- Sea of Blue
—Chief McCormick has been calling all the stations and
with 70% reporting, over 440 have RSVP’d! This is great news!!!! We
look forward to having as many participants as possible. Please mark October
10, 2014, on your calendar and make plans to join us.
- New RHIB Training
—is underway. Almost 60 individuals have
enrolled in the deckhand/RHIB training for the Marine Division. This
is a great force-multiplier as we build depth in the marine-capable
readiness for our department. Thank you to everyone who signed up!
Now let’s see some of the runs you all have gone on
this week:
- W3 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE/ FD 14/ 1393 MURRAY DR/ TG
B1/ END
- W3 SINGL FAM RES/FD57/2595 CARSON OAKS DR/IC E18 ON B-1/END
- 2 PERSONS & DOG TRAPPED IN VEH BY FALLEN TREE/FD28/4120 E RUBY DR/IC F3
ON B-9/END
- Mobile Home Structure Fire/W3/FD34/11511 Lorence Ave./TGB1/End
- FD57 W3 RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE 2595 CARSON OAKS DR.TGB1
- FD41 W3 RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE 1192 SONGBIRD LN...TGB1
- FD36 W3 STRUCTURE FIRE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE 7156 DOSTIE DR TGB5
- W3/Commercial Structure Fire/Restaurant/Mario's Italian
Restaurant/FD55/240 3rd St./End
- W3/Residential Structure Fire/Single Family Residence//FD17/5051
Broadway Ave./TGB5/End
- FD 18/ NB I 95 & MLK JR PKWY/ TRAFFIC ACCIDENT/ SEMI WITH RUPTURED
SADDLE TANK/ APRROX 100 GAL DIESEL LEAK/TG B1/END/
- FD 52/ W3 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE FIRE/ 7120 TIMMERMAN LN/TG
B1/ END
- FD29 W3 STRUCTURE FIRE TOWNHOUSE 11231 TROTTING HORSE LN... TGB1..
- And few thousand other calls this week!
Time to give some thanks…but first a little
background:
Sometime in late 90’s, Station 50 responded to
one sick. When we walked in I saw a familiar face as a lady I knew from a
shopping center we visited frequently. You could see the relief in her
eyes as she recognized the crew. No sooner could we begin asking what’s
going on did she go into full cardiac arrest. Fast forward 15 years and we
still see her today with no deficit. My wife felt compelled to share her
story with you all after seeing her last week.
- After seeing Ms._____today, I wanted to share thoughts with you that
someone on the outside looking in sees. The things that might become
mundane to a firefighter can be some of the most important moments in
someone’s life. Not just the life they saved, the baby that was born,
the person’s house they saved from a fire or someone they cut out of a
car…its sort of like a pyramid effect. For every person you have
saved, there is a family, a mom, a dad, sister, friend, brother that looks
to you as a hero and is so thankful you prevented what could have been a
disaster in so many people lives. I guess what I’m saying it doesn’t
stop with the actual patient…"it" being the thankfulness for what
you do day in and day out. Other people look at you with such respect
and admiration that you have the ability to help and save someone’s life,
I wish I could do that. I guess it’s just been part of my life all my
life[my dad is a retired JFRD Captain] and for some reason today when I
looked at Ms._____I felt different about it; almost like it was routine to
me too…..Don’t let the routine deter you. You should be proud of your
skills and the compassion you have for other’s because that trait isn’t
found in all people. You are a chosen few…Don’t forget the reason you
answered your calling….the patients and their families will certainly never
forget what you did for them on that day…..LD
Time for the Quote of the WIR.
- "Please be kind to the citizens.. Sometimes our voice may be the most
positive thing they experience; It's cheap and you'll feel better about
yourself. Be kind to one another; You never know a person’s struggles
even if you work with them... Many times a kind word can mean the world. You
also don't ever actually know what a person’s circumstances are. Be there
for your brothers and sisters on this job. When you need them they'll be
there for you. Don't just complain about things, find a way to make things
better."—Lt. S. Todd Smith E-7-B
- "The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its
limits."
― Albert Einstein
- I come to this same conclusion every night my wife turns on reality
TV.
Innocent Ignorance Part II
A comment was made to me which suggested someone might
interpret my thoughts last week to mean if you are not part of the HazMat team
then you don’t know anything. If that is the case, it couldn’t be further
from the truth. The point I was trying to make was I didn’t attend any new
or continuing educational classes. I thought I knew it all already. Back
then the ERG book wasn’t on an exam and it certainly wasn’t on every apparatus
and there was no HazMat book to study, just an SOG. Most of you know more about
Hazmat than I did back then. The suggestion was for you to continue to
expand your knowledge through schooling, classes, opportunities, and our new
leadership development program. I can only speak on my experience and
share my shortcomings with you. It wasn’t until I went to station 21 did I
go get my Associates degree and finally my Bachelor’s degree. I hope this
clarifies as my innocent ignorance may have struck again.
Well that’s it for this WIR. I hope everyone
has a good weekend and I hope you get to spend it with family and friends.
As for me, I’ll be paddle boarding in Daytona Beach. After watching Shark
Week, I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. Of course if any shark dare
tried to bite these legs, they probably chip a tooth…lol (chicken legs).
Please continue to have our folks in your thoughts and prayers as some are truly
having a rough time.
As always, we thank you for what you do, why you do
it, for always showing why you are truly the best Fire Rescue Department in the
Country!
Kurtis R. Wilson
Chief of Operations
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department