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I dont know ….
I’d like to make this a “regular” Ironfiremen.com post. I’d like to bring ya some controversy, some training thoughts or at least a picture of some half nudity ( I was called the “titty blog” earlier...
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I need a “do over”…
I need several “do overs” actually. Unfortunately, I know that I can’t have a second chance at many of the events in my life over the past few months. I’d give anything to be able to go back and save...
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Climbing out ….
. The good news is that I’m back in my “boots”. I’m back in bunker gear and pulling regular tours. The bad news is that I’m still not 100% and I know I never will be again. I’m still working through...
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Opening up
For those of us “on the job”, it’s a fairly common term. We use it when talking about forcing entry into a structure or cutting a ventilation hole in the roof. Sometimes it’s even used for vehicle...
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Positional awareness …. where the hell am I ??
. For the followers of mine (yea…both of you) who aren’t “on the job”, the term positional awareness is one we use in reference to knowing “where” you are. We often refer to it as inside a structure or...
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Zero visibility
. If you’ve been on the job any time at all, you know what I’m talking about. Well … MAYBE you do because there are several different directions (definitions) I could take here. I’ve been in those...
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When firefighters need rescue!
. It’s what we should all be good at. Actually, it should be what we do best … SAVING OUR OWN! I haven’t been around for a while and I think most of you have some sort of an idea why, but; I’m not sure...
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A variation of “OJT”
. Photo by Nate Camiford (RoanokeFire.com) For most folks, “OJT” means On Job Training. For me however, at least here lately; it means On Job Therapy. In my last post “When Firefighters Need Rescue”...
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A Ticking Time Bomb..
. If you've followed Ironfiremen.com for anytime at all, you have probably noticed a significant change in the style / subject matter of my writing over the past year. More recently, I've tried to get...
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Emotional Parapets / Facades for the Holidays and beyond
. On the fire scene, a parapet wall often hides (masks) unforeseen dangers and can pose MANY threats to firefighters. At the very least, they present several challenges and can / do affect how we go...
View ArticleThe Newtown, Connecticut murders and Firefighter Stress
I also hope the first responders are not lost or forgotten in the media's search for "who" and "why".
View ArticleSearching for a "new normal"
My life has revolved around "the job". It's what I was taught and all I've known. A lot of times (most times actually), my Fire Department family came first because my home family "understood". They...
View ArticleA firefighter's boots
I've been in a dark place following my brother's death two weeks ago and my boots continue to consume my thoughts. You can tell by just the few examples I gave above that we have many options (or...
View ArticleBarefooted … for now
Despite the overwhelming support I received following my last post ("A Firefighter's Boots"), I was NOT able to return to duty and put mine back on. It wasn't because I didn't want to ... I did and you...
View ArticleMelt Down
Don't get me wrong when I say it's not the cure because IT IS HELPING. Opening up, talking and sharing my grief is what has been the most therapeutic. It's also the part I feared the most.
View ArticleMaking the push… a Firefighter’s strugle with mental illness
For those of you not on the job I'll offer this brief explanation. "Making the push" is what Firefighters do once they get to (or near) the fire floor / room. It's what happens after we get to the...
View ArticleVideo: “When Those Sirens are Gone”
The video and song is by Kevin Davidson . Kevin is a Volunteer Firefighter for Greenwich VFD in Kings County Nova Scotia. He is also a paid Paramedic for EHS in Nova Scotia.
View ArticleYea, Firefighter Lives Matter Too
As firefighters, we see and do things on a daily basis that most people never will (and shouldn't have to). We see and do these things without hesitation yet there was no way we could have known or...
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