Skip to content

Archives for tradition

See all posts in the network tagged with tradition

360 Burn Size Up of the Fire Webs for 8/20/2010

“Enjoying Vacation, Wish You Weren’t Here…”

From Backstep Firefighter, my friend David LeBlanc shares a story about the current woes being suffered over at the fire department in Lawrence, Massachusetts.  As David writes, the Lawrence Fire Department finds itself faced with the challenges not unlike most every other department in the nation- doing more with less every day.

However, David relates, just as their mayor left on a Caribbean vacation, he made sure another 23 firefighters got slapped with pink slips on the way out the door.  A shift of 13-15 is left scrambling to protect 80,000 with the only help available as mutual aid.

What do you think the aid companies have to say about that?

Read what happened after the sun-drenched mayor returned at the article here.  Seriously, we can’t make this stuff up….

if it looks like ......

Philly Brown Stuff Bubbles to the Surface

FireGeezer pointed his spotlight upon an interesting video from Philly.  They, too, are suffering from staffing cuts which are being addressed by the fix-all cure of rolling brownouts which began at the beginning of the month.

Early on in the video, former assistant city comptroller Brett Mandel spoke plainly about the logic of brownouts:

“If you’re going to say that a fire station is not needed for Thursday night, well then, why is it needed for Friday night?  And if it’s not needed for Friday night, well maybe we don’t need that station.

On the other hand, if we need it for Friday night, why don’t we need it on Thursday night?”

The video ends with a contentious back and forth between the union president and the fire commissioner all played out on live TV.  With more of these types of interviews bubbling their way to the surface, maybe the public will gain more of an understanding of just how politics affects their local fire service.

it sure takes balls...

Gubbamint Discounts

As we wade our way through the economic mess with no end in sight, and the newly empowered attack upon the pensions of public employees, are we still thinking about the way the public perceives us?  What’s your take on these “fire department discounts?”  If your guys have been on the receiving end of half-price dinner or free coffee, and you didn’t get the same discount, would you ask for it?

Would you demand it?

Captain Schmoe over at Report on Conditions gives his view here.

Another Blogger from Hilton Head Done Good!

Tom Bouthillet, Prehospital 12-lead ECG

Finally, a warm welcome to my friend Tom Bouthillet, a Fire Lieutenant / Paramedic with Hilton Head Island (SC) Fire & Rescue.  Tom’s superb blog Prehospital 12-lead ECG is now up and running right here on FireEMSblogs.com, which should always be your first stop after FireDaily.com and FirefighterNetCast.com.  Give him a peek!

He is the second blogger that “done good” from HHI, home of B/C Mick Mayers (Firehouse Zen).

Let’s hope Tom has better taste in hockey teams…

Stay stoked!

Posted in 360 Burn, Administration & Leadership, Brotherhood, EMS Topics, Funding & Staffing, IAFF, News, Staffing, Tradition, WTF?

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on August 20, 2010 • View Comments

“The Big Burn” – Largest fire in American history

The aftermath in Wallace, Idaho

The aftermath in Wallace, Idaho

Exactly 100 years ago, the summer of 1910 was hot and dry like no other. The resultant drought left plenty of dry vegetation in the forests of northeast Washington, northern Idaho, and western Montana.  By mid-August there were 1,000 to 3,000 fires already burning due to hot cinders flung from locomotives, sparks, lightning, and backfiring crews.

Then came the wind.

On August 20, a cold front swept through the area bring hurricane-force winds which blew all the smaller fires into one or two gargantuan blazes- far too huge for the U.S. Forest Service- then only 7 years old- to handle with little manpower, and even less resources.

Some firsthand accounts from rangers who lived through the horror:

“They told of trees swelling, sweating hot sap, and then exploding; of horses dying in seconds; of small creeks boiling, full of dead trout, their white bellies up; of bear cubs clinging to flaming trees, wailing like children.”

There is an excellent article over at the spokesman.com which relates some of the accounts of those who witnessed, fought, and survived the maelstrom.  Here is a small excerpt:

The scale was immense. Telegraph operators sent out desperate messages describing the approach of a solid line of flame 30 miles wide, and that was no exaggeration. Today, you can drive Interstate 90 east from Wallace, Idaho to just short of St. Regis, Idaho — about 45 miles — and be within the old burn zone every mile of the way. And this was by no means the only burn zone in the Northern Rockies – just the biggest.Smoke from the fire was said to have been seen as far east as Watertown, New York and as far south as Denver, Colorado. Ships 500 miles out into the Pacific Ocean, could not navigate by the stars because the sky was cloudy with smoke.


