Check out this short video of a response by Birmingham’s Bravest to a vacant house fire around 1pm today (as best I can tell).
The video includes a train passing by right in front of the apparatus.
The title of the post is influenced by the comments within the apparatus. Apparently there has been a rash of fires in the Birmingham area recently. Read more here
Check out this video. The fire occurred at the Pike house at Louisiana Tech on Saturday. Three firefighters were injured in the fire.
The story on Shreveporttimes.com states:
Parker said the blaze caused the collapse of the roof, which sent a plume of fire and smoke into the air, and caused some area residents to believe an explosion rocked the house when it was simply the collapsing structure.
You watch the video and be the judge…What do you think it is? A roof collapse, a backdraft, a smoke explosion, or a combination? Additional video of the fire is below.
This fire was in Jacksonville, Florida on May 14, 2012 on Cinancy Street. The fire was captured on film by a helmet camera and shared by FDCam.com.
You just can’t win them all can you?
Check out more vids on FDCam.com and their Youtube page. I just wonder when they are going to send me one to try out!
Video info:
Jacksonville, FL
Crews were called for a mid-day structure fire. Fire crews found a large home (approx. 4000sqft) with heavy fire showing from the attic space of the second floor. Initial crews made a search to confirm no one was in the home and secondary units contained first floor fires. After little progress was made units were called out of the building and the fire was darkend down with master streams. Crews were sent back up to contain the fire but were eventually pulled from the home & the fire was contained with defensive tactics.
Two stories I covered in the past have had noteworthy updates this week in the news.
Mom, daughters reunite with rescuers who saved them from dangling car
You might remember the story titled “Firefighters, US Navy Seabees, and luck save a woman and two daughters in daring California rescue”. The link includes a photo and video from the daring rescue. Kelli Groves and her two daughters were dangling off the side of a bridge. Firefighters were assisted by US Navy Seabees who just happened to be traversing the same road and saw the accident. There is another video below.
The 36-year-old elementary school teacher was reunited with Santa Barbara County firefighter Greg Nuckols and Sgt. Tom Mullen of the California Highway Patrol, when the heroes who talked her through the horrific ordeal made a surprise appearance on TODAY.
Another story updated today includes the case of Seminole County Firefighter Jerry Perdomo
Jerry Perdomo
Prior coverage on Fire Critic here, here, and here. Perdomo was missing for days before his body was found. Even after that, details were slow to emerge.
FirefighterNation.com has the story today about Perdomo’s accused killer being indicted in his murder.
ABIGAIL CURTIS, Bangor Daily NewsPublished Friday, May 18, 2012
BELFAST, Maine – A local man accused of killing a Florida firefighter in February and dumping his body in the woods of Newburgh was indicted this week by the Waldo County Grand Jury.
Daniel Porter, 24, of Jackson, was charged with one count of intentional or knowing murder for the slaying of Jerry Perdomo.
Police have said that Porter shot Perdomo in the side of the head on Feb. 16 at a rented home in Jackson with a semi-automatic rifle and that it was a drug-related crime. Perdomo, a firefighter and emergency medical technician for the Seminole County Fire Department, allegedly had been coming to Bangor once a month for nearly a year in order to illicitly transport and sell prescription drugs from Florida.
FirefighterNation.com has the story of 3 college students who had to be rescued from a 20 foot high roof on their campus at Hampshire College. The Amherst, Massachusetts Fire Chief plans to bill the students for the rescue and called them “idiots”.
Here are my questions for you…
I have no problem with the Fire Chief speaking out publicly and referring to these students as idiots. I think it is a teaching moment for other future idiots. It is a public service.
However, I do have a problem with billing for our services. If you are going to do it, do it for everyone (I also do not agree with that).
I work in a department where we utilize a traditional (some might say aggressive) interior attack on fires at every chance we get. Sure, there are some empty lots in our City…including some parking lots downtown. We haven’t saved every building…but our track record is pretty good. Chalk that up to our quick responses and ability of our firefighters. I wish I could say that we get decent fire training made available by our department numerous times each year, but that is not true. I wish I could say that our staffing levels and lack of closing down companies are the reason why our responses are so quick, but our story is very different.
We are just like every other department, we get the job done with what we have to work with.
Transitional attack is something you might see in our department, but you probably wouldn’t hear anyone using the terminology “Transitional Attack”. It would merely be a case of cooling the fire prior to heading inside if needed.
One thing I will note is the old teaching of pushing the fire through the house…I have never seen this happen. I am not saying it can happen. I will just say that the way we used to teach that you HAD to fight fire from the unburned side to keep from pushing the fire will not always occur if you get in their and put plenty of water on the fire.
Their motto is “We test, we demonstrate, you decide”
Watch the video below…
What do you think?
Kill the Flashover is an experiment. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t find a definitive web site for the project. Joe Starnes’ web site has information on the project(2011 here and 2012 here) and then points to BShifter.com. I couldn’t find any information other than “Blue Card Certification” on BShifter.com though…nothing on Kill the Flashover. Maybe I just couldn’t find it.
There is a Facebook Fan Page for Kill the Flashover here.
There is a Youtube channel for Kill the Flashover here.
The Average Jake Firefighter recently wrote about the video I shared above. The post “So Traditional Attack is Wack Huh?”, delves into what you watched above and discusses its use in his departments.
Mark Vonappen also speaks on the topic in a post titled “Pride and Anecdotes”.
