Then & Now: The truth about Charleston from the last officer out

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco



As many departments across the country know all too well, the effects of a line-of-duty death (LODD) are deeply felt, long lasting and far reaching. Firefighters and civilians alike who were alive on 9/11 will forever be able to recall precisely where they were when they heard that two planes had flown into the World Trade Center buildings.



Of course, 9/11… Continue

We Remember: A look back at fires that have shaped our nation’s history

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco



This month marks the anniversaries of a couple noteworthy fires that took place in the southern portion of the United States.



The Great Fire of 1901

Today marks the 109th anniversary of the Great Fire of 1901. On May 3 of that year, Jacksonville, Fla., was the setting for one of the worst fire disasters in Florida history and…

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On site at FDIC

Success as a Company Officer: It starts long before you get the badge

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco



Often in life, we can’t plan our future; we just have to work hard and hope for the best. But according to Ray Gayk, Deputy Chief of the Ontario (Calif.) Fire Department, those who hope to promote to the company officer level someday should probably sit down and start making some plans.

Beware the…

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This morning I read about yet another noose being discovered in either the locker or the personal belongings of a black firefighter somewhere in this country. It seems this noose-making is an odd trend in the fire service, as this is probably the third time I've read a story like this in the past year.



Why is racism, particularly racism against African Americans, so common in the fire service? (Remember: First responders are held to a higher standard, so if you do something… Continue

I went to Catholic school my entire life (which to some, explains a lot), and I'd say I received a good education. I was taught to believe that people are generally good, that we're all more alike than we are different, and that life is a gift.



Life is a tricky gift, though, isn't it? You curse it on your worst days, you hope it never ends on your best, and as you get older, it seems to go by faster and faster, just when you need it to slow down, or pause, for a bit.



When… Continue

In the past couple weeks, one firefighter shot his family pets--two dogs that I'm sure his kids are now heartbroken over--so he didn't have to board them while going on a cruise with his girlfriend.



In another story, a firefighter shot a bicyclist because he thought the cyclist was riding with his child too close to a busy roadway. Luckily, the cyclist and his child are still alive, although I'm sure the 3-year-old won't want to take any more bike rides with daddy for a… Continue

Everyone knows the drill when it comes to FDIC: Firefighters en masse converge on Indianapolis for a week of activities focused solely on the fire service. Those who’ve never been before may feel as if they’ve embarked on a firefighter spring break of sorts, especially if the weather’s good. Those returning may feel like Norm on an episode of “Cheers.”



But the intent of any fire-service-related convention is to inform, educate and improve. Therefore, being an exhibitor myself, I… Continue

Amid the cling-clang of trolley cars, the barking of sea lions on Pier 39 and the eclectic hustle of big-city life sits the 42 firehouses charged with the task of protecting the city by the bay—the city of San Francisco (cue Tony Bennett). The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), like the city itself, boasts a long, rich history. Founded in 1866, the department has seen and survived its share of massive fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters, medical emergencies, etc.



But… Continue

By now, we’ve all read or heard about the preliminary results from the FEMA-sponsored study that found one third of firefighters had heart disease that was unrelated to traditional risk factors, such as high cholesterol, and they have a 300% increased risk of dying from heart disease than other segments of the general population. While these results are astonishing, they also provide vital information to… Continue