We are Americans

We are Americans. 

There are a few things that allow us to define ourselves as Americans. 

There are thousands of brave men and women who have, and continue to put their lives on the line every day. Both right here in our country, and around the world. It is because of this hard work, their blood, their sweat and their sacrifice that we have the freedom, safety and technology that we enjoy today. 

We are one nation under God. In time of tragedy we unite, as a country, as a brotherhood or as a body of believers. It is how we are wired and it is what makes us strong. 

Let us never forget the sacrifices made by our brother and sisters.

Leadership.

I've been thinking a lately about leadership. Thinking about what makes a leader, and more importantly what makes a GOOD leader. 

Leading isn't easy, if often comes with various successes and frequent mistakes. Esspecially leadership in the Fire Service! It's a group of guys (and sometimes girls too), in a high stress environment filled with testosterone, adrenaline and ego. It's safe to say that your not going to make the best desision 100% of the time and that someone is going to begrudge you for it.

So let's take the officer of the truck for example. They are in the front seat of the truck, and by default they are the leader of the crew. There is rules about who is able to sit in this seat we know, and we also know that sometimes it's fought over. Most likely because we all want to lead, it's fun to be in charge. That's where the rule part comes in, it should diminish the fighting right? WRONG. Put two people who are equally qualified there and you'll hear all kinds of reasons about who is really more qualified to do the job. "I'm more experienced!" "I have more certifications!" "I'm older" "I've been a member longer!" I can't tell you what's more important, having knowledge of something an why things are the way they are or having been there and seen it happen. Ultimently that's up to your Cheif officers to decide, they are both good, important and really should just be mixed together! We can stand there all day and agruge that the training is valuable or that you've been there and done that, your both gonna be right. So I say this, Anyone can lead from the front, that's easy. Challenge yourself, lead from the back!  

The part we all miss in leadership is the subtle things that make all the difference. What makes a good leader isn't certifications or your porfolio, it's your ability to handle people. The ability to enable a body of people to do what they do in an organized fasion. Letting people make mistakes or giving them a chance to shine! 

See, you can have the most qualified or most experienced officer of the truck. However that officer is only going to be as good as his crew.  When you sit in the back, you can put your knowledge or experience to work and you can lead by example. When the day is done, a humble leader is typically a better leader.

We all lead, in one way or another. You don't have to be in an offical position to lead, the only thing that really gets you is more gray hair and extra paperwork!

Lessons Learned

If you have a few minutes this is a good video to watch, or even listen to as you go about your day.

It raises some good points about personal saftey and awareness through some hard lessons Denver Fire Department learned.

Denver Fire Department: Leadership So Everyone Goes Home

Different Light

I was talking with a friend of mine the other night, and I made a comment about having had been nervous to walk at graduation commencement that night.  It was something we where all feeling, 13 years of education, hard work, blood, sweat, and tears all came down to that one final moment.  So to be nervous was rather understandable!  However she says to me "you run into burning building and its totally chill but that made you nervous?" and in my half asleep state of mind I thought to myself "when you put it that way..." It was a good point.

As we go through life there are so many things we focus on, dwell on, and worry about.  There is even a few things we decide not to do simply because we are afraid of what might happen if we do.  Often we miss opportunity, and miss the chance to enjoy a moment in life because we are so caught up in the "what if" of something else.  Some things that we do like running into burning buildings or working an accident scene on the side of the highway one would think we'd be more afraid of, after-all the stakes are higher. If your like me you don't think about it; rather you just do it because it needs to be done.  When we put things in our lives into different prospective or different light we may begin to see that there isn't so much to worry about. So rather than missing your chance to do something great or to make a memory; take a chance. Live a little and see what happens.

A Commonly Asked Question

Whenever people outside of the emergency services hear that I am a firefighter they often have the same reaction, almost every time they are shocked by the fat that we are all volunteers.  In fact a vast majority of the fire departments in the United States of America are all or at least partially volunteer.  Which yes, that means we don't make any money.  Its always interesting to explain that we do in fact run into burning buildings for fun with practically no personal gain. It sounds crazy when I think about it however its true.

I have a question for people though, "What if we didn't volunteer?" Someone has to do it.  When someone calls 9-1-1 they expect help to come, they expect an ambulance with a medical professional to help them, a squad car with an honest police officer to come make things right or a fire truck full of firefighters to rescue them or put the fire out. When the fire department is called upon we all set down our dinners, leave our families or maybe even get out of bed.  We set aside our lives, rush over to the fire house put on our gear and get on the truck.  After we have done what we are called to do we return to our homes, to our lives again; perhaps not for long but until we are called again.

The fire service is full of history, tradition and heritage.  Over the years the service has developed into what it is today through the hard work and the lives of many brave men and women before us.   It is an honor to carry on these traditions and take my part in writing history through serving the community.  Next time you see a firefighter, pass a fire house or are passed by one of our trucks remember, we aren't seeing a dime for our work.  We are out to help those in need.

