Fire Training for Congressional Staffers
This is an excellent way to get the message across to our legislators (from Firehouse.com):
COLLEGE PARK, Md.-- For close to 15 years, Congressional staffers have traded the comforts of Capitol Hill for the heat of a dark, smoky room.
The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) and Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) played host to more than 50 participants at the annual event, held Nov. 17.
"It helps bring an awareness of the fire service," CFSI Executive Director Bill Webb said. "For most of them this is their first exposure and it kind of brings it all home."
The three-hour crash course allowed those involved to participate in a mock extrication, handle fire hoses, extinguish a controlled burn and experience a building fire up close. Each person donned full turnout gear and was issued an SCBA for the burn building.
Read the whole article. Hopefully this hands on experience will really make an impact on the congressional staffers so they know how important the AFG program is. Too bad we can't get the actual senators and representatives to participate in this training session.
Also, here is a link to the CFSI.
Happy Thanksgiving
Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Redneck Volunteer Fire Department
This made me laugh. You might be a redneck volunteer fire department if...
(here is my favorite) - Your rescue truck can smoke the tires.
Also, you know you're a firefighter when...
Jay Leno's Fire Truck
Here is a five-minute video showing the 1941 American LaFrance fire truck that Jay Leno owns. It is completely restored and looks great. He uses it to haul his motorcycle.
Here is the webpage from jaylenosgarage.com with the details.
CFSI Adopts Resolutions
The Congressional Fire Services Institute has adopted three resolutions.
They sound good to me. Check 'em out.
World Cup Fan Pulls TV from Fire
Hehehe, this guy must be a serious soccer fan (from FireFightingNews.com).
A Beijing football fan refused to let the small matter of his house burning down disturb his enjoyment of the World Cup match between France and Spain. A fire broke out in a hutong in the centre of the Chinese capital in Hanover and gutted the traditional courtyard dwelling, the Beijing Daily Messenger reported."When the neighbours shouted 'fire!', I took my little baby and ran out in my nightclothes," the man's wife told the paper.
"My husband paid no attention to the danger, just grabbed the television and put it under his arm.
"After getting out of the house, he then set about finding an electric socket to plug in and continue watching his game."
Reminds me of this cartoon that I posted about a month ago.
SWAT Medics
Firefighters are now part of the SWAT team in Hialeah, FL (from FireFightingNews.com).
Florida - What do fire hoses, pistols and first-aid kits have in common. They are the tools that may help a new breed of Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, members save lives in Hialeah. For the first time, the city's fire department teamed up with its police department in an effort to create SWAT medics, a group of medically trained firefighters that can provide immediate attention to wounded victims in emergency situations.
Living out in the sticks, there are very few SWAT teams in my area, let alone SWAT medics. It is an excellent idea. Check out this web site for more details about SWAT medics.
Rapid Intervention Safety and Command
The Fire Service History blog has an interesting post about the Secret Service's Rapid Intervention Safety and Command unit.
RISC is a highly trained and dedicated team of secret service agents that work in and around the White House. The folks on this team respond to chemical, biological and radiological threats; fire hazards; physical entrapments and other life-threatening emergencies.
Here is an article from the National Fire & Rescue web site about the formation of this unit (about 1/3 of the way down the page).
Apparently, there was some controversy about the creation of this new unit, but it sounds to me like it is just another tool in the toolbox.
Can FEMA Be Saved?
The roll of FEMA has been debated over the past few years, especially after Hurricane Katrina. Here is an interesting article from the Washington Post (via Fire Engineering) about the future of FEMA.
Who should be in charge of domestic disasters in the United States? Should power be centralized in the White House or spread out to civilian agencies, the military and the states? And for what kinds of emergencies should FEMA prepare -- a nuclear strike, terrorists using weapons of mass destruction, or natural disasters?"Spinning off FEMA doesn't really get to the root of the real problems," said Frank J. Cilluffo, director of George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute and a former special assistant to President Bush. "It's a politically expedient solution . . . that would give a false sense of security that FEMA was 100 percent effective."
Good points. Read the article to get a sense of where things are headed. Whatever happens to FEMA will directly affect the USFA which in turn will have an impact on the AFG program.
Federal EMS Office
Should there be a federal office for EMS? NAEMT thinks so (from FireChief.com).
An overwhelming majority of EMS professionals responding to a recent survey feel Congress should establish a federal EMS entity similar to the U.S. Fire Administration that would raise the profile of EMS in the nation’s capital and improve federal response to large-scale disasters.Respondents to the survey conducted by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians were divided, however, as to whether EMS workers should be categorized as health-care providers, public safety responders and/or public health workers.
This sounds like a good idea to me and it makes sense. The question from the second paragraph is little more difficult to answer. I feel a poll question coming on.
Another question that comes to mind is where within the government would a federal EMS office fit? Should it be placed within FEMA, which is part of DHS? Hmmm.
Wild Wildfire Season?
Wildfire season is kicking up - lots of news articles out there about wildland fires. This from FireFightingNews.com:
Only four days into summer, wildfires are already burning in record numbers as experts fear drought conditions mean a dangerous wildfire season in the U.S. Statistics complied by National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, show the 3.2 million acres burned up by 54,686 fires already this year tops the 10-year average of 39,240 fires burning a million acres.Although the fires have been mostly contained, experts say the dry ground is ripe for a worst-case scenario.
Around here, we are drier than normal, so I would expect some significant grass fires later this summer.
Fire Service TV Shows
Over at Fire Service History, they are listing TV shows that address the fire service. Give them a hand in listing these shows.
Timeliness
Better late than never.
Is this always true? Not in the fire service. Check out this picture from WF&DT (via Roanoke Firefighters).
Saturday Night Movie!
Saturday Night Movie!
This happened many years ago in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Courtesy of Scottie's Cartoon Gallery.
Roethlisberger Motorcycle Wreck
I've been a Steeler fan forever, so that is why I'm posting about his: Ben Roethlisberger was involved in an accident while riding his motorcycle yesterday. Check the details here (from FOXNews).
PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger has a lot more to worry about than playing quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.Roethlisberger was in serious but stable condition late Monday night after breaking his jaw and nose in a motorcycle crash earlier in the day.
Roethlisberger, the youngest quarterback to lead a team to the Super Bowl championship, was taken to Pittsburgh's Mercy Hospital, where he underwent seven hours of surgery.
My thoughts and prayers are with Ben and his family. Hopefully, he has a full recovery. It would be a bonus if he can continue to play football for the Steelers.
Note to Ben - listen to the advice of your coach next time. Get rid of the bike.
East Timor Firefighters
How would you like to be one of ten firefighters in a city of 180,000 people, only have two fire engines, and depend on international peace keepers to protect you while you fight fires? That is what the firefighters in Dili, Timor, deal with on a daily basis (from The Herald Sun).
