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Animal Oxygen Masks Donations Continue- Charleston SC Area Depts Latest Beneficiaries

By Dave Munday – The Post and Courier

CHARLESTON — “It would be sad enough to lose a home to a fire; to lose a pet would be unbearable.”

That’s the slogan on Janet Fincannon’s Web site. She’s a self-described cat lover who values her five felines more than her West Ashley house.

She started the Web site last month to raise money to buy oxygen masks designed to fit over animal snouts. It’s called Oxygen Masks for Pets. She raised enough in a couple weeks to donate 51 sets of animal oxygen masks to local fire departments.

“She needs to be commended,” Charleston Fire Department spokesman Mark Ruppel said. “She did an incredible job. She is truly an amazing individual, taking this on single-handedly.”

Charleston got 15 sets of pet masks, one for each station. Ruppel said the firefighters will use them.

North Charleston, Johns Island, Folly Beach and the Old Fort fire departments also got some.

Fincannon raised $1,500, and Invisible Fence of Coastal Carolinas matched it. Invisible Fence, which sells systems to keep pets safe, will continue to match donations up to $3,000, said Lisa Swayne Proud, the company’s donation coordinator.

Fincannon said she’s thrilled with the response so far.

“My long-range goal is for every fire truck in America to have oxygen masks for pets,” she said.

Few, if any, fire departments use tax money to buy oxygen masks for animals. Those who use them say the masks fit better than devices designed for people.

They come in three sizes. The smallest can handle little dogs, cats or even ferrets.

Each set costs about $65 wholesale. None of the local fire departments has spent any tax money on them. All have been donated.

Mount Pleasant and North Charleston started using them last year, followed by James Island, St. Andrews and Hollywood. Goose Creek got the masks in September.

Fincannon started her Web site and fundraising effort after reading an article in The Post and Courier last month about fire departments that use special oxygen masks for animals trapped in house fires.

Charleston Fire Chief Thomas Carr said in the article he was not using the masks but would be glad to if somebody came forth with the money. That’s when Fincannon went into action.

She recently watched a video of firefighters reviving a dog rescued from a house fire in Daytona Beach, Fla.

“If that doesn’t bring tears to your eyes, I just don’t know, when that little dog starts wagging its tail,” she said.

From TheSunNews.com

Posted in Change, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 30, 2009 • Comments

360 Burn Size-Up of the Fire Web 11/29/2009

Fire Chief Shot by Off-Duty OK Police Officer- Cop is Dead

FirefighterCloseCalls.com has the story of a shooting in Mangum (OK) on Thanksgiving afternoon which wounded the town’s Fire Chief and lead police a standoff with one of their own dead. It is unknown if the Chief was on or off-duty but it appears he was shot by the cop, who is his relative. Mangum is known for the “light bulb” in the firehouse that has been burning for over 75 years. Read the story here.

“You have to pull hoses, hop over fences and work those lines. That just takes people.”

A vacant four-story factory fire Tuesday night in Reading, PA demonstrated exactly why looming personnel cuts will force the department to drastically change the way it fights these large fires. With the already thinly-stretched full complement of 22 firefighters and 10 call-backs, fire crews attacked the building from all four sides to successfully protect the exposures. The same fire with fewer personnel will potentially cause huge problems. The full story here.

The Cost to Replace Turnout Gear is Still Less Than the Cost Not to….

Small volunteer fire departments are struggling to come up with funding to replace old turnout gear, the protective pants and coat that firefighters wear while they battle blazes. New National Fire Protection Association guidelines say that firefighters should only wear turnout gear that is less than 10 years old inside burning structures. These departments don’t have enough money to buy new gear, nor do they have enough money to settle litigation should a firefighter get injured or worse. Read more on that dilemma here.

Posted in 360 Burn, Firefighter Safety & Health, News, Staffing, WTF?

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 29, 2009 • Comments

FireDaily Needs Your Help With My Wunnerful New Idea I Just Came Up With

You know, I just had a most wunnerful idea. It just came to me!

I’ve got a fair amount of information to share regarding fire/EMS issues and ideas here in beautiful, cold, wintery, overcast northern Illinois. I’m wondering if there is a similar blogger that may have some information regarding their fire and EMS services.

We could get together, perhaps even once or twice per year, and update each other, comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of each other’s services. Of course we would share our experiences all over the interwebs so that everyone could benefit.

(Bear with me here, thoughts are coming to me as I type… )

Perhaps we could get one a camera crew to “chronicle” the event. Huh? Huh? Ya’ following me here? Imagine the possibilities….

So-

I’m putting out the official call for a partner blogger with whom I can perform this incredible service to the greater fire/EMS world. There is only one prerequisite: you must be from French Polynesia, or Fiji.

Yeah, Fiji.

Actually, Fiji is preferred but the greater French Polynesia area will be considered.

Now that I think of it If you’re from a similar south pacific area locale (or maybe even New Zealand) Mrs. FireDaily would consider your application as well. Just get back to me at blog@firedaily.com!

So let’s light this candle! I want to get going on this before the first winter storm watch….

Posted in Chicagoland, Just For Fun

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 28, 2009 • Comments

Oak Park (IL) Firefighters Retire Early to Facilitate the Return of Laid-Off Brothers

“…It’s disheartening and hurtful to be portrayed as the economic destroyers of the community, the ones who work such a short career and live such a wonderfully long retirement at the expense of the people we served – portrayed as something bad, as if our work, lives, careers were some sort of scam we have perpetrated on the community. I guess on a line item in a budget or in a ledger, we are just another number.”

Earlier this year, the Oak Park (IL) Fire Department had laid off several firefighter/paramedics due to budget constraints.

One of them is a brother that used to be a part of my crew for years at his previous department, and is one of those guys that can be described as a “fireman’s fireman”.  So I can personally verify that the Oak Park Fire Department had lost the services of a great guy- just as we did when he left us for Oak Park.

Today, he is back at work in Oak Park, one of two firefighters just rehired.

Why?

The honorable and selfless acts of senior firefighters, who decided to hang up the leather early to make room for the outstanding younger guys to carry on in their place.

What an excellent punctuation mark on the fire service careers of these fine men.

Here, in his own words, is an article written by one of those jakes, Rich Wilkie, reflecting on a career with no regrets.

