Who Has Influenced You?

We are who we are and become who we are by those that have influenced us throughout our lifes.

For me, my biggest influence in life was my Father who always stood tall, in my eyes, like John Wayne on the big movie screen in the 1949 movie classic Sands of Iwo Jima. Always did like that movie along with the other movies the Duke was in. Would have to say the military movies the Duke stared in were my favorite. That’s probably one of the influences of why I entered the military after high school. Of course I was soon to find out that the movie military life and real life military were two different things. Go figure lol. All and all though it wasn’t a bad gig serving in the US Air Force. The time I served, I came across a lot of great influences that molded me into the person I am today.

Oh did I tell you also that my Dad was a volunteer fireman or what you would call now a volunteer fire fighter when I was growing up? Yup, he was. I use to hang around the local fire station with my Dad when he was busy doing something around the station after I got out of school with the other volunteer fireman like cleaning up the fire house, the fire trucks, or I was waiting till they returned from a fire call. Watching and learning even though I didn’t realize it. I soon enough joined the local volunteer fire department when I was of age. My Dad being an influence to me in joining because I saw it was all about helping people that were in need when the call came in. Always sort of neat when your doing the help people thing. : )

Since starting this blog I can say I’ve learned a lot, with a lot more to learn, and that I’ve also been influenced by people that are online. Some of these individual are what I would say are “heavy hitters” in that they know what their doing. You could say they’ve influenced me in a big way on how I should be as an online presence too. Be it reading others online that have blogs, or on twitter, or who I met on facebook there’s an influence with each and everyone that is online these days.

I came across a YouTube of a person name Micah Baldwin @micah on “Building Influence Online” who talked about such at Gnomedex 9. What’s a Gnomedex? Well, I soon found out by watching a few of the YouTubes about it with the various guest speakers. Gnomedex is a conference that has a lot of influence with all the great information presented.

Here Micah’s YouTube presentation at Gnomedex 9…

“Write like no one is reading. Write when you want to write. The moment you think “that would be a good blog post” you become a blogger.”

Those three sentences in Micah’s Gnomedex 9 presentation about blew me out of my chair. Wow I said, Wow again I said! Why? I found with those 3 statements, in it’s simplest form, is what it was all about to be doing this blog thing. Micah’s influence in this YouTube has made me begin to think and hopefully become a blogger of some sorts. I blog so I am a blogger.

Didn’t know that Micah Baldwin was the founder of “FollowFriday” on Twitter? Yeah he is, which is pretty neat knowing how it all got stared. “Tweet On Twitter & Have Fun” is my twitter motto and Micah has just made it more fun to do the twitter thing on followfriday. Thank-you Micah!

Some of those online “heavy hitter” influences that I follow either from their online web/blog page and via twitter are:

Joel Comm @joelcomm, Chris Pirillo @chrispirill, James Holmes @AskJamesHolmes, Lisa Irby @2createawebsite, Jim Stround @jimstroud, Jake Press @jakepress

I would recommend these individuals to anyone new to the online scene, blogging scene, or who ever is doing the twitter thing.

Want to thank Chris Pirillo @chrispirill for the Gnomedex-9 YouTubes. GREAT FRICKEN STUFF DUDE! I know Chris I know, no shouting in the live chat room but here on TFPFP I allow myself alittle shout out to those that are pretty cool. Thank-you. : )

Now I’ve come across a lot of very polished and very good content bloggers too since starting the TFPFP blog from the many people I follow online and on twitter. All have an influence on me or I wouldn’t be reading their blogs or following them on twitter. They have an online presence of influence.

So my early influence of my view of the military and the volunteer fire department made me travel down the path as a United States Air Force Fire Protection Specialist, which is actually a fancy name that basically means “Fireman.” LoL I know you have to say fire fighter now. Guess I’m still old school. : )

I’ve been out of the USAF for awhile now but I still belong to the local volunteer fire department in my community and my current job has me in some cases having a second opportunity of doing what I did in the USAF, that being an Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighter (ARFF). They say second opportunities are rare but the opportunity of people having an influence on your life that is positive in nature is even more rare.

