billy98988

Well it's been a little while since I wrote so I thought I'd give a quick update.
Overall things have settled down a bit. I've been reasigned back to the main station since my counterpart there went on R&R, and am now the Officer of Engine 3. Ths puts me back on the airfield which means lots of noise all day and all night. But this also allows for some intensive training on the various aircraft stationed here. A high point of that being the tour of an AC-130 or what we refer to as the flying death. Armed with a 25mm gatling gun capable I'm told of 6000 rounds per minute, a 40mm cannon and the big boy 105mm howitzer, this baby can really dish out the pain. And dish it out it does much to the dismay of our towel headed friends outside the wire.
Call wise it's been rather slow with only one structure fire the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately due to it's rather remote location on base and the delay in notification there wasn't much left to save upon arrival. Other than that nothing but a few dumpster fires and smells and bells.
On another front we have been recieving daily mail from the Taliban which usually consists of 6 or 7 rockets at about 5am. Some of the boys on the North side got a bit of a rude awakening the other morning as one of those rockets bounced not more than 50ft from their tent, careened over the runway and hit an unattended garbage truck without exploding. Maybe it was made in China. Seems there's a target of particular importance to our pals in the hills surounding the base on the North side and after a little research I managed to find out what it is...a fuel point with thousands of gallons of JP8 on hand. Needless to say with limited water and foam capabilities this is one of our "nightmare" scenarios. So far though their aim has been anything but true and the ordinance mostly duds..thanks again to the communist work ethic.
But for all that the seriousness of life here has come crashing home the past week with a number of our boys being sent home on their final journey. I don't wish to upset anyone or dreg up memories but the other day was an especially sad one here as 5 service members were loaded aboard the now way too familiar C-17. As I stood on the tarmac adjacent to the ramp ceremony and watched as one by one each flag draped casket was taken aboard I drifted back in time. With "Amazing Grace" on the pipes playing from the loudspeakers my mind went back to the many times I stood in that long blue line on a surburban street, in front of a church as yet another of the 343 was driven past on the way to his final resting place. Now over my years working here or in Iraq I've been to alot of ramp ceremomies and at all of them I would think of the 343, but for some reason on this particular day the emotion and anguish felt on those days so long ago swept over me like a tidal wave. I thought of the loss to the families of these young soldiers. How in a split second the lives of so many people were irrevocably changed and with those thoughts came the realization that for 343 families back home that loss, that void has never been filled, and it never will be. I thought of these young boys who have given their lives in defense of our nation and all that is good about it. And with that I thought about the sacrifice of the 343 and how they exemplified what it means to be a fireman, what it means to be a hero. Under vastly different circumstances the honor, courage and strength of the American spirit shown brightly through the acts of these brave souls on the battlefield here and in the Towers on that fateful September morning. Finally as the ceremony drew to it's conclusion I thought about the sacrifices made by so many and felt the anger well up inside. The fanatics here have brought so much anguish to so many famiies back home and for what. Blind hatred and ignorance.
Since that day last week I have often thought about the events of 10 years ago and what they have meant to me, my family and my Country. The anger persists, but it has been tempered by the realization that, be it the soldiers that I see here making their final journey home or the 343 brave heroes of 9/11, the world is a better place for all of them having been in it....even if only for a short time.
Life goes on as it must, but as we move forward let us not forget the sacrifices made by so many and let us all try to do right by those who have given all so that others may live.
Stay safe
Cogs

