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NY Judge Says “Whoa” to Mandatory Vaccinations of First Responders

In my blog posted October 8 here on FireDaily.com, I addressed some of the concerns of my buddy, Brett, a local firefighter/paramedic, regarding flu vaccinations for first responders. One of his questions: Could his employer, in the name of public safety, force him to get vaccinated against his will as a term of his employment?

Well, let the games begin.

Earlier today, Acting New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. McNamara granted a temporary restraining order against mandated flu vaccinations for certain health care workers.

The New York Health Commission had previously ordered that certain employees must be vaccinated for both the seasonal and the H1N1 flu by November 30 or face the possibility of disciplinary action, including dismissal.

Three nurses from the Albany Medical Center claimed the regulation violates their civil rights. The New York State United Teachers Union and the New York State Public Employees Federation also sued. McNamara merged all three lawsuits under the restraining order and set a court date for October 30.

Of course, this was bound to happen. And I fully expect similar cases to arise at the state and local levels all across the country in the upcoming days and weeks.

So, do you think the government has the right to dictate your health care decisions during a pandemic?

-J

FireDaily.com will continue following all the developments on the pandemic, specifically its effects on first responders.

Posted in EMS Health & Safety, Firefighter Safety & Health, H1N1 Flu Pandemic, News

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Posted by on October 16, 2009 • 2 comments

Nigerian Fuel Tanker Accident Kills 70

A NewsAfricaOnline.com post reports that Nigerian officials say a fuel truck spill last Friday ignited into a massive blaze killing 70 people, including many bus passengers.

Authorities say the petroleum truck was passing a section of the highway with deep potholes when it served and overturned, spilling its contents onto the roadway.

Witnesses say the spilled fuel exploded into a raging fire that engulfed the vehicles, including the truck and at least five buses.

Nigeria’s This Day newspaper on Saturday quoted witnesses who said bystanders stood helplessly as people trapped inside the burning vehicles screamed for help.

Die ongeluk gebeur het in die suide van Anambra staat op die Onitsha-Enugu snelweg in die øýî raad gebied. Duisende mense sterf jaarliks in Nigerië van ongelukke as gevolg van vreeslike ry, swak onderhou paaie, en die gebrek aan toegang tot die pre-hospitaalsorg. (for our Afrikaans-speaking friends)

Posted in News

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Posted by on October 16, 2009 • Comments Off

Extremely Local News

I’ve always been intrigued by extremely local news, and will attempt to shine a spotlight on stories that come our way that would never normally get wide distribution.

WISTV.com posted such a story on their site late last night about a certain rescue in tiny Olar, SC.

Give it a look. It’s a pleasant change from all the press the bad apples have been getting lately. It’s also an example of positive publicity you can’t buy these days.

Stay Stoked!

-J.

Posted in News, Rescues

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Posted by on October 16, 2009 • 1 comment

A Special Note to the Bloggers at the New FireEMSblogs.com

Wow. New digs!

It’s reminds me of the last time I moved into a newly-opened fire station. No, not that temporary piece of crap renovated warehouse ‘station’ in the industrial park with the loading dock and a bay door 2 ¾ inches wider than the mirrors on the engine it housed, and the rickety stairs leading to the open loft day room on top of the kitchen’s ceiling…

If I sound bitter about that rat hole, it’s because I am.

No, this one is the shiny and new kind. You remember: the “new construction smell” and plastic still on the recliners. The kitchen cabinets and drawers full of new pots and utensils. The bay floors that will never be that clean again despite your efforts, and the johns that will.

As I check out all the new features on FireEMSblogs.com, I compare it to going into each room of the new station; touching everything everywhere as ideas on how to customize begin to float around in my head.

To the builders (Chris, Dave, and the crew) congratulations, it’s truly amazing. Your hard work so far has clearly paid off. I join the others with eager anticipation in what lies ahead. Thanks!

To my new partners, thanks for taking me aboard and your hospitable welcome. Although I’ll be entering my fifth decade in the fire service next year, this makes me feel like the young probie all over again (this time I’ll do things right). I hope I can earn your respect as we move forward together with our common purpose.

Finally, as I visited each of your sites tonight, I noticed the graphics and design features you all implemented with the rollout They are really impressive, and I’ve got my work cut out for me. Great job everyone!

Even with our new “station” we’ll still all be “running calls”, so the work won’t change. But the new digs seem to have an invigorating effect, don’t you agree?

