I have been busy here at the Fire Critic headquarters (FCHQ) getting some loose ends taken care of. If you haven’t noticed I have an awkward schedule of posting. It used to be more frequent and regimented, it isn’t so much like that anymore.

The reason for that is because I have been spending a lot of time getting VAFireNews.com redesigned. I have obligations on that site and advertisers to keep happy! It is the “bread and butter” operation of my life on the Internet.

Therefore, Fire Critic and some other projects I have created take the back burner. Fire Critic not been neglected all that much though. I have belted out some decent posts here recently.

However, I just put the finishing touches on 3 new “pages” here at the Fire Critic.The pages may be viewed on the navigation bar just below the Fire Critic Banner.

1. Product Reviews - this is something I have wanted to get involved in for a long time. I am finally set up for it. I will probably be sending out some emails to companies suggesting a review. However, if you have a product you would like reviewed just take a look at the product review policy. Likewise, if you are a firefighter/EMT who would like to see me review a certain product just let me know. I will contact the company and keep you informed on the process. link here
2. Merchandise - I have added a link on the “Fire Critic Gear” page to our online shop for Fire Critic merchandise. Be sure to get your order in before Christmas! link here
3. Disclaimer - I added a disclaimer for the Fire Critic. Please review it so you know what is going on! link here

Advertising - One other thing I am working on is advertising on FireCritic.com. There are two main ways of advertising on the Fire Critic.

1. The leaderboard position at the very top of the blog, the 300×250 at the very top of the sidebar, and potentially a skyscraper ad on the sidebar are handled by a third party advertising agency. Please let me know if you would like to advertise there and I will put you in touch with the proper persons. This is click through advertising.
2. Direct advertising on the site. I will be placing a 300×250 advertising spot directly below the “Hook up with the Fire Critic” on the sidebar. Look for it soon..let me know if you are interested at firecritic@firecritic.com.

We are coming full circle now!!!

Just wait until the radio show/podcast!!!

How would you like to be a firefighter for a day? Ok, now what if I were to tell you it was an opportunity in the UK? Exciting isn’t it!

Do images of the great wall, Koala bears, the Eiffel tower pop in your head? I never was good at geography.

The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service in England is offering up six (6) chances to become a firefighter for a day. The day will consist of: Extinguishing fires, Carrying out rescues from a simulated car crash, and Searching buildings wearing full Breathing Apparatus. The auction for the 6 spots ends on December 11th.

All you have to do is be the highest bidder on EBAY (the english version). Yeah…I know that there are two english versions…the other one. The link is here.

Apparently the Merseyside F&R Service is pretty big and encompasses a large area surrounding Liverpool.

Links -

The ebay auction

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service

Merseyside F&R Twitter @MerseyFire

The link where I grabbed the image of the truck below

I have some links to share with you. Here they are:

@NemoFightsFire has started a blog. He is a popular fire related twitterer and has begun his blog with a very powerful and very worthy post. Definitely a must read!!! http://nemofightsfire.blogspot.com/

I haven’t heard from Joe Schmoe in a while, but apparently he is doing decent over on his Report on Conditions blog…check him out.

Captain Wines successfully outbid Captain Versed in the last bid rotation to ride with MRSA!

Engine Company 9 Blog - One of my favorite firefighting blogs (Check out the Melrose Misfits Blog) is in a realm of their own. There are a lot of fire department blogs, but this one takes the cake. The best thing is that I work down the road from them. They actually work at the fire station I started at, Roanoke firehouse #9. Their blog is updated by Captain Willie “Don’t forget I used to be a Paramedic” Wines Jr. on C-shift and Lt. Dan “Good-O” Goodwin on A-shift. Unfortunately, B-shift won’t touch it. Anyways, this blog is freakin hilarious. I have written about their blog in the past. The truly amazing thing is that Captain Wines is hardly computer literate…he has been able to get churp churp (twitter) and picture book (facebook) set up for the site. Truth be known that I have found myself to be their “technical support”. They have done a great job of filling the void in my lack of updating the one and only RoanokeFire.com. Check out the Melrose Misfits Blog or Twitter @Engine9RFD or Facebook page.

FireGeezer on the Droid – I just bought a Droid cell phone. Rodney Gentry (We run mutual aid with his department) wrote a review of the phone and FireGeezer posted it here. I cannot wait to get my new phone and it should be here on Friday!!!

FireRescueTV.com - The site and video news is gaining steam and I am enjoying the updates! Be sure to check them out and sign up as a user (it is free).

This Cop Blog has a great video on what it is like to be a cop for a day…someone should make one of these for us!

Tonight’s Burnin it Down online Fire Radio Show/Podcast will feature Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder of the Loveland-Symmes Fire/EMS Department.

I should be there..listening and learning and getting geared up for a potential show/podcast in the future with a cohort of mine (if we can get off our butts and get it done…nudge).

Be there to see what all the hype is about….it is a pretty decent show!