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Upcoming History Talks

May 11 - 6:30 p.m. - Wake County Firefighter's Association Quarterly Supper / Meeting at Zebulon FD

Aug 13 - Time TBD - South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo at Raleigh Convention Center

Exciting Recent Posts

EMS Arrival at Structure Fires? (Only 1 comment)
Reputation Management in the Fire Service
Reflections
This Afternoon's Woods Fire in Cary (4 comments, already)
Apex Fire & EMS (14 comments, already)
Recursive
Maybe Some Drivers Really Don't Notice (4 comments, already)
Rob Lowe! Snow White! Merv Griffin!
The Shorn Squads
Heads on a Roll
Morse Code? (14 comments, already)
Caption This Photo / St. Baldrick's (4 comments, already)
Thoughts on the Survey
Razzing vs. Hazing - The Results (Only 1 comment)
Caption This Photo / Millbrook Road Sinkhole (9 comments, already)
Yesterday's Major Fire / Arcadian Court (5 comments, already)
Firefighters (6 comments, already)
PSHSB Public Safety Photo Project and Contest
Training Center Shelters
Durham Firefighter Dies in Tree Trimming Accident, Updated (5 comments, already)

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This is a blog by Mike Legeros. Author, historian, photographer, buff. For your own megaphone, try The Watch Desk. New to this place? Read these Rules of the Road.

Last Comments

rfburns (EMS Arrival at St…): I’ve tried cancelling fire or downgrading to a co…
Swiman (Apex Fire & EMS): Fire based EMS systems work well once the bugs ar…
rookie (Apex Fire & EMS): Sorry, if they have only had a crash course in fi…
Legeros (Apex Fire & EMS): Rookie, can you clarify your comment? You’re not …
rookie (Apex Fire & EMS): From my experience, it is better with two separat…
RWECC (Morse Code?): Over the past few years there have been several c…
Silver (Apex Fire & EMS): A.C., I guess there are two different type system…
A.C. Rich (Apex Fire & EMS): Congratulations to Apex!! Fire based EMS is emer…
Army OEF vet (Hazing?): Very interesting topic. I pretty much agree with …
CHFD (This Afternoon's …): Chapel Hill runs reserve trucks almost every day.…
CFP 7021 (This Afternoon's …): Rook, it is one of the reserves for ladders and r…
WW (This Afternoon's …): WWFR T-198 also went to the scene for additional …
rookie (This Afternoon's …): Cary seems to use this reserve truck more often t…
lee (Morse Code?): Since they put the locution system in a few years…
Donaldson (Caption This Phot…): Holes in the budget just keep getting bigger and …
Marshall Sherard … (Morse Code?): @Raymond No, nothing is “jacked up” as far as the…
Silver (Apex Fire & EMS): Good deal, thanks for explaining. I just hope tha…
Apex Batt Chief (Apex Fire & EMS): Yes the County is responsible for EMS coverage. T…
CJS (Apex Fire & EMS): State law does say that a county is responsible f…
Mike (Apex Fire & EMS): Greenville FD runs EMS
Silver (Apex Fire & EMS): So Scoot’, fill us in. A lot of us thought it was…
Apex Batt Chief (Apex Fire & EMS): Glad to have EMS be a division of Fire Department…
Boogie (Caption This Phot…): 10!
Beach (Caption This Phot…): Ex-cell-ent….....
Silver (Yesterday's Major…): Old style helmet front, the Investigators don’t h…
RAYMOND (Morse Code?): Here in OKC on our systems both 400 and trunked 8…
DJ (Apex Fire & EMS): As of now, barring anything unforeseen, we become…
Duda (Caption This Phot…): Raleigh’s CAT buses finally get into the Gangsta …
J.Boggs (Caption This Phot…): ...shots fired
CFP 7021 (Apex Fire & EMS): Heard it takes effect on the 22nd or around that …
rookie (Yesterday's Major…): just curious…what does “457” stand for on Capt. D…
Silver (Yesterday's Major…): Yeah, 2-banger with some add’l special calls.
lee (Yesterday's Major…): just a 2nd alarm
Silver (Maybe Some Driver…): Good heads up by the apparatus operator.
jetexas (Maybe Some Driver…): Thank god this Department has done their apparatu…
Legeros (Morse Code?): Very cool. Thanks for the insight.
Marshall Sherard … (Morse Code?): CJS has it correct. Just like for us Ham Radio Op…
DJ (Maybe Some Driver…): Pick your road in Wake County- Capital Blvd, Glen…
079 (Maybe Some Driver…): What an IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CJS (Morse Code?): FCC requires it to go out once an hour, I believe…
Legeros (Morse Code?): And I am guessing FCC regs require only daily tra…
lee (Morse Code?): I was told it was KII313. The 911 dispatchers do…
rookie (Caption This Phot…): “Today’s Bariatric Transport Service Proved that …
Marshall Sherard … (Morse Code?): Yep. It is the FCC license. Still required on th…
Marshall Sherard … (Caption This Phot…): Interesting. I believe the true reason for this s…
Silver (Morse Code?): I’m not sure, I was just anwering Lee!! I know Du…
Legeros (Morse Code?): Duh, so it’s really that simple? The frequency ca…
Silver (Morse Code?): KIQ-206
lee (Morse Code?): KII 313
Silver (Caption This Phot…): The harsh reality has finally set in for ol’ sonn…
Rob Mitchell (Caption This Phot…): Hey what was that number to report pot holes agai…
Apex Batt Chief (Caption This Phot…): Looks like DOT needs to check for overweight tick…
CJS (Firefighters): Hopeful, I did remember after I submitted this th…
Legeros (Firefighters): The different colored reflective striping on Batt…
Truckie (Firefighters): I have a quick question. Why do some RFD BC’s hav…
Beach (Caption This Phot…): “Driver, I’ll get off here. Thank you!”
Silver (Rank Titles?): Thanks Scoot’, you’re mine too. @ A.C.; Hahaha…
Legeros (Razzing vs. Hazin…): Notes on the methodology. Same was created using …
A.C. Rich (Caption This Phot…): “Those darn N. Raleigh moles…”
Olson (Caption This Phot…): “The wheels on the bus go down and down…”
+ 0 - 1 | § EMS Arrival at Structure Fires?

