It has been a difficult several weeks here in South Florida and across the country. The terrible tragedy of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South building has, to date, cost 100 lives, with others still missing. As tragic as the situation was/is, words cannot express the dedication, devotion, compassion, professionalism and determination of every single USAR Task Force Team that worked the pile. That applies to our several Florida Task Force Teams, plus colleagues from Virginia, Indiana and Pennsylvania, as well as those who came from Israel and Mexico. A more dedicated group has not been seen.
     Beyond that incident, we have seen a spike in LODDs in this same period. A couple were Covid-19 related, a few were health issues, another was a firefighting aircraft crash. What bothers me is that I am concerned (and I'm guilty myself of doing this) that we are putting so much effort into our Firefighters' Cancer and Behavioral Initiatives, that we have dropped the proverbial "ball" (today, maybe I should say, "dropped the mic) in emphasizing the basic necessity of firefighters attaining a health level that would classify them as "fit-for-duty."
     The above is becoming more difficult to see work. Yet, we also get to see those brave and stalwart men and women, reach into their own pockets to assure that everyone on the teams gets to eat a decent meal, at least twice a day, even when the largest chain of fast-food restaurants, tells a group of firefighters/Hotshots that they'd be unable to assist the firefighters.
     Whether you are in a rural area with a small volunteer department, or you are in a big, metropolitan city, in a huge career department, to perform our work, our duty; to live by the words of our Oath, "...To save lives and property," means that we must first take care of ourselves so that we can physically take care of the people in our response district. So, if you are unable to correct your "'yaw and pitch," of life, or you disagree with your parents, your friends and your colleagues assessments that you are not meeting the standards of "fit-for-duty," what do you think is going to happen?
     Since many social media platforms have been able to post pictures along with a message, one of the strongest reasons why I even decided to produce a podcast was, seeing in the monthly trades, the obituaries of our Brothers and/or Sisters who lost their lives in the Line of Duty. And I realized, that in career, combo, volunteer and Hotshot departments, we had far too many LODDs attributable to treatable health issues. And by "treatable," I mean by a licensed and accredited MD, PA, PM, RN, etc., not via self-medicating!
     Recently, I saw the photos of several Brothers who had lost their lives, some were LODD and others were not. Nevertheless, there were at least two photos I saw where our Brothers were morbidly obese (unless a more recent photo might have reflected a firefighter who won the "Battle of the Bulge!" Moreover, having worked hard to lose nearly thirty pounds in 2017-2018, I know it is no easy task. However, if this is a true goal we set for ourselves, we can and, will persevere and reach some level of success. And each pound of body fat you lose with proper exercise and a balanced diet that is right for you, brings you that much closer to being fit-for-duty. 
     Better yet, there are firefighters across this great country, who teach via Zoom, recordings or in-person, how to eat and exercise properly; no, not for a competition, but to help you be fit-for-duty!
     And remember, while no shade of Kryptonite will affect you, you don't wear a cape and you are not invulnerable or invincible.
     PLEASE....take care of yourself so that you can indeed, take care of others!
     Stay Safe & Stay Well!

