Uniform Stories
None of us gets through a career in firefighting unscathed
No matter how high Steve Buscemi reaches into stardom, he has never forgotten his roots
These individuals often exhibit an egotistical need to be a “hero” or find themselves bored and lacking social maturity
We are here to save lives and protect property and get out alive
Putting our children in the path of danger goes against every instinct we have
I gotta wonder what blast to the ticker he’ll give me next
Our job search should be short, for who could deny a retired firefighter employment?
From cooking meals for the families, to planning benefits, I’m proud to be working alongside all of them
You’ll need the right equipment, attitude and plenty of tips and tricks to get you ready
It’s not the uniform, it’s the person wearing it who makes it more than just cotton, stitches, patches and polyester
There are no trick question answers or secret handshakes that will land you on a fire department; it takes preparation, planning and work
Follow these steps to be safe and successful when sharing
Family & Home
Everyone knows firefighters don’t get older, they get better
The Seattle Fire Department was having an entrance exam and I wanted to get a job in the Pacific Northwest
Teach firefighters to stay calm and take the extra minute to do things right
If you are a boss and are offended by any of the following, well I’m sorry for that
I look forward to the days when the horrific memories are gone forever and just the good ones survive
Fire Chief
Chief Richard Tucker was cold and stern, like a cross between Bobby Knight and Clint Eastwood, and his words were sharp and to the point
One of the greatest things in the day of a firefighter is meal time
One day I was tending bar in a fancy restaurant, the next I was a firefighter/EMT in a big city
It seems that no matter what unit you’re on, the other is worse
The holidays can be a lonely time for the cops, firefighters and paramedics
These next few months are going to test not only your resolve, but your mental and physical limits
When you display the cross, you are taking on board quite a bit of responsibility — and it should not be taken lightly
I am not a machine; I am a simple person who signed on to do a job, and have done it well
For all the men and women who were killed during the 9/11 attacks, there were countless lives saved by the bravery of others
What, you haven’t heard of it? OK, well I’ll do my best to explain it
It’s OK if you don’t agree with the other party’s point of view, but realize they aren’t going to change the way they do things
Many fire departments are successful at knocking down fire with 1 1/2-inch lines and an aggressive interior attack
The day you know you are ready to become a parent is a few months after your first child is born; the same is true for firefighting
The most important thing a fire officer has to know is the capabilities of his or her people
Sometimes constructive criticism is OK, but other times it is just plain annoying
