wraftery

Thermal image cameras cannot see through ANY materials. It the heat that must pass through the material and get to the surface that is being read by the TIC. The TIC only sees differences in temperature, however minute, and that's all. Try this: Spread your hand and hold it on a piece of glass like a car window for about 30 seconds then remove your hand. Look at the spot where your hand was with the TIC. You will see the image of your hand. That's because your hand heated the glass and the glass has not cooled. The TIC is seeing leftover heat....nothing else.

A quote from the article: Holthaus says he did the best he could under the circumstances. "I didn't feel like I had the time to weigh options," he said, adding that accusations that he deliberately snubbed Richmond are "a joke." "I did what was at the tip of my tongue," he said. "I did what I thought was best" What a revelation. NO TIME TO WEIGH ALL THE OPTIONS. Maybe we should think about options like these long before the fire. It's called preplanning.

Although not in the US Flag Code I believe it is an unwritten tradition that elected officials can order flags at half mast for their jurisdiction, thus FFs. Police, Military, and unfortunately, Singing Drug Addicts can be honored. However, we the people have the right to vote that official out of office in the next election. Unfortunately, we cannot legally run that official up the flagpole.

Now you know where the cops, firefighters, the military, teachers, etc. stand in the scheme of things. Make sure you vote in the next and every election.

Were the wire runs single wires or two wires above the box on the pole. Most commonly found are two wires which is actually the wrong way to install Gamewell systems. The three-fold boxes are designed to work on a single wire loop. If a wire breaks, the system will transmit thru ground. Not so tith two wires, a tree that comes down will break both wires and the system is OOS.

THEY don't have a hometown football team in Virginia. I,on the other hand,have the NY Giants because I am a New Yorker (pronounced Yan-kee).

You aren't thinking outside the box. You are identifying a fire engine. You should be identifying a process. The process is oxidation. It is converting steel into iron oxide. Keep looking. If the process somehow speeds up and becomes fast enough to produce heat and visible light, it will be a fire. When you see it happen, make sure you post it so we all can see. (The maple tree would then become Exposure C)

But it DID happen on arrival! Luck has a lot to do with this job, like it or not.

Did you ever have one of those fires that just get away from you and you feel like you are just chasing it? It just keeps going someplace else and you wonder if you will ever put it out.

If you have followed Brunacini for any length of time, you would have probably found that he appears all over the country with theories, advice, etc. and when you read about incidents that have occurred in Phoenix over the years seem to contradict what he has been saying in his speaking engagements. I kinda think he should spend more time in Phoenix.

Remember there are many activities that can be cited as adding wear and tear to apparatus and that are not actual fire responses. There are ems calls, public assistance calls, parades, school visits, going to the store, and training, only to mention a few. The traditional reason we take our fire engines wherever we go is because we don't know when a run will come in. I think a great part of the problem is not the fact that we are doing EMS runs, but that the EMS service is abused by the public. Somebody falls off a bike and what used to be "wash it out and put a band-aid on it" is now very possibly a run that involves a cervical collar, backboard and transport. This appears to me to be part the public's fault, part ours. Yes there are true ems runs that we should be going on, but we have to get a grip. First thing might be to get the law changed so we can refuse to treat stupid miniscule things and not worry about the lawyers. OOPS! If we do that, then we won't be able to charge for ambulance calls because we didn't transport the patient. If we don't charge for enough ambulance calls, we won't have enough money to buy new fire engines and hire firemen. Why? Because unlike the fire engine who makes no money by going to fires, the EMS part of our business is often a money maker depending on what state you are in and what kind of ambulance service your city is running. All I can say is

John; I believe that 20 years ago the only requirement for interior operations (The term "interior operations" didn't exist then either) was Essentials. I don't know about grandfathering.