The fire had no end in sight and would have burned on had Mother Nature not returned to the scene with another cold front containing dousing rains.

The legacy of The Big Burn was the re-shaping of the U.S. Forest Service.

Prior to the fire, debates like those that remain today were taking place: let the fires burn as nature intended, or fight them in order to protect the forests.  However, after the devastation of this fire it was decided that the U.S. Forest Service was to prevent and battle against every wildfire.

Firefighters across the nation are gathering to mark the centennial of the event this weekend.  Numerous events are planned around the region to commemorate lost lives, reflect on a century’s worth of changes in wildland fire management philosophy, and celebrate how far we’ve come.

Posted in Disasters, Fires, Major Incidents, Never Forget, Tradition, Wildland

Tagged , , , , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on August 19, 2010 • View Comments

First Due Blog Carnival- Sharing The Wealth

Dale runs the ride.

Remember the excitement of going to the carnival?  You know, before we became “spooked” by the the guy with more arms than teeth running the “Zipper” screaming to us riders: “YOU ALL WANNA GO FASTER?”  We’d all scream back, “YEAH!”  And the ex-con with his glass eye gleaming would grab one of the long red levers with all eight and a half fingers and shove it forward forcing the ride into overdrive, the screaming kids only drowned out by the sounds of Bad Moon Risin’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival cranking at an ear-splitting level.

All for two tickets. Damn, that was cool…

Those were times we look back upon with fondness.  We were young with out lives splayed out endlessly in front of us.  We were pups with a lot to learn.  In time, we would be growing into mature young adults- all blazing our own trails and creating our own ways of life.  Eventually we would find ourselves in the fire service, young, dumb, and full of come on, you didn’t think I’d really go there, didja?  All of us didn’t stay young, most of us didn’t stay dumb, and, well, you can finish the thought…

My point is that there were many sign posts along each of our journeys that we look back upon and never forget.  Just like the when the kid puked on the Tilt-O-Whirl, we also have a few memorable moments in which someone said or did something that left an indelible impression upon us.  And we grew from that, and we became better firefighters in the process.  The truth is, we benefited from someone who Shared the Wealth.

This month’s First Due Blog Carnival sought out your stories of someone who Shared The Wealth in your life.  I asked you to Share that Wealth with us all.

I had a feeling there was some fantastic stuff out there, but I absolutely amazed at what you took the time to share.  To all of you, I express my sincere appreciation for Sharing The Wealth.  There stories are simply incredible.

To our readers- please set aside some time to reach through all of these.  This is some exceptional stuff.  Don’t short-change yourself by skimming through it too quickly.  If you must, bookmark this page and come back to it so you can properly savor it and benefit from it all.

Then YOU Share The Wealth.

Here’s how.  Forward these stories to someone you know, whether it be a rookie just starting out, or someone who feels a little stale and could use a pick-me-up.  Print a couple up and post them at your station so that others can benefit.  Perhaps you have a story you would like to share.  Get it to me and I’ll make sure to share your wealth.

YOU make the ride go faster.  YOU crank the tunes to ‘eleven’.  YOU make it a memorable moment for those riding on YOUR carnival ride today.

On to the submissions!

“If one of your firefighters gets into trouble, how are you going to get them out?”

Chief Reason Art Goodrich was once asked this question during a class taught by Rick Lasky.  “I left the class with a new found attitude,” Art relates. “I no longer viewed us as invincible. I no longer thought that we could get into any situation and get back out without assistance. It caused me to take a better look when I was doing size up at a scene.”  Art takes it a step further by focusing on a major flaw that many of us have in our wheelhouse.  What is that flaw?  Read about it here.

“You won’t be the best at everything, but no one is.”

Hydrant Girl is relatively new to the fire service and, thus, offers this unique perspective in her Sharing of the Wealth.  As you can see, it doesn’t take very long to be the recipient of some sage advice from the right person who told her, “Find what skills you can offer your team and work to strengthen them. You won’t be the best at everything, but no one is.” He went on to say that the best crews that he’s worked with worked together. They built on each others skills and were successful because they knew their strengths and weaknesses before they went in the fire rather then too late. “  Who said it to her and why?  Find out here.

