Firefighter Gifts: The Bond of Brotherhood

Firefighter Gifts: The Rookies Put Out The Fire

2008-01-11T14:27:00Z

Becoming a firefighter means serving your time as a rookie.

Serving as the Captain of a fire department means training rookies to become firefighters. How do you know when they have gone from rookie to firefighter? Are they a fire fighter when they pass FFI, or is it when they come off "proby" or probationary status. When the time set by your department is up, say a year, are they no longer a rookie then? Is it when they put on their navy blue firefighter t-shirts or car plaque on their license plates?

I spend literally hundreds of hours a year training, providing gifts for firefighters that are truly priceless if they accept them. I present them with opportunities like live burns, search and rescue drills, ladders and roof ops, RIT training, SCBA training, every chance for them to gain confidence that their bunker gear will protect them, their packs will keep them breathing, their equipment will be working, their radios will transmit a MAYDAY or call for help should they need it. All they need to do is open the gift. Take the training seriously, gain the experience live burns can offer in dealing with the heat, zero visibility, physical endurance of crawling, searching blind with tools in one hand, charged handline in the other ever aware of changing conditions. Learn their fire trucks, equipment locations, how to use the equipment, when to use the tools and which ones to choose. Be as comfortable breathing in your SCBA mask as without it. Know that you and your fellow firefighters can deploy and flake out proper size hose lines, hook up hydrants and be confident that your pump operator will not fail you.

Know without a doubt, that your Fire Officers are trained, experienced and always learning as you are, to keep you safe, follow accountability and command structures, and will never leave you behind. These are the gifts I bring to my rookies.

Today, I got a gift back from two of my rookies. Structure fire, command Chief on location reports heavy smoke showing, flames from the laundry room. Our engine was first due and we arrived first on location. Armed with an 1 3/4" handline, thermal imaging camera, bunker gear in place, SCBA masks on, a little bit of confidence from accepting the gifts offered above, they entered the house-crawled under the smoke-found the fire and put those flames out. Additional crews arrived quickly, but they already had the fire knocked down. Granted it wasn't the biggest structure fire, not the hottest and there wasn't alot of extension. But then, maybe that's because they got the job done, and done right. I was a very proud Captain out there today, watching them as they took off their packs, checked the equipment, re-packed the hose as though they had been doing it for years. Helluva job guys, a notch on your helmet. A notch on mine.

New Years Day (was that just 10 days ago!) I wrote a blog about these two firefighters. They were just rookies then.

New Years Day Firefighter Blog: Firefighter Rookies

Firefighter Gifts & T-Shirts

Firefighter Rookies First Fire Alarm For 2008

2008-01-03T06:02:00Z

Just returned home from our first fire call of 2008. 14 years of firefighter experience, training and dedication...... Yeah you guessed it - a carbon monoxide alarm. Not just a carbon monoxide alarm, a bad battery in a carbon monoxide detector. Can't get more exciting than that.

Sure, the rookies were thrilled, packs on - CO detectors in hand - helmets in place. I even had to drive because all my engine pump operators were still celebrating the effects of New Years Eve........we won't see them until noon! Ice all over the place because it's freezing outside, too narrow streets in the area with cars parked everywhere because of all the New Years Eve parties, but those Rookies were still happy.

Zero readings in the residence, grumpy homeowners who wanted us to leave another extra battery above the one we replaced for them in case it happens again. But those damn Rookies didn't care, happily replaced the battery, glad to be on the first fire call of the year. It's contagious I tell you, just being a part of the enthusiasm of the new generation of firefighters. It's a good thing, you know, and just when I was deciding that and backing the engine into the bay we heard the squad dispatched for CPR in progress by frantic family members a few blocks away. An hour into the new year and someone coded......What a way to start the year.

Another reminder of how short it all is and how it all matters everyday. Keep the enthusiasm alive. Never get complacent. Keep your training strong and your morale stronger. Take a reminder from the Rookies, it is great!

http://www.bonfiredesigns.com

http://blog.bonfiredesigns.com

Firefighter Blogs: The Brotherhood of Firefighters Squidoo Lens

2007-12-27T16:11:00Z

Want to know why firefighter blogs are so hot today? Firefighters share the bond of brotherhood because it's not just a career or job, it's not only what we do - it is who we are. There are firefighter gifts that we receive after they are earned. All the badges, patches, Class A uniforms and well maintained fire trucks are a bonus, but they are not the gifts.

If you have reached my blog, then you have either earned one of the firefighter gifts, or are still seeking this reward. Are you wearing your navy colored firefighter t-shirt complete with your fire department maltese printed probably front and back? If the answer was yes (or no but it's in the wash!) then you have come to the right blog!

I invite you to read: Firefighter Thinking and then let the world know what you think.

Firefighter Sites of Interest:

Bonfire Designs

Bonfire Cafe

East Windsor Fire Company #2

Respectfully submitted by Captain 46

FIREFIGHTER GIFTS AND PRESENCE - A PERSONALIZED THOUGHT

2007-08-09T17:51:00Z

Let me share the number one firefighter question I have heard asked too many times to count...........

Why would anyone want to run into a burning building or anywhere else that everyone is running out of?

OK, I admit, it's a good question! And one that firefighters everywhere have been asked for ages. How do I answer that, what gives me the right to try and answer that. Here's a photo of me:

	Photo was taken July 2007 at a structure fire in East Windsor, NJ by East Windsor Fire Company #2 Photographer Cindy Rashkin. I'm the one in the back, red helmet, Captain.
Me and the LT on the nozzle	www.eastwindsorfire.com	Station 46

The photo of me doesn't give me the right to try and answer the question though. Being there in the middle of the night fighting the flames doesn't either. Fighting fire with firemen that are dedicated, loyal and trained does. If one fireman, just one fire fighter makes a difference during the most hazardous of firefighting times, imagine what a team of firefighters can do! Firefighter gifts to those they serve, and those they serve with is their presence. Being there - trained, ready, willing and able to help. It is a personalized firefighter experience every day. Even though every alarm you answer is different, at the core they are the same. You are giving some part of yourself to your fellow firefighters and to people, often strangers, who need you. You are fulfilling the oath you took to protect and serve. Most of our calls are "false alarms" "smells and bells", not the big one with powerful flames and fire, smoke and danger. Yet, we spend hundreds of manpower hours training for the big ones. Search and rescue, pump operations, water supply, building construction, more search and rescue.....so that when it is the big one we can carry our share, support our firefighter team, serve our fire chief and community the way they deserve. So the truth is.....I really can't answer the question with words, only with actions. It is a spirit of helping, of teamwork, pride and courage. Of training together, working together, relying on eachother. We wear it on our firefighter t-shirts and sweat shirts. Display our pride on our hats, jackets and vehicles. We wear our fire station ID everywhere and anywhere because when you are really a firefighter, it's not just what you do, but what you are.

No matter where you travel, or how far you go, you are bound to see a navy T-shirt with a white maltese bearing the pride of belonging to a fire department. Those who wear it should only be true firefighters, those that offer their fellow firefighters teamwork, dedication, loyalty and are there to back them up no matter how tough it gets. A word to the men I serve with on East Windsor Fire #2, you are the pride of the navy shirt and white maltese. I am proud to serve with you, to train with you, to be your Captain.

While I am waiting for the alarm to sound, I am designing firefighter t-shirts and gifts, personalized for fire fighters and their family members. The truth is we love showing off our firefighter pride and we have worked hard for the right to have flames and fire on our t-shirts, clocks and mugs! Our firefighter families have also, each time we are called on, they serve also. So I have designed personalized firefighter designs for them also!