Thank-you Dad, and thank-you all out there in that vast internet world.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Tweet on Twitter and Have Fun

There are so called “Bench Marks” that we use as landmarks to give us an idea of measuring items, things, or stuff in our lives on where they lay in our individual timeline. Take today for instance. Being part of the United States Air Force (USAF) for a number of years I know that today is the USAF’s 62 birthday. Yesterday, some thirty-two years ago is when I began serving in the US Air Force as a USAF Fire Protection Specialist. That’s sort of a fancy way of saying Fireman or Fire Fighter. : ) It began though, a journey that has shaped me into the person I am today. Hopefully all those who know me, that being my family and friends, view and see me as a good person, though I know there are times I can be a real bonehead. lol So, at these “Bench Marks” along my so called live timeline, I take little peeks back at the path I’ve traveled. Reflecting on but not reliving, and always moving forward because that is the path of travel for each one of us on this Big Blue Marble.

On a smaller, much lighter scale of my “Bench Mark” outlook, I feel it holds true for me with Twitter. It was on June 16th, 2009, a little over a month after I started tweeting on Twitter that I first mentioned my tweet quote of “Tweet on Twitter & Have Fun! : )” and I use it as part of my daily good morning/good night tweets. A so call daily “bench mark” of such if you will. It’s also in my bio too. I came up with this Twitter quote from a version of a quote that I used for a particular online game I use to play for a number of years way back when. It worked for me than as it is working for me now. Ever time I say it, it makes me smile. You could say my Twitter quote brands me as to what type Twitter person I want to be and what you can expect. Though it’s only been a short time since starting on the Twitter, I’ve already see landmarks along my Twitter timeline of moving forward with the followers I’ve come acquainted with and the things I learn from those I follow.

So here it is just over four months since starting my tweeting I find a great Twitter “Bench Mark” that a Twitter nOOb like myself can really appreciates! That so called landmark coming from the good graces of the @FireCritic, who wrote on its blog and compiled a list published this past week entitled…

Top 100+ Fire/EMS Twitter Users – Are you included?

On this list I find, with great surprised, my twitter username @FiremanRich listed as one of the top 100. WOW! To the @FireCritic I say Think You for the work in gathering and compiling this list of very informative Fire/EMS Twitter Users. I’m humbled and it’s a really honor for me to be listed along with some really good Fire/EMS people. They all provide really good Fire Safety cross feeds. Making this list tells me that my Twitter timeline has substance on the tweets I make concerning Fire Protection & Fire Prevention news, information and various Fire Safety topics.

I’m sure this Top 100 Fire/EMS Twitter Users list from @FireCritic will grow and I could find myself, @FiremanRich , either moving up or down the list. Either way, I will continue to maintain a level of tweeting on a subject area that I feel is very important and hopefully provides information that helps someone to be more Fire Safe.

Follow @FireCritic on Twitter and also check out the Fire Critics Blog .

If you are not on Twitter I would suggest and encourage you to sign up for an account to take a test drive. No harm in doing that. What ever your interests are there’s someone tweeting about it. Take in some views from YouTube about Twitter to see what it’s all about, there is a lot of great videos out there. Check out the vast amount of blog articles also on the internet covering Twitter that can give you more understanding. Twitter in my opinion is not just a funny word, and when people joke about it that haven’t tweeted…well…I think their just missing out on something that is a GREAT window of vast information, along with a bunch of great Twitter people to meet as well as follow.

So as I started this blog article I will end with the same….

Tweet on Twitter & Have Fun!


(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

My First Fire Reporting Blog Post!

The missus, that would be the wife, is always getting on me for not throwing out stuff of old that I have and collected over the years. Guess that would make me the typical other half. I wanted to say “better” but I better call it like it is. lol : )

Today is sort of a fire protection anniversary or sorts for me. Nine years ago today the so called “Big One” happen and I was part of the fire ground operations for it. I wrote about it afterwards and posted it on a Yahoo home web page I had at the time. I even had pictures to accompany the article. Was a “look at me, look at me, and see what I did!” lol Didn’t think about it at the time and only recently did I realize it was for the most part my very first blog post even though I didn’t have a blog. I found a copy of what I wrote, it’s titled “My Summer 2000 Most Memorable Moment…,” and figure it would be a good addition to my on go Tioga Fire Protection and Fire Prevention blog.

