tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50757430304316948022024-03-21T09:33:05.710-07:00Keep 200 Ft Back: My View From the Back StepGary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-25520065763275533412017-03-04T12:49:00.002-08:002017-03-04T12:49:43.826-08:00Fire In His BonesThe newest novel in the Dave Michaels series is now available...Get yours now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOIXvP-JpkbzgnT2eUtA6sXTVt4HSFsh4v8N8YlrG2H3pSTCTyRB8EwcrMFurt_bIVDE3f3Rat5vm8x2MzUXnC8HrTHTzByrnuBWH5qL4E3OtanHrrjztKWcJoMvLtGCz3CD3Kt7Zcufz/s1600/Cover+Snip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOIXvP-JpkbzgnT2eUtA6sXTVt4HSFsh4v8N8YlrG2H3pSTCTyRB8EwcrMFurt_bIVDE3f3Rat5vm8x2MzUXnC8HrTHTzByrnuBWH5qL4E3OtanHrrjztKWcJoMvLtGCz3CD3Kt7Zcufz/s320/Cover+Snip.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fire-His-Bones-Gary-Ryman/dp/1537332945/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488660505&sr=8-1&keywords=Gary+Ryman" target="_blank">Fire In His Bones</a><br />
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“Dave, we do a great job in this department with every victim we encounter except one, the one in the mirror. You’re a victim and you either don’t know it or won’t admit it,” Chief Mann said. Captain Dave Michaels attained his dream job as the company commander of Rescue Squad 1, one of two such elite units in Fairmont County. But the dream turns into a nightmare, literally, when his crew is first arriving after a North Korean sponsored terrorist bombing of a library slaughters a visiting Kindergarten class. The “old school” Michaels resists help as his life spirals downward. Removed from his company and saddled with a desk, Michaels faces the loss of his job, wife, and family. Assigned to develop a rescue squad training program, the project turns out to be more valuable than imagined, teaching him about himself and helping him deal with the mental trauma. The assignment and the help of a firefighter counselor reopens the fire house door. Restored to command of a truck company, Michaels works through his struggles to reach a stronger place, at the same time wondering if the deadly attack was a lone wolf or are more in the wings?Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-84947393192081319522015-12-30T06:46:00.000-08:002015-12-30T06:46:08.456-08:00"Living The Dream"
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The experience of being a live-in firefighter is one
that most who have ever done it would not trade for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Living the dream,” it is called by many,
particularly those who never had the opportunity, and they are not wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A few things do change, arguably for the better, after
you move out and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Language is
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fire stations are not kind to the
vocabulary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The F-word is not only a
noun, verb, and adjective, but in skilled firehouse hands, can be used as
punctuation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember having to
consciously restrict myself when outside the station in “normal” company to
avoid saying things like “pass the f@^*ing potatoes.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As time passes, so does the propensity to
use the F-word in every sentence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
or twice a paragraph suffices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Sleep improves as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When living in the station, I think I slept
eight straight hours once a week, maybe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between calls, staying up late bullshitting,
and calls, three to five hours was a normal night’s sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This experience is excellent practice for the
period following the birth of your first and subsequent children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That amount of sleep would now leave me on a
continuous coffee intravenous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The live-in opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime
experience. Thankfully, it is one you only get to do when you’re young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-84858410209657477942015-08-30T07:39:00.000-07:002015-08-30T07:39:48.005-07:00My Top Ten....<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lists of the top ten this or that have been the rage for years, and fodder for great fun and debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to add to the noise with a selection of my Top Ten Fire Service reads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is totally subjective and personal, and is my list today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could change tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone out there can and probably would come up with a different list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">My list is hopelessly prejudiced because of two selections I would automatically make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The books below are not in any particular order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Report From Engine Company 82—Dennis Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fireground Tactics—Emanuel Fried<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Firefight:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside the Battle to Save the Pentagon on 9/11—Patrick Creed and Rick Newman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">D.C. Fire—Dennis Rubin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Last Men Out:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life on the Edge at Rescue 2 Firehouse—Tom Downey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Population 485-Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time—Michael Perry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thirty Years on the Line—Leo Stapleton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">B-Shifter:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Firefighter’s Memoir—Nick Brunacini<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mayday! Firefighter Down—Gary Ryman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fire Men:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stories From Three Generations of a Firefighting Family—Gary Ryman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is an eclectic list and includes some works that many may have never heard of, much less read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some haven’t been in print for a while (but may be available on the used market).