See all posts in the network tagged with administration-leadership
Video by: bobbybushae. Video info: This was a vacant house fire (no kidding). 1st due engine had a story and a half with the 2nd floor fully involved on arrival. Not a bit of smoke on the 1st floor since everything was vented. Quick knock down by the time 2nd due engine arrived. No injuries but a little trouble again with MSA PASS device malfunctions. Video filmed with 2 Fire Cam 1080′s from www.firevideo.net.
This article is part of the “Owning the Job” series here on FireCritic.com. Read more articles from the “Owning the Job” series here.
Recently, I was giving the task of putting on a presentation for my promotional process. The presentation was 10 minutes long and the topic was “Present 3 ideas to improve morale in the department”. I decided to talk about the following: Positive Reinforcement from Management, Pay for Performance, and Utilizing Social Media more (shocker there). I won’t bore you with an in depth look at my presentation. I focused on issues related to Administration improving morale. I could have split it up, I wasn’t placing blame. The problem was identified already. The solution was not.
What I would like to discuss is the opposite…How do we improve morale at the company level?
Illustration by Paul Combs. “Drawn by Fire” on Facebook
Below is a list of ideas to improve morale. Some might make minor dents in the problem; Others might make a huge difference. Most of these will work in all types of Fire and/or EMS Departments.
If you have read this far in the article, you are interested in improving morale. I wish you the best and I am available for questions. Feel free to offer your own ideas in the comments.
Video by: chameleon277. May 21, 2013
Officials say a North Bellmore family escaped a fire that ripped through their home last night. The fire broke out on Monroe Avenue around 8 p.m. Fire officials tell News 12 that two adults and two children made it out of the home.
Here is a story you don’t hear of every day.
Timothy Gerald died in a vehicle wreck Saturday afternoon in York Maine. Paramedics determined that Gerald, 48, was deceased and there was nothing they could do for him. Gerald’s dog, Jakey, was also in the vehicle at the time of the wreck. Crews extricated Jakey from the wreck and transported him to the emergency veterinarian for care. The medics were also able to treat Jakey with IV and oxygen therapy due to blood loss from a bad laceration.
Jakey, a 9-year-old golden retriever, is recovering after surgery following an accident that killed his owner. Jenn Hilton of York, seen in back, is the niece of the driver who died, 48-year-old Timothy Gerald.
Paramedics were sure that there was coverage in the area while they transported Jakey to the emergency vet.
Due to Gerald’s untimely death, the family is seeking help in paying for Jakey’s emergency vet bills.
A lot of the firefighters went to school with Gerald or knew him because he was related to a volunteer firefighter, according to York Village Fire Chief Chris Balentine.
“A lot of guys knew who he was,” which made responding to the accident that much harder, said Balentine, who was at the scene.
Gerald’s niece, Jenn Hilton of York, said she is married to volunteer firefighter Nick Hilton.
Read more about the wreck on SeaCoastOnline.com
What do you think? Would you have transported the dog? Would you have done something different?
Dallas LODD: Firefighter Stanley Wilson. More info here
Phoenix LODD: Info on his death from STATter911.com
Funeral information for Phoenix FD Firefighter Bradley Harper: (link to info)
Funeral Ceremony on Friday, May 24th at 2:30 p.m. at:
Christ’s Church of the Valley (CCV)
7007 W. Happy Valley Road
Peoria, AZ 85383
Procession and Internment to follow at:
Greenwood Memorial Cemetery
719 N. 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Virginia Firefighter LODD Memorial is on June 1st this year. If you are planning on attending, have a question, or need more information, check out the Facebook event here.
FirefighterWife.com: Here is an article about the recent LODD’s and a view from a Firefighters Wife. Read it here
Vote for Hack: Brian Hackenburg is in the running for “Kona Inspired 2013″. Vote for him here (bottom left of video)
IronFiremen.com: Captain Wines headed to Harrisburg, PA for the Fire Expo 2013 without me. He did leave me a souvenir though…he burned up my van on the way! Read about his trip here.
