MoFire390

#1 if you dont have the proper information you should not be posting this picture!!!!!! the lines were cut off and the chief was given the go ahead by con ed to put out the visible fire.
#2 this is a local fire department and the chief of the department is a family friend.
#3 i called this in I was at the hospital when this happened i watched it from the ER entrance.
#4 He's using a dry chem. I myself have seen people using water cans in short bursts to put out lines on fire. as long as there is not a long spray from a water can you are completely safe. this is what I was told by a line men for con ed.

Hello -
We've made slight changes to our website. Please take a look. The site is completely designed, developed and maintained internally by company members.
http://www.wiccopefireco.org
There might be some errors and things out of place. If something looks like it shouldn't be like that or if you encounter errors, please let us know. There also may be slight issues when using Firefox under certain resolutions.
Thanks! Happy Holidays,
WFC WebTeam

I don't (ever) post because I often feel like I have nothing to add. I have no experience other than as family. My grandfather was FDNY. My brothers were volunteers in Dutchess County.
But I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you. As a family member, I understand the sacrifices you make, the training you make time for and the time you are away from your families, friends and other activities so you can serve your community in the most amazing way I can think of.
I salute your bravery, your commitment and your expertise. Our communities are better places because you live, work and volunteer here.
Consider this a long distance hug from a very grateful community member.
-Heather

I was going to say that has to be a mess down there......
I say even if Dr Xie was still in his vehicle it probably would have been the same outcome unfortunately.
The average spped ther eis what 115mph... Ok exaggerating a little but what 60 or 70 mph.
RIP Dr Xie....

At the request of many members of this community, we decided to remove the "FDNY Activist" video.
Although this does constitute censorship, and I'm sure we'll be accused of that at some point, but we are acting on the request of multiple active members of this community. We listened, and pulled it.
Although everybody is entitled to their opinion, and to express it in different ways, we also took into account the timing of when this video was released, which was apparently on purpose.
Seth G. , on behalf of the EMTBravo team
If anyone has an issue or questions regarding this issue, please email me at seth@emtbravo.com or use our contact system.

very nice!!! good luck Mt. Vernon FD

The Captain is on the right track... Let me add though what is/was missing from this long discussed issue.... Which will absolutely shock everyone...
In reality this has exactly ZERO to do with Police Officers and Firemen.... That is correct... ZERO...
What is missed here that goes on every where else is that there are a******* in every line of work and that is what creates the issue. Cops and Firemen have been buddies for a century... It's just the jerks that screw it all up.

The thread has been restarted, ny10570 posted the video and hopefully it can be a good discussion that doesn't cross any lines.
We all have to remember something and that is this; we have members from different generations who confronted different circumstances (particularly in NYC) "back in the day."
We have to remember their perspective; just because it's not politically correct these days to talk the way some of our older members do, THEIR memories of how things were is really all they are expressing.
I learned a lesson here a long time ago; I'm never going to jump in and criticize police activity. It's not my area of knowledge, but I have learned quite a few things from our Brothers and Sisters in Blue.
The problems arise in the "cross-over" areas like pin jobs in NYC with basically two agencies operating. I think they've come a long way (but I don't work there so what do I really know) in cooperation on scene, and working for the same end; control and mitigation of emergencies.
But we must acknowledge there was a time, and there are active members who were there, when things weren't quite so cooperative. There was a Battle of The Badges.
Remembering the perspective of what a member experienced in their time on the job really helps us to understand "where they are coming from."
I know my good friend from Rescue 3 has stirred the pot here and pissed people off. In his mind, (I've talked with him as recently as today) he comes from the era when cops and firemen would come to near blows at pin jobs.
Thank goodness those days have passed. But it should not take away the credibility of a man's knowledge from his extremely active career, and the wisdom he has to offer.
We all have to GIVE A LITTLE, and things will be fine. I'm optimistic it can be done.