So here it is…

My Summer 2000 Most Memorable Moment...

We got the call early Saturday morning, 1 July 2000 at 0210 hrs.. Our response was called out as a mutual-aid call to Owego, for a fire in a third floor apartment located in a section of buildings in Owego's Historical River Row. We were asked to dispatch one pumper w/full crew (4 member fire fighters) to the scene, where we were put right to work.

Fire ground operations were in an "Offensive Mode" upon arrival. I and another fellow member fire fighter went and assisted two Owego fire department (OFD) fire fighters. We were packed out w/SCBAs, and all went up OFD's aerial ladder. I advanced a hand line up the aerial and assisted in venting roof. Other fire department crews, packed out w/SCBAs, including two of my fellow member fire fighters were inside combating fire on third floor with hand lines.

Picture of me advancing a 1 3/4" hand line to roof area to cover and assist in ventilation operation being conducted.

About 20-30 minutes after getting on the roof we had a 4'x4' hole in the roof venting while other fire fighting crews were combating fire that was now extending into several drop ceilings on third floor. I and other fire fighters on the roof started to notice the roof getting spongy and informed fire command of situation and that we were coming back down off of roof. Halfway down the ladder we heard the sounding of all sirens & air horns to pull all fire fighter crews out of building.

Command made the call to sound the alarm to get all fire fighters out of building. Five minutes after all crews were out of building and off roof the fire punched through the roof and then the third floor became part of second floor when 3rd floor collapsed.

One of my fellow member fire fighters that was on the third floor combating the fire with other responding fire crews told me later at "Rehab", fire fighting crews inside the building saw that the fire was getting out of control once it got up into the false ceiling, and the fire started to run the length of this section of build. Thus the reason for the spongy roof we felt up on the roof.

In this picture I'm observing fire fighting operation after coming down off the roof with a fellow member fire fighter wearing red helmet. I'm the one still wearing the Scott Air Pac, and after coming off the roof fire command made the call to go to a "Defensive Mode." The right call at the right moment.

Fire operations were now in a "Defensive Mode" and the game plan was to keep fire contain to this building with a now collapsed 3rd floor in a building section of a row of 2-4 interconnected buildings. The fire fighting operation now included two aerial ladder companies, a bucket aerial all in master stream operations in front of building. "Surround & Drown" you could say. In the back of these row of buildings is the Susquehanna river which drafting operation were taking place up the road to provide water to help out with hydrants that were tapped into in the area at this point. There were around 10+ fire departments on scene with a total of 150-175 fire fighters from Tioga & Broom Counties. This fire was what you could use the term "The Big One" too. Biggest structural operation I've ever been involve in.

My fire department crew and I were out for about 8+ hours for this fire after getting relieved by another fire department. Nobody was hurt at all, both fire fighter and persons living in 2nd & 3rd floor apartments, which made for a successful fire ground operation when you consider all that was involved.

... So there it is, my first blog posting some nine years ago and with pictures too! I remember this fire each year about this time as yes being “The Big One,” but what strikes me most is that no injuries occurred during the length of the fire ground operations. Safety, fire fighters looking out for other fire fighter and being able to walk away knowing we all did the best we could. Like I said at the end of the article, “…a successful fire ground operation…”. Yes there was structural loss and damage, but there wasn’t any life loss! Even better yet no fire fighter injuries! I’ll take one of those fire fighting operations any day of the week.

Source: Photos from Community Press - photos taken by Fred J. Brown Jr

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week

Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility

June 14-20, 2009

Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility encourages chiefs and fire/EMS personnel to focus on what they personally can do to manage risk and enhance their health and safety. This year’s theme reflects the need for personal responsibility and accountability within a strong safety culture.

