All Blog Posts (7,007)

~Can't Deny

We give of our hearts,

we give of our soul,

We put our bodies on the line

yet no one will know.

We look in there face

and we watch as

they die.

We ask WHY, WHY CHRIST, WHY?

My Brothers and Sisters

we are a family,

a family with the strongest of ties,

Not a one of us could ever deny.

Jim Rogers 2/22/08

Added by Jim on February 28, 2008 at 11:29am — No Comments

Worst Day

Its there worst possible day,

yet its as if our smiles

are made of clay.

We have sworn to

help never to

Betray.

We pick them up

from the spot

where they

Lay.

We direct the family

and friends to

Stay,

as we pull away

we drive through traffic

we make our own

Way.

Cause we don't have time

to Stay… Continue

Added by Jim on February 28, 2008 at 11:28am — No Comments

Firefighters Have the Sexiest Job

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Firefighters everywhere, rejoice. You have the sexiest job title, according to a survey conducted by Salary.com.

The survey's participants chose firefighters because of their "ability to stare down danger, maintain top physical fitness and demonstrate compassion for others."

"One of the most refreshing aspects of our fun and informal survey is the high value consumers put on the job titles of firefighter's, nurse's, surgeon's and soldiers, where individual's… Continue

Added by Da Chief - Jim O'Neill on February 28, 2008 at 7:31am — 4 Comments

so sad

For the longest time since i moved from California in 1999 I had been trying to find my best friend that i was in kindergarten all the way up until i moved well about a few weeks ago i found a girl i went to school with at Conyer Elementary and i was talkin to her about my friend amy meek and asked her how she was and what not and she told me that in the 8th grade she died in a car accident with her grandpa I was completely devastated i still am i still cant believe she is gone i wish i… Continue

Added by Brittany Jean Travis on February 28, 2008 at 5:40am — No Comments

Some worthwhile information (thanks FirefighterCloseCall.com)

I was poking around for some research and ended up spending the better part of the evening surfing the FirefighterCloseCall.com website. Thank goodness I was alone at home because I spent a good deal of time yelling at the computer while watching some of the videos on the website. To be honest, I wasn't completely alone and I am still apologizing to the four cats who were trying to sleep during this endeavor.

At any rate, I know that I am capable of doing some damn stupid things.… Continue

Added by Heather Langston on February 27, 2008 at 8:54pm — No Comments

Gods Country

THE GOLDEN PHONE.

A man in Topeka , Kansas decided to write a book about Churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east from there.

Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and making notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with a sign, which read 'Calls: $10,000 a minute.'

Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor answered that… Continue

Added by Da Chief - Jim O'Neill on February 27, 2008 at 3:18pm — No Comments

Outstanding Media Coverage for Edmond, OK, Recruits

Joe Elam, Ass't Training Director for the Edmond (OK) Fire Dept, was quoted in an article by reporter Diana Baldwin in today's Daily Oklahoman, about the current 24 week Edmond fire academy which wraps up next month. The recruits rebuilt a house they burned during training. "This way," Elam said, "they will be able to hit the ground running." The house will now be available for further training exercises. The newspaper article was complete with two large full color photographs of the recruits… Continue

Added by Duane Monkres on February 27, 2008 at 1:53pm — No Comments

LONDON FIRE 1972

03:08am As we climbed the 50ft wooden escape ladder the fire flashed over from a window below us. Flames came belching out onto the ladder, which had just transported us to the third floor level. My hands felt slightly ‘crisp’ but we had arrived safely. I watched out the window as the ladder was suddenly removed and wheeled away for urgent use elsewhere. The ladder itself was still on fire!

03:11am There we all were, the five of us huddled together on the filthy floor of a derelict… Continue

Added by EuroFirefighter on February 27, 2008 at 5:30am — No Comments

CHICAGO FIRE PHOTOS

My good friend, Tim Olk, gets around the Chicago area and takes some great photos. Check out his site at http://www.olkee.smugmug.com

Added by DAVE on February 26, 2008 at 11:00pm — No Comments

Penny-wise and Pound-foolish? NYS OFPC budget and training class cuts

Apparently the state-budgeted salad days for training new firefighter recruits are over for now in New York State.

Not only has the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control canceled a slew of classes state-wide due to overestimating the funds available to provide the instructors for these programs, county training coordinators in some locations have been told that the number of training hours they are normally allotted have been significantly reduced.

We ALL need to speak up,… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on February 26, 2008 at 10:00pm — 23 Comments

Local Firefighter

My father was a fireman, he drove a big red truck,

And when he'd go to work each night, he'd say, "Mother wish me luck".

