I can remember (at my age that is an accomplishment) A few year aft. I started (1979) I was riding a brush truck. The engineer noticed that there was smoke coming from the pump panel. We pulled over to investigate and a passer-bye stopped and said "when we have problems we call the fire dept., who do you guy's call" and sped off.

Here I am at 68. When I went through the Fire Academy in 1973, we had an old guy (55) waiting to retire who was teaching us knots. He told me," Kid, you're going to wake up and you will be me." He was so right. The time passes very quickly. I just read a book by a retired Chicago cop. I grew up there so it brought back lots of memories. There was one line that really says it all about the fire service: "Those hosers ( FFs?) sit on their butts most of the time, but when they have to do what…

If you haven't seen it yet.  Check out First Due Tackle. Contributions welcome.  What's in your tackle box?

Pass it on!

All vacants are empty….

Fire through the roof means no entry….

We have 20 minutes interior before collapse happens…..

Victims can’t survive in burning buildings……

It is concerning that the fire service…

Looking for a US based FD that could sponsor for me a request letter to FEMA so i can access their online course for Non-US Citizens. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks.

One of the greatest keys to forcible entry is practice and repetition.  We had a great training tonight with the members of the Berlin Township (OH) FD with my homemade prop that is nearing 800 forces.  This prop has been key to teaching forcible entry techniques over and over, especially on commercial doors.…

This years Firehouse Expo in Baltimore will have a great new show. The Fully Involved Comedy/Rock Tour is a Firehouse Expo and 9/11 Patch Project joint effort to bring a night of comedy and music to the Expo. The event stars the Comedy Central sensation, Ralphie May, and is hosted by Rescue Me's Mike "Probie" Lombardi who's band will also play an acoustic set during the…

Today was finally a bright and sunny day in NJ. Morris Township and Morristown had a Memorial Day service at my town hall. I didn't expect to go to the service but for some reason I decided today I was going to go.

The Ceremonial Officer was J. Robert Tracy, 86 years old, who for 63 years spoke to the masses gathered at the Green. I got to chat with him before the service started at town hall and he told me he could only speak briefly since he had throat cancer. He didn't…

Is your department prepared for the challenges you may face if a school bus loaded with children is involved in a crash.  This past Wednesday a school bus rolled over in Virginia.  It is fortunate that reports are stating all injuries are considered minor.  The picture to the left is from a training scenario a few years back.

What do unstrained passengers go through when a school bus rolls?  Check out the video below for an example.  The video is from a camera mounted on the front…

What are your options when faced with a vehicle roll-over pinning?  What comes to mind first?  Airbags, hydraulic tools, wreckers, jacks, lifting struts, pry bars, wedges?

For this scenario you have a single victim pinned under an overturned vehicle.  What is the safest and fastest option to free the victim?  For the remainder of the discussion we are going to show the use of a jack.  In the picture to the left and video to follow you will see the …

Here’s your scenario:  You get a call for a truck with a high-pitch sound coming from it.  On arrival the truck is a Class B straight truck with hazardous materials placards easily identifiable on your approach.  It’s 80 degrees outside.  You also notice the labeling on the side indicates the vehicle is a medical oxygen service truck.  You also notice a white pressurized gas coming from a vent on the roof of the cargo box.  Some children playing in nearby yards.  Neighbors inform you that…

Tomorrow as you go throughout your day, remember that Memorial Day is not just another day off from work, its not a day to drink, its not a day to have cookouts. Remember that Memorial Day is a day to remember all of the men and women of the Armed Forces. Tomorrow is a day to remember those that have paid the ultimate price for freedom. So tomorrow, if you have a day off from work, remember that there is a Soldier, Sailor, Airman Marine, and Coast Guardsmen standing watch away from their…

Wow, I just had the coolest thing happen to me tonight.  I was waiting for my pizza when a Lady walked up to me and thanked me for doing what we do.  She was attacked years ago but never got to thank the Emt/Firefighter that saved her life. She just wanted to Thank me for doing what I do. So too all of us out there that put our lives on the line whenever and Wherever from me and that Lady Thank you, Keep up the good work.

This is a video of a drill we do. It starts as a VES drill with the firefighter ascending the ladder and then clearing a window. The space is smoked up and the fierfighter enters, starting his search for the door. While he’s searching we throw a rug or piece of plywood ontop of them to demonstrate conditions deteriorating and making them exit fast to the window.

The intent is to force quick recognition to exit and to perform the ladder bail fast. We do this drill after evolutions of…

Firefighters are by nature natural problem solvers. If you think about it we get called for everything nobody else knows what to do with. A citizen calls 911 because something in their life has exceeded their ability to handle it.

The call takers and dispatchers are highly trained professionals that spend many hours in educational classes and are constantly being given new techniques in how to help the general…

Hello everyone, when I received an email from Brian M asking how I was since I hadn't blogged, I realized how long it really has been since I did.

I am slowly getting back to being me. The me before all the drama and heartache entered my life in 2007. Looking back, I wouldn't have been able to get through it without knowing I had hundreds of you in my corner, as well as my fire house.

I am still active in the FD and am in charge of our Facebook page and help…

OR | TIGARD | 2ND ALARM | 16082 SW 113TH AV | FD WAS O/S OF A RETIREMENT HOME WITH FIRE IN TWO APT ON THE 2ND FL WHICH QUICKLY EXTENDED TO THE 1ST FL AND PART OF THE ATTIC.  FD STARTED WITH A FULL BOX RESPONSE, AND QUICKLY UPGRADED TO A SECOND ALARM DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE.  THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF PEOPLE TRAPPED, BUT AFTER EXTENSIVE SEARCHES, NO VICTIMS WERE FOUND.  FD MADE AN AGGRESSIVE EXTERIOR ATTACK.  JUST PRIOR TO GOING UNDER CONTROL, THE FIRE STARTED ON THE 1ST FL AGAIN…