The following message was found posted Anonymously on the net… Anonymous something to think about Tue Aug 12, 2008 I helped carry Jim Ramage to the helicopter that would take him on his last flight. His remains were draped in an American flag. Firefighters hovered over the remains of four that day and I had been ensuring that Jim was taken ...

In a recent article I wrote for this site, I talked about dealing with those people who are sure they're fine.  That can be a tough situation, but there's a whole other kind of "I don't need help" call that I think is even more difficult to navigate. You see, some people for one reason or another don't just not want ...

What's more exciting than flashing lights and wailing sirens? How cool is it to watch unusually attractive paramedics involved in desperate love triangles fiercely pound on the chests of accident victims and perform last minute emergency tracheotomies?  Look out!  It's another Tension pneumothorax!  Phew, saved the day again! Sometimes I think the media we consume really messes with our expectations.  Trauma ...

Candidates who have served our country in the Armed Forces have a huge advantage over those who have not. It is generally believed that while military veterans may not have as many certificates and fire science units as the other candidates (they were busy serving our country), they offer so much more. The personal growth and professional experience a military service ...

The tactical scene scenario can be one major event, a series of smaller events, or a combination of all of the above. It can be interactive or non-interactive. In an interactive scenario a candidate is given a radio and is expected to give on scene report (size up), assume command, name the location of the command post, request resources, and make ...

The oral presentations are probably the most overlooked part of the promotional exam. This is ironic because studies show that our greatest fear is to speak in front of a group. From the department’s perspective it is important to promote people who can speak in front of a group. The higher the rank, the more public speaking you will be expected ...

Many Soldiers have had fulfilling second careers in the fire service. Whereas other industries might not be as interested in these warriors, the fire service welcomes them with open arms. They already understand the chain-of-command, know how to work together as a team, and are generally mature beyond their years. Being entrusted with multi-million dollar equipment, going in harm's way, and ...

I think most firefighters would agree that a good call has some element of "fun" in it. I'm not talking about the kind of fun that you have with a board game or a funny movie, it's way more serious than that, but knocking down a good fire (one where no-one is in danger) produces an enjoyment unlike any other. Unfortunately, ...

One of the most challenging parts of any supervisor’s job is dealing with employees. In the fire service we are particularly poor at imposing discipline on our members. Since we live, eat, sleep and work together for long periods of time, supervisors are reluctant to address poor performance. It is important to remember that the fire department is held to the ...

The in-basket exercise has been around forever and is one of my favorites. A candidate is given a list of items that must be addressed within a certain time frame. He or she is asked to prioritize the items and justify his reasons to the panel. It’s up to the candidate to determine what is important, and what is urgent. The ...

This week I received an email titled, "LOVE-HANDLES!! Help me lose them." I have been working on a routine that incorporates exercises that will help you work your love handles (the oblique region of the torso). Personally, I like to work my "obliques" on days I work my legs, so I created the Legs and Love Handles workout seen below. As ...

"I told them she did not suffer and I was there for her, holding her close..." A call that I responded to was an accident that involved a teen driver. I just got off my shift as a firefighter and was on my way home from work when the call came in for an accident with injuries. I called dispatch because ...

Your oral presentation is an important part of the promotion assessment. Here's a quick and dirty list of possible scenarios you should have nailed down before you are presented with the real deal. It is important to speak clearly, initiate eye contact with your audience, and speak genuinely and concisely. Don't be afraid to jot down notes, there's nothing worse than ...

"I can only hope that someone will remember me in the same way...." It's amazing that after 20 plus years in the fire service I can still think and function on a daily basis. My mind has chosen to fill itself with the most horrific things that I have seen over the years, yet I can’t remember what I got for ...

It is important that you prepare questions you might be asked. Here are a few samples for Fire Captain. Type your answers into the text boxes. When you're done, click "Print This Page" at the bottom, and print your answers for reference. (Note: if your answer has exceeded the size of the box, only the portion showing will print.) Interview Questions ...

In case you were wondering what a typical score sheet looks like for interview questions, here's a sample: Step 5: Assess Your Leadership Skills Step 3: Oral Presentations Guide to Promotion: Table of Contents • Step 1: Plan for Promotion • Step 2: Assessment Center Exercises      • Tactical Scene Scenarios     • Oral Interview     • Employee Counseling Session     • In-Basket Exercise • Step 3: Oral ...

I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for trapped children at 3 AM, flames rolling above your head, your palms and knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight as the kitchen below you burns. I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in the morning as I check ...

Along with the benefits of a promotion comes responsibility. Some firefighters are simply more cut-out to be leaders, and some are content serving the department the best that they can. Either way it takes a team to make a department great. FireLink has a great assessment tool to help you sort out your leadership skills with an evaluation quiz. Take it, ...

Ever since its creation, the portable radio has been the fireman's friend. From traffic control to aggressive fire suppression, our hand-held radios keep us in contact with our brothers and aware of what's going on throughout the scene. As a relative newcomer to the field, I still have clearly in my memory the feeling of what is was like to key ...