Archives for dave-statter

I am getting back into the swing of things after FDIC. The feedback from our trip has been outstanding. It was great meeting so many Brothers in Indianapolis. We cannot wait until next year.

Daily911Deals.com currently has 3 deals going on. Check them all out here. One of those deals includes the Fire Critic/IronFiremen challenge coin. You won’t be able to get it this cheap for long! Be sure to “like” Daily911Deals.com on Facebook too!

Shoutout – Fully Involved

Fully Involved – Thoughts on Coaching, Leadership, and the Fire Service

Written by Mark VonAppen

Must read post “Stay Hungry”

The keys to success in this venture are strong station leadership and core chemistry. Strong core leadership ensures that the role players fall in step and comply with the program. Without strong leadership in the station the new faces – recruits – can easily slide into bad and potentially lethal habits. You don’t have to have a title to be a leader, you can lead up, down or sideways. Show your fellow firefighters how to be a positive influence from anywhere in the department even if the positional leaders are unwilling or incapable of supporting your efforts.

Training – This is MY Ladder

This is my Ladder. Written by Brian Brush and found on Fire Service Warrior. I can’t quite do this post justice in a short synopsis…read the post and I guarantee you will learn something new. Unless of course you have already read it, or you are Brian Brush who wrote it.

Speaking of ladders, have you checked out the Ladder Pride available through Firehouse Pride?

Random Tweet of the Week

Some of us have more than one. Don't worry, we have poor grammar too! #nojoke

News and Opinion

NFFF 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Events. Two events have already been held. Be sure to take part in your first, or another climb this year!

Ride Out Comic is plugging away with fresh new content. Check out their latest to the right. Be sure to check out their web site and follow them on Facebook as well!

Firefighter Dan. For all of you fire safety and education specialists out there, Firefighter Dan is up and running and moving right along. He has added video/lesson #5 to his site via Youtube. Check it out and learn more about Firefighter Dan (web site/Facebook)

20 Questions with Christopher Brennan of Fire Service Warrior. In case you missed this brand new column here on The Fire Critic, be sure to check it out!

IronsandLadders.com is revisiting the past. They are gearing up for a bunch of new material, but want to share some of their favorites and most popular stories from the past. Read it here!

Dave Statter and I to speak in Ohio May 23rd. Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference. We cover various aspects of social media and the fire service. Join us in Newark, Ohio for May 23 & 24. Click here to sign up.

Captain Willie Wines Jr. and I will be touring South Dakota and ending up at the South Dakota Firefighters Benefit on September 15th. We will get some mic time at the event, but mostly want to meet South Dakota’s Bravest. Anyone and Everyone is invited. This will be the place to be if you are a firefighter in South Dakota, North Dakota, West Dakota, East Dakota, or ~~Mexico~~…err whatever is south of South Dakota. We will be traveling from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in a Spartan ERV apparatus and stopping by firehouses along the way. More info: SDFirefighters.com

National Firefighters Endowment

The National Firefighters Endowment is accepting video submissions for a grant process currently underway. Simply create a video, upload it to Youtube, and your department could be the recipient of a $5,000-$6,000 grant from the Endowment. More information here including some tips on creating a decent video submission. Also catch up with the Endowment on Facebook!

Here are some other must read articles:

Unfortunately, I was unable to make it to Hero Rush (web site/Facebook) this past weekend. I had every intention of participating alongside of my wife, but there were too many obstacles in our own lives that we couldn’t make it. She is nursing a sprained ankle above all the other things going on, so she couldn’t have done it even if we made it there. It appears as though Hero Rush was a huge success. I haven’t heard from anyone who completed it, but I am sure there were many there who had a blast. For those of you who didn’t make it, check out the video below.

Finally, I will leave you with a pretty decent prank…

Posted by The Fire Critic on May 2, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Daily911Deals, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Humor, News, Videos • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Facebook, Fire Critic, Fire Department, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, Humor, IronFiremen.com, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

Best of the Rest – FDIC Wrapup, Bloggers at FDIC, Squirrel Pager Reports, and more!

1 comment

FDIC was a blast. I will probably write some more about our week there in the next couple of days. Someone mentioned to me that the fire blogs were quiet with so many of us at FDIC…I think I am making up for that now.

Willie and I can’t stress enough how much fun we had (even though he is sick as hell still). We always enjoy meeting up with our friends and meeting others for the first time.

As always, there is more posted on The Fire Critic Facebook page as well as on Twitter @FireCritic. Be sure to check it out!

My friend Andrew Catron snagged this picture at the beginning of the FOOLS Brotherhood Bash at FDIC. That is my helmet with a special run MN8 FoxFire band. It was given to all who climbed at Greenbelt, MD 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Great Pic

Shoutouts

Here are some recent posts about FDIC:

Add any other links to the comments and I will update

Some other blog authors we ran into:

Sorry if I left any out

Random Tweet of the Week

News and Opinion

Dave Statter and I will be speaking in Newark, Ohio on May 23-24. Be there! The gloves are coming off…just kidding, we are speaking not fighting. Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference. We cover various aspects of social media and the fire service. Join us in Newark, Ohio for May 23 & 24. Click here to sign up.

Captain Wines and I will be in South Dakota in September for a brand new event that promises to be a great one. Check out more on SDFirefighters.com. Wines and I will be speaking and having a great time with everyone else. That isn’t all though. We are actually going to tour South Dakota from Rapid City to Sioux Falls in a Spartan ERV fire engine. Yeah, that is how we roll! SDFirefighters.com

STATter911.com – Death Race 2010 and 2012…I think my chevy could hang!

FireRescue1.com – Practical PPE by Mike McKenna. Firefighter turnouts: Does color impact safety? The visibility of department members the fireground and on the roadways is critical to reduce the risk of injuries

FireGeezer.com – ~~The Fashion Police~~ err FireGeezer has a story about a cutie who headbutted his mom and burned her house down. Read more

Firefighter Nation.com - Massachusetts Firefighters Battle Six-Alarm Fire. Six neighboring departments responded to the Marlborough condo fire.

FireEngineering.com - Grant Awarded to Detroit Fire After Premiere of Documentary Film. Read more

Last I will leave you with this video of a house fire in a small single family dwelling. There is certainly some work being done, it just seems they are having trouble finding the seat of the fire.

Posted by The Fire Critic on April 24, 2012 • Filed under: Best of the Rest, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Videos • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Facebook, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, Fireground Video, House Fire, House Fire Video, IronFiremen.com, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

FDIC Wrapup Part III – The People We Met

No comments

Wrapup part I is here, Part II is here, and Willie wrote a bit on FDIC here

Willie and I stuck out like sore thumbs…We rocked Alt Kilt custom kilts, our helmets with custom Box Alarm Leather helmet fronts, and MN8 shirts. It was a marketing idea we thought up and it worked!

Many knew who we were, the others were trying to figure us out. Willie and I were overwhelmed (to put it mildly) at the FOOLS Bash by how many of you guys found us (wasn’t that hard was it). That made it very easy to meet so many people and put faces with the names!

First of all an apology…

Kris Mola of the Remembrance Rescue Project

We met so many people, many who we knew from the blogs or Facebook, or Twitter but had never met. We apologize we didn’t have more time to catch up. We hope you guys understand that there was just so much going on at the show and the events we attended that it was not our intention to leave any of you hanging.

Be sure to check out the photos below. Also check out Facebook for more and tag yourself if you are in them.

Fire Critic Facebook Page

Second of all, thanks to Zach Green of MN8 FoxFire for having us in their booth. It is always a pleasure! We had a blast hanging out with your entire crew!

