In case you were wondering what coffee we drink at Roanoke Fire Station #3…it is H & C coffee we purchase by the case.
Enjoy!
The first one is from St Louis Fire Department Firefighter/Medic Neil Bobenhouse. He wrote, created and produced the video as an entry in a jingle contest for Folgers coffee. HOWEVER, he writes under the video that he apparently messed up while making the video because it is over 90 seconds and has a backing track. He still hopes that they allow his entry. You just never know.
Here is a Maxwell House jingle from the Dublin Fire Brigade.
Maxwell’s House commercial titled ‘ Ladder 59 ‘ done by Rhinebeck, NY Firefighters
A house fire burned a house at 923 Lolena Street in Alewa Heights on Thursday. The fire was caught on video from several angles. Several other houses were burned as well. In one of those fires, firefighters found numerous illegal animals including four piranhas and a python.
Inside one of the damaged homes, HFD investigators found four piranhas and a python.
Wouldn’t that suck if your neighbors house caught on fire and you get busted for something in your house!
This fire occurred on Feb. 24th in Wilson Borough.
The video is brought to you by lehighvalleysbravest. I recommend the channel for a follow. They have some pretty good video!
The info on the youtube video states:
Firefighters were called this morning to the 1500 block of Lehigh Street for the reported smoke coming from a dwelling. Arriving crews found a 3 story double with heavy smoke and flames starting to vent from the house. First arriving crews made entry to the front door just as the first floor flashed over their heads, crews quickly knocked down the flames. During the attack firefighters found a deceased victim located to the rear of the dwelling, the county coroner was called in. Firefighters from Wilson and Easton remained on scene for extensive overhaul and investigation of the deadly blaze. Suburban EMS provided medical and rehab service for firefighters.
Newsworking is a youtube channel that offers some excellent video coverage of FDNY in action. This past week they managed to capture several jobs in New York City.
In this video, you will ride along with me while fire chasing in Brooklyn, NY on Friday night.
#1 – Box 2886 1873 Cropsey Avenue. Structural Fire with reported people trapped. The box went to “all hands” and within 20 minutes, crews had the bulk of the fire knocked down. Truckies opened up and all searches were negative.
#2 – W. 6th and Avenue U, EMS 911 box for an extrication. Engine 248 and Ladder 159 find a 3 vehicle accident in the intersection. Minor injuries.
#3 – Box 1652, 2280 Atlantic Avenue for a 2 alarm fire in an O/M/D. Fire on the first floor with extension into exposure 4.
Video 2: February 19th
5th Alarm Fatal Box 2439, 346 East 29th Street Flatbush, NY.
200 firefighters battle blaze in 7-story Multiple Dwelling. A 64-year-old lady was found in the rubble after the blaze was extinguished. The building had over 70 apartments.
Heavy fire throughout the top three floors. Firefighters battled the elements as well, dealing with high winds and freezing temperatures. The whole neighborhood was iced over along with firefighters and their apparatus.
Video 3: February 19th
22:50 Box 0860 was transmitted for a fire in a private dwelling at 91 Saratoga Avenue.
Heavy fire third-floor of the M/O/R with extension into the cockloft.
Video 4: February 19th
Box 4049 Working High Rise Fire at 1530 Pennsylvania Ave. Fire in 6th floor apartment of a 17-story O/M/D
A deadly earthquake has caused devastation in Christchurch, New Zealand. 65 people have been reported dead. There were hundreds of people rescued from the wreckage.
This weeks Monday Morning Shoutout goes to Just A Vollie. Just A Vollie is a fairly new blog on the scene and is actually a newer format to something that started out as an email blast.
Yeah…I know that it isn’t Monday morning anymore, but when you keep my hours you learn to fit in what you can whenever time allows.
Just A Vollie is run by Captain Matt VanGiesen, a 3rd generation volunteer firefighter.
Matt had been sharing current events and history/traditions with a small group of firefighters via verbal and email discussions. As the group began to grow, Matt felt there was a need for a better forum for his musings….enter the blogosphere Just A Vollie. The blog has been online since December 2010.
Some of his favorite blogs and daily reads can be found in his sidebar.
As far as his most memorable experience as a blogger it was finally posting the first article and the positive reception he got from his friends and readers.
His worst has been the fear of the unknown and the feeling of being exposed.
He also wrote:
What else would you like to share: In June 2010, I had an article published in Fire Engineering (Live Fire Training in Acquired Structures). The fact that I write something and people actually want to read it is extremely humbling…
Welcome to the blogosphere Matt. I am sure you will enjoy it!
