NFPA 1851 can be overwhelming with knowledge about a pretty boring topic…laundry, but how you wash your bunker gear matters! Cleaning you bunker gear is very different than doing your home laundry. The reason being is that bunker gear is made up of many different man-made fabrics that are responsible for protecting you in a […]
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The Importance of Outside Training
I know there are many of you out there that may not agree with this position, but I feel this is something firefighters and more importantly fire chiefs need to hear. A little background on this article is needed. I was promoted to an officer role early in my career as a firefighter. The captain […]
Continue readingThe Case for Saunas in the Fire Service
So there has been a lot of different opinions coming out about saunas and the fire service. Many of these opinions can be very compelling on both sides of the argument. Now, I am no expert by any means, but my travels for our organization and interacts with fellow firefighters, experts, and others brings me […]
Continue readingThe Fire Asylum Movie
The Fire Asylum Movie Many of you may have recalled an article I wrote earlier last year about the Fire Asylum training. Well some great news has occurred this week, The Fire Asylum Movie was released on Amazon. If you really want to understand more about this unique training, you really should watch the movie! […]
Continue readingMy PTSD Journey
So I have really never considered I have had PTSD, but some of the symptoms have been coming more evident as the years go by. I had started to notice I was a different person that what I can remember of myself before the start in public safety. I have always been a champion of […]
Continue readingMy PTSD Journey Part 2
My PTSD Journey – Part 2 So I have to be honest with you, I’ve had thoughts of suicide. Now, I haven’t talked much about because I was embarrassed about it, frankly. Now this hasn’t been all the time and it usually comes up when I haven’t had the best sleep or during points of […]
Continue readingThe Business of Fire & EMS
There has been a lot of talk lately of privatization of either fire service, EMS, or both in some communities. The thing about this choice to do so is that communities will suffer if the choose to do so. Why, do you ask? Because firefighting and even EMS is not a sustainable business model. There […]
Continue readingBeating the odds…a tale of one department
Beating the odds…a tale of one department I often see many departments using recruiting tools like this one. Volunteer firefighting seems like it’s a dying breed and will be going the way of the dodo bird, or will it? I recently traveled to Staunton, Virginia to pick up some donated equipment and had the pleasure […]
Continue readingBrothers Helping Brothers visit The Fire Asylum
This week I was given the privilege of observing The Fire Asylum’s Masters of Mayhem training program. The Fire Asylum is the brain child of Marty Mayes, a retired veteran police officer and firefighter from Texas. I have known Marty for quite sometime and this training program has been building for many years before this […]
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