     When we arise each morning, most of us are grateful for that simple act, especially as we age and get older. Hopefully, our past experiences give us the "energy" to face each new day with an open mind, a determination to learn and do our very best. Nevertheless, that is no guaranty that we will have a great day and we are aghast when Life throws us a curve ball.
     In our profession as career, volunteer, part-pay and WUI firefighters, we know from the moment we even consider to be a member of these elite organizations, that this "job" is inherently risky. True, most of us have excellent training and trainers, to teach us what being a firefighter today, is all about. And today in 2021, it's a great deal different that when I, and many other men and women were responding to calls.
     Thankfully, with the knowledge gained over the past 30+ years, the vast majority of firefighters who protect and serve this country, perform heroically and admirably, whether it is rescuing Ms. Smith's cat up a tree, rescuing three people on the second floor of burning home, to racing out onto the lake for a water rescue. Yet, each response above comes with its own peril. And, as well as we may train and carefully carry out our duties on-scene of an emergency, something can indeed "go south," very quickly, changing our lives forever.
     As many of us know all too well, 2020 was a crappy year for us, whether we worked in Public Safety or not. And with all the bitching and moaning regarding the Covid-19 protocols around the country, let us not forget that we have lost over 120 firefighters to Covid-19, plus numerous paramedics & EMT's, as well as dispatchers and call takers.
     So, what happens to the families of those severely injured, disabled or who pay the ultimate price? That is where the 5-Alarm Task Force Corp Foundation comes in. While we will strive to be able to include all first responders, right now, we are focusing on our Brothers and Sisters in the Fire Service. And to do either or both, we need the everyone's help! Think of our efforts as "all hands working!" 
     The first way that you can help is my sharing this link and our social media posts with any colleagues you may have in the three, main branches of Public Safety. Let them see what we are trying to do.
     The second way  that you can help us is by making a donation. Our new, customized Donation Page, provides you with numerous ways to give and choose where you want your donation to go, to either our Operations Account, which is used for our office  and podcast expenses or to the Foundation, which is the key account we sue to disburse our financial assistance.
     Additionally, thanks to our new and good friends at EFT Corporation, you can make a donation from $1 on up. You can use a credit or debit card, a check or an ACH automatic transfer. He can choose to make a single donation or, a weekly, monthly or yearly contribution.
      Currently, we are running a special gift program with our new T-shirts. We have them in three sizes, Medium, Large & Extra Large, as well as 3 colors, Black, Army Green and Deep Blue. 
For a minimum donation of $50.00 you will receive the T-shirt of your choice for FREE!. That's right, absolutely free!
      Please remember that it is not the amount of your donation, since we accept anything from a dollar on up. It is the act that is important.
      We never know what life will bring us on any given day. Just as we train and practice both at home and at the station, depending on where we live, we prepare for encounters with "Mother Earth." Here at 5-Alarm Task Force Corp., we are preparing to help you or your family when you find yourself in dire need.
      Please visit our Homepage or the DONATE tab across the top menu. Then scroll down until you see the photo of a beautiful, chrome "Q" siren and click on the picture. Our donation page will pop up and provide you with your opportunity to reach out and help someone you may never even know or, it could be one of your colleagues or even, your own family.
     Stay Safe & Stay Well!

     If you, our reader, has been in the fire service for a year or so, or more, you have probably seen spectator problems, especially with "rubber-necking" on highway or roadway accidents. On our roads, these deliberate slow-downs often impede our ability to arrive on scene and even perform the necessary tasks to provide the necessary assistance. Add to that the rude replies we receive from numerous drivers and passengers when we politely ask them to, "keep moving," or we divert them with a detour...well you know what I mean.
     Now some of you may think that this attitude is a more recent occurrence due to our society's devolving into the "Me," attitude of today, but you would be wrong. It was 1977 and I had just joined a combo department, just outside Greensboro NC. A section of I-40 cut right through our southern district and, it was an MVC on that highway, that was one of the first calls I was qualified to respond on.
     Luckily, we were responding from the station before the dispatcher even finished announcing the call and the highway was just over a mile down the street from our station. Luckily the two or three involved vehicles were already in the "breakdown lane." Upon arrival in our Squad, my friend and I were detailed to traffic control on I-40. We were wearing orange vests and carried orange directional wands. The Captain and Chief met us and advised us what they needed us to do, namely, keep the traffic moving, slowly and safely past the accident scene.
     "How difficult could that be?" we naively thought!
     It probably took less than five minutes before I was reprimanded by a driver for "upsetting" his travel plans! I was trying to be very polite and explained the issue; over and over again.  No matter what I said, he had already vilified me for upsetting his family's plan to go wherever they were going. And I wasn't alone. He and others like him that afternoon, blamed every difficulty they had ever experienced, as well as the world's geo-political problems on our fire department!  
     Now, nearly 45 years later, one might believe that our society world have evolved since then, right? Wrong! Take a look at social and news media reports of a major, five-alarm fire in Lawrence MA, last night. Lawrence is a mid-sized city, a northwestern suburb of Boston. This morning, I have read or watched multiple articles and videos about how uncooperative people were during this major catastrophe. 
     Even after being advised not to cross fire-tape, come to the neighborhood, etc., dozens of folks decided it was better to watch a major fire that was impacting their own neighbors, then to stay at home. There were multiple reports that the crowds were not allowing needed fire apparatus to get to the scene or their staging assignments. People thought of the tragedy as entertainment and decided to sit or stand and watch from the viewpoint that would best suit them, not our brave Brothers and Sisters, who were contending with active fire in four major structures, cold temperatures and winds gusting to over 25 MPH.
     I have no doubt whatsoever that the Lawrence Police Department, as well as neighboring agencies and the Mass State Police did everything within reason to keep onlookers our of the way of the numerous fire services. Nevertheless, the truth comes out and we can only imagine how difficult that situation was last evening and for the rest of us, as well.
     There is nothing to be gained by being a "rubber-necker" or an uninvited and unwanted spectator at the scene of a major emergency. I know I often wondered, when I got some "lip" from a driver or spectator, how he or she would have felt if it was their emergency and all these people showed up and got in the way of the emergency service people attempting to mitigate their emergency.
     Listen, if we're some of the first on scene before the local fire, EMS or law enforcement teams show up, we know that we'll render aid; that's who we are and what we do. But when a major portion of your neighborhood is burning down and brave men and women are risking their lives to mitigate the emergency, please help us and STAY the F**K away from us! We're NOT the new feature at your neighborhood "drive-in!"
     STAY SAFE & STAY WELL!

