!['After 20 years in the fire service I have had the pleasure of working and living with a wide variety of personalities.
I've learned something from each and every individual that I've had the opportunity to work with — some through positive examples and some by way of negative examples.
In the process I’ve also learned a great deal about myself and about this unique group dynamic. This is the kind of thing one cannot learn in a class room or academy.
My time in school and even my four years of study psychology in no way prepared me for Firehouse living. In my opinion, all retired firefighters should be given an honorary Ph.D in psychology.
Every firehouse has its own unique dynamic and personality. Yet, as unique as they all are, there are some universal truths that hold true regardless of where you might end up working and living.
Remember that unlike other professions, firefighters are subject to not only a unique and demanding work environment, they are also subject to unique living conditions, as working together and living together are one in the same for firefighters.
This creates the need for understanding human behavior and respecting those we work and live with.
What best prepares one for firehouse living is growing up in a large dysfunctional family.
Only children and those who always got to choose their friends may have a harder time than those who grew up in a crowded house and had to share everything with siblings — they were forced to live and get along in very close quarters.
Below are a few basics that every firefighter should do their best to adhere to.
Many are common sense but common sense is not all that common and certainly not always commonly practiced.
Learning the rules of conduct is easy. The hard part is identifying when you are breaking these rules.
Self awareness and understanding how you are perceived by others is the key.
* Know your job.
* Be able to perform your job.
* Get and stay fit.
* Enjoy your work and never forget that you have the greatest job in the world.
* Never take your job or paycheck for granted.
* Work hard when there’s work to be done.
* Relax when it’s time to relax (unless you’re on probation, then study).
* Give 100 percent, but don’t expect everyone else to.
* Always lead by example, no matter what your rank.
* Know your place and stay there at all times.
* Know your own boundaries and keep them consistent.
* Know your co-workers boundaries and respect them at all times.
* Exercise tolerance.
* Understand that no one is perfect, especially you.
*Accept your co-workers' differences; better yet, learn to value those differences.
* Understand that everyone brings something to the table and learn to value it, as small as that something may seem to you.
* Be a good roommate. (I could write 1001 points on what this means. Use common sense).
* Maintain a "what's mine is yours" attitude, knowing that not everyone will share that attitude.
* Treat everyone equally.
* Be flexible and adaptable.
* Be consistent and predictable.
* Don't alienate.
* Don't polarize or allow yourself to be effected by polarizing personalities.
* Don't burn bridges. Not because you may someday need to cross them to get where you want to go, but because it pollutes the air you breathe and the water you drink.
* Don't step on anyone in order to get to the top.
* Don't kiss anyone's ass in order to get to the top.
* Know that all walls have ears and very big mouths.
* Know your audience.
* Understand the difference between appropriate humorous banter and pranks, and harassment.
* Think before you speak.
* Be direct and straightforward.
* When in doubt, shut your trap. You are more likely to lose sleep, friends, someone’s respect or even your job because of something you said, rather than something you did not say.
* Treat everyone with respect whether they are in the room or not.
* Laugh at yourself daily.
* Be humble.
* Don’t be a deadbeat. Repay your debts quickly and completely.
* Don’t be a bully.
* Don’t be a "yes man" — have a spine and stand up for what’s right.
* Don’t be a "no man" — don’t unnecessarily rain on anyone’s parade.
* Don’t be a “yeah, but man" — don’t take the other side of every argument or discussion.
* Don’t manipulate situations or stir the pot.
* Take criticism, whether it is constructive or not.
* Give only constructive criticism, and only when it is appropriate and your place to do so.
* Be involved in department functions whenever you can.
* Be positive even when you’re not feeling it.
* Be aware of negativity disguised as positivity and avoid contributing to it.
* Be competitive, but always play fair and be a good sport.
* Care about what others think of you, but don't be obsessed with it.
* Realize that not everyone will like you and they won’t necessarily need a reason.
* Understand that you represent your department, your profession and yourself both on and off duty.