Well here's another quick update from always sunny Kandahar Afghanistan.
The past week has seen us relatively busy running about 5 calls a day on the structural side of the house. Most of these are smells and bells calls which have turned out to be nothing. My conrades on the crash side have had a few calls as well a day, mostly hot brakes although they did get an engine fire on a fully armed Harrier yesterday. All turned out well.
Now for us structural boys yesterday was for us a busy one. 15 calls ,only two of which involved any actual fire though. Both of these were vehilcle fires. The first was a Humvee with the engine compartment going, which was doused immediately. The other was a large "Jingle" truck/tanker hauling fuel. A 'jingle truck" by the way is what the locals use to transport material. They are so called because the exterior of the vehicle is adorned with small bells and murals depicting any number of religious or cultural scenes. Anyway this particular Jingle had the cab rolling good and impinging on the loaded tank on arrival We hit the cab fire while cooling the tank and all ended well...for us. The driver on the other hand lost his indentity cards in the fire as was thus escorted off base by the MPs after a brief interrogation.
We have had a number of rockets come in of late. no injuries or fatalities and only minor damage. During these episodes we are routed to the sector points closest to the impact zone to stand by, under cover of a bunker of course, until the all clear is given and we then do what needs doing. Of course in the event of injuries we are expected and have in the past responded into the "hot" zone while under fire. But of late that hasn't been necessary.
I also got the opportunity the other day to go to a part of the base I had not yet seen. This is on the Northside. As we drove along checking our EMPs (emergency water points) in the 125 degree midafternoon sunshine it dawned on me that "hey, we at the wire". And sure enough we were, not more that 10ft from Talibanistan. I watched as some local shepards tended their flocks a mere 100 ft away. They waved and we waved back and everyone was all smiles....of course I was thinking something entirely different like "is this guy trying to find a hole in the wire"? Well not to worry there were guard towers aplenty and guards to man them too. But it did make for an interesting afternoon diversion.
One more note and this is a sad one. Yesterday saw two ramp ceremonies next door to the main fire station on the airfield. We happened to be there for both occassions so I attended with the permission of our Chief. For those who do not know, a ramp ceremony is held when the body of one of our soldiers is loaded aboard an aircraft, in this case C-17s, for his final trip home. While one of these ceremonies was ongoing I saw two medivacs choppers as well as a C-130 dropping off more wounded. Our Fire Station is adjacent to the hospital. It is these tragic events that bring the reality of what our boys endure here front and center. God Bless em.
Unfortunately I don't have any pictures as of yet to share, but when I do I will post them. Of course due to security we are extremely limited as to what we can and cannot share, but I'm sure you all understand.
Thanks to all for serving back home, especially my fellow " Belltown Boys"...ATW since 1928
Stay Safe
Cogs

I have to respectfully disagree. I drive an ambulance 4 days a week 10 hours a day at my job in New York City and am 19. Prior to driving ambulances I drove pick up trucks/dump trucks with landscaping trailers attatched.I've been driving since I was 16 when I got my permit. I feel that if you can handle the vehicle properly and respect what you're driving than you'll be fine. You have to exercise care when operating bigger vehicles.

Date: 6/29/11
Time: 1432
Location: 55 Overlook Pl
Frequency:
Units Operating: City of Newburgh Fire - Car 4, Engine 1,3,10, Truck 1,10, Air Guard 371 (FAST), Coldenham S/B, Middle Hope S/B
Weather Conditions: Party Cloudy / Warm
Description Of Incident: fire in a dwelling
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
1430: Alarm of Fire 55 Overlook Pl
1432: Engine 1 on scene reports smoke showing, "we have a fire"
1435: Car 4 reports heavy fire 2nd floor of a 2 story ordinary, requesting 2nd Alarm assignment.
1437: OC-911 dispatching Coldenham and Middle Hope to standby in quaters for City of Newburgh.
1445: Engine reports main body of fire knocked down, heavy smoke condition.
1450: Call Backs in progress for Engine 10 and Truck 10
1505: Car 4 reports fire under control, releasing Air Guard.
1510: Newburgh Engine 10/Truck 10 on scene, releasing all mutual aid.
1511: Fire investigation o/s.