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only one is a true “tactics and strategy” book—introduced to me by my Dad over 30 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good then and is still relevant now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s not a book on this list I haven’t read multiple times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I hope you’ll put together your own list and hopefully at least one of mine will make it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Here are some links to a few of the above. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mayday-Firefighter-Down-Gary-Ryman/dp/1555718027/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1434015678" target="_blank">Mayday! Firefighter Down</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Men-Stories-Generations-Firefighting/dp/0982256590/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0QNHY1YYK6XMEA2MTX75" target="_blank">Fire Men: Stories From Three Generations of a Firefighting Family</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/D-C-Fire-Dennis-L-Rubin/dp/159370304X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440945172&sr=1-1&keywords=D.C.+Fire&pebp=1440945173723&perid=0EG5PJJ66SWC7E3AZEBZ" target="_blank">D.C. Fire</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Report-Engine-Co-Dennis-Smith-ebook/dp/B002OFVOK4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1440945213&sr=1-1&keywords=report+from+engine+co.+82&pebp=1440945215904&perid=1AJAVE7RMJZQH8FFGGZ5" target="_blank">Report From Engine Company 82</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Firefight-Inside-Battle-Save-Pentagon-ebook/dp/B001A6ZWLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440945275&sr=8-1&keywords=firefight+inside+the+battle&pebp=1440945277641&perid=0CR9NXJYEJYNWWRXZ2BK" target="_blank">Firefight: Inside the Battle to Save the Pentagon on 9/11</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<br />Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-14556848965382291072015-08-21T13:41:00.001-07:002015-08-21T13:41:34.364-07:00Proof!--It's a Great Beach Read!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQnE26ctPzpqDFiA1PTv-IB4VkNeVRtsEHxQZi_KwUOt3Fu4X6zoyCErdf0mTCWpxtbjgp2-dAJ4_n2dXFGHVZ_w2whrK7P4lWgDREIsO_RKAlWkji3NoYf5tkOferrWflEC11kFP7Iam/s1600/11891270_998382490182520_4149194387376472255_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQnE26ctPzpqDFiA1PTv-IB4VkNeVRtsEHxQZi_KwUOt3Fu4X6zoyCErdf0mTCWpxtbjgp2-dAJ4_n2dXFGHVZ_w2whrK7P4lWgDREIsO_RKAlWkji3NoYf5tkOferrWflEC11kFP7Iam/s320/11891270_998382490182520_4149194387376472255_n.jpg" width="176" /></a></div>
<br />Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-112937201710211182015-06-14T06:01:00.001-07:002015-06-14T06:01:24.052-07:00A Writing Update
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">It’s been a while since I’ve written
anything here but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the contrary, in the last few months I’ve
completed the first draft of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fire In His
Bones, </i>which is the working title for the sequel to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mayday! Firefighter Down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Editing
and a second draft is well underway on this manuscript and I’m jotting down
ideas for the third and final book in the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fire
In His Bones, </i>Dave Michaels fans can follow him with his promotion to
Captain and assignment as the company commander of the elite Squad 1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be an exciting ride…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the same time, I’ve finished the first
draft of another novel on a non-fire topic, which allowed me to creatively
stretch a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This book, entitled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Education of Stuart McGrath, </i>is
political satire set in the satirical gold mine which is Scranton,
Pennsylvania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stuart is a young grad
school political junkie who by the force of sheer competence, an unusual
commodity in Scranton electoral politics, and a cheap salary, rises to the
illustrious if deceiving position of Chief of Staff to the mayor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This manuscript is fermenting in the bottom
drawer of my desk for another few weeks before I begin the revision process,
but I’m excited to take a fresh pass at what I hope will be a fun book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Time to fire up the coffee and get back to
work….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-90694348507753998502015-04-15T15:02:00.000-07:002015-04-15T15:02:02.468-07:00It Won’t Happen to us…Our Treasurer is Honest Harry
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Treasurer
arrested, fire company president accused, chief steals funds; the newspaper
headlines scream and the citizens of multiple communities sadly shake their
heads on a daily basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do these
otherwise civic minded individuals do this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The answer, unfortunately, is easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They’re dishonest; it’s as simple as that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they had personal financial problems,
gambling issues, or thought they could just get away with it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those rationalizations are excuses but don’t
change the central fact that those who steal from fire departments are
criminals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, there’s no
surefire method to keep them out, at least completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about the CIA and FBI agents who are
vetted more carefully than any firefighter; go through regular polygraphs, and
we still end up with the occasional bad apple which we hear about on the 6:30
PM national news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">There
are ways, though you can reduce the chances of your department being on the
front page of the newspaper with a photo of your company president doing a perp
walk in hand cuffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With some basic
business controls, procedures, and processes, you can make it harder for these
individuals, less tempting, and hopefully discover nefarious activities before
they become bank account busting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
