Willie (IronFiremen.com) are always looking for decent products. Mostly, we don’t search around for them, they find us. Forward thinking companies have latched on to the social media, marketing, and advertising network that is slowly evolving and centered around blogging, facebook, and a couple of web sites.
I have talked to the guys at NM-Coin several times and they seem to be great guys. The pricing and down to earth customer service seems to be their greatest assets compared to other companies.
Here are the mock-ups for our patches and coins. Tell us what you think!
Our challenge coin will be similar (but different) to our Brotherhood Chip. You will be able to order one through NM-Coin. We will also have some to hand out.
Our patch. We have a few small edits, but it should be pretty decent!
This is a stock coin that NM-Coin is creating to make available. The attention to detail is amazing. Look for these available soon.
The body of Jerry Perdomo has been found. Perdomo’s body was found in a wooded area in Maine. Daniel Porter is charged with his death.
There is a decent synopsis of the events leading up to Perdomo’s death here. It answers many of the questions everyone has been asking since his disappearance.
The affidavit for the arrest of Daniel Porter can be read here.
Original post:
Daniel Porter, the man wanted and questioned about the disappearance of a Florida Firefighter, has been charged arrested on murder charges. Jerry Perdomo, 31, has been missing since February 16th. He was last seen in Bangor, Maine. Perdomo was a Seminole County Firefighter at the time of his disappearance. His body has not been recovered yet. Earlier reports showed police looking for Daniel’s girlfriend as well. She is not suspected to be involved in the murder.
Firefighter Nation has also been following this story with its latest here and here.
As this story slowly unfolded, it was apparent that many details were being kept from public record. Investigators had tight lips about what was going on. However, much of the circumstances left others wondering what really happened to Perdomo.
Even with the murder charges, we are left wondering what happened.
Perdomo was married with two children, 3 and 10 years old.
He had an apparent girlfriend in Maine whom he visited every month.
He was somehow wrapped up in drug related activity.
Seminole County Firefighters have been in Maine and assisted with the search for Perdomo.
More information will be posted as it is available.
Daniel Porter, second from right, is lead to a waiting police car by Maine State Police detective Brain Strout, second from left, as Bangor Police detective Larry Morrill holds the door Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 in Jackson, Maine. Porter was arrested at his father's home in Jackson and is being charged with murder in connection with the disappearance of Florida firefighter Jerry Perdomo. With Porter is his father, Gary, right, who was present when his son was arrested. (AP Photo/The Bangor Daily News, Kevin Bennett)
A quick note about comments on FireCritic.com. Don’t cuss, your comment will not be approved. Other than that, I don’t appreciate or approve assaults on others. That is all.
Feature post: The latest review completed is on the Bowring tool. I (I am one of the reviewers and the site administrator) am seeing how benificial this site can be with letting others rate the products too. I gave the Bowring a 7. The user score is a 3.1 (7 votes total) as of this writing. The site gives users and visitors the ability to rate the products themselves. You don’t have to login to offer your thoughts. If you want to login, you can register or use Facebook to connect. It is as simple as that!
It seems as though there are 3 kinds of people when it comes to the Bowring. Those who love it, those who hate it, and those who have never heard of it.
The Blog of the Year Contest for 2011-2012 will be starting on March 1st. This will be the third year for the contest. This year, FireCritic.com teamed up with FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com for the contest. The sponsor this year is the American Military University. Look for more information on the contest, how and when to nominate, and when voting begins in the next two days!
9/11 Memorial Stair Climb - Why We Climb: Taking the Step to Honor and Heal - When five firefighters from Colorado first gathered in the spring of 2005 to climb the stairwell of a local office building, they intended to do it for conditioning and camaraderie. They never thought that, within six years, they would be coordinating a series of nationwide climbs to honor the lives of the 343 firefighters from FDNY who died on September 11, 2001 and help their survivors heal. As we approach the 2012 9-11 Memorial Stair Climbs with the inaugural event at FDIC on April 20 at Lucas Oil Stadium, we look back at a recent event that explains why we climb. Click here to register for the FDIC climb and here to find other climbs this year.
Brotherhood Cuts – I have been mentioning this for weeks. It goes down on March 10th. MtAirynews.com picked up the story and I am even mentioned in the article. Firefighters Shave the Day - “I have decided to join friends and firefighters to shave our heads and mustaches to raise money to help protect each other. The funds raised will go to purchase bail-out kits for fire departments in Surry County,” said Gillett. Read more: Mount Airy News – Firefighters to shave the day
Speaking of Shaving Heads… Check out 9 Year Old Jordan!
Jordan and her brother at their father's firehouse on 9/11/11
Jordan B. is 9 years old. Her father is a long time reader of The Fire Critic.This year, Jordan is shaving her head for St. Baldrick’s. Read more about this little girl here. Read it here
Jordan is hoping to raise $3000. She has already raised $1780. Help her out! Her message: I’ve answered the call to be a hero! I’m having my head shaved to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer, but more importantly, to raise money to find cures. Please support me with a donation to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. This volunteer-driven charity funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U. S. government. Your gift will give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults fighting childhood cancers. So when I ask for your support, I’m really asking you to support these kids.
A lesson in Social Media - Site Unseen: Red Sox Spring Training Park Gaffe: Boston’s beloved baseball team is moving into JetBlue Park this spring in Ft. Myers, Fla. The new crown jewel of the Grapefruit League cost an estimated $78 million to build … but they probably wish they’d spent a few more bucks. A resident not far from the new ballpark owns the most likely web domain name for the Red Sox new spring home. Eric Engelman purchased the site last year. Read it here
The Hose Jockey has an excellent awareness article and video on MAYDAY scenarios. Check it out here
One of the best articles I have read all year resides on FireEngineering.com. The article titled “Thirty Five Years: An Open Letter to My Father”: I barely knew what a screwdriver did when he taught me to tie knots, told me handcuff knots are good for dragging a lifeless firefighter and he taught me a snap bowline and winked, said, “Impress them with that one, kid.” He gave me a prussic and a couple of carabiners and showed me 20 things to do with that loop of rope, like hanging onto a 2 1/2 for an hour despite squad telling me I am a wuss. Read it here
IronFiremen.com – America’s Fire Captain Willie Wines Jr. has been following a local story of a volunteer Chief who has been outspoken against the hiring of a County wide Fire/EMS Director. Willie shoots it straight and offers some quotes from the misinformed Chief. The latest is here. Read previous posts here and here.
Jerry Perdomo is still missing in Maine. I posted here and here on the story. Firefighter Nation has been keeping up with the story and its latest here.
ELAFFHQ.com – The guys at ELAFFHQ are giving stuff away. Word is that they will soon be giving up their identities. Willie and I couldn’t be more proud of this couple for coming out of the closet! Get your swag here!