Some of the people we met or ran into again are included in the photos below. I apologize if I left you out or forgot your name. Others include: Average Jake Firefighters Robbie Owens, Danny Owens, and Ed Owens, Jeff Harkey of Daily911Deals.com, John Shafer, Michael Smith, Jason Jefferies, Jonah Smith, April Saling, Russell Stine, Tony Mack of The Bowring, Nick Langerock and Gary Lembcke at Spartan ERV, Chris Wilson of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, The crew of Black Helmet, Bill Carey, Stefan Svensson, The crew at Fire Rescue Magazine, Mike Ward, Greg Guise, Mike Brooks, Clayton Kovats, Chad Watson of TRA-FX, Sterling Wright, Doug Pierson, The guys of DetroitFireFilm.org, Jay Martinez of the Spartan Shield light, Mickey Milam of HelpTheGoodGuys.com, Chris Huston of Everyone Goes Home, Matthew Smith of Kovenex Fabrics, Rory Blanchard and the rest of the crew at Remembrance Rescue Project, Chris Moren of “The Pig”, Timothy McCloskey and Joe Brown of Firehouse Pride, Tim Landingham of PacMule, The crew of Glove Crafters and many more!

: Christopher Naum

: Reid Black

: Beau Doss

: Nik and Ron of FatIvan

: Paul Hummel

: Sean Doney

: Jeff Schwering

: A bunch of great ladies at the Tilted Kilt

: Garrett Rice

: The Jaegermeister Girls and Austin Simpson and Lance Bellamy and Jared Lindholm and Andrew Catron at The Wild Beaver

: The Virginia Crew at FDIC including Tim Estes Brandon Roark and Steven Burke

: Scott Wieson

: Brian Bailie

: The crew of MN8 FoxFire Debbie and Amy and Kelly

: Brett Miller

: Dave Statter

: Andrew Catron

: The whole crew from MN8 at the booth

: Trevor Bertram

: Chris Wilson and Dave Statter

: Brian Brush Jared Lindholm and Andrew Catron

: Clark Mackey

: Two of the Firefighter Models from Firehouse Dolls at the Fools Bash

: Liza Fleites

: Andy Fossum At the Fools Bash

: Kim Fitzsimmons

: WD Patterson

: Johnathon Paholke

: Ray McCormack

: Jonah Smith

: Anthony and Jim from American Military University

: Sonny O'Connor

: mariachi band

: Bobby Conley

: Stephanie Goddard and Lauren

: Joe Lyons

: Our server at the Tilted Kilt

: Mike Elston and Andrew Catron

: Christopher Brennan and Mariah Leavitt

: Kris Mola of the Remembrance Rescue Project

: Paul Hasenmeier

: I have no clue who these women are with but they wanted their pictures with us

: Kris Kaull from FireRescue1.com

: Troy Maness

Posted by The Fire Critic on April 23, 2012 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News • Tagged: American Military University, Andrew Catron, Andy Fossum, Anthony Mangeri, April Saling, Beau Doss, Bill Carey, Black Helmet Apparel, Brett Miller, Brian Bailie, Brian Brush, Chad Watson, Chris Huston, Chris Moren, Chris Wilson, Christopher Brennan, Christopher Naum, Clark Mackey, Clayton Kovats, Dave Statter, DetroitFireFilm.org, Doug Pierson, Dr. Stefan Svensson, EveryoneGoesHome.com, FatIvan, Fire Rescue Magazine, Fire Service Warrior, FireEMSBlogs.com, Firefighter Cancer Support Network, Firehouse Pride, Garrett Rice, Gary Lembcke, Glove Crafters, Greg Guise, HelpTheGoodGuys.com, Jared Lindholm, Jay Martinez, Jeff Schwering, Joe Brown, Joe Lyons, John Shafer, Johnathan Paholke, Jonah Smith, Kim Fitzsimmons, Kovenex, Kris Kaull, Kris Mola, Matthew Smith, Michael Smith, Mickey Milam, Mike Brooks, Mike Elston, Mike Ward, MN8 FoxFire, Nick Langerock, Pac Mule, Paul Hasenmeier, Paul Hummel, Ray McCormack, Reid Black, Remembrance Rescue Project, Rory Blanchard, Russell Stine, Scott Wieson, Sean Doney, Sonny O'Connor, Spartan ERV, Spartan Shield Light, Sterling Wright, The Pig, Tim Landingham, TRA-FX, Trevor Bertram, Troy Maness, WD Patterson

Back From Aruba

No comments

Last week I was on vacation. Let me tell you, Aruba was awesome! I left the computer at home and simply traveled with the tablet. I did not do much but occasionally check my email. Do you blame me? I will be posting more pictures and some info on Aruba’s Brandweer (Fire Department) soon!

I bet you never thought I could go without a computer for 1 whole week…me either!

Here is the part that sucks…I have a ton of emails to go through. I figure I will go through about a thousand to find the 10 actual emails (the rest being spam or auto emails I rarely read). Then I have to get back into the swing of things. In addition to that, the kids are on spring break this week. I am spending time with them. We have planned several events. Oh, and my niece is hanging out with us this week as well. Needless to say, I have my hands full of kids and fun…so you still won’t see much from me until next week.

What also sucks is the news of the Tennessee LODD and two Philly LODD’s. Godspeed Brothers.

The view from our room

And we all know what next week is….FDIC! That’s right. Willie Wines Jr., Mike Elston, Andrew Catron and I are driving up Wednesday through Sunday. We cannot wait. I will be posting our itinerary this week sometime! We will have patches, challenge coins, brotherhood chips, and maybe some other stuff to hand out! Be sure to hit us up early…we aren’t bringing 30k of them!

Hero Rush is on April 28th in Maryland…I am still not entirely sure if my wife and I will make it. We will see.

Also on the horizon are two large events…

People occasionally ask what they need to do to get Willie and I to speak at an event, or Dave and I to present on social media…the answer is simple – contact us. If we need to submit a proposal, we can do it. Just let us know! We enjoy traveling and speaking!

May

In May, I am speaking with Dave Statter and others 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. Click here to sign up.

September

Announcing the South Dakota Firefighter Benefit. Willie and I will be speaking at the event September 15th. This brand new event was thought up, planned, and is being executed by Bob Gard. Let me just tell you now, this is going to be ONE HELLUVA GOOD TIME! From the event, to the auction items, to the give away stuff, to everything else…it is going to be fun! Willie and I will actually be in town early and travelling across the state IN A CRIMSON FIRE TRUCK visiting stations and meeting South Dakota’s Bravest!

The SD Firefighter Benefit was created to bring firefighters from across the state together to raise money for organizations that are solely funded by donations, and work to better the fire service. This year we have selected the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation find out more about this organization at www.firehero.org, the second organization is The National Firefighter Endowment find out more herewww.thethinredline.org.

Are any of you on Pinterest? Check out the Fire Critic on Pinterest here. I know what some of you are saying….ha look at that, FC is on pinterest…ha ha ha. I get it, trust me I do. I deserve it too! However, in an attempt to ensure I at least understand most social media platforms, I finally decided to take a look. What was most interesting was at the 2-3 dozen images that had already been shared on Pinterest from FireCritic.com! Very cool!

Ok, that is a short update. I will be progressing through emails and getting caught up in about 4 weeks I imagine!

I have a lot more stuff to share. A package arrived from Bob Gard (see above), Firehouse Pride, and Axe…more on those in a later post!

Posted by The Fire Critic on April 9, 2012 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News • Tagged: Aruba, Aruba Brandweer, Aruba Fire Department, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, IronFiremen.com, Pinterest, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Willie Wines Jr.

Best of the Rest – Hero Rush, FDIC, Quick Drills, and More!

1 comment

I am gearing up for FDIC as many of my friends are as well. This year, Willie and I will be traveling with Mike Elston (Salem FD), and Andrew Catron (Kingsport FD). We look forward to many of the events. I will be posting our itinerary soon to let you all know where we will be.

My wife and I are planning on doing the Hero Rush in Maryland on April 28th. We just need to solidify someone to watch our children. We have a wedding to attend that evening in Norther Virginia as well.

Hopefully, Willie and I will have the patches and challenge coins by FDIC. The patches should be here later this week. We will let you know how to get yours soon! The patches were made by NM Coin LLC.