isn’t about trusting good old Harry who’s as honest as the day is long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honest Harry and others like him will welcome
financial controls because it removes trust from the equation and the
opportunity for questionable activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If the opportunity exists, somebody, eventually, will take it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe not Harry, but who knows about the
gambling problem his brother-in-law, the company president has.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
basics have a lot of common sense components.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You don’t need an MBA to put these in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Establish
rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need to apply to everyone—no
exceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If
it involves cash, more than one person needs to be involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can’t be repeated too often, and as the
teacher said before the test, you will see this material again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have
a line item budget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The treasurer should
monitor receipts and revenue versus that projected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Likewise, the expenditures for each line item
should be noted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A monthly report with
this data provides a transparent picture to the organization and helps the
leadership with their management responsibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Reconcile
bank accounts on a monthly basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
job for the treasurer, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone other than the
treasurer or anyone else handling funds or writing checks should have this
job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This provides an independent
verification and removes one obvious opportunity for someone to cook the
books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Periodic
audits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Annual is best, but at least
every couple of years, an audit should be completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When treasurers change is also another good
time to ensure a clean bill of financial health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accountants are expensive, you say, and you’re
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the funds are hard to come by
to pay for an audit, consider asking a local CPA who lives or works in your
first due if they would consider doing it as a donation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait until after tax season, though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask if they see any opportunities to improve
financial management, procedures or record keeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use their expertise to your advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
two (or more) person rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Multiple
signatures on checks, counting cash, opening mail, are all times to have more
than one person involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cash is not
your friend when it comes to financial safeguards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minimize it where possible and always, always
have more than one person involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This
isn’t a comprehensive list but just these few items will go a long way in
limiting the opportunity for financial funny business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So
it’s all about the money, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wrong;
the money is important but the main issue is trust.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
Honest Harry, the long term treasurer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
trust of the citizens we’ve sworn to protect is what we need to ensure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easily damaged and difficult to
repair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re the stewards of that
trust, measured by how we take care of their money—whether raised by taxes or
chicken barbecues and pancake breakfasts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These folks have the right to know that it’s being spent carefully and
honestly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-30919422562749133092015-03-29T13:31:00.000-07:002015-03-29T13:31:10.514-07:00An End of Winter Teaser
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s been an interminable winter, good only for one
thing, writing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Work on the sequel to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mayday: Firefighter Down!</i> is coming
along, up to around 69,000 words so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Predicting when a project will be complete is an act of futility, but a
“teaser” may be in order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No plot or
story hints right now, but here is a scene I recently finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mickey
was on kelly day Monday, the next day Dave’s shift worked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Firefighter Mark Perry, a five year man, was
detailed in to cover the shift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
overtime from the fifth battalion, none of the truck crew had worked with him
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The morning routine proceeded
normally until Dave walked into the kitchen around 8:15 for a caffeine refill
and found the detail man sitting at the table reading the newspaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before he could say anything, Pizza walked
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Have you finished your equipment
check out, kid?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dave knew Pizza wouldn’t have asked
if he didn’t already know the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perry answered without looking up
from the paper. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’ll get to it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Joe balled up his fists and started
for the detail man until Dave raised his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Perry, my office, now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come on, Captain; don’t tell me
you’re one of those rule book pukes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
