Unique is a style in firefighting!

I've been thinking about this a lot today... what makes you unique in the fire service? Everyone has an idiosyncrasy, or if your like me you have a few. I know this may sound weird but I carry a pair of socks in my turnout gear; and now I probably have you laughing or thinking that I'm a strange character but believe it or not they can be used for more than just on your feet. However, I can assure you that there sole reason is for my feet, but I've adopted some other uses in the fire service that prove to be handy...



1.) I've used them as a rag before... I can actually say that I've gone through a lot of socks in my turn out gear but they're not expensive, if you buy in bulk that is; and they are great after a fire to use as a rag and wipe your brow (if no rags are available).

2.) I've used this one as well: A place to store my Lieutenants Glasses while he was in a building for safe keeping. Best if the socks are clean! (I've actually lost his glasses once on a fire scene and someone accidentally cracked them, I felt really bad so I adapted and overcame by coming up with a way to protect them while in my pocket and making sure I didn't loose them ever again).

3.) If something falls apart (small pieces of equipment) you can use the sock to store the pieces in so nothing gets lost. (I've used this before for screws that worked there way out of some equipment on a fire scene, I knew if I put them on the tail board they would be a goner for sure, so I put them in my handy dandy pair of socks and they were safe until we returned back to station).

4.) A tourniquet (Band aid Pusher in me) Luckily I haven't had to use this one yet, and hopefully I never will.

5.) If someone cuts there hand and you need a quick dressing before EMS can tend to you. (again Band aid pusher coming out, LOL) And unfortunately I've used this technique on myself; it really helps prevent any debris from entering the wound.

I've used them for more than the above listed but I would be interested in hearing from you and what you could use them for or if you want to share what makes you unique, comment me back and let me know.

P.S.: I don't keep the socks in the same pocket as my gloves either; we have to keep them clean in case they are needed in a medical situation.

1st Blog Carnival

I have been published on the "1st Due Blog Carnival" hosted by firecritic.com check out the link below to see other amazing fire/ ems bloggers. Interesting to read why others became firefighters. Can't wait till the next one!

First Due Blog Carnival Episode 1 "I am a firefighter because"

Thank you "FireCritic.com"

I'm giving a HUGE Thank you to www.firecritic.com for the post on the "Quick Knock Down in Fort Worth", we have a meeting on Wednesday with the Fire Commission and this video is going to show why we need a C.A.F.S. system in our City! Maybe then they will think twice about all their negative publicity about us not needing a new Class A pumper.
Here is the link to Fire Critics blog post

CO Alarms on my Mind

This has been an amazing weekend... Saturday was our annual Department Fire Banquet and an interesting thing happened... I stood up to give my Captains award to one of our eldest members and hardest working and I was taken aback by our whole company being called up by the Chief of the Department. Then when I got up there to grab the mic the Chief handed it to my Lieutenant (in my mind I was saying OK, I'm going to be presenting the award to him and our company minus this person knew already this was coming.) And out of no where my Lieutenant tells me that I am the recipient of the Captains Award! I was completely shocked and humbled at the same time. I don't think that a Captains award has been given to it's own Captain without them knowing it, one for the record books I guess.

Sunday was another eventful day, the Hubby and I woke up extremely early for a Sunday and headed to the squad so I could put up a new fence for them. My husband was an amazing helper as well as the inmates who came in to help "weekend wonders". They busted their asses today and it was much appreciated. Fence looks gorgeous and I'm still waiting for the critics to roll in. (there are always a few)

And now to what I like to say is a GREAT feeling, literally about an hour ago we were dispatched for a CO alarm activation just down the street from our firehouse. I arrived to the building first, opened the bays and began gearing up. My father (the new Deputy Chief of our Company / Department- very long story) as well as my Grandfather. We get on the truck and respond... of course only being just down the street we were first on scene, packed up and proceeded to the house to receive our orders. My great feeling comes when my father and I enter the building together; I can honestly tell you that in my 12 + years experience the last time we entered a building together was when I was in fire school!
Of course we opened the basement windows, turned off the heater, opened the rear door and put a fan in the front door to try and evacuate the remaining CO so that the homeowners could go back to bed. Simple call but a really good one to say the very least.

All in all it was a wonderful weekend.
I'm going to be doing some research on some past fires and get some elder members recollection of those days, I can't wait to post them.

“I am a firefighter because…”

"I am a firefighter because..."
It's actually a long story with a huge history lesson thrown in for good measure, but I'll give you the abridge version so no one falls asleep.
It all started for me at 6 months of age...{time travel sequence and a lot of weird music}, my Grandmother was the first female firefighter in the City and she had something to prove; she was out walking me in my stroller one Autumn afternoon when the fire whistle went off, not having a pager she took off running at a full sprint to get to the firehouse to see what the call was; this was to be my first adrenaline stroller ride through the streets of Lambertville.
I can honestly tell you that adrenaline was only a tinsy part of why I became a firefighter; the largest part would be because of my father. The love and passion he has for the fire service is just infectious, his determination to assist in whatever capacity and his drive to improve his knowledge and help inform and teach others are just some of the many reasons why I became a firefighter.
I have excelled exponentially and become the first women to hold every lieutenant position in our Department, I am the first women to drive multiple pieces of apparatus(which I prefer driving over my car)and my greatest achievement so far would have to be my current rank which is another first for the Department. It has taken a while for me to gain the respect I deserve; but you can't expect everyone to be glad that I became Captain overnight. It's been a long hard 5 years and I'm more proud of myself than my Father, Grandfather, Grandmother or Mother combined could ever be in me. It's been a long road and I can't wait to keep going, no mater how many obstacles come my way.

I plan on using this blog to write about the past events that have helped shape my career, the current things that go on (so I don't go mad keeping them inside), the future events and what is to come with the fire service in general. And I know a lot of retired and amazing firefighters that I would love to capture bits of the past and tell their story so that future fire fighters can respect and learn from the trials and tribulations of our crazy firefighting pasts. Hope you check back often!
Stay safe and always remember it will probably still be burning when you get there so it's best if everyone gets there in one piece!