Last night I had the pleasure to listen to and get in on a discussion on Art Chief Reason’s new FirefighterNetcast radio show. The show was fantastic and the content was interesting and stimulating. However, the topic that came up that really got my attention was when he and Dave dove into the subject of risk vs. benefit and safety vs. extinguishment. I know, I know, this has been beaten with a sledge hammer over our collective heads for the last year or so. But, I just can’t figure one thing…
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Added by Jason Hoevelmann on May 18, 2010 at 9:57pm —
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Ahhh, the good ole days!
Are you making a difference? It is a simple question that requires a “yes” or “no” answer. So, which is it?
The fire service is full of opportunities for people to take advantage of to better themselves. Are you taking advantage of those opportunities?
It is easy to go to work and sit down at the kitchen table and complain about what needs to be done that day. It is easy to come into work and…
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Added by Jason Hoevelmann on May 15, 2010 at 5:53pm —
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...and just in time for all those summer wildfires, too. I am truly amazed every year as I watch reports from the network news drama-mill about folks who refuse to leave homes and property threatened by wildfires. Understanding that every home is a man's castle and we'd all fight to keep ours, it's comments like "I'm can…
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Added by Paul Combs on May 12, 2010 at 2:00pm —
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Ahhh, the stench of May elections is in the air and I just couldn't resist pulling out my ol' political cartoon pens to take a stab at our "helpful" elected officials - with an obvious fire service twist, of course. This cartoon expresses two points; the first being that our elected public servants tend to steer the…
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Added by Paul Combs on May 3, 2010 at 3:13pm —
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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…
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Added by Skip Coleman on April 29, 2010 at 6:13pm —
9 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…
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Added by Chad Ray on April 28, 2010 at 11:52pm —
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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 —
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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 —
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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…
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Added by Paul Combs on April 25, 2010 at 6:19pm —
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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…
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Added by Eric Hankins on April 24, 2010 at 11:52am —
1 Comment
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…
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Added by Paul Combs on April 23, 2010 at 7:12am —
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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…
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Added by Paul Combs on April 21, 2010 at 4:11pm —
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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…
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Added by Paul Combs on April 20, 2010 at 3:23pm —
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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…
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Added by Paul Combs on April 19, 2010 at 3:01pm —
1 Comment
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 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 =…
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Added by Christian Cossey on April 16, 2010 at 8:42pm —
2 Comments
I am writing this blog in hopes that everyone out there will please pray for my thirteen year old sister who's in the hospital right now. When my sister was born she was born with a h*** in her heart and needed a heart transplant. Before she was even a year old she went into cardiac arrest six times and we almost lost her all of those six times. Then a miracle happened, when she was eleven months old they found a heart donor for her. She had the heart transplant and has been doing well ever…
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Added by Christian Cossey on April 14, 2010 at 7:13pm —
2 Comments
I'll be at FDIC in Indianapolis all next week sketching, talking, blogging, shaking hands, and signing autographs (and hopefully learning, too). I will also be signing complimentary, limited edition, anniversary prints at the Fire Engineering booth. As soon as I know specific dates and times, I'll post them…
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Added by Paul Combs on April 13, 2010 at 8:41am —
6 Comments
What’s in our Air?
Recently our department added an air monitoring policy to our standard operating procedures. The policy instructs personnel to monitor any environment that is determined to be immediately dangerous to life and health. Shortly after this policy was put in place the department mitigated two structure fires that taught our personnel first-hand the importance of air monitoring. The circumstances surrounding these calls were not unusual, nor were the fires anything…
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Added by Shawn Longerich on April 12, 2010 at 4:49pm —
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It is only 7 days into the New Year and it's been a wild ride! We've had about 30 inches of snow in December and another 4-6 inches in the last seven days. It is currently -19 F out. That's right, -19F! It is supposed to get to -10 F today as a high, and -30 F as a low tonight before everything warms up to 30 or so by Saturday. And I've forgotten my gloves at home. Great. We have changed the way we do things a little at work. For the FD, we split the city up and cover all medical / service…
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Added by Dan Fuller on April 12, 2010 at 11:31am —
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