Discussion topic for the day, inspired by the latest comments in the Apex Fire & EMS thread. We've heard from EMS readers that they appreciate a patient status as soon as possible from first-arriving fire units. Among other things, they can cut back to a cold response. Does the reverse apply from firefighters, for EMS units first-arriving at structure fires? Is even a minimal size-up helpful, for incoming companies and chief officers? Obviously, all agency operating procedures apply in this discussion. What say you?

+ 1 - 0 | § Reputation Management in the Fire Service

That's the title of a white paper released by the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association, which is a century-old organization serving members in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The contents of the 17-page paper identifies "social, cultural, and ethical issues impacting the fire service nationwide that demand increased awareness," to quote their news release. That is, bad behaviors by firefighters that damn not only them, but their departments, their communities, and the entire fire service.

Cheating, fire-setting, theft and misappropriation of funds, use and misuse of information technology, misuse of facilities, alcohol and substance abuse, and harassment and discrimination. And in the Internet age, when mass communication can happen in minutes, "actions of a small minority of bad actors can have grievous widespread consequences," they write. What are the action steps? The paper urges the development, dissementation, and enforcement of a Code of Ethics by all fire service leaders.

Read the white paper , copies of which are available at www.cvvfa.org. Also watch in coming weeks for the launch of firefighterbehavior.com, which will serve to raise further awareness of the issues.

See also Firehouse.com and Statter911.

+ 0 - 1 | § Reflections

Engine, engine, ladder in late afternoon. Central Station in downtown Raleigh. Click to enlarge:
 

+ 3 - 0 | § This Afternoon's Woods Fire in Cary

Ten acres of brush burned in Cary today, after an unattended fire at a homeless camp spread to surrounding woods north and west from Cary Town Boulevard and Trinity Road Extension. Reported around 3:15 p.m., the wind-fed flames spread in the direction of houses on Maynard Road, and apartments on Village Greenway. Crews were deployed on three (four?) sides, and contained the blaze within about an hour. All personnel were subsequently sent to rehab, with mutual aid engines called to the scene for relief.

Cary Battalion 2 was command on Trinity Road Extension. Medical monitoring and rehab were at the same location, and two firefighters were transported with minor injuries. Staging was Cary Towne Boulevard. The Forest Service responded, and deployed a plow, along with back-burning. Units on scene included: Cary E1, E2, E4, L1 (riding reserve service truck?), T7, Brush 9, B1, B2; Western Wake P191; Swift Creek Brush_, Tanker 6, Morrisville P1, Fairview E1, two Forestry units and plow; EMS 51, EMS 55, EMS 4, EMS 8; District 5, Truck 1. Pictures by Legeros later. Click to enlarge:
 


+ 0 - 1 | § Apex Fire & EMS

A reader observes both an updated patch on the Apex Fire Department web site (compare with the older patch), and an open position on the town web site for a full-time Shift Supervisor Paramedic for the "Fire and EMS Department." Guess that means the merger is official. Congrats to the newly combined departments. Next question, red over white ambulances coming?
 

