Firefighters Time To Work

Firefighters Time To Work. No matter how experienced you are or how many times you enter the flames every fire is a new fire. You've got this. You have trained it, experienced it, you have a team with you and the tools and training you need. Never get complacent. Never get overconfident. Trust in what you wear. In what you know. And trust in your judgement to know when it's time to go.

Photo of me just before entering a structure fire a few years ago.

 #brotherhood #courage #firefightertraining #firetruck #onthejob #staysafe #911 #rescue #fireman #femalefirefighter #team

Stay Low. Stay Together. Stay Safe. See you on the next job. 

Check out my firefighter designed apparel, gear and fire dept family gifts

Firefighters Take The Heat

Firefighters - yeah we can take the heat mentally and physically. But remember you have to know when it’s time to back out physically and the same goes for a break when your mind needs to step back some.

Firefighter teams aren’t just for physical work. Be there for your buddy.  Go to a buddy when you need one. That’s the right way to handle the Heat.

When Only Firefighters Are There

When only firefighters are there to do the job no one else can do. When it's only up to firefighters, be the best firefighters they deserve.

Train hard. Work Hard. Stay Safe.

Firefighter Thanksgiving Memories

Firefighters, EMS and Police celebrate Thanksgiving too. While the world is planning the celebration to include the turkey roasting, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie, firefighters are planning too. We can't help it. While you worry about burning the turkey, we are worried about you burning down the house.

Roasting a turkey is one thing, how about all those people deciding to deep fry the turkey! Structure fires waiting to happen. Yes it has happened on Thanksgiving, on my watch. Way more times than I can count.

Boiling pots of water and fry pans are not innocent cooking tools. Sleeves that hang over the flames while lifting the pot. Handles facing out that children can touch, can get knocked over by someone walking by.

Grease. Oh those grease fires. On the stove. In the oven. And the people who inevitably throw water on it .......

And the candles. People love burning candles especially on holidays. Fall scented, pumpkin scented candles that have started more fires on more holidays than I even care to remember. Children who were burned by the candles adults don't give a thought to when they put them out to impress their company. Medivacs for burned children on any day is awful and on the holidays.....

The roads are packed. The family is stuffed. Don't drink and drive - please don't drink and drive. Slow down it's OK. Too many motor vehicle crashes especially on the holidays. Especially on Thanksgiving.

And if you make it through the night without any of the above happening - you can be sure by midnight when the dishes are cleaned, the company is gone, someone will turn on the self cleaning oven and you will probably get your call then!

Firefighter holiday memories. Reminds me of how much we all have to be thankful for. Reminds me how important it is to take a little time, do a little planning so all of our holidays are happy. And safe.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. Stay Safe. Stay Thankful. Stay Happy.

Firefighter Dates In Time

Firefighter Dates and Time are inseparable yet separate as can be. Every firefighting experience is all about time. No two calls are ever the same. Ever. Could be a fire alarm in the same senior citizen residential community, almost the same time of night and yet, still never the same. Especially when after 5 nuisance calls in a week or so the 6th one is a working structure fire in the same building, the same time of early morning. I remember the Chief calling to Central to make sure they double re-toned all fire depts involved to alert them that this was a confirmed working structure fire so no one became complacent after the first 5 false alarms.

Three apartments totally burned out, water and smoke damage to the rest, 166 unhappy senior citizens many at least partially handicapped, evacuated to the medical building and no firefighters injured means no one got complacent. Everyone did their job. The fire incidentally was started by a senior citizen who wasn't supposed to be smoking, dumping the ash tray into the garbage while it was apparently still smoldering when someone knocked on her door. It smoldered there a couple of hours before the alarm came over.

The time and perspective was different and always is, for everyone on the scene. Senior residents remember they have to go find somewhere else to live for a while. Some remembered firefighters being mean to them and dragging them out of their apartments. Firefighters remember the residents resisting leaving even as the apartment two doors down was on fire. My LT on scene recalled with a sense of humor later, the woman he encouraged strongly to move out with him was screaming she wasn't leaving her fur coat as she stuffed the cash that was under her mattress into the pockets. I remembered seeing her on the scene later wearing that coat and not letting the EMT's check her out or touch her. Most of the residents were worried, confused and extremely grateful for the help and I was so very proud of every firefighter and EMT that not only put out the fire, evacuated them to safety, stayed an additional shift to help them get their property out of damaged apartments with respect and humor.