DILI'S firefighters are probably the world's busiest right now as arsonists torch homes across the East Timorese capital – yet there are only 10 of them facing daily threats from angry mobs.Known locally as bombeiros, the firefighters have not been paid for two months, make do with only two fire engines and live permanently in their dilapidated central Dili headquarters alongside relatives and 250 refugees.
They have had knives held to their throats as they attempt to extinguish the handiwork of arsonists and must be escorted by armed international peacekeepers as they rush to stop the city burning.
Read the whole article. These folks really show what being a firefighter is all about.
Here is some info about the country of East Timor.
Blind Dispatcher
Dispatcher Steven Tidwell of Watson Chapel, AR, hasn't let a little thing like the loss of his sight stop him (from KAIT8.com).
WATSON CHAPEL- In Watson Chapel, it doesn't take sight to lead firefighters to the scene of a fire. All that's needed is Steven Tidwell.Tidwell is blind but works as a dispatcher for the volunteer Watson Chapel Fire Department. The 22-year-old was an infant when he lost his sight and, as he was growing up, he developed a mental map of the city while listening and talking to family members as they all went about their daily routine.
Keep up the good work, Dispatcher Tidwell!
Firefighter Proposes from Rooftop
This is a cool way to propose (from The Billings Gazette).
Billings firefighter Briana Masche climbed a very steep 53 steps up a fire truck ladder, swung her leg onto the roof of a building and stepped into the surprise of a lifetime Saturday afternoon.
Masche clamored up the steps, supposedly to check a report of a hot odor coming from one of the Stapleton Building's heating units.
Supposedly is the key word.
There was no emergency atop the building, just a very nervous fiancé-to-be.
While Masche and other members of the firefighting crew checked their bulky fire-proof gear and got the huge aerial ladder just right against the top of the four-story building, her boyfriend, firefighter Joe Sands, was already on the roof.
Sands was wearing his firefighter dress uniform and hat. His black shoes shined and his badge and nametag glimmered in the sun.
"What are you doing up here?" Sands said Masche asked when she saw him. "I said, 'I'm here to do what we've been talking about.' "
Read the rest of the article to see how it turned out. The article has some pictures too.
Rescue Me Soundtrack
The premier of the third season of Rescue Me was on TV last night. I watched it for a few minutes, but wasn't able to watch the whole thing. From what I saw, it looked pretty good. Check out the website.
Nettwerk Records sent the Rescue Me Soundtrack to me a couple of weeks ago. I previewed a few of the songs and it has some interesting songs from The Von Bondies, Ray LaMontagne, The Subways, and lots of others.
Emergency Room Part II
Just a quick update - my shift in the emergency room went just fine. Whew!
It was busy from 8 PM until about 4 AM. Then things slowed down a bit, but there were still a number of patients to look after. I learned a ton and the ER staff was great.
The next big step is the test in the middle of June. Study, study, study!
Memorial Day
This should have been posted before the weekend, but I'd rather be late than never. This from HistoryChannel.com via FireFighter Blog:
By the late 1800s, many communities across the country had begun to celebrate Memorial Day and, after World War I, observances also began to honor those who had died in all of America's wars. In 1971, Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May. (Veterans Day, a day set aside to honor all veterans, living and dead, is celebrated each year on November 11.)
We attended our local Memorial Day ceremony at the auditorium. Then we had a picnic lunch at the park and later in the afternoon, we took the kids out to fly their kites. I finished up with nine holes of golf. What a great day - made possible by the sacrifice of the men and women in our armed forces.
Paulison Confirmed as Head of FEMA
Good news for the fire service (from FOXNews.com).
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed R. David Paulison as FEMA's chief on Friday, hours after a senator ended his stall on the nomination over problems with the agency's flood insurance program.Paulison's confirmation was part of an unanimous consent agreement as the Senate headed out of town on a one-week recess for Memorial Day.
Hopefully, this will help the fire service and FEMA overall.
Emergency Room
Well, I'm about 80% done with my EMT Basic course and I'm heading to Sioux Falls to spend 10 hours in the emergency room at Sioux Valley hospital. I'll be working the 8 PM to 6 AM shift on a Friday night. Hmmm.
I'm looking forward to it, but hopefully I don't make a fool of myself or screw something up.
Everyone have a good weekend!
Finnish Fireman Works to Help Kabul Firefighters
A firefighter in Finland is trying to help firefighters in Kabul, Afghanistan (from Helsingin Sanomat).
Paul Eskelinen , 34, from Espoo, is a stubborn man. Just so you know.He works as a fireman and ambulance driver at the Espoonlahti emergency centre. In addition he is organising help for his colleagues in Afghanistan, although he runs into resistance from all sides.
...
A city of five million inhabitants should have at least ten fire stations, Eskelinen estimates. Now they have just four. They have seven functioning fire engines, and they are all 20-30 years old. "They do not even fit in the narrow streets." The fire hydrant system was destroyed in the civil war. The fire engine has to return to the station to refill, which can take as long as an hour. Due to the lack of fire engines, the firefighters travel on the roofs of the vehicles. "If the driver brakes too fast, men fall off and get hurt."
This really shows that the Afghan fire service is in dire need of assistance. If you know of programs that already exist to address this need, please let me know.
Muck Fire
Muck Fire - this is a term I was unfamiliar with. Here is the definition from the Florida Division of Forestry (pdf):
A fire burning in or below the duff layer in soil containing decaying organic matter, such as peat. Muck fires usually occur in dry marshes or swamps during a drought. Muck fires are problematic because they may burn for days or weeks, creating a smoke hazard and creating a safety problem for fire fighters with undergrounds pockets of fire that can collapse under the weight of humans or machinery.
Here is a link to a USA Today story regarding muck fires.
Muck fires, such as this one near Veronica Estates, can haunt rural residents and firefighters for months. They can top 500 degrees, smolder as deep as the muck goes, burn for weeks and rekindle forest fires long after residents think the threat is gone.
Interesting stuff. It sounds like muck fires are a real booger to extinguish. Lots of digging, probably with heavy equipment.
We don't have muck fires in South Dakota. No swamps that would provide deep organic material. Do you have muck fires, or other special types of fires, in your area? Leave a comment and let us know.
World Trade Center
A movie called World Trade Center has just been released (hat tip to Roanoke Firefighters).
It is a story about two Port Authority police officers, the last two men rescued from the rubble of the World Trade Center. It is an Oliver Stone film (I'm not a big fan), but the trailer looks good. I know I'll go to this one.
Here is the official movie website.
Freaked Out
Freaked Out
Firefighters in Christchurch were freaked out by Freaking out
a deaf woman who unknowingly called
them to her home early one morning.
Courtesy of Scottie's Cartoon Gallery.
National EMS Week
I'm a little behind again, but this week is National EMS Week.