Hi Folks. Just wanted to share our exciting day with the Lower Hudson Valley Fire Service. We delivered Mount Vernon's two (2) new Pierce Arrow XT Pumpers and one (1) new Pierce 105' Heavy Duty Aerial today! Mayor Young had a had a nice press conference to announce there arrival. Photos of the trucks at our new Carmel shop are attached along with a copy of the City of Mount Vernon's press release.
Special thanks to: Mayor Clinton I. Young Jr.
Commissioner Noah Lighty
Deputy Commissioner Theodore Beale
Chief Al-Farid Salahuddin
Deputy Chief Michael Lang
Superintendent James Hurley
Captain Michael St. John
Thannk you very much for the business!
Mike Hanratty
VP Sales & Service
Firematic Supply Co Inc
PR_MOUNT_VERNON_GETS_NEW_FIRE_TRUCKS_9-6-11.doc

very nice!!! good luck Mt. Vernon FD

Date: 09-07-11
Time: 1627hrs
Location: 2064 Independence Dr.
Frequency: OC911/Base-5
Units Operating: VGFD Cars 1, 2, 3, 7, E478, E481, T484, T482, New Windsor w/(2) Engines, Newburgh FAST, NWEMS, NWPD, NW Fire Inspector.
Weather Conditions: Light rain
Description Of Incident: Fire in a laundry room
Reporters: TAPSJ
Writer: BFD1054 (o/s)
1625hrs (approx)-Vails Gate alerted for the residential fire alarm, laundry room activation.
1627hrs-Vails Gate re-sounded for the structure fire, fire in the laundry room. New Windsor dispatched under m/a.
VGFD Car-3 arrived 1st and advised of smoke showing with the occupants evacuated. He then quickly advised of an active fire in the laundry room on the #1 floor of a large, 2 story colonial.
E478 arrived, hooked a hydrant IFO the residence and stretched a 1 3/4" line through the front door. T484 and T482 then arrived and their crew's performed a primary search and started ventilation. Members made quick work of the fire and started opening-up & checking for extension, which was negative. A pet cat was located in a #2 floor bedroom and was brought out and re-united with the homeowner.
Mutual-aid was released as overhaul began. All apparatus was released with the exception of E478 which remained on-scene as the fire inspector conducted his investigation.
All units were picked-up and back in service by approximatley 1820hrs.

Pic gathered from cell phones
Rescuer setting up rigging for boat
Sending boat to rescuer
Loading family members in to boat
Shuttling family over to shore
Family to shore
Family member being brought to ambulance
to be checked out and brought to NHFD headquarters

Here are a couple shot of the scene after all the water went down

Median annual wage: $45,520. The fifth most toxic job. And for this we are attacked for our pensions, our health benefits, and general insults from an ignorant public that accuses us of just about everything. I always loved the comment "Did you save a cat from a tree?" Answer...."F no I hate cats." I remember after a job once I was exhausted and "cherry red." The VAC member that checked me out told me my blood pressure was 210/110. He asked out loud, "Wow and you're alive?" Uhhh...I think so...for now anyway.
http://247wallst.com/2011/09/01/seven-jobs-that-will-make-you-sick/3/

