Chapter 1  
Last night I called the Fire Brigade to my house. It was about 9.30, I had just returned home from my life drawing class and thought a jacket potato would be a quick fix to my looming hunger. Rather than use the normal minutes and seconds settings on my microwave, I thought I would try out the useful “jacket potato autocook” button. How useful!

Chapter 2  
Autocook button apparently meant autocook the microwave. Before I knew it there was an alarming smoky smell seeping out of the machine so I quickly reached for the cancel button. Fearing the worst, my mind jumped forward to imagine next day’s headlines “INNOCENT JACKET POTATO CRAVING LEADS TO DEVASTATING FIRE IN BARONS COURT” or worse “JACKET POTATOES CAN KILL”. So I called 999, calmly explaining that it might be nothing, but it might be something, and I didn’t want to sit around nonchalantly whilst by microwave died a slow and painful death of internal combustion.

Chapter 3
3 minutes later. Sirens. Nosy neighbours peeking through small gaps in the curtains. Embarrassment on my part as smoky smell has almost entirely gone. False alarm. Apologise profusely to three firemen (ranging levels of handsomeness for all you ladies wondering if I have just realised a fantasy). Apparently there may just have been a bit of fat or dirt somewhere near the filament and it burnt to give off this smoky product. They suggested I unplug the microwave and have it cleaned and checked or buy a new one if I was concerned. They were very kind, accommodating, gave me a new smoke alarm, told me I did the right thing. Good! Glad I called.

Epilogue
So microwave and I lived happily ever after. And I am happy to provide a glowing testimonial for the services of the London Fire Brigade. But erring on the side of safety, my advice to you all is test your fire alarms weekly (this means just pushing the button to see if it sounds). If they don’t make a sound you may need to insert a new battery. For electrical fires, best approach is to get out shut the doors (to cut off the oxygen supply), evacuate the house and call the fire brigade!

Photo Courtesy of: NYDailyNews.com

Jim Ryan was part of the brave group of men and women who risked their lives on 9/11 when the U.S. was attacked.  He was a New York City Fireman who was just doing his job.  According to an article done by the NY Daily News, Jim is speaking out to congress with his fellow firemen to try to persuade congress to pass the 9/11 Bill.  It would reopen the Sept. 11 victims’ compensation fund and provide for the families of the ill and dying.  In April of 2006, Jim found out that he had developed Pancreatic Cancer.  The doctors concluded that 9/11  was to blame for the development of his cancer.  He then retired.  After beating it once, he went into relapse last November.

Ryan wants the men and women who answered the call that day to be given the medical help and compensation to their families that they were promised.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/11/19/2009-11-19_911_responder_dying_of_pancreatic_cancer.html#ixzz0XL23TlOj

By Andrea McCallum

A FAMILY was rushed to hospital following a fire in an Edinburgh high rise flat.

The three residents – which included a toddler – were treated at the scene by ambulance workers but were then taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary early this morning.

Fire crews were alerted to the ground floor blaze within Fidra Court on Pennywell Medway near Granton at 8am and spent more than two hours ensuring the 14-storey flat was safe.

The 15 firemen present used breathing apparatus to search the building and one fireman spoke to residents on their balconies using an extendable platform.

Police have now launched an investigation into the fire after they discovered a rubbish bin had been deliberately set alight.

Cameron McKenzie, group manager for Lothian and Borders fire & rescue service, said:

“The fire started in the ground floor where there are no flats, but smoke travelled up the lift shaft and spread into the upper flats.

“Residents opened their doors and were met with a wall of smoke so we had to keep everyone else in their flats and clear the smoke from the stairwell.

“The family were not rescued but are believed to have left the flat after coming into contact with the smoke.”

A 15-year-old boy has been detained by police in connection with the incident.

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

we’re gonna need a bigger fireman…

maek sur itz teh cyoot wun.

Picture by: dunno source Caption by: A_LONELY_NOMAD via Our LOL Builder

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This excellent image is a portrait of a fire chief in Providence, Rhode Island. He is seen in his dress uniform with a fire chief badge on his hat. His coat buttons indicate he is a fireman with the Providence Fire Department.  The photographer is Y. E. Rose of Providence, Rhode Island. The studio opened in 1886 in the Conrad Building.

hy mannnn is so much smokeee )

Tom's seem to volunteer for fires. Either they're crazy or just like the heat.

