Archives for officers-club

Here are the Top Ten Christmas Gifts for 2012. This is a blog feature I have been doing for the past several years. The list has changed a little bit because of all the great products/companies that I want to share. Therefore, I have put some similar products into categories of gifts. This gives more ideas for everyone to look at.

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Don’t forget to share this with your friends and family. You might even point out some of the best products you are interested in. Feel free to add anything else you want in the comments! Many of these items/companies have been reviewed on FireProductReview.com (FPR).

10. Fire Critic & Iron Firemen Merchandise

The Fire Critic and Iron Firemen (Captain Willie Wines Jr.) have teamed up on their merchandise they offer. Since we mostly travel together, it made perfect sense. We have Brotherhood Chips (currently out of stock), Challenge Coins, Patches, and T-shirts. Check them out below. One thing we wanted to ensure when creating this merchandise was that it remained affordable.

“Hey Brother” Shirt - Our shirts are sold exclusively through Crosstitched. Crosstitched has their own designs as well. Our shirts are very affordable at $15 each.
Purchase a “Hey Brother” Shirt here

Fire Critic/Iron Firemen Challenge Coins - Offered from NM-Coin, our challenge coins have navigated the globe. You can get yours from NM-Coin today!
Purchase a challenge coin here

Fire Critic/Iron Firemen Patch - Our patch is a one of a kind and also created/offered by NM-Coin. Add it to your collection today!
Purchase a patch here

9. Wall Shields Custom Wood Firehouse Furnishings

Wall Shields - Wall Shields Co. is a fireman owned business and is the creator of Wall Shields and the Firehouse Furnishings line. We make custom-made Wall Shields and Firehouse Furnishings for you or your Firehouse. Wall Shields make great gifts for retirements, awards, or holidays. Our Firehouse Furnishings are designed and built by firemen to withstand abuse. All of our products are a great way to display your station’s pride. Don’t see what you want? Let us know. Here at Wall Shields Co., we can make just about anything you can think of. You are limited by your only by your imagination.
Web Site - Facebook - FPR Review

8. Fire Service Warrior Foundations Workbook

Fire Service Warrior FSWFoundations Workbook - The FSWFoundations Workbook is a 21-Day Personal and Professional Development program designed to help you implement the Fire Service Warrior Concept in your life. The daily work includes FSWMindfulness, FSWTraining, and FSWFitness work to help you prepare yourself to thrive on the fireground. Regular price is $25.00 including shipping to US addresses. For non-US Orders you will receive a separate invoice for shipping.
Web Site - Facebook

7. 2013 Firefighter Calendars

Not all firefighters are calendar models…however, the ones who are are well worth gracing the pages of calendars. Many firefighting calendars raise money for charity. Most of the calendars feature actual firefighters. Trust me, these calendars are good! To save space, I have simply linked to the Top Ten lists of calendars I put together recently.

Top Ten Female Firefighter Calendars for 2013

Top Ten Male Firefighter Calendars for 2013

6. Custom Made Kilt

Every firefighter should own a kilt. Many don’t think they can pull off the look, or don’t want to wear a kilt. I am not saying wear one every day…but there are those occasions where a kilt should be worn if you have one!

Alt Kilt - Our purpose is to provide functional, stylish and well-made kilts that are individually designed and custom built for each client.
Web Site - Facebook - FPR Review

Bunker Kilts - Essential Gear For Firefighters. Firefighter Owned and Operated. The fabric and reflective striping are made of the same materials as structural firefighting gear.
Web Site - Facebook - FPR Review Pending

5. Firefighting Apparel

Firefighters love showing off their Pride in the job by wearing Firefighting apparel. The companies below excel in firefighting shirts. There are designs for everyone and anyone. Some are basic and others are over the top. What you won’t find below is the “I Fight What You Fear” type of shirts that no one should be wearing!