Date: 6/28/2011
Time: 1215
Location: Dutchess County Airport
Frequency: Dc-911, Fireground 5/6
Units Operating: New Hackensack FD, Hughsonville FD(45-11), Dutchess County Airport Fire/Rescue (92-11?) NYSP, Wappinger Medic 1, and 2
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Description Of Incident: Aircraft down w/ fire, 1 DOA, 1 transported via ground and died at hospital.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
1215: DC-911 dispatching New Hackensack fire and Wappinger Medic 1 for an aircraft down w/ fire.
1216: Wappinger Medic 1 and NYSP responding
1221: NYSP requesting Fire/EMS to expedite. 2nd ALS unit dispatched.
1224: Command req fire police to scene for spectators.
1229: Hughsonville Fire dispatched to standby in New Hackensack.
1302: All units in service returning, mutual aid released.
Mid Hudson News
Poughkeepsie Journal

Date: 6/28/2011
Time: 1215
Location: Dutchess County Airport
Frequency: Dc-911, Fireground 5/6
Units Operating: New Hackensack FD, Hughsonville FD(45-11), Dutchess County Airport Fire/Rescue (92-11?) NYSP, Wappinger Medic 1, and 2
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Description Of Incident: Aircraft down w/ fire, 1 DOA, 1 transported via ground and died at hospital.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
1215: DC-911 dispatching New Hackensack fire and Wappinger Medic 1 for an aircraft down w/ fire.
1216: Wappinger Medic 1 and NYSP responding
1221: NYSP requesting Fire/EMS to expedite. 2nd ALS unit dispatched.
1224: Command req fire police to scene for spectators.
1229: Hughsonville Fire dispatched to standby in New Hackensack.
1302: All units in service returning, mutual aid released.
Mid Hudson News
Poughkeepsie Journal

Date: 6/28/2011
Time: 1215
Location: Dutchess County Airport
Frequency: Dc-911, Fireground 5/6
Units Operating: New Hackensack FD, Hughsonville FD(45-11), Dutchess County Airport Fire/Rescue (92-11?) NYSP, Wappinger Medic 1, and 2
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Description Of Incident: Aircraft down w/ fire, 1 DOA, 1 transported via ground and died at hospital.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
1215: DC-911 dispatching New Hackensack fire and Wappinger Medic 1 for an aircraft down w/ fire.
1216: Wappinger Medic 1 and NYSP responding
1221: NYSP requesting Fire/EMS to expedite. 2nd ALS unit dispatched.
1224: Command req fire police to scene for spectators.
1229: Hughsonville Fire dispatched to standby in New Hackensack.
1302: All units in service returning, mutual aid released.
Mid Hudson News
Poughkeepsie Journal

Date: 6/28/2011
Time: 1215
Location: Dutchess County Airport
Frequency: Dc-911, Fireground 5/6
Units Operating: New Hackensack FD, Hughsonville FD(45-11), Dutchess County Airport Fire/Rescue (92-11?) NYSP, Wappinger Medic 1, and 2
Weather Conditions: Cloudy
Description Of Incident: Aircraft down w/ fire, 1 DOA, 1 transported via ground and died at hospital.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
1215: DC-911 dispatching New Hackensack fire and Wappinger Medic 1 for an aircraft down w/ fire.
1216: Wappinger Medic 1 and NYSP responding
1221: NYSP requesting Fire/EMS to expedite. 2nd ALS unit dispatched.
1224: Command req fire police to scene for spectators.
1229: Hughsonville Fire dispatched to standby in New Hackensack.
1302: All units in service returning, mutual aid released.
Mid Hudson News
Poughkeepsie Journal

Essex-Windsor EMS is a third service municipal (county) EMS service providing EMS to the City of Windsor (Ontario), the County of Essex and Pelee Island. Operating 35 ambulances and 15 support vehicles from 12 stations, our 275 medics responded to 48,000 calls (95% 911) in 2010. In addition, since we employ dynamic deployment, we had 37,000 station relocations and street corner postings. We recently took delivery of 3 - 2011 Chev Crestline Fleetmax Ambulances. Features include all exterior and interior Whelen LED lighting, ATSR multiplexed electrical system, ATSR ECORUN, ATSR AVL/GPS and a diesel hot air heater to provide supplemental heat to the patient compartment. These are our first vehicles to be equipped with the ATSR multiplexed electrical system and ECORUN. A study of vehicle idling time showed our vehicles to be idling 38% of their engine operating time. ECORUN manages vehicle idling time by monitoring battery voltage and interior temperatures and shutting down the vehicle engine when voltage and temperature are within preset parameters, while still allowing vehicle emergency and interior lighting, radios, etc to operate. If voltage and/or temperature fall out of preset parameters, ECORUN restarts the engine and runs until voltage and/or temperature return to within parameters. Diesel here is currently around $4.50 per gallon US. It is estimated if we were to put ECORUN on our entire fleet, we would save between $50,000 to $60,000 US annually in fuel costs.