Okay, so I grew up in a small town and the fire department is volunteer. For some reason there are a lot of Toms that both live in our town and volunteer as fireman. It’s also my brother’s name. So I not only have great admiration for Tom’s who volunteer as a first responder, and I have great affection for the name since my brother is cool as hell. Ya dig?

Firemen have a difficult job.  They are constantly putting themselves in harms way to save lives.  It is what they do.  I have the utmost respect for them and their job.  But why is it that everyone loves a firefighter and no one likes the police.

When you are driving down the road and you see a police cruiser in your rear view mirror, you hope the cruiser passes you by.  If you do get pulled over, the police officer is always wrong.  When you get to your destination, you probably talk bad about the police officer saying you should have been given a break.  I never hear positive press about police or what we do.

When the public does interact with the police it is usually because something negative has happened in their lives.  A motor vehicle stop.  A car accident.  A robbery.  An assault.  Or even worse, a serious crime has been committed against them, a family member, or close friend.

Keep in mind that police officers are no different than any other profession.  We are also no different than any other person.  We make mistakes, just like the rest of you.  And sometimes, we make poor choices.  I am sure you have encountered another person in your life time who is imperfect and used poor judgement.

Police officers just want to help.  We became police officers to serve and protect.  We take our jobs seriously.  We are quick to respond to horrific situations and unsafe locations where help is needed.

Charles Webb, Ph.D. said, “There is no ‘nice’ way to arrest a potentially dangerous, combative suspect. The police are our bodyguards, our hired fists, batons, and guns. We pay them to do the dirty work of protecting us, the work we’re too afraid, too unskilled, or too civilized to do ourselves. We expect them to keep the bad guys out of our businesses, cars and houses, out of our faces. We want them to ‘take care of the problem’. We just don’t want to see how it’s done.”

As a police officer, I have interacted with the public in many ways.  As a detective, I have participated in almost every kind of criminal investigation, including narcotics, homicides, child exploitations, sexual assaults, larcenies, robberies, and the list goes on.

I have repeatedly put myself in harms way to serve and protect you.  At the end of the day, we are all the same.  We all want to make it home safely and see our familes.  But for police officers, our day is a little different than yours.

When you go to work tomorrow, ask yourself this…  What is the likelihood that someone will be pointing a gun at you?

New image in the visual pun photoshop contest

…
FIREMAN photoshop picture

Brockton insurers, Smith, Buckley and Hunt and Trident Insurance sponsored a free driver’s education course for Brockton firefighters this past month.  The program, developed by the Volunteer Fireman’s Insurance Services Inc., focused on reducing the frequency of accidents with proper techniques and information.  The course was broken into classroom work and hands- on emergency vehicle driving at the Brockton Fairgrounds.

Are you making the right moves on the road?  A stunt course at the Brockton Fairgrounds isn’t the only way to prepare yourself for an emergency.  With the New England winter approaching, check out these Winter driving tips:

1. Get an Early Start- Plan ahead and expect delays.

2.Drive Slow and Pay Attention- Okay, sometimes I forget these too but the weather around here is unpredictable in general never mind in mid-January.  DRIVE SLOW!

3.  NO TAILGAITING- You’re not saving nearly as much time as you are increasing your chances of an accident.

4.  Do a Safety Check- Check your lights, oil and wipers… but I know you do that.

5.  Keep an Emergency Kit in the Car- Along with some general First Aid supplies, you may want to pack a heavy blanket, a flashlight, extra clothing and some hand warmers.

Oh, it’s also a good idea to have valid coverage with a reliable Brockton automotive insurance agent!  Safe Driving!

Dear Lil’ Wayne,

You are ridiculous.  Specifically, I’m unclear on exactly what you mean by “I’m hot but the car cool / She wet that’s a carpool” (from “Fireman” off the Tha Carter II).  Could you please elucidate it’s meaning for me?

Also, The Internet tells me you are going to jail for politely admitting to the illegal possession of weapons.  And, as a side note, two different women are set to give birth to your children sometime this year.  That’s a grand total of four children from four different women (that we know about).