Dallas, TX — The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) today announced the 33rd annual Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week will be celebrated throughout the nation May 14-20, 2006. The event brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of the medical “front line.”National EMS Week will feature hundreds of grassroots activities coast-to-coast that will be planned around this year’s theme, “EMS: Serving on Health Care’s Front Line,” which underscores the commitment and dedication of the 750,000 EMS providers who serve their communities.
Check out the official website.
Firefighter License Plates
Roanoke Firefighters has a funny post about a firefighter's license plate - don't miss it. It made me laugh.
There is also a link to a project that the IAFF Local 1132 website has. It is a collection of firefighter license plates.
National CERT Conference
The National CERT Conference is currently underway in Los Angeles (via LAFD News & Information). Here is a little trivia for you:
CERT, the Community Emergency Response Team program, helps communities be better prepared for, respond to and cope with disasters. CERT was conceived by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985 and is now in use worldwide.
Check out the conference website and the CERT home page.
I think that Community Emergency Response Teams are an excellent idea and should be implemented in every community in the U.S. In large disaster scenarios these folks could prove invaluable.
Leesburg Fire Video
Over at Becoming a Firefighter (VA), a video of the Leesburg Fire Department has been posted. It contains video clips and pictures of incidents they have responded to. Cool stuff!
Contest Winner
OK, there weren't many entrants in the "Busier than a..." contest. However, the guys that did respond had excellent entries. It was tough to decide which I liked better. The entrants are fellow fire bloggers. Be sure to stop by and check out their sites:
Roanoke Firefighters
43 Firefighter
And now, the winner...drum roll please...
Rhett from Roanoke Firefighters with "Busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest".
Thanks for participating guys!
Mini-Marathon in Firefighting Gear
Have you ever walked 13 miles at one time? Have you done it wearing full firefighting PPE including SCBA? A firefighter from Bloomington, IN, is planning on doing just that (from wane.com).
INDIANAPOLIS A Bloomington firefighter plans to briskly walk the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon on Saturday in full firefighting gear.Captain Steve Coover says he'll raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association by racing while wearing his helmet, jacket, pants, oxygen tank and breathing mask.
He is going to need a big supply of air tanks. Best of luck, Captain Coover. Hopefully, the day will be cool and your fundraiser is a success.
A True Scotsman
A True Scotsman
The Scottish Entry For the TFA
At The Last Firefighters Games
Decided To Wear His National Dress (Kilt)
While Competing.
Courtesy of Scottie's Cartoon Gallery.
The Foam Test
The photos from this article are amazing (from the ArmyTimes.com).
An April 14 report in the Black Hills Bandit, Ellsworth’s base newspaper, suggests the slideshow, and its depiction of a fire-suppression system gone seemingly haywire, has spread like, well, rapidly expanding fire-snuffing foam throughout the Air Force, her sister services and the national media. (Oh yeah, we’ve got a copy. Check it out.Ellsworth officials want it known that the incident, actually a planned test of new equipment last August, was conducted properly — and that it yielded a desired a result: They now know it takes just two minutes, not six, for the system to do what’s needed.
Don't miss the photos. Just follow the link above.
This foam test was conducted at Ellsworth Air Force Base in western South Dakota. I grew up about 70 miles from there.
Chicago Firefighter Wins Big
Check this out (from The Chicago Tribune):
CHICAGO -- Chicago firefighter Thorpe Schoenle was back at work last week, after millions had watched him win $464,000 on the game show "Deal or No Deal."The prize was the biggest awarded on the show to date, and Schoenle credited his luck to keeping cool and playing the odds.
"The reason I wanted to be on the show is you don't have to be a genius to win a lot of money," said Schoenle, who trains emergency medical technicians at the Chicago Fire Academy.
Way to go Firefighter Schoenle!
Call for FEMA to be Replaced
The Senate will be coming out with some recommendations today regarding FEMA including this one (from FOXNews.com).
WASHINGTON — Hurricane Katrina's latest fatality should be FEMA, the nation's disaster response agency, a Senate inquiry concluded in calling for a government overhaul to avoid future failures like those the devastating storm exposed....
The recommendations conclude that the Federal Emergency Management Agency is crippled beyond repair by years of poor leadership and inadequate funding. They call for a new agency — the National Preparedness and Response Authority — to plan and carry out relief missions for domestic disasters.
...
But the proposal drew disdain from Homeland Security and its critics, both sides questioning the need for another bureaucratic shuffling that they said wouldn't accomplish much.
"It's time to stop playing around with the organizational charts and to start focusing on government, at all levels, that are preparing for this storm season," Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said.
I agree. On the surface, this sounds like a reshuffle that doesn't really fix much. I'll hold on to further comments until the recommendations and report are officially released.
Chain Saw Video
Rhett over at Roanoke Firefighters posted this video and it cracked me up!
Here is the link back to the Google video.
Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service
The USFA and NFPA have released a report detailing their most recent survey results regarding what the fire service in U.S. needs most. Here are a few interesting points from the executive summary:
- Used vehicles accounted for an average of 42% of apparatus purchased by or donated to departments protecting communities with less than 2,500 population.
- There are just over a million active firefighters in the US, of which just over three- fourths are volunteer firefighters. Nearly half the volunteers serve in communities with less than 2,500 population.
- An estimated 233,000 firefighters, most of them volunteers serving in communities with less than 2,500 population, are involved in structural firefighting but lack formal training in those duties.
- An estimated 41% of fire department personnel involved in wildland firefighting lack formal training in those duties, with substantial needs in all sizes of communities.
- An estimated 792,000 firefighters serve in fire departments with no program to maintain basic firefighter fitness and health, most of them volunteers serving communities with less than 5,000 population.
- Just over 13,000 fire engines (pumpers) (16% of all engines) are 15 to 19 years old, another 17,000 (21%) are 20 to 29 years old, and just over 10,000 (13%) are at least 30 years old. Therefore, half of all engines are at least 15 years old.
- An estimated 57,000 firefighters lack personal protective clothing, most in departments protecting communities with less than 2,500 population. An estimated one-third of personal protective clothing is at least 10 years old.
- Only 11% of fire departments can handle a technical rescue with EMS at a structural collapse of a building with 50 occupants with local trained personnel.
- Only 13% of fire departments can handle a hazmat and EMS incident involving chemical/biological agents and 10 injuries with local trained personnel.
- Only 26% of fire departments can handle a wildland/urban interface fire affecting 500 acres with local trained personnel.
- Only 12% of fire departments can handle mitigation of a developing major flood with local trained personnel.
Many of the issues found should be addressed by the local and/or state governments. Local and state authorities know what types of incidents they are faced with. These agencies should make sure that the fire service in their jurisdictions can meet the challenge of those types of incidents.
