HAHA! Thanks-no fear involved-it sometimes comes natural for alotta things we see-and even many times things that I personally do! For example, going to a condo fire last night, reported fire showing... and figuring to myself, "Why read the MAP BOOK-I know right where I am going!"...and of course, because I didnt and THOUGHT I knew where I was going, I ended up something like 400th due...where I would have been 1st due.
WTF!!!
Take care and THANKS!
Billy

Chief,
I"m in a combination department and I'm facing challenges of converting "Old School minds" to new training ideas and techniques. The bad thing is I have been around the fire service since I was born and was taught from my father's ways as I grew up since I was 5 years old, so I understand why they think change is such a burden,but I also adapt and apply the change. However, the understanding of "safety" still does not sink into to their heads. I understand they don't. How do you make it work and Stick?

Dan
AC of Training
Grinnell, IA Fire

I am tied up this morning-but will get back to you as soon as I get a chance. In a nutshell...it's pretty normal for anyone to feel that it won't happen to them-cause' it hasn't. And the more we do something "not so right" the more it becomes" right....so....
=Keep the current serious injury and LODD news events in their faces. Post',, forward them, whatever is out there-make sure they see it.
=Give'm a reason to operate a little smarter-while "we" feel we won't get hurt or can take extreme risks (and sometimes we should and have to), we need to understand what happens to our families etc if we do something foolish-something unneccesary such as the seta belt issue, the no PPE, breathing crap, walking in a structure that was fully predictable to collapse, drive like a lunatic etc etc.
If the reason isn't us-maybe the reason will kick in when they look at their kids pics etc.
Thats a start I guess. WIll write more later or contact me at chgold151@aol.com
Thanks Dan,
Billy

Thanks Bro-BAD crash this evening on 71 SB at the bridge-you working? I was in Burlington KY to do a class and saw it on the way back-aircare etc on scene.

Thanks Chief,
I sometimes forget the real thing behind us all>>>life, family, then firefighting. And all of those facts are poping up everyday.
Thanks
Dan

DC Goldfeder, I went to see you speak in Urbandale, IA. Since then, I have frequented your website and I am on the secret list. You are the most influential Deputy Chief for me at this time in my career. Thank you.

Hey Mindy,
You are very kind. There are many outstanding folks out there we can all learn from...be sure to read, watch videos etc of folks like Rick Lasky, Bobby Halton, John Salka, Mike Wilbur, Dave Dodson, Vinny Dunn, John Norman, the Seattle Boys (managing your air)...and many, many more. Be sure to also consider attending FDIC this Spring-TRUST ME...that it will absolutely matter and really charge up your batteries-not to mention so many learning opportunities for ALL of us.
Anyway-thanks Mandy, I really do appreciate you kindness-if I can be of any assistance, I am always glad to help anyone on this job-especially the young ones (the old ones-me included, border on hopeless at times..HA!)
Thanks pal-seeya soon,
BillyG
e-mail chgold151ataoldotcom
chgold151@aol.com

Chief, first of all thank you for being the catalyst for change that's so often needed. Second, we can't wait to hear your presentation here in Olympia, Wa. It would be our pleasure if the local FOOLS chapter could trade food, beverages and brotherhood for some of your insight and experiences. I know your likely to be a very busy man while in town but it would be our pleasure Chief.

You are very kind and I sincerely appreciate your comments and your time to write. Drop me an e-mail at chgold151@aol.com - I am sure we can get together when I am out there and tell a little truth about fire stuff and more about my family and new Grandson!
:-)
Thanks Bro!
Billy

Absolutely! Thats great-we will seeya there as well!
Billy G

Thanks Chief -
Listened to your talk with Bobby the other day and I guess I've been following your advice before I heard it.
This is my 4th department and I still find I have to fight the fight and to bring up the issues that are causing us so many injuries or deaths., Hoping to find folks who actually want to hear it. Keep at it
Thanks Tim

We are making progress. We will never eliminate LODD's, reduce a little, possibly, but never eliminate. Some are tragic but neccessary LODD's but most are predictable and avoidable-at the local level. It has to be local. The chief laying down the policy, the training and then enforcing it...risk mgmt, stuff like that. Not tough-but tough to change due to a variety of factors.
The issue is changing some behaviors and that is happening-look at your own FD and compare it to 10 years ago-there are indicators and cange is happening in most places-but its slow. Keep in mind-we have 100 or so LODD's annually and 1.1 firefighters. Tough number to change too drastically with 50% medical, 30% driving etc.
I think we have been successful in getting most in our business to just think a bit. I think thats OK considering what we are trying to impact.
Thanks for the comments.
Take care,
BillyG
ps-Bobby, I am not all right, I am generally right :-) XOXOXO

Thanks for the talk today Chief. See you saturday!