I also remember the next day the Chief and I took a ride to that community and started putting real pre-plans in place, started training sessions with their security office, their administrators and also even their residents. We also made the Executive Administrators have the alarm company out to upgrade the system in an effort to cut down on the overwhelming amount of false alarms. It all helped and today I hope pre-plans are the norm in communities now.

Firefighters always making time count.

Firefighter Gifts: The Brotherhood Bond

Being a firefighter is not just a job title........

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

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 each other. We wear it on our firefighter 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, it's 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.

If you are going to wear it, wear it with pride

Firefighter Survival and Health

Firefighter Health and Survival is a topic that is in focus, both for firefighters and fire chiefs today.  Firefighters surviving the fire ground challenges and always changing environment that may place a fire fighter in imminent danger at any moment has become part of the critical training, education and SOG's of every fire dept that cares about their firemen, female firefighters and their communities.

    


Firefighters eat, drink and live their training and survival skills every day realizing that every fire scene is unpredictable and understanding that learning to avoid bad situations when possible, knowing how to use the Mayday, training and practicing self-survival firefighter techniques and always working as a team can mean the difference between life and death.



 

Firefighter team work, communications, buddy systems, two in two out should always be part of firefighting SOG's whether you are part of a huge fire dept like the FDNY, a suburban fire department or a rural volunteer firefighter.  All firefighters should learn their self survival techniques because no matter how good you are, fires don't always go according to plan.

 

    

Some of the greatest firefighter gifts are the acts of bravery, brotherhood and the courage to keep training and practicing what they learn to protect themselves, their fellow firefighters and keep their communities safe from the flames and the unexpected hazards.

        

Don't wait for Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week to get prepared and stay prepared.  Check out some of these firefighter resources online.

• http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/
• Fire Engineering Survival and Training Zones
• http://www.firehouse.com/

Firefighter Freedom July 4th

Firefighter Freedom on July 4th and every day is the freedom to be there for others. To answer the calls from alarms to flames. The freedom to handle the jobs because they know their training is good. Their firefighter brotherhood is tight. The ability to work independently and as a team depending on the situation shines as brightly as those 4th of July fireworks we are prepared to deal with if they go wrong.

The knowledge that firefighters are a definitely a special breed dedicated to others working in a world no words can really describe. Firefighter freedom means trusting your bunker gear. Knowing your engines are working, your command is experienced and prepared. When it all comes together because of dedicated, loyal firefighters, then you are free to do the job you have taken the oath to do.

There is no greater freedom than the weight of others depending on you, and you knowing that you are up to the challenge.

Be prepared. Be trained. Be honorable and loyal. Be a firefighter by the true meaning and live up to all that your community and brother firefighters need you to be.

Great Gifts For Firefighters

Firefighter Great Gift Ideas are easy for me to help you out with. If it has a fire department logo, can be used in a fire, can hold a photo of a firefighter especially in action or has any kind of cool flames on it, it's good. Any combination or all of the above combined on a present, gift or shirt is double bonus gift time for firefighters and their families.

Firefighter Gift Guide For Holidays and Special Occasions

There are some great gifts for firefighters that not only reflect the pride a fireman or female firefighter has for their job, but also shows them that you appreciate the importance of their career too.

Firefighting symbols are everywhere and firefighter logos like the maltese cross are always sure to please whether it's on a t-shirt, hat, iphone case or watch it will always be the universal symbol of fire departments.

Of course firefighters love flames, fire trucks, dalamations and fire hydrants almost as much as they love their families and helping others in need. They are the symbols of courage, honor, brotherhood, dedication and pride. I am a part of the firefighter family so I am really proud (and qualified) to bring you some of these great gift ideas perfect for holidays, birthdays, graduation or retirement.

Firefighter Shirts and Fire Dept Presents

A firefighter shirt, hoodies and sweats is by far the one present every firefighter will wear with pride. It isn't just a t-shirt. It isn't just a present. It's a universal symbol of firefighter, brotherhood and fire departments everywhere.

Anywhere you go from the east coast to the west coast, north to south you are sure to see a firefighter wearing his fire dept logo cross proudly on their chest. It tells a tale of tradition. It tells a story of character and dedication. Most commonly, you will find them wearing a navy blue tee with a white printed firefighter logo on the front chest and a bigger one on the back of the shirt.