The death toll has been adjusted from 51 to 24 at this time. There are hundreds of injured, and over 100 have been rescued from the devastation.
The tornado was over 2 miles wide and covered around 22 miles becoming an EF4/EF5 tornado with wind speeds between 166-200 miles per hour.
Initial Coverage on FireCritic.com
The City of Moore and City of Oklahoma City will hold a joint press conference at Noon, Tuesday May 21st, at Moore City Hall, 301 N Broadway. Information about recovery efforts and other details will be shared at this time.
Lou Angeli is on the ground in Moore, OK and taking photos. He is a photographer as well as Firefighter/EMT. Check out some of his photos here. You can follow Lou on Facebook here.
Time Lapse Footage of the Tornado from Buzzfeed.com
Shawnee FD on scene in Moore, OK. Photo by Lou Angeli.
Moore, Oklahoma was the scene of a horrific natural disaster today. Moore is south of Oklahoma City. A mile wide EF4 tornado decimated the area. The death toll is currently 51 (11pm) including 7 children at the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore. There are 233 reported injured.
The preliminary rating of damage created by the tornado is at least EF4 (winds 166 to 200 mph) — the second-most severe classification on a scale of zero to five
I have read a lot about it being a “recovery” effort instead of a “search” effort. I am not sure that the firefighters have the same thoughts on the ground. Word is that Tennessee Task Force 1 is being deployed to the area to assist (news link).
Moore Fire Department
Just to give you a snapshot of the Moore FD, they operate with 72 firefighters out of 4 firehouses covering 22 square miles.
The area is no stranger to tornadoes. In May of 1999, there was another huge tornado that killed dozens and recorded wind speeds of 302 miles per hour (the fastest recorded on earth).
PASSAIC, N.J. (WABC) – Two firefighters were hurt while battling a large apartment fire in Passaic, New Jersey. The fire started at around 8 p.m. at 77 Lafayette Avenue and quickly spread to a third alarm. Mutual aid was called in from several surrounding towns. “I look outside and see ashes forming on my window,” said Michael Fortuna, a witness. Residents say the fire started in apartment 4B and then spread from there. It didn’t take long for the building to become almost completely engulfed in flames.
Video by: demonracer2
Video by: eng641
Video by: bmxking1504
Video by: Jimmy Hopp. Video info: Plattekill Fire Rescue responded to a house fire on Prospect Hill Road in Wallkill, NY on May 14, 2013.
RecordOnline.com: Plattekill Fire Department, with assistance from area agencies were called to battle a fully involved house fire in a home at 50 Prospect Hill Road in Wallkill on Tuesday afternoon, May 14, 2013. According to Plattekill Fire Chief Chris Mancuso, the fire was discovered when City of Newburgh Fire Chief Mike Vatter, who lives nearby, noticed smoke on his property and went to investigate. Departments quickly responded, and the blaze, which started in half of the house, was put out quickly. Damage is extensive, and fire inspectors were called in to investigate as to the cause of the fire.
STATter911.com also has info on the fire here.
Video by: bubba stark. Video info: The video title mentions a rollover. The video is an interesting one. It seems like a total of two firefighters operating at this house fire searching for the seat of the fire…then they find it!
Here is a great Fathers Day Gift, or better yet…just a great chance at winning some great guns while raising money for a great cause! The South Dakota Firefighters Benefit (also on Facebook here) is raising money to fund a grant program for Fire Departments. They are doing a calendar gun raffle and giving away 63 guns and a 28 gun safe over the course of 52 weeks. Guns can be shipped to anywhere in the USA. These calendars are selling for $40 cash/Check and $45 with a credit card. These make great Fathers day gifts as well as graduation gift. If you would like to purchase one please click this link or email sdffgunraffle@gmail.com.
I have mine, have you gotten yours yet?
Video by: marsh31091. Video info: none.
These self-proclaimed “amateur firefighters” actually do a pretty decent job of keeping the fire in check. So what if there is some mild chaos and cussing. And so what if it resembled “Lord of the Flies” for a minute or two…Firefighters do finally arrive and take care of business.