A pleasure to be here-seeya then!
Billy

Chief,
Very nice meeting you. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience, not the first time I talked tactics on a bar napkin at Engine House 9, but it's the first time I watched fire porn on a Iphone. Thank you for everything you have and continue to do for our Fire Service. Congrats on the Grandson.

Stay Safe.

Thanks again.
Josh Materi

HA! Actually, napkins have solved many of our issues over the years....! I had a really GREAT time with the crew last night-a great time....
That iPhone takes GREAT pics and I ALWAYS keep the good fire ones on there. Take care-seeya soon Josh,
Billy

Hey Chief....
What kinda stuff is this? I'm not one of your friends? Talk about gettin' kicked to the curb! Hope all is well, give the family a big hug from the WEST COAST. See you soon.

Geeeez...my WHINING alarm is going off and won't reset!! HA! Whatup?? Awww...ya wanna be my friend? Click whatever ya gotta click to make that happen....and in the meantime, rest assured, You are my friend ...You are special ...You are my friend ...You're special to me....You are the only one like you. ...Like you, my friend, I like you. In the daytime...or the nightitme..any time that you feel's the right time ...For a friendship with me, you see ...F-R-I-E-N-D special ...You are my friend
You're special to me.....There's only one in this wonderful world ...you are special!
:-)
XOXO
BillyG

Great time at the Engine House the other night Chief. Thanks for the nod on the Secret List, Let's pray none of it comes true. Hope your Washington trip was........dry. See you on the flip side.

Chief,

I sent you the photo you asked for plus a few others you may like. I also sent you the "Remember Fallen Brothers" video I made. Take care Chief.

Hi Chief,
Keep in touch.

Nelson

Thanks all:
-Thanks Nelson.
-Josh-THANKS-will watch for that stuff-I sure appreciate it.
-Ryan-Had a great time this week at all stops-the sun even came out yesterday! How'bout that!!
Take care Bro and thanks for making me feel so welcome!
-Cindy! Yeah, OK-I will be your friend-count on it! I am 53 but never act like it.
Hope to seeya all soon-hello from Sea-Tac Airport, heading to L.A. for the 1st Firefighter Cancer Support Network Gala Dinner-should be a good time for a great and very important cause.
Billy G

Thanks for the very kind words, Brad!

Thanks Brad and thanks for the good work you do!
Billy

Send it to chgold151@aol.com - so far, didnt get anything from you, thanks, Billy

Billy,
My name is Troy Todak, I am looking for some info and I was hoping you could help me. I work for Seminole County Fire Rescue out side of Olando Fl. My department started some time ago to realy work on updateing their sop's on RIT Teams and Operations. They sent me to Fire house expo in 05 for Calling the Mayday and in 07 they sent me to Illinois for train the trainer RIT, I came back and began to teach Mayday, to date I have tought over 400 firefighters also we built a RIT class and tought that to. My department then begain to dispatch a RIT engine on all confermed structure fires. We have changed our Mayday sop's to out line the Mayday class and we changed our county wide IMS. Here is my push this year. I am going to push for a change in dispatch to get the county to put a RIT engine on all Smoke odor calls, all smoke visable, all flames and smoke showing , all working 1 and 2 alarm fires . I am trying to get them to be proactive instead of REACTIVE. Here's how you can help me. Do you have any info on any incidents that have had Rit teams activated and how many rescuers it took to make the saves, also any info on how many may have not mad the saves, any info on how long it may have taken to make the rescues. I am trying to show them why we need to have more then 2 out.Iv'e got some articles but anything else will help.You can send it to tt58260@aol.com or please fill free to contact me at 321-231-1954, Please anything you can provide me with will may be just what I need to help save a brother or sister firefighter. I won't rest till I get them to understand the need for a well Trained RIT Team. and the need to upgrade the size of the RIT Team as the incident escalates. Thank You for anything you can do.
Troy Todak
Seminole County Fire Rescue
321-231-1954

