well to!

Love your friend, Denise

Excerpt of Chicago Fire review reprinted with permission of pipenozzle.com: 

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, “Chicago Fire” executive producer, Dick Wolf, said the new “Chicago Fire” television series would be character driven. In other words, another hose opera because the special effects would cost too much, not to mention the equipment…

work schedule change

It is imperative that you bring your mind to the fight.

For those that follow this blog and Backstep Firefighter, you are aware of our catch phrase. “Expect Fire”. This phrase, inspired by the words of Andy Fredericks, was developed by…

Hello, my father Bill Hennick wanted me to share this note with you on Baltimore's recent tragedy. 

Brothers & Sisters,

Hello Friends and Fellow Members, 

I'm pleased to share the news that EMS World recently posted an interview on their website about my new book Ghetto Medic: A Father in the 'Hood.  Ghetto Medic, is a true story chronicling my father's career as a firefighter and paramedic in the 1960s and 1970s, when the field of emergency medical care was at the dawn of a new era.  I spent nearly a decade collaborating on the project with my dad, Bill Hennick.  I'm…