Botetourt, VA continues to take 1 step forward and several steps backwards as it attempts to create a Fire/EMS model that works. Their current setup is numerous (I believe 7) volunteer fire departments and rescue squads supplemented by paid staffing at some of the stations at certain times during the week. Last year, they hired forward thinking Carr Boyd from Charlotte, NC to oversee the County’s Fire/EMS as their Emergency Services Coordinator. I’ll call him Chief Boyd.
Captain Wines recent post on the Botetourt issue
This week, Chief Boyd resigned. The details are not out yet. Ever since word of hiring for the position, there has been dissension among a select few of the VFD Officers. That came to a head when former Buchanan VFD Chief Billy Joe Carter threatened Captain Willie Wines Jr.’s life. Captain Wines runs IronFiremen.com and updated regularly on the situation.
Willie and I have been very critical of the inability for the “select few VFD Officers” to look beyond their egos and realize how positive the hiring of Chief Boyd was going to be for them.
Due to Chief Boyd’s resignation, all of the dust is being kicked up again. Read the news on his resignation here and here.
Even before that article hit the internet, there was an distasteful and shameful comment left on IronFiremen.com. The comment is apparently from Troutville VFD’s Chief Scott Paderick’s wife Christine Paderick. It was almost as if she new Wines was going to write something about it. Read the comment below:
WARNING: He (Christine’s Husband) does not need his wife writing for him. It says so in the last sentence.
Then again, maybe they are all screwed up of who is who between Willie and I. After all, when Willie began writing about the Botetourt issue, I got word that someone from Troutville (guess who) wanted to kick my ass. I laughed. Apparently some poeple don’t realize the difference between IronFiremen.com and FireCritic.com. After all, I was the one who mentioned the Botetourt issue the other day:
However, I did mention that Willie was going to write about it soon. Maybe the suspense got the best of her?
The main reason for me writing this post is to drive traffic to IronFiremen.com so that you can read about the issues present in Botetourt, VA.
Video by: Joel Harsin. Video info: Apartment fire with entrapment. Indianapolis Fire Department
More on the incident from WishTV.com here.
Hat tip to Backstep Firefighter for finding this video. They shared it here.
Marcel Melanson, the 15 year veteran of the Compton (CA) FD, has been arrested for his supposed role in theft at the FD headquarters and subsequent arson used to cover up the theft. Reports indicate that he sold stolen radio equipment online and then set fire inside FD headquarters on December 11, 2011.
Marcel Melanson in Inked Magazine photo by Russ Quackenbush
In 15 years, Melanson rose to the rank of Deputy Chief at 37 years old. He stood out from the crowd due to his heavily tattooed body and his quick rise in ranks at a young age.
He has been terminated by the department as a result of the investigation.
Marcel, who was featured on FireCritic.com two times in the past, has actually been in contact with me via twitter in the past. His account is now disabled.
Related stories:
A former Compton deputy fire chief — who has also starred on a reality television series — has been arrested on suspicion of arson and grand theft in connection with a fire that destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of radio equipment in late 2011.
Marcel Melanson, 37, was arrested at his home Wednesday by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Compton had bought the radio and communications equipment in 2010, when the city was planning to end its contract with the Sheriff’s Department and reinstate the Compton Police Department.
News stories related to Melanson’s recent charges:
Video by: TheMTZFD. Video info: Assisted LCFD with a vacant house fire. Had water issues throughout. No injuries to anyone involved.
More info via Mt. Zion Fire Protection District web site: Mt. Zion was called to assist Long Creek for a report of flames coming from the roof of a house. Upon arrival found the house to be heavily involved in fire. Mt. Zion assisted in fire suppression, and overhaul. The house was a complete loss. One firefighter sustained minor injuries from a large diameter hose coupling striking him in the knee. However, was checked out at the ER and was able to return to the scene. Footage is from BC Paul Hartwig’s helmet camera.
