AR-1 arrives in Roanoke

AR-1 has been delivered to the Roanoke Regional Airport. The truck is an E-One Titan. AR-1 will be placed into service after training this week. It will be be in service just in time for the Roanoke Regional Emergency drill on September 23rd. You can view more information on the E-One site under new deliveries. VAFireNews.com has also listed it under new deliveries.

Arlington County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association - Local 2800 IAFF

Read this below, then follow the link to the full article. I will let you draw your own conclusions. I think I have offered enough opinion by now. I will entertain comments.

Arlington County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association - Local 2800 IAFF:

The underlying message in this inquiry is that EMS has to be made a better place to work so that firefighters want to work there. The current mentality of requiring personnel to go to EMS school is a concept that has been tried before and failed miserably. All indications are that the current requirement is also failing miserably. Not only are new firefighters not being allowed adequate time to learn the job of a firefighter (thereby compromising service delivery on the suppression side), they are simply tolerating a two year mandatory stop over in EMS. Obviously, that mind set lends itself towards compromised EMS service delivery. People become firefighters because they really want to do the job. You need to create a system that will create that same desire towards EMS. Mandatory assignment to EMS is a poor policy that compromises both fire suppression and EMS service delivery! (Read More)

Technorati tags: EMS, Fire

CBS To Rebroadcast 9/11 Documentary - Firehouse.com News

CBS To Rebroadcast 9/11 Documentary - Firehouse.com News:

The CBS Television Network and filmakers Jules and Gedeon Naudet and James Hanlon have updated the multiple-award winning program "9/11".

Watch Video Preview

The two Naudet brothers had been working on a documentary of FDNY and a probie's life in the city. September 11 saw them on a call with the company in the streets of New York when the sound of a low flying jet was heard overhead. As they panned the camera up, the American Airlines jet crashed into the World Trade Center tower.

I remember watching this the first time it aired. I have a copy at home as a matter of fact. I thought that the film gave a great sense of realism to what those firefighters were up against that day. I believe that films like this one will stand as a great history lesson for our children and future generations to watch and witness what happened on that terrible day.

Technorati tags: CBS, Firehouse.com, 9/11

Events

I have been busy getting back into the swing of things after the trip to Toronto and sending the book in. I am trying to make up for lost time with my family. I am working on a couple of things coming up.

I hope to see you all at the Blue Mass at Saint Andrews on September 28th. Plan on attending. For more information check out the Local 1132 site.

The new ARFF truck should be delivered in the next two or three weeks.

From what I understand, the new Station #10 on the north end of Williamson Road has moved on to Architecture and Engineering. This should be the next station to open after the new station downtown opens early next year.

Sunday September 10th, there will be a Valley Wide Memorial Service at the Market Square in Downtown Roanoke at 7pm. Come and pay respects to the 343 firefighters, the police officers, and thousands of civilians who lost their lives on September 11th in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93.

The IAFF recently voted to make September 11th a Fire Fighter day of Remembrance in Toronto at the IAFF Convention. You can watch the IAFF 9/11 tribute.

I am sure the event downtown will be special, unfortunately C-Shift is working that day.

A Gift

Today the firefighters got a surprise. Captain Barker and Vince Stover came around to Station #10 to hand out this handy tool. Everyone received one, A and B shifts will be getting theirs this week. The tool is the Res-Q-Rench which is manufactured by Task Force Tips. The tool is multiversal boasting: a collapsible spanner wrench, a glass punch, seat belt cutter, gas line shut off, and door chock. It probably has some other uses I have not figured out yet. Thanks for the tool, it is appreciated.

2007 IAFF Convention

2007 IAFF Convention
Originally uploaded by firefleitz.

Here are the pictures from the 2007 IAFF Convention.

Vinnie Bollon (left), IAFC President Fire Chief Bill Killen, and IAFF General President Harold Shaitberger. Chief Killen is receiving token of appreciation for his work, and for speaking at the convention.