The federal government should use this report to tailor the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Money from the program could be directed to those areas that need the most improvement.
Here is a link to the report (160 pages).
Here is a link to an article at Firehouse.com with more analysis.
FEMA Not a First Responder
FEMA Acting Director Paulison noted that FEMA is not a first responder (from FireChief.com).
Above all, however, Paulison emphasized that effective emergency management requires a team approach, and that FEMA is not a first responder. "The first response belongs in the hands of those closest to the incident, those state and local officials who are putting together the evacuation plans and shelter locations and educating their residents on when to evacuate, where to go and what to do," he said."We can all agree that disaster response starts at the local level. When the local government is overwhelmed, they ask the state for support, and when the state is overwhelmed, you request support from FEMA and the federal government," said Paulison. "Effective emergency management requires a team approach. This partnership needs to include all levels of government and all disciplines of emergency management and response."
Everyone in the U.S. needs to read this statement, especially the news media. FEMA really took a beating after Hurricane Katrina. Much of the criticism was deserved, but I also think people have inaccurate expectations of FEMA.
Reversed Feeder
Reversed feeder!
One Of A Firefighters Worst Nightmares!
Courtesy of Scottie's Cartoon Gallery.
Four Part Series on Glenn County, CA
The Chico Enterprise-Record is publishing a four part series about the firefighters in Glenn County, CA. Here are links to the first three installments. The fourth will be published tomorrow.
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Fire districts and how fires are fought
Part 3: Dwindling numbers of volunteers
Part 4: Finding a solution
Here is some additional information on Glenn County's fire departments.
Enjoy!
Bomb Squad Finds Sweet Treat
This made me snicker (from KDKA.com via FireFightingNews.com).
(CBS) PALM DESERT, Calif. An angry woman who dropped off a suspicious package at a Palm Desert fire station Sunday, motivating firefighters to call the bomb squad to investigate, was apparently trying to do a good deed.
The suspicious package turned out to be a bag of doughnuts.
Hehehe, I bet they wish they could find this type of bomb more often.
We Need to Rewrite "The Code"
Read this article called The Code (from SCONFIRE.com via 43 Firefighter).
Here is my favorite part:
Breaking “The Code” goes against our very core as firefighters. We did not come into this profession to self promote or boast, we came into this profession to do a job, and it is against that very fiber to “brag and boast” about what it is we do. But brag and boast we must, because if we do not tell the story, no one else will. We must do it not for ourselves, but for each other and for the financial future of our profession and the safety of our communities.
Firefighter Byrne has written an excellent article that we should all read.
Vehicle Extrication In Iraq
This is a great article about some Air Force firefighters in Iraq and a training evolution they recently went through (from Stars and Stripes).
ALI BASE, Iraq — The blood and broken bones may have been fake, but the metal was bona fide real, Soviet steel.During a training mission at the Ali Base “bone yard,” a team of Air Force firefighters and an Army air ambulance crew practiced the sweaty art of vehicle extraction on a junked Russian truck before airlifting a simulated victim to safety Monday.
...
The airmen went to work hacking the door off the truck and then, along with an Army medic, examined Vansteel and prepared him for the helicopter trip to the aid station. As Vansteel screamed over the roar of the helicopter engine, the team loaded him into the helicopter.
You don't want to miss this article. Read the whole thing.
Paulison Nominated to Head FEMA
David Paulison has been nominated to head up FEMA (from the Washington Post).
President Bush yesterday nominated the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be its permanent chief, ending a seven-month search that had become an embarrassing reminder of the government's flawed response to Hurricane Katrina and doubts about proposed administration reforms.R. David Paulison, 59, formerly U.S. fire administrator and head of FEMA's division of preparedness, succeeded former director Michael D. Brown, who resigned Sept. 12, two weeks after the storm struck.
...
Paulison's selection drew polite praise yesterday but did not quell critics who have called, among other things, for FEMA to be restored to independent, Cabinet-level status and its director to report directly to the president, as was the case before the Homeland Security Department was created in 2002.
We'll have to see what kind of impact Paulison will have on FEMA and whether that will bode well for the fire service. I'm hoping his appointment will help counteract the slow erosion of the AFG program.
Water On!
I found a website that features fire service cartoons - Scottie's Cartoon Gallery. Scottie is a firefighter and cartoonist in New Zealand. He has given me permission to show some of his cartoons here on Firewhirl. Thanks, Scottie! Here is the first installment:
Water On!
The Valve For The Monitor
Was Left Open,
And This Resulted!
Courtesy of Scottie's Cartoon Gallery.
NIFC Wildland Fire Update
Check out this page from the National Interagency Fire Center. Here is the data that caught my eye:
2006 (1/1/06 - 3/31/06) Fires: 20,942 Acres: 1,849,336 2005 (1/1/05 - 3/31/05) Fires: 9,631 Acres: 143,898 2004 (1/1/04 - 3/31/04) Fires: 15,577 Acres: 171,677 2003 (1/1/03 - 3/31/03) Fires: 7,395 Acres: 93,980 2002 (1/1/02 - 3/31/02) Fires: 14,718 Acres: 200,752 2001 (1/1/01 - 3/31/01) Fires: 14,412 Acres: 266,547 2000 (1/1/00 - 3/31/00) Fires: 20,346 Acres: 569,567 2001 - 2006 Fires: 13,838 Acres: 236,232
If this keeps up, we will have a huge year for wildland fires!
Wildfire Relief Concert
A concert is being planned to raise money for those affected by the wildland fires in Texas recently (from the Miami Herald).
WACO, Texas - Michael Martin Murphey, famous for singing about a pony named "Wildfire," will soon switch the focus of that song to benefit those devastated by recent fires across the Texas Panhandle.
The benefit concert will be held April 15 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo. Murphey will team up with other performing artists and the Texas Farm Bureau to help families hit hardest by the fires.
...
Performers set to participate in the concert include country singers Red Steagall and R.J. Vandygriff and classical pianist John Bayless, a Panhandle native. The Amarillo Symphony Orchestra will back up Murphey.
Here is Murphey's website. Check it out.
Firefighter Honored for 50 Years of Service
This from the Sioux City Journal:
CHEROKEE, Iowa -- Forgive firefighter Roger Frisbie if he looks anxious Friday morning. He's a little uncomfortable with the attention.He'd rather be out fighting a fire.
"I hope we get a call Friday morning," he says.
Frisbie, 75, has protected the people of Cherokee for 50 years as a volunteer member of the Cherokee Fire Department. The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce honors Frisbie for his duty at a 9:30 a.m. coffee Friday at the fire station downtown.
Here is a great story from his early days on the department:
In 1956, volunteer firefighters working in Cherokee had two minutes to sprint to the main intersection downtown after hearing the giant siren sound."I remember running three-quarters of a block and then jumping on the truck as it went through the intersection," Frisbie says. "There were times I missed the truck and landed flat on my face."