*     *     *     *     *

I have just recently retired (after 27 years, two months) a few years early, short of a full 30 years of service. This was in order to effect the return to duty of the five young firefighter paramedics who were laid off last September. I was asked by one of the young firefighters today, “Were the years at the firehouse worth it all? What was your best memory and were there any regrets?”

It was worth every second of it. I would do it for another 27 years standing on my head. But I have already enjoyed a wonderful career serving, and theirs is just beginning. That is enough reason for me to know it’s time to go now. Not to mention that this job has taken its toll on my body physically and my spirit emotionally. There are so many good memories and stories; it would be impossible to single out one from the rest. So many challenging and rewarding situations in EMS and fire that you take with you, feeling and knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.

It’s a package deal, though. You can’t just take the good alone. Along with the good, you must carry forever the heartache and pain of the situations where you couldn’t change the outcome. You take those with you, too. There’s no vocation I can think of that gives you so much, spiritually, for your successful efforts and takes so much away for your failures. That’s how we think. We own our successes and failures, whether or not our actions could have possibly changed the outcome. We always want to help, save, rescue and succeed, and if we don’t, we feel responsible. We feel we’ve failed. That is why there is such a bond between us, “our band of brothers.”

It takes a special type of person to do what we do. We can’t do it alone; we need each other. Most people don’t really know or understand what is required from us and the toll it takes on us to do the work we do. Only those of us who do this work can understand what it is like to be us. A lifetime decision to willingly and without reservation give your life to help and protect the community you serve. It may sound cliché, but that’s the oath that every firefighter takes when he or she takes on this vocation.

It’s disheartening and hurtful to be portrayed as the economic destroyers of the community, the ones who work such a short career and live such a wonderfully long retirement at the expense of the people we served – portrayed as something bad, as if our work, lives, careers were some sort of scam we have perpetrated on the community. I guess on a line item in a budget or in a ledger, we are just another number.

But in my heart – and I hope in the hearts of the community in which I’ve lived, grown up, raised my children and served for 27 years – me and all my brother and sister firefighters are more than that. Your successes are ours and your losses are ours, too. Thank you for the opportunity and the privilege to serve you for the time I was able.

No regrets at all. Keep the faith and protect each other.

*     *     *     *     *

Rich Wilkie is a 27-year firefighter for the Oak Park Fire Department and member of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 95.

Making a splash: Rich Wilkie helps Joey Midlash handle a fire hose at A Day In Our Village in 2004.
Photo by Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest File 2004/Staff

Posted in Brotherhood, Chicagoland, IAFF, News, Staffing

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 28, 2009 • Comments

LODD- FF Terrance Freeman, Sr. 36 Rockford (IL) Fire Dept.

We’ve lost another.

The U.S. Fire Administration has announced the official line of duty death of Firefighter Terrance Freeman Sr., 36, of the Rockford (IL) Fire Department on November 22, 2009.   Terrance is the 82nd LODD for 2009.

While visiting relatives in suburban Chicago, Firefighter Freeman passed away of an apparent heart attack several hours after coming off of his shift during which he had responded to multiple emergency calls.

He leaves behind his wife, Lawanda, and six children.

According to the Rockford Register Star, Rockford Fire Department Division Chief Jim Strey said news of the veteran firefighter’s death came like a surprise punch to the gut, stunned Rockford firefighters and cast a somber pall over the department.

“We come to our job for a career and when someone’s life is cut short at the age of 37, everyone is just stunned,” Strey said. “He has a lot of friends and colleagues who think a lot of him. He’s a nice man, a good person and does a very nice job for the city of Rockford, so it’s a devastating, tragic situation.”

Through his career, Terrance was stationed with Ladder Co. No. 2, Engine Co. No. 4, Ladder Co. No. 1, Engine Co. No. 1, and currently earning his Paramedic rating at Engine Co. No. 3.  He was recently recognized for excellence in customer service.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has asked all government agencies in Illinois display their respect for our fallen brother by lowering to half staff the flags of the State of Illinois and the flag of the United States beginning at sunrise Thursday until sunset Saturday.

A visitation will be held from 1400-1600hrs on November 28, 2009 (Saturday), followed by a memorial service at 1600hrs at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108.

As always, our thoughts and prayers pour out over his family and friends during this time of such loss.  Additionally we look to comfort all of our brothers and sisters at his second family at  the Rockford Fire Department.

Posted in LODD, Line of Duty, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 25, 2009 • Comments

Best Practices: Strive to Stay Under the Radar

Posted in Just For Fun, Tips and Tricks

Posted by John Mitchell on November 25, 2009 • Comments

Blogger Jeremy Black Canned- John Mitchell Takes the Helm at FireDaily.com

“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family,” Jeremy Black told a hastily created press conference early this afternoon.  “I’m proud of my involvement in the genesis of FireDaily, and will always look back with fond memories of my short time here”,” he told the completely empty room.

After less than one hundred days, Black was relieved of his post as Executive Editor and Chief Blogmeister at FireDaily.com, an upstart blogging venture experiencing rapid growth.  It became clear last Friday that Black would not be a part of the future of FireDaily.  Black left a comment on FireEMSblog.com partner Mick Mayer’s Firefighter Nation Blog that was the final straw.

“Even if he didn’t mean it the way it came across, his comment was unnecessary and just plain out of line,” crowed John Mitchell.  “Chief Mayers is a highly respected firefighter and champion blogger.  He was put into an awkward situation, and that’s not what FireDaily.com is all about.  We finally realized that his services were no longer needed here.”

Formerly the Vice President of Media Relations and Senior Assistant Blogmeister, Mitchell has tapped himself to replace Black effective immediately.

“We tried to be nice, but he just wouldn’t take the hint.”  Mitchell had to resort to more serious tactics to get the point across.

“First, we took his red stapler.  That usually works, ya know.  Next, we moved his office into the basement.  That’s where the girls like watching Pokemon,” Mitchell explained.  “We were convinced that would do the trick, but his psychiatrist just upped his meds and, to his credit, he hung firm”.

Black smiled wryly at the visual image from Mitchell’s metaphor.

With the holidays approaching, a rash but effective decision was made to avoid a confrontation during a time when interactions with extended families already created a hostile environment. The entire FireDaily staff (of one) met this weekend behind closed doors and came up with a plan.

“How many times did we have to tell him to ‘step away from the comma’?  He had become a comma-holic, dropping them everywhere and anywhere,” Mitchell related, rolling his beautiful blue eyes in disgust as he sprayed the last of a Costco 3-pack of Fabreze into the area around the executive desk.

