The fire would empty every firehouse in the city causing the Department to "call back" members for duty. Typically, those members "called back" will staff "reserve" apparatus and place stations back in service.
Read More »Tag Archives: Mike Overacker
Back to the grind stone …
We’re back on duty after another work filled 4 day break. Usually, I don’t work the guys on Sundays or holidays but today had to be a little different…. we got our new “rookie” this morning. I’ll get to that in a minute. To begin with, it appears that our brothers on B-shift had another butt – kicking tour. You ...
Read More »Recruit School #14
The Roanoke Regional Training Academy graduated Recruit Class #14 this past Friday (July 8, 2011).
Read More »Line of Duty Death. David Palmer, Firefighter / Medic Roanoke Fire/EMS
I have so many mixed feelings that I’m not sure where to begin. David “Big Dave” Palmer, age 54 was laid to rest yesterday after an almost 2 year battle with cancer. He was buried with Fire Department honors. Read local coverage HERE . If you took the time to hit the link above, you now know that Big Dave ...
Read More »Another Hectic Day In "The Noke"
Well, hectic for me anyway. It’s my 3rd and final day of “riding the car” this week. The Chief will be back to duty next cycle and I get to go back home to “Lucky #13”. As I said, in an earlier post this week; riding the car isn’t ALL bad. Some days are better than others and for me, ...
Read More »2nd alarm in the "Noke"… 1st arriving pics and more.
Wow … what a day! I think I’m a “poop magnet” when I “ride the car” because I always end up having days like this. It’s been busy busy ALL DAY LONG. Meetings, more meetings, paper work, classes, routine calls and then a 2 banger. I’ll start with some of the classes. Lt. Jim Hylton and Firefighter Todd Releigh put ...
Read More »"Tricks of the Trade" and some other stuff …
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 ...
Read More »"If you want to be a clown" Remembering Roanoke City's Chief Billy Obenchain
The following poem is read at the beginning of every Roanoke City Recruit School and has become the unofficial creed of the Roanoke Fire / EMS Department. “If you want to be a clown, you’d better be lookin’ for a circus. If you’re lookin’ for a free ride, here’s a dollar; call a cab. If you want to be a ...
Read More »Fires and football ….
Here in "The Noke", our brothers and sisters were also faced with battleing two fires ... one residential and, the second; a commercial multi-alarm fire.
Read More »Battalion Chief Bobbie Slayton laid to rest 1/12/2011
Roanoke City Battalion Chief Bobbie Slayton was laid to rest yesterday. Bobbie passed away on Saturday, January 8, 2011 after suffering a stroke on December 26, 2010. Chief Slayton served the Department from December 6, 1965 until July 1, 2010 (more than 44 years). More on Chief Slayton can be seen HERE HERE and HERE His viewing and funeral service was ...
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