Dad Joke: “What do a tick and the Eiffel Tower have in common?” “They’re both Paris sites.” LODD: In 1937, 15 firefighters were killed battling the Blackwater Fire in Wyoming.  Major Incidents: In 1995, a regional airliner lost a propeller 30 minutes after departing the airport in Atlanta, GA and crashed while trying to land […]

“The will to succeed is important, but what’s more important is the will to prepare.” —Bobby Knight LODD: Captain suffers sudden cardiac death while on-duty – Tennessee 2012 Two Philadelphia firefighters are killed at an fire in residential fire – 2004 Fire fighter dies on duty – Tennessee 1998 Major Incidents: In 2019, people are […]

“I do not mind the day of battle, the excitement carries one through; but the day after is fearful, it is so dreadful to see my men wounded and suffering.” – Captain Isaac Hull, USS Constitution. LODD: In 2015, 3 firefighters were killed when their vehicle was overun by fire and crashed west of Twisp, […]

“Turn the new guy into something he doesn’t know he can become.” – Lieutenant Bryan Caro LODD: Two career fire fighters die following a seven-alarm fire in a high-rise building undergoing simultaneous deconstruction and asbestos abatement – New York 2007 In 1959, 5 Kansas City Firefighters were killed as well as one civilian and over […]

Question(s) of the Week: Does your crew greet every visitor to your station?  Greet  visitors with something like, “Good morning Chief Whiteshirt, I’m Firefighter Salty, welcome to Station 3.”, it works to instill more pride in themselves, the station and leave a positive impression with the visitor.  For more on this concept, check out the […]

Forty Autumns: A Family’s Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner details life on both sides of the Iron Curtain.  An eye opening read for those of us who have enjoyed freedom all of our lives! LODD: Airport fire fighter suffers sudden cardiac death while on duty […]

From time to time the “Food Fund” seems to get a bit light.  My grocer often has chicken drumsticks marked down to less than $2 for a pack of 5!  Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks from the Food Network are easy and flavorful! LODD: No NIOSH reports for today’s date, but FireFighterCloseCalls.com reports several dating back to […]

Dad Joke: Why do melons have weddings? Because they cantaloupe. LODD: Career lieutenant dies after being trapped in the attic after falling through a roof while conducting ventilation – Texas 2011 Fire fighter trainee suffers heart attack during simulated fire suppression exercise – North Carolina 2007 Career fire fighter dies after falling from tailboard and […]

“Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” – Vince Lombardi LODD: After conducting fire suppression duties at a structure fire, captain collapses in incident scene rehabilitation – Kansas 2007 Career engineer dies and […]

“Leadership is communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.”― L. David Marquet, Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders LODD: Volunteer fire fighter dies after being run over by brush truck during grass fire attack – Texas 2002 Fire […]