Statter911.com has the latest on our brothers in Bladensburg here
By now, I am sure you guys have seen the video from the Daytona 500 last night when Juan Pablo Montoya crashed into a jet dryer truck. If not, the video is below
One of our guys at #3 is quitting leaving the department. He has found more gainful employment in Augusta County and will be starting there in a couple of weeks. Brad has been with the department about 7 years. He has worked with us for a couple of months at #3 since FF/PM Drew Abel went to work at #5. Brad’s departure is not unique, we have seen many of our firefighters leave the department for better benefits, better opportunity, and better pay at other departments. As a matter of fact, Brad will be joining another of Roanoke’s Bravest in Augusta. A couple of months ago, Captain Mike Armstrong retired to take a job as Deputy Chief in Augusta County.
Brad has fit right in with us. We have shared many laughs. Brad will be missed…we just aren’t sure by who.
Brad is also the head coach of the Roanoke Rampage Football team. The Rampage is part of the NPSFL. Brad was our star linebacker and got sidelined…he took up coaching. If you ask him, he was looking at another career in the NFL.
Brad’s assignments have been 7, old 5, 2, new 5, 3.
I invited his wife and children by the firehouse tonight for a special meal on his last day. Just by chance, we ended up with our entire crew at the dinner table with the Harris Family. We took the opportunity to take a picture of the entire crew.
We cooked steaks, baked potatoes, and broccoli. Toni Lynn, Brad’s wife, brought an ice cream cake and I also baked a “special” cake for Brad.
It was a great time! Next cycle will be so much better. We won’t have the constant whine coming from Brad about riding the medic truck or his challenging EMT-I class anymore… sigh.
Toni Lynn is welcome back any time!
Here are some photos
Captain Mac Craft and Firefighter Brad Harris
Firefighter Brad Harris and Lieutenant Rhett Fleitz
Firefighter Brad Harris and his wife Toni Lynn
Firefighter Brad Harris and Firefighter/Paramedic Eric Mulford
Firefighter/EMT-I Jason "JG" Gardner posing in front of the lovely Medic 3
Firefighter Brad Harris, Captain Mac Craft, Lt. Rhett Fleitz, Firefighter Jason Gardner, Firefighter David Lucas, Firefighter Eric Mulford
Beaufort/Port Royal Firefighters ended up rescuing a man who stole their fire truck, caused several crashes, hit and killed a pedestrian, then wrecked the apparatus in the woods.
This incident occurred in Port Royal, South Carolina. The firefighters were on an EMS call when their rig was stolen.
A coroner was called to the scene for the pedestrian who died.
Couple wanted in questioning switched cars on Tuesday. Woman writes “Sorry for your loss” on her Facebook Page
The plot continues to thicken in the case of a Florida firefighter, Jerry Perdomo, missing and last seen in Bangor Maine on February 16th. His rental vehicle was found the following day in a Wal Mart parking lot.
The couple who are being questioned in the case switched cars on Tuesday.
It is now blatantly obvious that there are plenty of details which are not being shared by Police. I am sure this has to do with the integrity of their investigation.
Perdomo was last seen wearing a back zip-up hooded sweat shirt, shorts and black sneakers. He’s described as being Puerto Rican, 5-foot-11, about 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He works at Station 41 and has been with the department since 2009.
A Bangor couple who police interviewed in connection with a missing person case switched vehicles at a car dealership on Kennedy Memorial Drive earlier this week.
Police on Thursday impounded the vehicle the couple left behind after receiving a tip from the dealership.
Rod Pelkey, a manager at Lee Credit Now, said Daniel Porter, 24, and Cheyanne Nowak, 25, purchased a car sight-unseen from a Bangor office, then drove to Oakland on Tuesday to pick it up. While there, the couple asked Pelkey if they could leave their old car until they returned from a trip to Florida.
Pelkey said he read a newspaper story on Thursday about police seeking Porter and Nowalk in connection with the disappearance of firefighter Jerry Perdomo of Orange City, Fla., who was last seen Feb. 16. Police said they believed they were traveling in a white 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer, the car the couple left at the dealership.
Loss? What loss? Perdomo is only missing at this point.
Questioned by police: Cheyanne Nowak, 23, and Daniel Porter, 24
Much of Cheyanne’s facebook page is secure and only viewable by friends. The message above was written around 2am this morning.
Daniel Porter’s last update on his facebook page was in August of 2011.
The couple has now been interviewed by Bangor, Maine police about Perdomo.
The Seminole County IAFF Local 3254 is sending two firefighters to Maine today to assist police with the investigation. If they can be of service, Local 3254 will send more firefighters to help.
I caught this story the other day…the plot thickened today.
Seminole County, Florida Firefighter Jerry Perdomo is missing in Maine. Perdomo,31, headed to Maine to meet a friend and was last seen on February 16th. When he failed to show up to work, his coworkers became worried. His vehicle was later found at a parking lot of a Bangor Wal Mart.
Missing Seminole Florida Firefighter Jerry Perdomo
In somewhat of a Hollywood twist, some Seminole Firefighters are headed to Maine to investigate for themselves. However, this is more like the truest example of what our Family and the Brotherhood is all about!
While it appears that there are plenty of details not being shared due to the investigation…I smell something fishy here. I don’t mean that Perdomo was doing anything illegal, but I have to wonder why a single firefighter would travel that many miles to visit a couple in Maine.
There are two people who are believed to have seen Perdomo before his disappearance. Bangor police are looking for boyfriend/girlfriend Daniel Porter, 24, and Cheyanne Nowak, 23 (pictured below). They are believed to be in a tan 2005 Hyundai Elantra with Maine temporary tag 729-257. If you have any information, call Bangor police at (207) 947-7382.
“We don’t want to be a hindrance to law enforcement but we also have a need in our family. We’ve got a family member that’s missing,” explains Dave Williams, Vice President of the Seminole County Professional Firefighters.
As Perdomo’s coat hangs from the truck that carries his team around to save lives, his colleagues wear yellow ribbons to remember his life.
Bangor police said they are looking for Daniel Porter, 24, and Cheyanne Nowak, 23
We are in contact with the family and using resources to help the family. If you are interested in helping please call Vice-President Dave Williams at 321-689-7108. If you have information about Jerry or his whereabout, please contact the -Bangor Police Department at 207-947-7382, Ext 6.
If you are interested in sending donations to the family or support the local with sending members up to Bangor to assist in the search you can send them to
Seminole County Professional Firefighters Local 3254 PO Box 952648-2648 Lake Mary, Fl 32795
Please keep Jerry and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
PERSONS OF INTEREST – IF SEEN CONTACT BANGOR PD ASAP
Police are looking for the following two individuals Daniel Porter, 24, and Cheyanne Nowak, 23,that may have been the last to see or talk to Jerry. If you see them please contact the Bangor Police Department.