Here are some other videos from Kill the Flashover
Kill The Flashover (Burn Down Training Moment) Albemarle, NC
Watch this video closely and comment what you think the training moment is. There is a very important lesson in this short video that we all need to learn from.
Kill The Flashover Using Air Intake
This video clearly demonstrates the effects on temperature that something as simple as closing a do can do. This footage was taken during the first Kill the Flashover burn held in Shelby, NC in 2011. For more information on Kill the Flashover see us at www.facebook.com/killtheflashover
The other week, I had a Brother contact me about visiting Roanoke. When Brothers visit Roanoke, Willie and I try our best to roll out the red carpet and put our best foot forward. Unfortunately for Willie, he has two left feet! Chief Scott Morrison from Knotts Island Volunteer Fire Department was in town working and I ensured him we would have a good time. Willie and I both would have taken him around, but Willie was working. Therefore it was my job to show him as much of Roanoke as I could. I think we stopped in or drove by firehouses 1, old 1, 2, 3, old 3, 5, 7, 8, old 9, and 13…not bad for a half day of touring. We broke bread with Captain Wines at 13 and were delighted when Willie Sr. showed up with a friend for lunch as well. It actually gave me a chance to step into some of the houses I don’t get to all that often. I even met two firefighters who I hadn’t met before from the last recruit school.
Captain Wines, Chief Scott Morrison, Lt. Rhett Fleitz
We got a new guy at #3 A-shift about a month ago. Aaron (prounounced A-run) Parker is from the last recruit school and is fitting in just great. I will be introducing my entire crew this week hopefully. I have been meaning to do it, I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. It will be worth it, trust me!
Other than that, everything is busy as hell. Lacrosse season ends this weekend with a league tournament. I coach my son’s U9 and U11 teams and the U11 will be playing in the tournament. It should be a blast.
Dave Statter and I are gearing up for our presentation on Social Media in two weeks. Join us at the Ohio Fire & Emergency Services Foundation’s 2012 Leadership Conference in Newark, Ohio for May 23 & 24. Click here to sign up.
a little humor for your day. Shared by Benjamin Kimball
About - In March of 2009 we incorporated to meet an ever-increasing need to provide quality training to area emergency service and industrial organizations. AEST Inc is comprised of many highly qualified, trained, and professional instructors.We all began as firefighters. AEST Inc expanded our services to include testing pumps, ladders, and fire hose all on site at your department. We are able to provide an excellent service at an affordable price.
For EMS Training, check out CentreLearn. Our good friend Greg Friese is on the team there. They have a blog set up here as well…and on Facebook!
Tac-Med LLC is running some online training via their Facebook page. Check it out here.
FireGround Flowthrough – The Order of Operations. Check out this article by Chris Brennan of Fire Service Warrior.
Green Maltese offers Fireground Considerations. Check it out!
Video: Jason Jefferies teaches us how to crawl…check it out! Thanks to Chief Mike France for posting this in the Fire Service Training/Safety FB Group!
Seems reasonable!
Mark Vonappen offers us “Fingerprints” in his latest installment at Fully Involved…sink your teeth into this one. Mark’s musings are becoming very popular due in part to the topic, in part to the writing style, and in part because it is unforgiving, candid, and no nonsense. I love it!
I took this pic from the bumper of their fire engine a week into the recovery efforts after one of the worst tornadoes Indiana has seen in a long time! -Bill- Nineveh FD
Chicago Fire Preview: Clips From NBC’s Drama Show Fire And Heated Conversation. Have you heard of the new series on Firefighters based on Chicago’s Bravest? Get the sneak preview here!
Retired Norfolk Firefighter Sara Jones needs your help in her 4th battle with Cancer. Read more about it here.
FirstDueTackle.com put together a pretty decent list of Training web sites, blogs, and magazines in this post here.
All My Rowdy Friends…The Hose Jockey talks about “The Network” that is being created and he is a part of. If you don’t know what “The Network” is, read the post and then start reading some of the other great blogs out there!
5 Terrifying Secrets About Riding in an Ambulance…just as it implies, from Cracked.com
Backstep Firefighter - OHIO Close Calls. Blaming Radios and Remembering Past Tragedy Calls show hindsight and misguided blame. Are we sure we’re headed in the right direction when looking for “lessons learned”?
IronFiremen.com – America’s Fire Captain Willie Wines Jr. talks about “Old School Captains” and gets a little validation for his abilities.
Jury awards more than $800,000 to family of fallen firefighter. The civil trial for Kilgore firefighter Kyle Perkins’ death is finally over. After rehashing the 2009 tragedy in a two-week trial, Monday’s verdict is a small victory for an East Texas family, and a brotherhood of East Texas firefighters.
This video was shared on Facebook:
Read other “20 Questions” interviews here
Shane Parkins is the President of the National Firefighters Endowment. He is a good friend of the Fire Critic although we have never met in person. Shane’s work with the NFE has been inspirational.
Shane resides in Sacremento, California with his wife and two children. They are expecting their third child in August.
Here are his answers to my “20 Questions” interview. You might notice that there aren’t exactly 20 questions below because he answered some of them in other questions. I will roll with it. Who’s counting anyways?
Be sure to check out the NFE on Facebook and Twitter too!
What is your connection to the Fire Service?
A woman asked me recently, “What made you want to be a firefighter?” Without over thinking it I shot back and said, “The same thing that makes little boys want to be superheroes.”