heard you were a straight shooter.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dave looked over at Pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He used every ounce of restraint in his body
not to grab the kid by the throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Perry, either walk out the door and
go on sick leave or get your ass in my fucking office now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The young firefighter rose, and
faced Michaels.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sure Captain, let’s go have a chat.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the office, Dave leaned against
his desk while Perry slouched in one of the extra chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The engine officer was out on a run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s your problem?” Dave asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“My problem?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m here on an overtime shift, not to kill
myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to give me that rule
book shit, no problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be filing a
grievance by lunch time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Kid, let me explain something to
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this company, firefighting isn’t
something we do, it’s who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
just want to collect a check, go back to the fifth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want you here.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gladly, I feel like I’ve got a
fever coming on anyway,” Perry said, rising from the chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Michaels walked past him and opened the
office door, motioning him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he
hit the threshold, Dave said, “he’s all yours, Pizza.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Outside the office, Pizza
waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perry walked out and Dave shut
the door behind him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pizza grabbed Perry
by the throat with one hand and lifted him from the ground, pinning him against
the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You listen to me, fuck-wad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re not going to file a grievance; you’re
not going to file shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know everybody
in this department and I’ll make sure the rest of your short career will be a
living hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to learn to be a fireman,
stay; we’ll teach you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to
leave, be my guest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t give a shit
which.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now nod you understand.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Perry’s face was red, verging on
purple from lack of oxygen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pizza flexed
his wrist to make the young man’s head bob like a puppet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He dropped him to the floor, turned, and walked
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perry sank to his knees, gasping
for breath, bruises starting to form on his neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Within minutes, Perry gathered his
gear and exited the rear door, driving away without another word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave walked across the apparatus floor to the
battalion chief’s office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“My detailed firefighter went home
sick,” he told the chief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older man
looked up from his desk and Dave, lifting one eyebrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Anything
I need to know, Dave?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“You
may not want to take him in the battalion on any more details; seems prone
to…illness.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Got it, Dave; you okay running
understaffed until I can call somebody in?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yeah, we’re fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give Mickey a call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think he had anything special planned
today; might make it easier.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dave knew
Mickey might appreciate the overtime he’d get paid for coming in on his day
off. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Okay Dave, I’ll let you know.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-47279350510295657462014-12-12T04:06:00.001-08:002014-12-12T04:06:24.946-08:00The Hidden Button
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
young couple lived in the house a week, a month, perhaps a year or more before
making the mysterious discovery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside
the closet door in the master bedroom, carefully concealed, was a white
circular button in a black vertical frame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was inside the right door where a knowing hand could reach around the
casing and push it without looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Maybe
it opens a hidden door to a secret room,” the woman said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man rolled his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Better
would be a secret compartment filled with cash,” the man said. (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dream on, kids)</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I’ve
read about those secret safe rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wouldn’t that be cool?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The woman
watched a lot of television.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Maybe
it sounded a buzzer in the kitchen for the wife to bring the husband a beer,”
the man grinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“You can dream
on,” his wife said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
real function was far more mundane but no less crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Dad I could hear this dialogue in my
mind; the future owners of his house having this conversation in the years to
come when they discovered his button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
them, the button would likely remain a mystery forever, discussed on occasion when
a new theory for the whodunit arose. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
button, an old fashioned door bell was connected to the garage door opener for