Over the past year, I have done a dozen or so product reviews. I have also helped companies connect with other bloggers to do reviews.
We just kicked it into overdrive! FireProductReview.com is live online. I have migrated all of the older reviews over to the new site and added some new ones to it. I will be adding Willie Wines Jr.’s reviews shortly.
The new site offers the ability for users (logged in or not) to rate products, comment on them, and share the reviews with others.
This process of creating the new site has been long and worthwhile. I first thought of wanting to do reviews back in 2006, I began them 5 years later…and now the stand alone web site. The main reason why I moved the reviews to a separate site was because of feedback wanting more information and more reviews. Apparently, the thumbs up or down means a lot to my readers and I want to build something that helps even more.
Companies are realizing the benefit of being mentioned by bloggers (not just mine). Our candidness, the networks we build, and the fact that many are still firefighters gives us a front seat in discussion, learning, teaching, and spreading the word. This 21st century word of mouth marketing is catching on.
If your company would like to have a review done by myself, Willie Wines Jr. (IronFiremen.com), or broader to a pretty decent bunch of fire service bloggers let me know.
I think what the companies enjoy the most is the mentions, discussion, and feedback they get when we talk about them on Facebook.
This past weekend, I was in Nashville with my family. My parents live there. We had a great visit. The return trip home wasn’t all that great…we spent about 5 hours parked on Interstate 81 because of Tractor-Trailer accidents. I thought truckers are always complaining about the 4 wheelers. Needless to say, it sucked. My children did great though. We had fuel, food, wifi, an inverter, and 3 computers plus the tablet.
One slight change to this ever changing column “Best of the Rest”…The shoutout will now be one site instead of potentially 3 separate with site/Facebook/Twitter. It will more closely resemble the old “Monday Morning Shoutout. This column is sometimes worked on all week long if I have time. I add to it when I see something neat to share.
As always, we have a blast over at the Fire Critic Facebook page. You should check it out and click “like” to make sure you stay caught up on what we are talking about!
Shoutout – Working The Job
Web Site:Working the Job – “Work the job, don’t let the job work you” written by Jason Jefferies
Feature post: The 2012 Lent Challenge. “If I gave up something I hated then the challenge would be easy, for instance, I’d rather lick a boar’s anus than eat salmon patties, so if I gave up salmon patties there would be not hardship. This year is a doozy….drumroll…….No cussing.” Read it here
uh oh...yeah, a fill in driver backed through the door. The truck my father wanted to show me was at the garage. Apparently there is a 2000 gallon tanker/engine normally there. They run 300 calls a month in the outskirts of Nashville. See the other photos on Facebook by clicking on the photo.
Covering a Shift - not just ANY shift…one of my shifts. Don’t forget, I work with the Best Fire Company in the World.
The Vampire Diaries Taylor Kinney Lands Firefighter Role - Former The Vampire Diaries werewolf, Taylor Kinney, has nabbed a lead role in new firefighter pilot Chicago Fire. Deadline reports that the NBC drama will be “action-driven” and set amongst the men and women of the Chicago Fire Department. The pilot has been penned by Wanted and 3:10 to Yuma writers Michael Brandt and Derek Haas with Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Homeland) directing.
Chili Firefighter LODD – RadioReference.com is claiming that “Firefighter Dies in Fire, City of La Granja (6:37 CST)” Read/listen here
STATter911.com – The Saga continues in DC. DCFD firefighters learn more about a Battalion Chief who might get demoted over his discipline of a crew who had beer in the firehouse. The kicker is that the beer was dropped off by a caring citizen. Read more here
I asked for a photo on Facebook and got a ton...This was the first one. New Orleans Fire Dept Creole No. 9 by Dawn Dawson. Click the photo for more of them.
I Never Wanted to be a Firefighter (Blog) – I would have pawned shit for it. The progression or tolerance I would have built up for fire would surely rival crack, heroin, and alcohol. I can see myself, haggard, unshaven, shaking in the cold and dark. Stumbling down the back ally in the worst part of town seeking a fix.
Me. “Hey what do you got?”
Fire Dealer. “I got some good stuff man. I got a three alarm warehouse fire. I got a, apartment fire, on a winter night.” Continue reading here
I asked and I received. The Facebook fans shared a ton of photos when I promted them for one. You can check out some of the other photos on Fire Critic FB. The photo to the right is from Dawn Dawson. View the other images here. Interesting enough, she also shared this link:
FireRescue1.com- Firefighters make CO rescues on routine Maine inspection. Firefighters/inspectors Eion Pelletier and Lt. Shawn Esler went to inspect new store, saved 2 ‘who probably were moments from dying’. Continue reading
Tiger Schmittendorf – Tiger weighs in on a recent post by FireGeezer about Recruitment videos. Word is that he read it over lunch…must have been a long article! Read it here: Video Killed the Recruitment Star
Brotherhood Cuts – We are open for business. This is a very cool event that is kicking off on March 10th in North Carolina.Read more about it here. Brotherhood Cuts is an initiative to support the National Firefighters Endowment. Myself and Willie Wines Jr. are looking forward to more events in the future!
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation hosts events all over the Nation all year long. This years calendar is beginning to fill up with some of their great events. From 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs, to NASCAR races, to Golf tournaments, and a survivors conference which was just held. The Memorial Weekend will be in October.
Supporting the NFFF is supporting your family. Through supporting their events, participating in their events, to financial contributions it all helps our family members who have lost a loved one.
Below are just some of their events. You can read what the NFFF is all about by visiting their main web site FireHero.org.
There will be another stair climb at FDIC this year on April 20th. Willie and I will be there. We have not decided if we are going to climb or not. If you have never climbed and will be at FDIC, plan on climbing.
This year, there are somewhere around 70 stair climbs taking place. Get to one and challenge yourself with the climb. Do it for the Pride of being a firefighter, Honor of our service, and Respect for our Fallen.
In 2004, the first Fallen Firefighters Memorial Golf Tournament was held to raise awareness and to help sustain the programs of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Now in its eighth year, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Golf has grown to include over 35 regional golf tournaments.
There are 35 regional tournaments. See if there is one near you and get out and hit the links: http://golf.firehero.org/
Survivors Conference Recently Held
From February 12 – 17, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) sponsored the Annual Fire Service Survivors Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Now in its seventh year, the conference attracts more than one hundred survivors each year. Attendees include both those who have recently suffered a loss and those from years before.