A Post-Incident Review is in planning, until then I can only offer some information.
The original caller reported a raft in the water behind her house on Truesdale Drive (south of Silver Lake Park). The original assignment of E120, TL44, R18 and EMS was dispatched.
Car 2083 arrived and assumed the initial command. While investigating the vessel and asking bystanders, it was revelaed that this raft was occupied by 5 men, none of which were in the raft. At this point, Assistant Chief Vlad confirmed that this was a swift water incident and requested Yorktown FD's Dive/Water Rescue Unit (per our SOG) and E119 for additional personnel.
At this point, I was leaving work and heading back to town in my POV, sans a trunked radio, so I don't know the specifics of what was requested nor updates given by the IC.
As I was entering our area, one of my Past Captains was giving an "Urgent" on our fireground radio reporting our boat had overturned and we had 3 members in need of EMS evaluation at the Echo Canoe Boat Launch (south of the train station). At almost the same time, another Officer giving an "Urgent" reported members rescued additional victims near Maio's Landing off of Nordica Drive and also needed EMS.
When I got to our command post, I assumed command and kept 2083 in charge of the operations section. At this point, Croton PD made a grab of the victim that succumbed to his injuries. Personnel began CPR on him, but he did not survive.
As Yorktown FD M55, Croton PD Boat 2 and the TRT's Zodiac worked their way up to the scene, we confirmed that we could account for four of the five victims. While the boats searched the river, personnel were located on both sides of the river from as far up as Croton Dam to the end of the river where it meets the Hudson. At a point (not sure of the time) one of my other Past Captains and a member of the WCTRT radioed that he had a visual of victim #5. Despite valiant efforts by all boats, they could not reach this victim.
Members of the WCTRT then went upstream and made an in-water rescue attempt, which was unsuccessful. While they planned, made and terminated this effort, personnel began formulating additional plans to reach him. While another attempt using a portable ladder in the water as a better "reaching point" was being established, units started to advise me that the victim was now free of the tree he was grasping and heading downstream. Luckily, the 3 Zodiac units were all in position below his location, and CPD's unit grabbed him and brought him to awaiting EMS at the mouth of the Croton River.
As the IC, I can sum up the whole thing in two words: "pucker factor." I was nervous the entire time about the well-being of all the guys working their asses off trying to rescue this guy. When the transmissions came over that he was loose, I could feel myself clench up, hoping that we could not only find him, but rescue him vs. recover him.
I can not give enough credit to the Croton PD boat, Yorktown FD Water Rescue Team, County Tech Rescue Team and all others on the ground and in the air that worked together to bring this event to a close without any injuries or worse to emergency personnel.
Units that operated:
Croton FD: 2082 (IC), 2083 (Ops), E119, E120, TL44, R18, M32
Croton EMS: 55B1, 55B2
Ossining FD: 2332, 2334, E96, E99, TL42, R14, U51 w/ Zodiac
Ossining EMS: 7405, 36M1, 74A1, 74B1
Cortlandt VAC: 88B1, 88B2
Peekskill EMS: 7511, 75B1
Briarcliff FD EMS: 53B2
Sleepy Hollow EMS: 73B2
Mt. Pleasant ALS: 37M1
Peekskill FD ALS: 39M1 (2 Medics)
Yorktown FD: 2531, R55, M55
Montrose FD: 2271, E121, R51 (Lighting), U53 (Rehab bus)
Montrose VAFD: 2571, MA28 (Lighting)
Irvington FD: 2202, R49 (Divers)
Millwood FD: 2253, R36 (Lighting)
Pleasantville EMS: 7605 (Rehab)
Westchester DES: Car 5/EMS 1, Bat 10, Bat 12, R77, U77, Zodiac
Westchester County PD: Multiple Supervisors, M3
Ossining PD: M15
Croton PD: Multiple Cars, Marine 2
NYSP: Multiple cars, Aviation Unit
NYPD: Aviation Unit
Covering Croton
Peekskill FD: 2342, E131 (who covered 2 additional calls in our district)
Cortlandt EMS: 88B1, relieved by Sleepy Hollow 73B2.
I believe Verplanck 83B1 covered another incident in Croton during this call as well.
On a side note, unless one lives under a rock, this incident has been all over the news. The County and Village have shut all parks and access to the Croton River due to the ongoing currents... and TODAY, Croton PD had to remove 10-20 people - including children - from the Croton River. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE?!
On behalf of the Croton Fire Department, we thank everyone for their assistance. We couldn't have done it without you.

Good work post, Cap.
I suggest that every American do some research into the goals of Islam over the years. It will be an eye opener. Look at Europe now and it will be in America's future. Wonder why they try to gain converts in ghettos and prisons.
Yes, there may indeed be good Moslems. What does Sharia law say about them should they speak out to infidels against Islam?
If I even start posting some of these facts, our moderators will ban me for life.
Be afraid, America