Stay stoked!

-J

Posted in Change, Fire Rescue Topics

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Posted by on October 16, 2009 • 7 comments

UK Paramedics to Prescribe Medications?

Gaze into the crystal ball.

Have you been hearing rumblings of an expanding role for first responders- again? Community-based medical services such as oxygen tank maintenance and catheter replacement continue to be floated. Any guess on who will perform these tasks?

Alaska is already utilizing Community Health Aides/Practitioners (CHA/P) in rural areas to provide focused primary care, health education, health surveillance, emergency care, and other activities where such services are badly needed.

Now, across the pond, paramedics in England could be given greater powers to dispense drugs under an initiative to redesign emergency services and keep patients at home and out of the A&E (ER), according to a report from The Guardian yesterday. The proposal would look to arm paramedics with a greater skill set that would be utilized to keep patients from admission to the hospital, saving a boatload of bucks for the financially-strained Department of Health.

“The system isn’t working as well as it should… The government is looking at whether it’s right for paramedics to be able to prescribe medicines, something that would help keep patients in the community,” says said Liz Kendall, the director of the Ambulance Service Network at their group’s first-ever convention this week. The ASN is part of the National Health Service (NHS) Confederation.

Expanding the role for first responders is nothing new here in the States. Change has been constant, and there’s every reason to believe that our service will continue to evolve.

What do you see you and your crew doing differently in the next five years?

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Posted in Change, EMS

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Posted by on October 15, 2009 • 10 comments

Milwaukee Firefighters Jam City Hall

video courtesy WISN Milawaukee

Posted in Brotherhood, Staffing

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Posted by on October 14, 2009 • No comments

WhaWoodJoo Do? Huh? Huh??

Scenario- You’ve been partying and you’re wasted. You get the munchies. You decide to chance it and sneak over to Mickey D’s in your pickup (what could happen?). Along the way you are distracted by a bazillion flashing lights at a huge fire.

You should:

A. Slink in a different direction to avoid interaction with police

B. Steer around and through a police roadblock

C. Run over charged fire hose

D. Almost hit a cop with your truck

A Norwalk, Wisconsin man did not choose the correct answer late Monday night.

He also didn’t get his Mushroom and Swiss Angus burger.

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Posted in Just For Fun, WTF?

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Posted by on October 14, 2009 • No comments

AmbuCab- Redefined

A Kansas man was arrested last weekend after leading police on a low-speed chase.

Intoxicated and with no friends stepping up to get him home, the 21-year old decided that stealing an ambulance parked at the scene of a medical call was just the ticket he needed. In fact, he got more than just a ticket.

Posted in WTF?

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Posted by on October 14, 2009 • No comments

"The Head Rule"

When I joined the fire service “a couple of years ago”, my mentor was a wise young captain. He offered up what he called the “Head Rule”. It is something I have made a point to pass along to all probies struggling to find their fit in this great service:

“You’ve got two eyes and two ears; keep ‘em open. You have a nose, keep it clean. But above all, keep your mouth shut!”

The fiasco in DC that burned our brothers on video (see STATter911.com) is still with us as mouths remain open and the yammering intensifies. DC Fire & EMS Chief Dennis Rubin should have enough experience to know better than to extend the story with what came bubbling out of his mouth during an interview with Ed Comeau of Campus-Firewatch.com.

According to Comeau, the Chief said it “looked like a comedy act”.  It is a comment he still stands by today in a video update by STATter911.

A wordsmith he was not and his choice of verbiage may have caused more harm than the embarrassing incident of which he was referring.  Who wouldn’t expect a vocal and public outcry from the firefighters accompanied by a blistering response from President Raymond Sneed of IAFF Local 36

Imagine you are a DC firefighter. How does this make you feel about your leader?  What effect do these perceptions have within the group? What discipline would have been handed down if the Chief himself wasn’t involved?

There is a lot of blame to go around at all levels. We can all learn from the mistakes made here. As we mature in the fire service, we will come to learn that we always gain more by criticizing the act rather than the individual.

To his credit, Rubin “assumes full responsibility” for what happened. Stuff like no safety officer for the event, no pre-incident briefing, lack of use of a required check-off list, and he himself calling for the backup line which was never charged.  I’ve seen for myself many a time where a Chief would drop his people like a prom dress.  Thankfully, it appears this isn’t the case.  But this nightmare had an end in sight and it should have been left alone.