Date: 6/23/11
Time: 1:58 am
Location: Area of 98 Covered Bridge Road
Frequency: 471.050, 158.280, 151.3925
Units Operating: Town of Warwick PD (202, 214, 216 (mobile command post)), Warwick FD (Car 1, T-633, E-634, E-635, R-637, M-644), Warwick EMS (201, 202, 203, 205, 209) Regional EMS (824, 848, Car 2), Greenwood Lake FD (Car 1, R-617), GreenWood Lake EMS (1 rig stand by their quarters for Warwick), Pine Island FD (1 engine standby Warwick Station 1), Orange County (36-16)
Weather Conditions: warm, dark, foggy
Description Of Incident: 1 car down an approx. 15 foot embankment to the edge of a large stream. Both patients self extricated and the driver left the scene heading down the stream. Passenger was brought up the embankment by WVAC 209 and WFD and transported to Good Sam by WVAC 202 and Regional 824. GLFD's rescue was requested for their ropes and water rescue capabilities to assist in searching the stream for the driver. Driver located further down the stream bank approx. 60 to 90 minutes later with minor injuries. Transported to Good Sam by WVAC 203 and Regional 848. WVAC 201 brought to the scene and assisted WVAC 205, 209, and Regional Car 2 with rehab for the water rescue units.
Reporters:
Writers: EMT111

Hang in there Bryan, Get Well....
http://aol.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2011-06-20/giants-fan-beating-suspect-up-for-parole-hearing?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-n%7Cdl8%7Csec3_lnk1%7C216476

Spent my Father's Day rephotographing a few apparatus that I never photographed in digital in New Rochelle.
Thanks and Happy Father's Day to the members of New Rochelle and Mount Vernon for their assistence.

Date: 6/10/11
Time: 2030
Location: Interstate I-87 northbound mile marker 46
Frequency: OC-911, Landing Zone (46.40)
Units Operating: Woodbury FD Car 2 (IC), Rescue 525, Engine, Woodbury EMS, Monroe FD (standby), Life-Net Air 2
Weather Conditions: Warm, Partly Cloudy
Description Of Incident: 2 vehicle accident w/ extrication.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
times are approx.
2030 - Woodbury FD dispatched to an MVA w/ roll over.
2033 - OC-911 reporting 2 medevacs on standby.
2035 - Woodbury Car 2 on scene, confirming entrapment.
2036 - Woodbury EMS command requesting launch of 1 medevac.
2037 - Car 2 reports 2 tools going into operation.
2038 - OC-911 reports 16 minute ETA on medevac.
2038 - Car 2 advises landing zone to be on highway, just north of accident scene.
2045 - Monroe Fire dispatched to standby in Woodbury Highland Mills station.
2047 - Monroe FD responding to Woodbury, Woodbury 2 cancelling second medevac.
2058 - Medevac on scene.

Date: 6/10/11
Time: 2030
Location: Interstate I-87 northbound mile marker 46
Frequency: OC-911, Landing Zone (46.40)
Units Operating: Woodbury FD Car 2 (IC), Rescue 525, Engine, Woodbury EMS, Monroe FD (standby), Life-Net Air 2
Weather Conditions: Warm, Partly Cloudy
Description Of Incident: 2 vehicle accident w/ extrication.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
times are approx.
2030 - Woodbury FD dispatched to an MVA w/ roll over.
2033 - OC-911 reporting 2 medevacs on standby.
2035 - Woodbury Car 2 on scene, confirming entrapment.
2036 - Woodbury EMS command requesting launch of 1 medevac.
2037 - Car 2 reports 2 tools going into operation.
2038 - OC-911 reports 16 minute ETA on medevac.
2038 - Car 2 advises landing zone to be on highway, just north of accident scene.
2045 - Monroe Fire dispatched to standby in Woodbury Highland Mills station.
2047 - Monroe FD responding to Woodbury, Woodbury 2 cancelling second medevac.
2058 - Medevac on scene.

