Fire Doesn't Know

This past weekend, I took an eight hour class on structural collapse, and the following day, participated in a FAST Team* drill that took up four hours of my Sunday Morning. Now not every weekend is like this for me, but I often have found myself setting certain weekends completely aside for training purposes. In no way am I complaining, but what I am trying to say, is that even though I am a volunteer, in order to be proficient at being a firefighter, a lot of time is needed. Regardless of your pay grade.

Last week I was allowed by my district to take a trip out to Nassau Coliseum in Long Island to attend the Long Island "Fire, Rescue, and EMS Mega Show." With the show being primarily a trade show, there was not a lot of things in my "price range." Being a junior officer in my district I was within my right to look around and suggest products of interest to the chiefs, but other than small hand tools and "buff stuff*"the show was rather lackluster. 

It was interesting however to see how new tools are expanding the limitations. By that I mean things like thermal imaging cameras are now able to record data in forms of picture and video. New grips/coatings for tools like axes and Halligan bars were also something that I found fascinating. In my company for a better grip, we took a "DIY" approach and used old oxygen tank tubing and some hockey tape. The fact that there are companies specializing in special coating, is probably something that has been going on for a while, but new to me.

Overall, it was a nice day out with other officers and firefighters from the other companies in my district, but I was not thoroughly impressed with the show. Had I been in a position to directly purchase things, maybe that'd be a different stories, but I still have a few years down the line until the potential for that is there.

Welcome to Fire Doesn't Know. A site for the modern firefighter that is looking for a proper balance between understanding, respecting and utilizing resources of the past, while still developing a unique plan of their own.

The name ultimately comes from the fact at the end of the day, when rolling on to a scene, a fire does not care who you are. Regardless of your race, class, or gender, what matters at the end of the day is determination and a solid amount of intellect. 

Fire Doesn't Know much like other fire service based publications will feature some scene reports and "war stories," but also take a look at a lot of the social aspects of being in a volunteer house and what the titles come with.

Not only are we here to broadcast our message to those within, but to extend an outreach to those interested in joining, or even those close ones within the fire service to allow for a better insight.

Stand fast, as we'll have featured profiles, stories, and interviews over the next few weeks. Should be a fun ride, just as long as you're buckled, that is.