* Don’t abuse sick time or any part of the system.
* Create and maintain a professional working relationship with those you don't like.
* Grow thick skin.
*Know that not everyone will have thick skin and interact accordingly.
* Don't be yourself if being yourself breaks the above basic rules. Instead, re-invent yourself.
* If you have broken any of these basic rules in the course of your career, understand that you can always do the following.
* Re-learn your job, improve your work ethic and find happiness in your work place.
* Make amends and rebuild bridges long before you ever need to cross them.
* Get over yourself.
* Find humility.
* Forgive.
* Exercise tolerance and treat everyone with respect from this day forward.
By Tony Vitalie - www.firercruit.com
Check out more of Tony here:
https://www.firerecruit.com/author/506674-Tony-Vitalie
Strong words Tony!
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Art by Bill Bresnan
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BillBresnanPaintings'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/11057983_987610624605928_4647033879733073504_n.jpg?oh=888fed3592b8f6427d6b1a01501d9458&oe=56584DC4)
!['What does a Firefighter know?
They know that fire should never be taken for granted.
As a witness he/she quickly learns that Fire’s sole aim to devour and destroy.
Every second counts.
Feeling its heat, fire attacks their protective gear, returning the water used to extinguish back at them as super-heated steam.
Battling against exhaustion, the heat induces dangerous rises in blood pressure, profuse sweating, struggling to cool oneself against the debilitating heat.
They see tears of joy and sadness.
They hear the screams of delight, relief… of horror too.
Training, experience, equipment and each other is what they rely on.
Brotherhood above all else.
Always an individual, but only able to carry out these most difficult tasks as part of a crew, a team, a family.
They Never Forget
and also know that two in… means two out.
They will be a Firefighter until the last bells ring.
Firefighters will know and suffer all of this (and more) if you tell them that you, your loved ones, neighbors, friends, or even total strangers are in need of their help.
But what none of them will ever know…
is what the next call will bring.
Collaborative work by
Kevin Wright
Firefighter – 32 years
Retired – London Fire Brigade
Jonathan Lusk
Captain – 16 years of service
Active – Fresno Fire, CA
Publisher - "Brotherhood of Fire"
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Photo credit: Unknown'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/11745509_985922214774769_384206653153469166_n.jpg?oh=eb421503fab2141b18e014d450c26ad3&oe=560E87A9)
!['“Down so long it feels like up”
So there I sat, like many days
Thinking of the obvious ways
I would once again derail my life
The clear result of years of strife
And the ideas just kept coming
This is a cycle I’ve done before
What’s one more time, be it less or more
Twenty years I’ve played this game
The end result always the same
I don’t know why I do it
So I resolve one day to see a man
“Clean this up,” he says we can
I chuckle with a bemused smile
He doesn’t know it's been awhile
Since I heard a taller tale
Oh, he has a pretty papered wall
Certificates and diplomas all
And he doesn’t lack an easy style
A joke, a story, a casual smile
But can he really fix me?
Well back I go, week after week
The answer we’re supposed to seek
I take my girl, and this is new
I play the game, and she does too
But we don’t know where it’s going
And then one day we’re sitting there
He drops a quote from who knows where
I drink it down, straight from his cup
As he says,
"You’ve been down so long, it feels like up”
And then I know, I’ve found the guy!
By Michael Roxbury
About the Author:
Michael Roxbury has served as the Fire Chief and Paramedic for the Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District since 1997. In his 18 years as Chief of District he has served as the only Paramedic for that population and has instructed many EMT students.
With a career spanning over 25 years Chief Roxbury is intimately familiar with the challenges of rural EMS delivery with a volunteer force. He lives in Umatilla, Oregon with his girlfriend and has two adult children.
Michael Roxbury writes poetry as a means to understand the stress he has experienced as a paramedic for more than two decades.
Chief Roxbury's hope is that others don't ignore the warning signs of PTSD, as he did for far too long, and seek out help or resources they may need.