“We tried getting him to read Frank McCourt’s Eats, Shoots & Leaves countless times, but we knew that would could never tear him away from Sarah Palin’s Going Rogue, especially how painfully slowly he reads, asking for help with the big words all the time.”

So, realizing the comma remained Black’s Achilles Heel, Mitchell sabotaged his laptop this morning by reassigning a happy-face emoticon to the dirty and stained comma key on the keyboard.

“I wish we did that a long time ago, his posts would have made more sense,” Mitchell ripped.

That did the trick.

Comma-less, Black left immediately after the press conference- sans stapler.  He will continue to receive a small percentage of the Adsense profits from the site if they eventually are earned.

As he continued de-lousing the office, Mitchell whined that he hadn’t heard the last from Black.

“We know he’ll land on his feet, he just needs to learn to keep them out of his mouth.”

Posted in Change, Just For Fun, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 24, 2009 • Comments

If We Do What We’ve Always Done, We’ll Get What We’ve Always Gotten…

I see that NIOSH reports have popped up on the radar of the blogosphere recently.  Frankly, I’m surprised at the heat a few have been giving them.  Maybe I’ve been missing something (it’s happened before). So I took a closer look.
We already know that heart attacks and traffic accidents are the main murderers of us firefighters, so I’m sure we’ve already dedicated the necessary resources to firefighter health and safety initiatives and accident scene safeguards to keep these killers from having free reign over our troops.
Right?
So, I went to the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Reports page from NIOSH and randomly picked 5 of the reports with deaths involving fire suppression. I was looking for patterns. Guess what I found….
NIOSH Report 2008-26
A residential basement fire had been burning for over 30 minutes. A crew was directed to enter the first floor to perform horizontal ventilation and found a spongy floor. The last (victim) of the four-man crew was just about out when the floor collapsed into the basement on top of working crews. Heavy smoke conditions hampered efforts to locate the victim and he died on the scene.

Among the NIOSH recommendations:

Sizeup, Risk/Gain “ensure that the incident commander (IC) conducts a 360 degree size-up which includes risk versus gain analysis prior to committing interior operations and continues risk assessments throughout the operations”

SOP’s/SOG’s- “ensure that standard operating procedures are established for a basement fire”

Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure that proper ventilation is done to improve interior conditions and is coordinated with the interior attack”

TIC- “ensure that interior crews are equipped with a thermal imaging camera”

RIT/RIC- “ensure that Rapid Intervention Teams are staged and ready”

NIOSH Report 2008-34

One of only three firefighters on the scene, the victim entered a burning residence alone with a partially-charged 1 ½ inch line and became lost in thick-black smoke, radioing for help from the other two. They couldn’t locate him, a flashover occurred, and the home became fully engulfed. A cop found him an hour later.

Among the NIOSH recommendations:

Size-up, Risk/Gain- “ensure that officers and fire fighters know how to evaluate risk versus gain and perform a thorough scene size-up before initiating interior strategies and tactics”

SOP’s/SOG’s- “develop, implement, and enforce written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fireground operations”

Staffing- “ensure that adequate numbers of apparatus and fire fighters are on scene before initiating an offensive fire attack in a structure fire”

Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure that properly coordinated ventilation is conducted on structure fires”

RIT/RIC- “ensure that a rapid intervention team (RIT) is established and available at structure fires”

SCBA- “ensure fire fighters are trained in essential self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and emergency survival skills”

Mayday- “ensure that protocols are developed on issuing a Mayday so that fire fighters and dispatch centers know how to respond”

NIOSH Report 2008-08

30 minutes into a residential fire, crews had been pulled out. A decision was made to send a crew back in to extinguish the fire. A crew of 3 (A/C, Capt, FF) made their way into the basement of the burning structure with an 1¾ line. One by one they evacuated due to conditions. The third never came up the stairs. RIT was activated but repelled by the heat. Victim found an hour later.

Among the NIOSH recommendations:

Risk vs. Gain- “ensure that the Incident Commander continuously evaluates the risks versus gain when determining whether the fire suppression operation will be offensive or defensive“

SOP’s/SOG’s- “review, revise as necessary, and enforce standard operating guidelines (SOGs) to include specific procedures for basement fires and two-in/ two-out procedures“

TIC- “enforce standard operating guidelines (SOGs) regarding thermal imaging camera (TIC) use during interior operations“

Mayday- “ensure that fire fighters are trained on initiating Mayday radio transmissions immediately when they are in distress, and/or become lost or trapped“

NIOSH Report 2008-06

Without the protection of a charged hoseline, a Lt and FF (victim) were searching a 2-story residence for a trapped occupant. They did not know where the victim was and had no TIC. Conditions deteriorated, trapping the two on the second floor. The LT exited the front door and RIT was deployed to get the victim. Both were hospitalized and the victim succumbed to burn injuries 5 days later.

Among the NIOSH recommendations:

Size-up- “ensure the Incident Commander receives pertinent information during the size-up (i.e., type of structure, number of occupants in the structure, etc.) from occupants on scene and that information is relayed to crews upon arrival”

SOP’s/SOG’s- “develop, implement, and enforce written standard operating procedures (SOPs) for fireground operations”

Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure ventilation is coordinated with interior fireground operations”

TIC- “ensure that fire fighters conducting an interior search have a thermal imaging camera”

Mayday- “ensure that Mayday protocols are developed and followed”

NIOSH Report 2007-32

Two firefighters died while conducting an interior attack to locate, confine, and extinguish a fire located in the cockloft of a restaurant. One victim had been flowing water into the cockloft from the kitchen, another had been checking for fire extension in the main dining area. At about 5 minutes in, a rapid fire event occurred.

