All Blog Posts (3,119)

I have started and stopped this blog a couple of times now.

The first time, there was too much anger. The second blog contained too much sarcasm.

Why?

Well; there are several reasons.

First of all, I struggle with calling an event that was filled with so much pain, suffering, sorrow and sadness an “anniversary”.

But, many are referring to the tenth year since the 9/11 attacks as “the tenth anniversary of…

Public safety and customer service go hand in hand.  As many of us know, our customers are the ones that keep us around.  Whether it’s a fire, vehicle accident, medical, or a public education event, we are here to serve our customers.  When I first became involved in the fire service I had a mentor who taught me an invaluable lesson.  No matter how bad your day is going when you respond to someone in need, their day is far worse.  That lesson has…

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District recently completed a Serious Accident Review. On May 31, members of Metro Fire were operating on a residential structure fire. A truck company was on the roof performing vertical ventilation when a roof collapse dumped one firefighter into the burning garage. The firefighter was successfully rescue by adjacent crews. Follow this link to the report…

While many hard-working Americans were busy trying to eek out a living and saving towards their retirement, our elected officials were busy stealing our America’s dream. Hope for a better tomorrow was fading as each new bill was passed in the dead of night and contrary to the majority of public opinion.

You realize that the mess that this country is in is our own damned fault; right?

Of course, I would expect many to disagree because we…

Check out www.averagejakeff.wordpress.com for all my thoughts on the fire service.

Also hit me up on twitter @averagejakeff

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Humor is a powerful drug! We use it on a daily basis without even knowing it, and it's a medicine with healing and regenerative effects. At times, the things we talk and joke about in the fire service would seem crass and inappropriate to the general public, but it performs the job of defusing stressful situations in a way that can't…

You can be gone in a flash in a flashover, a collapse, a vehicle accident, a fall or in a less violent but every bit as insidious manner such as a heart attack.

It can be sudden and without warning and it leaves many to ask the question, “Why”?

My brother-in-law George was walking down the hallway of…

I am currently an Intern - Strength and Conditioning Coach at Military and Mountain Athlete in Jackson, Wyoming and will be returning to Northern California in September. Upon returning to California, I plan on doing an observational research study on Wildland Firefighters that will be the foundation of future research and what I have been working towards since entering the fire service in 2005.

I want to change the health culture of the fire service in a way that positively affects…

A few years ago while working in Fairfax County we ran a website that was based on the two county fire departments and the one city department that ran together on calls everyday. It was MutualBox.com and that site contained information about fires, apparatus, operating procedures, equipment and most important tactical advice and commentary. We were able to get one of the most respected and disciplined fire officers from Arlington County, VA. to write some articles for the site. As I was…

While our “elected” officials enjoy CEO-style perks, the rest of us have to live within our budgets and all the while watch as our tax dollars are squandered by those elected to spend it wisely.

My income is taxed; my house that is paid for is taxed and everything that I purchased is taxed…

To see more of my work, visit:…

I saw this in the paper a few days back.  Someone taught them good! 

What do they have? A Vacant Storefront, 90+ degree temps outside and no exposure problems.

Not because this is my old department but examples of this reinforce the concept that some departments just "get it"!

This is an old storefront on the East Side of town.   Probably built around…

When I was a kid, I would see a fireman and instantly see a person of authority and respect. Not being raised in a fire service family, that respect came from their uniform and job - not to mention that BIG red truck! As a matter of fact, when I was four, our home burned one winter evening and I remember a fireman coming over to console my parents and even…

I also missed my first Fire Engineering Talk Radio show in July. I hope to do the August show, but for right now, it is beyond my control.

You see; my life has seen some changes.

Changing jobs is never easy.

Those comforts that we surround ourselves with over the course of many years with…