Uniform Stories
These ‘golden oldies’ were my introduction to the non-stop action that is emergency services, and the life I have now
It’s not unusual for a firehouse to house a spirit or two
Just because we see these mistakes everywhere does not make them remotely true to life
Family & Home
They may never feel the heat of the fire, but they can feel our reactions
The 24-hour lifestyle takes some getting used to, especially if you‘re assigned to a busy company
To those of us on the job, the helmet is a tradition that allows us to express our respect for those who have gone before
Jack Pritchard first joined the New York Fire Department in 1970 as part of Squad 4
Being prepared ahead of out breaks, balanced by the appropriate amount of investment is key to success
Dalmatians are not for everyone, but if you can befriend these beautiful animals, you can have a dependable buddy that is sure to put a smile on your face
I’ll never forget the Christmas two children explained the Sandy Hook mass murder
As much as I enjoyed the interaction with the kids, it became clear that I had a responsibility to them as well
It’s hard to explain the love a firefighter has for his or her tools, rig, and station.
A boy sat on the curb outside, motionless; I walked past him and into his house to find his grandfather, dead.
It’s a little different applying for a job and actually doing the job you applied for
Sometimes constructive criticism is OK, but other times it is just plain annoying
Maybe I’m a little nutty, but I honestly don’t think my present job is all that stressful
Cancer is scary and troubling and it will keep us up at night, but we are all in this together
The fire was actually held to the room of origin, but the smoke damage throughout the building was extensive
Cancer is a huge issue among our profession and I take it very seriously
What, you haven’t heard of it? OK, well I’ll do my best to explain it
I was told from day one to never get off the rig without a tool in your hand
I can’t imagine what it is like to be a police officer in this world we are all living in right now
I’ve got a lot on my mind after all these years, every one of those years filled with similar incidents
Just what were the individuals thinking in the moments leading up to that event?
Don’t just be there for the laughs, but be there for the tears as well
In my book, there is a difference between horseplay and pranking
My friend’s father had no idea what an impact he was about to have on my life
The simple answer is that we have lost trust in the average driver
It is a person’s individual right to train and respond to emergencies, be it as their full time job or as a volunteer
If we want to be good at what we do, we don’t really have a choice
Nobody loves a sad story more than an intoxicated first responder; given the opportunity we will revel in our misery, cry in our beer and believe the lies we have created
One of the best parts about our job is the people we work with and the bonds we form with them
The most important thing a fire officer has to know is the capabilities of his or her people