Recommended activities and materials will incorporate four key areas where standard operating procedures, policies and initiatives—along with the training and enforcement that support them—can limit fire/EMS personnel's risk of injury or death:

Safety: Emergency Driving (enough is enough—end senseless deaths)

1. Lower speeds—stop racing to the scene. Drive safely and arrive alive to help others.

2. Utilize seat belts—never drive or ride without them.

3. Stop at every intersection—look in all directions and then proceed in a safe manner.

Health: Fire Fighter Heart Disease and Cancer Education and Prevention

1. Don't smoke or use tobacco products.

2. Get active.

3. Eat a heart-healthy diet.

4. Maintain a healthy weight.

5. Get regular health screenings.

Survival: Structural Size-Up and Situational Awareness

1. Keep apprised of different types of building materials and construction used in your community.

2. Develop a comprehensive size-up checklist.

3. Always complete a 360° walk of the structure to collect valuable, operational decision-making information.

4. Learn the practice of reading smoke.

5. Be familiar with the accepted rules of engagement.

6. Learn your accountability system and use it.

7. Master your tools and equipment.

8. Remain calm and concentrate.

Chiefs: Be the Leader in Safety

1. Become personally engaged in safety and make it part of your strategic vision for the department.

2. Be willing to make the tough decisions regarding safety policies and practices and their implementation.

3. Hold members of the organization accountable for their safety and the safety of those with whom they work.

4. Ensure that resources are available to accomplish activities safely and effectively.

We encourage all fire/EMS departments to devote this week to reviewing safety policies, evaluating the progress of existing initiatives and discussing health and fitness. Fire/EMS departments should make a concerted effort during the week to correct safety deficiencies and to provide training as needed. An entire week is provided to ensure that each shift and volunteer duty crew can spend one day focusing on fire fighter safety, health and survival.

Source: http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=306

National CPR & AED Awareness Week

Celebrate National CPR & AED Awareness Week – Make Your Training Count!

June 1-7 is National CPR & AED Awareness Week, and to celebrate, the American Heart Association has set a goal to train 1 million people in June. In December of 2007, Congress declared the first week in June of each year as National CPR/AED Awareness Week with the goal of encouraging states, cities and towns to establish organized programs that provide CPR and AED trainings and increase public access to AEDs.

Each year, about 310,000 coronary heart disease deaths occur out-of-hospital or in emergency departments in the United States. Of those deaths, about 166,200 are due to sudden cardiac arrest – nearly 450 per day.

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. Many victims appear healthy with no known heart disease or other risk factors. Sudden cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack.

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when electrical impulses in the heart become rapid or chaotic, which causes the heart to suddenly stop beating. A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle is blocked. A heart attack may cause cardiac arrest.

Unless CPR and defibrillation are provided within minutes of collapse, few attempts at resuscitation are successful.

Even if CPR is performed, defibrillation with an AED is required to stop the abnormal rhythm and restore a normal heart rhythm.

New technology has made AEDs simple and user-friendly. Clear audio and visual cues tell users what to do when using an AED and coach people through CPR. A shock is delivered only if the victim needs it.

AEDs are now widely available in public places such as schools, airports and workplaces.

Learning CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can quite possibly mean the difference between life and death for someone suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. If ordinary people act immediately with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), instead of just waiting for help to arrive, many thousands of lives can be saved every year.


FirstAidWeb is unique online self-guiding CPR course and First Aid course.


Check it out in your free time to become more proficient in CPR.


Contact the American Heart Association or American Red Cross for times and locations for CPR & AED classes.








(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

The Twitter Thing

As mentioned in a previous blog entry of mine, I’ve ventured into doing The Twitter Thing now. Again I’m not sure how it happen? It just did. I guess I was curious about what Twitter was all about, that it made me take the step of setting up a Twitter account. Getting a Twitter account started is pretty easy to do too. If I can set up an account to tweet tweet on then anyone can. Working all the bells & whistles is another thing. lol All in good time.

I think being online and surfing the internet at home or work is a common place thing to do now. Hopefully not to much surfing the internet at work for those that do when there’s actual work to do? lol We are getting more and more information from the internet these days. Wow, I can still remember when there weren’t no computers in the home or very few at work and if you had a color TV with cable then you were the cool family in the neighborhood. A little age dating there but it’s true I think as well as the fact that computers and the internet are a part of what we do in our daily lives now. No turning back now. Even little towns and villages are getting Wi-Fi wireless internet access areas at the library. So when something new comes along to do on the internet, like Twitter the general reaction is one of curiosity.