That sounds like it was fun - all except for the face landing. I know we are supposed to be safety minded, but it would be a blast to jump on a moving fire truck.
Congratulations to Firefighter Frisbie on reaching a great milestone in his career!
Aerial Firefighting Pioneer Dies
A pioneer in the aerial firefighting field has passed away (from ChicoER.com).
The man credited with giving birth to modern aerial firefighting died Monday in Chico. Joseph B. Ely was 94.As a forest control officer working in the Mendocino National Forest in the 1950s, Ely was interested in making wildfires safer to fight by attacking them from the air.
Others had tried with very limited results. But Ely, who saw 15 firefighters die in 1953 while fighting a Mendocino National Forest blaze from the ground, had a special incentive.
In 1995, Ely asked a Willows pilot if he could adapt a crop-dusting plane for aerial firefighting.
Vance Nolta concocted a gate, a dump valve and a mechanism to operate them from the cockpit of a Stearman 75 Kaydet.
With Ely looking on, Nolta tested the device on a small fire at the Willows Airport, and it worked.
The very first drop on a live fire came in August 1955, when the Stearman dumped 100 gallons of water on a crashed logging truck that had touched off a fire near Covelo.
...
Ely was born in Pewaukee, Wis., in 1911. He graduated from Yale University in 1935 with a master's degree in forestry and spent his whole career with the Forest Service.
Our thoughts are prayers are with Joe's family.
Firefighters Receive National Medal of Valor
From Firechief.com:
Two firefighters and three police officers today received the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, the nation’s highest award recognizing heroic action performed above and beyond the call of duty by a public safety officer. Firefighter Edward F. Henry, Charleston (S.C.) Fire Department; Bttn. Chief Gene F. Large Jr., Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) Fire Department; and police officers Timothy Greene, Rock Hill, S.C.; Bryan S. Hurst (deceased), Columbus, Ohio; and Peter Alfred Koe, Indianapolis; were presented their medals by President George W. Bush during a White House ceremony in the Oval Office.
Read the rest of the article for descriptions of why the firefighters received their medals.
Congratulations to Firefighter Henry and Bttn. Chief Large!
Firefighter Tops Poll as Sexiest Job
Another reason to be a firefighter (from Firehouse.com).
The results are in, and the people have spoken. Once again, firefighter is at the top of the list in the annual AOL/Salary.com sexiest jobs survey.Our brave firefighters had some tough competition for the spot this year though, sharing the honors with the silver-spooned CEO, whose median salary of more than $600,000 seems to be compounding interest not only in the bank, but also with the ladies.
Here are the official results on Salary.com.
I'm not sure that the survey is accurate. Perhaps the ideal firefighter is sexy. However, one look at our department photo will tell you that there are problems with the survey - hehehe.
New Links
I haven't posted any new links for several weeks, so here are three sites to go check out. I've also added them to the sidebar at the right.
Firebomber Publications Blog - Michael has a blog that "discusses issues of importance to firefighters, with an emphasis on wildland firefighting." (from the sites header). Nice site with good info.
US Fire - This site features firefighting headlines from around the country, a forum to discuss issues, photos, and links. It's a great source of info.
Wildlandfire.com - This site has lots of info regarding wildland fire. Don't miss this one. They even invite you to "take yer boots off and take five" while you browse the site.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Visit this site to learn all about all about St. Patrick's Day.
Blogging will be light today. I'm preparing to teach an S130/S190 class this weekend. Take this opportunity to visit the blogs and sites I've got listed over on the sidebar.
Incident Pictures on a Blog
Should incident pictures be posted on a blog for the entire world to see? Even if the pictures may be painful to those involved in the incident?
I think so and here is why:
First, is can be used as a training tool for firefighters across the country. Seeing pictures from an incident and then reading about the events of the incident can reinforce good rescue/firefighting techniques. It can also point out the areas that they need to improve in so that they can accomplish their mission of saving lives and property while keeping their firefighters safe.
Second, it is a record of the incidents that a department responds to. The internet is allowing fire departments to quickly and efficiently put together a record of the incidents they respond to, including pictures from the scene, so that all members of the department have quick and easy access to those records.
Third, it can be used by the general public to see what types of incidents the fire department in their area responds to. This gives them a better understanding of what the fire department does and shows them what kind of training and equipment are required to respond effectively to these incidents. It also reinforces safety lessons with the public so that they don’t have these types of incidents themselves.
Lastly, it is a place where personal observations can be recorded. The great thing about the U.S. is that you are free to post your thoughts and pictures on your website without government interference.
The reason I ask these questions is that a fellow blogger and firefighter has received some pretty intense comments regarding the pictures on his blog.
Just my two cents. Please feel free to post your comments or send me an email.
Roanoke Firefighters Blog Hits One Year
Rhett over at Roanoke Firefighters has been blogging for one year. Stop by his blog and spend some time. He has some great posts and I make sure to check his site every day.
Fire Truck Video Game
I've never heard of this arcarde-style video game called Fire Truck by Atari (from klov.com):
One or two players drive a fire engine through a maze of winding city streets, avoiding parked cars. In one-player mode, a person may drive the front or back of the fire truck. In a two-person game, the front player sits and drives the rig while the rear player stands and steers the trailer.
This would be cool to have in a room with a pool table or dart board.
Dream of Being a Firefighter
Great story...read the whole thing (from Pittsburghlive.com):
KITTANNING -- At 2:25 p.m. Sunday, Armstrong 911 dispatched the borough's Hose Company 4 on a routine "smoke" call, but for one new firefighter, the call was anything but routine.Hose Company 4's newest member, Michael Smock, sat in the front seat of the company's big fire engine and talked into the radio microphone to tell 911 that the fire unit was rolling. The ride was short, and thankfully no smoke was found, but when Smock returned, he got to man a fire hose anyway.
...
Smock, a resident of Evergreen Homes in West Kittanning, has always wanted to be a fireman, but spinal bifida and other disabilities kept him from fulfilling his dream -- until yesterday.
Congratulations to Firefighter Smock! Way to go, Kittanning Hose Company 4.
Nephew is Wrestling in State Meet
No posting on Friday because we will be traveling to the state high school wrestling meet to watch my nephew wrestle. By the way, this is his first trip to the state meet - he is just a 7th grader.
Everyone have a good weekend!
Firefighter with Artificial Leg
This is an amazing story (from the BBC):
A Worcestershire man has become the first firefighter in the UK to work with a false leg.Simon Hawkins, from Bromsgrove, lost his lower left leg in a motorbike accident in 2005.
He has been allowed back to work after a series of gruelling tests and what he calls "incredible" support.
People can do amazing things when they focus and get tough! The technology improvements in artificial limbs certainly helps too. Congratulations to Firefighter Hawkins.