It Didn’t Have to Happen

With all the outcry from the initial story, it began to look like the story had run it’s course.  But, the “looked like a comedy act” remark now makes Rubin fair game. It just didn’t have to happen.

According to Department spokesman Pete Piringe, Rubin is said to be out of town and unavailable for comment.

Good. This fuel has been taken away and now the fire can be extinguished.

Maybe the “Head Rule” can finally be enacted.

-J

Posted in Leadership, Tips and Tricks, WTF?

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Posted by on October 14, 2009 • No comments

Ohio F.D. Paramedic Diagnosed with H1N1 Flu

We knew it would happen, and we know it won’t be long until many more are affected.

A paramedic with Deerfield Twp. Fire Rescue Department in Ohio has been confirmed to have been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu. He has not been identified and was immediately placed on medical leave, according to Fire Chief Chris Eisele. His condition has not been reported. Several other members of the same Cincinnati-area department reported sick over the weekend, though it is not known if their illnesses are related. Here’s a report from WLWT-TV:

Last week, FireDaily reported on the apparent magnitude of the situation, citing the Centers for Disease Control prediction that 1 in 3 Americans will be infected. H1N1 put 1 in 5 into the ICU, with 7% of those dying during last winter’s flu season. 

As we begin the new flu season, the virus is slated to tax emergency services to unprecedented levels. Fortunately, federal and state authorities have been keeping a watchful eye on the brewing storm. However, local agencies that haven’t adequately prepared for their upcoming battles will find themselves vulnerable and thereby less effective to the communities they serve.

Earlier this year, Deerfield Twp. Fire Rescue Department reviewed and implemented H1N1 virus infection precautions as mandated by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because those precautions were in place, this singular case was immediately isolated to prevent spread of the virus to other members of the department or the public, Eisele said.

How does your community stack up? What can you tell about your agency’s effectiveness in its response to the pandemic?

As you browse the web, take a quick moment to visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) H1N1 site for frequent updates as the pandemic unfolds across the nation. Another good stop is flu.gov where you can find information specific to your state. Click on your state in their map to find numerous resources local to you.

Don’t wait for someone else to figure out what you will do.

Stay Stoked!

-J.

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Posted in H1N1 Flu Pandemic

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Posted by on October 13, 2009 • No comments

Freak Wind Accident Kills LA Paramedic Friday

EMS LODD A bizarre weather incident claimed the life of a Louisiana ambulance worker last Friday afternoon.

Winds in the area gusted strong enough to knock a Cameron Parish EMS trailer off of its blocks. 38-year old Thomas Widcamp of Grand Lake, LA was pinned between the building and a car. He was transported by air to a Lake Charles hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Widcamp leaves behind a wife and four children and numerous other family members as well as his devastated co-workers.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

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Posted in EMS, LODD

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Posted by on October 12, 2009 • No comments

Arbitrator Rules Against City of Lockport NY

Firefighter StaffingStaffing Levels Unsafe

FirefightingNews.com is reporting that an arbitrator has ruled against the City of Lockport, NY in a legal battle with the Lockport Professional Firefighters Association.

The arbitrator ruled that the city had violated its agreement with the LPFFA by failing to maintain a safe level of staffing. The city has vowed to challenge the ruling, and the case may ultimately end up at the state Supreme Court.

The specifics of this long-running battle are worth a peek. The plot may sound familiar to many of you. Read the full article here.

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Posted in Staffing

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Posted by on October 11, 2009 • No comments

CDC Says 1 in 3 Will Contract H1N1

First Responders Are In For A Battle

Strap yourselves in, it’s starting to get rough out there. In a story that may rival the coverage of Hurricane Katrina, the H1N1 flu pandemic is sweeping across the nation and across the media.  As of today, the CDC reports that 79 children have died in America this year due to H1N1. 

The CDC fears that the public may not fully appreciate the magnitude of the situation.  As the flu hit earlier this year, one quarter of patients afflicted ended up in the ICU, and 7% of those died.  Today, a CBS poll reports that 51% of respondents say they will pass on the vaccination.  Parents of the those most affected (under 24 years old) are in a quandary over what to do.

video courtesy CBS News

Don’t be too quick to blame the parents, as they are getting mixed messages on whether or not to vaccinate their children.  Some pediatricians are advising to hold off on the first round of vaccine because the study sample was too small (only 600) to deem its safety.