“Looking back on it, the things we talked about that weekend were shown to us as being “fresh” ideas ten and even twenty years later.”

When I saw that Mick Mayers had offered up some of his wealth, I knew we all had struck gold.  In Firehouse Zen, Chief Mayers writes about leadership and attitude, two of the topics closest to my heart in the fire service.  In his article, Mick frames his story by reminding us that he has spent a bunch of time with nationally recognized fire service leaders and could have chosen from any of them when sharing his wealth.  Why then, does he tell us the story of the relatively unknown Chief Harry Diezel?  Because “he was able to inspire a young officer candidate in sixteen hours of a seminar, by exposing to him to the potential of emergency services from an entirely different model than ever envisioned.”  Read about how Chief Diezel was able to send Mick down this particular road in his article over at Firehouse Zen.

“Since I don’t have a juicy “moment of Zen” for you, I will instead give you some things I have learned along the way from some great guys.”

Hard to believe that you have never experienced a moment of Zen, Rhett.  Wait, I take that back.  Unencumbered by zenness, Rhett Fleitz AKA Fire Critic has instead offered up some pearls of wisdom he’s learned along his winding road in the fire service.  You may have heard of some of these before, but they are definitely worth a revisit.  Chances are, some of your rookies need to be exposed to these as well.  Read them here .  Thanks, “Big Toe!”

The message is simple, yet it is often forgotten. I use it to reign myself in when tension is high and focus is required.

Captain Joe Schmoe over at Report on Conditions offers up some words of wisdom which should be a part of everyone’s mindset.  Head on over to his site and read about what he is talking about.  As usual, all his stuff is spot on.  Bookmark his page and read it often.  Then come up with an adjective or two about his writing style and e-mail them to me.  It will help me describe to myself why I am so attracted to it. Dare ya!

“Who messed with my gear?” I yelled. No one looked up, busying themselves with putting on their turnouts

Rachel Smith is a wildland firefighter and graduate student studying fire ecology and community risk abatement at the University of California, Berkeley.  That’s what it says on her site, Flash Fuels at RachelCSmith.com. It should also say excellent writer.  Rachel tells the story of how, as a green rookie, she became acceptable as a member of her company and the necessity of reacting correctly to the traditional “tests” flung her way.  This is a “copy and save” article.  You will want to refer to it when it comes time for a young rookie to go through this mental obstacle course.  See it here.  Thanks, Rachel.  It blew me away!

“At the end of the day, when the alarm comes in, you’ll do your thing and I’ll do mine.”

The beauty of mining for these nuggets is that you never know what you will find.  Bill Carey over at BackstepFirefighter.com takes us down the road less travelled.  How?  As firefighters, we are constantly inundated with “Thou shalt’s”.  Well-meaning “experts” point to a particular method, procedure, tactic, or strategy that has worked exceedingly well.  For them.  While such advice is often valuable to some (or even many) Bill reminds us that we are all different, and we don’t necessarily fit into the cookie-cutter way of doing things.  Maybe we would do better by taking what we read, hear, and see and determine how it effects US and OUR organization before falling in lockstep behind it.  Very refreshing.  Like a glass of pineapple-mango juice.  Thanks, my friend!

Remember the Onion

My offering here at Fire Daily is simple.  Ever notice the guy who never really cooks?  Oh sure, he’s trying, he wants to do it right, but no one ever showed him how to do it.  Be the firefighter who has the ability to recognize, and the desire to help, a faltering member of your company.  Too often, we fall into some sort of competition, a race, in which we are not only better, but better than the next guy.  In my opinion, true leaders cast such competition aside, opting instead to mentor those nearby, ensuring that the end game results not in one winner, but a team of winners.  For Chissakes, show the idiot how to peel an onion before he hurts himself!

+     +     +     +     +     +     +

So there you have it.  Thanks to all of you who Shared the Wealth this month.  We are now a little bit richer.  Keep feeding us, we are hungry for this stuff.

To our readers- if you found this valuable, promise us YOU will Share the Wealth.

YOU Create a ‘life memory”’ in a young firefighter’s life.  YOU teach them how this all works.

Make the “Zipper” go faster.  Crank the music to eleven.

Oh, yeah, almost forgot. Stay Stoked!