Toughest Firefighter Alive
The World Firefighters Games are being held in Hong Kong which inlcudes an event called the Toughest Firefighter Alive (from news.gov.hk).
A total of 260 firefighters from more than 20 countries and regions, including 18 from Hong Kong, will vie for the 'Toughest Firefighter Alive' title tomorrow.The main event of the 9th World Firefighters Games, being held in Hong Kong this week, will take place at the Games Village at the Tamar Site.
Here is the link to the official website. Here are the rules for the Toughest Firefighter Alive event.
Racial Intimidation at Jacksonville Station
Two Jacksonville firefighters found nooses in their gear at the fire station. I first saw this on Firefighter Blog, but here some details from Firehouse.com:
The fire station at Duval and Jefferson streets downtown became the scene of a hate-crime investigation Friday morning when two black firefighters arrived at work to find nooses on their gear.Firefighter Rufus Smith found a noose on his suit when he reported to work at 7 a.m. Smith immediately reported it to his superiors.
Smith said finding the noose made him angry and scared.
"We're afraid -- my life is on the line," Smith said. "I give my life to the citizens of Jacksonville any day, any second, all day for 17 years."
Roderick Laws, the only other black firefighter on this shift at the station, also found a noose draped on his gear.
The investigation needs to find the perpetrator and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. Here is more about penalties from the article:
Prosecutors told Channel 4 that while the act itself was likely a misdemeanor crime, if it was considered a hate crime, by Florida statute, the person would receive an additional five-year sentence.
The entire fire service needs to condemn the actions of the person that planted the nooses.
Firefighters Help Boy Send Valentine
Its stories like this that make me proud to be part of the fire service (from LAFD News and Info).
LINCOLN, Neb. - Firefighters braved sleet, wind and freezing cold to rescue a valentine that got snagged in a tree after a boy sent it into the sky by balloon for his mother, who died of cancer last fall.
Read the whole thing.
Well done, Lincoln Fire Department, well done. Here is a link to the LFD website.
Are You Ready For Some Football?
Did you know that there is a National Public Safety Football League? I sure didn't! Here is some info from the LAFD News and Info blog.
The LA HEAT, part of the National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL), is one of fifteen teams from across the United States comprised entirely of sworn public safety personnel. Each NPSFL team plays for one or more charities, with players adhering to the same honor and integrity on the field as they do while on-duty.
Here is a link to the NPSFL. Go to their links page to visit the homepages of each team.
EMT-B Class
Well, I've been tossing around the idea of becoming an EMT-B over the past few years. Now I've finally made the decision to go for it. The timing of this project isn't great, but the classes will held here in town. If I wait until the next course, I'll have to travel which can add a lot of time and expense.
Class started on Monday night. We will meet on Monday and Wednesday nights until our test in June. If you have any advice, feel free to post a comment or send an e-mail.
FDNY Racing Team
I ran across a cool website this morning. It is the website of the FDNY Racing Team!
The outpouring of support from all Americans for the 9/11 victims and their families and the special emphasis for FDNY has evolved in many forms. It was this dedication to the American principles symbolized by the heroes of the FDNY that created the FDNY Racing Team, by Lt. Mike Bolnik, Ret., FDNY and Jim Rosenblum from Jim Rosenblum Racing and Bob Rahilly from RAHMOC Racing Engines. They established in conjunction with the Fire Department of New York the official NASCAR racing team FDNY Racing to honor the fallen heroes and their families and raise funds for the Widow's and Children's Fund and the Bravest Fund. The FDNY Racing Team is symbolic of the broad support already expressed by this great country. Its members hail from New York, Florida, North Carolina, Connecticut, Washington, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. During the week they are, firemen, salesmen, utility workers, building contractors, business professionals and avionics manufacturers. On the weekends, they join the FDNY Racing team in America's number one sporting event of NASCAR Racing, to raise funds for Greatest America's Heroes.
Steelers Win Super Bowl XL!
Go Steelers! Here is the game summary from ESPN.
I know there will be a lot of discussion about the officiating, but the bottom line is the Steelers got the win. They made big plays when they needed them. They made fewer mistakes than Seattle when it counted.
Hero to Hero
Check out Hero to Hero program to support our troops (from Firehouse.com).
Hero To Hero is Firefighters, Law Enforcement and First Responders across America giving the shirts off their back for our deployed troops. NO POLITICS! NO PRO OR ANTIWAR! STRICTLY MORALE FOR OUR DEPLOYED TROOPS & THEIR FAMILIES!...
So just how did this all come to be? Back in 2003, as the anniversary of 9/11 loomed near and the word 'Hero' was being tossed around pretty freely, I asked a soldier how it felt to be a Hero. He smiled, and replied, "Ma'am, I'm not a Hero ... just doing my job". So, since I tend to be an inquisitive person, I asked who he considered to be a Hero. "When I am deployed, I need to focus. I can't be worried about my family. Those people who make sure my family is safe ... the Firefighters, the Cops, all of them ... those are the Heroes".
Sounds good to me!
Big Wildfire Season in 2006?
I'm starting to see quite a few news stories raising the possibility that the wildland fire season could be a big one. See this article from the East Valley Tribune:
A decade-long drought — followed by 107 days without a drop of Valley rain — have put Arizona at risk for the worst wildfire season in its history.
These predictions have popped up in Arizona, Florida, Texas, and perhaps other states. It's pretty early to get too worked up, but if you live in areas that are dry, you'll want to be prepared.
Joyride Ends with Fender Bender
I'm a Steeler fan, so I can understand why these firefighters were fired up, but their enthusiasm got them in a little trouble (from KDKA.com via FireFightingNews.com).
The Bauerstown Volunteer Fire Department in Shaler took a big fire engine for a joy ride to celebrate the Steelers trip to the Super Bowl.The fun came to an abrupt end when they hit a car.
...
The accident caused almost $6,000 in damage to the door, mirror and paint.
Oops! Follow the link to watch the video report from KDKA.
LAFD Celebrates 120 Years of Service
Happy 120th Anniversary to the Los Angeles Fire Department!
Koalas Hit Hard in Bushfires
Australian bushfires have hit the koala population pretty hard this year (from ABC Ballarat).
In the wake of bushfires in the Grampians and the Brisbane Ranges volunteers work to save koalas suffering severe injuries and trauma....
"Exact numbers are very difficult to determine... the fact remains around Anakie the losses are very high - the koala habitat is very good there. Last night I came back at midnight with an arborist who's a very good tree climber, and we rescued another two koalas. We've been out there six days and nights and rescued a dozen koalas and found 20 or 30 dead ones, and that's just the ones we've found.
Wildfires can move fast, and koalas move slowly - bad combination. Read the whole article for the details and visit the image gallery regarding the bushfires in this area.