Click on the picture and you will be able to navigate through the Roanoke Firefighters Flickr account.

morale

Firefighter pay is a common topic on this blog. Not only local pay in the Roanoke Valley, but often times I incorporate other pay nationally as a comparison. More often than not I am speaking up for firefighters pay in the City of Roanoke because it directly effects me.

I do not do this to tick anyone off. I do not do this to rub it in anyone's face. I specifically do this to get firefighters involved. My intention is to educate and possibly get a response.

How many times have you thought about leaving your department to go somewhere else for better pay. How many of us actually follow through with it? We have firefighters leaving all the time for better pay, but not all of them. Most of us decide that our seniority or tenure is worth more than starting over.

What are we left with? Low Morale. We get bothered by the fact that someone else is getting paid better for doing the same job. This decreasing morale creates a domino effect of other issues.

But other City's cost of living is higher! Yeah, yeah, yeah. I agree. I have always conceded that this is true, but not to the extent of our pay disparity across Virginia and the rest of the Nation.

Why not do something about it?

MDA Telethon

The MDA Telethon is in full swing. I enjoy seeing this event year after year. I will not be making it to the local event in Lynchburg this year as I have the past several years. This weekend, across the Nation and in Canada, Firefighters will be collecting for the MDA through Fill-the-Boot Campaigns. Local 1132's Fill the Boot was held two weeks ago due to scheduling conflicts. Unfortunately Local 1132 had a sub-par year. Being that a good year is only a couple of thousand dollars, you can imagine what a sub-par year equates to.

There are many firefighters out there who understand the partnership the IAFF and MDA have made in the pursuit of finding a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. These Locals raise tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in the matter of one week. Some Locals have the blessing of their Departments and City Governments to collect while on duty. The firefighters take care of the logistics, safety, and scheduling. In Roanoke, the City Government has enacted a panhandling law. This law restricts anyone from collecting on streets.

I have collected at the Fill the Boot campaign each year for the past 5 years. Eventually my coworkers will understand the reward of collecting for the MDA and seeing the children we help. The benefits of helping out one day to collect are very rewarding. After all, there are those people who wait for things to happen, and those who make those things happen. Hopefully, the Local 1132 firefighters will enter the spirited competition which so many IAFF Locals enjoy each year. This competition is healthy in getting the firefighters to raise more and more money each year.

If you would like to see Local 1132's MDA ambassador Cory Craighead visit the Local 1132 link. Cory came out this year with his father, Steve, to help us collect money for the MDA. Cory has recently received a brand new motorized wheelchair he is very proud of.

North Carolina firefighters are currently trying to pass legislation enabling them to collect at intersections:

For the third time in 12 weeks, the PFFPNC was successful in passing legislation to benefit IAFF Locals in North Carolina. The latest legislation paves the way for IAFF Locals to conduct fill-the-boot drives on state highway and road right-of-ways inside municipalities. The boot drives help raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. On July 26, 2006, HB 1413 (with the PFFPNC amendment) was ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly. Current state law, G.S. 20-175, forbids fill-the-boot activities on state right-of-ways even when they are inside the boundaries of a local government. In years past, IAFF Locals conducted fill-the-boot drives across the state on highway and road right-of-ways.The State always turned a blind eye to this type of activity. In recent years, many cities and towns pointed to G.S. 20-175 as a liability and restricted fire fighters and paramedics from collecting money for MDA. Subsequently, the total amount of money raised dwindled. The PFFPNC asked that an amendment to overturn this General Statute be added to existing legislation. (Read More)

Virginia will likely look into legislation which would mimic NC's. These laws supercede those of the Local laws.

Next year will be our year. I look forward to seeing you out there.

Firefighting in Roanoke

Here it is in all its glory. The book is near completion. Click on the picture to see it enlarged and read the text. This is the cover proof for the book. There weren't any changes, so that is exactly what it will look like. The picture is Fire Station 1 in the 1930s.