Dad’s car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not willing to wait the five
seconds, maybe, for the door to go up once he reached the garage when
responding to a fire, he installed it when the house was built.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the Plectron went off (remember those?)
he would reach into the closet as he finished dressing, hand knowing the way,
and push the button.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time he
reached the garage, the door was fully open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Speed and efficiency out of the house didn’t happen by accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“Maybe
it was a panic or emergency alarm, like the buttons in a bank,” the woman would
say, the mystery continuing. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I
still like the beer idea,” the man would offer. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">“I
told you, dream on.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRMUDiFBl0NdqYitio31FaZnFbT7GgQVAa1avI9SrAEBCTDXa4be5IJX-cZWCvQdKKA-LxAuJe-R4ymJyKNYCYi0iDiQaMOPWXQ-_YviWr92MlpUtk1E9ithyphenhyphenH6i-FyyvsPK-nFLIuIuq/s1600/Doorbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyRMUDiFBl0NdqYitio31FaZnFbT7GgQVAa1avI9SrAEBCTDXa4be5IJX-cZWCvQdKKA-LxAuJe-R4ymJyKNYCYi0iDiQaMOPWXQ-_YviWr92MlpUtk1E9ithyphenhyphenH6i-FyyvsPK-nFLIuIuq/s1600/Doorbell.jpg" /></a></div>
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Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-8660986076382361262014-11-08T15:50:00.002-08:002014-11-08T15:50:14.371-08:00Book Signing Event Next SaturdayI'll be signing copies of <em>Mayday! Firefighter Down </em>and <em>Fire Men: Stories From Three Generations of a Firefighting Family </em>on Saturday, November 15th from 2-8PM at <a href="http://www.maiolatesiwinecellars.com/" target="_blank">Maiolatesi Wine Cellars</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs2blm4poWBoEDNXwFxWqiXHVS_uwgfyAYKjNcPAysycLFgFYRX1vc4DWLTZTbigbOryPBmjCJfnq3gc1OxsnMyrh6ttaK0Rj9pddKui0GmnOUsEYxPdEu-mB-Ll9YTUwo6n07uzfTfb5/s1600/Sip+and+Shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs2blm4poWBoEDNXwFxWqiXHVS_uwgfyAYKjNcPAysycLFgFYRX1vc4DWLTZTbigbOryPBmjCJfnq3gc1OxsnMyrh6ttaK0Rj9pddKui0GmnOUsEYxPdEu-mB-Ll9YTUwo6n07uzfTfb5/s1600/Sip+and+Shop.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwetk0Cyo1T_MbaOAtM64byad-TZBriaK8zgvshfz1iQ-ytuKCtP2WaEvQgnrgT1EwAPw4V4sKK8l1osDXKjN2sraC4U7xvEatfHi7ysncG3qdGP1C_Wi9cfbHuOm6Mn4tI3aO0pXgRAyr/s1600/10433106_10152614511493509_1320558320706020210_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwetk0Cyo1T_MbaOAtM64byad-TZBriaK8zgvshfz1iQ-ytuKCtP2WaEvQgnrgT1EwAPw4V4sKK8l1osDXKjN2sraC4U7xvEatfHi7ysncG3qdGP1C_Wi9cfbHuOm6Mn4tI3aO0pXgRAyr/s1600/10433106_10152614511493509_1320558320706020210_n.jpg" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
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Stop by the winery at 32 Cabernet Drive, Scott Township, PA 18447 for a great time. Wine, music, light snacks, and books! </div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-39290612736397247342014-09-10T11:55:00.000-07:002014-09-10T11:55:30.493-07:00Now Available for Pre-Order...Mayday! Firefighter DownMy new novel <em>Mayday! Firefighter Down </em>is now available for pre-order on
the publisher's website. It should be out on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in a
few weeks. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://hellgatepress.com/gary-ryman/mayday-firefighter-down" target="_blank">Mayday! Firefighter Down</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLo80fFkJCOT90kDijPmWrLLPcOudr-pCR7GxyoB0Hm8Z6WYmgjQ1jMQ9HEige9SCsHQOOfd6qFVn5tkjFNR0UuFeUT_UjGV-XAo70hQHg-0KCLwms8IethgQMwzrUIIHTPGfJI6993H_/s1600/mayday_cvr_draft1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLo80fFkJCOT90kDijPmWrLLPcOudr-pCR7GxyoB0Hm8Z6WYmgjQ1jMQ9HEige9SCsHQOOfd6qFVn5tkjFNR0UuFeUT_UjGV-XAo70hQHg-0KCLwms8IethgQMwzrUIIHTPGfJI6993H_/s1600/mayday_cvr_draft1.jpeg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<br />Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-80197423861006539652014-08-26T16:28:00.003-07:002014-08-26T16:28:40.945-07:00Coming soon...Mayday! Firefighter Down<strong>My new novel due for release this fall.</strong> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xoZAzGPOdBEEjkNT1KrpSEmvZtTaNi3A5qgEXRJ3WItfM6lnRxBkppIlgabRdcYV6scNPft8Hnug-bnWXSOMeJ8OxDqTOu98d49zrQRBSUpx0MYseuJq4p0NAtNoIuQM9_56GoIr0Iqm/s1600/mayday_cvr_final_front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xoZAzGPOdBEEjkNT1KrpSEmvZtTaNi3A5qgEXRJ3WItfM6lnRxBkppIlgabRdcYV6scNPft8Hnug-bnWXSOMeJ8OxDqTOu98d49zrQRBSUpx0MYseuJq4p0NAtNoIuQM9_56GoIr0Iqm/s1600/mayday_cvr_final_front.jpg" height="400" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Mayday! Firefighter Down </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">is a great read
in the genre of Dennis Smith’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Steely
Blue </i>and shouldn’t be missed. Ryman kept the firefighter in me interested
and the writer in me waiting to see what happens next. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Deputy
Chief Michael “Mick” Mayers</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Firehousezen.com
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></o:p></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Ryman
hits one out of the park…. In <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mayday!
Firefighter Down </i>you will see life though a firefighters eyes, but with a
new twist. From the first dispatch, to the jaw dropping ending (or is it),
Ryman takes you on a thrilling journey as a Truck Officer in a busy fire
station, plagued by an arsonist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mayday! Firefighter Down</i> is a compelling
read; once you start you won’t want to put it down!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fred
Bales, CFPS, CFI</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">PA
Senior Fire/Public Safety Instructor </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">“Chief Gary Ryman’s latest book, <i>Mayday! Firefighter Down</i>
is an incredible read. Ryman has blended just about all of the elements
of a great American novel into this one including; Mystery, Murder, Greed, a
sexy love story and Great Fire Fighting Action. Once I started this book,
it was difficult putting it down. Gary has captured the essence of what a
firefighter does in a twenty-four hour shift, better than just about any
other…. The reality is non-fire service folks will be able to understand
what we do, without losing the interest of the Firehouse Jake’s and Firehouse
Jane's that take this amazing journey in <i>Mayday! Firefighter Down</i>.