A Firefighter is decked out in his PPE and even has an airpack on, however he is too close to the structure as they continue to wet down the fire. As the firefighter puts water on the fire, a wall breaks away and swings outward striking the firefighter. Even though the firefighter was just barely hit by the wall, this is still a close call….and could have been worse.
There is no need to be this close to an unsupported wall when all you are doing is saving the foundation. Next time, move the picnic table around, grab a ham sandwich and hit the fire from a safe distance!
Madison Firefighters have been seen in the forefront of the protest against Governor Walkers assault on labor. IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger also joined in the march on the Capitol.
I am also very proud of the teachers! They have been all over the news as well. It is great to see people standing up for what they believe in (and their livelihood)!
A Quick update for all the staunch Republican firefighters out there….while you sit on your couch watching television and the news focuses on your brother firefighters fighting for your rights….the Democrats have not taken your guns away. Rest easy! (hopefully that isn’t as big an issue in Wisconsin as it is where I am!)
The legislation in question would virtually shut down all union rights for public sector workers.
The measure had been moving quickly through the Wisconsin state legislature on its way to Governor Walker’s desk. Despite several attempts to amend the bill, it sailed through the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee in a 12-4 vote.
Governor Walker has indicated that he wants the budget bill signed into law by February 22 before he begins work on the next year’s budget. IAFF 5th District Vice President Joe Conway says he expects more attacks on public sector unions in the next budget proposal as well. read more
Below is some video showing the protesters in action!
This year, I made a pact that I would honor ALL of the Line of Duty Deaths. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t know it would be this hard. I fell behind about a week ago and have not been able to catch up. Then today, another LODD in Los Angeles.
Failure is not an option…and I realize that there are plenty of other notifications that assist firefighters in following along with LODD’s. My point was not to compete, but merely to supplement their information with whatever I could find at the time.
I intend to continue on with my goal. To date, there have been 23 LODD’s this year according to my count. The 23rd being Glenn Allen in Los Angeles.
The Fallen Brothers in bold below are the ones I have fallen behind on. The links go directly to their information on the USFA LODD Database.
Rescue Me was a hit. Many firefighters enjoyed it. I thought it showed how dysfunctional firefighters can be…not all of us, but some of us. It started out being pretty heavy on the firefighting and light on the drama…it ended up being very heavy on the drama and light on the firefighting.
Trauma was just way over the top…and too many ambo drivers!
Emergency was excellent and still syndicated today…
The question now is what will be the next network show or movie about firefighting…
Here are some of the options…feel free to let me know if I overlooked one!
Updated: Thanks to Ron in the comments, he brought up First In and the Academy…I should have remembered both of these because I have posted on them as well. While they have already been on tv, they still belong on here somewhere!
Hosed is a brand new pilot show being shown on Youtube. It is a comedy about volunteer firefighters. As of this posting, there have been 3 episodes uploaded to youtube. The short videos available on youtube are a part of a grand scheme to get it on a network. Like I said before, I think it is hilarious.
Volunteers The Series offers a pilot on youtube as well. This show is about actual volunteer firefighting.
The mission of Volunteers The Series (VTS): It is our goal to increase public awareness and support by telling the stories of these brave men and women. We want to make a difference in each and every volunteer fire/ems house in the world. Whether it means increased donations or just shifting the public paradigm, our purpose is to see volunteer houses thrive, decrease LODD’s and see that ALL volunteer company’s have the funding to continue to properly support the communities they serve. If we can make a difference in just one volunteer fire/ems house, we will have been successful!
Formed in 1997 by David Furtado, Tule Fog Productions LLC (pronounced Tool-ee) conceives, develops, and produces original content for television, films, and the Internet.
For over three years, Tule Fog Production LLC has been developing and now producing The Battalion-The Series. Each webisode has the look and feel of a fully produced episodic series for television. Using state of the art streaming technology, they can be watched in full screen-mode online or downloaded to be viewed and saved on your computer to be viewed later or on an iPod, Cell-phone, and many other compatible devices.