The pic on the right is our new patch!

This weeks “Best of the Rest” is a little short. Today, I decided to ride my bike (as in bicycle) to the gym and back. Did I mention it was “leg” day at the gym which is about an 8 mile ride one way. It was fun though!

Shoutout: Hero Rush

Web site: Hero Rush

Facebook: Facebook.com/herorush

Twitter: @HeroRush

An obstacle race & experience created by firefighters.

Quick Drills

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

Random Tweet of the Week

News and Opinion

VAFireNews.com: Help VAFireNews.com spread the word about the Gore VFD needing a tanker. They are in desperate need of a donated tanker after they lost theirs in a wreck that claimed the life of one of their firefighters. Read more here and help by sharing on Facebook!

FireGeezer.com celebrates 5 years as a blog. He also has some stats, like over 12,000 posts! That is an achievement! Read more here

Fire Critic Chicken Salad: You guys asked for it…Here is the recipe that my guys love at the firehouse. Ok, maybe they like more, but this is one of them. Check out the recipe here.

FireLawBlog.com has the update on a local story for The Fire Critic. A lawsuit was dismissed by the judge in the case of a firefighter supposedly having sex in a station. The latest lawsuit alleged sex discrimination against Dennis Croft. Read more here

Boron Extrication continues to teach us about vehicles…and what we need to know to keep us safe!

Backstep Firefighter offers some insight and a few links on Transitional Attack. Read more here

STATter911.com originally shared this bit below of two firefighters trying to occupy the same space while heading to an alarm.

Posted by The Fire Critic on March 27, 2012 • Filed under: Best of the Rest, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Humor, News, Videos • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, Facebook, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, FireGeezer, Humor, IronFiremen.com, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

Your Winners – The 2012 Fire & EMS Blogs of the Year

9 comments

Congratulations to the following blogs for being named the 2012 Blogs of the Year!

Reader’s Choice Fire Blog of the Year: STATter 911

Judge’s Choice Fire Blog of the Year: Backstep Firefighter

Reader’s Choice EMS Blog of the Year: Insomniac Medic

Judge’s Choice EMS Blog of the Year: EMS 12 lead

After weeks of nominations, voting, and judging…the blogs above beat out all the rest!

Special thanks to our Judges

Hosted by EMS1, FireRescue1 and FireCritic.com, and sponsored by the American Military University, this contest has the goal of finding the best bloggers in the EMS and fire industries.

Below you will find all of the nominated blogs…The ones in bold were the ten finalists for voting. The ones bold and italic were finalists for the judges. The remaining nominated blogs are below that in no particular order.

You should definitly check through the list to see the blogs. You might find one you had never read.

Fire Blogs Shortlist for Voting and Judges

EMS Blogs Shortlist for Voting and Judges

The Rest of the Nominated Blogs:

Posted by The Fire Critic on March 23, 2012 • Filed under: Blog of the Year, Contests, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News • Tagged: 2012 Blog of the Year, Blog of the Year, Blog of the Year Contest, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, EMS Blog of the Year, EMT, Facebook, FDNY, Fire, Fire Blog of the Year, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, Fire/EMS Blog of the Year, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, IronFiremen.com, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Willie Wines Jr.

Best of the Rest – Blog of the Year Voting, Firefighter Nation, Mahlon Mitchell, LODD, SAFER, and More!

No comments

Voting ends tomorrow for the 2012 Blog of the Year contest. Hosted by EMS1, FireRescue1 and FireCritic.com, and sponsored by the American Military University. There are some great blogs on the ballot in both Fire and EMS categories! There were almost 400 nominations for 55 blogs.

Vote for your favorite Fire Blog here

Vote for your favorite EMS Blog here

Dave Statter is the one on the right. He said he wouldn't be caught dead in red!

I have to admit something readers…I have been wrong. All this time I have stuck with my story that Dave Statter was NEVER a firefighter. Part of the reason for my inability to think that he could ever have been one of us is because I couldn’t find a department who would claim him. Until this week. The funny thing is that Dave was the first to break the story. Any department who fights fire in drag would have allowed Dave to join their ranks. Here’s to you Sedan Fire Department in Minnesota! Read more here

St. Patrick’s Day 2012 is behind us. I had fun hanging out with the family. We made it to downtown Roanoke after the parade was over because my son had two lacrosse games to play in. It was the first parade I have missed in several years. According to facebook updates, everyone seemed to have a lot of fun at their respective events!

Shoutout: Firefighter Nation

Web site: Firefighter Nation

Facebook: Facebook.com/firefighternation

Twitter: @FireNation

Think of it as Facebook for Firefighters. The site is a social networking site that allows members to join and share videos, photos, thoughts, ideas, blogs, recipes, etc….etc. Get in on the fun now!

Quick Drills

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

Random Tweet of the Week

I think we can all relate to this with some of our officers!

News and Opinion

Mahlon Mitchell. photo source http://bloggingblue.com

Mahlon Mitchell is running for Lieutenant Governor in Wisconsin in a run-off election. He is a firefighter and fed up with the way they have been treated. He is trying to make a difference. http://mahlonmitchell.com/

Mahlon Mitchell was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin. He now lives with his wife, April and two children, Sie’anna and Karson, in Fitchburg.

Mahlon followed in his older brother’s footsteps when he became a fire fighter in Madison fifteen years ago. His two brothers are fire fighters in Atlanta and St. Paul. These careers came out of a family that instilled values of service and working for others.

FireGeezer.com – Mike “FossilMedic” Ward is seeking to get a road named after FireGeezer.com. Apparently everything is for sale in Virginia! Read more here

Officer.com – In Arkansas, a firefighter is killed and a police officer and firefighter in critical condition after a motorist hit them at an accident scene. Read more

FirefighterNation.com – Be on the lookout for this trailer which was stolen from Lexington (KY?). See the information here

Also on FFN is IAFF: Romney Opposes SAFER and FIRE Act Grant Programs. Most of my friends are republicans….they don’t care about stuff like this

Cincinnati.com – Speaking about SAFER…Cincinnati wants $6 million to hire firefighters. City Wants $6m To Hire 40 Firefighters; Staffing Down To 770

VAFireNews.com has the story on a 54 y.o. Norfolk Firefighter who died at the firehouse. Read more here

Firehouse.com – An off-duty Massachusetts firefighter is being hailed as a hero after saving a family from a fire. Read more here

Video below shows how two firefighters are lucky to be alive after their tanker rolled over. This happened in Madison County, MS. WATCH THE VIDEO to see the destruction the firefighters lived through!

Posted by The Fire Critic on March 20, 2012 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, In the Line of Duty, News, Videos • Tagged: central Minnesota, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Fire, Firefighter, firefighters in drag, firefighters in dresses, Firefighting, Fires, FossilMedic, Innovation and Research, Liz Essley, Mahlon Mitchell, Minnesota, name a road, Padua Parade, Paramedic, Sauk Centre, Sedan, Sedan Fire Department, STATter911.com, VDOT, Washington Examiner

Best of the Rest – Alt Kilt, MN8 Contest, Boston Fire Gear, Random Tweet of the Week and Much More!

3 comments

New addition to “Best of the Rest” is the “Random Tweet of the Week”! Scroll down to see this one.

Willie and I are getting geared up for more traveling in 2012. We are looking forward to hanging out with the MN8 FoxFire team at FDIC. In September, Bob Gard is planning one helluva a good time in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. If you are anywhere in the vicinity you will want to be at this event. Willie and I will be speaking, and there will be plenty of other stuff going on as well! We will post more information soon.

In May, Dave Statter and I are presenting in Ohio at the Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference…Dave has been looking forward to this to some time. He gets to share the stage with his ~~hero~~ err idol (ME). Join us in Newark, Ohio for May 23 & 24.Click here to sign up

If you want to have Willie and I, or Dave and I, or all three of us speak at an event near you just let us know! FireCritic@FireCritic.com

Be sure to check out Fire Critic on Facebook and Click “LIKE”!