Among the NIOSH recommendations:

Size-up- Risk vs. Gain- “ensure that the incident commander conducts an initial size-up and risk assessment of the incident scene before beginning interior fire fighting operations and continually evaluates the conditions to determine if the operations should become defensive”

SOP’s/SOG’s- “develop, implement and enforce written standard operating procedures (SOPs) that address the hazards and define the strategies and tactics to be used while operating at specific structures known as “taxpayers”

Coordinated Ventilation- “ensure that fire fighters understand the influence of ventilation on fire behavior and coordinate with interior fire suppression operations”

RIT/RIC- “ensure that a rapid intervention crew (RIC) / rapid intervention team (RIT) is established and available to immediately respond to emergency rescue incidents”

TIC- “use thermal imaging cameras (TICs) during the initial size-up and search phases of a fire”

Any patterns?
Size-up, Risk vs. Gain- Does your first in crew perform a 360 and report an accurate size up of conditions to all others? Is a risk vs. gain assessment actually made? Are your initial tactics based upon these findings?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Are your SOP’s/SOG’s current to the ever-changing tasks being performed at your incidents? Do you follow them? Do you even have any?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Is ventilation performed early and integrated with your interior attack? Or has ventilation worked its way down to fifth or sixth on your list of priorities? After all, it will eventually vent itself.
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Is a RIT/RIC established early on? If you don’t have the personnel to form a RIT/RIC, do you have a mutual aid response to give you the number of firefighters needed to operate safely?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
Does your department have at least one Thermal Imaging Camera? It’s been called the best thing since SCBA in many firefighting circles. You have SCBA, right? Does your department know to call a Mayday early? Too macho to call it? Does EVERYONE ON THE SCENE know what to do when a Mayday is called?
Why not? Didn’t you try to implement the NIOSH recommendations to keep from killing your firefighters?
WHY ARE WE NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH?
Are the reports too difficult to understand? Perhaps we need to dumb them down or fluff them up? Fine. I’m all for whatever it takes.
But let’s not forget that the reports are just that- reports. We need to make the changes, NIOSH ain’t gonna do that for us.
So read the reports, see how they killed our brothers, and take a hard look at how you and your department operate.
THEN IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR GUYS ALIVE.
Because if we continue to do it the same way, we’ll get what we’ve always gotten. Another NIOSH report with the same ol’ stuff.

Posted in 360 Burn, Command & Leadership, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, In the Line of Duty, LODD, Line of Duty, Rescues, Training, Training & Development, WTF?, training-fire-rescue-topics

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 22, 2009 • Comments

It’s Time.

From Michael McAuliff of the New York Daily News

First responders and Ground Zero workers are pleased Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is headed to New York to face justice – but they hope to win a different kind of justice of their own.

“Eight years later they finally bring the terrorists to New York and eight years later we’re still waiting for help” treating 9/11-related illnesses, said John Feal.  “It doesn’t equate,” added Feal, who heads the FealGood Foundation, devoted to raising awareness about the health crisis. He and busloads of survivors and victims held a rally Wednesday in Washington.

The FealGood Foundation holds a press conference earlier this year at the scene of the 9/11 attacks (photo by Schwartz for News)

They’re demanding Congress act on legislation named after James Zadroga, an NYPD officer who died from his exposure to Ground Zero. The proposal would spend about $8 billion to reopen the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation fund to care for the illnesses suffered by the responding heroes.

“I’m going to be focused on getting that bill passed,” said Glen Klein, a former NYPD Emergency Service Unit officer who spent 700 hours at Ground Zero. “It’s time.”

It’s the same two words Jim Ryan wanted to tell Congress Wednesday hoping to join hundreds of his fellow Sept. 11 responders on their journey to Capitol Hill. But he couldn’t make it.

He’s dying himself.

“I was a 46-year-old firefighter, working at my job in April 2006,” said the husband and father of two teenage boys and a 9-year-old daughter. His doctor thought he had gallstones, but it was pancreatic cancer, a deadly illness more common in older men. The fire department eventually agreed the cancer was from 9/11, and he retired.

He beat it once.

Then came the relapse last November – and more treatments. His doctor can’t do any more.

“They just determined last week it wasn’t working. As of right now, I’m not on anything. At this point, I’m just seeking second opinions,” Ryan said.  He doesn’t want to ask how much time he has left.

“I don’t believe in deadlines,” he said.

But he wanted to do what he could to push Congress to pass the $8 billion measure. It would reopen the Sept. 11 victims’ compensation fund and provide for the families of the ill and dying.

So Tuesday night he packed some gear in the car of his friend and fellow firefighter, Keith Palumbo, and went to the Engine Co. 320/Ladder 167 firehouse in Flushing for a party that Palumbo arranged so Ryan’s department brothers could see him again before it was too late.

“It was overwhelming,” Ryan said.

But he got violently ill, and it was obvious to his friends that Ryan, who’s lost 50 pounds to his illness, couldn’t make the trip to Washington.

“Keith, he took my bag out of his car and he said, ‘You’re not going.’ He said, ‘You can’t, you’re not physically able to,’” Ryan recalled.

It’s almost the way he felt about the months he spent digging through the voids in the wreckage of the twin towers, searching for the fallen. He tried to explain it to his wife, Magda, when she asked why he wanted to swim in that toxic devastation for so long.

“I told her I don’t. It’s the last place in the world I want to be, but right now, and it’s kind of hard to put it in words, but right now it’s the only place in the world I want be,” Ryan remembered.

There was no internal conflict about going to Washington Wednesday, except that he couldn’t.

“I felt horrible because it’s not only about me,” he said. “It’s about all the guys who are going to come after me, and there’s going to be plenty of them. … I don’t think you’ve even seen the tip of the iceberg yet.”

Ryan and the other advocates say they’ve received assurances that Congress would act this fall. But sources told the Daily News that the battle to overhaul the nation’s health care system comes first – a fight that could extend into next year. Feal said rally goers intend to take their message straight to lawmakers.

“We’re taking three teams into each congressional [office] building,” Feal said Wednesday. “I’m storming the Capitol.”

The Zadroga Act is sitting in Congress, held hostage by the health care reform debate. The House version is all but ready to go. The Senate’s has yet to be discussed in a committee hearing.

Palumbo and others carried the message for Ryan, visiting lawmakers in their black turnout coats. He hopes legislators heard it.

“We’ve got eight guys in the firehouse who have cancer,” Palumbo said after walking the halls of Congress, knocking on doors.

“Hopefully, we prodded them with our tale.”

Posted in Firefighter Safety & Health, In the Line of Duty, LODD, Line of Duty, Never Forget, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 20, 2009 • Comments

Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

Hey, elected official!

I know the economy is in the dumps, the teabag revolution is morphing, and it is politically rewarding to slash the budgets across the board, no matter the true cost.

Quick question for ‘ya:  What will it take to find a way to bring costs down without killing us, your so-called heroes?

