Paul Combs's Blog (375)

It's only a little more than a month away and I'm starting to get excited! I'm presenting for the first time and I'm hoping to see each of you there. Mark you calenders for Thursday, April 23rd, 3:30 p.m. - Rooms 109-110, for Drawn By Fire: A Decade Of Fired Up' Toons.

____

Drawn by Fire: A Decade of Fired Up 'Toons…

Too much? Nah! Who doesn't like a little pop culture parody - and Fifty Shades of Grey was just too juicy to pass on. 



So, what crazy or embarrassing calls have you been on? Share - but please, let's keep it PG rated - just the facts, ma'am.

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

DRAWN BY FIRE Flashback - The Circus Is In Town!

We are at times our own worst enemy.…

Placing a ladder during an incident is not the time to wish you would’ve trained more on ladders! It’s a simple tool, but one of the most important tools on your rig. So many tactical and safety factors are based on you being proficient with this large, heavy, and cumbersome piece of equipment. In fact, the lives of your fellow brothers and sisters, and the lives of the…

So you think your actions don't effect us all in the public's eye? Think again!

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

http://www.artstudioseven.com/page-LE_Prints.htm…

New year, new beginnings, new opportunities to grow, share, and serve. What will you do in 2015?



May you all have a safe and fun year full of life and learning.





Want your own printable goals sheet? Just click on the image below and print (8.5x11).…

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY!

May your shifts be safe and your rigs true on this Christmas day! Take a moment to hug your family, at home and in the firehouse, and be thankful for all you have in your life.

Personally, I want to thank each of you! Thank you for following my work and supporting its message. Thank you for being a sounding board for my…

The fire service is rich in tradition, stories, pomp, and legacies - and it is legacy that brings me full circle to this cartoon. Some families can boast generations of service to a community, or having married into another fire service family to carry on a lineage that in some cases spans a century. Me? I’m the first of my family to hear and follow this noble calling, and…

Enjoy family and friends, and be thankful for all who are in your life. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving, everybody!

Tankers are big, they are bulky, top heavy, and were never intended to be driven at a high rate of speed. However, when you mix adrenaline, inexperience, and complacency, these vital resources can become killers. 



I've attached a link to a Fire Engineering article from 1998 by Dale Perry that is a great learning and training resource. …

Well, you know which side of the isle I sit on. Below are some excellent links that further explain the science, research, and applied tactical aspects of the flow path study and SLICE-RS.…

Leading a crew of diverse personalities can be challenging. As a fire officer it is your job to make sure everyone on your team is being as productive as possible, even if you have to adjust how you treat each individual to do so. The more effective you are at individualizing your leadership style, the more effectively your subordinates will carry out their assigned…

Drawn By Fire: A Decade Of Fired Up 'Toons.

2015 FDIC Classroom Session



It is an honor to be selected to present my class at FDIC and you are all cordially invited to hear me ramble on about my cartoons and their (hopeful) impact. It's going to be fun, we're going to have some laughs, and you may just leave the classroom inspired to do something great! There will be a violin case at the back of the classroom for tips…

Happy Halloween, everybody - may your bags be full of treats and your smoke detectors plentiful!





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

Chief Harvey Eisner was a wealth of knowledge and insight - and an important force in my early career as a fire service editorial cartoonist. He and I talked in 2005 during my first Firehouse Expo about creating cartoons for Firehouse magazine (I had already been creating cartoons for Firehouse.com for a couple of months). He wanted me to expand my cartoons beyond “funny”…

We all know the importance of staying physically fit to perform our duties, improve stamina, and decrease injury, but very few of us take flexibility as seriously. As a firefighter who is looking 50 square in the eyes, I can tell you that the ol' joints just don't respond and react as they used to, and the only thing that keeps me in the game is strength training…

Are you whistling through the graveyard?

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

I couldn't resist a little pre-Halloween fun. Beware of the unexpected - especially during the bewitching month of October.





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

I am a firm believer in earning your place - starting from the bottom of the ladder, doing the less desirable jobs, while climbing to the roof. New firefighters must prove themselves in what seemingly matters little, and more experienced firefighters will notice - and in turn trust them with more important jobs. The old adage “shut up and listen” still holds true today…

Times, they are a changin'... whether it be tactics, strategy, equipment, technology, and/or knowledge. However, we must remember to respect and learn from the lessons of those who came before us and implement those lessons in our way forward. The future is built on the wisdom of our…