Burn – One Year on the front lines of the battle to save Detroit
BURN is a documentary about Detroit, told through the eyes of Detroit firefighters, who are on the front lines charged with the thankless task of saving a city — and an American Dream — that many have written off as dead. We made a 10-minute trailer. Please SHARE, ASK QUESTIONS, DONATE so we can start production on the film as soon as possible. From DetroitFire.org
Beyond the Lights and Sirens
Originally the Chronicles of EMS…and before that simply “The Project”
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah…I know what you are thinking…What the hell does EMS have to do with it? Well, it has a lot to do with it in this sense. While the pilot episode for Chronicles of EMS was sold as being about EMS (and it is), it is done in a Fire based EMS system. That is right, San Francisco was the setting and it one of the main characters, Justin Schorr, is a firefighter/paramedic for San Francisco Fire Department. I think it fits in the scope of what I am trying to do here.
Burning Down is a brought to you by Christopher Stadulis. He is trying to turn it into a major motion picture. See the information below and a video about the making of Burning Down.
I, Christopher Stadulis, have an incredible story to share that will have an affect on people from all walks of life. My personal story will inspire many who are struggling and or have struggled as recovering alcoholics and or drug addicts, those who have lived or still do live with a substance abuser and empower them with the strength to realize YOU can overcome anything life throws at you, but change starts from within!
My film, “Burning Down”, is a compelling, emotional Drama short inspired by true events. After completion, my long term goal is to pitch it to a number of A-list industry professionals, some of who I am in contact with and some I will reach out to for the first time to see who would be interested in getting it made into a full-length feature for theatrical release.
Tagline: After hitting rock bottom, a troubled NYC Firefighter relives his painful past in hopes of piecing together his future.
Think- “Goodwill Hunting” meets “Rescue Me” meets “Clean and Sober”
I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the next one…while it might not fit in with all of the rest, it is about firefighting and offered on video.
Fire Rescue TV
Fire Rescue TV is a news platform developed by retired Virginia Beach Firefighter Martin Grube. The network continues to grow every day. Fire Rescue TV offers news broadcasts, fire coverage, and other news in the fire service. Visit FireRescueTV.com. They also post some of their video on youtube…see below.
Fireman Ross
Hell, maybe we should just make a half hour sitcom about Ross from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno!!! You didn’t think I would pass up an opportunity to post this video did you?
Not a message from MY blog, a message from the blog “Just My Blog“.
Justin Schorr of The Happy Medic and much else has a daughter in the hospital. The author of Just My Blog is asking for your help in sending a card to The Happy Medic Family and more importantly Happy’s daughter.
Email her at justmyblog@hotmail.ca for the address or direct message her on twitter @justmyblog.
Send a card, a gift, a stuffed animal, coloring books, I didn’t know what to send so I settled on a dress up kit for Happy’s daughter that both her and her sister could enjoy.
I don’t know any details, but I believe the youngest of the Schorr family is in the ICU. To the point that Justin might not be able to make it to Baltimore for EMS Today next week. Don’t worry Justin, I can sit in for you if you need. I may not know what I am talking about when it comes to Paramedicine but I can come across like I do…unless the person I am talking to does have a clue….then I get wierd looks…but I can identify tombstones on a monitor….and intubate if needed…oh and IV’s are no problem either!
Three firefighters went out on a hunting trip. There was a rookie, a captain, and a Chief. The weather was miserable and they hadn’t seen any deer all day. They came across an old shack where they went inside to play a game of poker. After losing a couple of hands, the rookie threw down his cards and said “that does it! I am going out to get me a deer.” Fifteen minutes later, the rookie came back with a nice four point buck. The captain and chief asked, “how did you get that?” The rookie replied, “I walked out fifty feet, followed some tracks and shot this buck”. The captain then said, “I’ve had enough of this I am going to get my deer.” He came back a half hour later with a 6-point buck. The chief asked, “how did you get that?” The captain replied, “I walked out a hundred feet, followed some tracks and shot this buck.” The chief not wanting to be out done said “I am out of here, I am going to bag the biggest buck of the day.” He came back an hour later, all mangled up and bloody. The rookie and captain asked, “what happened to you?” The chief replied, “I walked out there five hundred feet, followed some tracks, and got hit by a train.”
Oh yeah…I got jokes!
Actually this one was emailed to me today. No source, no credit. Enjoy!
I will be teaching a class on Social Media for the Fire Service at FDIC this year. I am excited for my first teaching engagement in a venue as large as FDIC…does it get any bigger? I have many friends teaching at FDIC as well. I will write about their classes in the near future.