Voting for the 2012 Blog of the Year Contest, hosted by EMS1, FireRescue1 and FireCritic.com, and sponsored by the American Military University, will begin tomorrow (March 14th). There are some great blogs on the ballot in both Fire and EMS categories! There were almost 400 nominations for 55 blogs.

AltKilt.com

Shoutout – Alt.Kilt

Web Site: http://www.altkilt.com/

Facebook: Like them on Facebook: lt.Kilt

Twitter: @Alt_Kilt

Our purpose is to provide functional, stylish and well-made kilts that are individually designed and handmade custom for each client.

Alt.Kilt is making Willie Wines Jr. and I custom kilts. Hopefully, we will be wearing them at FDIC!

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 – Willie Wines Jr. has an update from this past weekends inaugural “Brotherhood Cuts” fundraiser. The event raised around $2400 for local departments.

I visited the Shoals Volunteer Fire Department. I was there for the 1st ever Brotherhood Cuts Event.

“Brotherhood Cuts” is a fund raising event specifically designed for the fire service. It raises money through the National Firefighters Endowment who in turn, provides much needed funds and equipment to Departments in need all across the Country. Read more here

BostonFireGear.com

MN8 FoxFire is looking for your designs…and you could win!: MN8 Foxfire, you know…the photoilluminscent company, wants your help designing their new shirt! The new shirt will feature the MN8 FoxFire logo on the front and your design on the back. The winner will recieve a $100 MN8 FoxFire credit and a t-shirt. The winning design will be available at FDIC. Check out details of the contest.

There might be a FireCritic/IronFiremen/MN8FoxFire shirt in the near future!

Boston Fire Gear: I just got my St. Patrick’s Day long sleeve t-shirt today from Boston Fire Gear. I love Boston, St. Patrick’s day is one of my favorite ~~days to drink~~ holidays, and as a good friend of mine told me yesterday…that is where Irish people are from! NICE! Get your Boston Fire Gear here

STATter911.com: Dave “The Investigator and UL Tester” Statter is at it again with the vinyl siding. This time, two houses go up in Loudoun County…in broad daylight. Check out the pre-arrival video and Dave’s investigative reporting here.

4 Factor "Thin Red Line" Door Chock

4Factor: Matthew Ritter, one half of the now known writers at ELAFFHQ.com, has branched out. Welcome 4Factor to the mix. Right now they are offering hand painted “Thin Red Line” door chocks. Check out the site here. Like them on Facebook here. I haven’t got my hands on one yet…but I will soon. They retail for $4….however read below.

**Current donations, for EACH wedge purchased , are going to Team ELAFFHQ.com bucket brigade for the National Firefighters Endowment! What this means to you is as follows: For EACH wedge you purchase, we make a donation to the bucket brigade in YOUR name. Each donation in YOUR name enters you into a DRAWING for a Phenix TL-2 Leather Fire Helmet! The more wedges you purchase, the better your odds in winning that helmet! Good luck Brother and Sister Firefighters!

FDNY Supports World Record Attempt: A SCARBOROUGH firefighter’s plans to enter the world record books are gathering pace as his fundraising challenge gets the green light in New York. Justin Rowe, who lives in Scarborough and is watch manager at Malton Fire Station, is planning to run to every ﬁre house in New York in seven days. He will be joined in the challenge by Ryedale station manager Andrew Blades, Whitby station manager Mark Naylor and York ﬁreﬁghter Terrence Gregg. Read more here

FireRescue1.com: Are cellphones that important? Worth your life? FireRescue1.com has the story of a woman rescued from a trash compactor after trying to retrieve here cellphone she accidentally threw away. Read about it here

Magnesium Fire in Bellevue, Ohio

Magnesium Fire in Bellevue, Ohio: FireGeezer.com has this story which hits close to home for The Fire Critic. My Mother’s side of the family lives in Bellevue including my Grandparents. I was just up there for a short visit not too long ago. Paul Hasenmeier shared this photo to the right from miles away.

A MAGNESIUM FIRE PRESENTED THE BELLEVUE, OHIO, firefighters with an unusual challenge Tuesday morning when they responded to the MagReTech factory across the road from the Bellevue Hospital. Read more here

Random Tweet of the Week

Follow @FireCritic on twitter for more news 24/7!

Posted by The Fire Critic on March 13, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Major Incidents, News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: 4 Factor, 4Factor.co, Alt Kilt, AltKilt.com, Bellevue, Bellevue Fire Department, Boston Fire Gear, BostonFireGear.com, Building Construction, building lobby, built to burn, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, Facebook, FDIC, FDNY, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighter Kilts, Firefighting, Fireground Video, Fires, Haz-mat, HazMat, home builders, homebuilders, House Fire, House Fire Video, Humor, IronFiremen.com, Kilts, Lightweight Construction, lobbyists, Loudoun County Fire, Loudoun County Fire & Rescue, McMansions, MN8 FoxFire, MN8 FoxFire Products, Mn8 Products, Ohio, Paramedic, Random Tweet of the Day, Residential Sprinklers, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, South Riding, STATter911.com, Tweet, Twitter, Video, Videos, Willie Wines Jr.

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

No comments

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.

Posted by The Fire Critic on March 7, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, News, Videos • Tagged: Best of the Rest, Brotherhood Cuts, Chief Ellerbe, Chief Kenneth Ellerbe, Conshohocken Pennsylvania, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, DC, DC Fire, DC Fire & EMS Department, DCFD, Denis Leary, District of Columbia, ELAFFHQ.com, Ellerbe, EMT, FEMS, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, Florida, Hale pumps, harassment, In the Line of Duty, IronFiremen.com, Kenneth Ellerbe, Matt Ritter, Mayor Gray, Mayor VIncent Gray, Nationa's Capital, Paramedic, personnel file, Pete Sultzer, Pete Sulzer, Phil Mendelson, Rescue Me, Rhett Fleitz, Sarasota County, Sarasota County Fire, Sarasota Fire, sexual harassment, Social Media, STATter911.com, Video, Vincent Gray, Washington, Willie Wines Jr., Wolfpak Leatherworks

Best of the Rest – Shaved Heads, Daytona 500 Fire, The Bowring, The Hose Jockey, and a Great Article to Read

No comments

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.

Shoutout – FireProductReview.com

Web Site: FireProductReview.com

Facebook: Firefighter Product Review

Twitter: @FireReviews1

The Bowring Tool

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.

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

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

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 28, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, News, Videos • Tagged: Bethpage Fire Department, Buies Creek Fire Department, caution, Cheryl McClary, collision, crash, Dave Blaney, Dave Statter, David Gilliland, Daytona, Daytona 500, DC Firefighters Burn Foundation, EMS, EMS1.com, EMT, Ethan Sorrell, Explosion, fiery crash, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighter Product Reviews, Firefighting, FireProductReview.com, FireRescue1.com, Fires, Flashover, high winds, House Fire, IronFiremen.com, Jane O'Toole, Jeff O'Toole, jet dryer, jet kerosene, Juan Pablo Montoya, Kathy Sorrell, Kevin O'Toole, Landon Cassill, Mark Bashoor, Mark Brady, Maryland, MedStar Burn Unit, Michael McLary, Montoya, NASCAR, Noo. 42 Chevrolet, Paramedic, PG fire, PGFD, Prince George's County, Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, race, Rhett Fleitz, Riverdale, Riverdale fire, Riverdale Park, Riverdale VFD, sellfiretrucks.com, Social Media, STATter911.com, Tony Raines, vacant house, Vann Sorrell, Video, Washington Hospital Center, Willie Wines Jr., wind fueled fire

Best of the Rest – Working the Job, Quick Drills, New Orleans, CO2 Rescue, and Tiger

No comments

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

Facebook: Working the Job

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

Also noted is his post on the North Carolina Breathing Equipment School. Check it out if you are in the area and attend!

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.