Date: 6/10/11
Time: 2030
Location: Interstate I-87 northbound mile marker 46
Frequency: OC-911, Landing Zone (46.40)
Units Operating: Woodbury FD Car 2 (IC), Rescue 525, Engine, Woodbury EMS, Monroe FD (standby), Life-Net Air 2
Weather Conditions: Warm, Partly Cloudy
Description Of Incident: 2 vehicle accident w/ extrication.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
times are approx.
2030 - Woodbury FD dispatched to an MVA w/ roll over.
2033 - OC-911 reporting 2 medevacs on standby.
2035 - Woodbury Car 2 on scene, confirming entrapment.
2036 - Woodbury EMS command requesting launch of 1 medevac.
2037 - Car 2 reports 2 tools going into operation.
2038 - OC-911 reports 16 minute ETA on medevac.
2038 - Car 2 advises landing zone to be on highway, just north of accident scene.
2045 - Monroe Fire dispatched to standby in Woodbury Highland Mills station.
2047 - Monroe FD responding to Woodbury, Woodbury 2 cancelling second medevac.
2058 - Medevac on scene.

Date: 6/10/11
Time: 2030
Location: Interstate I-87 northbound mile marker 46
Frequency: OC-911, Landing Zone (46.40)
Units Operating: Woodbury FD Car 2 (IC), Rescue 525, Engine, Woodbury EMS, Monroe FD (standby), Life-Net Air 2
Weather Conditions: Warm, Partly Cloudy
Description Of Incident: 2 vehicle accident w/ extrication.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
times are approx.
2030 - Woodbury FD dispatched to an MVA w/ roll over.
2033 - OC-911 reporting 2 medevacs on standby.
2035 - Woodbury Car 2 on scene, confirming entrapment.
2036 - Woodbury EMS command requesting launch of 1 medevac.
2037 - Car 2 reports 2 tools going into operation.
2038 - OC-911 reports 16 minute ETA on medevac.
2038 - Car 2 advises landing zone to be on highway, just north of accident scene.
2045 - Monroe Fire dispatched to standby in Woodbury Highland Mills station.
2047 - Monroe FD responding to Woodbury, Woodbury 2 cancelling second medevac.
2058 - Medevac on scene.

City of White Plains
Application and Annoucement

What can we take from this?
-Sometimes you have to imagine how things will play out in the paper and the damage that can be done to the reputation of your orginization.
-If your an officer be the officer. It is your job to be the voice of reason when things get out of hand.
-It's 2011 this is how things are we are not going back to the old days.
The alleged conduct is both illegal and sick. Instead of making this thread another gripe about a black eye for the fire service lets try to be vigilant and do our jobs and make the tough decisions to keep or orginizations on the level.

Date: 6/8/2011
Time: 2318
Location: Wisner Ave C/S Little Britian Rd
Frequency: Newburgh FD (154.340)
Units Operating: Newburgh Engine 1,3 Truck 1, NFD Car 4
Weather Conditions: Dark, Hot
Description Of Incident: Fire in a 20 X 20 structure.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
2316 - Newburgh Dispatched for Alarm of Fire, reported structure fire.
2317 - Dispatcher reports possibly a dumpster fire, rear of Rite-Aid.
2318 - Engine on scene reporting 20 x 20 structure, fully involved.
2322 - Car 4 requests Newburgh PD to scene for traffic control.
2325 - Car 4 requests 1 Cause and Origin member to scene.
2345 - Cause and Origin on scene, fire knocked down.
0012 - Newburgh Fire returning.
0015 - Investigation completed.
all times are approx.