My grandfather rode the 4 Engine with San Francisco Fire Dept. Two of my uncles also served as Chiefs in a nearby beach community and Silicon Valley. Like many in the fire service, I studied Fire Science in college and served as a Reserve Firefighter/EMT with my local department, Sacramento Fire.
While my legacy and history with the fire service has given me experience and insight, I would say what truly connects me can be found in the heart of that little boy and his cape.
After a neck surgery and the discovery of cardiac abnormality, you won’t find me pulling much hose anymore. But I can still do something brave. I can still do something that matters.
What is the National Firefighters Endowment?
National Firefighters Endowment is a 501c3 non-profit whose mission is to support fire departments that may lack the resources to effectively do the job. More specifically, our focus is on ensuring firefighters have the tools to respond in times of crisis, and do so safely.
There is a significant disparity between our nation’s fire departments and the resources they have on hand. What is constant however, from station to station, state to state, is that a firefighter can always be counted on to respond in times of trouble regardless of the resources they have to help.
A firefighter was telling me recently that her department does not perform interior fire attack and they are severely restricted on rescue operations. The reason is because they do not have enough SCBAs.
While others may run away from fire, a firefighter is a unique breed. They instinctively are drawn into the flame. For them, there is no greater prize in that moment than the life of a stranger whose last hope lies with them. I can think of few things so cruel than to restrict a firefighter from doing so in that moment; to ask them to turn away from victim, simply because we failed to provide the proper tools.
NFE exists for that reason. To respond when our brothers and sisters call for help, before the tones drop. To put the tools in their hand and the gloves on their hands.
Who benefits from the National Firefighters Endowment?
Fire departments of every city, town, fire district and authority within the United States, are eligible to apply for funds.
How can departments receive funding/grants from the NFE?
We are currently accepting video applications from departments to win one of several grants throughout the coming year. The process is not much different from applying for Extreme Makeover-Home Edition. Grab a camera phone and follow the outline that we provide on our website. We want to hear your story and be inspired by what you do. Videos will be voted on by the public, so it also is a great opportunity for departments to connect with their community and raise local support as well. More information can be found here.
How can individual firefighters help with the NFE?
The best way for individual firefighters to help is by becoming a member of our Officers Club.
Explain The Officers Club.
The Officers Club is an exclusive cadre of brothers and sisters who have pledged to participate in the mission of NFE. It is limited to 343 members in each of three levels. Their monthly contributions are responsible for every piece of equipment that NFE is able to place in-service.
By the way, thank you Rhett (if that’s your real name) for joining The Officers Club as a Chief. Your limited edition (005/343) gold challenge coin is on its way. Keep it handy or you may end up buying drinks.
How can departments help out other departments through the NFE?
I asked Willie Wines Jr. once how much money it would take for him to shave his trademark mustache. I was joking. He got quiet for a moment, and then said with a solemn conviction, “I’d lay it down if it could help a brother.” He meant it. That was the birth of Brotherhood Cuts.
Brotherhood Cuts is a way for departments to “lay it down for their brother” by hosting a mustache and head shaving event. The money raised goes to support a specific department or need. In fact, just recently firefighters in Surrey County, North Carolina made the shave to buy bailout kits for several neighboring fire departments. It was an inspiring display of brotherhood and sacrifice to protect the lives of brothers and sisters they have never met.
Another way is to host a bucket brigade or fill the boot style fundraiser. Whether it is to benefit the mission as a whole or to sponsor a specific department, we are happy to match it to the preference of the dept.
Who are some of the companies who have already helped out or partnered with the NFE?
We have worked closely with MN8-Foxfire to help get their illuminating technology out to over 40 departments in the last 6 months. Many of those grants resulted in departments coming back to MN8 to order enough to equip all of their firefighters.
We have also worked closely with Phenix Fire Helmets. In fact, their leather helmet has become our favorite thank you gift to our fundraisers who have helped raise $1,000 or more through their bucket brigade. See firefighterbucketbrigade.com for more information.
The NFE is a distributor for Phenix helmets. Why should firefighters purchase their helmets through the NFE?
Yes, you can now purchase Phenix helmets directly from NFE. We have created rescueswag.com as an online, custom shop where you can spec it just how you like it. 100% of the proceeds go back to NFE. Pretty cool eh?
Name a couple of companies you would like to partner with?
It would be great to collaborate with a reputable PPE/turnout company as well as an SCBA manufacturer. While financial or product donations are great we also look for cause-related partnerships. We believe in mutually beneficial partnerships and we work hard to ensure everyone receives value.
We are also looking for someone willing to donate an RV that will allow us to deliver equipment in person on a coast to coast US tour. I’m sure there is an apparatus company that would be willing to let us roll an RV into their paint booth or even to re-upholster the rig to match the interior of their engines.
Who in the Fire Service would you most like to meet?
I don’t mean to sound cliché but I would really most like to meet the firefighters who carry the gear we give out. I want to share a meal and get to know the names of their spouses and their kids. I want to hear their stories so I never lose sight of why this work is so important.
This week has been another busy one. Tomorrow will mark my first full shift in four. I have been off traveling and busier than ever. I am still playing catch up from over a month ago. I am getting there though.
Don’t forget to check out Daily911Deals.com for some great deals. Especially if you are interested in getting a Fire Critic/IronFiremen challenge coin from NM Coin! The deal won’t last forever.
