Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

Coatesville's Arsonists: Please God, Not the Firefighters?

COATESVILLE, PA (February 7, 2009) -- Since the first of the year, firefighters in this once bustling steel town have seen more work in a few short weeks, than they might have seen during their entire career. A string of arson fires, now totalling 29, have plagued the city's 12,000 residents, and the multi-agency task force investigating the blazes have no solid leads.

It's a news story that is making world headlines, and has many in the fire-rescue services sitting on the edge of… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on February 7, 2009 at 6:13pm — 4 Comments

It is a Labor thing ....

There are over a million individuals who identify themselves as firefighters. Almost 350,000 make firefighting a career, 292,000 of them are members of a local chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters.

WHEN IAFF MEMBERS "TWO-HAT"

Two-hatters are IAFF members who volunteer at another department that is represented by another IAFF local. The conflict is about the activity of a trade union member in… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on February 7, 2009 at 5:00pm — 15 Comments

The Three Cuts Approach to Managing During the Economic Downturn

Cut Back

You may have to cut back on your use of metered services, fuel for non-essential apparatus movement, and out-of-town training. This includes keeping the thermostat at 68 degrees F, turning off the lights when everyone leaves the room, using energy-efficient light bulbs, bringing the meals to work instead of going shopping in the engine, and training locally as much as possible.

Caution - Look at the economic downturn as a chance to do more… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on February 7, 2009 at 6:30pm — 6 Comments

TNT: The Accidental Runner: Who Says I’m Frigid??

Me, I do, actually.

Preface: I’ve started my training for running a half-marathon in June for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Team in Training” fundraising athletic program. . I’m running in memory of Tanner Zullo and Aidan O’Malley, and in honor of Brianna Blank (her dad, Dave Blank, is a member on here).

We had our first group run this morning (more commonly known among the runners as the “Group Grope” …same way as the runners refer to Team in Training as “Team and… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on February 7, 2009 at 2:46pm — 9 Comments

IAFC’s 2009 Safety Week theme focuses on personal responsibility

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Billy Goldfeder, chairman of the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section, about the theme for this year’s 2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week, June 14–20: “Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility.” Here’s the scoop:

Goldfeder says it’s easy to see how diligently so many national fire organizations, along with the USFA and the fire service media, have worked to provide resources to… Continue

Added by Janelle Foskett, FireRescue on February 6, 2009 at 3:30pm — 2 Comments

Your Share of $800 Billion

Recently there’s been a lot of talk about the economic stimulus package. In fact, there’s been a lot of ridiculous analogies made about what $1 trillion looks like; I heard one commentator say if you started when Jesus was born (when is that exactly?) and spent $1 million a day, you wouldn’t have reached $1 trillion yet. One of my favorite bloggers posted this chart in an attempt to show how silly such… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on February 6, 2009 at 3:22pm — 2 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 5, 2009

Today was the big day. It was my graduation from the Morris County Training Academy. I saw everyone from my class, as well as the guys from the class I had to stop during the summer (the full-time class). I can't describe the feelings I had sitting next to my Chief… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 5, 2009 at 10:17pm — 6 Comments

Resolving fire ground issues

Fire ground conflict in the Philippines was a all time issue plague the career vs. volunteer units for a long time. Volunteer units which is approximately 70 % more than the gov't counterpart - majority of which in the national capital region which is Metro Manila. Although, we get the job done most of the time. Fighting fire side by side with our career counterparts has the cold and uneasy feelings is still there. But the question of efficiency, liability, dormant resources, injuries, and… Continue

Added by Michael Vito on February 3, 2009 at 10:30pm — 7 Comments

Does your dog wear a sweater?

From my blog on The Kitchen Table at http://thekitchentable.firerescue1.com/

When my wife recently got Molly - our puppy - a sweater. I - in my most loving and tactful way - questioned the need and the expense. I think I said something like "Have you lost your mind? A sweater for a dog??? Frankly, I thought it looked silly and was unnecessary.

She then proceeded to explain that unlike our other dog, Molly's short hair… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on January 31, 2009 at 9:39am — 14 Comments

Outrage at Public Safety Pensions

A hostile feature article in Forbes magazine about public safety retirement and the DROP program:

Don’t let anyone tell you the American dream has faded. the truth is the U.S. is still minting lots of millionaires. Glenn Goss is one of them.

Goss retired four years ago, at 42, from a $90,000 job as a police commander in Delray Beach, Fla. He immediately began drawing a $65,000 annual pension that is guaranteed for life, is indexed to keep up with inflation… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on February 3, 2009 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Not Another Sports Analogy!