Photo / Art by: @[616629031700387:274:Dansun Photos] - Daniel Sundahl
Artist / Firefighter / Paramedic / Traveller / loving husband and Step Dad (not in that order)
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada June 19, 1967. Dan has been fortunate enough to live in several countries and experience many cultures from around the world.
Travel....Music....Photography...Art, throw in a little Paramedic work and Firefighting for excitement and that's him.
This was the very first piece Dan did and it's the only one that wasn't “staged”. It was also the cover of EMS World magazine last November 2014.
Strong work Brothers!
#BrotherhoodStrong
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Post credit: @[8984788623:274:EMS1]'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/11665489_985481618152162_7943650907129768258_n.jpg?oh=48c1b7e41de381cc33d15bfdf67a4656&oe=5652B218)
!['"We got your 6" ...
basically means "I've got your back."
Comes from the old pilot system in which directions correspond to hours on the clock, where 12 o'clock is forward and 6 o'clock is behind. Thus anyone behind you is "at your six."
Pete is a former US Army Cobra Copter pilot, a PIC to be specific. He understands more than ANYONE, and first-hand what it means to cover someone's 6.
Well every day since March 29th, 2015 when Captain Pete Dern fell into the raging inferno and was subsequently taken to the hospital in Fresno in a valiant attempt to save for his life, we brothers and sisters of Fresno Fire Department @[319960938364:274:Fresno City Firefighters - Local 753] have NEVER left Pete's side.
Immediately as a Fire Department we quickly developed, implemeted and regularly update an incident action plan (IAP) with our PRIMARY and single-focused objective has been to GET PETE HOME.
Part of the IAP was to implement a "Pete Watch". These are 4-hour shifts, we all take turns, for no other reason but to have at least ONE member of the FFD, where someone was ALWAYS watching "Pete's 6:00"
I am proud and honored to share with everyone that there has not been one SINGLE minute passed since the accident when Pete's 6 has not been covered.
Tomorrow I am on another "Pete Watch". From 12pm - 4pm PST
* I am going to share this post with Pete
* So please do me a favor... please comment on this post.
*** Please let Pete know who you are, where you are from and HOW MUCH Pete means to you, to the brotherhood.
I want to FINALLY get a chance to openly share with our Brother Pete how respected, honored and loved he is... from the "Brotherhood of Fire"... world-wide.
I want Pete to know "WE ALL HAVE HIS 6"
I want him to know he is the definition of "Brotherhood Strong"
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
#SupportPete
#DernStrong
#HealUpSuperman'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/11692735_984742814892709_637862107177604283_n.jpg?oh=8857060fe03e7e99c0a7b50df992a59a&oe=56517CB1)
!['Firefighters... Available 24/7/365.25
Courage * Strength * Honor
First In - Last out
Anything - Anytime - Anywhere
"Brotherhood Strong"
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Graphic Art submitted by "Brotherhood of Fire" fan and frequent contributor - Pete Learmonth'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/11000544_983563158344008_5792183217560788211_n.jpg?oh=a2a735bb82aab2d81fa0af09562052c7&oe=564A8920)
!['The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is a labor union representing professional firefighters in the United States and Canada.
The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada. The IAFF is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has some 300,000 members in more than 3,200 locals and affiliates in every U.S. state and in Canada.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration professional fire fighters protect about 85 percent of the United States' population.
The IAFF is one of the most active lobbying organizations in Washington. Its Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, is among the top 25 federal PACs among the more than 4,000 in the country.
The IAFF recently began talks with the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) of the United Kingdom, the United Firefighters Union of Australia (UFUA), and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) that could eventually result in a global alliance of fire fighting unions to further the cause of their members around the world.
The IAFF was formed in 1918 to unite fire fighters—for better wages, improved safety, and greater service for their communities. At the start of the IAFF, fire fighters worked 24 hour shifts on continuous duty and received salaries as low as 29 cents an hour.