Ride Backwards – Their mission…To bring the best to the bravest: high quality athletic wear, with original designs, at affordable prices. Fashion without function is like a Haligan bar without a flathead axe. Sure, they can be used separately, but how much more efficient are they when they’re married together?
Web Site – Facebook - FPR Review Pending

Black Helmet – Too many designs to list! Mens’, Women’s, Kid’s, hats, decals, and much more!
Web Site – Facebook - FPR Review Pending

Crosstitched – The home of the Fire Critic/Iron Firemen “Hey Brother” T-shirt. Crosstitched offers great designs on comfortable shirts!
Web Site – Facebook

Axe Head – Built By Tradition. AxeHead is an attitude, it’s a lifestyle. We believe in old school values and tradition.
Web Site – Facebook

The Fire Service Warrior Shirt- FireServiceWarrior.com is the official website for an emerging, operational framework known as the Fire Service Warrior Concept. Our Mission is simple: Forging Fire Service Excellence.
Web Site – Facebook

Detroit Devil’s Night 2012 Shirt – Typically the busiest night of fire in the City that sees the most fire.
Web Site

Firehouse Shirt Club – This one is new to me, but for $20 a month, your firefighter gets a different shirt each month.
Web Site – Facebook

Boston Fire Gear - At Boston Fire Gear our mission is to provide the best quality Boston Fire merchandise at affordable prices. We want every customer to be 100% satisfied with Boston Fire Gear products and encourage customer feedback.
Web Site – Facebook

MN8 FoxFire Keep Calm and Fight Fire Shirt – MN8 FoxFire is known for their illuminating technology. This shirt is no different and illuminates in the dark.
Web Site – Facebook – FPR Review

4. Personal Protective Equipment & Accessories

Dragon Fire Alpha X Structural Firefighting Gloves - The Fireman’s Shield gloves main heat protection comes from our Kovenex™, not the leather. This exclusive design yields a thinner, softer glove without compromising thermal protection. With a TPP rating of 45, Fireman’s Shield gloves are rated 30% above the NFPA standard.
Web Site – Facebook – FPR Review

Glove Crafters Fire Armor Structural Firefighting gloves - A true three dimensional glove curved finger design with inset 2 piece thumb.
Web Site – Facebook – FPR Review

Streamlight Vulcan Box light or LED Helmet Light - Streamlight is a “hands-on” company. We learn by doing, so we understand what our customers need because we’re out there doing what they do, using the same lighting tools in the same ways. We go through firefighters’ training.
Web Site – Facebook

Phenix TL2 Traditional Leather Firefighting Helmet - Phenix Technology’s Traditional Leather Helmet boasts a low center of gravity and is center balanced, thus, promoting a very low degree of neck fatigue.
Web Site – Facebook

3. Tools and Equipment

Let’s face it, most of our departments purchase the typical “firefighting” tools to place on the apparatus. There are hundreds of additional tools as well as innovations to those tools that firefighters have found useful on the job. Below are some of those tools.

The Pig Fire Tool - THE PIG is an innovative and beautifully simple, fire service tool that was developed by an experienced Austin, Texas firefighter. THE PIG combines the two working ends of the flat-head and the pick-head axe.
Web Site – Facebook

The Bowring Fire Tool – The Ultimate Firefighter’s Tool
Web Site – FPR Review

New York Hook from Fire Hooks Unlimited - The Firehooks Unlimited web site is down, you can click on “web site” below to check out their tools from All Hands Fire Equipment.
Web Site – Facebook -

Firefighter Axe from Fire Axe Inc. – Mirror polished steel axes available in many styles and sizes.
Web Site

FatIvan® Door Chock - The World’s Only Fold Up Door Chock! A perfect tool for Emergency Services, Commercial, Residential, Industrial, Hotel/Motel and all deliveries. FatIvan’s® safe, secure design never slips off hinge or comes out accidentally.
Web Site – Facebook – FPR Review

Helmet Camera from FDCam.com - Bringing the toughest HD Fire Helmet Cameras to Americas Bravest! FDCam.com is the new way to “Do Work”! for fireground video! Aggressive interior: It’s how we work, It’s what we sell.
Web Site – Facebook - FPR Review Pending

Channellock 87 Rescue Tool – An excellent tool for any firefighter!
Web Site – Facebook – FPR Review

2. National Firefighters Endowment Officer’s Club

Several people put down donating to the NY/NJ Firefighters in need when asked about Christmas gifts. Here is a way of giving all year long to FD’s in need.

