Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-boot lickers and other strange events

I was working at Engine 7, located in the oldest working firehouse in San Jose. It was built in the early 1930s as a federal work project. It was a small Spanish-style house with 2 bedrooms, a small galley kitchen, and a living room. The basement had weights and a T.V. but this was before cable. The older firemen working when I came in went back to WWll and did not watch much T.V. They were great card and cribbage players.

Station 7 had walls about… Continue

Added by mike simms on February 7, 2010 at 5:38pm — No Comments

Final Call for Submissions: FRI 2010

The Program Planning Council is finalizing the FRI 2010 program, but it’s not too late to be a part of this year’s dynamic program. Each year new ideas and programs come up after the call for papers has been closed. This year we're offering a second opportunity to… Continue

Added by IAFC on February 6, 2010 at 1:37pm — No Comments

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-Fading memories 2: sad note and retirement dinner

There are some pictures and memories we retain that are so painful we try to block them but they still are there. This morning over breakfast they crept out again. My steel has been tempered in the hottest of furnaces. I have seen death and told families when we could do no more, but the death of children still brings tears to my eyes and a deep pain to my soul.

A good family friend, a young paramedic had a call that involved the death of a baby. I know this will be with her forever.… Continue

Added by mike simms on February 5, 2010 at 2:16pm — 1 Comment

Q & A with FDNY Chief Edward Kilduff

As of Jan. 12, the duties of chief of the fire department for the city of New York (FDNY) were officially handed over to Edward Kilduff.

Yesterday, Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano presided over the promotions ceremony that advanced Assistant Chief Edward S. Kilduff to Chief of Department, the highest uniformed position in the FDNY.

A member of the department since 1977, Kilduff worked his way up through the ranks, most recently…

Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 5, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

DRIFIRE Donates Shirts & Blankets to Haiti

Following the destructive earthquake in Haiti, many companies serving the fire, EMS and law enforcement communities are playing a crucial part in rescue efforts. Over the next few weeks, FireRescue will highlight those companies that are having a direct impact on relief efforts.

Following is one example of a company striving to make a difference in this devastated nation.

DRIFIRE Partners with K.I.D.S. to Support the effort in Haiti by donating flame-resistant… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 4, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

When make do shouldn't do....RIDING BACKWORDS January 2010

RIDING BACKWORDS – January 2010

Firefighters and emergency medical workers must be largely optimistic - if they weren't then how or why would they want to do the job. Is a pessimist going to routinely put themselves in a position to respond to what may be the worst day of…

Continue

Added by John Barrett on February 5, 2010 at 3:28am — No Comments

Thank You, Haiti Rescue Responders

FireRescue magazine's Technical Rescue Web column

Thank You, Haiti Rescue Responders

By Harold Schapelhouman

As the national (and international) urban search and rescue (USAR) task forces return from Haiti, they deserve our thanks for a job well done. They performed difficult jobs under extremely difficult conditions, and they did so in representation of the United States of America.

Although the situation in Haiti, particularly… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 5, 2010 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

NetCast Tonight: Has Firefighter Nation and Other Social Media Changed the Fire Service?

A quick reminder that Rhett Fleitz (Fire Critic) and John Mitchell (Fire Daily) will be broadcasting live tonight at 9pm ET on Firefighter NetCast. You can join us!

Our featured guest will be Chris Kaiser, editor of our sister blog Life Under the Lights. Chris will offer his… Continue

Added by Firefighter NetCast on February 4, 2010 at 11:13am — 3 Comments

“No Reason to Panic”: CFSI’s Bill Webb says administration’s proposed budget is a work in progress

On Monday, the Obama administration released its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011. As has become the norm, the proposed budget reflects significant cuts in fire service funding, including cuts of $115 million for SAFER and $85 million for FIRE, two of the most popular grant funding programs for the fire service (read the IAFC analysis here).

Naturally, this gives cause for concern, but… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on February 3, 2010 at 5:00pm — 4 Comments

IAFC Raises Congressional Awareness of the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Job Protection Act

In the 111th Congress, the IAFC has continued to raise Congressional awareness of the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Job Protection Act, introduced by Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in May 2009. This legislation is important to the entire fire service—volunteer and career—because it will help volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel to respond to a Stafford Act-declared national emergency or major disaster for up to 14 days without fear of losing their primary… Continue

Added by IAFC on February 2, 2010 at 8:26pm — 1 Comment

Welcome the to Nation

FireFighter Nation is NOT a training institution.