+ 2 - 0 | § Recursive

Photograph of photographer taking photograph of photographer. From yesterday's live burn with Falls and other fire departments. Click to see the original by Lee. Or view the whole set.
 


Lee Wilson photo

+ 0 - 1 | § Maybe Some Drivers Really Don't Notice

Statter911 surfaces this provoking video from Firefighter Close Calls. Read Dave Statter's commentary on same. Is it really possible that the driver didn't hear the horn and siren, nor see the large red object appearing closer in his rear view mirror? Or are simply seeing an [anal opening] in action?
 
 

+ 1 - 0 | § Rob Lowe! Snow White! Merv Griffin!

Here's your Oscar warm-up, the jaw-dropping opening to the 1989 Academy Awards ceremony. Like the proverbial train wreck, you don't dare turn away. As many may know, Mr. Blogger was once Mr. Movie Reviewer. He "retired" from that vocation in 2001, after about 1,100 reviews posted on USENET and the web. Phew, there were some bad movies in that bunch.
 

+ 0 - 1 | § The Shorn Squads

Here are some of the public safety teams that participated in head shaving for St. Baldrick's at Napper Tandy's yesterday. Have a group photo to add? Send and we'll add! Left to right, top to bottom: Firefighters for Kids, Garner FD, Durham Highway FD, Stony Hill FD. Click to enlarge:
 


+ 1 - 0 | § Heads on a Roll

More fun with clippers at Napper Tandy's yesterday. Fathers and sons, fire and police, and great support from everyone. First and foremost the spouses! No cameras were harmed during the making of this montage. Read about the St. Baldrick's Foundation. See a list of the public safety teams. Click once or twice for super-size, super-scary version:
  

+ 0 - 1 | § Morse Code?

What are those morse code-sounding beeps we've been hearing on Headquarters for the last week or two? Seems like they started after the CAD upgrade, though I am sure I have heard them before? Those in the know, please dash off an answer!

+ 1 - 1 | § Caption This Photo / St. Baldrick's

A number of fire departments and firefighters trimmed their tops today for children's cancer at Napper Tandy's. Here's an optical illusion from eastern Wake County. Watch for more charitable fun at folk's expense. Large time had by all. Click to enlarge:
 

+ 1 - 0 | § Thoughts on the Survey

Where to begin, where to begin? Well, first and foremost, the hazing discussion and subsequent survey prompted a personal reaction. For several days, memories of my first few (and only few) years in the fire department flooded back. The looking glass brought retroactive understanding, both intellectual and emotional, about that formative period.

Career firefighter in Raleigh in 1989. Was I razzed? Some. Was I hazed? No. Was the station family challenging to understand and integrate into? You betcha. Yours Truly had zero awareness of the fire service back-end, and the subtle (and overt) nuances of the station family was a brave new world.

That's also a perspective seen in survey and blog comments. More people are entering the profession from outside occupations, noted one survey respondent. Does that make them less-suited for station life? Or maybe just a learning curve that's a little steeper?

Now let's apply that to the survey. What do the questions and answers look like to an outsider? For someone who wants to be a firefighter, they might be taken in stride. What about the rest of the world? What's a city manager, county official, newspaper editor, civic leader, or regular citizen to think, should they read those questions and comments? 

Yet, in the confined space of a fire station, hard play happens. People pick. Bonds form. Families become.

Another issue is the law, which we haven't discussed. Which of those behaviors in our survey are illegal? As one comment notes, restrained and unwanted physical contact is assault. (And which about 90% of respondents labeled as hazing.) For those chiefs and/or human resources officers reading, what's your (or your department's) tolerance for illegal behavior? Is the aforementioned behavior grounds for demotion or dismissal?

READ MORE

+ 1 - 0 | § Razzing vs. Hazing - The Results

Here are the results on our suvey on hazing.

Here's the original discussion.

Analysis and commentary at a later time.

Total of 104 responses, with 24 comments.

Thanks for participating.

Group hug.

+ 0 - 1 | § Caption This Photo / Millbrook Road Sinkhole

Meanwhile yesterday afternoon, a city bus suffered a sagging butt on Millbrook Road, due to a sinkhole created by a water main break. As this WRAL story reports, seven passengers and the driver were aboard when they started feeling that sinking feeling. Police detoured traffic around the site, between Auburn Road and Ivy Lane. Repairs were completed some time later. Unknown if the displaced passengers called disbelieving friends to tell of their hole problem, and were told "you're all wet." Thank you, and good night.
 