I was surprise to fine out, and really I shouldn’t be, there are different fire departments and fire protection agencies that are doing The Twitter Thing. Now there’s a lot of news agencies that you can get the latest news from like ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC, and FoX. All are online now with Twitter also, as if their news web sites weren’t enough in providing news information. So to find out that the NFPA, USFA, National Fire, and yes there are a whole bunch of fire departments out there using Twitter made me think that this is not a passing fad. When looking at the “tweets” being made, there’s a lot of current, at the moment, moving updated information being posted through this new online platform. I’m seeing Twitter more and more as a “Good Communication Tool” to use the more I use it now.

So what actually is Twitter? If some are still not sure what Tweeter is, here's a real good YouTube that explains it all:



I do like the Twitter. Why? Like I said it’s a “Good Communication Tool.” Just read the New York Post: TWEET DEALS, USING TWITTER TO FIND A JOB which is a great article on how Twitter is a valuable networking tool. That is no game when something so simple a Twitter can get you back to being employed after getting caught in a “Resource Reduction” which is what their calling lay offs now. Twitter is some serious stuff! The New York Post article mentions Twitter “high roller,” Joel Comm who is the author of “Twitter Power.”

The Twitter Thing is endless when you really look at its overall potential for information and the knowledgeable people you can, in twitter terms, “Following.” Twitter is shaping our culture in my opinion and is here to stay. The Twitter Genie is out of the bottle so if your not into it, well, you have to put up with the folks that do. Tweet Tweet! : )

Fire Fighter's Referance Materials

A good library reference source for fire fighters is a must to keep current while on the job or with an on-going self training program. To have a place to refer to on basic fire fighting techniques can make the difference between getting a task done and done correctly or not getting it done which could result in someone having a very bad day on an emergency scene.

Though the many state fire service classes conducted and emergency first responder classes you gain knowledge by taking them as well as acquiring a lot of books, manuals and other reference materials. A fire fighter could use YouTube, the web itself, or hopefully this blog TFPFP as reference sources also. One only has to attend a class, turn a page or do a few clicks on the PC, and there you have it...INFORMATION. The information within the reference library will refresh and give a review on something you already know or enable one to gain new knowledge. Either way you become a better fire fighter in doing the job when the bell/alarm rings to respond.

The "Essentials of Fire Fighting and Fire Department Operations" is a very good first book for anyone entering/joining a local voluntary fire department to refer to, and usually the first book used on that first state fire class. For New York State though they have their own version of fire fighting essentials that’s basically the same in nature if you ask me. Why New York has to be different then a national standard I have no idea…no idea. Pretty much the same information if you ask me, just different formats I guess in presenting it.

Jones & Bartlett Publishers in conjunction with NFPA and IAFC, recently released the book "Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations." Written by Rob Schnepp, Assistant Chief of Special Operations, Alameda (CA) Fire Department, and a principal member of NFPA's Technical Committee on Hazardous Materials Response Personnel (NFPA 472 and 473), the book provides emergency responders with the skills necessary to stay safe while mitigating hazmat incidents. Based on the 2008 editions of NFPA 472 and 473, the book also provides responders with information related to the recognition and identification of hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction, and what their roles are in the response plan. Contributing authors include Glen Rudner, Hazardous Materials Response Officer for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and Ed Allen, Emergency Management Coordinator and SWAT Tactical Operations Coordinator with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office (FL). Mr. Rudner and Mr. Allen are also principal members of the NFPA 472 technical committee.

Having an established library to refer to is a good idea and it’s best to start with the basics then build on it. Before you know it you’ll have a collection that can becomes very important to you. The NFPA, IFSTA, and IAFC are just a few very good places to go to and stay current on what’s going on in the fire fighting service.

Source: NFPA, IFSTA, IAFC

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

Leadership, It’s Not Just a Word

When we look up to someone that person, whether they know it or not, is leading. Where we live, where we go to school, and for sure where we work, there are leaders present. Be it a community leader, a teacher leading a class, or a manager leading the group by outlining a project and then a supervisor leading the way to accomplish the work at hand. These are just a few examples of leaders we see everyday. There are different styles and treats to a leader. What style defines what type of leader.