Let’s review what you’ve accomplished for us so far:

In order to save money, you have cut mandated the closure of one of our stations, meaning that I now arrive a little later then I used to, and my help may be a little farther out than it used to be.  The fire has a head start, the dangers of a catastrophic fire event occurring while I’m inside has increased with the delay.  And when I need help in getting out, or help in getting one of your constituents out, my assistance will be running just a tad later than usual.

Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

In order to save money, you have taken one person away from my crew, depleting my immediate manpower needs by 25-50%.  I have to do the job of 1 1/2 people just as quickly as before.  What are the chances I will have to take shortcuts or make a mistake in order to perform outside my abilities due to your cuts?  I am now less protected, and we are all less effective on the fireground.

Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

In order to save money, you have postponed the replacement of my 13-year old apparatus, you’ve refused to replace retiring personnel, and you’ve frozen funds for training.

Thanks for increasing the chance that my wife and children will get a visit from my Chief and a Chaplain.

You’re a politician, but I am a firefighter. I fight fires, I protect property and I save lives. I am asked to do more and more with less and less. And I’m just barely hanging in there as you continue to cut and slash.

It sucks.

I’m doing all I can in my power to make sure my Chief and a chaplain don’t knock at my door. All I want is to fight fires, protect property, save lives and go home to my wife and kids after my shift has ended.

God help you if I don’t, because my wife and kids will come knocking at yours.

Posted in Change, Funding & Staffing, Staffing, WTF?

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 19, 2009 • Comments

Handerpants

Sometimes I feel the need to “glove up” when not at work, know what I mean?

Want a pair?   Really?   Wow, OK.  Click the pic…

Posted in EMS Health & Safety, H1N1 Flu Pandemic, Just For Fun, Tips and Tricks

Posted by John Mitchell on November 17, 2009 • Comments

360 Burn Size-Up of the Fire Web 11/13/2009

Making Due

Fire destroyed a convenience store/gas station business in Oakes, ND last Tuesday night, but the underground storage tanks and gas pumps were not damaged, according to news reports. Several firefighters and apparatus responded and worked for hours to contain and suppress the fire.

Water tenders were supplemented by two cement trucks full of water sent by two businesses in Oakes.

“On a service station fire you definitely handle things differently,” said Randy Burley, Oakes Fire Department Chief.

Breathing Toxins vs. Religious Discrimination

In an EEOC complaint citing Title VII, three Orthodox Jewish medics have charged the Pikesville Volunteer (MD) Fire Company with religious discrimination, alleging they were barred from responding to calls unless they shaved their beards. They further allege the fire company is retaliating for their membership in Hatzalah, an emergency response organization made of mostly of Orthodox Jews in northwest Baltimore. Apparently the Hatzalah beats the Pikesville Volunteers to some scenes which has caused friction between the groups.

Citing the Baltimore County Fire Department SOP’s, a lawyer for the fire company pointed to a regulation allowing for mustaches and sideburns “only if they do not interfere with the proper seal of a breathing apparatus face piece.” Fire officers have been instructed to keep bearded responders off the apparatus.

See the full report from Yeshiva World News

Looking For Love in All the Wrong Places

Armed only with a cell phone and a need, police say 29-year-old Joshua Basso found himself between a rock and a hard place.

After running out of cell phone minutes and still looking for sex, 911 was the only number this Tampa, Florida man was left to dial. Police say he called several times requesting permission from the 911 operator to come to her house.

Instead, police came to his house and gave him a ride to their house.

Posted in 360 Burn, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 13, 2009 • Comments

Dancing Firefighter Robot Helps Protect Chief’s Boot Tassles

The fire service has always been able to look toward the military as a source of methods and ideas in meeting the challenges both face. What’s next on the horizon?

Enter “Big Dog”.

Big Dog is the newest entry into robotic assistance to the foot soldier. Imagine the possibilities for such a buddy on the fireground:

1. Big Dog could hump the supply line while the firefighter who forgot to tag the hydrant can run ahead and prepare for connection.

2. When it comes to RIT activities, Big Dog can be pre-supplied with all the equipment necessary whilst staging close to the potential entry point.

3. Four Big Dogs together can each hold a corner of a rescue net to catch jumping fire victims, constantly adjusting their position based upon facial recognition technology of the terrified occupant readying their decent.

4. Fitted with a “Chief Seat” ala Captain Kirk’s on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise, Big Dog can give the Incident Commander or Safety Officer complete mobility around any fire scene, effectively negotiating the pile of spaghetti hose, hard-working firefighters, piles of dog crap, and those annoying puddles of water that are so damn destructive to fire chief’s bunker boots with tassels.

5. Back at the station, during those slow times when firefighters get bored and invariably turn to a video camera for merriment, Big Dog can join in as firemen try to improve what they think are their best dance moves as they prepare for the new NBC show “So, You Want To Dance With a Firefighter?”

Like some firefighters, Big Dog might currently be too slow, too large, and in need of constant manipulation by his crew. It still takes Big Dog a long time to get dressed up in all his gear, rarely making the 60-second threshold of his peers.

He seems to let off plenty of gas, too.  He’ll fit right in!

But he is already advanced enough to be able to mimic some firefighters by the sheer noise he  emits when pressed into action at “the big one.”

Help me, I can’t stop- there are so many possibilities!

Care to offer more?

-Stay stoked!

-J

Posted in Change, Firefighting Operations, Just For Fun, Technology & Communications, Tips and Tricks

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 12, 2009 • Comments

There. We admitted it. So what?

Grand Rapids (MI) has been hit hard once again.  The city has decided to layoff 44 policeman, 25 firefighters, and dozens of other public sector jobs.

That’s scary.

2 complete fire companies will be nixxed.  Response times will go up.  Citizens and firefighters will be less safe and more prone to injury and worse.

It’s a broken record; a scene played out daily across the United States.

In Milwaukee last month, hundreds of firefighters jammed the city council budget meeting openly denouncing the effort to cut public safety funding.

One firefighter asked the council “how much are you willing to pay to have me pull you out of your burning home?”

When these scenes arise, they make for good TV, and the Milwaukee media covered them like a blanket.

These protests are seen all over the nation, with firefighters demanding politicians to admit that the level of public safety will be reduced due to the cuts.

Usually, the pols insist the city can do just fine, hissing “we will get through this, (insert city name here) will emerge stronger and better than ever!”  We all know it’s a “less than truthful” response.

