Among the Philadelphia (PA) FD’s 116 injuries so far this year are a FF that had hot aluminum drop down his neck, a gas explosion tossing a FF into the air, a FF put his hand thru glass and a medic was bitten by a dog. Those are included in numbers that are up 26 percent over the 92 injuries reported at the same time last year. Bill Gault, President of IAFF Local 22 blames "brownouts" and other cost-saving measures, claiming the members are overworked and understaffed.
No surprise, Gillison blasted Gault, saying he’s preying on public fears of inadequate emergency protection in a poorly disguised grab for more overtime money. City officials began the brownouts – in which three stations a week close temporarily on a rotational basis – last August in an effort to save $3.8 million in firefighter overtime.
The argument might be decided by an independent research group recently hired, at a $219,000 price tag, to independently review the PFD. Results are expected in four to six months, according to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, which commissioned the study at the PFD’s request.
America Burning Revisited 1987: http://tinyurl.com/5uhhwpk
"About two years ago my best friend, FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka, and I explored the idea of moving into the lecture arena on a more regular or “full time” basis. We decided that we would retire and begin teaching that January. We began booking extra classes and we were all set to move on. Then we changed our minds and decided to hold off.
Rick had some family issues to deal with (including the sad passing of his Mom) "When that began I made the decision to cancel the next two years of speaking engagements and be there for my family. I’m so very glad I did. You know my belief of “family first.”
Today my mom is in a much better place, my dad is doing very well, (Daughter) Emily is a “Fighting Farmer” and doing great, and my son is a Navy Corpsman in Afghanistan attached to the Marines and taking care of 35 of them on the ground.
Last July I realized just how much I missed teaching. I missed the energy of the classroom, the people, and of making a difference in the fire service on a national platform.
That being said this past fall I was presented with the opportunity to once again teach with my good friend John and began to explore the possibilities. We once again made the decision to move forward and decided that it would begin in 2011 later in the year. Teaching in Indy at FDIC this year just confirmed that it was time. I missed writing and working for my friend Chief Bobby Halton and I really missed teaching.
Therefore I am announcing that I will be retiring as Lewisville Fire Chief this fall. The reason for choosing that time of year is that we have several extremely important tasks to accomplish this summer at the LFD.
-by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
-by visiting memorials.
-by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
-by flying the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
-by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
and by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled -veterans.