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

Willie Wines Jr. (IronFiremen.com) posted several great articles recently:

Paying My Respect
A Good Send Off
A Bunch of FOOLS
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:

Support New Orleans Firefighters

Volunteer Firefighter Killed in New Jersey Car Accident – (non-LODD) David Gulig Jr., an 18-year-old volunteer firefighter, was killed in a New Jersey car accident when the truck he was driving slid on a patch of ice and slammed into a telephone pole.

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!

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 21, 2012 • Filed under: Best of the Rest, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News • Tagged: Best of the Rest, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Dawn Dawson, EMS, Facebook, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, IronFiremen.com, Jason Jefferies, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Tiger Schmittendorf, Willie Wines Jr., Working the Job

Best of the Rest – ELAFF, Quick Drills, LODD’s, Brotherhood Cuts, and an Appeal for EMS LODD Benefits

2 comments

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!

Be sure to follow Fire Critic on Facebook and click “like”

Shoutout

Today’s shoutout goes to some close friends of mine. The guys behind ELAFFHQ.com have 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.

Facebook: Excessive Leather Accessories for Firefighters

Web Site: ELAFFHQ.com

Twitter: ELAFFHQ

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!

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

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.

Paramedic Weissman’s funeral arrangments are available here

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.

Controversy in Philly: Union says department is punishing heroes with burn policy. Commissioner says it’s about safety. | STATter911.com - From KYW-TV, firefighters are upset over a Philadelphia Fire Department policy about being burned on the job. The union says heroes are being punished instead of praised. The fire commissioner says it’s about safety. via Controversy in Philly: Union says department is punishing heroes with burn policy. Commissioner says it’s about safety. | STATter911.com.

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 14, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, In the Line of Duty, News • Tagged: Alexandria, Alexandria Fire Department, Alexandria Firefighter, Alexandria Medic, Alexandria Paramedic, Apparatus, Apparatus Wreck, Best of the Rest, Brotherhood Cuts, Capon Bridge, Chuck Norris, Company 14, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Dennis Linaburg, Donald Whitacre, EMS, EMT, Facebook, Fatal accident, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, Fire Truck Wreck, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, firefighter killed, Firefighting, Frederick County Fire and Rescue Department, Glebe road, Gore, Gore Fire, Gore VF&R, Gore VFD, Gore Virginia, Gore Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, Gore Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Hampshire County, House Fire, Humor, I-395, IronFiremen.com, Line of Duty Death, LODD, Medic, Medic Falls from Bridge, Medic Falls from I-395, MVA, National Firefighter Endowment, Paramedic, Rhett Fleitz, Shirlington, Social Media, STATter911.com, tanker crash, VAFireNews.com, Virginia, Virginia Fire News, Washington Hospital Center Medstar unit, West Virginia, Willie Wines Jr., Winchester, Zach Whitacre, Zachary Whitacre

Wanna Hear Dave Statter and I Talk? Sign up now! Newark, Ohio Here We Come!

No comments

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

Sign up here

May 23rd:

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

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 13, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, News, Social Media • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, IronFiremen.com, Newark Ohio, Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Steve Robertson, Willie Wines Jr.

Best of the Rest – Moving Fires, Sweepstakes, America’s Fire Captain and much more!

1 comment

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!

Shoutouts

Web site: National Firefighters Endowment
Facebook page: safefirefighter. Check it out, like it, and join the discussion.

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

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.

Backstep Firefighter So Much For That “It’s Not Vacant Until We Search” Ideology. Bill dissects a fire where a search occufred, a victim was missed, and a body was recovered during demolition.

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.

FireRescue1.com:

Firefighter critical after Philly fire. Lt. Martin Melvin was in critical but stable condition Sunday night in burn unit at Temple University Hospital
Utah dad blows up house with sons inside. More than 2 years ago, man’s wife went mysteriously missing; man’s emails seemed to confirm that he planned deadly blast

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.

This is firehouse antiqueing!

Posted by The Fire Critic on February 7, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, News, Rescues • Tagged: Backstep Firefighter Blog, Best of the Rest, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Facebook, FDNY, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, House Fire, IronFiremen.com, National Firefighters Endowment, NFFF, Paramedic, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Willie Wines Jr.

Best of the Rest – Quick Drills, Shoutouts, FDNY Rescue 2 MAYDAY Fund, Jay Bettencourt, and much more

No comments

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

Quick Drills:

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

News:

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.

Police Officer Saves a Dog Stuck in a Fence – The End Will Blow You Away - You will NOT believe the end of this video! It’s hilarious and amazing all at the same time. After the police officer frees a dog stuck in a fence, the dog shows his appreciation in the cutest way ever.

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

Posted by The Fire Critic on January 24, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News • Tagged: Asheville, Asheville Fire Department, Biltmore Avenue, Bowen, Brooklyn, Brotherhood, brothers, Captain Flaherty, Captain Jeff Bowen, Captain Jeffrey Bowen, Captain Willie Wines Jr., Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, disorientation, disoriented, EMS, EMT, Epoxy Kit, Equipment Band, FDNY, FDNY Rescue 2, FDNY Rescue 4, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, firefighter burns, firefighter dead, firefighter dies, firefighter donations, firefighter Gersbeck, firefighter killed, firefighter pics, Firefighter Weidmann, Firefighters, Firefighters injured, Firefighting, Fires, Foxfire, FoxFire Illuminating Helmet Band, fundraiser, Helmet Tetrahedrons, Iron Firemen, Ironfireman, IronFiremen.com, Jay Bettencourt, Jeff Bowen, Jeffrey Bowen, ladder, Liam Flaherty, Line of Duty, Line of Duty Death, LODD, Lt. Rhett Fleitz, MAYDAY, MAYDAY FUND, Mission, Mission Hospital, MN8, MN8 FoxFire, MN8 FoxFire Products, Mn8 Products, New York, North Carolina, NYC, Paramedic, photluminescent, photoluminescent, photoluminescent technology, PPE, Rescue 2, Rescue 2 Mayday Fund, Rhett Fleitz, safety products, Scott Burnette, Social Media, South Carolina, STATter911.com, technology, Tool wrap, Willie Wines, Willie Wines Jr., Wooden ladders and Iron Firemen, Zach Green, Zachary Green, Zoe Saldana

Best of the Rest – Rescuing Myself, Fat Firefighters, Complacency Kills, FF Certification, Kenny Hendrick Memorial, and Quick Drills

1 comment

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!

Over the weekend, we reached over 3000 fans on our Facebook fan page. Click “like” here to join as well. I offer plenty more information on Facebook than you will see on the blog. I also have over 2500 followers on Twitter @FireCritic. If you are more into Google +, I have got that set up too. Check out Fire Critic on Google + here.

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.

Shoutout:

Facebook Fan page: Rescuing Myself

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.

Quick Drills:

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

Know Your Streets!
Hose Lead-Out Drill

News:

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

IronFiremen.com – Willie recently travelled without me. This time, back to Cincinnati. Read about it here: Firefighter Innovation…Homemade Tools and the 1st Road Trip of 2012. He posted an even better post on Sunday…Becoming Infectious

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

S.A.F.E Firefighter - First Due Friday; 2-Story Balloon Frame Rockin’ on the Peninsula

Fire Law Blog - Florida Firefighters Sued for $1.4 Million in Fatal Accident

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.

Posted by The Fire Critic on January 17, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: 1st Generation Firefighter, Best of the Rest, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, Fire Critic, Fire Department, FireCritic.com, Firefighting, FireGeezer, Fireground Video, Hero Rush, IronFiremen.com, Line of Duty Death, Paramedic, Rescuing Myself, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

Best of the Rest – Reviews, Chevy Volt, Volunteers, Firehouse History, and @Ochocinco on Twitter

1 comment

Best of the Rest this week…

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

Boron Extrication - GM Announces Safety Enhancements for Chevy Volt

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!

