Best of the Rest – Rescue Me, Shaving Heads, Mayor Called Out After Cuts, ELAFF Coming Out Video, Running with the Pak

Busy…that is the only word to explain it. There is so much going on right now my head is spinning. I coach lacrosse in the spring and our season just started. I coach U9 and U11. My son is on the team. My daughter started playing as well…along with cheerleading. How do we do it all? Back in the day…were days longer? What the hell is going on here?

Did you guys notice the DCFD I added to the Fire Critic banner? Word is that Ellerbe gave me 3 days off for it.

Shoutout – Wolfpak Leatherworks

Web Site: WolfpakLeatherworks.com

Facebook: Wolfpak Leatherworks

High quality, custom made gear for your professional needs. Whether you are a Career Firefighter, a Volunteer, EMT or Medic. We can provide you with the gear that you can depend on and that will look great for years to come. We strive for quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction. Made with pride in Northern California’s Central Valley. Become a FB friend to view our photos and track our progress. Thanks for your support! Be safe, and “Run With The Pak…”

Quick Drills

You can view all of the weekly drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com here. Try these two at the firehouse this week:

News and Opinion

Brotherhood Cuts is off to a slow start down in North Carolina…The event is this week. I just donated $100. Can I get everyone to donate $5-$25 please?

Donate here…now

The Blog of the Year Contest for 2011-2012 Nominations are currently being accepted until March 10th. Nominate your favorite Fire and/or EMS blog here. This year, FireCritic.com teamed up with FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com for the contest. The sponsor this year is the American Military University.

Go here to nominate your favorite blog

Rescue Me – The popular firefighting drama was inducted into the Smithsonian.

Denis Leary @DenisLeary tweeted:

In case you missed it: Rescue Me was inducted into the Smithsonian, bitch! http://t.co/Rr2ises7

Backstep Firefighter – It is common in our culture and operations to expect engine companies to get as close as safely possible to the seat of the fire in order to make the most efficient attack possible (or most efficient as scientific research and field application have proven). The problem in this approach is that the experience of being tactically close is that the tell tale signs of this have led to “experience makeup.” The “salty” look is equated with aggressiveness and runs counter towards “too safe”. Read more at: THE AREA OF REFUGE AND “EXPERIENCE MAKEUP”

Firefighter Nation –  Massachusetts Firefighter Has Strong Words for Mayor after Fatal Fire. Haverhill firefighter says mayor should be charged with murder. Read it here

STATter911.com – DC Fire Chief faced sexual harassment claim in Sarasota County Floriday. Washington times questions why Kenneth Ellerbe wasn’t fully vetted by Mayor Vincent Gray.  Read it here

County Fire Tactics – a new blog to me…they ask “When do you wear your mask on the roof? When do you get down?” Check out the video here!

ELAFFHQ.com – The guys behind the increasingly popular fire blog ELAFFHQ.com have finally revealed their identities. Willie and I met up with the pair, Pete Sulzer and Matt Ritter, when they visited Roanoke a couple of months ago. They are great guys. They managed to keep their anonymity much longer than I thought. They revealed their identity in this post with video (also below) and they gave away some of the coveted “Lemon Wedges” as well as some freebees from MN8 FoxFire!

Speaking of MN8 FoxFire, they have free shipping right now! http://www.mn8products.com/

 

Green Beret Dies Trying to Save Kids in Fire –  A decorated Green Beret soldier who recently returned from Afghanistan died a hero’s death at home in North Carolina. After Edward Cantrell and his wife jumped from the second floor of their burning home, he wrapped himself in a blanket and ran back inside in an attempt to save their two daughters, AP reports. “He never made it back out,” said a sheriff’s department spokeswoman. The body of the 36-year-old soldier was found near those of his daughters Isabella, 6, and Natalia, 4. Read it here

Memorial Thursday for Posen firefighter killed in New Lenox accident – A memorial service for the Posen firefighter killed in an apparent drag racing accident over the weekend will be Thursday, officials said. The service for Zachary Orel is scheduled at 7 p.m. at Parkview Christian Church,  11100 Orland Parkway in Orland Park. Before the service, firefighters will pay their respects privately, according to a Posen Fire Department news release. Orel, 25, of New Lenox, joined the department in June.

Evanston paramedic calls reach record high – Evanston’s population hasn’t budged much in the past 20 years, but paramedic calls in 2011 were up 35 percent over two decades ago. Demand for paramedic assistance set a record in 2011, with the Evanston Fire and Life Safety Services department logging 5,467 calls for Emergency Medical Service.

FireGeezer.com – Hale Products moving to Florida. Hale Products, Producers of the best-known pumps for fire apparatus, informed the workers in their home plant in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, Monday that they will be shutting down the century-old factory and relocating their manufacturing to Ocala, Florida, by the end of the year.