This is an interview conducted with Lt. Dan McMaster (Alexandria, VA Fire/ IAFF Local 2141) back before Andy Fredericks Training Days. It ran in our Local 947 newsletter and at our website ( pffg.org ). We had several guys from our Department attend and was an awesome event. Obviously, it is a little dated but it's well worth posting here. Hope everyone enjoys...
Lt. Andy Fredericks was a 20 year veteran of the FDNY when he responded to the terrorist attacks on the World… Continue
Added by Dave Coker on July 20, 2009 at 6:57pm —
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I have been reading books on historical figures and great leaders. I find these people fascinating and intriguing. Many of these individuals have been studied on their leadership style and characteristics in great detail. However, the parallels to these great politicians, executives, generals and peace keepers is that they were aware of their surroundings and those around them. They all understood there was a greater cause.
In the fire service, the same can be said about our great leaders.…
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Added by Jason Hoevelmann on July 17, 2009 at 8:32pm —
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When is it time to pull out? The old adage of 20 minutes was considered to be the norm. This is really for two reasons. The building construction for that day did not consider light weight trusses, no gang plates, no I-beam floor joists; one bottle lasts about that long. There were many reasons for the “rule of thumb”. In today’s buildings we can not operate by rules of thumb. Think about it this way…dispatched to a SFD at 2300 arrive to find light smoke showing at 2305 and place your crew into…
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Added by Rob Gaylor on July 10, 2009 at 3:03pm —
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Hello to all...
I hope that this finds everyone well. I hope that with the holiday season upon us that everyone takes a little time to stop and give thanks for what we all have; regardless of religious beliefs. I recently had an amazing experience. I am sure that I am no different than any other father out there that watches his young children grow up and finally ...FINALLY graduate and move into adult hood. Now the experience that I am talking about is not the typical…
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Added by Rob Gaylor on July 10, 2009 at 3:01pm —
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Motivation
Becoming and officer envelops many tasks and in reality for what real benefit we often wonder. Getting the bars or bugles on your collar gives you the right to tell people what to do … and remember you get that extra $20.00 a day. The reality of it is this…the one thing that you must become a master at is motivation. How do you get someone to do something? Often times we feel that it is just easier and some times faster to just do it our selves. Remember you…
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Added by Rob Gaylor on July 10, 2009 at 2:59pm —
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I have been a part of the Training Division for three years and I've learned first hand about the uphill battle trainers face when it comes to accomplishing the training that matters. We as trainers must never get discouraged, and must always think of the firefighters that we train because they are why we chose training. So when it gets tough think of the firefighters and the public we serve.
Added by Antonio Almodovar on July 9, 2009 at 5:53pm —
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At a recent full scale exercise I was the fire controller and an old acquaintenance of my was the evaluator. This was an IED type exercise at a school football game. Initial response was from the Twp. PD who did an excellent job of taping off the area and controlling the scene. The fire department arrived on the scene with a command vehicle, turned on the big green light and never stepped foot in it again. It was hard to watch an incident like this because the safety of responders was in…
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Added by Robert Rhoades on July 7, 2009 at 2:57pm —
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I have neglected the blog bujt have still been paying attention. I was involved with a large full scale exercise in Logan County, Ohio last weekend. While doing research on the after action repor. I stumbled onto a pretty neat program for accountability. It's called In Site Accountabilty System by Vernon Software. Check it out at www.vernonsoft.com. I think it's a good system.
Added by Robert Rhoades on June 24, 2009 at 9:10pm —
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Stop The Bleeding! Stop The Insanity!
With the avalanche of job losses, budget cuts, and equipment shortages - creating June's FE illustration felt appropriate and needed. Thoughts?
