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Click here to sign our guestbook
| Signed on August 08, 2012 at 2:55 AM |
| Name : |
Craig Patti |
| Rank / Title : |
Firefighter |
| Website : |
http://www. |
| Location : |
Bremerton, WA |
| Comments : |
It is attending a class like this that gets me excited and reminds me why I love this job. What a great class, and even better instructor! |
| Reply : |
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| Signed on July 20, 2009 at 3:29 PM |
| Name : |
Mike Coffey |
| Rank / Title : |
Chief |
| Website : |
http://tarrytownfd.org |
| Location : |
Tarrytown, NY |
| Comments : |
Aerial Ops course was phenominal. It was absolutely worth every penny. It was so good we signed him up for EVOC on the spot. Lt. WIlbur brings a lot of experience and mixes it in with quick wit and down to earth chatter that makes learning easy |
| Signed on June 01, 2009 at 10:41 PM |
| Name : |
Tommy |
| Rank / Title : |
Capt. Ladder 32 |
| Website : |
http://www.kleinfiredept.com |
| Location : |
Klein, Texas |
| Comments : |
Michael, I would like to thank you on behalf of my crew on Ladder 32. We attended your class the last weekend of May and had a great time. We all learned that these trucks can be used for so much more than just a last resort raise and spray. The class room was just as fun and informative as the hands on. I now feel that the ladder company’s in my department have an advantage over other departments in the area. I personally will hold my head a little higher knowing that. Thanks again for taking the time away from your family to teach this class. T. CollumsCapt. Ladder 32Klein FDKlein, Texas |
| Signed on May 15, 2009 at 1:17 PM |
| Name : |
John Greco |
| Rank / Title : |
Chief |
| Website : |
http://village of athens.org |
| Location : |
Athens, NY |
| Comments : |
Mike,Just wanted to drop you a line and say THANKS for the awesome class that you presented to us, the guys are still all talking about it. This being our first aerial device we were completly in the dark on operations, placement and safety when using this device. We have since put many of the techniques we learned in the class in real time. Once again I want to say THANKS and we look forward to seeing you next year at our annual installation banquet. John Greco |
| Signed on April 11, 2009 at 8:26 AM |
| Name : |
Rick Lasky |
| Rank / Title : |
Fire Chief |
| Website : |
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| Location : |
Lewisville, TX |
| Comments : |
Hi Mike,Thanks so much for your email brother. You have know idea just how much I appreciate it.I am truly blessed with the group I have here. They're always trying to do their best. Your class was awesome and the troops are not only still talking about it, they're utilizing what you taught them.Thanks again brother for all that you do and I'll see ya soon!Be safe,Rick...with Pride, Honor and Integrity.9-11-01 NEVER FORGET "FDNY 343"Never Forgetting Means Never Forgetting |
| Signed on March 31, 2009 at 10:29 PM |
| Name : |
Armando de Albuquerque |
| Rank / Title : |
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| Website : |
http:// |
| Location : |
Santo André – São Paulo – Brazil |
| Comments : |
Dear Michael,Thank you for the kind message. I’m surprised to be the first Brazilian signing in your powerful website. Even been a retired firefighter, I’m always “traveling” in the Internet, and frequently I find interesting sites, like yours. You know, all that FD stuff remains in our blood forever. Nowadays, I’m collecting data in order to prepare a presentation about the mistakes FDs do when purchasing their vehicles. The EVR archives will be very helpful. In Brazil, this area (how to write specifications for fire trucks) is poorly developed and the FDs usually follow manufacturers’ indications which are, also, poor. I’d like to share messages with you from time to time. Maybe, we should find some synergy to work together in this part of the world. Have you been in Brazil? Again, thank you, and if you need anything from Brazil, please let me know.. Best regards,ArmandoArmando de AlbuquerqueRua Tunísia, 30Santo André – São Paulo – Brazil |
| Signed on March 28, 2009 at 9:20 PM |
| Name : |
Doug Perro |
| Rank / Title : |
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| Website : |
http:// |
| Location : |
Franklin, MA |
| Comments : |
Hi Mike, Thanks again for the great class. This should be part of every academy recruit training program. Hopefully we can get you back for some more classes. Thanks again. |
| Signed on March 11, 2009 at 8:33 PM |
| Name : |
Brian Freed |
| Rank / Title : |
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| Website : |
http:// |
| Location : |
Lewisville, TX |
| Comments : |
Mike, just wanted to thank you again, for the GREAT Aerial Ops class you presented to our Department. I have burned all the pictures from the class on Saturday to a CD, and enclosed them in the mail along with your sunglasses and zip drive. Thanks again, Brian Brian FreedDivision Chief / Training & SafetyLewisville Fire DepartmentOffice # 972-219-3594Fax # 972-219-3704 |
