The movement against freelancing is killing the fire service.        Before I get all sorts of angry comments or emails, let me clarify that I believe a firefighter acting as a lone wolf on the fire ground is dangerous, unacceptable, and should not be allowed at any time. The anti-freelancing movement started with good intentions […]

Everytime I turn around it feels like I’m being told to change. I’ve been told my thought process is outdated, my tactics are obsolete and, even worse, that I am dangerous. A lot of change in the fire service is driven by NIST/UL research. A lot of beneficial information has come out of that research, […]

This is not about breaking things, sorry, if that’s what you wanted you should probably leave now. When a word gets used too many times it loses it’s meaning, Semantic saturation. Semantic Saturation: “A psychological phenomenon in which repetition causes a word or phrase to temporarily lose meaning for the listener, who then perceives the […]

Lt. General Hal Moore is one of the greatest officers in American miltary history. He led a valiant group of men responsible for rebuking an attack by a large force of North Vietnamese soldiers. The Vietnamese greatly outnumbered his men but they fought bravely and overcame significant odds to prevail. The story of his and […]

If you spend any time at a fire house, you will undoubtedly hear older firefighters say “It’s the little things that matter.” They talk about the past and tell stories about tedious tasks (which many new school guys would call “busy work”) with reverence. They talk about detailing brass, scrubbing with toothbrushes, and washing the […]

Please take the time to remember the Husbands, Fathers, Sons, Brothers, and Uncles lost on this day. Attached are the reports associated with the death of this Brave Men. Please study and know their story and the story of a tragedy that has forever changed the Fire Service as a whole. charleston_phase_one_report sofa super store […]

Something that has been bothering me for some time now is how the basics of each company performs their duties. Even if you don’t have a ” Ladder Truck ” fireground support functions are still to be conducted. In this particular post we are going to look at the Engine’s responsibility, because truth be told […]

In the above photo most would acknowledge it is training or drilling, but it is the latter word that is killing us. Undoubtedly someone will experience butthurt and say that it doesn’t matter what you call it, but I’m saying it does. The fire service is getting younger by the day, and in a lot […]

So many times around the Firehouse, I hear people talk about the “Good old Days.” They talk about how much fun it used to be and the things they did. The things they “got away with” and “How much trouble we could’ve gotten into if we were caught.” The war stories are great to hear […]

Building Construction When you look at these two buildings what do you know about there construction? Have you studied and or experienced the issues that come associated with these types of construction? What are the types of structures you respond to in your area? Some taught me years ago now, its not how the buildings […]