The IAFF is the driving force behind nearly every advance in the fire and emergency services in the 20th century—from the introduction of shift schedules early in the last century to the enactment of SAFER in 2003.
With extremely active political and legislative programs, and with recognized experts in the fields of occupational health and safety, fire-based emergency medical services and hazardous materials training, the IAFF has established professional standards for the North American fire service.
Today, the IAFF is the primary advocate for providing fire fighters and paramedics with the tools they need to perform their jobs.
The IAFF provides a strong voice in the development and implementation of new training and equipment, and has worked hard to ensure the proper staffing of fire and EMS departments.
President Harold A. Schaitberger is the ninth president in the IAFF’s 95-year history, and was the first to have been elected by acclamation in 2000.
He was re-elected to another four-year term in July 2012.
Under President Schaitberger’s leadership, the IAFF’s Political Action Committee, FIREPAC, has grown to more than $4.6 million and ranks among the top one percent of PACs in the nation.
His commitment to ensuring that the IAFF supports candidates and lawmakers who are friendly to fire fighters and their issues, regardless of political party, has significantly enhanced the union’s power and influence at all levels of politics.
The IAFF is a member driven organization—for fire fighters, by fire fighters.
I’m IAFF @[319960938364:274:Fresno City Firefighters - Local 753]
“Brotherhood Strong”
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Post source: Wikipedia'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/11667273_982551298445194_8444133456884492093_n.jpg?oh=68be2f693c49b363980d115a012e1cb7&oe=565C22EF)
!['* What are your thoughts about this?
Fire Critic Rhett Fleitz answers a mutual aid question from a Brother Firefighter :
Question: I volunteer for a combination department. Today I read a post about the IAFF sticker. (Professional Firefighters of Concord, NH - Local 1045 ) The person explained her interpretation of what it meant to have that sticker.
Now I'm not knocking Career Firefighters by no means but in today in the fire service we as volunteers are held to the same standards as the Career guys. The only difference is we don't get a check.
Shouldn't we all have a sticker like the IAFF that we can all show?
Career and volunteers together. Because in my opinion we are all professional firefighters.
Fire Critic says: (I didn't read the article) I am a career firefighter and a card carrying IAFF member and proud of both.
Quite simply, I am a proud firefighter.
The answer to your question about having a sticker like the IAFF that we can all show is this...we do.
We have hundreds if not thousands of stickers with maltese crosses on them we can all use to show our pride. The IAFF has a very well-known and easily recognizable logo that many IAFF firefighters put on their vehicles.
They show off their affiliation with the IAFF because they are proud.
It seems as though you feel left out because you can't use the IAFF logo because you don't belong. You shouldn't feel that way.
My IAFF sticker on my car doesn't mean that I am better than any other firefighter.
It means I am an IAFF firefighter.
If you put a maltese cross sticker on your car, I’ll get the idea.
Strong words Rhett!
"Brotherhood Strong"
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Rhett Fleitz is known as "The Fire Critic" - Commentary on serious, humor, fun, and thought provoking topics related to the Fire and EMS Service.
Check out the blog: www.FireCritic.com'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/10404331_982541755112815_1958636854736434188_n.jpg?oh=b0bdafc8c03bcc04208f42bfd62587e5&oe=5653E09B)
!['* The 10 and 18
The "Ten Standard Fire Orders" and "Eighteen Watchout Situations" have been developed over the course of the last five or six decades by the wildland fire community.
Sadly and tragically, each of the "Fire Orders" and "Watchouts" have been learned from incidents in which that specific situation has led to a fatality, entrapment, or near miss incident.
These are stressed, and re-stressed to wildland firefighters. Every firefighter is expected to remember each and every one of them.
The Standard Fire Orders are the laws to live by.
The Watchout Situations are indicators or trigger points that remind firefighters to reanalyze the LCES system (Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones) and to re-evaluate their suppression strategies and tactics.
Each of these have been written by the blood of wildland firefighters who have lost their lives fighting fire.