WRAL photo

+ 0 - 1 | § Yesterday's Major Fire / Arcadian Court

Three alarms at 4903 Arcadian Court. Engine 19 arriving with heavy fire showing from the second story and roof in the rear of a two-story, wood-frame apartment building with 10,356 square-feet. Built 1985. Declared major working fire on arrival. Quickly spread across roof, with wind conditions contributing. Heavy smoke surrounding front of structure also obscured operations. Crews withdrawn and defensive attack started very soon. Battalion 1 with command. Ladder 2 plus Engine 15 deck gun deployed in front of structure; Ladder 5 deployed in rear of structure. Command post, medical monitoring and rehab on Arcadian Court. Staging on Wallingford Drive. Dispatched 3:12 p.m. Controlled at 4:16 p.m.

Five hydrants utilized, on Arcadian Court to Engine 19, on Wallingford Drive to Engine 21, on Pebble Beach Drive to Ladder 5, Tapers Drive to New Hope Engine 1, and fifth location TBD. First alarm: E19, E15, E11, L2, R1, B2, New Hope E1. Working fire: E27, C10, C20, A1. Second alarm: E21, E22, E28, L5, R2, B4. Third alarm (manpower): E9, L1. Car 2, Car 4, Car 71, New Hope Car 1 also on scene. Medical: EMS 16, EMS 2, EMS 10, EMS 11, EMS 121, D3, D2, M93, T1. Coverage included E14 at Station 19, E23 at Station 15, E13 at Station 9. Others? Overnight companies included E20, E24. No injuries. Eight units destroyed, seven families and 19 people displaced. Cause determined as accidental, from disposal of fireplace ashes on a back deck. Wind spread same and started fire. "A" shift working. See pictures by Legeros, who arrived 32 minutes later. Both WRAL and WTVD also posted aerial photos. The latter includes a couple dozen smoky shots early into the incident.
 

+ 0 - 1 | § Firefighters

Prelminary photos posted for this afternoon's major working fire on Arcadia Court. Photographer (moi) arrived after containment, alas.
 

+ 0 - 1 | § PSHSB Public Safety Photo Project and Contest

From a reader, the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) is conducting a photo project and contest to collect and feature pictures of the public safety community on its website. They're particularly interested in using “action” photos of firefighters, police officers, and EMS personnel performing public safety duties. PSHSB will feature selected photos on its web site. Read about the contest, and rules and conditions therein. Deadline is December 31!

+ 0 - 1 | § Training Center Shelters

Two shelters have been added at Keeter Center Training. The topside structure protects a pair of reserve pumpers, shown below. The second shelter was added on the lower level, on the USAR grounds and will cover shoring materials.
 

+ 2 - 0 | § Durham Firefighter Dies in Tree Trimming Accident, Updated

Firefighter Bradley Franklin Roberts, 26, died Tuesday, March 2, after falling from a tree, while cutting limbs for a tree service. The accident occurred in the 1100 block of Woodburn Drive. He was transported to Duke University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Roberts joined the Durham Fire Department on March 7, 2005, and was assigned to Station 1. Sources: WRAL, WTVD, Durham Herald-Sun.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Clements Funeral Service. Visitation is today, Thursday, March 4, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Clements Funeral Service, 1105 Broad Street, Durham. The funeral is Friday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m., at New Horizons Church, 100 Horizon Place, Durham. Read his obituary. Note that an incorrect funeral date is listed at the top of the obituary web page.
  

+ 2 - 0 | § Holly Springs to Lose Wake County EMS Subsidy

Today's News & Observer reports that Holly Springs is losing its county subsidy for the salaries of three paramedics. The annual expenditure is $177,850, which the county is asking the town the assume. Since 1998, Wake County EMS has provided a paramedic to ride a Holly Springs ambulance at cost to the town. Holly Springs had a rolling, annual agreement with the county since that time.

Revenue also figures into the equation. In 1998, the Holly Springs EMS unit generated about $45,000. Today, the same revenue is $326,929. Not surprisingly, the county wants a piece of the pie, to help cover its own cost in these times of shrinking budgets. Wake County EMS has presented the town with two options: the county pays all costs for a paramedic ambulance, and receives all revenue; or, Holly Springs reimburses the county for the salaries of the paramedics. Neither option changes the EMS deployment model, however. Read the entire story.