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Brotherhood, Command & Leadership, In Da House, Just For Fun, Tips and Tricks, Tradition

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on May 28, 2010 • View Comments

Remember the Onion

Remember your first time?

(….I mean- cutting an onion)

Way back when, I learned how to correctly cut an onion from my friends at the firehouse.  Until then, I just hacked away at it mercilessly and with reckless abandon.

Hey!  Nice hatchet job there, Lizzie Borden.

If I wanted to dice an onion, I chopped it. If I wanted to slice an onion or mince an onion, I chopped it.  And if I was lucky, I was able to chop an onion when I actually needed some chopped onion.

I never really knew how to do it correctly, but I got by OK…. No matter how the onion pieces ended up I was still able to use them and still managed to get the job done.  It may not have been pretty- nothing like your guys picking some outer onion skin from the pasta sauce you served up that night.  And I managed to keep the blood out of the food, know what I’m saying?

Where am I going with this?

All I needed was someone to show me how.

Someone who could take 12 seconds out of their life to give me the direction necessary to get you to dice that onion just right.   Ahhh….

Once someone showed me the PROPER WAY, I was golden.  I never looked back.  No sauce was compromised, everyone’s dinner was not just good, it was damn nummy!

The key?  Someone took the time to show me the best way to get it done.

It made me better, it made us all better.

Remember the onion when you see a guy struggle with getting his gear on.  Maybe he doesn’t take the time to get his suspenders lined up for that quick pull-on.

Remember the onion if your partner continually shows up in the nick of time at the start of your shift leaving little room for error thereby showing disrespect for the off-going crews

Remember the onion if he doesn’t completely clear out all of the glass from the window during extrication.

Remember the onion if the new guy fumbles for his handlight because he’s got too much crap in his bunker pockets.

Remember the onion when your partner has trouble throwing a ladder because he isn’t grabbing it at the right points taking it off the truck.

If you take the time to give a quick hint or offer a helpful tip, you’re entire team has just improved.  While one member has become ever-so-slightly better at what he does, that just made you all better.  Show them how to show the next guy, and so on.

It means the difference between just getting the job done somehow- and getting the job done right.

Which would you rather do?

Remember the onion.

Stay Stoked!

-J

Posted in Command & Leadership, In Da House, Tips and Tricks, Tradition

Tagged , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on May 28, 2010 • View Comments

May 3- Great Fire of 1901

photo: Jacksonville Historical Society

On May 3, 1901, Jacksonville, Florida suffered the most destructive event in the city’s history.  Never before (or since) has there been a larger metropolitan fire in the entire South.

The conflagration destroyed the majority of downtown Jacksonville, wiping out 2,368 buildings and leaving nearly 10,000 people homeless.  Miraculously, only seven died.

“The Great Fire”  triggered an unprecedented rebuilding effort that laid the foundation for modern-day Jacksonville.

Co-author of the book The Great Fire of 1901, Dr. Wayne Wood points out, “The 1901 Fire of Jacksonville was one of the most cataclysmic city disasters in American history. It is right up there with the San Francisco earthquake, the Chicago fire and the Galveston hurricane. Yet with all of its drama and destruction, the story of Jacksonville’s Great Fire has never fully been told.”

It began with an errant cinder from a shanty’s cook stove at lunch hour. The spark ignited piles of moss that were drying at a mattress factory to the west of town, at Davis and Beaver Streets. The fire erupted with a torrent of flame that quickly spread from block to block.

By the time the fire was brought under control at 8:30 pm, it had destroyed nearly everything in a 2-mile swath across the city.

photo: Jacksonville Historical Society

Cindy Devone-Pacheco, Senior Editor at FireRescue Magazine,  also brought our attention back to this incident, as well as the Great Atlanta Fire which occurred sixteen years later.  You can read more about these two epic events in fire history at her article here.

Although these events happened about a century ago, there are valuable lessons to be learned about preparation and readiness that apply to this day.

Posted in Disasters, Fires, Major Incidents, Never Forget, Tradition

Tagged ,

Posted by John Mitchell on May 3, 2010 • View Comments

First Due Blog Carnival 3rd Edition: Call for Submissions

Wow!

Thanks to my FireEMSBlogs.com partner Bill Carey of Backstep Firefighter for hosting the second edition of the First Due Blog Carnival.  The topic was “Influential Fire Reports” and several top notch contributors stepped up with gripping stories, some painfully personal.  The result was an absolutely superb collection of “must-read” articles for firefighters worldwide.  Check them out here.  Thanks, Bill!