Relatives Fill Fire Department Roster
The Baron DeKalb Fire Department has 11 members. Six of those members belong to the same family (from the Camden Chronicle Independent).
Chief Jim Crawford, his wife, Bobbie, her brother-in-law David Morrison, nephew Matt Morrison, sister Linda Nauman, and son Chris Rabon, all are active members of the department....
Not all the firefighters are family, but they are all close, Crawford said. And like all volunteer fire departments, they are constantly looking for new members. Finding volunteers is a little more difficult these days, because training standards are nearly identical with career firefighters. Also, many people work outside the area, making it difficult to respond to calls along the lake.
It's interesting that the majority of the members of one fire department are all related. Some families emphasize public service and other families don't.
Kansas City Gets 40 New Pumpers and Trucks
The Kansas City Fire Department is replacing a huge chunk of their firefighting fleet over the next few weeks (from The Kansas City Star).
The Kansas City Fire Department will add 40 brand-new pumper and ladder trucks to its fleet over the next four to six weeks. The first of the additions — pumpers 28 and 43 — were unveiled and put into service Monday. Overall, the department is receiving 36 pumpers and four ladder trucks....
Altogether, the new trucks cost about $14.2 million — roughly $312,000 per pumper and $747,000 per ladder truck. They’re being purchased on a lease-to-own plan. The money comes from a quarter-cent sales tax passed in 2001, which is also paying for building renovations and additional firefighters.
I don't know how most big cities purchase apparatus, but is it wise to purchase this many pumpers and trucks at one time?
Here is a link to the Kansas City FD website.
New Links
Here are some new links that I've added to the sidebar:
My Dark Little Corner of Cyberspace - a firefighter's blog about his life, firefighting, and EMS. Detailed posts - good stuff.
World Fire Departments.com - a resource site for firefighters with links to fire departments all over the world. They also have links to museums, news, picture galleries, and more.
Black Spruce Description
I was reading an article about Alaska wildfires and its effects on the boreal forest (from Sitnews.us), when I came across a description of the flammability of black spruce:
The resilient black spruce is the most flammable tree in the boreal forest; one fire official called it "gasoline on a stick."
Apparently, they burn pretty hot - hehehe.
The rest of the article is actually pretty interesting too.
All Female Firefighting Crew
ABC News has a feature about an all female firefighting crew in the San Diego Fire Department.
Jan. 24, 2006 — Two decades ago, Melissa Cleary found herself at the scene of a car accident. When the firefighters responded, Cleary was shocked to see a woman jump out of the truck."It was the first time it actually occurred to me that maybe I could be a firefighter," Cleary said.
Cleary was so affected, she tracked the female firefighter down and followed her into the profession. Today, Cleary, 47, is the engineer on Engine 22, San Diego's all-female fire crew.
There is a video too.
Into the Firestorm - Going South
The second episode of the "Into the Firestorm" series was on Tuesday night and I was able to watch it. This episode continued to feature the Redmond Smoke Jumpers and Prineville Hotshots. It also featured two other crews, the Mill Creek Hotshots and a helitack crew out of southern California. Apparently, the Mill Creek Hotshots have disbanded since the filming of this series. I'll have to watch the video to catch which helitack crew was featured and then I'll post an update.
I liked this episode a little better than the first. It had some pretty interesting fire behavior shots from a fire in California. This intense fire behavior was out of the ordinary because it was at night, when fires usually calm down a bit.
There was good footage of retardant drops by air tankers and bucket drops by helicopters.
One point that I found pretty accurate was the portrayal of problems that can arise on wildland fires. The smoke jumpers' equipment got hung up in the trees, so they had to do a little tree climbing before they could really fight much fire. The Prineville Hotshots humped a bunch of hose, pumps, and nozzles into a fire only to discover that helicopter bucket drops had all but put the fire out. They were left with the boring stuff - mop-up.
My rating on this episode: 4 out of 5.
Firefighters in Politics - Hmmmm
Ha! You've got to read this post from Mike the Mad Biologist. He has a strategy for the Democrats to take back Congress.
I've figured out how the Democrats can take back the Congress: the Firefighting Dems. That's right: the Democrats should try to run as many firefighters as they can in the 2006 elections.
Read the rest of his post to find out his reasons.
Here is my favorite paragragh from the post:
Now, some of you might disagree with me. Let me say this: if you are against the Firefighting Dems, you not only hate firefighters, but you clearly hate America and have no idea what integrity or honor mean. It's liberal, hippie, draft-dodging, unshaven, girlie-man pussies like you who are responsible for Democratic defeats, not a Democratic political strategist class that couldn't pour piss out of a boot if the instructions were written on the damn heel.
Mike, you would fit right in down at the fire hall with the rest of the crew if that is how you normally express yourself :-)
Into the Firestorm - The Burnout
Last night I watched the first episode of a TV series that a buddy of mine taped. The series is called "Into the Firestorm" from the Discovery Channel. "Into the Firestorm" is a series of four episodes featuring wildland firefighting in the U.S. that will show on the Discovery Channel until February 8.
The first episode is called "The Burnout". So how was it? Here is my quick review:
Overall, it was pretty good. It featured the Redmond Smoke Jumpers out of Redmond, OR, and the Prineville Hotshots out of Prineville, OR.
The show featured some good video of wildland fire and fire behavior - nothing really that spectacular, but if you know what you are looking at, it was good. I kept making mental notes to use parts of the tape to teach S130/S190.
There was also some great footage when the camera crews placed cameras in dangerous locations and filmed remotely. An example, placing a camera where a snag would fall when cut. The snag just missed the camera - barely.
The show focuses mainly on the Prineville Hotshots conducting burnout operations over a two day period using drip torches and flare guns.
My rating of this episode: 4 out of 5.
If you missed this first episode, you can catch it again on Feb. 6, at 11 AM ET/PT.
Here is the series website - check it out. Don't miss the next episode tonight, Jan. 24, at 10 PM ET/PT.
Paramedic Fired For Blog Pictures
This from the TimesHerald.com (via FireFightingNews.com):
PLYMOUTH - A paramedic at Plymouth Community Ambulance was fired this week for a series of pictures she posted on her online journal known as a blog.In one picture, several Mexican men who had only moments before escaped a burning row home on West Elm Street are referred to as "Mexican jumping beans." The men escaped through windows. They were left homeless, and a man not depicted in the photos was found dead.
In one instance, "ivwoman" posted photos of an elderly woman's filthy bed. After paramedics placed her in the ambulance, "ivwoman's" partner is wafting his nose at what is apparently the scent of bodily functions.Another image depicts a man with some sort of head wound.
Read the whole article to get all of the details.
This highlights an issue that many "emergency" bloggers may face. What types of photos and what kind of descriptions are appropriate to post on a personal blog, especially if the blogger is an emergency responder?