With less people serving the public safety, the level of service declines.  You just can’t argue that.  But they do.

However, we seem to have turned a corner today with the announcement of the massive slice ‘n dice scheduled for Grand Rapids just after Christmas.

City Manager Greg Sundstrom  conceded the cuts “bring our staffing levels to dangerously low levels.”

“Dangerously low levels.”

Finally, a public official making a concession that firefighters across the nation have been trying to get them to admit.

“Dangerously low levels.”

OK then.  There.

Now what?

Now that we’ve reached the point where we can all agree that cutting public safety is “dangerous’”, will the local taxpayer have accepted such practice as a necessary evil?

Because “dangerously low levels” is evil.

And in my opinion, utterly unacceptable.

Posted in News, Staffing, WTF?

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 10, 2009 • Comments

Pet Oxygen Masks Now On Chicagoland Apparatus

photo from 14 Paws Organization

Firefighters in Chicago and south suburban Matteson have recently gotten a new way to help save the lives of pets.

Oxygen masks will be distributed to the departments, and firefighters will be trained in how to use them.

The specialized masks are cone-shaped and designed to fit over the snouts of animals, including dogs, cats and some birds. The masks were originally intended for veterinarians.

Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford says in the past, firefighters have used their own masks to save pets.

Fire officials say firefighters won’t have to worry about being bitten by an animal they’re helping because the lack of oxygen makes them lethargic.  Up to 150,000 pets die in fires every year, mostly from smoke inhalation.

Information from: Southtown Star, http://www.southtownstar.com

Posted in Chicagoland, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 10, 2009 • Comments

With the Mayoral Election Behind Them and Arbitration Looming, Boston Local 718 Faces New Challenges

Boston firefighters may have had enough. After more than three years they are still working without a contract, and many are just plain pissed.

Ed Kelly, president of Boston Firefighters Local 718, is on the receiving end of the firefighters ire. Unable to secure a contract in “contentious” negotiations, they say Kelly then spent $150,000 in advertising in a failed attempt to unseat powerful Mayor Thomas M. Menino last week.

Firefighters had mounted a heavy battle to keep Menino from winning an unprecedented fifth four-year term, hoping to get a new negotiating partner and approve a more palatable contract. Now they’ll have to chance arbitration set for December, with a ruling three to five months away after that.

Contract negotiations had stalled when the union would not accept the city’s demands for random drug and alcohol testing A fatal ladder truck accident last year blamed on brake failure also put equipment maintenance in the spotlight.

Kelly offered no regrets on his election role. “The Boston firefighters stood together,” he said. “Unfortunately our candidate did not win, but we showed that we are willing to stand up to get true reform.”

Yes, they did. Nearly $45,000 was contributed between the local and individual firefighters loyal to the effort.

With the contentious election behind them, it appears that many within Local 718 are starting to look for new blood at the top. ”There is a hunger for new leadership,” said a 52-year-old firefighter who asked his name be withheld. “We have waited long enough for a contract, and this plan clearly did not work.”

In fact, the arbitrator’s ruling could decide Kelly’s fate, one high-ranking firefighter surmised, saying, “If it falls unfavorably to us, the membership is gonna want a change.”

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Brotherhood, IAFF, Leadership, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 8, 2009 • Comments

LODD- Deputy Chief Chad Eric Greene, 34, Union Cross Fire & Rescue, Kernersville, NC

We’ve lost another.

The U.S. Fire Administration announces the official line of duty death of Deputy Chief Chad Eric Greene, 34, of the Union Cross Fire and Rescue in Kernersville, NC on November 4, 2009.

Deputy Chief Greene completed his shift at approximately 0830hrs immediately after responding to a motor vehicle accident. After completing his shift, he left the station, dropped his son off at pre-school, and went home. When Deputy Chief Greene’s wife returned home, she found him unresponsive and subsequently called 911 and began CPR. Deputy Chief Greene was transported to the NC Baptist Hospital where he was pronounced dead at approximately 1230hrs. The cause of death is pending further investigation.

He was a member of his department since he was 15 years old and was awarded the 2008 Squad Person of the Year.

He leaves behind his wife, a young son and daughter, and an unborn child due in June 2010.

Chief Greene is the 80th line of duty death this year.

Viewing will be held on November 7, 2009, 1800hrs-2100hrs – Greene Street Baptist Church, High Point, NC. The funeral will be held on November 8, 2009, 1400hrs – Greene Street Baptist Church, High Point, NC.

Memorials may be directed to the Children’s Trust Fund, Truliant Federal Credit Union, 500 Pineview Drive, Suite 117, Kernersville, NC 27284

As always, our prayers and thoughts are firmly with his family and friends, as well as those in his second families at Union Cross Fire and Rescue and the High Point Fire Department.

Posted in In the Line of Duty, LODD, Line of Duty, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 7, 2009 • Comments

LODD- Firefighter Robert Stone, 47, Amity (PA) Fire and Rescue

We’ve lost another.

The U.S. Fire Administration has now announced the official line of duty death of firefighter Robert Stone, 47, of the Amity (PA) Fire and Rescue on November 4, 2009.  He is our nation’s 79th to perish in the line of duty this year.

Upon returning to the station after responding to a residential carbon monoxide alarm on November 3, 2009, Firefighter Stone began complaining of chest pains and was subsequently transported to Reading Hospital. After recovering from surgery for an aortic separation at the hospital, Firefighter Stone went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at approximately 0730hrs the following morning.

His love of photography drew him into the fire service where he captured thousands of photographs.

Information on arrangements can be found at his department’s website. The viewing for Bob Stone will be Wednesday, November 11 from 0900 to 1100 at Houck & Gofus Funeral Home, 955 North Charlotte Street, Pottstown, PA 19464. A funeral service will follow immediately after the viewing. Anyone needing information can contact Station 49 at (610) 689-5218 or Chief Richter at (484) 256-7145.

As always, our prayers and thoughts of pour out over his family and friends, as well as those in his second family at Amity Fire and Rescue.

Posted in In the Line of Duty, LODD, Line of Duty, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 7, 2009 • Comments

Another Example: Size Really Does Matter…

Brand new ladder truck? A cool million.

Price to certify staff to drive it? $100,000

Price to build a new station because it won’t fit inside the ones you have? Priceless.