And parents are listening.  The  poll released today indicates nearly 40% of parents will choose not to vaccinate their children.  Early government agency screw-ups haven’t helped give credence to a message that could very well be true.  And the wrong decision –either way- puts the parents un a life-or-death trick bag,

The Children’s Hospital at Oklahoma University Medical Center in Oklahoma City is one example of the pandemic’s impact today:

video courtesy CBS News

Some of these infected patients are arriving at the ER by ambulance, so some first responders say the vaccine can’t come soon enough for them.  As we speak, Milwaukee Firefighters join thousands of first responders as the first to get vaccinated.

Video courtesy of WISN-TV Milwaukee

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland signed a proclamation Wednesday allowing emergency medical technicians in the state to administer flu vaccines in light of continuing concerns about the spread of H1N1 influenza.  EMT’s normally do not administer injections, but will be put into action into what Ohio calls a “state of emergency.”

As the axiom goes: “Knowledge is Power.”  So go now and seek the knowledge you need immediately to get you and your family through this crisis. 

FireDaily will continue to follow all aspects of the pandemic, and will keep a special eye focused on its effects within our first responder community.

-J

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Posted in EMS, H1N1 Flu Pandemic

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Posted by on October 9, 2009 • 1 comment

A New Weapon for Hi-Rise Fires-The Hero Pipe

Mount a Master Stream Attack from the Exterior Regardless of Height.

FireDaily has learned that the Chicago Fire Department has been testing a new tool for hi-rise fires. It’s called The Hero Pipe, and it looks very interesting. This nifty device offers an additional tactical option: with access to the floor below the fire floor, you can now mount a master stream attack from the exterior regardless of height.

Some of you may remember the Cook County Building fire at 69 W. Washington St. back in 2003. Master streams were initially ineffective due to the height of the fire floor (12th). The only other alternative was to mount an interior attack with handlines.

After the fire, I was able to talk with the guys in there on those lines. Every single guy I spoke with told me they had never been in a hotter fire- ever. More than one shared the thought that they knew they were not going home that day. They were literally tasked to put out the fire from inside the oven.  Eventually they were forced out and aerial master streams were able to be placed and used with efficacy.

Less than a year later, CFD had the LaSalle Bank fire on the 26th floor, out of reach of ladder company master streams. After an unsuccessful interior attack — again turned back because of high heat and flames — firefighters set up master streams on adjacent rooftops to put enough water through the 26th floor windows to cool the fire so an interior attack could be made.

Perhaps there is a better way.  According to The Hero Pipe website:

With as little as a two person team, the HERO PIPE can be set up for action in minutes. Once the proper attack points have been determined the aluminum manifold is secured to the sill using the rapid action lever clamps. If no sill is available, rest it directly on the floor at any outside wall or directly on the floor. Then secure with a patented hydraulic system between the floor and the ceiling.

The HERO PIPE was created by a veteran fire fighter with 20 years experience in downtown Chicago who recognized the limited capabilities when battling modern high-rise fires. Their product has been chosen as a finalist at the 2009 Chicago Innovation Awards being held on a week from Tuesday at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. Good luck, guys!

Toss this idea in with all the others in my cabinet labeled “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Anyone have any experience with this device? Let me know!

FireDaily.com has no financial interest in this product.

-J

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Posted in Chicagoland, Tips and Tricks

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Posted by on October 9, 2009 • 9 comments

360 Burn Around the Fire Web

Stuff Worth Your Time

FireGeezer describes one department’s ongoing aggravation with two almost-new rigs constantly out of service in his post Sick Ambulances in Connecticut. Imagine both of your two front-line ambuli are rarely available. Turns out they are not alone; several problems are popping up all across the northeast, prompting a class-action suit against Ford.

There are some illuminating blogs out there regarding blogs.

1. You can really get an informed insight into the sources of your blogs by finding out where the authors are coming from. ChiefReasonArt.com offers his “blogging principles” in his post The Art of Blogging.

2. If you missed it before, The Fire Critic addresses the right and responsibility bloggers have at his post Keeping Up With the Joneses: “…It is up to us to bring our issues to the forefront. We need to stand up for what is right and demand what we deserve.”

3. Mick Mayers at FirehouseZen.com shines light on efforts to get people to engage effectively with each other- rather than solely with emotion- in his post, Science is Your Friend.