Raising Ladders – Need more on DCFD/DCFEMS? This one is hilarious. RaisingLadders.com: Comment Cards

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

Firefighter Nation - Two Dead, One Critical after Philadelphia Apartment Fire

TurnOut Blog – TurnOutBlog.com is a new blog on the horizon by Eric Lamar. Read his latest about Firehouses: History versus Safety here

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?

Posted by The Fire Critic on January 10, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, News, Videos • Tagged: Boron Extrication, Chad Ochocinco, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Facebook, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, FireGeezer, Fireground Video, House Fire, House Fire Video, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty Death, LODD, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, TheTailboard.com, TurnOut Blog, TurnOutBlog.com, Twitter, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

Best of the Rest – Fires, Stair Climbs, Training, Best of 2011, a Huge FAIL and Much More

No comments

Welcome to a new column here on FireCritic.com. I am shooting for having this column run on Tuesdays each week. If you have something you want to share whether you are a reader or blogger, have a video or photo, or anything else just let me know.

The Best of the Rest is a column featuring other bloggers, videos, news, and information you might have missed over the past week or so. Enjoy!

You can also follow along and connect with The Fire Critic via Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Youtube.

As seen on FailBlog.com

Addison Fire Protection District – Can this be real? FailBlog.com has this photo of the message board at Addison Fire Protection District Station #3. The message “Better to arrive late than never”..WTF? Who approved this? Maybe the Chief’s message was directed to firefighters and should have read “Better to arrive safe than never”…or maybe it is meant as a message to the citizens and should have been “Call 911 and we will get there whenever we can”.

Daily911Deals.com - 40% OFF MN8 Foxfire Illuminating and Reflective Helmet Tetrahedrons. EXCLUSIVE NEW PRODUCT! I think they are pretty decent tetrahedrons. Read my review here.

Firehouse Zen- Chief Mick Mayers continues to lay it down in his writings that occasionally have me seeking dictionary.com for a definition. Don’t let that dissuade you from reading though. He offers some great insight to the fire service. Check out: OKAY, IT’S 2012: NOW WHAT? and 2012: “WHAT IF?”.

Statter911.com – Dave offers a video of a house fire in Maryland. This is video posted yesterday of a December 23 fire in Upper Marlboro, Maryland (Prince George’s County) Raw Video: PGFD House Fire in Upper Marlboro. Switch to Defensive Operations

911 Memorial Stairclimbs – The majority of the stair climb events are now affiliated with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. One of the original climbs is a bit smaller scale and has a local feel. The Albequrque Stair Climb started in 2003. Read more about it here. If you are looking for a stair climb event check out http://www.9-11stairclimb.com/

Here is a lost photo I just found. This is a picture of Willie and I immediately after climbing 110 floors in Atlanta at FRI for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

FireGeezer.com - A FIRE LATE SUNDAY NIGHT in a downtown brothel in Mitchell, Australia, is still deemed suspicious by the fire investigators. The Canberra area business was closed for New Year’s Day, as all the city’s brothels were when smoke was discovered coming from The Gentlemen’s Club on Grimwade Street around 11 pm. http://firegeezer.com/2012/01/02/brothel-fire-suspicious/

The Colorado Firefighter Facebook Page - This page continues to impress me on the sharing of links and information. Check them out here and click “like”!

ELAFFHQ.com – Their latest post “Raise money for a good cause, and get a chance to win a leather helmet” is just that…a chance to win a Phenix Leather Helmet. The chances are $1 a piece and the helmet will be given away once they reach $1000 for the National Firefighters Endowment. Click here to go directly to the donation page. They are currently 1/4 of the way to their goal! The Fire Critic gave $50…If I win the helmet I will give it away to pay it forward!

Fire Service Warrior – This site continues to impress me. The latest post “Brotherhood Insurance: A Pay for What You Get Policy” by Brother Brian Brush is a great post on the Brotherhood of the Fire Service and a must read!

IronFiremen.com – America’s Fire Captain Willie Wines Jr. outdoes everyone on his End of Year Review for 2011. Even though this post probably took three weeks for his little fingers to type, it is well worth a read. See what he has accomplished this past year!

Firefighter Nation – They have the story and the video of a huge fire at a former Illinois factory here.

Happy Medic – The Happy Medic is handing out his “Best of 2011″ awards. Check them out here!

IronsandLadders.com – This blog is great on content. Their latest post “Thru-The-Lock Time Trial (storefront doors)” is just one of many great training videos available.

Brotherhood Instructors – One of the leading privately owned and operated by firefighters instructing team offers “Forcing Doors in Zero Visibility – By Andrew Brassard” Check it out and continue your learning!

FireRescue1.com – They offer this story: Authorities probe fire attacks on 4 NYC sites “Blog post that may be linked to attacks: ‘Throw 10 Molotov cocktails into these mosques and burn them down’” Read it here

I love sushi and I love wasabi. I understand the use of wasabi and how it enhances the flavor with a little spice. I would never eat a spoonful of wasabi. I don’t think this next firefighter ever will…again! He might say this is a near death experience! Maybe this is the new cinnamon dragon challenge!

Crews battle flames and smoke at Westport Presbyterian Church

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

As dozens of onlookers packed Westport Road Thursday evening, all they could do is watch as Westport Presbyterian Church burned.

“We were out in Westport and my wife got a message on Facebook saying ‘Westport’s burning,’” Luke Rocha said.

Rocha, like many others, went down to see the flames shooting from the roof of the historic church that stood at Westport and 40th street for more than 100 years.

Video of the fire is here

Posted by The Fire Critic on January 2, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Best of the Rest, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Humor, News, Training, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos • Tagged: 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb, 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, Best of the Rest, Brian Brush, Brotherhood Instructors, Church Fire, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, ELAFFHQ.com, EMS, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighter Nation, Firefighter Prank, Firefighter vs. Wasabi, Firefighting, FireGeezer, Fireground Video, Firehouse Zen, FireRescue1, House Fire, Humor, IronFiremen.com, IronsandLadders.com, NFFF, Paramedic, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, STATter911.com, The Happy Medic, Twitter, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

2011 Year in Review – The Best of The Fire Critic for 2011

4 comments

2011 was a great year here at FireCritic.com. Most of it was experienced along side Willie Wines Jr. We truly have a great time traveling and hanging out once we get to wherever we ended up. We made it to Atlanta, Indianapolis, New Jersey, New York City, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and plenty other places. Let me be clear here, when we travel we are all business when there is a job to be done. Once we are cut loose, we make the most of it. Much of our experiences are heightened by the people we meet, hang out with, enjoy a drink with, or even shed a tear with.

I am blessed. I never thought for a minute that FireCritic.com would rise to the status it has. I never estimated the network, reach, and friends I would make along the way. I also have never, and will never take a second of it for granted. I have made the greatest attempt to answer every email, twitter message, Facebook message, text, and phone call. Some of you have even received an email from me months after correspondence. This is because I lost it in the shuffle but didn’t want to forget about it after seeing it again.

2012 is proving to offer some great opportunities as well. Be sure to check out the Holiday Message from The Real Fire Critic here!

To all of you (both of you) readers, friends, fans, and fellow firefighters I hope to provide more fun, humor, news, information, links, and everything else that The Fire Critic embodies. Keep sending in your links, information, stories, and pictures!

Here are some other “year in reviews” worth reading:

One last thing before the rundown of the typical year in review here at FireCritic.com…

A special message to Dave Statter -

Dave, bardzo dziękuję za pracę, którą wykonujesz w STATter911.com. W pracy możesz zrobić dla straży pożarnej to hołd dla prawdziwych mężczyzn i kobiet straży pożarnej na całym świecie.

Mam nadzieję, że 2012 to wielki dla Ciebie.

Trzymajcie tak dalej pracować …

No i o tym ostatni e-mail … Nie sądzę, że jest to dobry pomysł, aby blog ten temat jest dobry pomysł, abyzmienić nazwę DCFD do FEMS. Ja również nie sądzę, należy wyjść i zatwierdzić nowe zmiany w DC.Uważają, że moje darmowe porady.