Cold Water Challenge 2014

As the Cold Water Challenge makes it's rounds I'm sure many of you have been nominated or maybe you will be latter on.

The managers of this blog however, where nominated. 

So, in respect to that we choose to use a fire hydrant and a 3 inch smooth bore nozzle and to do it just as a giant rain storm was coming. 

Kurt Lesh Cold Water Challenge 2014

Evan Lesh Cold Water Challenge 2014

Rick Lesh Cold Water Challenge 2014

1 dead, 3 injured after car slams into firetruck

HOUSTON – A woman is dead after the speeding car she was riding in slammed into the back of a fire truck early Saturday in southeast Houston, police said.

According to the Houston Police Department, two of the firefighters, who were inside the fire truck, are in the hospital as well as the driver of the speeding Dodge Challenger.

The accident happened around 2:30 a.m. on the outbound lanes of the Gulf Freeway near Airport

Police said the fire fighters were working to clear a minor crash off the freeway when the Challenger came plowing into their fire truck.

“During that time a Dodge Challenger traveling at a high rate of speed ends up striking the back rear of the HFD pumper truck. The driver of the Challenger was transported to Ben Taub Hospital. He is expected to survive,” said Police Sgt. Ignacio Izaguirre.

The female passenger died at the scene, police said. The car was clearly mangled from the impact.

The driver, 27-year-old Rick Goodwin, has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter.

While authorities have confirmed that Goodwin was drunk, an off-duty police officer may also have seen him racing just before he crashed.

Full Article:

http://www.khou.com/news/crime/1-dead-3-others-injured-after-car-slams-into-fire-truck-on-Gulf-Freeway-256833601.html

Ghe-O RESCUE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VNwWf1r0HbA
This is a pretty sweet rescue vehicle, depending on your response area and what all you guys do it might be the very thing you need :)

Firefighter invented ROS platform

The ROS platform is a platform that extends off of a roof ladder to provide secure footing in place of a haligan or an ax while on the roof

http://practicalfireequipment.com/product/fire-fighting-equipment/the-roof-operations-safety-platform-r-o-s-platform/

Inside of a Fire Hydrant

I always liked to see how things work. So here is a shot for anyone else like me!

A little humor

Anyone that has been a part of the emergency services for any length of time can understand this.

Sometimes I really wonder why..

College Professor Questions the Myth of the "Heroic Fireman"

This college professor questions the myth of the "heroic fireman". Hes just asking to get hit...
Click the link below to read about it.


http://www.statter911.com/2014/03/03/college-professor-questions-myth-heroic-fireman/

A nice shot of Seatle Fire Department's Pierce Tiller:

SFFD 16-Year Old Survivor Run Over

This event happened just this past August, where a fire truck actually ran over a victim at the scene. The San Francisco Fire Department Battalion Chief actually captured footage of the foam-spraying truck allegedly running over a 16-year old survivor of the crash. Check out the published news article here-

http://helmetcamfirefighter.com/2013/08/21/helmet-cams-on-the-fireground-part-1/

What are your opinions on helmet mounted cameras at fire scenes?

Retirement of Bucks County Dispatcher 208

While often forgotten or taken for granted. The dispatchers are a vital part of the emergency response system here in Bucks County. It is a high stress job but it's worth it.

Best of luck and a happy retirement 208!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w9Z4uCkzVD8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dw9Z4uCkzVD8

American LaFrance is closing its doors

American LaFrance has sadly announced that the company will be closing its doors for good. back in 2008 they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and re-emerged 7 months later.

The 141 year old company started out in 1873 by manufacturing hand-drawn, horse-drawn, and steam-drawn fire apparatus and has since evolved to making modern fire apparatus

Statement from American LaFrance, LLC:
American LaFrance, LLC, the manufacturer of fire, rescue and vocational vehicles, announced Friday the closing of its warehouse, production and service facilities in Moncks Corner, SC Ephrata, PA and Los Angeles.
The company is advising its customers that they will be able to continue obtaining replacement parts and service for vehicles manufactured by American LaFrance from a new third party vendor. American LaFrance will contact customers with information about where they can obtain parts and service for their vehicles in the near future.
Unfortunately, the company’s unexpected current financial condition requires the discontinuation of operations in these locations at this time and these facilities are not expected to reopen.‎

Tricks to Stay Warm Fighting Winter Fires

Here are a few tips from firerescue1.com on staying warm in the winter on the fire ground.

11 tricks to stay warm fighting winter fires

Multiple Generations, One Goal.

Take a look at this article addressing the span of generations within the fire service.

http://www.firerescue1.com/cod-company-officer-development/articles/1640142-6-challenges-fire-officers-face-in-2014-and-their-solutions/?source=newsletter&nlid=1641351&section_name=exclusive4