A firefighter in Titusville, Florida has confessed to several pranks against his Lieutenant, Lt. Phil Jones, including putting a poisonous substance in his canteen. Randy Moore, confessed and gave up the goose on another firefighter who supposedly helped/watched him commit the crime.
Jones has been with the department 28 years and worked with Moore for 12 of them. So far, Moore hasn’t given any reason for his actions other than saying it was a joke and “he did not want to kill the victim he was just upset with him.”
The substance, Gunk, is a cleaning solvent used by mechanics to clean engines. It is labeled as harmful or fatal if swallowed.
The pranks against Jones started 6 months ago. Moore is currently in jail without bond. As for his employment, he is on administrative leave pending the investigation.
According to the police report, Moore had engaged in a number of acts “targeting the victim Lt. Phil Jones,” over several weeks, including writing derogatory statements about Jones, putting spices in his coffee, tampering with files and other acts meant to embarrass Jones.
This past weekend was one helluva good time. I clocked out from the computer on my 4 day break (for the most part) and headed skiing with the family. I haven’t been skiing for around 15 years. It was my children’s first time on the slopes, and the first time skiing with my wife. We had a blast. If I had more time, I would have swung in to the McGaheysville VFD located just down the road from Massanutten Resort where we were staying. Already this year, I have family or fire service trips scheduled for Nashville, Gatlinburg, Columbus x2, South Dakota, Aruba, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Chicago, DC, Denver, and New Jersey. Let me know if you want to meet up and I will tell you when I will be in town!
Today’s shoutout goes to some close friends of mine. The guys behind ELAFFHQ.comhave emboddied the grassroots effort of creating a fire service community…backwards. Not that there is anything wrong with that! I found it interesting how they created a Facebook Page (albiet a joke at first), then a Twitter account, and finally ended it with a blog of their own. The truest tell of their ability is that they have been able to keep it going for 2 years now. I don’t know the exact timeframe, but most guys pack it up way before 2 years…These guys are still going strong!
Where is Chuck Norris when you need him? Word is that she was talking on the phone about something she was reading on FireCritic.com! Found on the net, not sure if it is a real photo or not.
Their latest post “A New Frontier” talks about getting to 1500 “likes” on their Facebook page and then they are going to start giving away swag. Click here, click “like”, and sit back and see if you win!
FireProductReview.com - Firefighter Product Reviews is online. Right now, we are still working out the glitches and getting all of the previous reviews online. Next, we have a dozen new reviews to complete and publish. The new site allows readers to rate and comment on the products as well! Check it out now: FireProductReview.com
Two Virginia LODD’s – For those of you who don’t know it, I also run VAFireNews.com. This past week, we have had two Line of Duty Deaths.
Can anyone tell me what this "FD" mark is next to the front door. The photo was taken in Florida.
Quick Takes on STATter911.com – Dave Statter always has a pile of news saved up for his Quick Takes he publishes on Monday. Read all the latest news here.
Brotherhood Cuts – We are open for business. This is a very cool event that is kicking off on March 10th in North Carolina. Read more about it here. Brotherhood Cuts is an initiative to support the National Firefighters Endowment. Myself and Willie Wines Jr. are looking forward to more events in the future!
Speaking of National Firefighters Endowment…The first sweepstakes winner from The National Firefighters Endowment is Dan Shuck, firefighter at Williamston Fire Dept. He won a Bail-out bag. Connect with the Endowment on Facebook to see when the next sweepstakes will be!
Leatherhead 109 - Remember when the new buzz going around the Internet was all about better ways to do the job? Better tactics, little nuggets, the tips and tricks. That wasn’t all that long ago. I remember one of the websites that I really took a liking to was “Fire Nuggets”…continue reading Fire Service Writing and Blogging: We were on a roll…
On The Lamb Productions - My cousin died in 9/11 and in his honor I created a super hero called Fireman. A young firefighter with soul of a viking warrior in him. It’s a great story. I just released the first issue last week and I’m looking to sell thousands to bring an awareness of the men and woman that sacrifice their lives for everyone. The first responders. There will be 8 issues in this series and all are filled with suspense and drama. Oh and action.
Legislative Appeal for EMS LODD Benefits – Danny was a paramedic, a cop, and a firefighter. If Danny had been working as a law enforcement officer, his family would have been covered. If Danny had been working as a firefighter, his family would have been covered. Danny died in the line of duty, and the federal government denied his family the Public Safety Officer Benefit to his wife & two children because his employer, Bensalem Rescue Squad, is a non-profit. Read my post here
FireGeezer - MORE THAN 100 MONMOUTH COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS were called to a commercial blaze in downtown Long Branch, New Jersey, Monday mid-day. A large and difficult-to-control fire ripped through a 3-story apartment building and several adjoining businesses. via Fire Geezer – The Digital Dayroom – Firefighting Blog.
FireRescue1.com -Medics’ alleged mistakes in Chicago girl’s death likely to cost $1.75M — Chicago taxpayers will likely spend $1.75 million to compensate the family of a 13-year-old girl who died of bronchial asthma in 2002 after a string of alleged mistakes made by Chicago Fire Department paramedics. via Medics’ alleged mistakes in Chicago girl’s death likely to cost $1.75M.
This is a personal appeal for EMS responders. It is not just for Danny Mac, whom these friends and family set out to help, but for all EMS responders potentially effected by this legislation.
Danny McIntosh died in the line of duty about two years ago. You can read his story here http://dannymac.org/INDEX.html. His wife & kids were denied the $330k federal PSOB death benefit because… he was working for an EMS non-profit. PSOB covers paid & volunteer EMTs, paramedics & firefighters who work for fire department based non-profits, but they deny all claims if it’s an EMS based non-profit. It’s a stupid loophole. The families of several hundred thousand EMTs & paramedics are not be protected by PSOB because of this loophole. The ironic thing about this case is~ Danny was also a firefighter and a sworn law enforcement officer. If he had responded to the same job wearing any of his other uniforms, Bethann, Delaney & Addison would have been covered.
Daniel "Danny Mac" McIntosh
Congressman Mike “the rockstar” Fitzpatrick got wind of the problems of the McIntosh family, and he got personally involved. His staffers worked with Bethann on her appeals, and Mike proposed HR1668 “Danny Mac” to close this stupid loophole. They reached out to their brothers & sisters in Vermont http://www.honoringheroes.com/2011/06/danny-mac-progress-report-2/ Last summer, the bill was stuck in the House Judiciary committee. Some of the staffers who work for the Chairman (Lamar Smith- Texas) had a problem with it, so we went to DC to educate them, and help get this bill passed. They asked their brothers & sisters in Texas to talk to their member of Congress (Lamar Smith) about this issue. They were glad to do it, because there are quite a few EMS non-profits in his district that were affected. http://www.honoringheroes.com/2011/07/mutual-aid-needed-from-texas-for-danny-mac/
Nationally syndicated radio host Michael Smerconish got involved. He broadcasts from Philly, and he has listeners in Austin & San Antonio.