One of the first tragedy fires that contributed to the development of the 10 & 18 was the "Mann Gulch Fire" in Montana. This happened in 1949 and 13 USFS Montana Smokejumpers were killed.
A book written by Norman Maclean called "Young Men and Fire" tells the entire story of the fire.
The Standard Fire Orders were revised (changed arrangement) in 2002.
You can re-read them or check them out here:
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/10_18/10_18.html
Stay safe Brothers and Sisters out on the line
Stay “Brotherhood Strong”
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Post credit: Dylan Rader - www.angelfire.com
Photo credit: Jake Niece - www.jakeniece.com/fire'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/10404343_982514655115525_4565004653418963761_n.jpg?oh=960708e05429dbbcf03ba3aae8036f63&oe=565C6753)
!['Today July 6, 2015 marks another tragic anniversary (21 years ago) of 14 brave firefighters who were killed in the line of duty from what is often referred to as the "Storm King Fire”.
The South Canyon Fire was a 1994 wildfire that took the lives of 14 wildland firefighters on Storm King Mountain, near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, on July 6th, 1994.
On July 2, 1994, lightning sparked a fire near the base of Storm King Mountain, 7 miles (11 km) west of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA.
Initially small and well away from private property, the fire was assigned low priority and allowed to smolder for the first two days. By July 4th, the fire had burned only 3 acres.
Nearby residents of Canyon Creek Estates, however, were growing increasingly concerned by the persistent blaze, prompting local authorities to take action.
Due to the ruggedness of the terrain, and the efforts necessary to coordinate the incident response, it was decided that the fight against the fire would commence the following morning.
On July 5th, firefighters began their approach from the west at the east end of Canyon Creek Estates, making a difficult march up the rugged terrain along what is the present location of the Storm King Mountain Memorial Trail. Firefighters began constructing firelines to contain the blaze.
The fight was joined that evening by smokejumpers who began aiding in the construction of the fireline, working well on into the night of July 5 but quitting early due to "danger from rolling rocks".
The following day, twenty Hotshots from Prineville, Oregon, were rushed to the fire to aid in the battle. That afternoon, a dry cold front passed through the area, increasing the winds and fire activity.
By 4 p.m., the fire had "spotted" beyond the fireline and below the firefighters' location to the west and began to race towards them up the steep, densely vegetated terrain.
Twelve firefighters were unable to outrun the blaze and perished. Two more helitack firefighters were also killed as they tried to flee to the northwest.
The Storm King Mountain Memorial Trail, erected following this tragedy leads visitors to the site. It closely follows the actual path the firefighters hiked to fight the blaze.
Plaques and memorials line the trail explaining the events and paying homage to those who fell.
Memorials have also been constructed at Two Rivers Park in Glenwood Springs, and at Ochoco Creek Park in Prineville, Oregon.
Many lessons learned and some sadly reinforced from this incident.
Gone, but NEVER FORGOTTEN…
Prineville Hotshots: Kathi Beck, Tamera Bickett, Scott Blecha, Levi Brinkley, Douglas Dunbar, Terri Hagen, Bonnie Holtby, Rob Johnson, Jon Kelso.
Missoula Smokejumper: Don Mackey
McCall Smokejumpers: Roger Roth, Jim Thrash.
Helitack: Robert Browning, Jr., Richard Tyler.
“Brotherhood Strong”
@[187557941277871:274:Brotherhood of Fire]
Post source: Wikipedia
Photo Credit: Andrew Gulliford
Source: Durango Herald'](https://scontent-lga1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/p110x80/11402692_982513591782298_9092058477856517143_n.jpg?oh=e8117eb2b712b8957c7c16ef7e4bc247&oe=561D3503)
Brotherhood of Fire shared Kevin Byrnes's video.
22 hrs ·
19,559 Views
Video of news coverage of when my father's life was saved by his fellow firefighters. This happened 30 years ago on July 15, but I was away at camp with the bo...
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Brotherhood of Fire shared James Leigh's video.
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How Firefighters were Trained in 1957
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