Blog

Written and maintained by a retired career firefighter, this blog includes original posts and many articles or stories published elsewhere on a wide range of topics, which may include the fire service, travel, or other unsolicited viewpoints. Opinions expressed, other than those attributed, are my own. Please feel free to share as needed with appropriate attribution.

Nov 16, 2012

World Trade Center Segment:

As a retired firefighter, I took a short road trip back to my old firehouse in Des Plaines, IL to check out a new arrival at the kind...

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Nov 16, 2012

The Flammable Fireproof Christmas Trees

One of the first duties a new firefighter recruit in 1971 was assigned, along with cleaning the toilets and other "character-building"...

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Nov 23, 2012

Ringing the Salvation Army bell in fire gear helps

The sight of a firefighter in full firefighting gear, sans helmet that is, standing next to a red Salvation Army pot and ringing a bell...

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Jan 3, 2013

Unblock Those Exits Please!

Each time I go into a restaurant, banquet hall or other venue that normally provides seating for a large number of people, I quickly scan...

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Jan 22, 2013

Saving Betsy

I’m sure that I’m not the only firefighter who may have saved more pets than people over the years. Most times evacuating pets is merely...

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Feb 11, 2013

Barricade Kids During Fire Drill? Dumb idea.

A Fargo, ND school has established a post-Newtown knee-jerk hysteria policy of instructing staff that in case of a fire alarm, keep the...

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