A Siberian firefighter, in the city of Magadan, trying to reach people trapped in a building is sent tumbling down the ladder after being hit by a chunk of snow falling from the roof while smoke is coming out of the windows. Thankfully, the firefighters were able to save a child, carrying the kid down the ladder. Emergency officials say no one was hurt.
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.
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…”
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?
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!
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.
Dave Statter had the story last week about a Washington DC firehouse that was shut down by Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe after a case of beer was found in the fridge.
The firefighters were tested for alchohol and all came up negative. However, the firefighters still face discipline for having the beer.
Now, Clem Cypra has come forward as the gift-giver. Cypra brought it to them after they put a fire in his house.
“Last Wednesday, those guys saved my house from burning,” says Clem Cypra in an email. “An AC motor caught fire at 7:45 a.m. I was in the shower. Called at 7:54 a.m., they walked through the door at 8:01 a.m. and put out the fire.”
He went on, “I did what any 36-year-old guy would do — I took them a case of beer.”
Cypra says he was upset to hear that they got in trouble for having the alcohol — a 12-pack of Stella Artois and a 12-pack of Corona.
I must admit that I like Cypra’s taste in beer!
Below is the response to Clem Cypra from Fire Chief Ellerbe
Mr. Cypra,
First of all, thank you for recognizing the work done by our members, all to often our jobs are thankless ones, which we know and accept when we enter them. For the record, there is a process for our department to accept donations which is a more appropriate avenue to pursue in the future. (Please note that it is very difficult to determine the tone of an email, so I’ll state that I do appreciate your effort to say thanks to our members for a job well done.)
Second, and most important, alcoholic beverages are not to be stored on government property. My understanding is that the gift that you bestowed on our members was kept in the fire station for over a week and the 12 pack in question was unopened in the morning and was not only opened but was diminishing through the course of the day! Our rules and regulations specifically forbid our members from placing themselves under the influence of intoxicants. My responsibilities include ensuring that our vehicles are operated in a safe manner and that our employees follow the rules that are in place to ensure the safety of our community and our members. What would you think of me or our department if I was aware of the situation and did nothing, resulting in one of our members driving under the influence and causing harm to another member or someone in the community? I take my responsibilities and the safety of our members and the community very seriously and do not compromise in that area at all. Our members know or should know what the rules are.
I appreciate the gesture that you made and have no regrets regarding the way that this matter was handled despite the media attention, particularly with respect to the unreported facts surrounding this incident.
No disrespect to my DCFD brothers and sisters….but I had to…
What the hell is up with FEMS. Am I the only firefighter laughing my ASS off at that Chief up there. You know…the Chief of FEMS. WTF? Who the hell would name their department FEMS? Is this a sick joke? Maybe it was an early April Fools Joke?
FEMS must have plenty of money to just change everything to FEMS. The word FEMS almost sounds like a FEMSing cuss word.
FEMS…I am still FEMSing laughing. Seriously…I am chuckling right now. I am probably not the only one. FEMS.
Is this a FEMSing case study on how to be hated by your whole FEMSing department in record FEMSing timing.
Does anyone love the new name FEMS? I would FEMSing love to hear from you! I am FEMSing serious!
Who has acronyms for this? I am sure there are some good ones out there!
Fire EMS…That is what it stands for right? Thats it? Just FEMS. We don’t need anything else? Wasn’t the name change to better describe WHO the DCFD is and what they do? Now it is just FEMS…We know it is Fire EMS, but we don’t know where.
OR
Am I the only one who relates the term FEMS to Feminine and Femanist.
Is it an all female department? The FEMS? I am pretty sure there are plenty of great firemen up there. Maybe the men feel left out.
Maybe we are only days away from a lawsuit stating the men feel left out and feel as though the name should be MASFEMS or FEMSMAS (is that an all female holiday?)
Is the headquarters called FEMDOM? Isn’t that a porn reference? Google it if you don’t believe me.
I could go on all night long…
Seriously, DCFD just wasn’t cutting it anymore? DCFD…I am not laughing at you, I feel for you. I certainly hope that someone has some sense to stop the nonsense!
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