With the April edition of the First Due Blog Carnival complete, it’s time now to begin collecting your submissions for this month’s topic: Sharing the Wealth.  Whether young or “seasoned”, career or volunteer, rural or urban, each of us has seen or heard something which changed the way we personally approach firefighting.

Maybe we learned it from a wise captain, or picked up something during a training session.  Maybe we witnessed something on an emergency scene.  Maybe we learned from an informal debate around the kitchen table.  Maybe someone pulled you aside and whispered something in confidence which made you think how you could handle the next situation more easily, more effectively, more safely.

These are valuable gems which, until now, have been been mined on an individual level.  Now it’s time to “Share the Wealth”. Let others benefit from your treasure.  Share with us the pearls of wisdom which you found to be invaluable in your quest to be the best firefighter you can be.  Together, we can multiply their effects and allow others access to our individual treasures.

As you relate your story, please include the circumstances under which you encountered the information (fire scene, day room, local bar) and from whom the information was obtained.  Be sure to include any pertinent links or photos. Most importantly, let us know how it changed the way you personally operate and why. It’s hard not to get excited about how this may turn out- with your help.

Submit your story by Wednesday, May 26 so I can get them out right before Memorial Day weekend on this site.  If you don’t have a blog, drop me a line at blog@firedaily.com and I’ll be honored to guest-post your submission.

Thanks for doing your part in Sharing the Wealth!

Posted in Change, In Da House, Just For Fun, Tips and Tricks, Tradition

Posted by John Mitchell on May 2, 2010 • View Comments

THE PLACE TO BE- Friday night at FDIC.

Going to FDIC at Indy?  Excellent!

Like beer?  Wine?  Soda (south) Pop (north)? Appetizers?

I Thought so.

So where’s THE place to be when you’re at Indy on Friday night, April 23rd?

Join with hundreds of thousands (or so) of your brothers and sisters at the famous Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery just blocks away from the Convention Center at 10 West Washington.

This party promises to be one of the largest “Meet-Up’s” to date.  It offers tremendous opportunities to network with your favorite Fire & EMS bloggers from the FireEMSBlogs.com community like Statter and Tiger, Chief Reason, oh my!

Also indulging right next to you will be contributors to FireRescue Magazine. Members of our FirefighterNation.com family and many of our Facebook fans will be bumping our elbows, so don’t spill your drinks while laughing at their hilarious stories.  Get all the event details here.

Become my Facebook Friend here, become my FirefighterNation friend here.

What?  You want to buy me a drink, too?  Sure!

I’ll do you one better and give YOU a free drink ticket.  After all, I don’t want you to shake my hand unless your holding a beverage in the other!  After you listen to me long enough, you’ll need a another drink…

So, stop by any of the booths listed below to latch onto one of a limited number of free drink tickets to get you started! The Meet-up is sponsored by our friends at:

  • FireRescue Magazine, FirefighterNation.com and FireEMSBlogs.com: Booth #3755
  • Black Diamond: Booth # 410
  • Black Helmet Apparel: Booth # 138

By the way, those two trailblazers over at Firefighter Netcast will be podcasting live from booth 3755 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, thanks to the generosity of the folks over at FireRescue Magazine, FirefighterNation.com, and FireEMSBlogs.com

Stop over and say hi and pick up a drink ticket from them.  You might even get them to sign their brand new mug for you (ala FireGeezer muggage)

After the great experience in Baltimore last month, I am really exited about this bigger and better upcoming meet-up and looking forward to pressing the flesh with as many of you as possible.

I hope you can make it!

Buy me a drink.  You’ll need it.

Posted in Firefighters, In Da House, Just For Fun, NetCast, News, Tradition

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on April 6, 2010 • View Comments

Stay Stoked!

Here is my first First Due Blog Carnival submission.  Many thanks to friend and partner Fire Critic for organizing and hosting the first of many blog carnivals concerning the fire service.  This month’s topic is :I am a firefighter because….  I’ll start out by answering the question: why did I become a firefighter? 

Because I never grew out of the childhood dream to be one.  I guess it’s still possible that I might grow up and reach my potential, but there’s only so many years available, so I doubt it.  This firefighting thing has stuck in my blood for a long time.