We were in a reserve engine yesterday. That meant when running calls it seemed like we were in a parade. Yesterday was busy running around and running calls. We got a lot accomplished though. We even caught some work (dumpster fire). I don’t mind pulling the levers like this instead of being reintroduced after time off with a huge fire. Our firefighter extraordinaire Dave Lucas made quick work of it. Willie has wrote about Dave in the past. He is the one with the boomerang bugles. He got promoted to Lt. and then they rescinded the promotion because they simply didn’t count the available positions correctly. There are 4 boomerang bugle (Sergeants as we call them because we don’t have that position) in all. None of them have been promoted since. Dave is the kind of guy everyone wants working for them.
One other picture I would like to share was seen at Captain Wines firehouse #13…The message was apparently sent from downtown. What in the heck does it mean exactly? Kind of a mixed message I think.
I just signed up at the Chief level in the Officers Club of the National Firefighters Endowment. This is one of the ways that FireCritic.com gives back. The Officers club is a funding mechanism for the NFE and the funds will help support Fire Departments through the NFE. Join the Officers club here. Annually, you will receive a numbered collectors challenge coin. There are three levels of the Officers club.
Web site - samaters.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SAMatters
Twitter - @RichGasaway
VentEnterSearch.com has a unique tool for getting into some closed vehicle gates. Check out Induction Loop Trick
Better Late Than Never Captain Willie Wines Jr. does some catching up since his computer died…and shows his love for Dave Statter.
“There can be no more us versus them. Training budgets are gone and turnover is occurring at a meteoric rate. We have to share our job knowledge at every opportunity, in every possible way. It seems that things get better – like morale – when we train, sweat, and push our limits as a group.”
Firehouse.com – Are you a pink Flamingo? Ryan Pennington Do you do work? Or are you just there to have fun and look pretty?
Firefighters in hot water for building a golf course behind station Firefighters make use of some of their free time…the biggest issue is the land they groomed for golfing isn’t theirs!
Former mansion of the late Isaac Hayes goes up in flames Big McMansion fire!!!
What is a firefighter worth? This article has gone viral. Written by the wife a firefighter
“So before making our minds up that firefighters are the financial problem, sit down with a local firefighter and ask him about his job. Ask him about his wife and his sons or daughters, what kind of house he lives in, and what type of car he drives. And then ask yourself, if you were to take on such a career, what would you expect in return?
Tina Clarke
Proud wife of a Cumberland firefighter”
I will be my brothers keeper Another great article by Chris Sterricker.
Proud to be a firefighter A short article detailing pride for being considered one of America’s Bravest
What if we are Community Paramedics Already?
“And I couldn’t agree more. The goal of a community paramedic program seems to be providing care to fill a gap in a particular community. While many of the existing and proposed programs are focused on the rural environment, why can’t we do the same in urban systems? In fact, what if we’re already doing this in an urban system?”
Hampton Workers Take “Like Button” Firings To Court
“Roberts said some of the workers were let go because he wanted to replace them with sworn deputies while others were fired because of poor performance or his belief that their actions “hindered the harmony and efficiency of the office.”
One of those workers, Daniel Ray Carter, had “liked” the Facebook page of Roberts’ opponent, Jim Adams.”
Five San Francisco Firefighters Injured in Four-Alarm Apartment Blaze
Firefighters rescue man from burning Danville home
3 Steps to Improved Cardiac HealthCrucial lifestyle changes can prevent heart attack & improve health
“According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 87 firefighters died while on duty in 2010. Of those, 50 of the 87 firefighter deaths were related to heart attacks. Although there are certain variables associated with heart attacks that we can’t change (i.e., age, gender or family history), we can maximize those variables that are controllable.”
Disasters and Social Media a look at how social media plays a role in sharing information during disasters.
A Dose Of Mortality an excellent post about learning from shared information on a LODD with his son and aspiring career firefighter.
What Happened to the Big Green Truck Donated to Detroit Fire? Charlie LeDuff is still at it in Detroit. This time uncovering a donated truck that should have been in service but instead just sitting idle in a lot.
Another False Alarm: A Tale of Complacency
“Recently on one of my trips I was startled awake at 2:53am by a fire alarm activation. The alarm only rang about 10 seconds. Knowing what I know about night clerks at hotels, I suspected the alarm had been prematurely silenced. My suspicion was confirmed when I went to the lobby and heard the clerk on the telephone telling someone the alarm panel is indicating the fire pump is running. I was the only patron of the hotel who came to the lobby.”
Exclusive: Grieving FDNY Father Seeks Recognition for “Black Sunday” Son Retired deputy chief Joseph DiBernardo wants recognition for his son Joey DiBernardo.
Video: Wildfire Crew Bosses can’t speak Spanish and are laid off
Today, May 4th, is International Firefighters Day. It has been that way since 1999 apparently. I am just getting the memo today. It is also the day we celebrate St. Florian.
The event began in Australia after 4 firefighters died in a wildfire.
However, the day was the traditional Firefighters day in many European Countries for a long time. That day was picked because it is the Day of St. Florian, the Patron Saint of Firefighters.
Who knew? Many of my friends on Facebook were aware of it. As for me, I must have had my head in the sand!