When he learned the truth, Congressman Smith became a supporter of the Danny Mac bill.
They then had to wait until the bill was passed by the House (happened in early 2012). A parallel bill was passed by the Senate (same time). It should have become law- and then a little less than two weeks ago- the wheels came off.
Every time a bill becomes law, the last step is the House & Senate bills go to a Conference Committee. The purpose of this committee is to RECONCILE the two bills. Many times there are subtle differences in the language. In this case, the Conference Committee CHANGED the two bills by pulling all of the “Danny Mac” language out of the bill. They pulled the language 90 minutes before the bill became law! Their arrogance is epic. I’m told that the decision was made by one of the staffers who works for Congressman Mica (Orlando).
I’m told their reason was money. They didn’t want to add to the debt/deficit. I get it. The government is out of control. Guess how much it would cost… the Congressional Budget Office benchmarked it at $10 million dollars over 10 years! That’s a massive 0.00027% of the budget! If they had done their homework and read the bill, they would have learned that it is paid for out of drug seizure money. It actually adds 0.0000000000000% to the debt/deficit. Talk about failing!
One arrogant political-hack staffer violated the will of the people (the bill was passed by both chambers). One arrogant political-hack staffer violated denied Danny’s widow and small children equal protection under the law, and denied them Danny’s death benefit… because he worked for a non-profit. Tricks like this are the reason why Congress’ approval rating never tops 10%. They played by the rules. They used their First Amendment rights and “petitioned our government”. They did it themselves. They didn’t use lobbyists because they couldn’t afford them.. Can you guess how pissed they are?
They are not alone. Congressman Fitzpatrick, Senator Leahy (author of the Senate bill), and Congressman Smith (TX) are going to introduce a stand-alone bill. They need to get the bill passed ASAP because Bethann’s last appeal will be heard in mid-March.
This week~ boots on the ground~ again
They are heading down to DC on Wednesday (Feb. 15th, 2012) to hold Congressman Mica accountable for the actions of his staffer. They (Bucks County PA guys) are being joined by guys from as far away as Vermont & Texas. This is grassroots- set up by guys who knew Danny- to honor his memory and to take care of his family. This isn’t being set-up, sponsored, endorsed, funded, or orchestrated by any lobbyists or national organizations.
They want to make it possible for the stand-alone to be passed before Bethann’s hearing, and to turn survivors’ issues into a political third rail. The plan is to hold Mica accountable in the court of public opinion. It would be a grand-slam if they could get some guys in the Orlando area to show up in front of one of his offices down there- and get the local media to cover it. They are working the networks to see if we can get it done…
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Some of the text above was sent to me by the advocates. Some was edited and added by me.
Brotherhood Cuts is a fund raiser. However, it isn’t just any fund raiser. This is a fund raiser that gives back to the Fire Service. This initiative isn’t masked by some huge plume of smoke disguising the purpose or sending funds somewhere else.
National Firefighters Endowment seeks to support organizations that lack the tools and resources necessary to more effectively protect the life and safety of the public and their emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.
How many departments do you know who “lack the tools and resources…”? Yeah, I think that pretty much covers all of us.
Myself (FireCritic.com) and Captain Willie Wines Jr. (IronFiremen.com) have teamed up with the National Firefighters Endowment…and in fact, the Endowment has teamed up with us as well. They have been very supportive of our ideas for the future.
Brotherhood Cuts is just one of those events.
The first event will be held March 10th (5pm) in Pinnacle, North Carolina at the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department (2964 Shoals Rd Pinnacle, NC 27043) Everyone is welcome to attend. More information here
Special thanks to the Shoals VFD and their members for putting this event on!
There is a Facebook group set up for those participating in the event. Check it out here
The first event is raising money for bail-out kits for firefighters in North Carolina
America’s Fire Captain Willie Wines Jr. is planning on attending this first event. Unfortunately, I will be unable to make it.
Word has it, if enough money is raised…ole Willie is willing to shave that dead squirrel right off his upper lip. I won’t tell you the number, but let us just say it has several zeros in it!
We encourage all those who are attending to raise money for the Endowment. To make raising money a little easier to swallow, we have thrown in some “prizes”.
Prizes:
raise $100 earn a Brotherhood Chip from the Fire Critic and Ironfiremen
raise $250 earn a Shirt from National Firefighters Endowment
raise $750 earn a miniature leather fire helmet collectible from National Firefighters Endowment.
raise $2,500 earn a Phenix TL-2 Leather Fire Helmet
If you would like to start your own “Brotherhood Cuts” event for your department or organization, please let me know or email the National Firefighters Endowment (shane@thethinredline.org)
In May, you will get the first chance to see Dave Statter and I speak under the same roof. Imagine the roof on that building that it can fit our egos in one building. Dave and I have teamed up to present on communications in the digital age. Dave will offer a boring talk on the fun stuff, I will offer a fun talk on the boring stuff. Dave thinks Willie and I are going to pick him up on the way…we are actually going to see if he is able to thumb his way to Ohio!
If we lose the crowd, Willie is going to push me into Dave and we will start a fight…either way it should be one heck of an event!
2012 Leadership Conference in Cherry Valley Lodge in Newark, Ohio
May 23-24, 2012
Presented by the Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation
Dave and I will be presenting “Effective Communications in a Digital Age” on May 23rd. Presented by: Rhett Fleitz and Dave Statter. This all day session will focus on the nuts and bolts of how to use the two most popular social media platforms: Facebook and Twitter. To be effective in communicating today, an organization must use both.
Rhett Fleitz, from FireCritic.com, is a Roanoke, Virginia lieutenant who has been using digital platforms (Internet, social media) in connection with the fire service longer than most anyone. In the fire service for 15 years, Lt. Fleitz is a member of the IAFF and won a 2nd place IAFF Media Award. He is also a published author and blogger with experience helping others start their own blogs and websites. Rhett has done a number of presentations around the country including FDIC, Kean College in New Jersey and most recently at a symposium in Kenton County, Kentucky.
Dave Statter, from STATter911.com, brings his audience fire & EMS news from the Washington, D.C. area, around the country and around the world. He spent 38 years in broadcasting as a television and radio reporter. In his youth he had been a volunteer firefighter, fire department dispatcher and a cardiac rescue technician in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
May 24th:
On May 24th, attendees will get to hear Lt. Steve Robertson (Columbus Ohio Division of Fire) present “Risk vs. Benefit! Critical Decision Making in Firefighter Safety and Survival”. Presented by: Lt. Steve Robertson Columbus Ohio Division of Fire. This course will review incidents where critical decisions were made and how these decisions affected the outcome. Students will also receive valuable tools to make the right decisions in critical situations. The class will also discuss the safety culture within the fire service and how the lack of accountability along with the sense of entitlement is having a detrimental effect on our job. Only WE can reduce line of duty deaths.
