First, I would like to wish my wonderful wife Loni a Happy Birthday! I was recently made aware of a new chef that was posting on Instagram. Her name is Tieghan Gerard and she posts regularly on IG under halfbackedharvest.  She also has a website of the same name.  I have found her recipes to […]

“It’s now up to you to make people better off because you came this way, because you responded, because you showed up. You are your brothers’ keeper-keep them safe ….” – Tom Brennan LODD: Career fire fighter critically injured during surf rescue training dies two days later – Hawaii. 2016 Fire fighter suffers cardiac death […]

Question(s) of the Week:  How many places of worship do you have in your area?  Neighboring areas?  Are you and your crew fully prepared for a major incident at these types of properties?  What can you do to be better prepared? LODD: Career fire fighter dies in church fire following roof collapse – Indiana. 2011 Partial […]

The young women in, Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy, often said they “did secretarial work for the government”.  I only wish that I knew of these women in time to ask my mother “Just what kind of secretarial work did you do while […]

The Chef Show on Netflix quickly became a favorite during the lock down of 2020!  When we saw the episode with Mexican Street Corn, we knew we had to try it! LODD: Fire fighter dies of heart attack after skills training the previous night – New Hampshire. 2016 Volunteer fire fighter electrocuted by downed power […]

While looking for a good quote for today, I found the one from Fred Astaire below.  Isn’t amazing how some things never seem to change? The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.  – Fred Astaire LODD: Paid on call fire fighter suffers a fatal cardiac event just after completing […]

“Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence…If you’re in control, they’re in control.” — Tom Landry LODD: Electrical panel explosion claims the life of a career assistant fire chief, an electrician, and seriously injures an assistant building engineer – Illinois. 1999 Two Greenport, NY firefighters were killed during a […]

“Do what is right, not what you think the high headquarters wants or what you think will make you look good.” – General Norman Schwarzkofp LODD: Wildland fire superintendent dies from heart attack after performing physical fitness training – Idaho. 2015 Two firefighters from Sheppard Air Force Base died assisting with a fire at a […]

“Officers: Your primary job (when riding the front seat) is proper size up, quick report and appropriate initial leadership/tactics….it is NOT just to blow the sirens, horns and scream on the radio…. the safety of your crew is #1…take “the front seat” seriously”. –  Billy Goldfeder LODD: A firefighter in Butte, MT died of smoke […]

Question(s) of the Week:  What is the least utilized piece of equipment on your apparatus?  Does every member of your crew know its use and function?  Have every member write down what they think are the three least used and review them all! LODD: F2020-05 Jun 08, 2019 42-year-career firefighter-paramedic died at home after leaving work […]