I believe Gary has a best seller on his hands and maybe a Hollywood
script for a fire rescue drama…. This book should be required
reading for all aspiring and new fire fighters”. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">Chief Dennis Rubin</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-25466029969205736532014-07-03T15:03:00.002-07:002014-07-03T15:03:55.226-07:00Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: More Advice for the New Fire Officer
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Comfort zones are a wonderful thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Avoid yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most
important, and difficult, things to do is get avoid simple acceptance of the
status quo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We’ve always done it that
way” are some of the most dangerous words out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the flip side of the coin, change simply
for its own sake, can be just as problematic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The newest, latest, greatest, hottest change in tactics, tools, or
techniques, isn’t always.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Always what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it’s not
always great, or in some cases, actually new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Recycling
old ideas or techniques with new names and calling it progress has been part of
the culture for a long time.</span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what is a new fire officer (or any fire officer for that matter) to
do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How about this for a radical
idea—think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Think for yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t
blindly accept either the status quo or the latest greatest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Examine both with a high degree of
rigor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not suggesting blatant
disregard of standard operating procedures, whether existing or new, but
there’s nothing wrong with looking at them critically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Challenge yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Specifically
select articles, blogs, and authors to read with whom you inherently disagree,
and then try to read them with an open mind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evaluate their arguments dispassionately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look behind the data. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How was it developed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was the methodology valid or do you perceive
flaws?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They may not change your mind, but you will better understand the
arguments others are making on a particular topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reading in this way also opens you up to the
possibility that in some cases, you might need to acknowledge your own
pre-conceived notions may not be correct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Try to find a few fellow officers, peers and superiors, with whom you
can have a wide ranging, non-judgmental dialogue on fire service issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few adult beverages (the operative word
being few) can sometimes help lubricate these discussions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The response “that’s #($*& stupid and so
are you,” is not the type of conversation you are shooting for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An open and respectful debate can sharpen
thought processes, expose unanticipated flaws in policies and procedures, and
overall, be valuable for all participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would be remiss if I didn’t point out; all of this is easier said
than done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Comfort zones are called that
for a reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re nice enjoyable
places to stay where you don’t have to think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Critical thinking in this manner is one of the most important tools of
the fire officer and leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get out of
your comfort zone and try it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-56459218362751657702014-06-06T16:12:00.000-07:002014-06-06T16:12:11.471-07:00Upcoming Novel Mayday! Firefighter Down<span class="userContent">More announcements in the upcoming months, but....here is the first shot of the cover of my new book the novel "Mayday! Firefighter Down" tentatively scheduled for release by October of this year. The publisher is thrilled and excited with the work they did on the cover, and I agree with them. Can't wait to hold the first copy in my hands.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gyH_QTLhe-9DF5Ta4jVbmNvRL1VBuy4NA-B03h_JJVrjHDB7rbc01FX9z-9n4v_Ha0_ORfIpGbRe21jRZ3887RHRc-Ct7m96gmsbmBFDet5CMuS3i5AcXB6a_7lrRm74ytdVK1zTIMum/s1600/mayday_cvr_draft1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gyH_QTLhe-9DF5Ta4jVbmNvRL1VBuy4NA-B03h_JJVrjHDB7rbc01FX9z-9n4v_Ha0_ORfIpGbRe21jRZ3887RHRc-Ct7m96gmsbmBFDet5CMuS3i5AcXB6a_7lrRm74ytdVK1zTIMum/s1600/mayday_cvr_draft1.jpeg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-21535512844824200772014-05-10T11:24:00.000-07:002014-05-10T11:24:27.616-07:00Great New 5 Star Review for "Fire Men." <div class="drkgry" jquery1399745079193="117" style="display: block; height: auto;">
"Strike the box" is a term from the not too-distant
past, used when fire fighters arrived at the scene of a reported car fire only
to discover that it's a house that' on fire, and a full "box assignment" of
three engines and a ladder truck is needed. Well, not only did Mr. Ryman strike
the box of my expectations when I began reading "Fire Men," he went right to the
second, third and fourth alarms.<br /><br />Mr. Ryman begins his series of tales by
putting the reader into a comfortable bed, only to jar them awake with a blaring
alarm, getting them hurriedly attired in turn-out gear, and inside a house
that's on fire--only to amp it up when a backdraft threatens his life and that
of an already horribly-burned colleague. And I was right there alongside him,
not only because of his powerful narrative voice but also because I've been
there--as a fire fighter during the 1970s I was caught in a backdraft almost
identical to the one Mr. Ryman describes, and I can say with a certain degree of
authority that Ryman ain't lyin' about what it was like for him inside that
inferno.<br /><br />"Fire Men" has a tactile feel to it. As I read the various tales
he tells I could smell the smoke, feel the leather helmet on my head, could hear
the shrill screams of the mechanical 'Federal Q' sirens and the stutters of the
air horns. I also felt the fire's heat along with the fear. Mr. Ryman begins
with a literal bang and then falls into a series of random stories - and that
was what he should've done, because it evokes what being a fire fighter is all
about . . . of boredom one moment, empathy for the dead in the next, followed by
sheer terror when all around it seems that everything is coming down upon your
head.<br /><br />"Fire Men - Stories from Three Generations of a Fire Fighting
Family" is a well-crafted book that kept me turning the pages all the way until
I reached its very satisfying ending. Buy it, read it and above all, hang-on as
you ride the roller-coaster ride that "Fire Men" is.</div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-10027426301082531492014-04-06T10:29:00.001-07:002014-04-06T10:29:19.704-07:00The Origin of the Maltese Cross
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Although
many fire department tools and symbols still in use have historical origins,
the Maltese Cross goes back a bit further than most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around 1113 AD, a Benedictine Monk founded
the Order of Knights Hospitaller, subsequently known as the Knights of St.
