Welcome to the ultimate in fire/EMS blog contests. Who will end up with the bragging rights of being the best Fire and/or EMS Blog of the Year 2009?There is one thing for sure...there are some GREAT fire and EMS blogs! This contest will certainly show who the favorites are!

Even though The Fire Critic is a mere pup at 6 months old, I still feel the need to point out the top blog posts by views. If you want to know the most popular by comments just look on the right hand sidebar!

There are many ways of making money on your blog. I have detailed several below. You should note that there are plenty of other sources of making money on your blog other than listed here. These are the ones that I have found to be worth the time. Feel free to let me know in the comments of ways you make money and share with everyone!

He was an outstanding Battalion Chief and a great firefighter. He was 57 years old, retired with 25 years on the job, and had battled cancer for 9 years. He left an impact He made a difference He created a legacy...

I have posted about this in the past, and I am hitting on it one more time. Tomorrow the 29th, is the last day to vote for the Charlotte Fire Department on PIOSocialMediaTraining.com.

At least 10 people died and 19 were injured Monday in a series of rear-end collisions, involving at least 100 vehicles, on a highway in east China's Jiangxi Province.

I wrote the other day about Raising Ladders. Alex has entered into a contest with onehelluva video from DCFD Engine 26. You can now vote for his video since he was picked as one of the top 50. Click on the picture to vote! Vote often!!!

The Fire Critic had to work tonight, Christmas Eve. It isn't a big deal, I don't have the seniority to get this cycle off. That is the life we lead. Luckily I have Christmas Day off. Actually, I get to enjoy a four day break starting Christmas Day. I will be spending the day at home with my family. I cannot make it to Nashville to spend Christmas with my extended family, but we will make it to Richmond on Saturday/Sunday with my wives family.

He has now added a new notch in the blogging bedpost....video. He recently uploaded a video to the Nikon Festival “A Day Through Your Lens” competition. The video is awesome! Alex works at Engine 26 and captures some great video including some helmet camera footage!

Remember those boots I did a product review on...they are still doing great. They have completely replaced my warrington pro (firefighting boots) zip ups that I previously wore around the station and on calls not requiring turnout pants/boots. They have been very comfortable working through the recent snow we had (about 18").