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Comment by Tiger Schmittendorf on March 22, 2010 at 12:30pm

That old?

They have tablets for that. I suggest taking them...

Comment by Oldman on March 22, 2010 at 12:16pm

Tiger,

I haven't ignored you, I am attempting to find if any pictures are available to submit. I truly believe that passing these stories down are important to help continue the tradition. Unfortunately, the stone that they are engraved in breaks easily.

Comment by Tiger Schmittendorf on March 22, 2010 at 12:45am

That's awesome Eric -

E-mail me your story and photos to tiger@tigerschmittendorf.com

Stay safe. Train often.

Comment by Eric Laroche on March 21, 2010 at 11:18pm

It's my son on the picture. He will be 2 in a few weeks. He really likes everything abut firefigthing. Books, toys, even my gear! I think it is really important to pass our passion along to our childrens. And I feel proud everytime he looks like at me like that, holding my helmet and smiling.

I would be glad to share my story just tell me how or what to do...

Comment by Tiger Schmittendorf on March 21, 2010 at 10:33pm

Interesting Story Eric -

Is that you or your son in the photo?

I'd love to post your story at www.runtothecurb.com with some more photos if you have them. Let me know.

Thanks for sharing.

Comment by Eric Laroche on March 21, 2010 at 2:14pm

On february 7th of '84, my story took it's real start. Before that, my mom would take me to calls were my dad was as a public works employee, helping FF's. I can recall to major events but I was like 5 or 6 so the images in my head are backed today with the stories told by guys in my department today.

Like I said, on that day of '84 my parents, my 3 brother's and me lost everything. I cam back from school, to find my home completely burnt down. only the chimney and the front wall who where made of stone, were still standing. I was 7... I was shocked... We were in a little village and during the next weeks at school, people were giving me toys, clothes food, everything to help us out. Of course insurance was there to help us but there are things money can't replace. We still have a few burnt down pictures we could retrieve...

There is no question this brought me in the fire service. At the age of 12, my dad was asst. chief and I would often go to the firehouse with him, and running calls either on m y bike, or with my mom. I got my first real call at 16 and I can recall most of it. God I live that with passion every day since 17 years now! 17 years that I'm listed on the payrole of my dept.

Today I have 3 kids (13, 9 and 2), and every time I come back from a call, they question me. I hope I could tranmit them my passion. Maybe my youngest will be my success...

Comment by Tiger Schmittendorf on March 11, 2010 at 11:02pm

Those are great stories Guys -

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Can I use them at RuntotheCurb.com?

If so, I'd like some photos to go with the stories and a brief bio.

Let me know. Thanks.

Comment by Oldman on March 11, 2010 at 10:12am

I didn't have to run to the curb, I lived it.

I had the proverbial red pedal fire truck at age five. My dad was the head of the laboratory in the local hospital and also helped out a the local funeral home, which for you youngsters provided the ambulance service in those days. Made my first ambulance run (MVA) at age 6. My dad picked me up from school in the ambulance and caught the call. Instead of putting me out on the street, off we raced, Q screaming. Tell that in "show and tell"!

As a teen, I used to help in the funeral home and in the lab, so I guess it was natural to end up in public service. I started mortuary school, but felt maybe it was better to try to keep people out of the casket, then put them in one. A stint in the military as a Medical Service Specialist, (the Air Force "Doc") and 10 years as a Paramedic. Tried law enforcement as a reserve, and migrated into the fire service.

It's the only life I've known, and have many times tried to envision myself doing something else. For some of us, maybe it's in the master plan to be in this profession. There's simply nothing in the world which can compare (except for my children and grandchildren) with the satisfaction I have had for almost 35 years.