Not a great story here of interest to anyone- but me.  I guess I could tell you that I like to help people, and enjoy the excitement of the job.  It’s all been said by hundreds of thousands before me.  Although its an overused cliché, it still accurately describes why I’m in the fire service.

Unlike many of the fine men and women in the fire service, there is no family member that led the way.  I am not the fourth generation firefighter, and I didn’t grow up around firefighters or in a firehouse.

But, as I grew up in the 70’s, the fire service was evolving as well.  The decade brought us “Dazed and Confused” and the rise and fall of disco also brought the birth of paramedicine, and much was being done in the public eye that was inconceivable just ten years earlier.

Ambulances equipped with only the most basic of medical supplies and oxygen served only as taxis to the hospitals (so that hasn’t changed much in some places, has it Happy?).  Very little life-saving was accomplished in the glorified station wagons with lights and sirens.  In fact, ambuli used to be owned and driven by funeral directors.

Talk about repeat customers!

The fire department in my home town ran the ambulance when I was old enough to notice.  They graduated their first class of paramedics, and a couple of those original guys are still doing their thing on suburban Chicago fire departments.

Then came the TV show Emergency! For an impressionable young lad who already “ran to the curb” (as so aptly described by my good friend Tiger Schmittendorf) whenever the screaming sound of fire apparatus approached, the show tipped it in for me.

I was hooked.  I wanted to be a paramedic/firefighter.

As soon as I could, I enrolled in an EMT-basic course straight out of high school.  I secured a job in a business within running distance of the volunteer fire station owned by a firefighter who, at times, would allow his employees respond to calls from work.  So, with EMT certification in hand, I applied for and quickly secured a spot on the fire department.

While the paramedic side of the fire service was the initial lure for me, that quickly changed.  I had the incredible fortune of joining right before my first drill night- an actual burn down of several buildings.  They strapped on this air pack thing and sent me crawling in behind a young lieutenant into an interior fire.  No hose line, no water can.  Just to experience the heat.

If I remember correctly it was only a burn barrel, but my instructor, Tom,  made sure we felt the effects. With extremely limited visibility and very hot temperatures, I made sure Tom felt a little more heat by pulling his 3/4 boot right off his foot as we scrambled out.  To this day, he hasn’t forgotten the young rookie who did that to him.

I’m sure we’ll see a comment from him on that….

Next up, they wanted to make sure this new guy could climb an extension ladder and a roof ladder, then cut a ventilation hole directly over the fire room.  As the third cut was completed, the flap fell in and the fire came exploding out of the hole sending me reeling backward with a revving K-12 almost causing a fall.

Back then, we learned literally in our “trials by fire”. No NFPA 1403 yet in place.  Although not nearly as safe, it sure was cool, and definitely served its purpose in a way we don’t see anymore. I had discovered the pure thrill of battling the red devil and this boy was hooked!

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

That’s the story, and I’m sticking to it- with pride.  I urge all of you to remember how you got your start and what it was that motivated you down the path you took to get you where you are today.  Remember the feeling of excitement and invigoration you felt when you first found out you were to become a firefighter.  It’s what I call feeling stoked, and it’s how I like to end most of my posts.

Stay stoked!

Posted in Change, Chicagoland, Firefighters, Just For Fun, Never Forget, Tradition

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on March 23, 2010 • View Comments

Pre-FireGeezer Fire Geezers – 1943 FDNY Video

(Here’s a video that will even make Bill feel young)

From the YouTube description:

This All Hands building fire took place sometime during the fall or winter of 1943, and shows the Fire Patrol arriving on the scene and carrying tarps in to protect property.

The engine that took the hydrant first was perhaps an American LaFrance, made in the early 1920′s.

Note, the neat looking rig that the Fire Patrol was using.

The rest of the engines on the scene all appear to be Macks, some of which had open cabs while others had enclosed cabs.

Note the gasoline tanks were located behind the cabs.

On the enclosed cab engines you can see what looks like a Federal Sign and Signal Model l8 emergency warning light.

This video was complied and edited from movie film in the Stillman Fire Collection Archives. The original movie was silent. We added the sound track, and if you want to view it as it was taken then turn off your computer speakers.

Posted in Just For Fun, Tradition, Videos

Tagged , , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on February 22, 2010 • View Comments

Civilian Friends vs. Firefighter Friends

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you’re too busy to talk to them for a week.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it’s yours.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is doing.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Will kick the crowds’ ass that left you behind.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Are for life.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences…
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of…

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you’ve had enough.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, “You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!! Then carry you home safely and put you to bed…

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about you.
FIREMEN FRIENDS: Will knock them the hell out for using your name in vain.