     Most of us, as we grew up, set goals for ourselves, i.e. college, job, family, etc. However, as again, most of us are aware, Life often takes us down different pathways than those we had wanted and anticipated. On our podcast, "5-Alarm Task Force," you have heard me state that I had had no plans to be a firefighter; none whatsoever; I was going to be a rabbi! That all changed in the years 1974-77, when Life sent me on a different path to North Carolina. It was there that I joined my first volunteer department and that, changed my life forever, for the better! I have a hunch that if you are reading this entry, you may have had Life change a path for you, as well.
     As some of you may know, I have had to cut back on my schedule a bit, due to some medical issues that have arisen. Nevertheless, I will use every moment I can be in this office to carry out the task that 5-Alarm Task Force Corp. was setup to do, namely to help our Brothers and Sisters in dire need. As you are probably aware, we lost both a Brother firefighter this week in Spring Valley NY, as well as a Brother-in-Blue in Boulder CO. We are now researching how we can reach out to help those families.
     To do so, we still need your help. We just posted on Twitter that we have sold our last, three T-shirts, so it's time to add some new "swag" to our store. What would you like to see us carry, more short-sleeve T-shirts, long-sleeve T-shirts, ball caps, hoodies, etc? You can let us know at [email protected] or post your choice on Twitter to @5AlarmTaskForce #FATFSwag.
     And remember, if you would like to make a donation to help us in our Life's Goal, we have made it much easier for you to do so. You will find the DONATE tab on our main menu, across the top. It will take you to our main donation page and just click on the photo of the "Q" siren! When you do, a new form will pop-up. There you can make a single donation or, you can choose to help us every month. We are not asking for any set amount. We always want you to be comfortable with whatever donation you are willing to make. And now, you have the choice of using a credit or debit card, as well as a checking/savings account or an electronic ACH transfer. Your information is automatically encrypted for your safety and security by our friends at EFT Transfer. And every penny will help us in our goal.
    For those of you who will be celebrating Passover or Easter, we wish you a sweet and joyous holiday.
     Stay Safe and Stay Well!

     Today, marks a new milestone for 5-Alarm task Force Corp. As of today, March 18, 2021, we welcome our new partners, EFT Transfer Services, to process our general donations. Those new live donations points can be found on our Home Page, the Podcast Page and the Scroll of Honor Page, accessible through the OUR PURPOSE tab on the Main Menu. And you will note that we use a favorite "symbol" of the Fire Service, for you to "click" on!
     When you select the "Q2B" photo, a new donation online donation form will pop-up in either a new tab or browser page, based on your personal configuration. You will see our logo and our message. And, better yet, you can now donate using a bank account through the ACH resource from EFT Transfer.
     Now, when you shop in our store, we are still using PayPal for your shopping cart. So, pick up a new t-shirt and soon, we'll have some other items there as well.
     With nearly twenty years working in and leading nonprofits, we must make our visitors feel welcome, so that you understand our singular mission - helping firefighters in dire need (and we hope to raise enough to assist other first responders , as well!)

     Thank you for your support!

    

     With sincere appreciation to our friends Diane & Paul Cotter, We have another important video regarding the Firefighter Cancer Initiative. While in some ways, we see many positive strides, we often find surprises, including information that was implicitly hidden, regarding cancer dangers to the fire service.
     We hope you will check out the link below to watch this video clip from "Brian Ross Investigates," from the "Law & Crime Channel."
     www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=257729489164865&ref=watch_permalink