Date: 6/8/2011
Time: 2318
Location: Wisner Ave C/S Little Britian Rd
Frequency: Newburgh FD (154.340)
Units Operating: Newburgh Engine 1,3 Truck 1, NFD Car 4
Weather Conditions: Dark, Hot
Description Of Incident: Fire in a 20 X 20 structure.
Reporters:
Writer: billy98988
2316 - Newburgh Dispatched for Alarm of Fire, reported structure fire.
2317 - Dispatcher reports possibly a dumpster fire, rear of Rite-Aid.
2318 - Engine on scene reporting 20 x 20 structure, fully involved.
2322 - Car 4 requests Newburgh PD to scene for traffic control.
2325 - Car 4 requests 1 Cause and Origin member to scene.
2345 - Cause and Origin on scene, fire knocked down.
0012 - Newburgh Fire returning.
0015 - Investigation completed.
all times are approx.

Many people have PMed and emailed mre asking about life "over there" in Afghanistan, so I thought I'd write a quick decription of how it is for those interested.
To start I am now assigned to Kandahar Airfield which, unlike all my previous jobs, is a NATO run base. At present I believe the British are the ones technicaly in charge of the base but almost all NATO countries and a few others are represented here. This makes for some interesting interactions as cultures do clash occasionally, usually with comic results fortunately. It is hot here, I mean really hot. Average temperatures this week have been just above 130 with the nights cooling down to a balmy 100 or so. It is also dusty here to the point that everything has a permant shade of tan covering it, no matter how often you clean it.
My FD here or to use it's proper name Kandahar Fire Crash Rescue Services is comprised of 60 men manning 6 crash trucks, 2 structural Engines and a Tanker along with a Chief and as they call them a Plattoon (our Depruty Chief or Shift Commander) Chief for each of the two shifts. Work schedule is 24 on 24 off or on average an 84 hour work week, which may sound like alot but trust me most would rather be working everyday as there isn't much to do otherwise. We do have a gym at the main station as well as a number of military ones throughout the base that we are free to use. There are 6 DFACs (dining facilites), 1 British, 1 French or Continental, 1 Asian and 2 American, the other I havent found yet but it is reported to be Arabic serving only Hallal food (similar to Kosher). The food itself is edible although as any former soldier can tell you, everything is cooked well beyond well done. Kandahar also boasts a Boardwalk which is just exactly what you'd expect it to be, a wooden sidewalk on which fromts a number of commercial establishments. We have a KFC and Friday's, 2 pizza joints although the term pizza is a bit of a stretch to anyone from our area, a Nathan's open 24 hours to boot a coffe shop and a French Deli/Patisserre. Along with the gastronomic choices there are a number of small "Haji" or locals run shops carrying everything from cigarettes to jewelery and trinkets to a full tailor shop that will make a hand tailored suit for you for about $250. There is also a Bazaar every Saturday with the ubiquitous bootleg movies as well as an impressive selection of junk, haggling a must.
About the FD itself aside from the above. Well I started at the main station, Station 1 which sits on the Airfield. Housed there are 5 of the 6 crash trucks and their attendant crews. I was assigned to Engine 3 one of the two structural units on base. Station 3 houses another crash truck on the opposite side of the runway. Station 3 is a luxuriously appointed Army tent with none of the comforts of home. Station 1 is more akin to a Stateside firehouse with an alarm room, offices, a large dayroom and sleeping quarters (3 to a room). The crash side of the house is busier here since much to my suprise Kandahar Airfield is the busiest single runway airport in the world with between 850 - 1000 inbound and outbound flights a week. And there is quite a wide variety of aircraft in and out of here including C-130s and C-17s, C-5s as well, F-16s, F/A/18s, Harriers, A-10s. We also get 737s, Antonov A-12s and the other really huge Russian one whose designation I can't recall as well as a few 747s. Choppers abound with Blackhawks and Chinooks, Cobras, and Apaches and a large contingent of old Russian machines like the Mil-8 and the Mil -10 for transpot duty. And of course the UAVs which are really quite impressive.
My current assignment is as the Crew Chief (Capt) of Station 2 "Southside". I have with me 4 crewman and our rig is a European spec'ed Rosenbauer from Germany. Needles to say that it takes a bit of getting used to with the pump in the rear and it's overall lack of hose and equipment by our standards, not to mention its all metric. I have a pump that in liters!! Damn Europeans now I have to do math.
Our first due is about 8 sq. miles with roughly 25,000 miltary and civilian residents. Building range from one and two story PEBs (pre engineered buildings) of metal and wood. wooden B and C huts (think ranch houses except it's many offices or sleeping rooms off a central hallway), tents of various sizes up to 200 x 75 and a large number of two story masonary barracks (think garden apartments). Along with these living areas we on the Southside enjoy the distinction of being what back home would be called the industrail side of town. The majority of the mechanical shops, warehouses, stortage facilities fuel points and motorpools are in our first due, along with a host of HazMat goodies. All in all it's a diverse and challenging district.
Now what makes KAFs Fire Department somewhat unique is the fact that we are comprised of a multi national force. There are Indians, Philippinos, South Aficans and a sizeable contingent of Brits. Then there's a few Canucks and representing the good ole USA is Nate who hails form the metro DC area and myself. While English is the required language I have found that it's use is somewhat impeded by the variety of accents in use. In fact I've found that I'll need to invest in an English to English dictionary to communicate with my comrades form the UK...LOL
One of the most common questions I get is, is it safe? Well safe is a relative term in a war zone. We do get regular presents of the 81, 120 and 240mm variety from our Taliban friends outside the wire and they do at times cause casualities. The last was a soldier a few months ago. Our towel headed friends also like to try and crash our party here often by trying to get through the wire. They don't get too far. In fact just prior to my arrival about 100 or so of them got their wish with a one way fast track ticket to meet Allah...isn't that nice for them. Hopefully their buddies will be right behind. Our boys here are more than happy to oblige that wish and we all support them. Vigilance is a necessity here, just like home complacency kills. We do all we can to stay safe, but the reality is, if your numbers up then it's up. Until then I and all of us have a job to do and we just do it.
Some may think this a noble or courageous endeavor, for that I thank you, but please give your kudos to those that really deserve it, the brave and dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces. These folks are as courageous as they come and they are in a sense our kindred spirits....they too put themselves at risk to protect and serve others, all of us here and back home.
In closing I would ask a favor from all who read this. As you go through your day stop for just a minute and think about those service members over here and what they are sacrificing for you and yours. And if it should strike you please find an organization that send things over and send something to a soldier, sailor, or airman here. It couild be anything, a letter, a card and damn tube of toothpaste...anything so that they know that you remember and support them. They will appreciate it more than you know. Freedom is not free and these folks are paying the price for our freedom, please don't forget them.
Cogs
________________
Peter Cogliano
Crew Chief Engine 2 "Southside"
Kandahar Fire Crash Rescue Services
Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan

