*  STATter911 is following up on a strange story from last November where a goofy assistant chief in Johnson City, New York, showed up to work one day wearing nothing more than his hat.  Today Dave is reporting that the A.C. (who is unsurprisingly retired now) will not be replaced as the whole administration of the department is in turmoil.  Check it out HERE.

*  BestFirefighterVideos has….the best firefighter videos as usual.  But Jason also brings in some terrific action stills taken on the fireground and he posted a nice batch of them yesterday HERE.

*  FireRescue1 has just posted a remarkable story about a Pennsylvania teenager who successfully wrote a federal grant application that won a fire engine for his local VFD.  Read this remarkable STORY.

*  WildfireToday has a novel report on a forest fire in Ukraine that overwhelmed an ammuntion depot and arsenal that contained, among other things, 94,000 tons of missles.  It’s well worth reading.  Click HERE and then scroll down.

*  If you recall the “spectrum auction” that the FCC held back at the beginning of the year, you’ll remember that the so-called D-Block failed to get the minimum bid needed.  The D-Block is supposed to be dedicated for a nationwide emergency network.  EMS1 has an informative article today by Doug Wyllie that tells us about the negotiations going on to get the project active again.  Take a few minutes and read it HERE.

*  FireNews.net has an exclusive story and pics of a gasoline tanker fire in Raleigh on Tuesday HERE.

CHIEF BILLY GOLDFEDER’S PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH FIREGEEZER and Dave Statter is now posted online.

At the Firehouse Expo last month in Baltimore, Billy taped his monthly Firehouse.com podcast “Through the Smoke” before a live audience and spent the full hour talking with me and Dave Statter of STATter911 about fire blogging and a little bit about our own backgrounds.  CLICK HERE TO LISTEN to it.

Dave Statter (left) and Firegeezer Bill Schumm (center)
watch as Billy Goldfeder relives the days of
donning a Scott I over the head-style.

We all had a lot of fun doing it and we hope you will enjoy listening to it just as much.  And I want to send a special thanks to Mike Legeros of Raleigh/Wake FirefightersBlog for so generously taking the time to photograph this history-making event and allowing us to post some of them here.

Firegeezer, safely stationed under the sprinkler head,
and Billy Goldfeder listen as Dave Statter tries to explain
why he let his CCT certification lapse, or something.

*  FireNews.net is covering a breaking story on a North Carolina forestry firefighter who was swept over a waterfall today.  The event is still working, so the info. is still sketchy, but the prognosis for the FF is not good according to early reports.  Check in on their newspage for the story HERE.

*  If you haven’t been keeping up with the daily topics during this year’s annual National Firefighter Health Week,  then you can get caught up with the schedule and a lot of supplementary resources at FireRescue1 on their dedicated page HERE.

*  STATter911 has a terrific vintage video today.  It’s a PSA about volunteer fire departments from about 35 years ago and you just HAVE to watch it.  You know that Firegeezer looooves house sirens, so it gets off to a great start.  And you other geezers out there…..you can relate to the scene where they’re dressing on the back step.  (That’s why God made Qwik-snaps, isn’t it?)  Everybody, check it out HERE.

*  WildfireToday has a good review of the summation and sentencing hearing for Ellreese Daniels, the USFS supervisor that was in charge of a fire gang that got burned two years ago.  Some people think the U. S. Attorney was trying to bolster his own career at the expense of this dedicated firefighter.  Read it HERE.

*  Did you know that fire apparatus mechanics also have national seminars and training?  Fire Chief editor Janet Wilmoth talks about it and this year’s award winners for best Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year in her blog  HERE.

A weekend wrap-up of some recommended stories:

*  After Friday’s fatal fire in a large retirement home, the city of Vallejo is under the spotlight again.  Ponderously mismanaged, the city has slashed police and fire protection just before this event.  STATter911 is reporting on the politicians’ doing the two-step dodgem dance HERE.

*  Firefighter Spot - Best Videos has just posted another batch of photos and videos from the past week, including some exclusives from the Conshohocken fire HERE.

*  FireRescue1 has a story about a National Hockey League player using some of his off-season time to volunteer at the local firehouse HERE.