Well this is truly amazing. According to lohud, over 60 police units had to respond from as far south as Tuckahoe to deal with this unreasonable and unruly crowd. Why? Because their "muslim sensibilities" were insulted? Give me a freakin' break. The rules are posted and for certain rides, there is to be NO WEARING OF ANY TYPE OF HEADGEAR period.
Why do these people think they are exempt from the rules, the laws? I know what they would like; Sharia Law. Their own version of a justice system implemented in the countries they emigrate to. I think that is a disgusting disgrace, as were the actions of these supposedly "religious" people at the Playland park.
Look, you people want to assimilate in this country, fine. I guess we have to let some of you in. But if you don't like the system, the rules in place... TOO F'IN BAD, go back to the place you came from.
The difference between these people and the ancestors of many of us here in this forum is our great-grandparents had a huge desire to assimilate into the American culture. That's why on my mother's side, they came from Italy, moved into the south Bronx and gave up teaching their native language to their children, my mother, and therefore I don't know Italian today as a result. I wish that part were different, but the point being these people were so anxious to "fit in" they even gave up their language. Italian was forbidden to be spoken in the house by my great-grandparents, as a result their great-grandchildren only speak English.
Now these muslims with their headgear, the hijab, they can't even get on the Dragon Coaster without starting a ruckus? Like Playland OWES them something, like WE owe them anything? They should kiss the ground of freedom they walk upon, shut their damn mouths, follow the rules, or else.
What a waste of PD resources to have to direct half the cars on patrol up to Playland because these freaking people were "insulted"! Enough! Fit in or GET OUT!
http://www.lohud.com/article/20110830/NEWS02/110830004/Police-arrest-15-Playland-dispute-over-Muslim-headwear?odyssey=nav|head

NYPD got in for a visit.







Thank you all for checking these out. This was as much fun to share as it was to do. As you can see by the smile on my face..

See ya on the next one. PS Somers guys, can anyone set me up with TL-18 and L-48?? Humongous Thank yous to Rescue Kujo, the Long Beach Fire Department, especially Chief Dispatcher Liz Battle, everyone at the museum and FS 127, 116, 69, and 70. Chief Melanson from Compton, Eddie in Uniondale, and anyone else I missed.

Date: 8-11-2011
Time: 15:35
Location: Old Post Road / Crusher Road
Frequency: 46.26; Fire 16
Bedord FD: 2042, 2043, Rescue 44
Armonk EMS: 52B1
Mt Kisco: Engine 105
Katonah Bedford Hills VAC: 65B1
Mount Kisco VAC: 70B1, 7011
Bedford Hills FD: Rescue 10
Westchester EMS: 54M1, 45M2, 45M3, 45M4
Weather Conditions: Hot, dry
Description Of Incident: Reported serious MVA with four patients, three patients trapped. All patients transported ALS to Westchester Medical Center. WMC notified by 60-Control to expect four traumas.
Reporters:PFDR47, PFDRes47cue
Writer: PFDR47
15:35 - Bedford PD on scene reporting serious injuries with one patient requiring extrication.
15:38 - Armonk toned out for one ambulance to respond
15:40 - 45M1 requests 3 ALS units
15:43 - Bedford Hills Rescue 10 requested.
15:46 - 60-Control advising Bedford, KBHVAC, Armonk, and MKVAC are all sending ambulances.
15:53 - Katonah toned out for one Engine to standby in Bedford HQ
15:55 - One patient being transported, three patients in the process of being extricated
15:56 - Hospitals being notified of four Trauma Alerts.
15:57 - Katonah Engine 116 responding to Bedford HQ.
16:22 - "The Yankees Win! 6 - 5"
16:25 - Rescue 10 is back in service.
16:27 - Mount Kisco are clearing Bedford Village, back in service.
16:32 - Route 22 remaining shut down for the AI.
16:40 - 70B1 is out at WMC.
16:42 - 52B1 is clear of WMC returning to Bedford, will notify when back in district so standby ambulance can go back in service.
16:44 - Bedford units clear, scene turned over to Bedford PD. Katonah FD can go back in service from standby at Bedford FD. KBHVAC can go back in service once 52B1 returns to Bedford district.
* PM me if you have any info

nice pics guys! thanks for sharing... did they ever find out what the cause was?

Nice! Many should follow his actions. Just a reminder as mentioned before. civilians who are veterans in street clothes can now salute the flag. This shows that you have served. Recently at a Renegades game I looked around and didn't see anyone saluting, I know that there were vets out there. Be proud !

