Everybody has heard of eBay, the online “auction” firm. And I would venture to say that a lot of you have purchased, or at least bid on, something that was offered.
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It seems like every 6 months there is a wave of negative news stories about eBay, but they just keep chugging right along…. the giant in the garden that smashes everything in its path. They just reported that they generated $2.29 billion in revenue for the first quarter ending March 31, so that’s hard to avoid.
But if you don’t worry about the politics of the stuff, or don’t try to earn a living, as some people do, by selling regularly on eBay, then you can have some fun and get some nice items for whatever kind of collections or needs that you have.
While I’m sitting here, for instance, I’m punching in a few search terms just to see what comes up today. I just entered “fire engine” under All Categories to see what’s being offered.
Ah….1,657 items right now. Scrolling down, I see that most of them are toys and metal replica models. Some nice looking replicas, too. There’s 1:24 diecast model of a 1927 Seagrave that looks really good. The seller has a “buy it now” offer for $50. I don’t collect those, so I won’t be bidding. But I like the looks of it.
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Here’s some fabric with cartoon fire engines on it….just right for making pajamas for the little tyke of the house. Lots of toys on here. And some guy is selling advertisements that were cut out of old magazines for GoodYear tires pictured on some 1930’s-era fire engines. Whoops! Here’s an offer for a fire engine belly-button ring for only $4.99. There’s something for everyone, but that one’s not for me.
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Try some other search terms and look through categories such as books, magazines, post cards and even DVD’s. You can find some neat stuff there if you’re patient and keep checking. I’m not plugging eBay by any means. But I just wanted to show you a place where you can browse for fire and rescue related “stuff” while you try and decide what to do with your tax rebate check that’s in the mail.
Well, we’d better play with the big fire trucks and ambulances now and get them checked out for today. I’m going to fix some coffee.
….Inside A Burning Structure
Comments OffFossilMedic brings up the subject:
KILLED WHILE OPERATING IN A BURNING STRUCTURE
Vincent Dunn’s Collapse of Burning Buildings is one of the few fire textbooks that left me sleepless. When the book came out in 1988 Dunn was in his third decade at FDNY and working as Division 3, the mid-town Manhattan deputy chief. While on the job, Chief Dunn obtained an associate (fire administration), bachelor (sociology) and master degree (urban studies) from Queens College, City University of New York.
The opening left a lasting impression: This book is dedicated to the forty-six FDNY chiefs, company officers and firefighters who have been killed by burning buildings which collapsed during the thirty years 1956-1986. Dunn then lists the deceased, including a description on what collapsed on them.
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Every chapter starts with a fireground story that describes a collapse or sets a scene. He then describes the construction elements at play for this type of structure. Each chapter concludes with lessons to be learned. I would be wide awake in the fire station bunkroom thinking about how to apply the lessons to my company.
I used the book as a resource for the building construction and strategy and tactics courses that I taught at the community college. I used my own funds to purchase the five videos developed by Dunn for Fire Engineering. With Dunn’s videos I felt I was bringing Brannigan’s building construction course alive.
FDNY LODDS IN STRUCTURE FIRES 1994 – 2008
Last month Chief Dunn made a presentation to The Fire Bell Club of New York (http://www.firebellclub.org ) describing the results of his continuing research into the deaths of FDNY firefighters operating within burning structures.
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Chief Dunn
Excluding 9/11, 28 FDNY members died while operating in burning structure fires in the last fourteen years. Seventy-five percent of them were members of ladder companies. Three were from rescue companies and four were from engine companies.
By rank, there were 17 firefighters, seven lieutenants and four captains. Eight-six percent of the deaths occurred while searching the structure. Four were killed while operating a hoseline.
Multiple family dwellings counted for 15 of the fatalities, followed by eight commercial structures, three vacant and two single family homes. Thirteen were killed operating above the fire floor, ten on the fire floor and three in the basement.
There were more deaths during the fire growth stage (64%) than when the fire was fully developed.
DEVELOP AN EXIT STRATEGY
In some situations, command may initiate an evacuation order that does not result in the crews to promptly exit the fire area. Chief Dunn advocates that department’s develop and practice an exit strategy, including a unique signal, more training and a specified assembly area.
Chief Dunn’s fourth textbook, Strategy of Firefighting, was published last year by Fire Engineering.
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Chief Dunn’s website: http://www.vincentdunn.com/