Send me an e-mail at chgold151@aol.com and I will sendya what you need! Thanks, Billy

No, next are in the St Louis area, Illinois, Missouri but no MI in the next few months. Thanks for asking! Billy

Thanks Cindy! Ice storm this afternoon and going on right now-following a working m/a garage fire with extension into the dwelling...we slid all the way home! Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 09!
Billy G

Hey Chief, just checking in from Lexington Kentucky, I would like to add you as a friend

Thanks Walt-I appreciate the great turnout.
I hope to seeya again soon, have a great 09!
Billy

Absolutely Arthur! Thanks, Billy

hello my name is laurent so french paramedic fire figther,i search for trade uniform's and helmet's for my collection ,thank's for your reponse my blog : http://sssm22.skyrock.com/
my mail : laurent.leneouanic@cegetel.net
happy new year for you and your family ,so long .laurent

Well hello Laurent! Thanks for your posting. I am still using my uniform but as soon as I stop wearing it or my boss says I am done, you can probably have it!
Happy 2009!
Billy

So there we were.... you know, you'd look good in that French outfit... slimming I'm thinking....

Billy, I would love to get your opinion on a blog. It is located on my page and is the only one I have going so...

Billy G,
We are looking forward to your class and getting together when you get back down to sunny south Florida.

Be safe,
Bruce
PBC F.O.O.L.S.

Got my hair cut but the mustache stays-
We are doing the LODD golf Tournament this fall are you available in September?

Chief: I am in scheduling training for the Alaska state firefighter/fire chief conference in Fairbanks in 2011. The dates are September 19th - 24th. Please contact me if you are interested in being a key note speaker and a day of training.
Geoff Coon gcoon@northpolefire.org

Chief

Please allow me to invite you to the group called HazMat Placards to Success. This group will allow firefighters to discuss a step by step process for a Hazardous Materials response. From the firefighter to the hazmat technician. The first step has been posted in the group, with many more steps to come.

Thank you!
Todd McKee

LSFD SAFETY NOTIFICATION
SUBJECT: EXTREME CLOSE CALL-FF INJURED AT STRUCTURAL FIRE


The San Francisco (CA) FD had an extremely close call Thursday morning at a 1 story warehouse in the industrial area of the city. Firefighters were moving out of the collapse zone when the collapse - caught on tape - occurred. The Firefighter suffered a broken leg and clavicle and is in stable condition in the hospital. As you are well aware-throughout LSFD we have significant potential for similar fires, conditions and collapse. TAKE TIME to LOOK at, THINK ABOUT and PLAN the structures you will be responding to.


HERE IS THE SHORT VIDEO OF THE SAN FRANCISCO FIRE AND COLLAPSE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI8RGcA61ww


HERE IS AN EXTENDED VERSION OF THE ABOVE VIDEO CLIP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82tbAGnTjSs&feature=channel_page


WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE?
A converter box had been installed at that San Fran warehouse to bypass the electrical meter which probably caused the fire...and they say that's a sign the building may have been used for marijuana growing or a clandestine lab. They are looking at the possibility that the converter box could not handle the electricity load and thus was the source of the fire. The fire in the single-story warehouse was first reported at 4:45 a.m. Thursday. As you know, a Firefighter was hospitalized with a broken leg and burns after being injured when a portion of a wall fell on him.


STRUCTURAL FIRE COLLAPSE---CLOSE CALL REMINDERS:
As found in the various "links" below as well as Chief's Dunn & Brannigans teachings, keep in mind what should be on the minds of any of us operating at commercial fires with similar conditions:
*Defensive fire
*Commercial building/probable engineered roof systems
*Parapet walls
*Extended operations (in the San Fran fire, the parapet fell 24 minutes after arrival) and it was a Type II warehouse (normally the building cannot withstand the total burnout of its contents).