Seems like a simple enough statement, but there are those who think that it is, or should be, and would have everyone believe that it is.

What is FireFighter Nation, or FFN, as we like to call it? It is a Social Network for FireFighters and our EMS brothers and sisters. It is a virtual gathering of Firefighters from all across the U.S., and the world, in a sort of on-going Social Hour. Like the first hour of a Firefighter’s… Continue

Added by Greenman on February 1, 2010 at 6:13am — 3 Comments

What kind of foam are you?

Over at All Hazards Contemplations, we're discussing some similarities between firefighting foam and fire officer characteristics.

Firefighting foam has been around for a long time. The Navy, ARFF firefighters, and the petrochemical industry have used Class B… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on January 30, 2010 at 5:00pm — 6 Comments

Communications Drill in mold infested building 1-27-2010

Today the city of Mobile fire rescue training instructors conducted a communication drill at a downtown building that has been closed for a period of time. This building was once called city hall north and was occupied by city employees until employees were moved to a new building located on Government Street. The City had a similar problem with the old City court house building located on the corner of Government Street and Royal Street. This court house building was closed down around the… Continue

Added by Darrell Wayne Farmer on January 27, 2010 at 11:51pm — No Comments

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-working with the boys in blue or sometimes brown

Firefighters interact with law enforcement at calls. Our interactions with our compatriots in blue and brown were good. There were some issues with Highway Patrol about closing freeways but even then very professional people.

DO YOU FEEL LUCKY?

In the movie Dirty Harry, he carried a 44 magnum. He shot a bunch of people with it but until one night I never understood what it really did.

We were called to a local motel on a shooting call. On arrival we… Continue

Added by mike simms on January 23, 2010 at 12:37pm — No Comments

The Awareness Level: What to do when you need to hang back

FireRescue magazine's Fireground Operations column

The Awareness Level: What to do when you need to hang back

By Freddie LaFemina

You’re working your shift and you’re in the middle of a long tour. So far, your unit has responded to three structural fires and about a dozen medical-related incidents. After all of this work and no time for anything else, you receive a response for a man trapped in a hole. En route, you begin your mental size-up… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 25, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

Pelican Sends Vital Survival & Rescue Items to Provide Help in Haiti

Following the destructive earthquake in Haiti, many companies serving the fire, EMS and law enforcement communities are playing a crucial part in rescue efforts. Over the next few weeks, FireRescue will highlight those companies that are having a direct impact on relief efforts.

Following is one example of a company striving to make a difference in this devastated nation.

Pelican Products, the global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced lighting… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 22, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Two Years Gone By Now

There's a lot of talk these days about what we're missing in the fire service. And with all this discussion of leadership, of mentorship, sharing, caring and passing down values, traditions and the rich heritage of firefighters, I thought it appropriate to revisit a very personal blog I wrote two years ago today.

When we talk about people… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on January 22, 2010 at 8:30am — 3 Comments

Doing the Right Thing, the Jets, and other Ephemera

First things first, I've been remiss in my posting on here. I've had my reasons. My heart wasn't in it.

In fact, all things fire service were tainted for me for the short term. I had to step back, take stock, and get back on track.

Mission Accomplished.

I've taken a step back for 2010. Last year I was elected to Lieutenant. I didn't necessarily feel that I had deserved the honor. I had some issues with time management, not personnel management. I liked wearing the… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on January 21, 2010 at 9:26am — 2 Comments

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-making due

Friday is my day to volunteer with the local sheriff's department. I work in the vehicle abatement program. This means I drive a volunteer car and wear a uniform of sorts and get to listen to the command channel on the Motorola radio. To compare it to being in the captain's seat of a fire engine is like comparing looking at the Victoria's Secret catalog to sex. A very poor substitute.

Some local fire departments have volunteers but you must live in the district. Where I live there is… Continue

Added by mike simms on January 16, 2010 at 9:56pm — No Comments

The Beginning

Since starting this blog, I have been asked what exactly “A Firefighter’s Own Worst Enemy” means. Well, it means a great deal.

First let’s start with the logo since it came last. The logo is a devil. I had plans to make him wear a fire helmet, but, it just took away from the look I wanted. But, what he is doing is stirring the pot.

We have those guys and gals that like nothing better than to keep tension and discord in the… Continue

Added by Jason Hoevelmann on January 16, 2010 at 2:50pm — No Comments