The class is titled “Social Media: The Fire Service’s Next Big Innovation”
Thursday, March 24, 2011
1:30 PM-3:15 PM
Room 134-135
Here is the teaser:
Social Media: The Fire Service’s Next Big Innovation
Lieutenant Rhett Fleitz, Roanoke (VA) Fire-EMS Department
Learn the “in’s and out’s” of social media for the fire service. Many questions about these media (blogs, twitter, facebook, MySpace, YouTube, skype, podcasting, text messaging, and so on) will be answered. Learn to be proactive by developing a social media standard operating procedure. Become acquainted with some of the ways departments are using these media for recruitment, retention, informing journalists and citizens, and publishing news. The benefits and potential consequences for personal use of these media by employees are also discussed. ALL LEVELS
Although that teaser only scratches the surface of the information I will share!
Who should attend? Anyone interested in social media, blogging, and branding their department online. Administrators who want to learn about social media, get examples of social media policies, as well as firefighters who want to brand their companies and departments. There will be information for all levels!
I am still working on the presentation. Since social media changes every day and new ideas, tools, and applications are created every day this is an ongoing project.
If you have a social media policy you would like to share or think your Fire Department excels in the use of social media please contact me. I am always looking for examples to share.
I will also be at the Fire Rescue Magazine booth 4244 set up with Firefighter Netcast. John and I will be recording live netcasts while we are there similarly to last year!
I don’t know what else I will get into while at FDIC, but I am certain that we will have fun! Willie Wines Jr. (IronFiremen.com) will be travelling with me once again!
John and I had a blast with FDIC last year. The event was the first major show for Firefighter Netcast. Since then, we have recorded almost 100 shows. We don’t have a solid schedule yet, but we are expecting to record some podcasts for Tiger Schmittendorf, Chris Naum, Doug Cline, Billy Hayes, Dave Statter for FireHero Radio, and much more.
Below are some of the shows we recorded at FDIC 2010:
Chief Ron Siarnicki- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation – This special NetCast was taped live on Friday, April 23, from the floor at FDIC 2010 in Indianapolis. Firefighter NetCast is very excited to have a chance to present Chief Ron Siarnicki to our audience.
EMS Two Dot Oh – On Friday, April 23, Firefighter NetCast had a visit from a couple of leaders in the concept of EMS 2.0. Justin Schorr is an urban firefighter/paramedic in San Francisco and hosts The Happy Medic. Accompanying Justin is Chris Kaiser, a rural firefighter/paramedic in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Firefighter Storytime! Chief Tom Merrill, Snyder (NY) Fire Dept. – From the floor of FDIC 2010 on Saturday, April 24, our final NetCast from the exhibit floor featured two special guests from Erie County, New York. We began our series “Firefighter Storytellers” with author, presenter, instructor, emergency manager and leader in the emergency services community Tiger Schmittendorf.
From Blue Shirt to Bugle – The Most Difficult Transition in Your Career - This show featuring Billy Goldfeder and Ray Gayk was originally aired as a live netcast from the exhibit floor of FDIC. John and Rhett enjoy discussion about what to do and what not to do when you get promoted. This is great training for you or your company. Listen in at the firehouse!
Challenges on the Modern Fireground – We were eager to turn over one of our shows to the fine folks from FireRescue Magazine, who graciously hosted Firefighter NetCast at their booth along with Firefighter Nation at FDIC. Without their assistance, our live programming from the exhibit hall would not have been possible.
Changes in Building Construction and Fire Behavior – John and Rhett are joined with Chris Naum to discuss Changes in Building Construction and Fire Behavior. Chris is a a fire service leader in the field of building construction and fire behavior. Chris addresses the need to re-visit these core subject areas to bring us up to speed with the many changes facing us today.
I will also be teaching the same class at Kean University in New Jersey (dates below):
Wednesday, April 20, 2011 - Somerset County Emergency Services Training Academy
402 Roycefield Rd Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Thursday, April 21, 2011 - Middlesex County Fire Academy
1001 Fire Academy Dr Sayreville, NJ 08872
These will be more in depth 5+ hour classes on social media in the fire service. For more information check out KeanFireSafety.com. However, I don’t believe the classes are posted yet.
This isn’t a new video, it was uploaded in 2009. The lesson is real, the emotions are real, and the issue is still debated….Staffing.
Watch this video on a couple of fires. The story from Ipswich really hits home. Firefighter Rick Smith tells the story of pulling up to a fire by himself on a half million dollar fire truck that seats 6. 3 people died. I can’t even imagine what that was like. I don’t want to experience it. I don’t want others to experience it…and the public deserves better.