Quote is from a VBFD In-house memo. If you are interested, make sure that you apply during the 3-day window. I believe that the last class (2010) had about 1500 applicants and hired 40. Those who were certified as both FFs and EMTs in other FDs went through a modified proby school for the first time VBFD has ever done this. "I am pleased to announce the Fire Chief approved the 2012 Firefighter Recruit Hiring process. The department’s career web pages have been updated to include information about the application, hiring, and testing process. Please note, the application dates are February 10 – 13, 2012. Interested applicants must apply online at VBgov.com/Careers" Good luck to anyone who is taking a shot at it

Without adding any more formulas to confuse the issue: 1. Every length of hose will have a slightly different friction loss. It has to do with the nooks and crannies that cause turbulence within that individual length of hose. 2. The friction loss tables and even the formulas are estimates or averages of many, many lengths of that size hose. 3. Everything you do has a bearing on friction loss. If you lay out your hose in a zig-zag manner, sinuosity (I love that word) comes into play and adds friction loss to the equation. 4. If you were to calculate engine pressure for 50psi at the tip by any means, (formulas, hand method, chart method, etc.) it would be a rare occasion if you got exactly 50psi at the tip using a pitot tube. In fact, the pitot reading itself is not that accurate because it has to be in the center of the strean, at the proper distance out from the nozzle, and so on. Not to mention that you jiggle when you try to hold the pitot in the right spot. My suggestion for you was told to me a long time ago and is still valid today, but I had to add a couple of words for the newer electronic throttles: Charge the line, then slowly throttle up until the nozzleman leaves the ground. Then turn your throttle back a half turn (For electronic throttles you give the 'Lower' button two quick taps). If you can't actually see the nozzleman, this operation can also be done audibly."

What??? Ethics have changed in the last 20 years? If you want a code of ethics don't write a new one. And you don't have to useone that is 20 years old.Go back to 1910 and use Chief Crocker's speech as a code of ethics that has lasted 101 years. If you don't know what it says, find it and read it Every department that I know of has a regulation that refers to "Conduct Unbecoming." Fine or fire a few for their breaches of ethics (or lack of the good sense that God gave a turnip) and everybody else will understand the concept. If they don't grasp the ethics concept, they may be the next to go. I guarantee this will be your "breath of fresh air" for the Fire Service. One more quote: "When you've got them by the ba##s, their hearts and minds will follow." Lyndon Johnson

We have no SOGs for Chaplains...they answer to another Authority Having Jurisdiction. Remember...Unity of Command...everyone answers to only one boss.

Greenburgh has had an ordinance for quite some time now, but there are better ways to get them installed other than the code enforcement process: 1. Force a door. Like Barry says you only have to do this once and people usually comply. 2. Tell the store owner or manager that they will no longer have to come down to the store in their Jammies, at 2am, in 10 degrees, with a foot of snow on the ground. With a Knox Box, they only get a call that "we were there...everything is OK...we reset the alarm...you can stay in bed" One problem though is when a business changes locks and forgets to change the keys in the Knox Box. It's a good idea to put it on your checklist to mention when doing company inspections. (You do do company inspections, don't you?)

The little atom came home crying "Mommy I lost my electron." "Are you sure?" Said the Mother> "Yes,I'm Positive."

And don't forget the bananas you had for breakfast, and the airplane trip you took for vacation. The guys from Orange, Putnam, and Dutchess get more radiation than those of us at sea level. Let's start Engine Companies doing weekend checks of garage sales (once they get an Awarensee course on recognizing Fiestaware). There's still got to be some of those orange bowls around somebodies house. Don't anyone get excited...it's winter,and I'm inside because it's cold and windy, just having a little fun. Did you know that the US is one of only a few advanced countries that does not irridiate their food on a large scale?

Every cloud has its silver lining. Look around your local Bed Bath and Beyond...there are no Roaches! DON'T DISCARD THOSE TISSUE BOXES. THERE ARE A LOT OF PLACES THAT COULD USE THEM.

I know, George, things have changed in Mount Vernon. I can't explain it either.

A little of both, I guess. Also: " Don't listen to those who tell you not to panic. Panic can save your life, provided you are the first one to panic and happen to run in the right direction." -Frank Brannigan

If the so-called "Staging" is only a few houses down the street, you are probably at most the third due. A radio message "E-3 on-scene" and acknowledged by the IC usually is the way to check in. Why is there no Staging Officer to check resources in? The IC didn't assign one.

You would be amazed at how many injuries were avoided and how many lives have been saved by sheer luck.