I will receive a cover proof of the book in about a week. I will make any necessary changes and submit the book draft. After they alter make the changes the book will go into printing. This will be at in about two weeks. The book will be available sometime in the next 6 months. That is the guarantee. Hopefully it will be available in January or February. The timing couldn't be more perfect with all of the events of next year.

The long road of writing this book has been enjoyable. I have had a lot of assistance from my peers. I appreciate all of the help. Print the picture out and post it in the stations, this way no one will say "What book".

Now that I have the book behind me, look for more initiatives in the future.

Blue Mass

BLUE MASS

Thursday, September 28, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

Msgr. Thomas Miller, presiding

St. Andrews Catholic Church

631 North Jefferson Street

Roanoke, Virginia 24011

+ + +

To recognize and honor men and women of all faiths who serve the Roanoke valley in area sheriff’s offices, fire/EMS, police, state and federal law enforcement departments.

+ + +

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 345-6622

The IAFF is behind us, the ball is in your court now.

The influence of this blog has always been humbling. I am not saying that the blog has a political agenda or influence. What I am saying is by bringing up certain ideals the blog has the ability to get you guys talking. But who is "You Guys"? Not only do the firefighters benefit from the blog, but the citizens, and other firefighters from across the Nation and even Internationally. That is right, there are hundreds of people looking in on what is going on. Perhaps this is the reason why I am cautious of being inflamatory to my coworkers in order to get them involved. The best steps we can take right now are baby steps. If you want citizens to be involved tell them. They stop in the fire stations. You must realize that nothing is free. If you are asking for higher wages, you must show them the deficeincy. This may help with getting a higher multiplier or better yet "20 years and out" with full benefits.

Some of you will never know the potential of your one voice. Collectively we are one strong Union. From the IAFF down to the 4th district, to the VPFF, to the Local 1132. Until you realize the strength of your one voice, you will remain a naysayer. Many of you will be perfectly content with this status. Others of you will realize that all these years we have been trying to ignite that fire within you. But that will never be enough. If you think that Roanoke Firefighters have ever received anything for free you need to think again. Historically, there have been a small group of firefighters behind each huge step we have taken. Do you think we added a third platoon changing the working week from 64+ hours to 56 hours because City Council thought of it? No, there was a group of firefighters who had the support of the entire Local to formulate the plan and excecute it.

What will it take to get you involved? If you are a citizen then you are probably ready to stand behind your firefighters. You are just waiting to hear the call for help.

If you are a Roanoke Firefighter, you are either waiting for it to get so bad that you will have no other choice. Otherwise you are one of those who will never stand up for yourself. You know the ones I am talking about.

If the Chief is not told something is wrong, how is he supposed to know? Well this is a good question. Some of the issues you might ask yourself "How would he not know that is going on"? Unless you speak up, he will think everything is fine. Especially when you guys are so quick to bring him his tenth cup of coffee in a row.

I heard the International Association of Fire Chiefs President and the Canadian International Association of Fire Chiefs President speak today. Trust me, if the ideals and unity which both of these leaders propose between the IAFC and IAFF existed in Roanoke we would not have any issues. I was astonished by the speech that the IAFC President, Chief Bill Killen gave. Apparently the ideals of the IAFC are lost in translation in Roanoke.

What is the problem? Maybe the years of worrying about getting to the top, and never officially speaking of the problems we face with the Chief are the problem.

Trust me, I know all of our Senior Staff. I can tell you this, all of them know how to pour a cup of coffee. Next time they show up, instead of running down your co-workers to be the first one to the Chief with a cup of coffee why not pull up a chair and talk about the hard issues. Why not ask him about our pay and benefits. Why not ask him about the IAFC's ideals and the fact that every day the IAFF and IAFC become more unified.

That ain't fair, how come we don't make that much?

Have you ever been told that the reason why other firefighters get paid more is because the cost of living increase? I have. Have you ever been told that by a Chief? I have. Have you ever been told that by a Chief who makes less than a firefighter in another City? I have. I know a firefighter from a Northern Virginia fire department with 20 years of service who makes $82,000 a year. Do you realize that is more than our Acting Chief makes in a year? I learned this at the IAFF convention, while networking with other Locals from around the World. The firefighter doesn't even live in the City where he works. He lives in rural Virginia and commutes. He told us that the Captains in his City make around $117,000 a year. Doesn't that piss you off?

