Tag Archives: MAYDAY

The words no Firefighter wants to hear, "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" was transmitted last week at a house fire in Roanoke County (Va). "MAYDAY" is the term Firefighters use when their life or safety is in jeopardy and they are unable to remove themselves from the situation.

Again, I'll use the word "HEART". You can't teach what pushed Lt. Kelley (and fellow members) up those steps as "oceans and waves of flames" rolled over his (their) head

You can't be 100% committed to this profession and not become emotionally attached. My Pride in and for the job sometimes allows my emotion to spill over to my writing. I allow it to happen in hopes that the honesty in my stories may have a positive impact on another Brother or Sister out there somewhere.

The occupants were in a panic, fearing they were trapped; but Randy had it knocked down within seconds and with less than 500 gallons of water. Our County Brothers will be ecstatic to read that we even got the "brush rake" off the rig. Randy quickly got to the "head", extinguished and began "cutting a line" .... LMAO ... if we only had a " PULASKI" tool.

If we put the fire out, there will be nothing to "flash". If the fire is extinguished, it can not weaken or burn through lightweight trusses / construction. When a fire is no longer burning, it can no longer produce the toxic gas and fumes that kill trapped occupants.

My heart rate went from 60 to 180 .... I wasn't expecting to "work" ... I SHOULD HAVE BEEN!

I arrived at the station at about 06:30am this morning.  As I always do, I went to my gear locker, got my PPE and placed it by the rig. Everything has it’s place and something caught my eye … something out of place. It was a face piece … an SCBA mask and it was laying in the floor out in ...

We’re on the 2nd half of an Easter Sunday tour. It’s been a beautiful, peaceful and quiet day here at “Lucky #13” and I’m hoping it remains that way. I hope you folks have enjoyed the same and that the Easter Bunny found his way to all of you… I’m still looking for him .. her … them .. LOL ...

Or maybe I should say “TAKE” your own water. I received a few e-mails following Monday’s post  “Tricks of the Trade.. RIT Tips“ . The post was intended to offer only a few “tricks” concerning the removal of (dragging) a downed firefighter. The e-mails I received wanted to know more about what we carry with our RIT team ie: stokes ...

There have been several incidents lately where “MAYDAY” was transmitted and RIT / RIC  (Rapid Intervention Team, Rapid Intervention Crew) was activated. Dave Statter has coverage of the 5 firefighters injured in Washington DC   HERE  . Chris Naum has coverage over at Command Safety on the DOUBLE MAYDAY transmission in the Borough of Queens NY. Find that article HERE . I hope everyone ...