IGX

I remember reading a post on the old DD forum from Fireman Tom about preparing for the fire academy that had some good stuff in it. I think it had some good stuff from you Johno if I'm not mistaken. I'll try to dig it out.

Here's that clip I referenced earlier. Stick with it...it really gets going at about 3:15.
I could not agree more with the sentiment of this speech.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNkhtBTluvY[/youtube]

I like MacCormack's style; but I don't know what he's talking about, without concrete examples.
He probably sees more fire in a busy week than I will see in a 30 year career, so I respect his expertise.

In my experience, in my Dept, we used to have guys doing whatever-the-fuck they felt like doing, all in the name of fighting fire. It was uneducated, unsafe, and often ineffective. With proper Incident Command, and a better understanding of critical fire factors (building construction, fire behavior, victim viability, etc.) we are both safer AND more effective. Our problem has been holding guys back, and doing a proper Risk/Benefit analysis.
IMO, YMMV.

I just put my retirement papers in last week. As of July 1, 2013 I will be retired with 38 years of service.

mtman1 wrote:I remember reading a post on the old DD forum from Fireman Tom about preparing for the fire academy that had some good stuff in it. I think it had some good stuff from you Johno if I'm not mistaken. I'll try to dig it out.

Run, lift, stretch.

The 3 powerlifts, overhead work with one kettlebell or dumbbell, Farmer's walk, pull-ups, dips, swings and get-up's is all you need as far as strength work. Jogging with a few sprints, stairs and hills is plenty. Stretch what's tight. You're trying to be a firefighter, don't overthink it.

The deal is to keep doing it, no matter what. Don't stop training, don't stop learning and never take it for granted.

Dan Martin wrote:I just put my retirement papers in last week. As of July 1, 2013 I will be retired with 38 years of service.

Congratulations, Brother! All the best for your retirement.

johno wrote:

Dan Martin wrote:I just put my retirement papers in last week. As of July 1, 2013 I will be retired with 38 years of service.

Congratulations, Brother! All the best for your retirement.

I was a third generation. My Grandpa started in 1924, my Dad in 1941 and me in 1975.

Dan Martin wrote:I just put my retirement papers in last week. As of July 1, 2013 I will be retired with 38 years of service.

Congratulations! Best of luck in your retirement.

Congrats Dan Martin. 38 years. Amazing.

Also, for someone who knows dick about fire fighting, I'm learning a lot reading what you all have to say. This thread is a gem.

Dan, what was your first SCBA?
I started out with the Scotts with the steel bottle & the "pressure/demand" switch.

Congrats on the retirement, Dan.
38 years...holy fuck.

My first BC retired about 4 or 5 years after I started, he had about the same time in as Dan. When asked by another newer guy what the biggest difference in was in the fire service, he said something along the lines of "When I started, the firehouse had a bunch of firemen looking at pussy magazines...now you got a bunch of pussies looking at firefighter magazines." Not sure if that's a recycled retirement banquet line or not, but it sure as fuck got a bunch of laughs.

johno wrote:Dan, what was your first SCBA?
I started out with the Scotts with the steel bottle & the "pressure/demand" switch.

We had Scotts, steel bottles with the pressure demand and a by-pass valve. The masks had integral connection hoses that we attached to the regulator. If we ran out of air we would run the hose inside our coats.

When I started we had 4 on the engine and 5 on the truck. Now it's 3 & 3.

This thread is more interesting than I thought it would be. My cousin tried to be a firefighter, but had a vision problem in one eye, I think, that kept him out.

Other than one of my college roommates, who was easily the laziest person I've ever known, I don't know any others. The guys at the FD in the town I grew up in were fast, efficient, friendly etc. Had to call them for my Dad when we thought he had a stroke a few years ago. Turned out to be one of the worst cases of vertigo ever, according to his doctor.

Dan Martin wrote: We had Scotts, steel bottles with the pressure demand and a by-pass valve. The masks had integral connection hoses that we attached to the regulator. If we ran out of air we would run the hose inside our coats.

I had the steel bottles through my fire academy, then we moved to the aluminum.

Dan Martin wrote: I started we had 4 on the engine and 5 on the truck. Now it's 3 & 3.

Staffing is a battle. We went from 3 on one engine and 2 on another, to 3 on all engines and the truck. Now, Admin wants us to cross staff our Truck (with 3) to an Engine or Aid Car, to save wear & tear on the Ladder.

Nother question-- what do you think of VFDs from a full timer perspective?

There are lots of great volunteer depts and lots of dumb fuck volunteer depts. The same is true with full time, part time, and combination depts.
Much respect to anyone who does the job, takes it seriously, and strives to be better at it.

Turdacious wrote:Nother question-- what do you think of VFDs from a full timer perspective?

Volunteers are the very soul of the fire service. They keep us paid guys humble. They are more creative and ingenious than most paid guys realize. They have to make so many things happen with less resources. They really demonstrate that less is more.

ButterCupPowerRanch wrote:There are lots of great volunteer depts and lots of dumb fuck volunteer depts. The same is true with full time, part time, and combination depts.
Much respect to anyone who does the job, takes it seriously, and strives to be better at it.

^This. At least for this area.

This is a great thread and I appreciate all the input. My department has a merged EMS and Fire system, meaning that all FF"s coming through must now get at least their EMT Intermediate certification before they are guaranteed the position. The combine system makes for some headbutting contests between some of the old guard command staff being in charge of a scene and wanting to make patient care decisions when they accountability for that patient's care is on the head of the paramedic. Other than that it runs pretty smoothly, albeit we run ALL THE TIME. Medics tend to burn out a lot more quickly than the standard FF's and they tend to shoot for promotion a lot more quickly because of it.

Good List.

http://hookandirons.myshopify.com/blogs ... irefighter