Steve Robertson has been in the fire service for 22 years, the last 19 with the Columbus Ohio Division of Fire. He is a state certified Fire Safety instructor and paramedic and a member of the USAR Central Ohio Strike Team. In addition, Steve is an instructor for Rapid Intervention Training and Associates and has taught rapid intervention nationally. Steve currently serves as a Relief Officer in the 1st Battalion
It has me questioning a lot of things. Don’t get that mixed up with me faltering on my convictions…just thinking in retrospect.
I would love to hear what you all have to say. This is a great reason to be connected with The Fire Critic on Facebook! Be sure to click “like” when you visit and share the page with your friends. Comments are always appreciated.
Also, make sure you are reading the “Everyone (Most Recent)” and not just what I post. You will be amazed at what is shared. Feel free to share your stuff as well. Join in on the fun as well.
The main conversation is centered around a topic started by an Australian Firefighter who is seeking some understanding.
Feel free to chime in.
I always appreciate the professional conversation.
Product reviews are in the works. I have about 10 of them to complete. The hold up is the new site. Look for it in a couple of weeks. If you want/need a product review, let me know and I will set it up!
National Firefighters Endowment. The NFE is giving away a bail out kit. You can enter the sweepstakes once per day. It ends Friday! The bail out kit was donated by JB Rescue, Inc. in North Ridgeville, Ohio. Click here to enter. Plus you get 5 entries for every friend who signs up through facebook!
Presenting Dave and I. Dave Statter and I will be presenting in Ohio in May. Dave is already thinking up dreamy names for him and I. Not to worry, I get it a lot. It just never works out for the other guy. They always seem to want to be the bad guy!…I quote
“Come see Superman & Lex Luthor together: Or maybe it’s more like Austin Powers & Dr. Evil. Dave Statter meets Rhett Fleitz. Somehow I ended up on the same bill with THE Fire Critic at the Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference. It is May 23 & 24 in Newark, Ohio. Lt. Steve Robertson from the Columbus Division of Fire will also be at the conference and may end up having to referee. Click here to sign up.”
Petaluma battalion chiefs appear in Chrysler Super Bowl commercial. Two Petaluma Fire Department battalion chiefs appeared in one of the acclaimed Super Bowl Sunday commercials. Phil Sutsos and Jack Schach appeared for about two seconds in Chrysler Group’s “It’s Halftime in America” narrated by Clint Eastwood.
Statter911.com - Must see video of a fast moving fire: See the firefighter starting to run in the picture to the right? There is good reason. Firefighters in Australia had just pulled up on a box truck fire only to see the location of the fire suddenly move to the other side of a busy four lane road. Don’t miss this video.
IronFiremen.com (America’s Fire Captain) just wrapped up a 3 part post about our latest trip to New York City (Haw Dilly). Check them out here, here, and here.
MN8 Products is the leader in illuminating technology for firefighters. They also have a blog where you can keep up with their travels and new products! Check it out here
Firefighter’s Truck Stolen As He Battled Fort Gibson House Fire. A Green Country firefighter is fired up. The firefighter was the victim of a thief while he was out risking his safety on a house fire. When Virgil Walters got in his pickup and headed to the Ft. Gibson fire station for a house fire call, it was like most other calls he’s had during 16 years as a volunteer.
Check out these stories of rescues…Winston-Salem- Firefighters found a 3-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl unconscious at the house on 1809 Trellis Lane, off La Deara Crest Lane near 25th Street. INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Firefighters rescued a man from a house fire Monday afternoon in the 200 block of N. Glenwood in Independence, Mo.
I have a friend, a brother, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). He is a Firefighter & Paramedic in a dual role department. His recent diagnosis was shocking for him to say the least, but he has held his head high. I cannot imagine what he is going through and it shows his strength. He is currently on light duty due to the disease. I admit, I did not know much about the disease until he told me about his diagnosis. He informed me of what he knew about it and I have read up on it a little since then. There is no cure for MS. Also, Multiple Sclerosis is not the same as Muscular Dystrophy.
Image from U.S. National Library of Medicine - The World's Largest Medical Library
I speak with him occasionally about his progress and the disease’s progression. Since his diagnosis, he has been able to begin medication which (from what I understand) will lessen the effects of MS and prolong its progression. He wants to come back to work and when I spoke to him the other day he said he felt great. His medication has helped with the signs and symptoms he was experiencing prior to the diagnosis.
I hope he is capable to return to work. I also hope that if he isn’t able to, our department doesn’t cast him away as they have some of my other brothers who have suffered from ailments (including injuries sustained at work).
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).
It is more common in women than men and commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20-40.
The outcome varies, and is hard to predict. Although the disorder is chronic and incurable, life expectancy can be normal or almost normal. Most people with MS continue to walk and function at work with minimal disability for 20 or more years.
The range of people who are effected by MS is 2-150 out of every 100,000.
I have not been able to find much information on firefighters and/or EMT’s who suffer from the disease and are able to maintain an active duty role in suppression operations. I have found several articles on firefighters able to continue working in a non-suppression role.
I did find this article about Oswego Firefighter/Paramedic Dave Sackett from April 2011.
MS has not changed Sackett’s daily work routine. He completes all trainings, all house duties and all physical tests. However, he is more cautious and refuses to take any risks that put himself, co-workers or patients in danger. read more
I also found a thread on MSWorld.com. the thread started in July of 2010 and has been updated as recently as September 2011. read more
If you have any information, words of wisdom/encouragement, or links to other stories please leave them in the comments section below.
A South Bend Firefighter has been demoted for taking a video of a recent fire with his cell phone.
The report does not state whether or not the “impromptu video” took away from a task the firefighter was completing. When I teach/present on social media, I always remind the guys/gals that they are firefighters, not reporters. They should leave the reporting up to others. I am also a huge proponent of taking pictures of your crew when the job is done.
I wonder at what point this video was taken. Was it really worthy of demotion?
I would also love to see the Facebook Policy for South Bend.
“As far as the punishments, the union doesn’t dole those out, that is an administration thing. Our job is to make sure that it is fair and equitable from member to member,” Kottkamp.
Through documents obtained by ABC 57 News and through close sources with the fire department, that is not the case. Several firefighters have gone unpunished for violating the same Facebook policy, including an instance back in 2010, where a firefighter posted an internal email to his Facebook page, followed by snide remarks. Yet, no action was taking against him.