The Clarksville (IN) Fire Department must be doing a collective face palm.

After taking delivery of their beautiful new ladder truck, they were confronted with a problem. It was too big to fit in any of their stations.

OK. Think.

Eureka! Apparently the only station large enough to house the new apparatus was their Station 3, so they raised the door to fit it in. Problem solved.

Or not.

You see, Station 3 is staffed by volunteers with this combination department. None of the volunteers are currently “qualified” to drive the monster.

OK. Think.

“We’re trying to go the cheapest route,” said Clarksville Town Councilman Don Tetley, a liaison between the council and the department. So, earlier this month, the Clarksville Redevelopment Commission approved spending up to $100,000.00 to contract with the neighboring McCullough Volunteer Fire Department in order to have a qualified driver there 24/7.

But that’s not all.

Rick Dickman (his real name, I checked) weighed in on the size issue.

Dickman, Clarksville Redevelopment Director, noted that the size problem won’t be long-lasting an issue much longer for long.  That problem will be licked solved when a proposed new firehouse — to replace nearly 40-year old Station No. 2 – is erected built.

Ahh. Now it seems to make more sense…

Stay Stoked!

-J

Posted in In Da House, News, Staffing, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, WTF?

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 7, 2009 • Comments

Those Who Are Tardy Do Not Get Fruit Cup

I’m sure we can all agree that our company works best when the same players are involved. There is a certain synchronicity that emerges during any given situation. The left hand knows what the right hand is doing. The first arriving officer is doing his/her thing, the pipe is leading out, the engineer is making connections. It’s well-oiled machine.

Oh sure, there are the occasional times when the machine develops a burp or two, but the problems are usually quickly ironed out and soon the team is humming along on all eight cylinders once again. When the players are the same, continuity exists.

But we are never assured of the luxury of having the same guys every shift. Duty trades and overtime fill-ins for vacations and illnesses result in a continually-changing group, constantly trying to mesh. Even with SOG’s/SOP’s in place, the chemistry is just a little different. In the fire service, this difference invariably leads to more burps. And if not pre-treated with a little pre-incident briefing, those burps could escalate into full-blown projectile vomiting.

In Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety, Nurse Diesel saw the importance of immediately informing the new head shrink, Dr. Thorndyke, of the rules that were to be followed at the Institute for the Very Very Nervous. While your approach may not be the same, the timing is all-important: make it happen immediately.

It is the responsibility of the company officer to recognize the challenges his/her company will face when a visiting member is a new part of the team. The CO needs to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Make it a point to remind the troops to focus on the little things that make it gel. Who will be grabbing what tool? Who will be on the tip? Do you do a left-hand search?

For career companies, this should be addressed before anything else. As a CO, I’ve found that a simple reminder to my regular guys to facilitate the discussion with our visiting player is all it takes. As they engage with each other on what is expected, the cohesive element of the company starts to take shape and we can anticipate that team-approach so necessary to a productive and viable company.

Volunteer officers may have the added challenge of trying to craft a well-oiled machine during the response. With sirens wailing in the background, make sure each member knows what their first few steps should be so that you “hit the ground running” upon arrival, reducing the possibility of a “clustercluck” developing.

“OK guys, it sounds like we’re the second engine in. Unless you hear otherwise, we’ll be establishing a supply line to the first-in engine. We’ll be doing a forward lay, so Joe, you make the hydrant connection…” and so on.

Operating efficiently and productively helps to insure that you and your troops will be heading home after shift. Recognizing the need to pre-plan the actions of your company is an important step to achieving the nirvana necessary to achieve your goals.

After all, if someone ain’t playing by the rules, someone ain’t getting their fruit cup…

Stay stoked!

-J

Posted in Command & Leadership, Firefighting Operations, Leadership

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 5, 2009 • Comments

Fire Captain Allegedly Threatens to Kill Fire Chief

from action3news.com

An Omaha fire captain has been placed on paid leave and ordered to stay away from all City of Omaha public buildings including fire stations after he allegedly threatened to kill the fire chief.

A letter obtained by ‘Action 3 News,’ Captain John Gruttenmeyer is told by the city’s Action Labor Relations Director, “It has come to my attention that on October 19, 2009, you made a treat that you would “kill’ Chief Mike McDonnell if he (obscenity) with you … you are hereby directed that you are banned from entering Omaha Fire Department Headquarters or any other City of Omaha facility at anytime for any purpose.”

A fire department spokesman held a news conference Wednesday afternoon but offered few new details, calling it a personnel matter.  Gruttenmeyer could face termination, and even criminal charges.

Action3news.com video

Posted in News, WTF?

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 4, 2009 • Comments

The Latest Chirp on Twitter Lists

Twitter’s new Lists feature is all the rage right now.

Essentially, a list is just a grouping of Twitter users, all of whom may be followed in one click. They may be created by any user, although Twitter is currently limiting a user to 20 lists and capping the number of tweeters on a list at 500. So, if I create a list called “Best Firefighters on Twitter,” I could group a few players into a list, and blam-o, if anyone wants to follow that entire list located on my Twitter page, he or she may do so.

There are probably already millions of lists, and that number is growing by the minute (or second). So what are people using all these lists for? Are people creating lists just for the sake of creating lists? Savvy individuals are looking for ways to use lists to further their personal/professional agendas, and while we are all still learning how to harness the power of this new feature, here are a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing.

1. Firefighting (or Paramedic, EMS, Rescue) Topics- Check those you already follow and pull out the ones that fit into your specific category. Once you have developed your list, offer to share it with others. Feel free to link to my list in case you’re not into reinventing the wheel.

2. If you’re an expert at a certain topic, say, truck work, create a list of fellow experts on twitter and name it “expert truckies”. Not only do your fellow twitters gain online visibility, but you gain credibility as leader in that field as well by creating the list and offering it out to your peers.

3. Location Based links- Create a list of everyone in your geographical area with similar interests. Again, you will have created a valuable resource to utilize for things important to your area, as well as having something of value to offer your partners.

Need more information? Check out this article. Also, FireCritic recently posted a blog on the site WeFollow. I’ve found another great site called Listorious that is useful for finding lists that already exist.