Chris Gillett, quoted below in the story, informed me he is a few hundred dollars short of his goal. You can contact him on his Facebook Profile (Firefighter Chaplain) to donate. He is also trying to get a tshirt order together for the event.
Honor walk set for West, Texas, responders killed in explosion
PilotMountainNews.com
by Wendy Byerly Wood
PINNACLE — Of the 14 people killed in the April 17 explosion at a West, Texas, fertilizer plant, 11 of those were firefighters and first responders. And a local group of firefighters will be spending May 25 walking in honor of those who lost their lives protecting their community.
Members of Shoals Volunteer Fire Department, as well as other members of the emergency response community, will host a five-mile honor walk to raise money and awareness for those fallen firefighters and EMS personnel who were killed in the explosion, many of whom were fighting the initial fire that started prior to the blast.
“The tragedy in Texas kind of got swallowed up by the Boston bombing,” said Lt. Chris Gillett of Shoals VFD. “I wanted to do something to raise money for the firefighters’ families who were killed as well as raise awareness.”
…
The honor walk, set to begin at 10 a.m. at Pilot Knob Volunteer Fire Department on Key Street/N.C. 268, with those participating wearing full turnout gear. “Most people can do it, it’s just under 6 miles, and we’re doing it in full turnout gear. They sacrificed, and it’s going to be a sacrifice to do that (in full gear),” Gillett said. “There is even a soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan driving up from Fort Bragg to walk in full military gear.”
It has been busy…
I just finished up promotional testing for 1st Lt. and Captain in my department. We had practical testing yesterday and I feel good about it. It could have been much better, but I am pleased with my performance.
If you have information to share, be sure to get it to me.
The Fire Critic Facebook Page is constantly pumping out great info, sharing YOUR questions with “Mutual Aid Question from a Brother” posts, and more.
Michael Smith of Boron Extrication climbed with me at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. He actually got to meet a family member of the man he was climbing for, Joseph Agnello. Michael didn’t get the contact information and is looking for John Agnello, Joseph’s cousin. Michael’s post is a moving tribute to Ladder 118 and Joseph Agnello. Read it here, and help him out in contacting John.
Progress Fire Expo Bash 2013
Captain Wines will be on the road later today. He is heading to Harrisburg, PA for the Fire Expo. Unfortunately, I am unable to make the trip. I will be working for Willie on Friday so he can though. He plans on catching up with the Progress Fire Bash 2013. The Firehouse Dolls will be there too. Captain Wines is travelling with his wife and I think the Buckaroo…I have officially been replaced! Be sure to welcome him in PA. I have wanted to make the trip for this event for years, I guess it will have to wait until next year.
Captain Wines and I plan on attending Firehouse Expo in Baltimore and Fire Rescue International in Chicago. On top of that, we have an engagement in New York State with the Capital Region FOOLS in September. Check out their Facebook Page here. We also have heard of tentatively being asked to speak at the Canadian Volunteer Firefighters Convention in Ottawa. We look forward to hearing more about that soon.
You might remember Captain Wines in-depth writing about issues within the Botetourt County, VA Fire & EMS…most notably some of the issues with the Buchanan VFD and their former Chief Billy Joe Carter. I am not sure, but I believe Carter is still incarcerated. Things are heating up again in Botetourt, this time with relation to their Fire/EMS Director Carr Boyd who is in the process of resigning. Willie and I are still working on the details, but it seems as though another one of Botetourt’s Volunteer Chiefs is behind forcing Boyd out. Troutville VFD’s Chief who is reportedly also a felon has apparently been a thorn in the side of the forward thinking Fire/EMS Director. Look for an article from Willie about this fiasco soon at IronFiremen.com.
22 Years ago, one of the most prolific rescues occurred in New York City.
STATter911.com - While I have been busy, Dave Statter continues to post great videos of fires across the Country. Check out the latest one from Huntsville, Alabama here.
First Due Tackle – Paul Hasenmeier has been busy updating First Due Tackle with plenty of great information and articles. Check it out here.