I usually boast our department, in this case I will have to defer. If anyone is wondering what department pays this kind of money you might want to start with a google search of the Alexandria Fire Department. Just a hunch.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I am not telling you to pack up your bags. I am telling you that a 20 year firefighter in Roanoke City makes around $45,000 a year. Do you really think that the $37,000 difference is due to the cost of living differential. I think not.

Let me also add that the firefighter above is not a Paramedic and does not work overtime.

See you at the next Union meeting September 5th at 7pm.

What has the IAFF done for me?

What has the IAFF done for me?

This is a common question I am asked by members of Local 1132, as well as other Locals in the area. The answer isn't quite that easy. You see, if I weren't busy selling the IAFF to all of my members and working harder to support the IAFF and its members we wouldn't be talking about it. If the members who ask these questions got involved and knew what the IAFF did, then I wouldn't have to tell them. If the members read the Local 1132 website daily to check for new information, and were on the email list, they would not miss important information, dates, and news. And if a pig had wings it might fly.

Since I am away from everyone, and nobody has asked what the IAFF has done for them for a couple of days, I will just go ahead and tell you. The IAFF Financial Corporation, which is owned an operated by the IAFF for its members, offers excellent products. From free checking/ATM accounts to CD's with an interest rate of up to 5.36% (today's rates), the IAFF FC is there to help. The FC also offers insurance at low rates through Liberty Mutual and Mortgages which you may be preapproved for in less than 15 minutes.

If you have not looked into the IAFF Financial Corporation you are missing out. If you have not looked, you cannot ask what the IAFF has done for you.

I will have more to come.

IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial

IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial
Originally uploaded by firefleitz.

Thanks to Rob Matzuga for these pictures of the IAFF Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Colorado Springs Colorado. Thanks for the pictures. Click the photo for more photos of the memorial.

This is fitting due to the unfortunate events of the past couple of days. Two of FDNY's bravest made the ultimate sacrifice. You can view a tribute to the two comrades, Lt. Howard Carpluk Jr. and FF Michael Reilly, on Firehouse.com.

Northside C-Shift

Northside C-Shift
Originally uploaded by firefleitz.

Battalion Chief Billy Obenchain stands with the crew of Engine 14. Pictured from left to right are Pete Uzelac, BC Billy Obenchain, Captain Willie Wines Jr., Lt. Stacy Boothe, and Kenny Walker.

I have to say that it takes motivation and dedication to put together a photo opprotunity with the entire Battalion. Thanks to the guys at Station #2 for putting it together. It is guys like you who raise the bar. What will we think of next.

Special thanks to Travis Collins for the pictures. Click on the picture to see other pictures of the day.

IAFF Conference

This morning began with registration at the IAFF convention. The exhibit hall provided to be helpful in finding new programs, products, and activities.

Check out Project heroes : http://www.firehouse.com/news/2005/ppe.html. The gear was created by Total Fire Group. This gear is wild. The turnout gear fully encapsulates the firefighter. The exhausted breath returns to the turnout gear to positively pressurize it and cool the firefighter. There are several other design notes. Check out the link above for more information.


We also saw a group from www.firefightercancersupport.com. I will report more on this site and what they have to offer in the future. Check them out, if you know anyone battling cancer pass the word along.

We aren't sure if the convention hall will have internet access. If it does, I will update this site and the Local 1132 site regularly.

Oh Canada

Just to let you know, I will be in Canada for the next week. If you need me you can email me at FireFleitz@adelphia.net.

We arrived today, and enjoyed dinner in Toronto. I will try to keep you all abreast of what is going on up here. We will be going to the Toronto Blue Jays game tomorrow.

Stay safe.