Posted in Change, Just For Fun, Tips and Tricks

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 4, 2009 • Comments

Today’s Web Scanner 11/3/09

Man Killed After Being Struck By Ambulance

53- year old John Dollar of Jacksonville, AR was killed Saturday night after being struck by a MEMS (Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services) ambulance. According to an Arkansas State Police preliminary fatal crash summary, Dollar was attempting to remove an injured dog from the roadway at about 9:45 p.m. when he was struck by the ambulance’s right front fender. The ambulance driver swerved to avoid Dollar, but was unable to prevent the collision. The ambulance crew was enroute, non-emergent, to the hospital with a stable patient and was able to immediately begin treating Dollar. He was airlifted to Baptist Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. A full report will be released later this week by the Arkansas State Police.

Thanks, Michael

In today’s ‘Bad Apple” segment, we share the story of Michael Dunn, an 18-year veteran of the Milwaukee Fire Department, who is accused of lacing his wife’s tea with a prescription antidepressant. It has been reported that his wife had shared the some of the tea with the couple’s 3-year old son. Whether or not he is guilty, the damage is already done. The public unconditionally anoints us with admiration and hero status, requiring us to hold ourselves to the highest standards of morality and decency. Unfortunately, each time a story like this gets press, the public perception of firefighters drops yet another notch with the report of his arrest.

Thanks, Jack

We are all aware of the many tough moments we face in our careers. Among the most difficult is hanging up the leather for the last time.  For 45 years, Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Service has been the second home of Jack Thompson. Today is his last day. Here is a guy that was around before SCBA’s (they fashioned their own from diving gear!) and has been a part of the steady evolution of the fire service to where it is today. In a report on TuscaloosaNews.com by Stephanie Taylor, Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Alan Martin said, ‘He was one of those who helped adapt and move the department forward . The Fire and Rescue Service has a long tradition of doing things the right way, and he’s partly responsible for that.”  Way to go, Jack!

Stay Stoked!

-J

Posted in Change, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 3, 2009 • Comments

Warship USS New York Arrives- Built With WTC Steel

From the BBC

click here for video

uss new yorkA warship built with steel salvaged from the World Trade Center has arrived in New York City.

The USS New York sailed up the Hudson River to near Ground Zero, where it fired a 21-gun salute in tribute to those killed in the 2001 attacks.

It was watched by relatives of 9/11 victims, along with members of the emergency services and the public.

The US Navy is to hold an official commissioning ceremony for the new warship on Saturday.

The New York set off on its maiden voyage from Louisiana, where it was built, nearly three weeks ago.

The bow of the boat contains 7.5 tonnes of melted steel from the fallen buildings of the World Trade Center.

The ship’s crest includes images of the Twin Towers and features the colours of the city departments that first responded to the terrorist attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died.

‘A transformation’

People gathered by the waterfront to watch the ship’s 21-gun salute honouring those who died in the 11 September attacks.

The crew stood to attention along the deck as the guns were fired.

Representatives of New York's police and fire departments and US military, 2 Nov

Among those watching was JoAnn Atlas, who lost her firefighter husband in the attacks.

“We have to remember. It’s a way to honour them,” she told the Associated Press news agency.

Rosaleen Tallon, whose firefighter brother was among those killed, said she was pleased that the steel from the towers had been reused in the ship.

“It’s a transformation of it from something really twisted and ugly,” she told AP. “I’m proud that our military is using that steel.”

About one in seven of the 361 sailors serving on the ship are from New York state, a higher percentage than would normally be the case, a Navy spokeswoman told AP.

She said there had been many requests from Navy personnel to serve on the ship.

click here for video

Posted in In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Never Forget, News

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 2, 2009 • Comments

30 Minutes of Training Per Week is Unfair and “Unreal”

Running Against The Wind

Running Against The Wind

I had just finished reading a depressing thought I found on facebook by Christopher Naum:

“There’s an awful lot of time, energy and resources being committed and directed towards fire service safety. Is anyone really listening? Does anyone really care?” Are we just running against the wind?

Almost immediately after reading that, I find out that a downstate Illinois fire protection district has a problem. Some of their firefighters do not have the proper qualifications for responding to and working a structure fire.

“I see there are firefighters with zero hours in training,” one trustee said. “Either you are a firefighter or you’re not.”

Most were the older guys, retired, and unable or unwilling to commit the time and energy needed to meet the requirements set forth by the state of Illinois.

According to the Illinois Fire Protection Act, firefighters are required to meet a minimum of 24 hours of training per year.

I did some quick math. My 3rd grade daughter confirmed my calculations. That’s two hours a month. 30 minutes a week.

Tell me there aren’t firefighters out there that are donning equipment with which they are not completely familiar, advancing the wrong size line with the wrong nozzle into a ‘burning box’ just waiting to collapse, unable to recognize the deadly warning signs of a catastrophic fire event for which their equally untrained buddies will have to come in and effect a rescue they are ill-prepared to attempt potentially killing them all.

Please tell me this is a unique situation. TELL ME!

Recognizing the liability of untrained firefighters on the fireground, the trustees of this fire protection district are considering their chief’s proposal to form a second tier of membership- call it an auxiliary role.

Keep the guys active, but don’t put them into a position where they could hurt themselves or others.  There are other things these guys could do in a support role.

Sounds like a great idea, right?

You’ve read this far, you earned your payoff:

After the news of the proposed change appeared on the FireRescue1 website, one lonely comment appeared. It’s so bizarre; I’m not quite able to accept that it wasn’t posted as a facetious remark. Here it is, by ‘tommy517’:

“I think it is unreal what law makers are trying to require volunteer firefighters training for responding to calls. I know they feel it is for firefighter safety they come up with some of the stuff, and anything to make it safer is better. However, someone who has done it for years should be given some credit for years of service. I’m a volunteer and I love it. There isn’t anything much better to me than running on fire and rescue calls. I took all the required classes I needed at the time. Now they are wanting to come up with new stuff all the time. When I started I was a student in high school. Now I have a family and work full time. Its hard to get all the “new” trainings that are out there. I wish I had the time to go and take all the new classes and find out what is new in the fire service. With a job and family now its hard to respond to calls sometimes let alone run here and there for classes. Really what has changed? We still gear up get on the truck and put the wet stuff on the red stuff…”

Like he said, “Really, what has changed?’”

Seriously, folks. How many line of duty injuries and worse do we have to endure before this kind of mindset changes?

30 minutes a week…

Posted in Change, Firefighters, News, Training, Training & Development, WTF?

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Posted by John Mitchell on November 1, 2009 • Comments