Finally, some exciting news from the fire/EMS blogosphere: FireDaily.com will be teaming up with several of the top bloggers you’ve been enjoying for years in a new collaboration. The result will be more of the same excellent content made even easier to find. We’ll have details shortly, but please, pardon our dust as update and improve our site in the next week or so.

Stay Stoked!

-J

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Posted in 360 Burn

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Posted by on October 9, 2009 • 2 comments

LODD- Capt. Carl Nordwall, Norfolk Airport Fire Dept.

 We’ve lost another.

Captain Carl Nordwall of the Norfolk Airport Fire Department passed away Tuesday after collapsing during shift change on Saturday from an apparent heart attack. CPR and ALS treatment were immediately given by his crew.

The funeral for Captain Nordwall will be held on Saturday, October 10 at 1400 hours at the Rosewood-Kellum Funeral Home, Witchduck Road, Virginia Beach, Va.

Expressions of sympathy or condolences can be sent to Local 3406 at 4710 Pinehurst Avenue, Norfolk, Va., 23513-3755.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Captain Nordwall, and to our extended family at IAFF Local 3406.

Posted in LODD

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Posted by on October 8, 2009 • No comments

Woman Crushed By Garage Door Made Fake 911 Call

Remember the strange story of the Idaho woman crushed and killed when an ambulance bay door closed on top of her last Thursday? Now it gets even weirder.

Police now say the woman lured away paramedics with a bogus 911 call. Once the crew left the building, 35-yr old Melissa Farris attempted to slip under the closing door, according to Caldwell Police Chief Chris Allgood. Sensors were located higher up than most home garage door sensors, and apparently did not sense Farris as the door closed on top of her.

Farris made a 911 call reporting an overturned car accident. The call was almost two minutes long and full of detail. Emergency personnel never located the incident.

Ironically, Farris had worked with the same ambulance company for seven years before leaving in December. Investigators have not released any details on Farris motive for luring the paramedics away or for attempting to get into the building.

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Posted in Uncategorized

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Posted by on October 8, 2009 • 2 comments

Can You Be Forced to Take The H1N1 Vaccine?

New Challenges Pose New Questions for First Responders

Brett Brett is a firefighter/paramedic on a suburban Chicago fire department. He normally doesn’t get the regular flu shot because he feels it makes him sick. To date, Brett has yet to decide if he should get the H1N1 flu vaccine being offered up this month.

With all the H1N1 press lately, Brett has some new-found concerns. Many of them affect each of us employed as first responders:

1. Can Brett’s employer force him to take the vaccine- in other words- is there a point where his employer can dictate Brett’s personal healthcare decisions?

2. If Brett refuses, might he face disciplinary consequences up to and including termination?

3. Will Brett’s employer-provided insurance carrier have a say as well?

4. What happens if Brett refuses the vaccine and gets sick on the job?

5. Will worker’s compensation be available to him if he refuses the vaccine??

6. What liabilities do Brett and his employer accept should he contract the H1N1 flu?

7. What happens if Brett contracts the virus and passes it on to his co-workers or patients?

H1N1 globe mask Another interesting aspect to the story is there is nothing to fall back on in the area of precedence.  These are new times full of new challenges.  It’s possible that Brett’s employer doesn’t yet have the answers to these questions and will have to make some decisions soon to enact the next time around.  The way his agency handles these situations may be quite different than the way yours does.

There will invariably be a labor-management aspect which will have to be reconciled as well.  Freedoms that Brett may enjoy under his current contract may have to be negotiated the next time around.

So many questions, so little time.

-J

Posted in Change, EMS, Firefighters

Posted by on October 8, 2009 • No comments

Chief Arrives, Finds His Daughter is Dead

Oklahoma City Firefighters Offering Aid

Packed with teens on a rainy night, Oklahoma Highway Patrol says an 18-year old SUV driver was travelling too fast for conditions on a muddy road in Logan County, about 4:00 a.m. early Sunday. The vehicle left the roadway and rolled over into a culvert.

Cashion, OK Fire Chief Danny Clark and his EMT wife were first on the scene. As they began their care, they realized a horrific reality: their own 16-year old daughter Kalee Jo had perished.

All members of Cashion Fire Rescue were involved in counseling after the tragedy, trying to find ways to console each other and deal with the loss of someone they all knew and loved. Oklahoma City Firefighters are stepping up to help their brothers and sisters in Cashion by accepting donations at any of their stations to assist with the funeral expenses.

