command-leadership

So I was challenged several times in the Face Book Craze “Cold Water Challenge”. I was challenged once by Kestin Wiemer (link) and the other by Bob Gard. Below is my video of my attempt of the challenge. The charities I choose were the Sons Of The Flag and the South Dakota Firefighters Benefit . I encourage you (if you ...

Just like last year, The Fire Critic and I will be having another "meet up". This year, we have teamed up with several other groups / organizations to make the event even bigger and better than last years! I know ... you don't know how that can be possible but TRUST ME .... you will NOT want to miss this event!! This year, we are calling it The 2014 Firefighter Turnout and you wont want to miss it!

Shortly after his size up, Captain Perdue transmitted that he had multiple victims hanging out of windows (of the upper floors) and the hallway / stairwell heavily involved with fire.

The Roanoke Fire / EMS Department runs with 3 members on an Engine and 3 on a Ladder (this includes the Chauffeur and Officer). This fire is just another example of their members doing extraordinary things under the worst of circumstances.

There are other factors to consider here as well. What kind of attack will we be making? Offensive, Defensive maybe transitional? With all this additional time we've accumulated, the fire has certainly gotten a good jump on us. Is life safety involved (is someone trapped inside)?

I’m safely home from Detroit and pulling my 2nd tour out of a 72 hrs straight. My regular shift has me working Friday, Sunday and Tuesday but I’m working today (Saturday) to pay a Brother back for some time we recently traded. Friday, Saturday, Sunday sucks but I owe him. I’m working out of Station #7 on B-shift. The House ...

The term “Mutual Aid” is one we use within the Fire Service but it’s also pretty self  explanatory. Mutual Aid is about opening a “network” of help (aid) between one another and that’s exactly what Rhett Fleitz (FireCritic.com) and I (along with MANY others) have been doing this past weekend. For Rhett and I, it started on Friday. We left ...

Did you notice? Did ya see it? What did / will you do about it? There are members all across this country who are struggling with one emotional battle or another. We struggle with these battles yet we continue to step into our boots, pull up our pants and put on our coats. We face personal, life and death  battles ...

When asked how he thought we could ever "pull it off", he said .... "With the group of Brothers and Sisters we have assembled here, HOW CAN WE FAIL?"

I mentioned that I had returned to duty and that decision or "step" in my healing process was as huge and difficult as any of the others I've made.