“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer LODD: Floor collapse at commercial structure fire claims the lives of one career lieutenant and one career fire fighter – New York 2006 Volunteer fire fighter / rescue diver dies in training incident at a quarry – Pennsylvania 2005 Volunteer […]

“There’s likely a place in paradise for people who tried hard, but what really matters is succeeding. If that requires you to change, that’s your mission.” – General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army Retired LODD: Fire marshal suffers cardiac arrest and a probable heart attack during a fire department physical ability test – Utah 2011 In […]

“The fire service is a lot like a lighting store…. You have your ‘spotlights’ that shine brightly in one area, your ‘floodlights’ that shine over a wide area, the ‘rough service bulbs’ that get the job done; and then you have the ‘4-watt night lights’ that can barely find their way.” – Deputy Chief Ron […]

Question(s) of the Week:  Do you ever give your crew individual assignments to bring back for future training?  Here is a suggestion…assign each member to bring back a favorite quote from a non-fire service source and explain what it means to them.  Sound like a promotional assignment?  Will it develop their public speaking, research skills […]

Destroyer Squadron 23: Combat Exploits of Arleigh Burke’s Gallant Force by Ken Jones provides insights into Arleigh Burke, a man who did not graduate high school due to the 1918 pandemic, but went on to the Naval Academy and ultimately to become the Chief of Naval Operations. LODD: Career fire fighter/EMT dies in ambulance crash […]

Everyone loves a BBQ! I often add apple butter to house brand sweet and tangy BBQ sauce when I smoke pork.  Alabama White BBQ Sauce and Easy Eastern North Carolina BBQ Sauce are my other “go to” BBQ sauces. LODD: Firefighter suffers heart attack after participating in a parade – New York. 2015 Major Incidents: […]

Dad Joke Friday:  How do weather reporters greet each other? With heat waves 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 in Carrollton, GA killing […]

“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 […]