Anyone in a leadership role is a person that holds a responsibility in which as a leader you contribute to key organizational out comes and provide direction to the group as a whole. There is and has to be trust and integrity when being a leader, and in my opinion this is the corner stone to leadership. You opinion may differ and I respect that because there are many more building blocks to leadership. But, with out the trust of those you are leading and the lack of being honest along with upholding ethical principles that are ones integrity, the leader will soon enough see that he/she is not a leader in the eyes of those to be lead.

There are those in a position of authority that think they are a leader but really don’t measure up as a leader in the eyes of those being lead. It might be due to the leader not fully knowing or understanding the position or job of dealing with people. Or the leader might have a “my way or the highway” leadership style or a leadership style where the followers are leading and the leader is just a figurehead. The worst case leadership style is when the line is crossed of an individual miss using the leadership role in favor something or someone more so over the group that is being lead. If this is the case then for the most part the group will go into a mode of just respecting the position and not the person that is in the position of leadership. It would become a notion of going through the motions in a manner of speaking.

Leaders should not think of themselves as simple managers or supervisors; but rather as “Team Leaders.” Thinking of yourself as a manager or supervisor places you in a position of traditional authority based solely on respect for the position, which places you in a position of power. By understanding the personal work preferences and motivations of your team members, you as a individual, rather then your position, will earn their respect and trust. By earning the individual respect of those you lead, having the trust, and not compromising on integrity the end result is having a basic structure of developing a Team that is being lead with leadership.

Leadership is not just a word but a make up of a group of many words that have true meaning. Just like the group of many individuals that one leads have a true meaning. In the fire service those in the position of leadership, for the most part, know this and lead by the example of trust and integrity.

Arson for Profit - Arson Awareness Week May 3 to 9

Arson is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “the willful or malicious burning of a property (as a building) especially with criminal or fraudulent intent.”

As a fire fighter, arson is defined as “an unnecessary fire and a crime.” Law enforcement defines arson as a crime.

This coming week, the United States Fire Administration, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Association of Arson Investigators, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), and a number of insurance groups are trying to raise the public’s awareness about this staggering problem.

You didn’t hear that this was a problem? Here are some numbers from the NFPA for 2005: --323,900 arson fires--490 civilian deaths--3 fire fighter deaths--1,500 civilian injuries--7,600 fire fighter injuriesMoreover, here is the price tag--$1.102 BILLION in direct property damage.

Every year there are almost 2,000 people killed in fires. More than a quarter of those deaths are the result of someone deliberately setting fires for sinister purposes. The next leading cause of death in fires is due to smoking.

The crime that is committed is not hidden, or burned away. Fires burn a certain way. Fire fighters study this behavior and the different factors that can affect them. Fires will move in specific patterns. These patterns are determined by nature and physics. It is the basis that fire fighters are able to fight fires. When an arsonist tries to mimic nature, they often leave only clues. If someone can think of burning a material to start a fire, it has been done in a lab or as part of a training program to train arson investigators. Any liquid or solid that rapidly burns and is used as an accelerant can be detected. Dogs are amazing at finding these clues. Chemical analysis of materials will also reveal the cause of a fire. It may not be CSI: Miami or some other Hollywood concept, but arsonists need to understand, fire is the business of fire fighters who know how this almost living thing acts. Fire fighters can recognize within seconds of entering a home if there is a suspicious nature to the fire. It cannot simply be burned away.

People have given many reasons for why they committed this crime. Many times, it has to do with financial issues. This is unfortunate, as many people will make this panicked and mistaken decision only to find the consequences are much worse. A couple in Connecticut learned that a Christmas arson to collect on homeowners insurance only left their children without parents, and the mother looking at 5 years in prison, and the father facing 15 years. Once they are released, it is likely they will have to repay the insurance payouts, and possibly the mortgage they tried to flee. This will amount to more than a half million dollars. Add in another hundred thousand dollars for their criminal defense, and they will be paupers the rest of their lives. And the kids? So much for college or any other happy holiday memories-gone for the simple fact of panic and greed.