Then Dad would not come home again, 'til sometime the next day,

But the thing that bothered me most, was the things some folks would say. A fireman's life is easy, he eats and sleeps and plays,

And sometimes he don't fight a fire for days and days and days.

When I first heard these comments, I was too young to understand

Cause I knew, when people… Continue

Added by Paula on February 26, 2008 at 8:55pm — No Comments

NFPA Standard relevant to Helmets

The following message was copied from www.firefighterclosecalls.com.

Please share with the leadership of your fire departments, immediately.

Line and Chief Officers, this is a matter that should command your attention (please)

NEW NFPA APPARATUS STANDARDS & HELMET WEARING/USE

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

The following is in the new revision of NFPA 1901, effective for apparatus contracted on and after January 1, 2009.

"14.1.8.4* The… Continue

Added by Coach on February 26, 2008 at 8:49pm — 2 Comments

New NFPA Apparatus Standards & Helmet Wearing/Use

Reposted from FirefighterCloseCalls.com

The following is in the new revision of NFPA 1901, effective for apparatus contracted on and after January 1, 2009.

"14.1.8.4* The following statement shall be included in the operator’s manual: ’Fire helmets shall not be worn by persons riding in enclosed driving and crew areas. Fire helmets are not designed for crash protection and they will interfere with the protection… Continue

Added by Firefighter Nation WebChief on February 26, 2008 at 6:00pm — 6 Comments

Medical and Fire Personal

Medical and Fire Personnel

It has come to our attention from several emergency

rooms and from the state fire reporting system that

many EMS narratives and Fire Reports have taken a

decidedly creative direction lately.

Effective immediately, all members are to refrain

from using slang and abbreviations to describe

patients and/or situations, such as the following:

Cardiac… Continue

Added by Firemancristian on February 26, 2008 at 2:00pm — 1 Comment

What's your nickname?

They call me "Clubber". No I'm not a UFC fighter. I simply spiked a ball while playing Volleyball and broke a guy's finger. Some nicknames are funnier than others. "Lt Poop" happened to shart in his pants while running in fire school. He will forever be called" poop or poopie" ( I think his kids call him that). Some nicknames are obvious William Williamson is "Bill Bill", Richard Richardson is "Dick Dick". Others are not so obvious. "Hau's is not a big burly guy at all. He drives like shit.… Continue

Added by Chasefire on February 26, 2008 at 7:08am — 10 Comments

LODD Rollover in Colorado

February 24, 2008
Firefighters in Colorado are mourning the loss of a fellow brother after a tragic rollover on Saturday after he lost control of the fire truck he was driving.

Added by Firefighter Spot on February 25, 2008 at 10:16pm — No Comments

Libert Township Rollover

February 23, 2008

Ice is to blame for another rollover in the Liberty Township when firefighters responded to a two car motor vehicle accident. Two of the firefighters were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Related Article:
Fire Truck Overturns On Slick Road

Added by Firefighter Spot on February 25, 2008 at 10:14pm — 1 Comment

small town technical training

I am from a small town and we dont do alot of calls a year. We dont run rescue, technical rescue, or hazmat. But does this mean that we dont need the training? I just got my hazmat tech certificate, and hope i never need to use the training in my community. I have been asked why i wanted to have that if we don't do that kind of work. My reply is if I need it i have it. As my instructors always tell us it another tool in our tool box. With each and every class I take I find that this is more… Continue

Added by mike wright on February 25, 2008 at 8:34pm — No Comments

House Fire Claims Boy.....

House fire claims boy

4-year-old dies in blaze thought to be ignited by heater

Keith Gedamke / The Item

A Friday night fire at 409 Loring Drive claimed the life of 4-year-old Nashawn Spencer. Authorities think the blaze may have been started by a faulty space heater.

By JOE PERRY

Item Staff Writer

jperry@theitem.com

A 4-year-old boy died Friday night in a Loring Drive house fire, and a faulty heater may be… Continue

Added by Mary Holland on February 25, 2008 at 9:53am — No Comments

Euro Firefighter

There was a fire in 2007 on a European fire-ground that represented a typical ‘routine’ approach faced by firefighters all over the world. The fire involved a small single-story abandoned warehouse but there were surrounding buildings that posed some moderate exposure risks from a developing fire. The initial response consisted of just five firefighters on a single engine, with limited backup for the next twelve minutes on-scene.

As this book will show, a lot can happen in twelve… Continue

Added by EuroFirefighter on February 25, 2008 at 5:18am — 2 Comments