Can you think of any more?  Leave a comment…..

Posted in Brotherhood, Firefighters, Just For Fun, Tradition

Posted by John Mitchell on February 15, 2010 • View Comments

FireYesterDaily Best of 2009- “Nicknames”

We’ve got a long way to go, but I am optimistic.  We gotta just keep pushing along.  So here is the fourth installment of “Two Thousand and Nine Favorite FireDaily Blog Posts from 2009”.

In case you missed the first three, you can find them here:

#2009-  Got a Bad Attitude?  Stay at Home!

#2008-  30 Minutes a Week of Training is Unfair and “Unreal”

#2007- “Da Chief”

#2006  “Nicknames”

So we find ourselves sitting around the kitchen table patiently waiting for someone to make the first move to clean up the dishes, and digesting Scotty’s Garlic Stoup- of which none is left.

Perhaps drunk off the stuff, one of the guys burps then blurts out from nowhere, “I need a nickname.”

Oops.

Click here for the full story

Posted in In Da House, Just For Fun, Tradition

Tagged ,

Posted by John Mitchell on December 22, 2009 • View Comments

Fire YesterDaily- “Da Chief”

Der Tannenbaum ist lit.  Der blogmeisterberger ist lit too.

As we approach the end of the year, the crack staff here at FireDaily has taken advantage of the open bar.  What better time than now to return to the thrilling days of YesterMonth for the third installment of “Two Thousand and Nine Favorite FireDaily Blog Posts from 2009”.

In case you missed the first two, you can find them here:

#2009-  Got a Bad Attitude?  Stay at Home!

#2008- 30 Minutes a Week of Training is Unfair and “Unreal”

#2007- “Da Chief”

Sometimes the Fire Gods might truly smile down upon you.  When you are blessed with the presence of this special guy, drop everything you are doing and be near him. Hear what he has to say. Drink it all in… (full post here)

In the meantime, we’d better get the rest of the bar checked out.  I’ll put some more ice on….

Posted in Chicagoland, In Da House, Leadership, Tips and Tricks, Tradition, Training

Tagged ,

Posted by John Mitchell on December 17, 2009 • View Comments

The Ghosts of Fires Past

In January of 2002, a fatal fire broke out in the Plaza on DeWitt condominium hi-rise at 260 East Chestnut in Chicago.  In that fire several firefighters were injured and residents were rescued from the building’s roof where they were forced to flee to escape severe smoke conditions.

A few mornings ago as reported here on Fire Daily, history repeated itself.  As the first brutally cold and windy night of winter charged into the city, fully one-third of the on-duty personnel of Chicago’s firefighters were again called to the Plaza on DeWitt.  The 36th floor fire was again fatal; again eight firefighters were injured; several residents again were rescued from the building’s roof where they were forced to escape severe smoke conditions.

A little over a week ago on December 3, we all took pause to remember the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire of ten years ago.  Six firefighters lost their lives that day on an interior rescue for squatters believed to be inside the old building.

Yesterday, history again repeated itself.

A two-alarm blaze in a vacant South Boston warehouse yesterday was eerily reminiscent of the Worcester fire.  Boston Fire Rescue Company 1 was advised that the building was known to be occupied by squatters and people may be trapped inside.  They entered, split into two groups and began their search.  Two of Boston’s bravest tripped and fell into FOUR FEET of standing water during the effort.

One of the firefighters was able to feel his way up some stairs and found the lone occupant who had become disoriented in the heavy smoke conditions.  That firefighter, 63-year old John Smith, a FORTY YEAR VETERAN FIREFIGHTER. led the man outside to waiting EMS workers.

The report from the Boston Globe describes the scene:

“Fire officials said the rescued man was one of several people living in the warehouse. Inside the building, an intricately organized squatters’ residence could be seen, with beds, televisions, microwaves, and even a stocked kitchen setup, complete with a spice rack. Fire officials said yesterday that the legally vacant building was even wired for electricity.

South Boston is home to an array of warehouses and industrial-type buildings, and fire officials know that homeless people gather here.

“Since Worcester, there’s been a heightened awareness among firefighters’’ as they go about their searches,” (Boston Fire Department Spokesman Steve) MacDonald said.