Saw it and thought it was a very well put together documentary. With that said I think everyone in their heart wants someone to say that it was something medical that occurred but the facts keep pointing otherwise. Something went very wrong that day and unfortunately the only ones that know what truly happened all perished on that day. The only one is the boy and all he can remember is that she was in some sort of pain. Who knows what actually happened to cause the events that did.
Now in regard to some of the other comments.
1. I love how everyone blames him for taking out lawsuits when he wasn't driving or in the car but yet is getting sued via the "estate" of his deceased wife. He has been found liable in a couple lawsuits already and from what I have read elsewhere and others who stay up on that case...he is flat broke. He is suing the very brother in law whom sued the estate and from what I understand either has won or word is that the lawsuit is going to go through as appropriate. Like him or not he still has his son to care for both physically and emotionally.
2. Some of you say they were trying to "sugar coat" her as a person. How many of you actually knew Diane Schuler personally? If you don't..you can't make any comments on what she was as a person. You want to paint her with a broad brush because of one day that was extremely horrendous. ONe that I have no respect for either...that's fine. But for all extensive purposes she probably was an excellent loving mother who did something unexplainable and extremely grossly negligent in our eyes.
3. If they wanted to the pictures in there..maybe its to remind people that despite the actions that caused the incident..she was a human being in the end, just like the kids who lost their lives way to early and with such loss of potential. How can some of you even say it was in bad taste when persons from your own agencies take pictures of others in similar circumstances. And for what? To keep them on a computer or to show other buffs carnage? Ever watch european and latino news stations, they show much of the same. Don't let your predisposed tight a** puritan american press and censorship guide your feelings. I can see eve worse in make up on CSI or NCIS. Like someone said this was not TV...it was HBO and as with everything else you can just turn the channel. They've showed similar pictures on Dr. Baden's autopsy shows they did of crime scene/environment photos of cases he re-did.
I feel bad for the rest of the family who is left to pick up the pieces following this tragedy. And what the family is doing is an extreme form of denial during the mourning phase. Its sad..but no matter what is sent their way they can't accept what the facts in front of them are. That's their mindset and choice and I'm not going to judge them as I'm not in that situation. I'm sure what they are not letting on is that somewhere in their mind they doubt what their feelings are and I'm sure they are battling the anger they feel with that towards her. That I can understand and have dealt with on a personal level with a loss in my close family. The bottom line is 8 people died in a horrific manner which defies much of the logic we know. But she was also a human who just might not have been all that bad of a person...other then one singular moment in time. One with cost 7 other people their lives and left several families in shambles. That I can't forgive...that I won't forget. But I hope somewhere the kids are rested in peace...and that just perhaps she did enough in her normal life to get there with them when she repents for the actions of that day.