*  12 hours after it started, the 10-alarm fire in the former Robbins mill in Moore County, North Carolina, is still going.  The town’s water supply started running low early this afternoon and the 35 FD’s on the scene are using a massive tanker shuttle to supply the master streams.  FireNews.net is on the scene with their own photographer and they’ve got some good fire scene photos as well as on-scene reports HERE. 

*  STATter911 is covering a story about a situation that could crop up in a lot of places.  In Prince George’s County, Maryland there are a handful of volunteer ambulance squads that have been billing BLS patients’ insurance  cos. for emergency transports for the past 10 years.  But on July 1 the County usurped their authority to do that and now the county general fund takes the spoils.  Could it happen where you live?  Read his coverage HERE.

*  FireRescue1 is at the FRI (Chief’s convention) in Denver and is posting updates, reports and exclusive articles each day.  They are compiled on a dedicated web page HERE.

*  A reminder for you apparatus buffs that VAFireNews maintains a roster of (nearly) all fire apparatus in Virginia in front line service on a special page HERE.

*  Firefighter Blog is talking about the “stay or go” choice for homeowners living in isolated woodlands with a fire approaching HERE.

*  The always-curious Mike Legeros at Raleigh/Wake Firefighting now has a collection of photographs of lead toy figures of firefighters from all countries of the world.  Some of them show ff clothes from earlier centuries.  He has over 100 of them posted in a .pdf file.  Go to the website HERE and scroll down to the obvious article.

Some late weekend reading to catch up on:

*  After 10 weeks of treatment in the MedStar Burn Unit of the Washington Hospital Center, Lieutenant John Earley of the Loudoun County (Virginia) Fire and Rescue was released to go home Friday.

He still has a lot of treatment and therapy ahead, but at least he is home now.  Dave Statter at STATter911 has the warming story of his celebrated homecoming HERE.

*  FirefighterSpot is running all cylinders this weekend.  He has just posted another 20 videos today and has reports one three (count ‘em, three) recent firetruck accidents.

Get some snacks handy and view them all HERE.

*  FireRescue1 has a very thought-provoking article by Capt. Charles Bailey of Montgomery County, Maryland.  It’s a 2-part essay and will definitely make you think a little differently as he talks about what is really causing so many firefighter deaths and injuries.  And staffing isn’t No. 1 on the list.  Read part 1 HERE and then click over to part 2.

*  FireNews.net is always up-to-date with the major fires in North Carolina.  But what caught my eye today was this article on an errant driver who crashed his car into a firehouse…. right through the bay door.

FireNews.net photo by Howard Cheek

Check out the full story HERE.

*  While we’re into critical thinking today, make a point  going over to Housewatch HERE and read about his station’s offer for “Free Mulch.”

*  Longtime readers will remember Firefighter Sam, the lively 5-yr.-old boy who spends his weekends visiting firehouses with his Dad and doing real firefighter things in his Jr.-size running gear.

Well, his action photos have been picked up by a fire equipt. catalog publisher and some packaging of Aeromax Toys.  He’s going to need a model’s agent now, it looks like.  A destributor of fire safety information material in British Columbia has decorated his delivery truck with Sam’s picture.

Check out Firefighter Sam’s own website HERE.

*  STATter911 has an interesting video amongst his daily collection.  It’s a little off-topic, but fascinating as all get out.  It is a time-lapse surveillance camera of an urban waterway in Japan as a flash flood comes through.  You can see it HERE and then scroll on down and catch the structure fire at the Choo Choo Barn.

*  The Housewatch has a good essay posted about a better way to justify your staffing needs when the politicians try to cut the FD so that they don’t have to cut the pork.  He’s got a good proposal, so take your time and read it carefully HERE.

*  I keep reminding you to keep up with the western wildfire news by checking in with FirefighterBlog HERE and WildfireToday HERE.

Capt. Mike at FirefighterBlog is reporting directly from the Telegraph fire and has some terrific photos and satellite maps.  He also has a link to the Incident Scanner where you can listen to the radio traffic.  Scroll down a ways to get to it.  He’s posting heavily these days.

Bill Gabbert of WildfireToday is reporting today on fires in Wyoming and Montana.

*  VAFireNews has some fresh articles and hot shots on recent fires in the Old Dominion HERE.

*  Mike Legeros of Raleigh/Wake Firefighting Blog was in Baltimore for the Expo and while he was there he started a photo project capturing former Balto. firehouses that are now used by other occupancies.  He’s off to a good start and you can check it out HERE.