On this Superbowl Sunday, I’m reminded of an article I read recently on an NFL production crew directed by Bob Fishman. The article paints an amazing picture of the action that occurs in the production trailer, and how the decisions and actions of one or two people determine what millions are watching on their screens—indeed, their actions determine how those viewers experience the event.

But the article hit home… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on February 1, 2009 at 6:00pm — 7 Comments

Almost a Year in the Fire Service

Well its almost been a year since i joined the Fire Service, and its been a blast the entire year. Between the experince i have gained in the year with the various tranings my Esstinals and Basic Frefighting 101 and just the experince i have gained from the calls that i have gone on. Either it be a full out structrue fire or Grass fire or just a MVA. Sadly though i also have seen death, being my first call i went on for a very very bad MVA, where one person was DOA. So i got baptised very early… Continue

Added by Mike Yocom on January 30, 2009 at 6:09pm — 2 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

EMT killed in the line of duty

Graduate, EMT Class of 2007

TIERS VOLUNTEER MARK DAVIS SHOT, KILLED IN CAPE VINCENT

ALEXANDRIA BAY, N.Y. — The New York State Police at Alexandria Bay are investigating a homicide that occurred at approximately 11:58 p.m., January 30, at 114 South Esseltyne Street in Cape Vincent.

The victim, Mark B. Davis, 25 of 172 James St., Cape Vincent, was serving as a volunteer EMT for the Cape Vincent Volunteer Fire Department, when they… Continue

Added by anne potter on January 31, 2009 at 3:30pm — 8 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 1, 2009

Usually when my blog is silent for awhile it means I have a lot of things happening with my daughter, and for those of you keeping up with what's happening, I want to tell you how successfully the planets lined up yesterday.

It started with Friday not being a good day, and the end of a very long week. I so feel like I am in this all alone, and still have not taken that step to join a support group or other group to try to… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 1, 2009 at 8:56am — No Comments

A Basic Drill but a Good Drill

We have had very few drills this past year and what drills we have had have been the same thing time and time again. Last night we had a drill and it was to be an SCBA recertification drill. When everyone assembled at the firehouse in the upper bay we were informed that the drill was going to be a little different. Everyone was wondering what the drill was going to entail. The Lt. running the drill stated that it wasn’t going to be an SCBA recertification as everyone expected. We went over the… Continue

Added by Kimberly A Bownas on February 4, 2009 at 9:13pm — 25 Comments

Fire Department Physicals and what age should you change from interior to exterior

I have to ask this question and this is why. Last night we had our yearly department physicals. We ran the gambit of fit testing, the breathing test, eye exam, hearing test, EKG and physical exam.

Everything went as normal for me, I filled out the normal papers and then I started going through the stations. Vision which was pretty normal, oh yes they asked for a urine sample. Nothing serious they just check and make sure there are no abnormalities in it. Did my hearing test, it was… Continue

Added by Kimberly A Bownas on January 29, 2009 at 8:12am — 19 Comments

Night at the Museum

Christina, Kyle, Tiger and Dennis on

their most excellent adventure at the

Buffalo Fire Historical Museum

PHOTO BY: MARGARET COGHLAN

OK. I admit it.

It was a day at the museum but hey, nobody ever made a movie with the catchy title: "Day at the Museum."

Regardless, we had a great day recently when we visited the Buffalo Fire Historical Museum on William St. near Ogden St. on the city's… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on January 30, 2009 at 11:31am — 6 Comments

The Continuing Chronicle of the FNG(irl): Keeping it Real

We had our 2009 Installation Dinner last night.

First….a word about something near and dear to all of us…..the food.

Holy Slab of Prime Rib. I’m no slacker at the dinner table, and if I’m really hungry, I can do a lot of damage. That’s why I run….so that I can eat what I want when the mood strikes. I can usually clean my plate, but this…..this monstrously huge side of beef …..beat me down.

It was literally the size of my head, and almost four inches thick. I… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on January 31, 2009 at 10:03am — 14 Comments

Disorientation and the Interior Firefight

by: Lou Angeli

(Anytown, USA) -- The fire service here in the USA is extremely fortunate to employ some of the bravest firefighters and most knowledgeable fire officers in the world. But firefighting is inherently a dangerous profession, and things will and do go wroong. When a firefighter loses his or her life in a burning structure it is usually a result of unanticipated or unexpected fire development, not the inadequacies of command or even a firefighter’s… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on January 23, 2009 at 5:47pm — 7 Comments