Round peg thru a square hole

Whenever we get into some trouble, it is usually because a dare was thrown down. This time we were doing some training in a vacant building when a hole was located in a wall and the ensuing dare was put out there. "I bet you can't fit thru that!" A couple of guys went thru without any issue, such as Hoover. Than it came time for some of the big boys to take a stab at it. Lt. France made it with minimal wiggling as well as B.C. Folsom. Brother Keeler's shoulders kept him from making it, and than came time for Lt. Manning. Much to our dismay, and with the help of a couple of guys pushing on his legs, he managed to wiggle thru the hole. I guess the nurses at the ER knew what they were talking about when they said he was "losing weight and looking good".

A TRUE LEGEND AMONG US

It has been a few weeks since I have posted anything on the site. My computer died, and it has been kinda slow around here. That is until today. While working an overtime shift on Batt 4 today, some info was brought to light about one of their own that I felt worth mentioning. Through some impressive investigative work, F/F pawlowski discovered a secret about F/F Duckworth's past.
It turns out that while Duckworth was the Deputy Chief for the Campton Thorton Fire Dept in northern New Hampshire, he was given the "First Responder of the Year Award". Now, I know some of you are probably sitting there laughing, but I assure you, this is no laughing matter. It takes years of dedication to achieve such an award, and Brother James should be proud of himself. The shrine in his house where the award sits, high over the entertainment stand, with the spot lights shining down on it is a daily reminder for him that he is contributing to society by the giving of time to protect them. O.K. Now I'm laughing.

Below are just a few pictures of Duckworth on the job. I hope to get some pics of the shrine, but I can't promise you anything. He is very protective over it.

Batt 3 update

It has been a few weeks since our last post, and quite a bit has happened since than. For starters, 3 new FF/EMT's have been hired, and Mike Cullen got the "lucky dog pass" by being assigned to Batt 3. He is currently riding on E-4 as a fourth, and will be a part of staffing next week. Captain Whitney has been transferred from Batt 3 to 2 as the Acting Batt Chief, F/F Dumas has been mved to Batt 4 as the Acting Lt., and Batt 4's Lt Kelleher has been moved to our group as the Acting Capt at the height's. Both Whitney and Dumas will be sorely missed, and we look forward to their hopeful return in the future.

On a different note. Central stations E-1 and L-1 have been worklintg on a new promotional video for their web site. I was highly impressed. Here is the link below.

http://www.break.com/index/asian-commercials-are-weird.html

Taining pics cont'

Training

As an old friend of mine (tall, red-headed Gentry) always said, "The more you sweat in training, the less you'll bleed in war".
Over the past two tours, we have been able to get do some minimum company standards (MCS)training in. We smoked up an abandoned home for some hose line stretches and search drills, and than we we able to play with some master streams. Below are just a few pics from both training days.

Fair treatment

Monday, Sept 10th, Local 1045 organized a march to coincide with the city councilor's emeting. We didn't have anything scheduled on the agenda during the meeting, rather, it was just a march to let the city know that we, the firemans local, are tired of being stepped on and lied to. There was an amzing turnout of support, especially considering the rain. There was a head count of 110 marchers, ranging from L1045 members, retirees, members of the L3195 (Officers union), as well as brother from the Bedford, Manchester, & Nashua Depts. There were also some representatives from the teachers union, electrical union, and the PFFNH Pipes and Drums.
Some of us were able to go into the chambers during the meeting, and we can testify that our presence outside was by no means overlooked. If it is true that there are strength in numbers, we must look mighty strong and united now.

2 more LODD's

Two more brothers die in the line of duty, and as I think about them, I can only wonder what their day must have been like before this tragic event occured.

They both probably woke up that morning with plans for the day. Maybe working a part-time job, doing some work around the house, or spending some time with the family. Eventually they would have to kiss and hug their wives and children good-bye, and go to work for their evening shifts at the fire hall. Once there, they would gather their personal gear and place it on the apparatus, and systematically check the equipment on the rigs to ensure that everything was ready for whatever lies ahead of them during the shift. Coffee is made, supper is prepared, a few of the world problems are solved at the kitchen table, and someone is probably the butt of a good joke (sorry junior guy). Than the tones go out for a possible building fire in their first due district, and everything is placed on pause at the station until this 911 emergency is taken care of. Neither one had any idea they wouldn't be returning to the station to finish their supper, greet the oncoming shift the next morning, or once again, kiss and hug their wives and children.
This can happen to anyone of us.

Our thoughts amd prayers go out to the families of Brothers Payne and Cahill, and to the Boston fire Dept, where their presence will be forever missed.