From Wikipedia (about the 4 LODD’s in Australia):
On December 2, 1998, a tragic event shook the Linton Community, Australia and the world. Firefighters in Linton, Australia- a populated region in Victoria- were fighting a large wild fire and called for mutual aid. This urgent mutual aid call brought the Geelong West Fire Brigade to the scene not knowing the despair and tragedy that was in store. Garry Vredeveldt, Chris Evans, Stuart Davidson, Jason Thomas, and Matthew Armstrong all loaded into company’s truck. They were part of a strike team and were being sent to help extinguish the flames. As the five headed into the hot zone, the wind suddenly switched direction, engulfing the truck in flames and killing all five members. This unfortunate incident is what inspired JJ Edmondson to bring about an international holiday, called International Fire Fighters Day, to support the lives lost and dedicated fire fighters who risk their lives every day to save life and property.
Links:
Here are some other translations for “Firefighter”:
Romanian: vânătoare de foc, Finnish: Palomies, Chinese: 消防员, Bulgarian: пожар изтребител, Croatian: vatra borac, Czeck: oheň bojovník, Danish: brandmand, French: utte contre l’incendie, Dutch: brandweerman, German: Feuerwehrmann, Greek: φωτιά μαχητικά, Korean: 소방수, Japanese: 火災ファイター, Norwegian: brannmann, Polish: Firefighter, Swedish: Firefighter, Spanish: Bombero, Russian: пожарник, Portuguese: bombeiro, Australia: Firies.
I have posted several firefighter commercials in the past. Most of them have been pretty good. Here are three more that I think are worth watching. A Margarita recipe, a Dirty Firefighter, and one that might hit home with current pension reform practices.
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!
Fully Involved – Thoughts on Coaching, Leadership, and the Fire Service
Written by Mark VonAppen
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.
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?
Some of us have more than one. Don't worry, we have poor grammar too! #nojoke
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
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…
You guys asked for them, so we had them made. I am talking about our very own challenge coins.
Right now, the Fire Critic/IronFiremen challenge coins are available at a significant discount. Get our challenge coin, our patch, and the NM Coin challenge coin all for $14.40. That is 40% off for a 3 piece set. Trust me, it won’t get any better than this. Click here for the deal
The deal is available through Daily911Deals.com (another site that I run along with Jeff Harkey of FireNews.net). We are working hard to bring great deals to firefighters around the world. Be sure to check it out and sign up for email updates when there are more deals available!
The coins were minted by NM Coin. NM Coin also made our patches. Currently, this is the only way to get a hold of our coin. They are sold exclusively through NM Coin and will remain that way into the future.
Be sure to check them out for your own needs too! They are easy to work with and have excellent products.
Daily911Deals.com also has 2 other current deals. One for Xtreme Valor apparel and another for the Westsider Front Holder.
Links:
This is part IV of my FDIC wrapup. Read Part I, Part II, Part III
Another good read is IronFiremen’s Simplicity of Brotherhood
Randy taking care of his Captain
I drove in a van…not the point. I would not have been at FDIC if it weren’t for two great guys who have helped me out in the past. I needed two shifts covered and they did it no questions asked. Captain Clayton Martin covered for me Saturday and Firefighter Randy Armbruiser covered for me on Thursday. I appreciate it. Randy “Rocket Randy” to be exact is one of Captain Wines guys. He works at 13′s house. Thanks guys!
One of the things that Willie and I have always tried to stress is that we do what we do because of our readers, friends, and fans. If it weren’t for you guys, we would not spend hours behind the computer typing, sharing, networking, and commenting. We love it. We learn. I don’t have time to travel around going to fire schools taking classes, so much of my learning is from instructors who share online. Many fire bloggers do just that, they share their love of the tactical and strategic side of firefighting through their blogs and on Facebook.
I mentioned many of them with links to their sites here
In another post, I shared almost 50 pictures that were taken of us with our friends at FDIC. Many of the people in the pictures were people we either finally met in person, or were seeing again for a second or third time. We loved it and it meant a lot to us. We were honored to have our picture taken with each and every one of you. Especially the Mariachi band! Those were just the pictures we were able to get. There were so many other pictures taken yet we didn’t have our camera out for it.
We met all kinds of people. These lovely ladies were in town for a Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.
One of the things that really bothers me is that there simply isn’t enough time to keep up with so many great bloggers, authors, and firefighters who share stuff online. I used to be on top of it. Now, not so much. What bothers me about it is that I hope no one feels slighted. I do my best…and that is what the Fire Critic is about.
I am a fan. A fan of the fire service, a fan of firefighters, and a fan of my readers. I love hearing from you guys. I enjoy being able to do favors in sharing news and information on the blog. I don’t teach fire tactics or strategy, or tips of the trade. I leave that up to the other guys. They are better at it. What I do is help perpetuate their network by sharing their information. Yeah, every once in a while I will beat Statter to a decent youtube video…but he never sleeps so it isn’t that easy.
What I am trying to say is that Fire Critic wouldn’t be anything without you guys. I wouldn’t have half the content I have and I wouldn’t have any readers…no, I haven’t been drinking. I am serious. And I hope that message is felt when we meet in person or chat online.
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
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:
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.
Willie and I climbed again. We climbed with 100′s of other firefighters. This would be our 5th climb, we thought that the 4th one was our last…we decided on it. A pact if you will that we wouldn’t climb anymore. Why do we say this? I can’t really put a finger on it, but it has something to do with not losing what we have gained. When we climb, it is emotional. The feelings I have felt, the thoughts I have had, the emotions have been engraved in my mind. They are my tattoos.
Then we climbed again.
This time we said the same thing after we were done. We wouldn’t climb anymore.
Thanks for all the Brothers who climbed with us. You know who you are and it was an honor to climb with you.