In the case above, the paramedic was treating these people and apparently violated her patients' privacy. Due to her status as an emergency responder, she is required to keep some information regarding the incident private. This is different than a bystander at the incident who is under no such obligation.
For those emergency bloggers out there - take heed.
Steelers Heading to the Super Bowl
Well, I haven't posted much personal stuff on this blog - mostly because I want to it to pertain to firefighting (and I don't know that anyone wants to read much about my personal life). However, I can't resist the urge to post about the drubbing the Steelers gave to the Broncos yesterday.
I've been a Steeler fan since 4th grade, which is a rare thing in the middle of South Dakota. Most folks are either Vikings fans (east of the Missouri river) or Broncos fans (west of the Missouri river).
Here is the game recap (from ESPN).
Fighting Fires in East Manatee, Florida
Here is an interesting article about a wildland firefighter in Florida and how things have changed over the years (from HeraldToday.com).
EAST MANATEE - Andy Lee's office is in the middle of a shady, wooded area. But the grass and trees he sees remind him of fuel - fuel for the fires he fights.A forest ranger with the Florida Department of Forestry for the past quarter-century, Lee has fought forest fires and overseen controlled and proscribed burns throughout the Southeast. Through the years he's grown attached to an open-cab bulldozer he's used since 1987.
"There's no air conditioner, but you can feel the fire and smell the smoke," Lee says. "I've taken in enough smoke over the years that it probably doesn't matter if I inhale."
Hehehe, sounds like a firefighter that has been at it for awhile too. Read the whole thing to find out how fire departments have changed the role of forestry firefighters over the years.
9/11 Remembrance Flag
Rhett at Roanoke Firefighters has a post about the 9/11 Remembrance Flag. This from the official website:
One of the most important facets of the 9/11 remembrance flag is that it is meant to symbolize the good things that happened even in the light of such a tragic event. It symbolizes the fact that the lives lost, were not in vain. No one can deny that we all learned a little something that day, or that we felt a little more willing to pause in our busy lives to let someone else know we cared about them. Imagine what it would be like, if people were that way, everyday. The events of 9/11 showed us that there was that much caring in each and every person, and we should forever embrace that, and strive toward the world where kindness to each other is not due to a tragic event, but rather is an everyday fact of life.
Are You Always a Firefighter?
What happens when you are off duty in another jurisdiction and you come across a fire? Do you help out the firefighters at the scene? Do you just go on your way?
Most of us would jump right in and help out if the responders at the scene needed us. However, that might not be the wisest decision. Here is an article from Firehouse.com that explores this issue.
CRANSTON -- When is a firefighter not a firefighter?Steven Burgess thought he was a firefighter the night The Station nightclub burned to the ground. He went as a concertgoer, out on a date.
But as the fire consumed the club, the Cranston firefighter joined West Warwick's Fire Department, fire hose in hand, as they fought the blaze -- standing close enough that the heat burned his clothes and singed his eyebrows off.
The City of Cranston saw it differently. While he acted heroically and deserved praise, the city said, Burgess was no firefighter that night; he was a private citizen doing what he could to help.
This is a must read article. Also, check this post over at Roanoke Firefighters.
This is a tough issue. If you think about the safety practices that have been instituted in the fire service, Burgess probably should not have been used for firefighting because he did not have the proper PPE. Perhaps they could have used him to assist with crowd control, communications, or something that did not require him to be directly involved with firefighting efforts.
Supreme Court Rules on 9/11 Radio Case
From CNN.com:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Families of New York firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on September 11 failed Tuesday to persuade the Supreme Court to allow them to go forward with a lawsuit against New York City and Motorola for supplying the rescuers with faulty radios.The high court let stand a decision by a lower appellate court. The lower court dismissed a lawsuit blaming the city and Motorola for supplying firefighters with handheld communications devices that prevented them from hearing evacuation orders while they were in the north tower trying to rescue people.
A three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said the families had waived their right to sue when they accepted money from the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund.
Even though communications played a critical part of the firefighter deaths that day, the court has made the right decision here. The lawsuit may have been able to move forward if the plaintiffs had not waived their right to sue.
The communciations issue has been hit again and again since 9/11. I'm not sure what the status is across the country, but I would be willing to bet that there are still serious communication issues in our big cities. It is a difficult and complex issue that will take time to solve.
Funny Firefighting Laws
Here is a post about some wacky firefighting laws that are still on the books in various states (from My Journal! yes it is smarty pants!). Here are some of my favorites:
In Chicago Illinois, It is illegal to eat in a place that is on fire....
In Fort Madison Iowa, The fire department is required to practice firefighting for 15 minutes before attending a fire.
...
In Pennsylvania, All fire hydrants must be checked 1 hour before all fires.
This is too funny. I'll have to do a little research to see if there is anything like this still in effect in SD.
Q&A with American LaFrance President
Fire Chief magazine has an online Q&A with John Stevenson, president of American LaFrance regarding their future. Check it out.
What Will Happen to Ringgold, TX?
If you remember from the news headlines, a New Years Day grass fire hit Ringgold, TX, and destroyed most of the small town. The Houston Chronicle has a story about what the future may hold for Ringgold (via Firehouse.com).
The wildfire, which moved as a swirling wall 30 to 40 feet tall, began about five miles west of Ringgold. A sparking power line is the suspected cause.Pushed by 40-mph winds, it headed east across thigh-high fields of bluestem and other grazing grasses and straight into town. There, it took less than an hour to destroy 58 homes, 57 barns and storage sheds and six businesses along U.S. Highway 82, Badgett said.
As front-end loaders piled charred bricks, bicycles, the remains of a decorative wagon wheel and other ash-gray debris into Texas Department of Transportation trucks, residents wondered what will become of their long-fading town and who, if anyone, will rebuild.
"A lot of them won't be back. This is going to be a smaller place," Stillwell said.
I live straight north of Ringgold about 700 miles as the crow flies. Small town, rural setting, on the prairie. Ringgold probably isn't much different than my hometown. It's sad to hear that this town will be a "smaller place".
I'd like to wish all the best to the remaining residents of Ringgold.
More Info on Test-Taking Firefighter Mom
Here is a bunch more info regarding the firefighter that delivered her baby and then took a promotion exam (from the Houston Chronicle via FireFightingNews.com).
Here is my original post on this issue.
It looks like state and federal laws play into this situation.
A University of Houston Law Center professor said Thursday that the Texas law requiring all firefighters to take a career-advancing test simultaneously — except those who are active military — may violate Title VII federal anti-discrimination regulations."Not that they were intentionally discriminating against her because she's a woman, (but) unless there was a business necessity for that, it is illegal under federal law," said Laura Oren, who teaches courses on women and the law, and conflicts between laws.
"If they're willing to make an exception for military," she said,