10SeventyFive.com – This up-and-coming blog looks very promising. Be sure to check them out!
You might remember Mikey Johnson’s story I posted back in October “The Thinning of Today’s Fire Service“. Mikey had lost 150 lbs. in 6 months.
The story below is another one I am very happy to share with you about a young man making a huge lifestyle change to live a healthier life. This should serve as motivation for others to set out to make similar changes in their lives.
I referenced an article on Fire Service Warrior about philosophy and being a “fit firefighter” in the previous post and I would like to share it again with you. Take a second to read the article here.
Meet Joe FranciscoJoe Francisco is a local Firefighter in Roanoke County, VA. He volunteers at the Catawba Volunteer Fire Department #4 “The Fightin’ Fourth”. I had the pleasure of meeting Joe recently when Captain Wines and I stopped by for the evening. Catawba VFD is first due to Captain Wines homestead. Joe joined the department in 2008.
The reason why I am writing about Joe is not because he is a firefighter, it is because Joe has lost 152 lbs. since August of 2012. I think it is amazing. Hell, I only weigh 146 lbs…so he has lost the equivalent of one of me.
His weight loss began on August 4, 2012 when his beloved Grandpa died. In the following two weeks, Joe lost 25 lbs that he attributes to stress over the loss. He was astonished by the sudden loss in weight so he told himself “well I might as well try to lose more”. Joe cut out soda and the only bread he ate was tortilla. He continued his weight loss over the next 8 months and lost 134 lbs WITHOUT working out.
He was so amped over his continued weight loss and progress that he joined Planet Fitness and Complete Nutrition here in Roanoke, VA. This would enable him to continue his journey, get fit, and make the most of it!
In his own words:
Joe and his father playing bluegrass at the swinging bridge restaurant in paint pank
I’ve lost a total of 152 lbs thus far and let me tell you I have never felt better! I haven’t been this weight since I was in 9th grade! Now I have ENDLESS amounts of energy! I sleep all throughout the night before I was waking up 4 or 5 times a night I had high blood pressure I was at the beginning stages of sleep apnea and now …. NONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS EXIST! Most importantly for once I am happy! I feel alive!
In his spare time, Joe enjoys playing the guitar and banjo…and long walks on the beach!
Guys like Mikey and Joe should be an inspiration to all of us. I know I use their dedication and commitment to motivate myself!
Right now is the busiest time of the year for me. It starts when Lacrosse season begins (I am the coach of a team of 23 U11 players). I do it because they don’t have enough coaches and because my son plays. I don’t even have an assistant coach. I am not the best coach in the World, but I think I get the job done.
On top of that, FDIC was just held in Indianapolis. Last year, FDIC was a blast and when I got back I felt as though I was stuck under a heap of work…that heap never let up. I have the same issue this year, and again I never dug myself out of the work last year.
I am managing though. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Currently, we are behind on about 8 reviews over at FireProductReview.com. The ESS Eye Pro review is complete and can be seen here. The 1st in Leather review will be up later today.
Keep me informed of what is going on. I try to keep up, but it isn’t happening. If you want information shared on “Best of the Rest”, email me or contact me another way.
The video below is VES Helmet Cam video out of Colorado Springs, CO. More info on it here: IronsandLadders.com offers a view and commentary on a Vent-Enter-Search (VES) Video in the latest post. Read it here.
News and OpinionJottings and Writings (a Firefighting blog) is looking for information to put in an article about budget cuts. If you have information to share or an opinion to share please check this out here.
Model City Firefighter continues his column “Blowin Smoke” with a newer blogger on the scene – TenSeventyFive.com. Check out the article here.
TenSeventyFive.com offers his latest post “I’m A Terrible Firefighter And An Even Worse Leader“. Read it and offer your opinion in the comments.
Box Alarm Leather has a new line of custom products out in collaboration with MN8 Foxfire. “Illuminated by Foxfire” gear can be ordered on their Facebook page. You might also check out their web site for more products.