Yet none of these events are in any way shocking to me, because I have been a big fan of your music for a long time.  Society does not approve.  Every time I, an 18 year-old white college student, discuss my love of Weezy in a public setting, pretentious white people give me looks like: “Why?”  It’s a good question.

I honestly don’t really know why I even like you anyway, because I don’t approve of your excessive drug use, your womanizing, and your criminal possession of weapons (to name a few things).  I’m supposed to consider myself above your art and entertainment (from the part of society I’m in) but I relish in it.  You are just the most entertaining motherfucker I have ever heard of, but I cannot explain why I feel that way.

I don’t even know why I’m writing you this “letter” in a public forum.  It’s not like you’ll read it or respond to it or anything.  All I can say is that I find the public persona gratified by your music to be on some level liberating.  The drugs, the women and the weapons represent a form of rebellion against everything I value.  To sum up, a friend once told me that your goal in life was “to get high and make music.”  I guess I can dig that on some middle-class white person level.

Your Internet Friend,
Will
PS:  I’m me, so who you?
PPS:  Did you know 80% of rap music is bought by white people?
PPPS:  Did you know I made up the above statistic but it is actually close to that amount I’m just to lazy to do research?

It’s been almost 5 months since the surgery and 7 months since the injury.  Still off work but seeing major  improvements in strength and range of motion over the last month.  There is still constant aching in my shoulder but at least it’s not to the point of distraction that is was before.  Therapy is going well and we are stepping down from three sessions a week to two since my range of motion has been consistent from visit to visit.  It’s been a long road to that happening.  My therapist, Donna, stretches my shoulder and arm for a good 30 minutes before I am ready to do any exercises.  At least now we are moving into weights (although light) and away from passive motions that we did months ago.

It seems the tendonitis that sidelined therapy for a couple of weeks is gone and we can concentrate more on range of motion and gaining in strength.  I was sent to an independent orthopedist for a second opinion that Workman’s Comp ordered.  At least they found an orthopedist that specializes in arthroscopic shoulder surgeries and not some hack.  After they spent a lot of money to have me see their doctor, he pretty much concurred with my current treatment regimen and supported the fact that I should be off work as a fireman for another month or so, given that I can’t lift very much weight.

So, I attend therapy two times a week, take my medicine like directed and do my home exercises.  It’s a long process to get back to work but at least I now see a light at the end of the tunnel and have felt the progress of gaining strength.

The doctor and Workman’s Comp is recommending a Work Hardening Program to get me back to physical strength to be a fireman again.  I was told it can be 4 to 8 hours a day of specific exercises designed to replicate your work environment and get you ready to go back to work in peak physical condition.  I actually would look forward to the program and would love to get back in shape for work.  At least I only gained 8 pounds during this ordeal instead of the usual 20-40 pounds most people put on.  Thank goodness for local forest preserves and time for long hikes.

Did you hear the one about the girls who went to see Shakespeare performed as a soft porn disco show, and then the smoke alarms went off in the theater, so they ended up standing outside in the rain while the firemen saved the day?

That was funny.

Not funny ha-ha…funny strange.  The kind of funny where you find yourself looking around and thinking, “What the fu….?”

I had traveled all afternoon…in the rain…from New York City to Boston.  I dumped my luggage and immediately headed to Harvard Square — in the unseasonably cold wind and semi-snow — to see “The Donkey Show,” a disco version of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream.”

It looked a bit like you might expect.  Big disco ball.  Polyester-clad disc jockey.  Male dancers in glitter and maniacal grins and little else, swishing about.  A few unidentified costumed fancies who must be disco Shakespeareans.  And lots and lots of forced gaiety.

Then, the smoke alarms sounded.  The house lights came up, exposing the inherent shabbiness of the stage.  The disc jockey was suddenly serious as he directed us out of the nearest exit.  People stopped at coat check — coat check! — when a fire was supposedly raging inside.  (It wasn’t…but still.)

And as we stood in the cold rain, I couldn’t help but notice that everyone had returned to normal in the street.  No strobe lights to inspire sudden hip gyrations.  No Donna Summers anthem to prompt leaping upon tables or railings.  No wood nymph on roller skates to — well, to make you proud not to be starring in disco soft porn.

I almost hitched a ride with the fire department.