Automobile “giveups” are another source of arson. The statics vary with the source, but it is a problem. A panicked person will make this bad decision without remembering physics. Cars and trucks burn for any number of reasons that are documented and reproducible. The arsonist hopes that because it is only a vehicle, the investigation will be less intense. This is a wrong assumption. Insurance adjusters have the advantage of time to determine the cause of an automobile fire. A home needs to be cleared up after a fire due to the potential public safety hazard. A burned out vehicle is towed to a secure area where forensic mechanics can take their time and find a bolt that is recently turned, a tube that is cut, a part that was newly installed to determine the cause of the fire

The bottom line on all of this is simple for everyone. We all know people who may be facing hard financial times. People generally will not ask for help. The first sign of trouble may be the flames and smoke coming from their property. If we see our friends or neighbors going through their belongings and giving away valuable items, moving newer furniture out of their home while moving used furniture in, leaving as a family at strange times as if practicing an escape, making comments that are out of character or acting very nervous when they otherwise would not be, are all signs that some event may be on the horizon. We all need to act.

A good friend or neighbor will step in to stop that decision for arson. A foreclosed home or a repossessed car are events from which a person can recover. Their family will be uncomfortable, but they will be together and survive. The government has assistance in many forms that may help them. Pride may be the thing that keeps people from seeking that assistance. A kind word and a strong shoulder may be the thing that helps them find it.

If a person finds himself or herself in a financial problem, seek help. Many organizations can help them find answers. Only through a concerted community effort can these fires be reduced. Too many times neighborhoods are in the “not my business” mode, when we all need to be “our brother’s keeper.”

Stay fire safe, and thanks for reading

For more info: National Fire Protection Association, www.nfpa.org, United States Fire Administration, www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/arson/arson_awareness.shtm

National Arson Awareness Week, 3-9 May 2009

May 3-9, 2009 is National Arson Awareness Week, and the U.S. Fire Administration has partnered up with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Fire Arms; the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the International Association of Arson Investigators to educate the public on arson hazards. This year’s theme will focus on Arson for Profit, and according to FEMA, arson for profit is more than insurance fraud—it can turn deadly.

"According to the National Fire Incident Reporting System, arson for profit accounts for 28 percent of civilian fire deaths nation-wide."

National Fire Protection Association figures (2005) estimate that the 323,900 intentional fires in their databanks resulted in 490 civilian fire deaths, 3 firefighter on duty deaths, 1,500 civilian fire injuries, 7,600 firefighter on duty injuries and caused over $1.1 billion in direct property damage. The insurance Information Institute reports that arsonists destroyed nearly $900 million in insured property, and killed 295 civilians in 2007.

"We can all help reduce and prevent these serious crimes by reporting suspicious activity, and by supporting local Neighborhood Watch programs and local fire department initiatives."

Arson Awareness Week information is available from the USFA (www.usfa.fema.gov), the Coaltion Against Insurance Fraud (www.insurancefraud.org) InterFIRE (www.interfire.org) and Firehouse Magazine (www.firehouse.com). For more information contact USFA at 1-888-603-3100.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism and man-made disasters

Arson Awareness Week May 3-9, 2009

The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announces this year’s Arson Awareness Week (AAW) theme:
Arson for Profit.

Who’s In Charge?

Well last night was the end of the sixteen hour Haz-Mat 1st Responder Operations class that I took which is put on by the NY State of Fire Prevention and Control. Over all, it was a very good class and I walk away with knowledge to better perform on an emergency scene if called upon to do so. Any class taken where you have a few more tools added into your tool bag or sharpen is a good class. Such was the results of this past class. I’ve taken Haz-Mat classes before and even though the basic information is always for the most part the same it becomes clearer how very important the knowledge gain or reviewed can help when it’s time.