The cards of the 343 at the FDIC 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Brian Brush
We will never forget. We know that. As Brian Brush says in one of the video’s below: if you can’t climb, pay the $25 donation and he will carry the card. The money benefits the counseling unit of the FDNY. Without the stair climbs, the unit would be unfunded and be closed down.
Climbing at Lucas Oil Stadium was different than climbing in a stairwell. In a stairwell it is more personal.
It is tough, it has never been easy even when we climbed in shorts and a t-shirt.
Do me a favor and pick out a climb this year and do it if you have never done it before. I ask you to climb because I want you to experience what we have experienced.
Visit the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb web site here.
This past climb, I carried the cards of Firefighter Andrew A. Fredericks (squad 18) and Firefighter Ruben D. Correa (engine 74).
I also carried the cards of the guys I have climbed for in the past:
But the real truth is that I climbed for all 343 of them…and I climbed for myself.
This is our itinerary for FDIC 2012. We will be up and about for most of the time. Willie and I don’t sleep much during FDIC. We are up early and in bed late.
I will update the itinerary as we add to our events!
Willie and I are driving up on Wednesday.
Willie and I WILL be climbing for the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb if there are not 343 signed up. Willie and I have climbed 4 times before and actually made a pact that we had accomplished what we wanted to and we would not climb again. We have had so many people ask us to climb with them that we decided if there are not 343 signed up, we would climb. Otherwise we will be there to support our brothers climbing!
I AM registered to run in the 5k…see if you can keep up I can keep up!
This year, I will not be making it to any of the excellent classes at FDIC. There are plenty of great classes being put on by great instructors. Many of my friends are teaching as well. There are two major components to FDIC, the classes and the exhibit hall. I will be all over the exhibit hall. That is more my niche. I leave the teaching of strategy and tactics to other firefighters who have dedicated themselves to learning and teaching.
The Official Fire Critic Kilt by Alt Kilt!
Special thanks to Alt Kilt who has designed a kilt for me to wear at FDIC! Check them out on Facebook and at their web site!
Here are some classes you might want to check out:
As for what Willie and I will be getting our hands into the events are below. We are traveling with Mike Elston from Salem and Andrew Catron from Kingsport. We will be meeting up with many others including Jeff Harkey from FireNews.net and Daily911Deals.com.
Much of our time during the Expo will be spent at the MN8 Foxfire booth with Zach Green (owner). Check us out at the MN8 booth #3026!
Cutters Edge has teamed up with MN8 FoxFire to bring you a firefighting chain saw that illuminates. They will have it at their booth #3447 at FDIC!
Kovenex is booth #410. Willie and I are picking up gloves there for a product review. We are looking forward to it!
Firefighter Nation/Fire Rescue Magazine booth is #3173
FireRescue1′s booth is #132
Willie and I will have some challenge coins, brotherhood chips, and patches to give out as well! The challenge coins and patches are fresh off the press from NM- Coin. Check out their web site and see them on Facebook too! You can purchase our merchandise direct from NM Coin here
NM Coin on Facebook - Web Site
The new challenge coin from NM Coin
Of course, we will see what the ladies are doing at the Black Diamond Boots Booth #2401 and the Black Helmet Booth #13106
You will find the floorplan to the FDIC exhibit hall here
Fire Critic/IronFiremen patch from NM Coin
Wednesday April 18
Thursday April 19
Friday April 20
Saturday April 21
Open as of right now, but we will fill it in I am sure!
Pipes and Drums Schedule
Here what I got for the FDIC Pipe and Drum schedule if you want to post it for people:
Wednesday..April 18th….
(1) FDIC Opening Ceremony… Indiana Convention Center
(2) FOOL’s BASH….. South Meridian Street , same as other years…Between Hooter’s and Ike and Jones’s ..Big Tent..and
Stage.
Thursday ..April 19th….
(1) We will have a Second FDIC Opening Ceremony on Thursday Morning at the same place and time as Wednesday’s Morning.
(2) Lucas Oil Stadium for the opening of that Bldg at 12:00 Noon….
(3) Back to the Convention Center and play through the whole convention center area’s
and that opening up all of the halls.
(4 ) Fallen Firefighters Foundation Event ( Stop-Drop- Rock and Roll Event ) at the Indiana Roof
Ballroom .. time is 6:45-11:00 PM .
Friday ..April 20..
(1)Play at then Stair Climb at Lucas Oil Stadium.
(2) Annual Indianapolis Firefighters – Local 416 Union Open House Party.
Video below of FDNY firefighters battling a high-rise fire in lower Manhattan. The videos offer two angles of the fire which started on the 16th floor and extended to the 18th. According to reports, it is a 21 story building. Firefighter Nation beat me to this story…they have a little more on it here. The fire occurred at 69 Columbia Street yesterday, March 28th around 11:18am.
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!
Web site: Hero Rush
Facebook: Facebook.com/herorush
Twitter: @HeroRush
An obstacle race & experience created by firefighters.
You can view all of the weekly drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com here. Try these two at the firehouse this week:
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.
The Gore VFD needs help. They need a tanker. You can help by sharing on Facebook and Twitter. Either share this post, or share the original post on VAFireNews.com that already has 226+ “likes” on Facebook! Bloggers can help by posting this on their blogs too!
On February 13th of this year, the Gore Volunteer Fire Department suffered a tragic loss. Firefighter Zachary Whitacre was killed, In the Line of Duty, during a single vehicle wreck. The Gore VFD is rebuilding. Not only did they lose a bright young firefighter, they also lost their tanker. A tanker they rely on for water supply in their area.
