“Success is never final, but failure can be.” – Bill Parcells LODD: A Pennsylvania firefighter dies at home after responding to a house fire – 2019 A Colorado fighters dies of job related cancer – 2017 Pump operator/engineer suffers heart attack on duty and later dies – Texas 2013 Volunteer fire fighter dies after being […]

“The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” – Theodore Roosevelt LODD: A New Jersey firefighter dies hours after working at a structural fire – 2007 Firefighter/paramedic drowns during an underwater scuba training drill – Missouri 1999 A New Jersey fire captain is shot and […]

“Learn something everyday. Get better everyday. There is always something you can improve on.” – Chief Devon J. Wells LODD: A 32 year old Florida firefighter dies after his shift from a cardiac event – 2016 A Lynden, WA fire chief dies while out for his daily run 2017 Major Incidents: In 1980 a fire […]

Question(s) of the Week:  What have you done to prepare your crew for the “routine” call that develops into anything but routine?  Do you set the example?  On every call?  Complacency kills!  Are you doing the all the little things that help your crew avoid being the next NIOSH report? LODD: Seven career fire fighters […]

Although a long read, Freedom’s Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in WWII sheds light on how our country mobilized to produce the massive amount of resources needed to win the war.  It was amazing what our country produced when united against a common foe! LODD’s: There are no NIOSH LODD reports today, but Firefightersclosecalls.com […]

Pork Chop and Apple Casserole is easy to scale up or down depending on the size of the crew.  I like to use nice, thick pork chops and brine them for several hours to help keep them moist. LODD: Two firefighters killed and one injured in an apparatus accident in Nevada 2016 A Delaware firefighter […]

The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do. – Kobe Bryant LODD: One firefighter dies and another injured in natural gas line explosion – Wisconsin 2018 Volunteer fire fighter/fire service products salesman dies after being struck by dislodged rescue airbag – […]

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen” – Michael Jordan LODD: Career fire fighter dies in heavy smoke on second floor of a residential structure – Texas 2014 Four firefighters killed battling the Thirtymile fire in Washington – 2001 Major Incidents: In 1982, a Pan American 727 […]

“To persevere, I think, is important for everybody. Don’t give up, don’t give in. There’s always an answer to everything.” – Louis Zamperini, Olympian, Bombardier on B-24’s, Prisoner of War in Japan, Christian, Subject of the Book and Movie “Unbroken”. LODD: Fire fighter dies from aortic dissection during shift – Massachusetts 2013 Battalion chief dies […]

“The value of Fire Department Training lives or dies on the backs of the Officers facilitating it.” – Bob Muszynski LODD: Arkansas firefighter killed in apparatus crash – 2016 Wildland fire fighter dies from hyperthermia and exertional heatstroke while conducting mop-up operations – Texas 2011 Volunteer fire fighter dies in apparatus crash – Ohio 2008 […]