2nd Capt / Asst. Training Officer
Belltown Fire Dept.
Stamford, CT

Date: 06-07-11
Time: 1700hrs
Location: IFO Quality Auto Body - Route 32
Frequency: OC911
Units Operating: VGFD Cars 2(IC), 4 & 6, E481, R480, E479 (re-located to Sta. 1), Cornwall EMS, Town of Cornwall PD
Weather Conditions: Clear/Hot
Description Of Incident: 2 Car MVA w/Pin
Reporters:
Writer: BFD1054
1700hrs-Vails Gate FD alerted; Cornwall EMS on the scene of an MVA at the above location, advising of entrapment.
Driver-side door of one of the vehicles needed to be popped for patient access. Door removed by crew of R480, while E481's crew secured the vehicles battery and put down speedy dry.
Crews then assisted EMS in removing and securing the patient. Patient then transported by Cornwall EMS.
All units picked up and returning shortly thereafter.

Firefighter lauded for rescue in W. Haverstraw
http://www.lohud.com/article/20110606/NEWS03/106060324/Firefighter-lauded-rescue-W-Haverstraw?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage
"Among a pool of nominees, the New Jersey & New York Volunteer Firemen's Association has chosen Andrew Kolesar, 38, a former fire chief of the West Haverstraw Fire Department, as the recipient of the 2011 Joseph Costello Firefighter of the Year award. It was the highest honor in this year's awards ceremony held during the association's 98th annual convention Friday."
"Kolesar grasped Patterson's air-pack straps, pulled him out of the room and slid with him down the stairs, where they met with two other firefighters."
STRONG WORK BROTHER, MAKES US ALL PROUD.