Paul Combs's Blog (375)

It can’t happen here! Words I’m sure have been spoken before, and words I’m sure were regretted later. In an age where a 24-hour news cycle chronicles every event where people die, and a culture that needs instant gratification and “attention”, the perfect storm exists where first-responders are being attack in ever more frequency. Some deadly, most are not, but all…

How many times have you seen it (or participated in it)? A tragedy happens where a firefighter gets injured or killed and the comments begin to fly about what went wrong - and how they would have done it differently, of course. Let’s take an incident that hit close to home for me. The Toledo Fire Department lost two brothers during an apartment fire this past January.…

Hello, my name is Paul Combs. I am a firefighter NREMT-B and I have a problem relating to my patient’s emotional and physical needs.



There, I’ve said it publicly, you’ve read it on social media, and I can now begin my personal growth. It’s that easy, right? I wish!

EMS care has been a struggle for me. Not the training, certifications, continuing…

What do you do in your free time? Pick up a fire service magazine, grab an instructional book, or pick up a seldom used tool and learn, and teach those who may not know.



Our time is always in demand - use it wisely.

Take care and ALWAYS make a…

Another year, same ol' champ!

Here's a great post by John Hofman regarding firefighters and heart disease.…

Dealing with a heavy heart this morning with the loss of two NW Ohio brothers. Prayers and thoughts for the families of the fallen and Toledo FD today.



I know I've used this image before, but it feels very appropriate to rework for this occasion.



RIP,…

Man, is it cold out there!!!! Keep warm thoughts, brothers and sisters - only a few more weeks 'til pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. Warmer weather's not too far away:)

When it comes to safety, sometimes we are no better than a group of chickens clucking, scratching, and scurrying about the barn yard! We say all the right things about safety, complain about the lack of safety, and will even criticize and chastise others when things go wrong - but are you courageous enough to stand up for what's right when the time comes? Have you ever…

Yes, yes, I know... this is just wrong. But I couldn't help my twisted self:)

Have a safe and blessed Christmas, everybody.

I receive a lot of emails over the course of a week. Among the onslaught of solicitations and wealthy foreigners who want to share their wealth if I'll just give them my bank account info are legitimate questions about art. The question I receive most often is "how do you come up with those crazy characters?".…

Never, ever lose your rookie enthusiasm and passion for the greatest calling in the world. Approach each day like a wide-eyed child who wants to soak in every experience and can never learn or do too much. Personally, I never want to look back on my career and say “I wish I would have done more”.



Do, love, share, enjoy, and experience - it all goes by so…

You laugh, but you know you've thought about it!!!



Have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving, everybody - and for Heaven's sake, clean your chainsaw after the carving.

Click link below to see more of Paul's work or to order prints:…

Looking for a fun Christmas gift idea? Well, pre-orders for my new book Drawn By Fire, Too are now being accepted on the PennWell bookstore. Over 150 cartoons in a beautifully bound hard-cover book. A link for personalized copies will be available on my webstore by tomorrow. Thanks,…

Watch your giblets - it's budget time!

Click link below to see more of Paul's work or to order prints:…

The term two-hatter has traditionally been used in the fire service to recognize firefighters who work for a career fire department, as well as volunteer for another. However, on this Veterans Day, I would like to recognize another two-hatter - the men and women who serve as firefighters in their communities, and serve our country as warriors here at home and abroad.…

Drawn By Fire, Too pre-orders are now being accepted from the PennWell bookstore. Over 150 cartoons in a beautifully bound hard-cover book. Here's the link:…

My guess is we all know kids who would do this LOL!  Happy Halloween, everybody!

Click link below to see more of Paul's work or to order prints:…

Having a little Halloween inspired fun with our "morning" people today. 



ALWAYS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Click link below to see more of Paul's work or to order prints:…