Added by Paul Combs on June 22, 2009 at 3:30pm —
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Since I joined the fire service in 1980, well over 3000 firefighters have died in the line of duty. Some of our better years, if you can call them that, were in 1992,, 1993, 1996, and 1998 when we were below 100 lodds. Approximate numbers tell us that 50% are due to cardiovascular stresses, heart attacks and strokes, 25% are attributed to vehicle collisions, and the rest fall into categories of trauma due to collapses, gun shots and falls. So far in 2009, we are at 46 lodds. Sadly it looks like…
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Added by Andy Marsh on June 15, 2009 at 4:39am —
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I have not been on here lately because i injured my back,and could of injured my left kidney. June the 10th,i go to the hospital to get the news from the doctor to see what is causing all the pain in my back. Hope to recover and be back on line,soon as I can. Be safe ,to all fire fighter's.Brenda Tenney
Added by Brenda Tenney on June 9, 2009 at 9:39pm —
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1st Due Working Basement Fire
At around 9:10 AM, Monday, June 8, 2009, a fire erupted in the basement of a 2-story Cape Cod single family home in College Park . Contract workers were using a hand-held blow torch fueled by a small acetylene tank to remove old adhesive material from the basement floor. The heat from the torch ignited combustible materials and the fire rapidly spread throughout the basement. The privately owned house is…
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Added by Dave Stacy on June 8, 2009 at 12:30pm —
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What's up with Ferrara Fire and all the lawsuits? Will they keep them from being able to deliver on pending and future contracts?
Added by Hunter on June 6, 2009 at 1:46pm —
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No explanation is needed for this month's editorial illustration, and I'm sure we've all had to deal with bad attitudes before. The question I'd like to pose to the forum is; what have you done (or would do) to deal with this type of firefighter? Because if left unchecked, they will literally swallow-up the morale and spirit of the…
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Added by Paul Combs on May 28, 2009 at 3:30pm —
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I can't be leave what FEMA is doing, dropping the FEMA Grant to basically nothing and then putting all that money in the SAFER Grant! There are departments that still don't have enough gear for all the members and equipment to fight fires, did they not look at the number of grant applications that they get every year? I have no idea who that women talk to but she must not have talked to rural America, this is a sad day in the fire service, they are giving money to depts to add members but the…
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Added by Tim Zehnder on May 17, 2009 at 9:39pm —
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I recently watched the movie “300” and I find it to be inspiring and historically interesting. I have seen it maybe three or four times and this most recent viewing it made me stop and think. These Spartans were a proud, honorable and highly trained group of men and society. It was an honor to die protecting Sparta.
Sound familiar? The fire service should be a place that we are proud, honorable and in trying to save a life, we are revered for giving our lives to save another. At least that…
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Added by Jason Hoevelmann on May 17, 2009 at 10:00am —
7 Comments
I want to personnaly thank Chief Bobby Halton and all of the Instructors of FDIC 2009. We had another successful year here in Indy and I know we had alot of quality training sites that taught life saving techniques for all who attended. I want to invite those who did not come this year to attend next year for the brotherhood, training and to gain the knowlegde and experience these fine instructors have to offer you and your department. It could make…
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Added by Scott Huff on May 10, 2009 at 8:51am —
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Are their any videos out there that show the proper ways of using this hook. I have purchased one personnely and placed it on the truck. I would like to see if there are any tricks of the trade from somone. So that I can add to our department and comapany. I have already wrapped in with cable wire and sports tape.
Added by Baxter L Miller III on May 7, 2009 at 10:49pm —
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A Firefighter's Gloves hold many things, From elderly arms to a kids
broken swing, From the hands they shake and the backs they pat, To
the tiny claw marks of another treed cat. At 2 am they are filled
with the chrome, From the DWI who was on her way home. And the
equipment they use to roll back the dash, From a family of 6 she
involved in the crash. The brush rakes in Spring wear the palms out,
When the wind does a "90" to fill them with doubt. The thumb of…
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Added by Steve West on May 6, 2009 at 7:58am —
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Over the last couple of weeks a tremendous amount of blogs have been posted and comments given about a recent speech given at the 2009 FDIC conference. Lt. Ray McCormack from FDNY stood in front of thousands and spoke to the culture war that is raging in our midst. He spoke about a culture of fear vs. a culture of extinguishment. What I gained from his dialogue was the fire service must remember our reason for existence, the people we serve. If the organization whose purpose it is to perform…
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Added by Mike Walker on May 3, 2009 at 7:19pm —
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