TAKE TIME "RIGHT NOW" TO CHECK OUT THE IMPORTANT RELATED LINKS ON STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE AT FIRES:

DUNN ARTICLE:
http://cms.firehouse.com/web/online/Firefighting-Strategy-and-Tactics/Dunns-Dispatch--Recognizing-Wall-Collapse-Dangers/14$56571


DUNN SAFETY BULLETIN:
http://vincentdunn.com/dunn/newsletters/Front_wall_collapse.pdf


COLLAPSE INDICATORS BULLETIN:
http://firefighterclosecalls.com/drills/FCC%20Vol%2012-136%20Structural%20Collapse%20Indicators.pdf


COLLAPSE INDICATORS BULLETIN:
http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/drills/FCC%20Vol%204-47%20Collapse%20Indicators.pdf


COLLAPSE ZONE BULLETIN:
http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/drills/FCC%20Vol%209-107%20FF%20Survival%20Tips%203-Collapse%20Zones.pdf


EXCELLENT NIST FIRE COLLAPSE BULLETIN AND VIDEOS:
http://www.fire.gov/collapse/index.htm


FF INJURY & DEATH / CONSTRUCTION FAILURES FROM NIOSH:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-132/
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2005-132/pdfs/2005-132Sum.pdf


VIDEO-DISCOVERY CHANNEL "LIVE" VIDEO OF COLLAPSE:
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/destroyed-in-seconds-fiery-wall-collapse.html


VIDEO-L.A. BUILDING FIRE/COLLAPSE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee9hUynD4S8


VIDEO-FDNY BUILDING COLLAPSE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wfpRO9bTfo&feature=related


(END)

Just checking my page and saw you at the top of the page, thought I'd say "keep up the great job on the secert list and close calls.

Chief

It was great to finally meet you in person. As expected. your presentation to the FOOLS last week was dead on!!! As a member of the International E-Board, I wanted to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to fly up to Maine and speak. You truly are a Brothers Brother. Thanks again, and I look forward to speaking with you again soon.

Be safe and Have fun!

Eric Hankins
Vice President
FOOLS International


P.S.
I will trim my mustache when you do Sir..... lol

Chief,

I hear you stopped by 13's tonight, next time you will have to stop by 6's. Sorry I missed you. Enjoy your stay in Seattle and hope to catch you next time. Thanks again for everything you do.

Josh Materi
Seattle Fire Department
Ladder 3

Thanks for your comments Josh! Teri and I were in southern Washington (Skamania County) for a wedding and stopped by SFD on the way home-good crew for sure-some EXCELLENT old school FF's in that house as well. We got to Seattle last night and left at 0600 this morning-quick but fun visit. Thanks-seeya soon bro, Billy G

Thanks Eric! Guess there will be NO trimming on either of our faces! Great to see you and all the FOOLS at the International Convention in Maine last week-what a great time, although I wish I coulda stayed longer....hopefully see you and others next in Baltimore in a few weeks-take care-THANKS! Billy G

Billy I have met you once or twice, I am John Buckmans Asst. Chief. I am on a mission today. The fire chief of Poseyville In is gravely ill with cancer he is 44 years old, a family man. There is a group for him under facebook. Search for Prayers for Bud Fehribach Family. Bud is a true community guy and LOVED by everyone that knows him. I have posted a request for as many thanks you's as I can get while he is still alive to hear them. I would like as many from the fire service as I can muster. Time is of the essence here for I fear the lord is about to call him home. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Chief,
It was good getting to see and talk a little bit with you on Friday after the FRI let out for the night. My Girlfriend came from an EMS back ground and is now new to the Fire Service was excited to finally meet you even for a moment. Thanks again for helping inform and keep us safe.. If your not too busy sometime I would like to talk Fire Department Budget some more to see if my Department might be able to use some of those penny pinching ideas we talked shortly about on Friday.

Be Safe

My Brothers and I really enjoyed your seminar this past weekend in North Carolina. Thank you for all that you do.

Larry-thanks so much-it was a pleasure, great turnout-great FF's. And GREAT fish camp lunch! haha-actually, it was really good.
Brad-thanks Bro-that was my Chiefs idea-he is a huge supporter.
Take care-Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2010!
Billy G
ps-SORRY for the delays on response to those posting here-doing my best.