The National Firefighters Endowment “Officer’s Club” is the gift that keeps on giving. The Officer’s club is a funding mechanism for the NFE and funds donations to fire departments in need. However, those who join get a lot more in return.

Each year, the members get a numbered custom made challenge coin.
Each month, the members are entered to win a prize. These prizes have been valued at up to $500 a piece depending on what the prize is for that month.
On Facebook, they are invited to a closed group that offers a place for like minded individuals to communicate as well as offer input on decisions made by the NFE.
The membership dues go directly to funding assistance, purchasing tools and equipment, and supporting fire departments.
The NFE offers three tier levels for joining the Officer’s club.

And yes…The Fire Critic is a Chief Level Member of the Officer’s Club

More on the NFE on their web site. More on the Officer’s club here and below:

The Officers Club is an exclusive group of brothers and sisters who have made a pledge to participate in NFE’s mission; to provide our nation’s firefighters with life saving equipment. Their monthly contributions are responsible for every piece of equipment that National Firefighters Endowment is able to place in service. That’s right, the membership is personally responsible for putting the tools in the hands of our heroes and making sure they come home safe to their families.

1. Custom Leather Firefighting Accessories

Custom leather shields, radio straps, glove straps, suspenders, chin straps, and other items are a great way for a firefighter to show off his/her PRIDE of Firefighting. Although some of these items probably won’t be ready and shipped by Christmas, you should look into getting your firefighter a gift certificate or credit to one of these great companies. That way, your firefighter can get the item personalized exactly the way they want!

Box Alarm Leather - Custom Leather Helmet Shields, Radio Straps, Radio Cases, Glove Straps, Suspenders, Shield Plaques.
Web Site - Facebook - FPR Review

Wolfpak Leatherworks - Custom Leather Suspenders, Radio Straps, Glove Straps, Chin Straps, Axe Belts, Box Light Systems, Wolfpak apparel, and more
Web Site - Facebook - FPR Review

1st In Leather - Custom Leather Helmet Shields, Suspenders, and Glove Straps
Facebook - FPR Review is pending

RKE Custom Leather - Custom Leather Shields, Sustpenders, Radio Straps, Radio Cases
Web Site - Facebook

Posted by The Fire Critic on November 8, 2012 • Filed under: Fire Rescue Topics, News, Top Ten Lists • Tagged: 1st In Leather, Alpha X Firefighter Glove, Alt Kilt, Axe Head, Black Friday, Black Helmet, Black Helmet Apparel, Boston Fire Gear, Bowring, Box Alarm Leather, Bunker Kilts, Camera, Channellock, Channellock #87, Channellock Rescue Tools, Christmas, Christmas Fire, Christmas Fire House, Christmas Fire Station, Christmas Firehouse, Christmas gifts for firefighters, Crosstitched, Cyber Monday, Dragon Fire Gloves, EMS Gifts, Facebook, Fat Ivan, FDCam.com, Fire, Fire Armor Fire Glove, Fire Blogs, Fire Critic, Fire Department, Fire Service, Fire Service Warrior, Fire Service Warrior Foundations Workbook, FireCritic.com, Firefighter, Firefighter Apparel, Firefighter Axe, Firefighter Calendar, Firefighter Christmas Gifts, Firefighter Gifts, Firefighter Rescue Tool, Firefighting, Firehouse Shirt Club, Gifts for Firefighters, Gifts for Firemen, Glove Crafters, Helmet Camera, Hey Brother Shirts, IronFiremen.com, Keep Calm and Fight Fire Shirt, MN8 FoxFire, National Firefighters Endowment, NFE, NM-Coin, Officers Club, Phenix Fire Helmets, Phenix Leather Helmets, Rescue Tools, Rhett Fleitz, Ride Backwards, RKE Custom Leather, Shane Parkins, Shopping, Social Media, Streamlight, Thanksgiving, The Pig, Top Ten Firefighter Christmas Gifts, Top Ten List, Top Ten Lists, Wall Shields Co., Willie Wines Jr., Wolfpak Leatherworks

20 Questions with Shane Parkins of the National Firefighters Endowment

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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.