They are looking for help. They are seeking a tanker to be donated to their fire department. There have been many offers of used tankers for sale, but they simply do not have the funds to purchase. Not even a used tanker.
If you know of any department willing to donate a tanker, or someone willing to fund the purchase of a tanker please contact them.
Gore VFD is in desperate need of a Tanker…help them out by sharing this with anyone and everyone!
The Gore Volunteer Fire Department of Frederick County, Virginia suffered a tragic loss back in February when Station 14 member Zachary Taylor “Zach” Whitacre passed away in a line of duty death as a result of an accident. The department wishes to express its thanks and gratitude to all departments for the support they have received since Zach passed away.
As a result of this accident, the department’s “Tanker 14”, a 1,500 gallon tanker, was totaled and the Gore members are utilizing their current 1994 Pierce with a 1,000 gallon water tank as their primary suppression unit. The Gore Volunteer Fire Department is in desperate need of a used tanker.
Based on their first due response area, a tanker truck carrying 1,500 – 1,800 gallons of water is needed. Since the department would have to utilize the tanker as a backup to their engine, a 1,000 gallon per minute pump (or 750 gallon per minute) is also preferred.
If your department is selling or willing to donate your tanker truck to the Gore community, please contact Assistant Chief Kevin Yost at Fire Station 14. The phone number to contact is (540) 858-2811. If you prefer email, contact the editor of VAFireNews.com at editor@vafirenews.com and I will forward the message.
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!
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.
EMS Blogs Shortlist for Voting and JudgesFirefighters need to be healthy. I am no health nut, nor will you be seeing me in a firefighter calendar anytime soon.
However, I have been trying to be a healthier firefighter. I am not talking about wearing SCBA…I have always done that. I am talking about strength training, eating healthy, and being fit.
I am talking about being fit and eating healthy. As I type this, my whole body is sore from a chest workout on Monday alone at the firehouse, a tremendous leg workout on Tuesday with my wife, and some vigorous training this morning in Troutville on Rapid Intervention Teams…needless to say, I took the day off from working out.
Please do not take this post as being a “lecture” about what you should be doing. I just want to share some of my inspiration for finally making a difference for myself. I am not a nutritionist, nor am I a personal trainer. In all, I have lost 15 lbs. in the past 6 months. That may not sound like much, but I only weight 155 lbs. now. I am not a big guy. I did have some excess weight and still have some “baby fat” to loose!
13 years in my department. I was 155 lbs. when I got hired. The only difference between then and now is that I had well defined abs then. Now, they are still covered by a layer (not a beer gut) of fat. I am working on that! 13 years of eating whatever the hell I wanted and I was blessed with only gaining 15 lbs. I can’t complain.
Feel free to let me know what works for you.
This is where I draw some of my inspiration:
My wife with IFBB Pro Nicole Wilkins. This is one of the women my wife draws her inspiration from.
My wife is an amazing woman. Over a year ago, she decided she was going to begin working out. She got a personal trainer and started a regimen of working out twice a week with a personal trainer. Soon after, she realized that her goal would be to compete in a local figure competition. This summer she will achieve that goal. After a year and a half of training, strict dieting, and pushing her body to the limits, she will compete. I am so proud and excited for her. I began working out with her and her trainer several months ago. Two days a week, I wear myself out in the gym right next to my wife. Above the fact that we are working out, we get to spend time together away from the children and get to have fun, cut up, and workout. It has been beneficial to us as a couple as well as individually for our bodies. My wife works out other days of the week on her own. I join here when I can.
Even after working out with her and the trainer, I still lacked motivation to work out at the station…until last week. I have finally turned the corner and seen some results of working out and want more. I don’t have any set goals for what I want to accomplish with working out, but putting on some muscle is good enough for me. Don’t worry…I am not splitting shirts yet!
Me and my wife finishing our first ever 5k together.
For years, I have seen friends on facebook, twitter, and blogs who run. Greg Friese and Chris Hebert are two that come to mind immediately. They run. Greg probably runs more than I ever will. I still have not found that Runner’s high, and I don’t run regularly. What I have found that drives me is running 5k races. I have done several now and enjoy my time pushing myself each time. The messed up thing is that I don’t really train for the races. We will see where this goes. I will also note that my wife ran in the San Francisco Women’s Marathon a couple of years ago…another accomplishment of hers that she set her mind to. Unfortunately, she incurred and injury during the marathon and was only able to compete the 1/2 marathon.
I am the firehouse cook at my firehouse. I enjoy cooking and am able to control what is served at lunch and dinner. I might add that I am a pretty
My wife and I in the kitchen. Notice the apron...I know my place.
decent cook, know how to do it on a budget and the guys seem to like my cooking. Over the years, I have worked in firehouses where I cook on a rotation or might not cook at all. I have learned all kinds of recipes. While I am not a health nut that researches healthy recipes…yet. I do follow some basic rules with firehouse cooking. They took a little while to catch on for some of the guys who REALLY enjoy “comfort” food, but I do what I can. The only thing I can’t control is portion size. While I may be cooking healthier food, these guys might get three plates of it. That might be a little counter-intuitive, but at least the piles of food they put in their mouth is better for them. They just quite follow the simple caloric input/output ideology.