Top referring web sites

Excluding search engines, Twitter, and Facebook

Top Users by Country

United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Australia
Germany
France
Netherlands
India
New Zealand
Sweden
Italy
Spain
Philippines
Japan
Mexico

Top Browsers for 2011

Internet Explorer
Firefox
Safari
Chrome
Android Browser
Opera
Opera Mini
BlackBerry8530
Internet Explorer with Chrome Frame
Playstation 3
RockMelt

Traffic Sources Overview for 2011

Referral Traffic 36.08%
Search Traffic 35.93%
Direct Traffic 25.93%
Other 2.07%

Top Keywords for 2011

Fire Critic
The Fire Critic
FireCritic
Female Firefighter Calendar
Firefighter Motivational Posters
Firehouse Pranks
Demotivational Posters
Gifts for Firefighters
Sexy Firemen
Boobs
9 11 Documentary French Brothers Watch Online
Motivational Posters
Best Fire Departments to Work For
Beer
9 11 French Brothers Documentary Watch Online

Posted by The Fire Critic on December 31, 2011 • Filed under: EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Humor, News • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, IronFiremen.com, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Video, Willie Wines Jr., Year in Review

Chicago Fire Department – Everyone Goes Home – Watch and Share

1 comment

This video is from the Chicago Fire Department and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. It provides insight to some of what Chicago’s firefighters have been through dealing with Line of Duty Deaths (LODD’s), close calls, continuing to learn, and adjusting to change.

Check out FireCritic.com on Facebook

I challenge you to watch this entire video. Then share the video with your Brother and Sister Firefighters.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN.
You have to train.
You have to be ready.
Wear your seatbelts.
Understand what you are doing and why you are doing it.

Some of the topics include seatbelt usage, situational awareness, health and wellness, calling a MAYDAY, PPE, and much more.

If you think you got some good reason for not wearing this or for not doing things the right way write it down. Because I need to read that to your widow. Cause I’m not going to know what to say. You say it for me. – Chicago Chief of Training Peter VanDorpe

If this video doesn’t make you sit and think about your job and how you do it, you just don’t get it.

Sincere thanks to CFD Commissioner Bob Hoff, the Chicago Fire Department, Chicago IAFF Local 2, and the entire crew at the NFFF especially Rob Maloney, director of this video, for a spectacular job.

Posted by The Fire Critic on December 28, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Close Call, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Mayday, Must Read, News, Rescues, Training, Training & Development, Videos • Tagged: Bob Hoff, CFD, Chicago, Chicago Fire Department, Close Call, Command Fire Apparatus, Commissioner Hoff, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EGH, EMS, EMT, Everyone Goes Home, film, Fire, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, Fires, House Fire Video, IAFF, Illinois, In the Line of Duty, IronFiremen.com, JoEllen Kelly, Line of Duty, Line of Duty Death, LODD, movie, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, NFFF, Paramedic, Rhett Fleitz, Rob Maloney, Robert Hoff, Ron Siarnicki, Safety, seatbelts, Social Media, Steve Redick, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

Holiday Message From The Real Fire Critic. My True Identity Revealed

12 comments

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all. Below is a special message to the readers of The Fire Critic.

Be sure to check us out on Facebook and click “like”

This year has been a very positive one for The Fire Critic and I have enjoyed a lot of travel, networking, and meeting firefighters across the Nation and beyond. My travels have been experienced along side my friend Willie Wines Jr. of IronFiremen.com (America’s Fire Captain). We have met so many new and interesting firefighters. We are truly blessed to travel so much and enjoy new experiences. Willie especially liked that restaurant we went to in Atlanta.

I wish each of my readers a wonderful holidays. Both of you have propelled FireCritic.com to new heights in 2011.

Preston Fleitz is The Real Fire Critic

However, I am here for a different reason.

I am about to drop a bomb on the fire service. You have heard a lot of back and forth and most of it has been coming from Dave Statter. I have attempted to put a spin on everything he comes up with in order to keep my identity a secret.

As you watch the video below, you will learn the true identity of The Fire Critic.

The Fire Critic does exist…It isn’t Captain Willie Wines Jr. It isn’t Dave Statter…It isn’t both of them together… And no, Dave is not my father… It isn’t even Rhett Fleitz.

Give Dave a couple of days to formulate a spin on this. I just can’t think of how he will attack me or put a spin on this anymore. Does Dave really have the capacity to argue with a 9 year old?

You have to admit…I do pretty good for being only 9! Whatever you do, don’t tell my father Rhett Fleitz that I have been running the Best Fire Blog online.

This video is in response to Dave Statter’s Thanksgiving Message here

Posted by The Fire Critic on December 24, 2011 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, Humor, News, Videos • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, IronFiremen.com, Preston Fleitz, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Video, Willie Wines Jr.

Raw Video: FDNY Rescue 2 Firefighter Rescued from Brownstone in Crown Heights on Fire. 4 Others Injured

6 comments

Below is the amazing video of an FDNY Firefighter from Rescue 2 bailing out of a window onto an aerial ladder. The firefighter is in flames as he gets out of the building and another firefighter helps put out the flames. Check out STATter911.com for more details on this fire. In total, 5 firefighters were injured in this fire with some experiencing severe burns.

I will also be adding updates of this incident on The Fire Critic Facebook page

Captain Willie Wines Jr. sits at the table and talks shop with the firefighters of FDNY Rescue 2

Captain Wines, Zach Green, and I also recently visited Rescue 2 and other FDNY firehouses. You can view images here.

I do not know if any of the men we met during our trip were injured in this fire and it really doesn’t matter. I do hope our injured brothers heal quickly so they can get back on the rig to fight the next fire.

Update from The Secret List:

FDNY Firefighters rescued one of their own earlier, pulling him “on fire” from a Brooklyn brownstone. As members searched the Crown Heights dwelling for victims, the top floor of the 3 story dwelling on Prospect Place apparently flashed, trapping at least one Rescue 2 Firefighter inside. An aerial ladder was raised to the third floor window and another Firefighter at the top of the ladder helped get him out. The FF was burning and the FF on the ladder hit him on his back to knock down the fire.

Here is a video with some more information and a clearer look at the fire

Posted by The Fire Critic on December 19, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Close Call, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Rescues, Videos • Tagged: bailout, Brooklyn Crown Heights, brownstone, burn center, burn unit, burned firefighter, burns, Close Call, Cornell Burn Center, Crown Heights, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, EMT, evacuation, FDNY, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Fireground Video, Fires, Flashover, House Fire, injured firefighter, IronFiremen.com, New York Daily News, Paramedic, Prospect Place, Rescue 2, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, STATter911.com, Video

The Real Dave Statter Exposed. Including Photos he had Faked to Show Himself as a Firefighter

No comments

Since Dave has come out and admitted that I am his child, I figured that I should share some things about him that you might not already know. I wish I had more, but I moved out as soon as I could…I was 2 years old. Some of these items Dave has been trying to hide for years. Since he has turned over a new leaf and wants to disclose everything I figured I would do my part in helping him out.

This post is in response to Dave’s post here. While I do enjoy the humor in it, I find it disgusting that Dave thinks he is even half the man my father is.

Just to keep you up to date…

Dave did an amateurish expose on how I don’t exist, then did a second part about how Willie and Dave were the ones behind FireCritic.com. Then, Dave came out and stated he was my father.

This is just one of the photos I found on Dave's laptop that he had professionally faked to show the world he is a firefighter.

So which is it Dave? I still believe in my theory that you want to be me. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I WAS amazed to find several photos on Dave’s laptop that he had professionally altered to show that he is/was a firefighter. Apparently, Dave was ready to use these fake photos to show everyone that I was wrong. Before he dupes you guys anymore, I feel the need to break the story on these phony photos and save the fire service further embarrassment by Dave Statter.

Check out the Fire Critic Facebook Fan Page for more fake photos of Dave Statter claiming to be a firefighter

Please feel free to add anything you would like to the list in the comments. If we get some real good ones, I will add them to the list!

