All Blog Posts (7,007)

how joining the fire service changed my life

i moved to the south waikato about 3 yrs ago hoping to do one more year of school and leave 3 yrs later im still here i joined the fire service just over a yr ago and now i dont want to leave, i love my town and my brigade i love the waikato, its the place i now call home. i always thought i would grow up to be a vet or something ,helping animals but a year ago that moved to helping people, and i found a way i could do both, work with animals and help people, farming in the heart of the waikato… Continue

Added by Sarah Tinsley MacKenzie on May 11, 2009 at 8:04pm — No Comments

Dinosaurs and Kids These Days - Generational Differences in the Fire Service

“I don’t know what to do,” said the senior officer. “My firefighter talks on his personal cell phone on the way to emergency calls and texts during group meals. When told to do something around the station, the first thing he says is, ‘Why?’ or ‘Right now?’ The kid is strong and smart, and you couldn’t ask for a better firefighter on emergency scenes. But this other stuff is a real problem.”

“I don’t get it,” responds the younger firefighter. “How can you become a leader… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 11, 2009 at 5:36pm — 9 Comments

TNT: The Accidental Runner :...ONE...LAST...TIME.....Ruh-Roh

I'm a masochist.

There, I said it. A friend of mine (you may have seen him wandering around here --he has a Big White Hat) says that the first step in recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

I do have a problem. I have a problem with little kids dying from an incurable blood cancer.

So...in the spirit of putting my money where my big fat mouth is...

Once again, I'm going to run the Lake Placid Half Marathon for the Upstate NY/VT Chapter of the… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on May 11, 2009 at 3:26pm — 19 Comments

free public seminar

Hey people,

Im drawing up a Half day coarse for any one from the publc who is interested. I want it to cover what people in fire prone areas can do in the event of a fire to evacuate / stay and defend safely and effectively so that we can help to avoid a repeat of the disasterouse casualties of the marysville fires. I think there are important lessons not to be ignored there. I have most of what i need but any views on things to cover on the day will be very… Continue

Added by Aaron Smith on May 11, 2009 at 6:12am — No Comments

Great success

Great success for me as I passed my kidney stones!

Wow I am in a ton of pain as I had two large stones but still, I am happy the worst is over. Ladies, I know your awesome for having child birth and I know the pain your in. You have my sympathy.

Men, I do not wish Kidney stones upon you. Brothers, I am free!!!! No more stones.

Time to celebrate as soon as the burning stops.

Have a good one and stay safe.

Added by Jason McDonald on May 10, 2009 at 7:23pm — 4 Comments

How Aggressive Suppression?

Fire Engineering editor Bobby Halton makes statements that force us out of our comfort zone. My first encounter with this was reading the December 2006 editorial about fire-based ems. Flying out to a January conference in Phoenix, here was the opening paragraph of a letter-to-the-editor I was writing:

I was left with a queasy feeling while reading Chief Halton’s December editorial “Rampart, This is Squad 51.” I understand the issue of protecting the fire service… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on May 10, 2009 at 7:11pm — 12 Comments

standards, care, response time, and other topics.

I am in a 3rd world country and there is no standard here but a ton of firefighters tell me they want a standard and they want to follow NFPA standards but some of those firefighter do not practice that standard after they are informed of the NFPA standard and that leads me to think they never wanted to follow a standard but instead they just wanted the knowledge and will ignore standards as much as possible. Right now both of my fire brigades can respond within 15 minutes to a call within… Continue

Added by Jason McDonald on May 10, 2009 at 7:06pm — 2 Comments

When did it happen.........

I turned 45 this year and I got to wondering, when did I go from being the young eager kid who wanted to know everything I could about fire and rescue work, to the one that the young kids look to for answers to their questions. I don't really recall a point where I knew that I was no longer the young wide eyed kid, it just happened gradualy. I started learning more and eventualy there was someone asking me the same questions that I had asked. I went through FFI and FFII, the haz-mat, and… Continue

Added by John Schander on May 10, 2009 at 5:00pm — 3 Comments

I have an interview!

I am so excited to say that I will be going to an interview on Thursday May 21st! I really hope to get the job! In the interview I hope to display my passion for this job, my love for people and I hope first and foremost, to honor the one who has got me this far, my Lord and savior! Please pray for me on this day and in my preparation for the interview!

Thanks so much!
Bev....aspiring firehouse girl!

Added by Beverly on May 10, 2009 at 4:00pm — 2 Comments

On Duty Sleeping Conditions

How does your department operate? What kind of beds do you all use? We have recently been placed in vinyl matresses that are extremely uncomfortable to sleep on and some members on my shift have resorted to sleeping on air matresses and egg carton foam. Just looking at what you all use. Thanks!