-FireFleitz

Just one of those days

Today was one of those days. If you are following along, you know that I am assigned to the ARFF crew at Roanoke Regional Airport. I just ran my first airport alert this week. I rotate on the engine, but it is obvious my skills, both fire and EMS have suffered due to lack of calls. So when I get to run calls, my lack of recent experience is evident. Maybe it isn't as evident as I think it is, but I am my worst critic (no comments necessary if you agree with me, thanks).

This morning began with a structure fire. Apparently someone was watching out for me because it was only a two car garage on fire, and I was the second in engine. E13 and L13 marked on scene with smoke and fire showing and passed command. Hodgin, who was driving the ladder hand stretched a line 200' for E13, leaving us to take command. Realize for a minute that this is the first fire I have been on in two years, and I was to be command. So I took command until BC2 arrived and assumed command, and the guys put the fire out. Everything ran very smooth, and I was grateful that it wasn't a house with people hanging out the windows. Job well done.

The we had EMS protocol rollout. Apparently the American Heart Association has decided that they needed to change the way we do EMS. Most of the stuff seems logical, although some of the changes seemed odd. I won't bore you with the particulars.

Tonight, we were tested again. Due to HIPAA rules, I will not provide details. We received a call for a child struck by a car. This call ended up being exactly what they said it was. Calls involving children are never easy. I wish the patient, the patients family, and the driver involved the best. I will be praying for all persons involved, including the Roanoke Firefighters who ran the call. God Bless the child, I am praying for the best.

When I was at the hospital, I took a minute to collect my thoughts, and a hospital janitor walked by. The man said something to the effect of "you can't let it bother you, once it grabs a hold, it is hard to get over". I know that. We all know that. What the man said was true. But that doesn't mean we can't care. That doesn't mean we can't have feelings too.

If you are wondering if I am ok. I am. I am just getting it off my chest. I thought I might give those of you who aren't firefighters or EMT's a glimpse inside what goes through our minds.

Firefighters and EMT's are the ones who have to respond to all that bad stuff that News channels love to report, and you love to watch. It is a hell of a lot easier being able to change the channel.

Thanks for tuning in.

Jeremy Evans leaves for Charlottesville

Jeremy Evans' last day was today. Sorry I am a little late, but it has been a busy day today. Jeremy is heading to work for the Charlottesville Fire Department. Jeremy was hired on August 31, 1998. His latest assignment was with Station 13 on B-shift, my old stomping ground. Prior to station 13, he was assigned as a Lieutenant in Training, having been promoted in 2004. Jeremy will make Charlottesville proud. Although he might be working in Ablemarle soon. Charlottesville and Ablemarle are currently studying the possibility of merging the two departments into a regional department. Does that sound familiar. While it is rumor and speculation here, it is actually in the works there. Good luck Jeremy.

Albemarle Local 4007
Charlottesville Local 2363

Stop the Press - Fleitz runs an Airport Alert

Today, after a table top exercise with the numerous agencies which would be involved with an airport alert, we ran a call. That is right, for the first time in almost two years I have officially run an airport alert. I do not know if I am entitled to any awards or prizes, but I do feel like a million bucks. It seems as though all the hard work and dedication has paid off.

So let me give you a rundown of the event as it unfolded. We were sitting there eating dinner and this strange sound came over the loud speaker. Everyone jumped, except for me because I was wondering what the hell was going on. So I figured, hell if everyone else is getting up I might as well follow them. Then I said to myself "Self, this must be one of those...you know...ah whatthehelldotheycallitthingys...oh yeah...AN ACTUAL AIRPORT ALERT." So there we went out the door. I called the tower to ask what was going on. It was a Navy jet, a training jet that we see periodically at Roanoke. The jet was having issues with its cabin pressure.

Ok are you ready for the exciting part...do you think you can handle what happened next? Well nothing really. The jet landed, and we followed it to General Aviation, think parking lot for aircraft. It was kind of like walking behind an old lady in a walker.

So that is it. My first Airport Alert. Kinda like being a 40 year old virgin. You hear about it all the time, but you gotta wait forever to experience it.