Some of the reviews in the works are: Boots: Lion Marshall 14″ fire boots and the Book: The Cavalry is coming by John Broyles. I am also waiting to hear back from two more products and awaiting my brand new Black Diamond X2 fire boots to review. Review the terms for product reviews by The Fire Critic here. Check out all of the product reviews here.
FireMom offers her thoughts on Ohio Senate Bill 5 - Quoted: “As a fire family, I staunchly oppose Senate Bill 5 (SB5; bill text here) which aims to remove collective bargaining from unions. Every time I think of this bill, sponsored by Senator Shannon Jones (R – Springboro), I get this mix of angry anxiety in the pit of my stomach. It’s not just the security of my husband’s job and thus our livelihood on the line. It’s the safety of the citizens of Ohio.”
The Austin (TX) Fire Department is hiring. They had 3300 applicants for their written test and currently have 108 positions to fill. As the 3300 applicants who began showing up at the testing site, some of them found out that they had been removed from the application process for filling out the application improperly. 350 to be exact…that is the number of applicants who were spit out for not filling it out properly.
Austin Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr is standing by her process and decision to toss out the incorrect applications.
I couldn’t agree more. If they can’t fill them out correctly then we don’t want them…plain and simple.
Or is it?
Here is where I have an issue. If they filled them out errantly, why weren’t they notified before making the trip to Austin that they were not welcome to take the test?
While there is probably little the applicants can do in this situation, if indeed they were not notified until showing up or already on their way the fault lays in the lap of the Fire Department.
This is something that should have been addressed way before tickets were bought or travel arrangements were made. If they were told they were welcome to take the test, the door should not have been shut in their face.
Jamie Harlor flew in from Hawaii to chase her dream.
“I want to get in…that’s what I want to do,” Harlor said.
She bought a one-way ticket using airline miles to help cover the $370 cost. While at the airport she received the bad news.
“I got an e-mail saying, ‘You’re no longer qualified,’” Harlor explained. “It said I had an improper application.” Read more at KVUE.com
A simple red and white helmet sticker worn by Albuquerque firefighters is causing controversy. The sticker is a simple maltese cross with the letters FMB in the middle. If you check the list of common fire service acronyms you won’t find it. Albuquerque firefighters are claiming it means “Forever My Brothers”. Sounds good to me, case closed.
Oh wait…the controversy… Albuquerque’s Mayor is Richard Berry. Some people apparently think that this “FMB” has a derogatory connotation. I think what they are getting at is that it means “F&^$ Mayor B….y”…but I could be wrong. I just don’t see it, that is one heck of an imagination!
Lets play devil’s advocate…why in the hell would firefighters feel this way?
Maybe it is because Albuquerque firefighters were promised a pay raise but instead got a pay cut…oh…ouch…
Even if those who think that it has a derogatory connotation were right…would you blame them?
Unless you live under a rock, you should know by now that firefighters pensions are under attack. This is just the newest attack on firefighters (although it has been going on for some time). Not that all the others have gone away…that is far from the truth.
Firefighters are still battling staffing cuts, pay cuts, rolling brownouts, increased employee contributions to pensions, decreased funding, increased insurance costs, station closures, and much more…yet our phone number (911) is still the number that anyone and everyone calls when they need help.
I guess all I have to say to people who want to take our pensions is…do you have any idea what a career in the fire service can do to us both physically and mentally. These very pensions are part of our pay & benefits (which for most is not enough). Harold Schaitberger does a pretty decent job at showing who is to blame for the mishandling, misappropriating, and loss of pension funds in the video below.
The media attention has increased since MSNBC’s Ed Schultz has taken a stand against those willing to take our pensions. The IAFF Frontline Blog offers email addresses for its members (and others) to contact the likes of Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, Fox News Watch, and America’s Newsroom with Bill and Martha. Those email addresses also appear below. Read what the IAFF has to say about “Making the Case” here.
Email Glenn Beck: glennbeck@foxnews.com
Email Sean Hannity:http://www.hannity.com/contact
Email Rush Limbaugh: ElRushbo@eibnet.com
Email Bill O’Reilly:oreilly@foxnews.com
Email Fox News Watch: newswatch@foxnews.com
Email America’s Newsroom w/ Bill and Martha americasnewsroom@foxnews.com
Juston McKinney is turning the fire service on its head with this satirical look at volunteer firefighting. The short comedies are available on youtube and the idea behind it is a push for a network to pick it up as a comedy show. Episode 1 already has over 24k views on youtube in a week.