Well another week has passed and that means I'm one week closer to getting home for R&R...6 more to go. Speaking of home I think this entry may be somewhat more personal than most because as I get closer to home I find myself thinking more and more about it. Now I'm not the emotional or sentimental type (according to my wife... ) other than the occasional angry outburst, but in keeping with the idea of giving a clear, albeit personal, view of life here for those that may want to embark on this path, I think in todays installment I'm going to share a little more on the trials and tribulations but equally important the positives and benefits of life here.
First off let me digress back to home and the universal malady that affects everyone here....homesickness. Yep even hardened firemen miss home at times, especally those of us with wives and children. For me yesterday was another reminder of what I'm missing. My wife attended the wedding of a friend and later after they were sent, I looked at the pictures. Everyone was happy, as they should be, and life went rolling merrily along except that I, perhaps selfishly, was,...well, saddened. This because of the fact that I was not the one standing beside my beautifully stunning wife enjoying the nuptials of a friend. As we all know sacrifice is a part of all of our lives, and we all accept that as a part of who and what we are. But in some respects it may be just a little bit more so for those that choose to work over here...we can't get relief guys to cover a shift so we can take half a nite or day off for a child's school play or big football game, holidays or birthdays or whatever. You give up alot coming here and again I'm not crying about that, I'm just making anyone interested aware that life will go on without you back home. And sometimes missing those parts of life can leave a large void. Some can't take it. I recall my first deployment to Iraq, my roommate, who also traveled to the camp with me, was there only 3 days and realized he couldn't do it, he couldn't become frozen in time and space in the sandbox. And in some ways that's what working here is like...we call it Groundhog day. At times it seems as if the clock is just spinning here and not moving forward, it stays the same for what feels like an endless cycle of days and nights simply repeating themselves where even the weather doesn't change. This sentiment invariably gets stronger for everyone here as events, good and bad, unfold back home. You quickly come to realize that you are not really an active part of the life back home anymore and have no control over it. Many accept this fact but for those that don't, most quit at their first R&R after they've arrived home and just can't come back because of that realization. Of course this epiphany is really only a minor inconvenience for us, as we can leave any time we want, but for the military it is a situation that is far more than an inconvenience and I am in no way trying to compare the two. In the end anyone thinking of coming over here must have the full understanding of what they will give up, and in some cases that sacrifce can extend all the way to wives and families as couples become lonely and grow apart. Many a marriage has come to a bitter end for guys here as the partners, both here and at home, seek solace to fill the voids.
Ok enough melancholia.
For all the trials and tribulations that have graced these last few installments there is a flip side to the coin. There are positive aspects and benefits to working out here which go beyond the obvious financial ones although that is a good place to start. This contract I'm currently on is one of the lower paying ones and I have no problem telling all that I stand to make just about 80K per year here as a Crew Chief (Engine Co. Officer). A firefighter can expect between 60-70K here at Kandahar. Not that anyone cares but the reasons I took this particular job are threefold of equal importance:
1. The pay, I do have a family to support
2. The desire to support and protect our troops in their mission here
3. The leave (R&R) package. We get 30 days off every 90 days with full pay. And for this family man that is a huge attraction and benefit of greater personal importance than the money alone.
Now as I said this is one of the lesser paying FD jobs out there, and for most guys out here money is naturally the most important motivator. Most jobs pay well over 100K a year with 30 days off annually. Crew Chiefs regularly pull in between 140-150K and Chiefs up to 200K. with 91.5 K being tax free for all. So as you can see this can be a lucrative means of making living. When done right a semi intelligent person can make their life here open doors that would have probably remained closed otherwise. And of course the money allows for many of the other "perks" that come from our efforts.
Travel, who wouldn't like to take long expensive vacations. Most firemen here do, especially the single guys. A single guy with half a brain can see the world and still have a good deal of money left over to build a life back home. Start a business, go to school, buy a house..I think you get the idea there. Or for the less prudent, splurge, go nuts and indulge every perverse whim that strikes your fancy in places like Thailand or the Phillipines, both of which hold the top spot as destinations for the single set here. A single colleague is going to Bali, yeah that paradisical island, for a month come October. Rio, Europe and Greek Isles or the Costa del Sol and Monaco, Japan, China and the rest of Asia, Hawaii...you name it and guys have gone there with the money they've made here. The possibilities are almost endless for the single. Of course for the more subdued or the family men, well it's really nice not to ever have to worry about paying a bill. Or better yet to work a year or two and pay off and OWN your house. How about treating the kiddies to all those things you never had as a kid and treating your wife to the things she deserves for putting up with you, because you can. Maybe take the family on a cruise at a whim. Here's another important one to any parent..college tuition in the bank. These are just some of the things made possible from the money earned working out here.
