Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

Patriot Day

Today is Patriot day, September 11th, 2008. Seven years since the 9/11 tragedy. Seven years since thousands of people lost their lives in a matter of less then two hours. Sons, daughters, fathers, mothers. All lost in what seems like the blink of an eye. All lost for reasons we may never understand. My heart breaks for the families and friends who all lost someone that day. They watched the news in terror; just waiting, hoping, praying for someone to walk through the door just one more time.… Continue

Added by Dustin J. Millis on September 11, 2008 at 3:54am — 3 Comments

9-11 Memorial

As I set here this morning, not being able to sleep, I keep thinking back to 7 yrs ago, So long ago but not to long for some. I worked that day and every year sence, except this year. I did not have anyone directly connecting me to 9-11 except the loss of emergency personnel lost for doing their jobs. I still feel a personnel loss as if it were my own family.

I get mad because people have forgotten, not just civilians, the fire service/ EMS/ PD there are no services, signs or… Continue

Added by Stephen Russell on September 11, 2008 at 1:39am — 3 Comments

Never Forget - 9/11/01

In memory of those who lost their lives 7 years ago today.

Added by TJC44 on September 11, 2008 at 12:00am — No Comments

9-11

Tomarrow is a day to remember and not foerget those we lost not so long ago. And for this rookie to thank all the ones that put their lives on the line daily. Thank you from all my heart.

Added by Katherine on September 10, 2008 at 10:55pm — No Comments

Grief Through the Eyes of a Firefighter's Child

Several weeks ago I returned home after working one of the firefighter fatalities that had occurred over the 4th of July weekend. I have needed some time to regroup and to rest after this one. Over the many years that I have been running the TX Line of Duty Death Task Force, I have adjusted many American flags that drape the caskets of the fallen, I have held the hands of countless families as they grieved the loss of their loved ones, and I… Continue

Added by Wendy Norris on September 8, 2008 at 12:00pm — 6 Comments

September 11th 7 years this Thursday!!!!

Well to think that it has been 7 long years since we were under attack form people who hate us for being a free country.I have watched in the years as they pasted that the flag flying has gotten less.Fire and police and ems were praised.Patriotic people were on every street and car but we have gotten quite again.Lets fly the flags again on the cars and trucks let get the proud feeling alive again.Let us not forget the people that lost thier lives and the one that gave thiers to try to save… Continue

Added by Robert Nichols on September 7, 2008 at 9:28pm — 2 Comments

Does Your Department Specialise in Plate Spinning?

In a recent discussion in the Rope Rescue Group on FFN, I referred to many departments as "plate spinners". You can read the full discussion at:

http://www.firefighternation.com/group/roperescue/forum/topic/show?id=889755%3ATopic%3A882697

I'd like to say that this term used to describe many departments is mine, as I feel that it sums up many the world over, however it's not- it was suggested to me by someone who heard it from… Continue

Added by lutan1 on September 7, 2008 at 3:30am — 12 Comments

Body found after Fire dept left the scene

Grand Rapid Press

HASTINGS -- The sight was terrifying, Johnny Montes said of seeing his father-in-law's scorched remains in the shell of a burned car.

He cannot fathom how Hastings firefighters missed making the grim discovery when they extinguished the driveway car fire Friday morning, then cleared the scene after leaving a note on the door advising about insurance notifications.

"You couldn't miss it," an incredulous Montes said Tuesday.… Continue

Added by Randy on September 4, 2008 at 1:32pm — 6 Comments

Cancer Update # 3

Well I am half way thru the chemo and it s getting tiering and side effects are lasting loger I am glad I hae 4 more to go. I can't wait to get this all behind me and get back to work I have joined the www.firefightercancersupport.org group and it has been a learning experience so many getting cancer the same way i had it and others in little different way. Plus it's a great bonding between cancer patiens same in much the same ways the firefighter brotherhood.But not al fire department are… Continue

Added by Robert Nichols on September 1, 2008 at 7:29pm — 6 Comments

Trauma Codes

This weekend I pulled my first trauma code. I kinda felt that is was a waist of time, resources and money. There were 3 pts in the car and the driver was DOA. The person I coded was front pass and I felt the pt was not a viable pt but due to the fact that the first responding EMT stated the pt had intially a pulse ended up being my deciding factor to code. Looking at the state of the pt I had the gut feeling they were not a viable pt and we should have focused our efforts on the surviving pt… Continue

Added by Jeanine on September 1, 2008 at 2:14am — 9 Comments

The Beginning. 8/30/08

O.K. Now that I've gone to Wikipedia to find out exactly WHAT a blog is, I can start using this part.

