“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” – Winston Churchill Speaking of looking backward, this date in 1985, the “Flood of ’85” struck southwest Virginia and a large part of West Virginia. Over 60 people lost their lives. Check out a 30 minute documentary by WDBJ in Roanoke, […]

“To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.” – Winston Churchill LODD’s: Nov 03, 1999 Volunteer fire fighter dies after coming into contact with a downed power line – Arkansas.

“There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that half of them are true.” – Winston Churchill LODD’s: Nov 02, 2012 Career captain sustains injuries at a 2-1/2 story apartment fire then dies at hospital – Illinois. Nov 02, 2001 Fire fighter suffers fatal heart attack […]

LODD’s: Roanoke, VA – Robert G. Cassell and Harvey H. Helm died on November 1, 1985, from injuries received from a hit-and-run driver. Captain Cassell and Firefighter Helm, of Engine 12, had responded to an automobile fire on Shenandoah Avenue. (From: https://www.roanokeva.gov/267/Fallen-Firefighters ) Nov 01, 2002 Volunteer lieutenant dies following structure collapse at residential house fire – Pennsylvania.

Driver/Operators need to keep close watch out for the little ghosts and goblins that may be haunting the streets this evening! LODD’s: A Chicago, IL firefighter was killed when a spark from a Jack-O-Lantern started a fire. The firefighter was ventilating on the roof when the smoke became thick and he fell three stories down […]

“Good leaders need a positive agenda, not just an agenda of dealing with crisis.” — Michael Porter LODD’s: Major suffers sudden cardiac death after annual physical ability test – Kentucky – 2014 Lieutenant suffers on duty cardiac death at a regional dispatch center – Ohio. – 2010

“There are a lot of people who call themselves teachers or leaders, but they’re really just propagandists.” — Mos Def Another bad day for LODD’s! Are you doing everything you can to prevent it from happening to you and your crew? Volunteer fire fighter dies while lost in residential structure fire – Alabama. – 2008 […]

“Good leaders must first become good servants.” — Robert Greenleaf LODD’s: A captain and a fire fighter die from injuries in a tanker rollover – Indiana – 1999 Forest Ranger II dies after receiving second- and third-degree burns operating a crawler tractor (bulldozer) while clearing vegetation during a wildland fire – Arkansas. – 1998

“Great leaders are willing to sacrifice the numbers to save the people. Poor leaders sacrifice the people to save the numbers.” — Simon Sinek LODD’s: Volunteer assistant chief is struck and killed at road construction site – Minnesota. – 2003 Two fire fighters die of smoke and soot inhalation in residential fire – Pennsylvania. – […]

“Leaders are people who do the right thing; managers are people who do things right.” — Warren G. Bennis LODD’s: FireFighterCloseCalls.com has others. Six US Forest Service firefighters were killed when their engine crew was over run by the fire. – 2006