Fire Critic An Unadulterated View of the Fire Service
Things just aren’t slowing down for me…I am looking forward to Baltimore next week at Firehouse Expo. The FOOLS Brotherhood Bash is going to be the event to attend I think. Willie and I will be there…in kilts I am sure. Not just any kilts though. We will be sporting our kilts from Alt Kilt.
Willie has been busy. He also lost a relative and we lost a soldier. Read about it here.
Maybe I am still a bit naive, but does this stuff really still happen in the firehouse? Unreal.
Training
Editorial on Operating w/o a hoseline by Patrick MacKay – “This article will outline how members can manage the risks associated with operating independent of a hoseline, to ensure efficiency and effectiveness on the fireground.”
Tweet of the Week
Huh?
News and Opinion
Bill Carey shares a look at the recent developments in Philly after a firefighter shared his mask with a victim. Read it here on BackstepFirefighter.com.
Baltimore City is closing 2 fire companies. Squad 11 and Ladder 15 will be disbanded. They will join Truck 10 that will be out of service in October.
IN OTHER NEWS
Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake believes that Fire Chief Jim Clack deserves a raise. She cites his strong record, including a recent drop in the number of fire fatalities. What is a strong record in the fire service? What contributed to the decrease in fire fatalities? Does everyone get a raise?
ALSO RELATED
This Baltimore City firefighter will need more than a raise…A Baltimore firefighter has been charged with running an online prostitution ring and unlicensed after-hours club in a Southwest Baltimore warehouse, according to court records and the fire department.
Family finds note left by Montana Firefighters – “It’s really difficult you know. It’s dated June 29th, and it says we removed one dead chicken from your coop. We gave them food and H20, signed Montana firefighters,” Barker read.
Fire Station carved into the side of a mountain. You have got to see this firehouse. “Bergmeister Wolf, a northern Italian firm with offices in Austria and Italy, were hired by the small Tyrolean town of Margreid to build a new volunteer fire station back in 2010. The commission came with an unusual site: a 300-foot cliff of sheer rock.”
Texas fire truck keeps pickup from striking firefighters. Yet another example of how apparatus placement can protect us on the job.
Where is that patch from?
Do you Chive? TheChive.com is a popular web site among firefighters. The nearly NSFW (might be NSFW some places), offers the humorous, odd, and sexy… I was “chiving” the other day and noticed a picture. Take a look to the right. Among the things I MAY or MAY not have noticed was the patch on the wall to the left. It says Rescue 1 on it. Does anyone know where that is from?
Gunman Shoots at Firefighters at Pleasant Ridge Apartment Fire – Cincinnati firefighters are sent running after someone begins shooting at them while they fight a fire. This morning, police are trying to track down a possible shooter.
The photo above – I’m sure you get ton of pictures but your Father’s day photo inspired me to send you one of my family. The photo was taken approximately five years ago. My dad is the first person in the picture, I am in the middle, and my brother is in the last spot. Ever since I can remember being a firefighter has been a dream of mine and my family helped to make that dream come true. My father has been the chief on our hometown volunteer fire department for as long as I can remember. My brother recently became a career firefighter/paramedic in Iowa and I am a career firefighter/paramedic in South Dakota. Father’s day really reminds me how lucky I am to have a dad that taught me many wonderful qualities and made me the firefighter that I am today. Thanks for your time!
-Kim Imhoff
