Ok! On March 22nd. I asked "HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE FLOOR YOU ARE CRAWLING ON IS BECOMING WEAKENED BY FIRE?" I had one fire officer post a comment. One!
Billy Goldfeder recently put out another e-mail on his "Secret List" about another firefighter falling into a basement in a floor collapse. PLEASE don't tell me that as an officer, don't have a method of determining the fire conditions below you. Please. Pass on to other firefighters how you know if the floor assembly you are crawling on…
Continue
Added by Skip Coleman on April 29, 2010 at 6:13pm —
14 Comments
Hey Brothers,
I need your input. I’m the head training officer for our Fire academy, and we have been in the market for a good Forcible Entry Door Prop. We have been looking at different ones for sometime now and have chosen to get Firehouse Innovations Crops system. While at FDIC one of my guys heard a couple guys from different Dept, stated they broke this door fairly easy after just a few times of using it. I know there is a 90 day warranty, and I didn’t know what they were doing…
Continue
Added by Chad Ray on April 28, 2010 at 11:52pm —
No Comments
Apr 23, 2010
On Thursday, Battalion Chief Kwame Cooper presented highlights of a comprehensive two-year case study on what occurred in the Los Angeles City (CA) Department (LAFD) that prompted more than 25 work environment discrimination lawsuits between 2006 and 2009. In “Firehouse Pranks or Professionalism? The LA Story,” he showed the importance of effectively leading diverse commands at the local fire station level. He emphasized the importance of recognizing potential hostile work…
Continue
Added by Brad Hoff on April 28, 2010 at 6:14pm —
3 Comments
This day and everyday we promised to "Never Forget" those who gave their lives in service and sacrifice to protect our fellow man. So today we remember and honor Spc. Donald P. Hyde, Ft. Wainwright Alaska FD, who answered his last call on this day 39 years ago attempting to rescue a 13-month-old child and his father in an apartment fire on Fort Wainwright April 26, 1971. All three perished in the fire or as a result of their injuries sustained from the fire.
Added by Brad Hoff on April 27, 2010 at 9:10pm —
No Comments
location for the complete story on the truth of how the fire started will be held on May 15th 2010. Northern Kentucky University Nunn Hall Board Room Time 10:00am till 4:00pm.Everyone is welcome. thanks David Brock. email onemoment2105@netscape.net
Added by David Brock on April 27, 2010 at 2:06pm —
No Comments

If you attended this year's FDIC, please take what you've learned and share it! It's what FDIC is all about.
Added by Paul Combs on April 27, 2010 at 8:52am —
1 Comment


Above are the two illustrations used in Lt. Frank Ricci's passionate Thursday keynote address. If you didn't catch it, please go to the FDIC…
Continue
Added by Paul Combs on April 25, 2010 at 6:19pm —
8 Comments
Hey everyone. Just back from FDIC. Wow what a trip!!!! It was great to see all of the Brothers and Sisters from all over ...
First I would like to say THANK YOU!!!! Thank you to everyone for all of the kind words and support. Thanks to the Downey Family, Chief Halton, PenWell/Fire Engineering, NFFF, NFAAA, and everyone else that made the Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award possible. It is truly and honor to recieve this award.
Second I would like to "plug" a group that we…
Continue
Added by Eric Hankins on April 24, 2010 at 11:52am —
2 Comments

I didn't, but should have... Especially when a Brother from Australia ran the 3.1 mile course in a kangaroo outfit, with a stuffed Joey in his pouch (that took a real man) - but I chickened out and ran in plain running gear. It was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL day for the 5k, and the scenery was just as inspiring. I didn't…
Continue
Added by Paul Combs on April 23, 2010 at 7:12am —
1 Comment

Those fortunate enough to have attended at least one FDIC knows how special the opening ceremony is. Personally, it gives me the chance to meticulously put on my Class A, making sure that every button is placed correctly and polished to a perfect shine. Not because it may impress some prominent chief, or wow some of…
Continue
Added by Paul Combs on April 21, 2010 at 4:11pm —
2 Comments
This article link is from FirefighterCloseCalls.com
Chief Tom Carr speaks on FF health
Added by Brad Hoff on April 21, 2010 at 12:32pm —
No Comments
My hats off to Chief Halton for all he and those behind him have done to make FDIC the premiere FD Conference!
Cheif Halton FDIC
Added by Brad Hoff on April 21, 2010 at 11:55am —
No Comments
Once again congratulations go out to our brother and friend Capt. Eric Hankins for his selfless service and sacrifice to save the lives of two children on his day off.
Here is the article
2010 Ray Downey Courage and Valor recipient
Added by Brad Hoff on April 21, 2010 at 11:47am —
No Comments
It's Tuesday and the last of FDIC's H.O.T. classes are wrapping up. Many folks come down for the classroom sessions only, but if you ever get the chance attend the full week - you will never regret it.
I began today by "trying" to keep up with my boss, Chief Bobby Halton, as we dropped by a couple of training sessions. The classes were in full gear and I found myself listening in on the instructors within their respective groups. Always a student, I suppose. It was unfortunate my…
Continue
Added by Paul Combs on April 20, 2010 at 3:23pm —
2 Comments

I have been attending FDIC since 1998 and I must say, it's only getting better. Over the course of this week, I will be posting sketches and sharing some of what I see as the greatest gathering of Fire Service minds in the world. On a technical note: Please do not hold these sketches to the same artistic standard that I…
Continue
Added by Paul Combs on April 19, 2010 at 3:01pm —
2 Comments
They found a heart donor for my surgery yesterday. She went into surgery and the surgery went well. Now all we have to worry about for the time being is her body rejecting the heart which hopefully doesn't happen. So please continue to pray and pray that her body doesn't reject the new heart. Thank you for all of your support and prays.
Added by Christian Cossey on April 18, 2010 at 4:34pm —
1 Comment
The FDIC team has been on the ground in Indianapolis for the last three days. This morning we saw tremendous activity as the hands-on training instructors poured into the city to start setting up their sites for Monday and Tuesday’s hands-on training. The logistics warehouse was buzzing with 50 logistic specialists and 200 instructors pouring over millions in supplies and consumables. Using a type II deployment structure everything moves through the requisition, procurement system flawlessly.…
Continue
Added by Bobby Halton on April 17, 2010 at 1:05pm —
4 Comments
The First Law of EMS:
All emergency calls will wait until you begin to eat, regardless of the time.
Corollary 1 - Fewer accidents would occur if EMS personnel would never eat.
Corollary 2 - Always order food "to go".
The Paramedical Laws of Time:
1 - There is absolutely no relationship between the time at
which you are supposed to get off shift and the time at which you will get off shift.
2 - Given the following equation: T + 1 Minute =…
Continue
Added by Christian Cossey on April 16, 2010 at 8:42pm —
2 Comments
The Battalion will be in
booth 3358 at Indy.
David Furtado, the producer, camera guy and one man show, will also be doing a live feed on Friday night nomally from
Live feed or…
Continue
Added by Brad Hoff on April 16, 2010 at 4:36pm —
No Comments
Congratulations to all the selectees!
Washington, D.C. – Kelvin J. Cochran, Administrator of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), announced today that six senior fire officials were selected for fellowships to attend the Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program this summer at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. The 19-day program includes other State and local government leaders from…
Continue
Added by Brad Hoff on April 16, 2010 at 2:09pm —
No Comments