John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Originally
a charitable organization, the Knights were drawn into battle to defend their
city against attacking Saracens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Saracens hurled containers filled with flammable liquids onto the defenders, followed
by flaming torches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Knights were
flamboyant in dress, wearing crimson capes over their armor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The knights rode among their burning
brethren, using their capes to extinguish the fires, demonstrating courage and
gallantry.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As
a reward, the Knights were given the Island of Malta and the eight pointed
symbol became known as the Maltese Cross, one of valor and protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regularly used on badges, patches, and
apparatus, the nearly thousand year old emblem has a lineage of honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJsVe6bA8gwzYLJYBhyfGV413yCOjRs-fsBMlDXYD3I7TFi5kLgZMEFtBckqEdv8e4hfZWQ3lXfqKBlWYr79LUPyulyz9l1yBEqvbYzUHxzsvAHN-G9sbTBGN79Ok2AseSq8vcokRWInc/s1600/Maltese+Cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJsVe6bA8gwzYLJYBhyfGV413yCOjRs-fsBMlDXYD3I7TFi5kLgZMEFtBckqEdv8e4hfZWQ3lXfqKBlWYr79LUPyulyz9l1yBEqvbYzUHxzsvAHN-G9sbTBGN79Ok2AseSq8vcokRWInc/s1600/Maltese+Cross.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-17509601858155275182014-03-14T07:50:00.000-07:002014-03-14T07:50:32.002-07:00The most important six inches on the fire ground...
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">General James Mattis, USMC (Ret.) would have made one
hell of a fire chief if he had so chosen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Revered by fighters from private to four stars and probably disliked as
much by those less aggressive, the forty-one year veteran was a lead from the
front commander who went out with patrols and got blood on his boots as a
General.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His radio sign—“Chaos.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His command philosophies included sincere
concern for those he was tasked to protect and liberate and a consummate scorn
for our countries enemies.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Highly quotable, many of his pronouncements in the
area of leadership and others are applicable to the fire service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With just a few paraphrasing liberties, here
are some of my favorites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t lose any sleep at night over the potential
for failure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I cannot even spell the
word.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Fight with a happy heart and a strong spirit.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You cannot allow any of your people to avoid the
brutal facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they start living in a
dream world, it’s going to be bad.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Powerpoint makes us stupid.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">And if you remember none of the others, keep in mind
the most valuable one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“The most important six inches on the [fire ground]
is between…your ears.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnxqQVYFKFQfz8zsxuh2i2xyi5XemIWvwqp-uWQ8DfLqQmMLNKsoTDS6cDQmNJU-Ver9F3Q2EleOddlPix4qv4F7g81g1CFet2Uwu9Kp-B2viNk5H3ch3X4AiMla9SnbqHAbOIv7isaHK/s1600/General+James+Mattis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnxqQVYFKFQfz8zsxuh2i2xyi5XemIWvwqp-uWQ8DfLqQmMLNKsoTDS6cDQmNJU-Ver9F3Q2EleOddlPix4qv4F7g81g1CFet2Uwu9Kp-B2viNk5H3ch3X4AiMla9SnbqHAbOIv7isaHK/s1600/General+James+Mattis.jpg" height="200" width="165" /></a></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-71628198889135178712014-03-09T09:44:00.000-07:002014-03-09T09:44:01.260-07:00From the Hayloft to the Horses: The Birth of the Fire Pole
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Getting
out of the station fast and first isn’t a new or even recent interest for
firefighters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s something the
brethren have worked on for over a century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the 1800s, multi-floor stations were the rule rather than the
exception; a necessary configuration in the days of the horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fast and effective methods for harnessing the
teams, almost as quick as firing a diesel engine, had been developed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A
hitch in the process of getting out the door as fast as possible remained, some
thought. Getting from the bunkroom on an upper floor to the apparatus was
slowed by the common use of circular stairs which were in place to keep the
horses from trying to leave the first floor.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">At
Engine 21 in Chicago, Captain David Kenyon saw one of his firefighters slide a
wooden binding pole, typically used on a hay wagon during transport, which had
been temporarily stored vertically in the loading area of the hayloft, when a
call was received while he was working in the third floor loft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recognizing a great idea when he saw it,
Captain Kenyon arranged for a hole from the second floor bunk room to the
apparatus floor, and the crew took a Georgia pine beam and rounded and sanded
it to 3 inch diameter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Varnished and
coated with paraffin wax, it was ready for service.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Firefighters