| Signed on March 11, 2009 at 8:31 PM |
| Name : |
Armand Guzzi |
| Rank / Title : |
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| Website : |
http:// |
| Location : |
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| Comments : |
Thank you Mike. You are a brilliant educator and writer and because of you I have become a better chauffeur! God Bless you and your family this Christmas. Armand Guzzi |
| Signed on March 11, 2009 at 8:30 PM |
| Name : |
John Hauth |
| Rank / Title : |
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| Website : |
http:// |
| Location : |
Lancaster, WI |
| Comments : |
Dear Michael Wilbur,I have read with interest you article “The Killing Fields” and the reader responses in the November issue of Firehouse.I have been a volunteer firefighter for over 19 years in a city/rural department that serves 4,000 in the city and another 2,000 in the rural area. Our district covers about 40 square miles with many family farms. Years ago it wasn’t uncommon to respond to 1 or 2 barn fires per year, mostly dairy barns full of small hay bales. As you stated they are very hard to put out. On the other hand we have been able to rescue livestock trapped inside, save nearby buildings and silos or preserve enough of the structure so a cause of the fire could be determined. Large volumes of water are needed for these operations. Prior to the mid1980’s mutual aid was not used a lot and often times local ready mix concrete trucks were utilized to haul water from town. This was probably the safest means to haul water at the time because the trucks weren’t built for speed and the people driving them drove them everyday. Times have certainly changed.The same day I read the reader response our department was called to provide tankers for a barn fire about 8-9 miles away, only a couple loads were delivered by our trucks as no other structures were in danger. At the same time on the other end of the county another barn fire was reported, in all 14 tankers were operating at the same in our county. I don’t know if after the first trucks arrived that it was necessary to run with lights or not. It is common for our department to turn off the lights and sirens as soon as a good water supply is established and run at posted speeds. I agree that many times tankers are running full tilt when there is nothing to gain by it. My opinion is that some drivers are going to get excited no matter what they are operating no matter where they live and be a danger on the road. I can’t agree with a blanket policy saying no red lights or sirens on tankers. A barn, machine shed etc. in the rural areas is no different than a business on main street, the owners expect us to make every reasonable attempt to save their property and lively hood, in the rural areas this means getting adequate water to the scene as quickly as possible. As you know in rural volunteer departments response to the station and then out to the fire scene are putting you behind right from the start. Safe and efficient responses are important. I too wonder now why we exempted firefighters from having a CDL or drug testing. I am a public works employee subject to these requirements even though I drive a fire truck more often than the public works trucks requiring a CDL. In Wisconsin persons driving a fire apparatus are held to the same guidelines as anyone else who has a CDL and can only technically drive the vehicle to and from an emergency call. Not to the gas station or around the block, only to and from emergencies. We are fortunate that many of our members hold a CDL for their regular jobs and we may be looking at ways to encourage more people to get them. We have a 3,000 gallon tanker/pumper with a 7 speed manual transmission, the only one left in the fleet and it will be around for some time yet, it is surprising how well most everyone handles this truck. Maybe it is because we spend more time teaching them how to drive it and to respect the size of the truck instead of telling them to put it in drive and go. We also get our new drivers/operators to attend formal training through the local vocational school. Very seldom is a firefighter allowed to operate a fire apparatus without this training unless they operate similar size vehicles for a living.As for vehicle inspections; last year we decided that all of our vehicles would have a DOT inspection performed by a local repair shop that provides this service. A copy of the inspection is kept in each vehicle. This also gives us an idea if there are any other problems with the vehicle that only a qualified mechanic might notice. It is to risky to have members perform maintenance anymore and this allows us to devote more time to training instead.Thank you for your articles and concern for the safety of firefighters and everyone on the road.Sincerely,John HauthCaptainLancaster, Wi Volunteer Fire Dept. |
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