Beyond that favored t-shirt is the love for long sleeve tee's, hoodies, jackets and of course, hats.

Some of our favorite firefighter shops and stores even offer the ability to personalize with names and fire station numbers.

Here's some of newer featured products and our absolute customer favorites but there is lots more where these came from.  

Browse our new mobile friendly website at Personalized Gift Shops We promise we have something for everyone

Firefighter Zazzle

Firefighter Cafe

Firefighter Gifts and Shirts By Bonfire Designs

Firefighting Judgement

Firefighting is a judgement call every time. Firefighters and Fire Officers need to keep on learning, training and most of all, share and gain knowledge from experience because it never goes by the book. Changing fire conditions have to be expected and adjusting your firefighter strategy as conditions improve and/or deteriorate is the way to keep everyone going home safe.

Sometimes you just have to start the fire attack from the outside when there is a structure fire. Sometimes you get to go in and knock it down, save some property that means the world to those you protect. Sometimes you even get to save a life.

Firefighter strategy is all about judgement. Use it wisely.

Firefighter Earth

Firefighter Earth Day is every day. Firefighting is all about serving the world around us. Saving a life, mitigating a rescue or disaster and minimizing the effects of hazmat entering waterways, soil and even the air whenever possible.  Everyone can be like firefighters.  We know we can't save the whole world even though we want to, but we can do our best to do our part in keeping the world and earth below our feet a little healthier in small ways that add up to a big difference.

FIREFIGHTER ENERGY LOGO SHIRTS AND GIFTS

FIREFIGHTER RECYCLE GREEN LOGO SHIRTS AND GIFT IDEAS

Recycle your recyclables, use tote bags instead of plastic or paper bags. Plant a tree, pull some weeds, trash some litter even if it isn't yours. Re-usable coffee travel mugs instead of convenience shop cups are all little gestures that really add up. If every one does just a little, the teamwork just like in firefighting, will go a long way.

Firefighters Cooking With Heat

Firefighters cooking with heat whether you are the chef of the day at the fire department or the BBQ master at home, firefighter style of course - master the flames with a firefighting logo apron.  Heat it up, serve it out and wear it with pride.

Firefighter Aprons With Fire Department Logo

Firefighter Heat

Firefighters heat up as soon as those tones drop. Volunteer and career firefighters are always ready. Always trained and when the heat is turned up, they are cool, calm and know their job.  Most fires don't go by the book, because no two firefighter challenges are ever the same.  But that's OK. When the flames are hot, firefighters adjust and adapt. And get the job done.

Firefighters In Action - Always Ready. Always Trained.

Firefighter Faith

Firefighter faith in their training and in their Firefighter Brotherhood reminds me of an inspirational quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr every time I hear it.  In his wisdom he knew that you had to be confident and have faith in yourself and what you believe in to forge ahead even when you weren't sure where the next step would lead you.  Firefighters you need to feel the same way.  Take your firefighter training seriously, as though your life or someone else's depends on it.  Because it does.  Believe in your brother firefighters and know they believe in you because firefighting is a team sport.  Lives depend on that.  The community depends on you.

Your brother firefighters are depending on you and having faith that you will give them your all, just as they will give you theirs.

The only way to be confident and have faith, is knowing you are giving your all every day.

Be trained.  Be Prepared.  Be serious about this job.  

Be A Brother and be sure to give as much as you get, or more - pay it forward.  That's what Firefighter Brotherhood is all about.

Firefighter Love

Firefighter love of the job, their family and the communities they serve with pride and dedication has no borders and no amount of tough weather, hard times, hours training can waiver their commitment. The truth is firefighters love the job even when it's a pain in the neck. Even when they see what they wish they didn't, at least they know in their hearts they have given their all.  This kind of love is just deep inside for true firefighters. You can't learn it or inherit it, those are the extras that make it all work.  Stay safe firefighters.  Keep the love burning bright, you make a difference.

Emergency Winter Wishes

Emergency Winter Wishes

To all of my many dedicated firefighter, police and EMS friends still on the road, saving lives and helping others, stay safe my friends – you make a difference especially now. 

Winter Wishes Police, Fire, EMS Stay Safe Out There

Wishing everyone stays safe, stays home if they can so those who have to be out can do their job more safely. I wish your families who will be worried about you, an easy storm with smiles and a cozy winter scene inside as the snow and wind howls outside.

Cat Nap Cuddles