Smith said his crew stayed focused on saving anyone who might be inside the warehouse yesterday. “This is a prime spot for homeless people at this time of year,’’ he said. “Inside these buildings, they can set up quite a bit of housekeeping and stay there for quite some time.’’

The firefighters in Massachusetts and Chicago have witnessed history repeating itself.

Because they applied knowledge gained from these previous incidents, they were better prepared to handle the next incident.

Here is tangible proof that the Worcester 6 an others like them have not died in vain.

We have learned from their tragedy and all become better prepared to handle the next call where history will invariably repeat itself.

Again.

Stay stoked!

-J

Posted in Chicagoland, Close Calls, Major Incidents, News, Rescues, Tips and Tricks, Tradition, Training, training-fire-rescue-topics

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by John Mitchell on December 14, 2009 • View 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 John Mitchell on October 6, 2009 • View Comments

Tradition Tuesday- Fire Plugs

Why are Fire Hydrants Called Fire Plugs?

In the 1600’s, water was only available after firefighters dug down through the ground to drill a hole into the nearest water main. As the water poured out into the hole, a well of water formed. Water was scooped out and moved by bucket brigades. When they were done, a wooden (usually redwood) plug was driven into the hole.

Since it was easier to knock out one of these ”plugs” to get water the next time it was needed, firefighters tried to remember where the “plugs” were located and often marked them. Then a firefighter would get his water alpina fire plugsupply with the swing of an ax, filling the old depression in the ground once again.

Water mains of old were actually made of wood. At right, Capt. Bob Adrian, right, and firefighter/paramedic Chris Morrison of the Alpena City Fire Department in Michigan examine a section of wooden pipe that once served as the city’s water system. The log is bored through the center, sheeted in metal and coated with a creosote or tar sealant. Sweet grab, guys!

Do you have any more information on fire plugs? Feel free to share your comments!

Technorati Tags: ,,,

Posted in Tradition

Posted by John Mitchell on September 28, 2009 • View Comments

“Da Chief”

Over the years, I’ve attended a boatload of fire training classes which emphasized leadership, training, and safety. Most were team-taught. A primary instructor would be there periodically, accompanied by a great group of “assisting instructors” who would each bring a certain level of expertise to the specific topic at hand.

There were lesson plans to be followed, objectives to be addressed and met, and the test to prove that learning had occurred. It’s a method of learning quite familiar with firefighters worldwide.

But sometimes, the Fire Gods might truly smile down upon you and bless you.

As you’re sitting in the classroom waiting for the course to begin, you wonder where all the instructors went. Just then, you hear guffaws of laughter just out of sight (probably damn near the coffee and doughnuts). What’s going on?

“Da Chief” is in the building.old fire helmet

Not necessarily the current department chief, but certainly a chief nonetheless.

He’s been around for decades and he’s seen it all. He rose up through the ranks and gained the respect from his peers the old-fashioned way. “Da Chief” earned it.

He knows how to handle the pick-head ax just as well as how to handle the politicians. He knows BS when he sees it and he doesn’t hesitate to call it out.

Just like Underdog, he is humble and loveable. He listens to everyone’s views and becomes E.F. Hutton: When “Da Chief” begins to speak- everyone listens.

Down to earth. Real.

When you are blessed with the presence of this special guy, drop everything you are doing and be near him. Hear what he has to say. Drink it all in.

Not only do you learn from his experience and wisdom, but, more importantly, from the way he relates to those around him. He does not condescend to the rookies; he gives no guff to those with whom he may disagree. He is compassionate and concerned. His smile is contagious and his love of the fire service is completely evident. He fills you with motivation and oozes tradition.

buy him a beer While reading this, do I have you thinking about someone you know that could be like “Da Chief”? If so, make it a point to get him to engage with you and your group. Buy him a beer after class.

It will be the best time you can spend in any fire service training session.

 

A special note to third-generation firefighter retired Chicago Fire Department Deputy District Chief Eddie Enright who has over 38 years of duty having been assigned to engine, truck, and squad companies after serving his country in Vietnam:

“Only 174 days til St. Patrick’s Day”

 

WordPress Tags: IFSI,Enright,leadership,wisdom,motivation,tradition,Chicago,Eddie

Posted in Tradition, Training

Posted by John Mitchell on September 24, 2009 • View Comments