What you should know about the REAL Dave Statter

Dave quit the fire department after only a couple of days because they already had a photographer
Dave thought about rejoining, but they didn’t have an ambulance
Dave loves Jerry Engle
He has a bumper sticker that says “My other car is a firetruck”…It’s not
Dave’s real name is David
Dave’s real last name is Statterstein
Dave is afraid of zombies
Dave doesn’t stutter, he just repeats certain parts of words a lot when he is excited
Dave reads a lot….of picture books
Dave wets the bed
Dave always has to use the restroom after eating…to avoid having to clean up or pay the bill
Dave doesn’t wear any underwear…he wears a man diaper
Dave did not invent the internet
Dave thinks Kentland should have 3 ambulances
Dave only likes blue m&m’s
Dave’s favorite singer is Justin Bieber
Dave’s nickname in high school was buger
Dave’s nickname in college was man-child
Dave once spent 3 hours looking all over a firehouse for a hose stretcher
Dave is a draft dodger. He went to Mexico after Canada kicked him out.
Dave sucks his thumb
Dave was caught wearing a woman’s dress…twice
Dave once spent 2 hours trying to pick a penny up off the sidewalk. Someone had glued it down.
Dave’s favorite book is “I want to be a firefighter”. It was written for 3 year olds.
Dave thinks FEMS is a good name for DCFD
Dave doesn’t know how to write cursive
Dave can recite the first 3 digits of Pi
Dave has a picture of me hanging over his mantel
When Dave golfs, he uses the ladies tees
Dave sleeps with a nightlight
Dave wears a shirt when swimming

Posted by The Fire Critic on December 12, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Humor, News • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Humor, IronFiremen.com, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Willie Wines Jr.

South Fulton Woman Loses Home to Fire Because She Didn’t Pay Fire Tax. Dave Statter Stays Quiet This Time.

25 comments

Yeah…it is like kicking a dead deer. Another house burns in Obion County, Tennessee and firefighters don’t put it out.

Only this time, Dave Statter only reports the news and fails to add in his two cents vilifying the South Fulton Fire Department.

A woman’s house burned in South Fulton while firefighters watched from a distance. The firefighters did not put out the fire because the woman had not paid the $75 fire tax. South Fulton has a well disciplined and well known rule NOT to suppress fires on non paying residents of Obion County.

The firefighters were dispatched, but apparently didn’t realize the homeowner hadn’t paid until they arrived.

Last year, when a similar story went viral, Dave Statter said that the firefighters should have put out the fire.

This time Dave has apparently changed his tune and not offered us a reporters view of what he thinks the South Fulton FD should do. I take this as Dave having learned his lesson after being schooled by me and so many others.

Nothing is broke here folks. South Fulton offers fire coverage in part of Obion County. Other departments cover the rest of the County. South Fulton does it for a yearly fee/tax of $75. If you pay it you get coverage. If you don’t pay it you don’t get coverage. It is that plain and simple.

The solution is simple. Obion County residents should either pay the fire tax or create their own fire department.

Hell, even the woman who’s house had burned stated that she never thought it would happen to her.

Unfortunately, the fact that the woman didn’t pay will in fact burn the firefighters again this time.

I think they should stick to their policy.

While I don’t wish this on anyone, the people who don’t pay the tax know what the outcome will be if their house catches fire. That is their choice.

What do you think?

I can’t wait for the spin Dave puts on this…

Links:

Posted by The Fire Critic on December 6, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Dispatch, EMS Topics, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News • Tagged: Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, EMS, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, Fire Tax, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighting, IronFiremen.com, Obion County, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, South Fulton, South Fulton Fire Department, Union City Fire Department, Willie Wines Jr.

Less than a week left to get involved with Burn, The Detroit Fire Film!

1 comment

LESS THAN A WEEK TO GET INVOLVED WITH BURN, THE DETROIT FIRE FILM!

BURN is an action-packed and inspiring documentary about Detroit, told through the eyes of the men and women of the Detroit Fire Department, who are charged with saving a city that many have written off as dead. It’s a story that resonates in many American cities, as heroic first responders soldier on in the face of severe budget cuts.

Until now no one has properly explored these issues, and these heroes, with the depth and detail they deserve. BURN needs your help and it’s not too late to be a part of this very important independent film.

There is less than a week left to help BURN complete the funding for the film. Your donations will not only help get this important story out to mass audiences but a portion of the proceeds will go to the Leary Foundation to get much needed gear into the hands of Detroit firefighters.

To make a donation visit BURN’s campaign at Kickstarter and be a part of something great! To sweeten the deal, there are pledge package rewards that include exclusive BURN t-shirts, tickets to the Detroit or LA premiere, a film poster signed by Denis Leary and the filmmakers, backstage passes to the set of Boardwalk Empire, starring former firefighter Steve Buscemi, and much more.

Donations close December 1st be a hero for BURN and donate today!
Links for Kickstarter, FB, Twitter and official website
http://detroitfirefilm.org
http://www.facebook.com/burnfilm
http://www.twitter.com/detroitfirefilm
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/detroitfirefilm/burn

Posted by The Fire Critic on November 29, 2011 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Funding & Staffing, News • Tagged: Burn, Daily 911 Deals, Daily911Deals, Daily911Deals.com, Dave Statter, Detroit Fire Department, EMS, Fire, Fire Critic, Fire Department, FireCritic.com, Firefighting, IronFiremen.com, Rhett Fleitz, Social Media, Willie Wines Jr.

Archives for dave-statter

FDIC Wrapup Part III – The People We Met

Fire Critic Facebook Page

Best of the Rest – Blog of the Year Voting, Firefighter Nation, Mahlon Mitchell, LODD, SAFER, and More!

Shoutout: Firefighter Nation

Quick Drills

Random Tweet of the Week

News and Opinion

Hook Up With The Fire Critic

Recent Comments on FireCritic.com

Most Recent Fire Critic Posts

Most Commented Fire Critic Posts

FC Favorites

Archives

Categories

Pages

FireEMSBlogs.com Community

Featured from across Fire/EMS

DC battalion chief describes Fire Chief…

2013 Ford B-Max Body Structure (UK)…

Video: Ocean City, NJ House Fire…

Leadership That Matters, Part 17…

Archives for dave-statter

Shoutout – Fully Involved

Training – This is MY Ladder

Random Tweet of the Week

News and Opinion

Shoutouts

Random Tweet of the Week

News and Opinion

Pinterest

Shoutout: Hero Rush

Quick Drills

Random Tweet of the Week

News and Opinion

Fire Blogs Shortlist for Voting and Judges

EMS Blogs Shortlist for Voting and Judges

The Rest of the Nominated Blogs:

Shoutout: Firefighter Nation

Quick Drills

Random Tweet of the Week

News and Opinion

Shoutout – Alt.Kilt

Quick Drills

News and Opinion

Random Tweet of the Week

Shoutout – Wolfpak Leatherworks

Quick Drills

News and Opinion

Shoutout – FireProductReview.com

Quick Drills

News and Opinion

Speaking of Shaving Heads… Check out 9 Year Old Jordan!

Shoutout – Working The Job

Quick Drills

News and Opinion

Shoutout

Quick Drills

News and Opinion

Shoutouts

Quick Drills

News and Opinion

Shoutouts:

Quick Drills:

News:

Shoutout:

Quick Drills:

News:

A special message to Dave Statter -

Top articles for 2011

Top referring web sites

Top Users by Country

Top Browsers for 2011

Traffic Sources Overview for 2011

Top Keywords for 2011

What you should know about the REAL Dave Statter

What do you think?

Hook Up With The Fire Critic

Recent Comments on FireCritic.com

Most Recent Fire Critic Posts

Most Commented Fire Critic Posts

FC Favorites

Archives

Categories

Pages

Tags Across FireEMSBlogs.com

FireEMSBlogs.com Community

Featured from across Fire/EMS