Here are some of my cooking rules:
My wife is helping me with the dieting aspect of healthy eating…I am working on eating every 3 hours. Two protein shakes and snacks of fresh fruit accompany my three meals a day. My breakfast is typically 4 eggs (or egg whites when possible).
Again, I am still learning.
Chris Brennan of the Fire Service Warrior
If you pay attention to Chris Brennan and Brian Brush of The Fire Service Warrior, they talk a lot about fitness. Chris especially speaks of his crossfit workouts. Between the blog, Facebook, and Twitter @ChrisFSW (be sure to follow the hashtag #FSWTraining) Chris is always sharing about his burpee sessions and other CrossFit workouts. While I don’t participate in CrossFit, I have watched his videos and understood his ideology. He is inspirational simply the way he shares what he is doing. He doesn’t guilt you into doing anything, his efforts are more on creating a community at FSW that promotes working out.
After way to long, this is a part of what has inspired me to get me in the gym and continue on.
Just today I bumped into a firefighter who probably isn’t ashamed to say he had put on some excess weight. He has lost a bunch since the last time I saw him. It is amazing. He isn’t alone. Several guys, including Willie’s Battalion Chief has lost dozens of pounds. I am amazed when I see some of these guys. Our department of 240 firefighters has offered several over the years. You see them after not being around them for a while and they are thin and trim. I try to make it a point to give them props for looking great. I am certain they appreciate it.
I know how easy it is to eat whatever the hell you want and as much as you can stuff in your mouth as quick as you can. I am still learning to have constraint when eating. After all, every once in a while I cook something that I just don’t want to stop eating. You should try my chicken salad! AMAZING…not as healthy as I would like but it doesn’t have any mayo and is excellent.
We all have “those guys”. You know, the ones who are built like Mack trucks. Standing next to them makes you feel like such a pussy. We have several guys who have worked out for years. They are freakishly huge, but they are stout and muscular. These are the guys who pose in firefighter calendars. I have worked around these guys for years and never had the motivation to take the first step to build muscle like them. Given, it doesn’t happen overnight…but I am working towards broadening my shoulders a little bit so that I don’t look like a high school explorer next to them!
So there you have it…that is where I am at. What about you?
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
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
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!
You can view all of the weekly drills by FirefighterCloseCalls.com here. Try these two at the firehouse this week:
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
Follow @FireCritic on twitter for more news 24/7!
I wrote about Brotherhood Cuts here about a month ago. The event is tomorrow!
This past month, we have raised about $1200 more dollars bringing the total to $1516 at the time of this writing. But there is still so much money to raise!
Where is all the love?
Think of your donation as my salary as a blogger…would you be willing to donate at least $5 for the enjoyment of what I do at FireCritic.com? I don’t get paid. Sure, there are benefits to what I do, but I am not getting rich (seriously, ask my wife!).
I donated $100 to Lt. Chris Gillett. He is $170 shy of his goal of $1000. Eric Southern is $200 shy of his goal.
If you match or exceed my donation I will send you a special gift!
Can you spare at least $5 donation? Each of you?
There are many others who are willing to shave their heads too. They need your donations.
Where does the money go? Good question. The answer is that the money raised will buy much needed bail-out bags for firefighters in the North Carolina area.
Willie Wines Jr. will be in attendance. The local news is doing a story tonight at 6pm. They are interviewing Gillett.
Brotherhood Cuts is a fund raiser. However, it isn’t just any fund raiser. This is a fund raiser that gives back to the Fire Service. This initiative isn’t masked by some huge plume of smoke disguising the purpose or sending funds somewhere else.
We raise money for the National Firefighters Endowment. The National Firefighters Endowment then gives to Fire Departments.
National Firefighters Endowment seeks to support organizations that lack the tools and resources necessary to more effectively protect the life and safety of the public and their emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.
If you would like to start your own “Brotherhood Cuts” event for your department or organization, please let me know or email the National Firefighters Endowment (shane@thethinredline.org)
The other day, I asked about firefighter tattoos on the Fire Critic Facebook Page. I got a bunch of responses as always because I have the best and most responsive fans/readers!
If you missed out on sharing your tattoo…email me at firecritic@firecritic.com and I will post more in a future post!
This whole thing was spurred by an email I received about tattoo policies. My department might have a tattoo policy, but it is not strict. I personally don’t have any tattoos…yet. I have wanted to get one since I was 18, but have never pulled the trigger. I want to get something that I won’t mind looking at and showing off.
Anthony Miske tattoo as seen on StrikeTheBox.com
Does your department have a grooming policy which includes tattoos?
One department I know just implemented a policy. Among the obvious prohibited “lewd” tattoos it includes:
I will say that I think tattoos above the shoulders are unprofessional in most professions including ours. Sleeves don’t bother me, but lewd tattoos on the arms should be covered up.
Trevor Bertram. My daily tribute reminder of the 343 who climbed on 911. This one is my favorite.
What do you guys think? What is acceptable? What isn’t?
Maybe I should do a fund-raising contest that if I reach a certain goal I will get a tattoo? What do you think?
IronFiremen.com had a bunch of tattoos submitted for a contest he did a while back. Check them out here.
Here is one note that accompanied a tattoo pic:
Hey I know your looking for pics. I Had mine done to include both fire and ems, and it also includes a three leaf clover that shows some of my heritage. My tat was done by Andi at Red Octopus Tattoos in Prince Frederick, Maryland. She has done a bunch of tattoos for firefighters and fire dept art. I am including her Facebook link if you want to get in contact with her and I am including her album link. Hope this helps
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