On any emergency response we all know that there’s one and only one “On Scene Commander.” This is what we’ve learn in all those ICS classes. Yes, we have our sector commanders that report to “Command,” and there can be a transfer of “Command.” You know the drill and anyone that has been in this fire protection/EMS game knows how it all transpires. Its a simple process when all are on the same page. Nothing new, at least you would think till presented something…well; it’s not new but a different take on it. There was a video shown at last night’s class, covering “The Many Hats” that gave me a new prospective on ICS. Now the short YouTube video is but a preview to the longer version the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) entitled "The Hats of Incident Management" you can download off the VDOT’s site at … http://virginiadot.org/info/incidentmanagement.asp

Here’s the short 10 minute YouTube excerpt …



The different outlooks shown in this short video are interesting and give a better prospective of different “I’m In Charge” persons we sometimes encounter. The reality of it is, everyone has there individual responsibilities and want to help as best they can. Get the job at hand done and as best you can. ICS structure at its simplest is a set-up that enables the response to expand & contract as needed by the scope of the incident, resources and hazards. In most local responses, looking at the big picture is as easy as a “KISS” (Keep It Simple Stupid). I think looking at different scenarios or in the case of the YouTube what may show up on an emergency scene give us a bases on trying better to work in the right direction of a successful emergency response.

(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)

So What Exactly is a Blog?

Well, it's been a interesting first week of blogging for someone who hasn't done it before. That someone being me in this case. lol I've had some interesting & good comments thus far, and the feedback is all taken in very constructively. I like to say thank-you all for them.

Still early in the blogging game to say how long I'll stick with it? Seeing I got a week under my belt I think I'm in the blogging game for awhile. There are alot of interesting things that can be done on a blog compared to having a regular web site page that just sits there after an update becomes old after a few visits. A good blog is something that has content on a daily basis. Since starting my blog I've looked forward to seeing what I can write up for the day. There were a few days there, and hopefully just as many in the future, I found I had two or three articles/things to write about. Having more to write about can only be a good thing.

I've visited a few other blogs, and believe me in saying there's alot of them. Some were interesting and some were what the **** is this person talking about. It really is a different type of reading then the regular read of a newspaper or book. There's a blog about everything and it's one of the many things that makes this internet so interesting. So many different views and options to learn from. If some are still not sure what a blog is, and I'm one still though I have a better idea, here's a real good YouTube that explains it all:

My blogging if anything is a good platform to share an interest that I have and always will. The Fire Protection & Fire Prevention field has been a good part of my live thus far, that has taught me many new & interesting things and bogging about it enables me to re-visit ideas of the past. To be able to place these ideas in a different format as I am now makes it even more interesting. Like I’ve said in an earlier blog entry, I’m making my footprint on the internet. Maybe you should too? Try it! Believe me when I say, if I can do this then anyone can. If you do start a blog, make a comment here or send me an email of the web address to your blog. My email address is on the profile-page, the "clicky" to it is next to my pic, in upper right of page here. If you send me the web address to your blog, I will visit it.

Again, thank-you to those who have visited and hopefully you’ll continue to do so. Welcome to first time readers/views. See ya all on the Blog. : )

How Do You Know...

How do you know someone or even mention something about a person that you never met, especially if it’s at a service in their memory after they have past?

I have been asked to say The Fireman's Prayer tonight for a past Fire Chief and Life member of the fire company I belong to, and to which I'm also the Fire Chaplin. Now, I have to say, though I am a person of faith I'm not a regular church goer. Haven been elected to the position of Fire Chaplin, my duties for the most part are to read a prayer before the monthly company meeting. I also did an open invocation at our past fire department banquet. Nothing beyond my capability of doing. To do the reading of The Fireman's Prayer is something new to me, but part of the duties of a Fire Chaplin. For the reading tonight, it's going to be a humble experence and very high honor to do so for a fellow Brother Fire Fighter.

It's said, "All men are created equal, and then a few became firemen. ~Author Unknown."

Well this past Fire Chief, Life Member, Veteran of WWII, part of that "Great Generation," and Community Servant was a Fire Fighter. To know that I know he was a caring man.

I never knew this past Fire Chief, Life Member before I joined the fire department I belong to now. But I think he was a loving man because I know his son & daughter in-law who are my neighbors.

I never met this Fire Fighter who has past, never spoke to him, and never had the honor of shaking his hand, but...

If I knew nothing else of him, I would have to say that the mark that this Fire Fighter left behind through his Family & Community I indeed knew him...

This Fire Fighter was a Caring and Loving Man.

It's an Honor to have known you sir.