We just got out from the podcast event.  There were between 40 and 45 spectators as Billy Goldfeder led Dave Statter and I through a good discussion of fire blogs and what’s going on in the internet world.

The exhibition hall is packed this afternoon.  As soon as I finish giving FossilMedic a break (he was holding down the fort while I was gone) I’ll get back on the keyboard and do some live blogging from the booth.

2:30 pm,
We just had a visit from John Timson, a vice pres. with Hook & Ladder Brewing Co.  You might remember that we followed their adventures in the Washington Post’s annual beer-tasting contest which they won…..best-tasting beer in the U. S.  They have bought a former firehouse in Silver Spring, Maryland and are in the process of turning it into a brew-pub/restaurant.

3:30 pm,
Ok, we have a new leader for the “Company coming the farthest distance” trophy.  Ernie Mitchell, retired fire chief from Pasadena, California just stopped by.  He is also a past president of the IAFC.

4:30 pm,
Getting close to closing time, so I’ll shut this thread down for now.  We spent most of our time talking to the folks dropping by the booth.  It has been a busy day here and I expect Saturday to be more so.  It’s been a good day.

Exhibit Hall schedule:

Thursday, 11 am to 5 pm
Friday, 11 am to 5 pm
Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm

Firegeezer will be located in Booth # 743 where we will be joined on Thursday and Friday by Dave Statter of STATter911.  Don’t forget!

*  Best Firefighter Video at FirefighterSpot has some fresh “hot ones” and a couple of close-call videos for you to check out.  You should be checking his site every day HERE.

*  VAFireNews has an interesting story about an Honor Guard school.  The National Honor Guard Academy is teaming up with the City of Fairfax FRD to run a week-long school for existing honor guards to improve their skills.  You can read about it HERE.

*  EMS1 is carrying a story about a North Carolina rescue squad (non-ambulance) that has been suspended from operating until an investigation of their operating standards and practices can be completed.  Too many horror stories have surface recently and they are covered HERE.

*  The International Assoc. of Fire Chiefs recently announced that they have received a Federal grant of $989,000 to continue managing and expanding the National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System.  Read the full details HERE.

*  Wildfire Today is reporting on a Hawaiian firefighter of 17 yrs. who was recently fired being suspected of setting grass fires.  Besides the latest in wildland fire news, keep scrolling on down to catch his articles on bears and Calif. condors being saved in the California fires HERE.

*  STATter911 has been rolling right along with the latest outbreak of infantilism from Maryland’s Peck’s Bad Boys in Kentland VFD.  If you haven’t been keeping up with it, take some Pepto-Bismol and read the latest HERE.

*  VAFireNews has good coverage of a gasoline tanker rollover and fire in downtown Roanoke last night.  They have many pics taken on-the-scene by the first alarm crews along with a video.  Make sure you check it out HERE.

*  The Housewatch has a good lesson today.  Check out this article dealing with deceptive building facades.  And make sure that you look at the Google Maps photo of the property before you look at the answer in the Comments section.  Click HERE.

*  FireRescue1 reports on a growing threat for an “industrial action” (strike) by the London, England, firefighters over a plan to regrade and thus force a £2,000 pay cut on one of the officer levels HERE.

*  FireNews.net is carrying a strange story about a field fire in Beaufort County, North Carolina, that was started by a hawk.  The 8-acre fire in a freshly-cut wheat field came close to consuming the farmhouse, but the FD was there in time to save it.  Read more about it HERE.

*  STATter911 has a strange one, too.  He has a breaking story about a woman who was treated by D.C. medics and then taken to the hospital.  Later she found that pictures of herself were taken with her own cell phone sometime during the event.  Follow it HERE.

*  EMS1 is reporting on an ambulance driver in Louisville, Kentucky, who crashed her ambulance in early April (Firegeezer REPORT) and killed her patient.  It has recently been disclosed that she (the driver) has a background of many traffic offenses and some criminal history as well.  Read the full story of this brewing scandal HERE.

*  VAFireNews reports on the City of Martinsville (Virginia) having its ISO rating upgraded, making it #18 in the state.  They have the full story HERE.

*  The Housewatch has an article about the firehouse “kitchen magician” and then links into a story about the granddaddy of all skaters HERE.

*  SConFire covers a church fire along with a video and photo gallery HERE.