I am sitting here at the firehouse, almost praying for a call, just to have something to do. The race doesn't come on for 4 more hours, and I can't go home because the Bitch is still moving out...with MY kids! I still want to know just HOW she can afford $900/month rent selling Avon! Yeah, Right!

And I'm typing with one hand because the left hand is holding the screnn of the laptop… Continue

Added by TJC44 on August 31, 2008 at 12:23pm — 2 Comments

Deployment to the Gulf Coast...

Hey All,

As many of you may already know, I volunteer for an organization called Hancock Hope which supports Fire Departments both Paid and Volunteer, as well as communities that are hit hard by natural disasters and where FEMA and the government fall short with funding and clean up.

Anyways, I got the call about 9am this morning (Saturday 8/30) from Dan Macakanja the president for Hancock Hope. He told me that they are assembling a team to leave next Saturday/Sunday and going… Continue

Added by Scott Runkel on August 30, 2008 at 8:44pm — 5 Comments

FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS IN TYLER, TEXAS 2007

I have a brother in law in kilgore texas who is asking about a fire in tyler which killed 2 volunteer firefighters. I s there anyone out there who can tell me where to find the info on this or do u know anything about this fire. It is said the chief sent volumteers into something they had no business going into.

Added by GRAMI2007 on August 30, 2008 at 10:19am — 4 Comments

Tired of Being a Sheltered Little Girl

Ok, I'm just so fed up with everyone's opinion about me being a firefighter. My aunt actually said that a girl on the fire department was cute. CUTE?! Is cute standing in the middle of a CRP field on fire with flames 10 ft. high trying to keep it from spreading to a farmer's house or crop fields?? Is cute chomping at the bit to go on a call, dreaming of fighting fires and keeping myself and my brothers on the fire dept. safe??? Maybe it shouldn't anger me, but darn it it really does that… Continue

Added by Ashleigh on August 25, 2008 at 12:45am — 9 Comments

Live Auction: Fire Art and Collectibles to Benefit Fire Chief

As part of a large fundraising effort for Evans Center Firefighter Dennis Allen, a benefit scheduled for September 6, 2008 will feature a live auction of firefighter art and memorabilia. The benefit will run from 2-8pm and the live auction will kick off at 5pm.

Former Chief Allen received a double lung transplant on July 2, 2008 after suffering from the deadly disease: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for more than two years. He is currently… Continue

Added by The Dennis Allen Project on August 24, 2008 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Loving Fire and Rescue

Today once again I realized how much I love fire and rescue, even when it was running all the comercial building fire alarms that hit right at supper time! There's a certain pride in helping others when their day is at it's worse that I love. Most people complain about it, but I even love going into the assisted living home to check out the fire alarm that goes off several times a day. I just love to go in there and shake their hands and see their smiles. They are always begging us to come back!

Added by Abby Lawton on August 22, 2008 at 10:04pm — 4 Comments

Do you really want that big fire???

So ive offically been in the fire/ems service about two years now, but Ive grown up around it almost my entire life. One thing that I hear almost all the time is how ff's are bored, tired of the ems runs and false alarms, they say that they want to catch that really big fire. Now as much as I love putting out fires, my chief used to tell me all the time that I had to think of the person on the other end of that call, the victim. As we get soooo excited and pumped up when that call for a working… Continue

Added by Dustin J. Millis on August 21, 2008 at 2:54pm — 6 Comments

Learning Curve ONE: Dealing with difficult partners.....

Disclaimer:

This blog is not meant to demean, belittle, or slander the current person(s) that I am working with. I do not have the intention for doing this. I will not mention names, dates, or specific information, nor add add any form of false truth to the events that I write about in these discussions.

To begin with, I am working with a very difficult person at work right now. This person calls me names, mostly derogatory in nature, and usually beginning with four… Continue

Added by Jason on August 20, 2008 at 10:15am — 7 Comments

Journalist Jill Carroll - Former Hostage in Iraq -- Makes Career Change to Become Virginia Firefighter

The Washington Post reports that Jill Carroll, the journalist held hostage in Iraq for three months in 2006, is making a dramatic career change -- leaving the Christian Science Monitor to become a Fairfax County firefighter and EMT. Yesterday she began five months of training for her new job, the Boston Globe first reported.

Why the switch? Carroll, 30, who mostly avoided the spotlight… Continue

Added by Firefighter Nation WebChief on August 19, 2008 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Advice to Rookies

This is very likely to piss of the old timers, but I want to start talking about it, in hopes that our industry can find what it really needs and dispense with what is either outdated or does not work. I found this advice on a fire website today, and while some of the items are great advice, others really smack of hazing and a lack of teamwork. I am going to publish the original in black and my thoughts on it are underlined. I would like to see what kind of discussion this prompts to find out… Continue

Added by Joel C Kelley on August 18, 2008 at 6:00pm — 6 Comments