Back in September, South Bend’s Facebook policy was in the news:
The South Bend Fire Department was supposed to implement a new Facebook policy Today but the local firefighters’ union has stepped in voicing serious concerns over the new social networking policy.
The union says the new policy is violating the firefighters’ First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech. Read more
Best of the Rest is a weekly column aired every Tuesday. If you have something to share, let me know! Our shoutouts (formerly the Monday Morning Shoutout) is now in this column and includes a Facebook fan page, blog or web site, and a Twitter user.
Shoutouts:
Facebook fan page of the week:The Fire Service Warrior – it is about being combat ready in the fire service. Need I say more?
Blog/ web site of the week:S.A.F.E. Firefighter Blog – S.A.F.E. stands for Smart, Aggressive, Fundamental, Efficient.
Twitter user of the week:Greg Friese has been a long time friend of mine who I met through various circles. He stays connected using social media. If you are into social media, EMS, or Education you should follow him. @GFriese
FDNY Rescue 2 MAYDAY Fund – The Fire Critic, IronFiremen.com, and MN8 FoxFire have teamed up to raise money for the Rescue 2 MAYDAY Fund. Read more about it here, here, here, and here. Go Directly to MN8 FoxFire web site to donate/purchase. 50% of purchases go to the fund. 100% of donations go to the fund.
Captain Jeff Bowen
STATter911.com – Dave Statter is out first with this story about what Jay Bettencourt went through in the futile rescue of Jeff Bowen. We are turning STATter911.com over this morning and tomorrow to Firefighter Jay Bettencourt of North Carolina’s Asheville Fire Department. You may recognize Jay’s name from our coverage of the fire on July 28, 2011 at a medical office building at 445 Biltmore Avenue that took the life of Jay’s friend, mentor and captain, Jeff Bowen. Jay was seriously injured in the fire. This is a must read story!
The Fire Service Warrior – Quit Telling Me To Change My Culture. Although this was written a year ago, the post has found some new life being passed around facebook. It is short, sweet, and to the point! Check it out.
Fire Truck Blog - Many of you have been asking for an update on 11-year-old Kyle McGetrick, the Barnegat, New Jersey boy who has been battling cancer for seven years. Jim Duffy, who read about Kyle here on FireTruckBlog.com in December, will have Kyle as a guest tonight on the Internet radio showFireground Strategies & Other Stuff From the Street that Jim does with Deputy Chief Anthony Avillo on Fire Engineering Talk Radio. It starts at 7:30 PM Eastern Time. Here’s the link
Hybrid Medic – Why it’s important to be nice - You as a provider have a fiduciary responsibility, that is, having the characteristics of trust. If you display behavior that is not consistent of being worthy of trust, then the patients will not trust you to deliver the best care and certainly not for their family. This is important in all cases, but even more so in cases that involve poor outcomes, because poor outcomes could equal lawsuits even if you delivered stellar care, simply on the assumption that because you acted poorly that you performed equally as poor.
FireGeezer – Semi wipes out ambulance at accident scene - A TOLEDO, OHIO, AMBULANCE WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED Saturday morning after a tractor-trailer jacknifed and crashed into the unit that was stopped at an accident scene.
FireRescue1 - Zoe Saldana plays real-life hero after Calif. car crash. CULVER CITY, Calif. — A new celebrity hero has joined the ranks of real-life do-gooders. Zoe Saldana jumped to the rescue of an injured elderly woman this week in Culver City, Calif., after witnessing a car accident that left the driver with a scratched and bloodied face.
Surround and drowned in Detroit
This house fire happened on Hawkins Rd. off Hammond Lane in Centreach. No injuries. Great job by Centereach FD with a little help from Selden FD
As the “Best of the Rest” column continues to grow, I have added a Facebook Fan Page of the Week and two Quick Drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com. More regular content to be added in the future. As always, if you have something to share, send it in!
I just got finished watching Food Inc. It left me wondering what the hell I am eating. I shall continue my ways of eating healthier foods. My wife and I eat healthy at home, but I think we shall make the move to organic. I might have puked in my mouth a little when watching the documentary. Read more about it here.
Rescuing Myself – Check out this newer blog that has been online since September 2011.
Now, on to a more serious topic. One of the biggest reasons I am looking forward to being at FDIC, the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb. I signed up today and can honestly say just submitting my information kind of choked me up a little. This will be my first stair climb, hopefully not my last. I will be climbing in honor of Captain Terence Hatton, Res1cue. Read it here
The site is run by Trevor: I’m a 19-year-old second generation fireman. The fire service has always been a big part of my life. I started writing this blog to pass along things I see and feel. Good and bad. I expect no one to take any of this as a gospel, but I expect myself to learn a lot.
Keep up the great work Trevor! I will see you at FDIC.
California High School student devises possible cancer cure - Angela’s idea was to mix cancer medicine in a polymer that would attach to nanoparticles — nanoparticles that would then attach to cancer cells and show up on an MRI. so doctors could see exactly where the tumors are. Then she thought shat if you aimed an infrared light at the tumors to melt the polymer and release the medicine, thus killing the cancer cells while leaving healthy cells completely unharmed. Read it here
Hero Rush – Do you have what it takes to complete? Hero Rush gives you the chance to put your mettle to the test. You’ll run an intense 5k+ race with multiple fire-related obstacles. Climb ladders and slide down poles, crawl through windows and break down doors, scramble through HAZMAT slime and locate trapped victims — but be careful — you might get the fire hoses turned on you! Don’t just play in the mud — be a Hero! Read more here
1st Generation Firefighter- Another blog from Southwest Virginia? Apparently so, although I have no clue who it is. Two posts have been written. We will give them some time to see if they last. Latest post: Experienced Based Training
FireGeezer – The self proclaimed Geezer has a story of a pre-historic tree that burned in Florida. We think at the very least, he is still young at heart! Read it here
Leatherhead 109 - A skilled, attentive fire officer is much like that with his company. Observing, critiquing, suggesting, …disciplining, but all the while remaining a “Brother”. Like a file taking the burrs from an axe blade. What kind of officer are you? Do you “hone” the firemen you lead? Or are you like a grinding wheel, gouging, burning, removing too much steel? Read more here
Backstep Firefighter – Complacency can KILL YOU.Treat every alarm as the real deal… your life as well as the lives of your Brothers and Sisters may very well depend on it. Read more here
Mike Elston and Smitty attended the Pride and Ownership class and expanded on their experience on the 2 House Blog
2 House Blog – A local blog near me talks about the Pride and Ownership class we attended. Read it here
Average Jake FF – Why Aren’t You? The big question I have is WHY AREN’T YOU? Why aren’t you writing articles, reading up, drilling? Why don’t you care? I know putting yourself out there for all to critique can be hard, but for me even if one person comes up and says “I really liked your article” then it was all worth it. Read more here
FireCritic.com – I have written two parts of an in-depth look at Pride and Ownership in relation to my department. Check out part 1 here, and part 2 here.