Self indulgences, yeah there's alot of that too. Cars, boats, motorcycles and all the newest, latest and greatest gadgets or electronic devices and toys out there have been bought outright by guys here. Clothes, jewlery, food, and "wine, women and song" along with just about anything else you can think of can be yours for your time and efforts. Here's one that tops the list for alot of the married guys...new boobs for the wife (thankfully I don't share that "need" as my wife is amply appointed in that department). Yeah that's right, all you plastic surgeons rejoice, I'll bet almost a quarter of the guys I've worked with over the years have invested in, as the joke says, that one of the two things fathers play with that's meant for the kids...the other being toy trains. But alas, of that quarter more than half have found themselves without that investment to play with after all as their wives have moved on to "bigger" and better things...maybe because as men we don't enjoy the luxury of being able to enhance our natural attributes. Well enough about that, as I'm sure you all get the picture as far as the money goes, other than to say that for me personally my time and the money earned over here past and present, has afforded my family and me the opportunity to live a modest yet relatively comfortable life..and that is worth putting up with any depravation as far as I'm concerned.
There are of course other far less tangible benefits to working out here which, depending on your personality, can be very rewarding. For most, supporting the troops is, if not tied with first among the reasons to be here, certainly one of the top five. Patriotism abounds out here especially with the Canadians, Brits and us Americans and I have seen it lived on every deployment I've been on. I too feel a deep sense of responsibility and pride in working for my Country and our military, even if it is indirectly. We regularly go above and beyond or to use the business term, "push the limits of the SOW" (scope of work) when dealing with the troops because to the vast majority of us they deserve at least that. Those that don't believe in "helping out" usually don't hang around too long, since they quickly come to find out (with a little help) that this isn't the kind of place for them.
Then there's the work. I love being a fireman and have since I was 16, (for those who feel that as a volunteer back home I am not one, well I won't even dignifiy that idiotic view with a response). Quite honestly it is probably the only thing I'm even remotely good at and I don't hold a candle to most of you. Anyway, while this isn't a major metropolis with fires and incidents every day, nor do I want to give that impression, all things being considered we do get relatively busy and we do a very diversified bit of work out here. Many guys (myself included) have taken advantage of this and the opportunites that have presented themselves. We have had both the good fortune and desire to take a number of training classes and attain certifications that we may not have otherwise been able to. These along with the work have been translated into practical experience both here and back home for most of us. For me, I have now spent a number of years as a Company officer out here as well, and this has put me in a position to deal with issues and gain experience to better serve back home. This again is a "perk" worth well beyond it's weight in gold, at least to me.
Another attraction, and to some of us a benefit, is the adrenaline rush of working in a environment which is full of dangers in addition to the normal fireground ones. Being in a war zone (and make no mistake this is an active one) is just the kind of lifestyle suited to those of us who, like me, thrive in crisis. I'm sure everyone here can relate, at least on some level, to the satisfaction we get from doing a good job while facing the life threatening dangers presented by our nemesis..Fire. You get that same satisfaction here along with the satisfaction of facing down people that want to maim and kill you at every turn. Again not to mislead, this is not the front lines and I'm not saying we face anywhere near the dangers of the troops, but the possibilty of an untimely death at the hands of a cunning, determined and fanatical enemy is ever present and doing our duty in spite of it can be, and for some is, very rewarding.
This job, like my previous tours has also given many of us an opportunity that I am positive we would not have otherwise had, the opportunity to meet and work with firemen from all over the U.S. and now the world. For some that may mean nothing and that is fine, but for others (again myself included) this work presents an opportunity to not only expand, but share our knowledge and experience far beyond what would have been possible at home. The work over here, by it's very nature, puts a variety of skill sets and methods together and forces them to meld into a working fire department. While some may see this as a drawback it is in reality a chance to build fire service from the ground up using the insights, knowledge and experiences of all of the personnel available. It may sound chaotic and in a sense it is. But I have been fortunate I guess in that for me, most times have found that for our efforts the results have been far more suprising and in the end rewarding than anyone thought possible. And in an extension to just the job itself, working these contracts can open up the world to those who want it in the form of friendships made out here. There are not many places with such a diverse population as there is stationed here where a firemen can spend the day making friends with a group of people from Romania in the morning, England at lunch and any number of other nations (including the locals), stationed here for dinner? The cultural and historical facets of all of these diverse groups is here and for those interested, open to exploration.
Well I seem to be getting a little (or alot) long winded so I'll cut it off there.
In closing I can only say that which I've said before...life here is, as it is everywhere, what you make of it. Guys that make it over here tend do so because they come in with eyes and minds wide open, so if the idea of working here is stirring in your brain, just try to remember that simple premise. To that end I have tried to paint as realistic and objective a picture of life here for you as I can, I hope I have done so thus far.
There is some news and I am still going to share the differences between UK and U.S. tactics, but since I've droned on long enough here we'll save those for another day.
As aways stay safe
and thanks for protecting the homefront
Cogs

it is with great pleasure that i announce the arrival of my son Robert Scott Gilleo. Robert was born today @ 7:15 am. weighing 6lbs 10oz and measuring 18.5 inches long. he and mom are doing very well. i will try to get pictures up as soon as i can.

it is with great pleasure that i announce the arrival of my son Robert Scott Gilleo. Robert was born today @ 7:15 am. weighing 6lbs 10oz and measuring 18.5 inches long. he and mom are doing very well. i will try to get pictures up as soon as i can.