Posted in Brotherhood

Posted by on October 7, 2009 • No comments

Silent Parade Friday

Suburban Chicago Event Celebrates 15 Years

October is Fire Prevention Month and attention is focused on getting the word out to your public as we enter into our “busy season”. Specifically, Fire Prevention Week takes place during the week of the Great Chicago Fire on October 9, 1871.

This Friday night, a suburban tradition continues as the annual Silent Parade steps off once again, offering a tribute to firefighters and civilians who have lost their lives in fires.

Neighboring communities Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Lisle, and Westmont join in the Downers Grove event celebrating its 15th anniversary. The idea was first conceived by Park Forest Fire Chief James Gignac back in 1983.

silent parade Downers Grove Fire Department Public Education Officer Marsha Giesler reports the parade will begin its journey westbound on Maple Avenue from Hinsdale to Lisle. Crossed aerial ladders will provide an impressive bridge for the vehicles to pass under at Main Street and Maple Avenue in Downers Grove at about 7:15 p.m. Typically, 30 or more vehicles from departments as far away as Aurora and Evanston participate in the parade.

Giesler encourages residents to line Maple Avenue and light the way by holding flashlights and American flags in tribute to those who are being honored. A brief memorial service will begin at about 7:45 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1101 Kimberly Way, Lisle, upon the fire apparatus’ arrival.

Posted in Chicagoland, Pub Ed

Posted by on October 7, 2009 • 2 comments

FF Joyce Funeral Video

red line of courage maltese WABC has the video of their news report on today’s funeral of Brother Joyce.  Click here for the video on their sire, as well as their report.

Godspeed, Brother.

-J

Posted in Brotherhood, LODD

Posted by on October 6, 2009 • No comments

Tradition Tuesday- Bagpipes

It is OK to Cry Today

The tradition of bagpipes being played at fire department funerals in the United States goes back over one hundred and sixty years. When the Irish and Scottish immigrated to this country, they brought many of their traditions with them. One of these was the bagpipe, often played at Celtic weddings, funerals and dances.

It wasn’t until the great potato famine and massive Irish immigration to the East Coast of the United States that the tradition of the pipes really took hold in fire departments. Factories and shops had signs reading "NINA" meaning No Irish Need Apply. The only jobs they could get were the ones no one else wanted — jobs that were dirty, dangerous or both — firefighters and police officers. It was not an uncommon event to have several firefighters killed at a working fire.

bagpipes The Irish firefighter’s funerals were typical of all Irish funerals-the pipes were played. It was somehow okay for a hardened firefighter to cry at the sound of pipes when his dignity would not let him weep for a fallen comrade.

Those who have been to funerals when bagpipes play know how haunting and mournful the sound of the pipes can be. Before too long, families and friends of non-Irish firefighters began asking for the piper to play for these fallen heroes. The pipes add a special air and dignity to the solemn occasion.

Today, the pipes will play for our fallen brother Pat Joyce. 

It is OK to cry.

Posted in LODD, Tradition

Posted by on October 6, 2009 • No comments

Accused Firefighter Murderer Appears in Court

Courtroom Packed With Our Brothers

roldan 33-year old Rafael Roldan appeared today in a Yonkers courtroom to face arraignment on charges he set fire to an occupied building last week, killing one of our brothers, Patrick Joyce. Roldan stands accused of second degree murder, second degree arson, and first degree burglary.

The nearly 100 firefighters who crammed into the courtroom in a show of unity will continue their support by joining legions of others in attending Joyce’s funeral tomorrow morning in the Bronx.

Roldan continues to be held without bail.

Joyce’s two young daughters continue life without their Daddy.

Posted in Brotherhood, LODD

Posted by on October 5, 2009 • No comments

Fire Daily is Looking for Your Winter Tips and Tricks

frozen

 

It’s Coming!

Up here in the northern climes, winter is a season to be reckoned with.  On the fireground, envy the firefighter who has thought ahead. 

Perhaps you have some tips to offer, or things you consider necessary to carry in your pockets or on your rig.

Share your best so that your brothers and sisters can benefit from your wisdom!

 

bn39jqsikz

Posted in Tips and Tricks

Posted by on October 5, 2009 • No comments

Firefighter Cooking Show Seeking Best Firehouse Cook

Everyone claims to know the best firehouse cook.  Here’s another opportunity to lay claim to the fame.  Check these guys out at HeroesInTheHouse.com

Posted in In Da House

Posted by on October 5, 2009 • No comments