Added by Keenan Mulvaney on May 10, 2009 at 1:57pm — 6 Comments

Staying Fit in a Weak Economy

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Finding Strength in a Weak Economy: How to remain physically fit on a tight budget

Story & Photos by Fire Captains Jeff & Martha Ellis

Times are tough. We’re all feeling the pressure of our current economic state. Some of us are worried about keeping our jobs or current salaries. Families, fire departments, municipalities—they’re all tightening up their budgets. As a result,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 10, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Operation Prom Night

We’ve been doing these for several years sharing responsibility with 3 departments and 2 school districts, I’ve been in on 7 and this year was my first to be IC. It seemed a little unorganized this year, way to much stuff going to get everyone at rehearsal, I had no idea who was going to be there until just before, makes it kind of hard to plan. I should also mention that this is put on by our EMS side, and I was not part of this, merely a player but with everyone asking me questions right up… Continue

Added by Trainer on May 10, 2009 at 9:19am — 1 Comment

If the Federal bailouts haven't pissed you of yet

As I watched this story, it didn't surprise me that a workers comp claim had been denied, (common in Texas) until I found out who the insurance company is that the Govt. contracted to handle these American civilian citizens who risked their lives to ensure supplies made it to the troops. I am not now, nor will I condone the actions of KBR in Iraq, during the last few years, but I believe AIG might make KBR look like a convent.

I researched the different insurance policies that I… Continue

Added by Oldman on May 9, 2009 at 5:22pm — No Comments

My threashhold and when to call it quit (kidney Stones)

Last month I started having pain when I urinated and I did not think anything of it since I am clumsy and sometimes rack myself by mistake and feel it the next day. I slipped while on my roof the other day (sheet metal roof and a nail broke through the wood sending the metal panel and me to slide down the roof) and I ended up with the antenna pole falling on top of me. I am ok after that but just needed a few minutes to get back up.

I though my pain was because of the antenna falling… Continue

Added by Jason McDonald on May 9, 2009 at 4:54pm — 2 Comments

Washington County, NY Fire Training

Washington County Fire Training

2009-10

DATE TIME COURSE LOCATION INSTRUCTOR

5/7/2009 1900 Scene Support OPS Greenwich Alexander

6/9/2009 1900 Firefighter II Kingsbury Richards

6/10/2009 1900 Truck Company Operations Middle Falls Hopkins

7/21/2009 1900 Firefighter Survival Argyle Richards

7/28/2009 1900 Rescue Tech Basic Greenwich Hopkins

9/1/2009 1900 FAST Fort Edward Richards

9/14/2009 1900 Firefighter I… Continue

Added by Fire Instructor on May 9, 2009 at 4:13pm — 2 Comments

Quick tips for deploying hose from the rear hosebed

QUICK DRILLS

Move to the Rear

Common mistakes & effective strategies for deploying hose from the rear hosebed

Story & Photos by Homer Robertson

If you look at the way our fire apparatus have evolved over the last 30 or so years, it’s amazing how many changes and improvements have been made. This is especially evident when you look at how hose is stored and loaded on new fire apparatus.

Not that many years ago,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 8, 2009 at 8:00am — 14 Comments

I'm back

In January of 2008 I was kicked off of a scene and my Fire Dept because of false accusations by my best friend and his new best friend, but thats okay, I'm not bitter anymore. In November a couple of Firefighters that I had worked with in the past approached me and wanted me to come work for them as a paid volunteer at Orleans. The town had just hired one as Administrater and the other as Chief to fix and reorginize the department. It's been great, in just 5 months we've doubled the number of… Continue

Added by Ray Crane on May 8, 2009 at 6:08am — 1 Comment

Rope Rescue Question...

So the other day I went on a 10-50 and long story short, ended the call carrying a 550lb+ guy up a steep hill on a longboard about 50 yards or so to the ambulance. I was one of six, myself the only firefighter, helping a couple emt's and the rest cops, and unforunately the communication lacked making the job overly difficult. My dad is a career firefighter and gave me an idea of using a stokes tied off to a rope, and a pully as an axis point on the truck at the edge of the hill. With enough… Continue

Added by Jake on May 8, 2009 at 12:14am — 10 Comments

Know Your Mobile Water Supply Options

RURAL FIRE COMMAND

Tender Tactics: Mobile water supply methods for the rural setting

Story & Photos By Keith Klassen

In many areas of the country, apparatus carrying large amounts of water to the scene are called water tankers. In fact, according to the National Incident Management System, tanker is the correct term for such a thing. But in the western United States, if you request a tanker to respond to your fire… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 7, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Hazmat gets a little more comfortable

You might not like it, but fire service responsibility for hazmat is here to stay. And as more firefighters become certified to NFPA 472 Operations as a minimum training competency level for hazmat incidents, there’s growing need to have chemical and hazmat personal protective clothing (PPC) that allows firefighters to actually move and work with less restriction.

Conventional chemical PPC are often heavy and cumbersome, “moonsuits” that, while designed for maximum protection of the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on May 7, 2009 at 3:52pm — No Comments