The interesting thing is the comments both on Statter911 and youtube. While most firefighters have enjoyed the parody, some have been throwing around the career (and/or IAFF) vs. volunteer firefighter argument. As for me, I think it is hilarious and some or most of it is probably true in some parts of the Nation. Even if the truth behind the humor only represents a small percentage of volunteers out there…and yes, paid firefighters can act like idiots too (but this show isn’t about them).
The cast and crew of Hosed. Photo from their facebook page.
So what do we do now? If I were a volunteer, I wouldn’t want this to become a network show…even though this is comedy I think this could have far reaching consequences for the volunteer fire service with public perception.
But I am not a volunteer…so I say have at it. I think it is hilarious!
Episode 1 states:“A comedy series about a volunteer fire department in Effingwoods NH. In this episode Ben (Juston McKinney) and Smitty (Gary Valentine) respond to a fire call. This episode co-stars Lenny Clarke (Rescue Me).”
Around 7pm this evening, a fertilizer plant in Hartsville, SC caught fire. The Rainbow Fertilizer plant in Darlington County is still burning. Firefighters from Hartsville Fire Department, Sonoco’s fire brigade, Darlington, Darlington County, City of Florence, Lee County and Alligator Rural have been called into the scene or are filling in stations in the area.
I recently finished reading Capitol City Fireman by Jake Rixner. This book hit close to home because I grew up in the suburbs of Richmond during my formidable years. I also began my firefighting life in the outskirts of Richmond at the Midlothian VFD in Chesterfield County. However, my closest relationship to the Richmond FD was when I worked for the Richmond Ambulance Authority. While I didn’t fight fire in Richmond, I did get to see Richmond’s Bravest in action…even if it was 15-20 years after this book begins. I can relate to many of the landmarks, streets, and firehouses mentioned in this book and remember them well.
When I started the book, I instantly knew this would be a great firefighting book… I say this because in the first paragraph Rixner is able to relate to firefighters:
The evening meal at 5 Engine was drawing to a close as the men were washing the dishes, Gene-O, the cook, was sitting in a chair reading the newspaper and enduring the nightly playful banter, “Who called the cook a mother fucker?” Bryan Lam called out. The usual reply quickly, “Who called that mother fucker a cook?” Laughter filled the kitchen as all 12 men on duty truly enjoyed working with each other.” (*text from Capitol City Fireman page 1)
After reading that first paragraph of the book, I was hooked. It was hard to put down and often I found myself laughing out loud at the antics included in the book. Jake’s firefighting career started in Station 5 in Monroeville, PA. From there he found himself in West Lanham Hills VFD in Prince George’s County, Maryland. His career as a paid firefighter found him working for the Richmond Fire Department in Richmond, VA.
Jake began working for the RFD in 1982. Historically, I would consider this era as the eve of America Burning. Fires were the norm as fire departments began grasping the need for fire prevention.
Jake tells great stories about fires fought in Richmond. Many of the firefighters Jake writes about were true characters. Firefighters who stand out in their personalities and abilities. The firehouse tales told in the book are ones that firefighters across the Nation can relate… and that if they were to happen this day in age we would be fired.
Jake also took a leave from Richmond to take a try at being a fireman in Washington D.C. What he found out was that he had a great assignment in Richmond and he found himself at a less than ideal assignment in DC. Jake returned to Richmond and eventually went through the promotional process.
Jake goes into depth on his experience with promotions. Those experiences are ones that many firefighters can relate to as being “the way it is” and not “the way it should be”.
Capitol City Fireman is a book about fires, firefighting, and life in the firehouse. Rixner does a great job in portraying his experiences in the Richmond Fire Department.
Jake Rixner
Jake Rixner grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa. and became interested in firefighting at an early age. After graduating high school, he packed his bags and moved into a volunteer fire house in Prince George’s County Maryland in search of a career fireman’s position. After taking numerous exams he landed a job with the Richmond, Va. Fire Bureau. This is his story. Jake has written several articles for Fire Engineering magazine and wrote two chapters in a fire training text book. He has lectured nationwide on topics of firefighter training, and tactics. He currently resides in Doswell, Virginia with his wife, Julie.
These guys are good. They have either been following along on the Fire Critic or spent some time searching youtube for firefighter pranks. Be proud guys…great pranks!
These Auburndale firefighters get the same rookie with some of the best pranks…most of which have to do with water. The jet dump lever one is the best!
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