The "Brave" new world

Have you asked yourself lately why the powers that be are going the way of the lawyers and not just fighting back, you know what I am talking about!

Some really smart people want us to not be firefighters anymore, they want us to ride to the fires with our helmets secured in locked storage and gear in a closet and boots in an "approved" compartment and airpacks come to the scene in a special delivery truck and only then will you consider putting them on!

Lets not prevent accidents and deaths with stupidity, how about we take a look at solving the problem with some of the god given brain power we have and collectively fight back against the tide of suit happy people out there. Here is really how simple it is, take the time today to strap your helmet to your head and put your seatbelt on and then go to the incident, AMEN!

Live Burn Like it Love it Do it

Fear is starting to creep into the fire service thanks to my favorite people (Lawyers and Judges) but guys press on. In the absence of a money tree most departments can not find training that would match live fire training. There are so many advantages to be gained by continuing to train hands on like this , the biggest being that fires are not coming as much as they had in the past and so the only experiences and familiarity we can get come from this training. I hear the various excuses spewing forth but you are just afraid. Burn with the people who know NFPA 1403 and follow it, this greatly reduces the hazards for real. Set fires that will train others for fire behaviour and intensity, smoke travel, rollovers etc. There is a great group of guys in the Carolinas that are continuing to provide the best of the best firefighter survival training, check it out at Gaston College. These guys are committed to the truth of the toughness needed and the reality of heat and smoke in training applications. New guys can do no better than to search out live burn training if the ladies in their department will not deliver it, be safe and have a great shift!