Check out my new fire helmet straw hat with laser etched “Fire Critic” custom shield. The hat comes from Saint Florian Clothing.
FireGeezer.com is chock full of great content this past week or so. We send our condolensces to Bill on the loss of his wife. Mike Ward and the rest of the crew have been keeping the blog hopping with a ton of great stories.
IronFiremen.com’s Captain Wines wrote a great piece titled “Promotions… “SILLY SEASON” is here, Recruitment, Retention and More!“
BackstepFirefighter.com has several great posts up. Check them out here.
Out West, the Panther, Spring, and Summit fires have been burning. Check out Wildfire Today and Firefighter Blog for more information on these fires.
Dave Statter continues to keep it real…in true “retired guy” spirit, he shows the rest of us that he doesn’t sleep and continues to post around the clock. Check out all of the great stuff over at STATter911.com.
Firehouse Zen offers “No Trash Talking – Follow Up” in his latest post. Read it here.
Fully Involved offers another great article “Crossroads”. Read it here.
The video below was shared by a reader.
Have you ever thought about using the local park for training?
I’m not sure why they evacuated the house in the end…but I enjoyed this video for the audio more than the video.
Video by: firewolfranger. Info: helmet cam footage from a mutual aid structure fire on Saturday …. I have more footage, and will probably put up a longer video later, but this is from my actual time inside … no response footage from this one, we were already at the station returning from a rescue call when we got called to this one …
Below you will find the names of most of the top Fire/EMS smart phone applications (Apps) as shared by the readers on the Fire Critic Facebook page. I did not share the links, because most are found on either your iphone or Android marketplaces. All you have to do is use the terms below to search for them on your phone. Not all of them have a dedicated web site.
Feel free to add more in the comments! Which apps do you use?
Fire
Video by: . Video info: This is a 2 part video. The 1st part is of an occupied 1 story house fire with smoke showing / fire venting from rear bedroom. We had 2 probationary firefighters with us that day and WOW was that fun. Pass devices going off and getting blasted in the face with an open nozzle was fun. But we ALL have to learn at the beginning! The probies made a quick stop and all was good. Until 1 year later the same house came in and it was going a little better this time, especially thru the attic. We were going to make the same push thru the front but the heat conditions were deteriorating by the second and being it was a vacant house now with fire thru the roof in some spots, we knocked it down from the outside and then went in. No one was injured but this was our 4th structure fire within our 24 hr shift….we were beat. The cameras used were the Fire Cam MINI HD and the Fire Cam 1080 Fire Helmet Cameras from www.firevideo.net
I think we have all said this at one time or another. This short clip below captures just that moment in time where we have something to say…but someone else apparently won’t shut up on the radio. I guess you could say that we just hope that it doesn’t get caught on video. It doesn’t matter who this is or where it happened…it is pretty funny.
At 2pm, you will be able to watch live streaming of Chief Carr’s Funeral right here on FireCritic.com.
The Charleston Fire Department, Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service and WCIV-TV have made arrangements for live streaming of today’s funeral in Charleston for Chief Carr. It begins at 2:00 PM EDT. Here is the link for WCIV-TV’s live video player – http://www.abcnews4.com/category/193350/wciv-live-stream.
Charleston, SC Fire Department’s Chief Tom Carr (Retired) passed away Wednesday. Dave Statter has the news here.
A former leader of the Charleston Fire Department has passed away.
ABC News 4 has learned that former fire chief Thomas Carr died following a battle with MSA, a rapid form of Parkinson’s disease. He was 59 years old.
Chief Carr was hired as Charleston’s fire chief in 2008. He helped reshape and redefine the department following the 2007 Sofa Super Store fire that killed nine Charleston firefighters.
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The Effect of Reflected Sunlight from Low-e and other Double Paned Window Glass on Vinyl… (more)
Buildings and Lumber Piles Occupy 200+ Firefighters… (more)
LODD info from Dallas and Phoenix, Moore (OK) Tornado devastation update, Vote for Hack, and more… (more)
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