STATter911.com – Dave Statter typically stays in front of the big news even before Fire Engineering, Fire Rescue1, Firefighter Nation, and Firehouse.com… Check out these articles:
Fire Rescue 1 - Chicago brotherhood embraces fallen NC firefighter’s family. When Fire Capt. Will Caviness of North Carolina died running the Chicago Marathon, the brotherhood of firefighters took care of his family. Read it here
Firefighter Nation- Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship Halted. Costa Concordia ran into a reef Friday night and capsized into the port area of Giglio. Read it here.
Fire Engineering – Ray McCormack asks if the fire service should have an Annual Attack Certification for Firefighters. My biggest question is: Would there be a Volunteer Certification and a Career Certification? Read it here
Firehouse.com - Study Finds Firefighters Have Higher Rates Of Obesity Than Public. This is just embarrassing. Hey LAZY ASSES, get off your asses and do something about this. Talk about black eye for the fire service… NO EXCUSES. Read it here
Kenneth Michael Hedrick is remembered with a service 20 years after his death in the Line of Duty. Watch it below. Another perfect example of Never Forgetting.
Here is a decent video showing a complicated, involved, and presumably very well choreographed rescue of a woman and her two daughters. The three family members were rescued, ages 36,10, and 10 months. The driver of the semi died in the collision. The incident happened in Buellton, California.
The amazing part of this rescue is that the vehicle was teetering on the side of a bridge 100 feet above the ground. Seriously, watch the video to see the site.
This, my friends, is what it is all about. Training, diligence, determination, experience, knowledge, and teamwork.
I listened to Chief Rick Lasky’s “Pride and Ownership” today. I am pumped. If you have not heard it, you are missing out.
Check out this video about a brand new technology being developed by Tanagram Inc. They are developing Headmounted display (HMD) Augmented Reality (AR) technology. Yeah, I know…what the hell does that mean? Watch the video!
In my words: Think of it as fighting fire with the same types of heads up displays you have when you play Modern Warfare. That description probably sucks, watch the video and you will see what I mean. I just wonder how many fires you have to fight before you get to PRESTIGE!
Apparently this has been under development for a little while. Check out Tanagram’s site for more news and videos created last year about the technology. It seems as though we might be a little closer to seeing this stuff be available though.
The big question….will our fire departments be able to afford it?
Maybe they will pick The Fire Critic to do a product review and testing! I can hope, can’t I?
This technology is being developed for the military and public safety in mind.
From their site:
Tanagram, under a grant provided by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), developed a phase-zero self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) enhancement that leverages HMD / AR technology to display critical factors all-the-while not obscuring the firefighter’s field of view. Dubbed Helmet with Embedded Active Display for Emergency Responders or HEADER, our concept vision was researched with participation from the Champaign, IL Fire Department. (We even sent a few people to firefighter training!) In our literature review, we found little research has been done with regards to embedded, mixed media (augmented reality) display technology that focuses on unobtrusiveness and consumer acceptance (our fancy word for user friendly). Because of this we are sharing our work with you in hopes that it sparks a conversation that will be very relevant, very soon.
Reminder: if you want to be included in the “Best of the Rest” just let me know!
Check out this Facebook page:J5 Firelids…this one is new to me. However, if you are in the market to customize your helmet these guys offer custom inserts for your helmet. They offer handcrafted professional accessories created by a firefighter for firefighters since 2008.
If you are looking for a decent example of how to build your community on facebook, check out MN8 Products Facebook Page. They are currently at over 11,000 fans! It is all about communication and building a buzz!
CharlotteObserver.com: Off-duty rookie firefighter alerts couple in burning home - As house fires go, the one early New Year’s Day wasn’t a doozy, but for rookie firefighter Henry Calle it was a big one. Calle, who is 24, had just finished his 24-hour shift at Station 31 on Ridge Road and was heading home with his car windows down. As he passed a small white-frame house on MallardCreek Road, he caught a whiff of smoke. Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw the smoke, pouring from the attic. Read more here
Chad Ochocinco got a reply from @FireCritic on Facebook. I am sure he cherished it and blogged about it!
Ochocinco offering condolences to the family and friends of Peabody FD's Firefighter James Rice.
Chad Ochocinco on Twitter – I have been sitting on this story waiting for the right time to bring it up. I thought it was kinda neat that Chad Ochocinco mentioned the Peabody LODD on Twitter. Ochocinco has over 3 million followers on twitter. It is great to see someone with his celebrity offering condolences for one of our fallen. Follow Ochocinco on Twitter @Ochocinco
TheTailboard.com – Written by Teague Kenny. Read an article on the DCFD..err FEMS…err DCFEMS, or whatever they didn’t agree on…Let’s Hear it for the D.C. FEMS!
The Fire Critic Product Reviews: You might have seen my brand new helmet adorned with a custom shield from Box Alarm Leather. I am working on a product review for the shield now. Soon I will be wearing custom leather suspenders from Wolfpak LeatherWorks (only seen on Facebook, but a web site is in the works). I currently am wearing Overhaul Logo Nylon Suspenders from Black Helmet (review coming soon). There are so many great firefighter owned and operated companies out there. Be sure to hook up with Fire Critic on Facebook and let us know your favorites! I also have two book reviews coming soon. I just finished the books.
Brotherhood Instructors – Speaking of reviews, the Brotherhood Instructors offer a review of the Bam Bam Tool. Read about it here
Shortage of volunteer firefighters - WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) – They’re experts at putting out flames, but now they’re fighting something else. ”There is just not the interest there used to be out there,” says Washington Township Fire Chief William Gaul. Over the last decade Washington Township has seen a dip in volunteer firefighters. Continue reading
FireRescue1.com – The Domino Effect, a FireRescue1.com blog by Mark van der Feyst offers this one. Handicap firefighting: Water source issues - Whenever we respond to structure fire, having access to, securing water source is vital component of overall fireground operation
Quick Takes on STATter911.com – Dave Statter offers his usual rundown every Monday of his biggest stories from the week prior as well as some other goodies that don’t require a separate article. This is always a great stop every Monday to see what is going on in the World of Fire. Check out Quick Takes for January 9, 2012
FireGeezer – Do you need more fire news? Check out the News Ticker over at FireGeezer.com. Read it here
And finally, I will let you all be the critics! What issues do you see in the video below? It doesn’t matter what department it is…just take a look and discuss how things might have been done better. Is that a red (booster) line?
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