at the other stations laughed until they saw Engine 21beating them to fires,
and eventually the Chief decided to have poles installed in all Chicago
stations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1880, the Boston Fire
Department installed the first brass pole, which became the standard going
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdAiMTU5yvlhlp8fFik8AdHwofQQjkx_XH6XJfdSiVyqzjb2M-JPEQusBKXKfgw2xV0VwiirbIo-HOMNNUnEs71CKOsg6_01W-mrVfIAYFwD8LsRkq7HGRpdhxvuociXpviImbei7X4yu/s1600/FirePole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdAiMTU5yvlhlp8fFik8AdHwofQQjkx_XH6XJfdSiVyqzjb2M-JPEQusBKXKfgw2xV0VwiirbIo-HOMNNUnEs71CKOsg6_01W-mrVfIAYFwD8LsRkq7HGRpdhxvuociXpviImbei7X4yu/s1600/FirePole.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
poles became part of fire department heritage, memorialized on television and
in movies—think Batman and Ghostbusters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now gone from most stations, another of the classic era trappings fading
from use, the pole remains a memory of an important period which will hopefully
not be forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-71239992978365874852014-02-26T10:09:00.002-08:002014-02-26T10:09:34.485-08:00Nice article with a mention of Generation 3<a href="http://www.1strespondernews.com/webpages/news/DisplayNews.aspx?PT=state&state=MD&ID=71298808-19ba-4cd7-90f6-4a40cf35275f" target="_blank">First Responder News-Montgomery County 2nd Alarm in Burtonsville</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TohtX2bnpniEVu-1P8cMBnFM4xYel2LlpNEwDW-hOXA7lyomaNmNoQxhVOd2Jet4Tvsvp3rVkrzHma2JRMiG0XMoCU6cQkxjCeA71IGiRzM4bW514FoHF8_4MU70vM01bOSvta3Yeu_q/s1600/Mike_SweetClover2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TohtX2bnpniEVu-1P8cMBnFM4xYel2LlpNEwDW-hOXA7lyomaNmNoQxhVOd2Jet4Tvsvp3rVkrzHma2JRMiG0XMoCU6cQkxjCeA71IGiRzM4bW514FoHF8_4MU70vM01bOSvta3Yeu_q/s1600/Mike_SweetClover2.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-19716203920726479192014-02-15T04:17:00.001-08:002014-02-15T04:17:04.792-08:00Arson: It ain't like it used to be...
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Arson is considered by most, and
particularly firefighters, to be a serious crime. Pennsylvania treats it as a
first degree felony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Federal sentencing
guidelines call for as little as five years in prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>States vary, but things were a bit different
in the old days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Here in my area, just a generation ago,
but long enough for the statute of limitations to expire, a local fire chief
was reliably rumored to have taken a fire setter back behind the station and
administered an “attitude adjustment” to the offender which was probably more
painful than what the judge ultimately meted out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If our current crop of politicians believe
laws and punishment for arson are stringent today, they are not students of
history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first such law in
Pennsylvania was passed in 1700, and stated “Whosover shall be convicted of
willfully firing another man’s house, warehouse, outhouse, barn, or stable,
shall forfeit his or her own estate to the party suffering, and be imprisoned
all their lives in the House of Correction at hard labor to the behoof of the
said party suffering.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently life
with hard labor wasn’t a sufficient punishment as in 1718, the penalty was
increased to death, and in 1767, they took away the condemned’s access to a
clergyman before execution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">As tough as the old Pennsylvanians were,
they had nothing on the Babylonians in the days of Hammurabi, around 2000
BC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If in a man’s house, a fire has
been kindled, and a man who has come to extinguish the fire has lifted up his
eyes to the property of the house, and has taken the property of the owner of
the house, that man shall be thrown into that fire.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In both Japan and early Edwardian England,
the older Babylonian concepts were continued; the penalty for incendiarism
being death by fire, a rather poetic form of justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">While societal norms and our
jurisprudence have evolved over time, most can probably think of a few
incidents where we wouldn’t have minded taking a fire setter on a Marty McFly
time travel journey back to meet one the judges from these time periods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So if anyone knows where to find an old
DeLorean….</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA70shKvnQc9ejjo4ZNzVBARfubXn0E-zx9laPOsRzQwvsjXcPMnMKO_RPrEYuIN-rE-CLGhRACDaVX6Fvmggnl0706H-UCCBEfZrjAkolbdHU-yYjUlOF-5mo0jsRM8fyzt49z7OlvPaJ/s1600/DeLorean.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA70shKvnQc9ejjo4ZNzVBARfubXn0E-zx9laPOsRzQwvsjXcPMnMKO_RPrEYuIN-rE-CLGhRACDaVX6Fvmggnl0706H-UCCBEfZrjAkolbdHU-yYjUlOF-5mo0jsRM8fyzt49z7OlvPaJ/s1600/DeLorean.png" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-53969542569109230912014-01-25T11:21:00.000-08:002014-01-25T11:21:02.108-08:00The Birth of a Legend: The Snorkel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The once common Snorkel long ago became
the fire service “Xerox” of articulating platforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it bent in the middle, that’s what it was
called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One normally thinks of design, particularly
of something as complex as aerial fire apparatus, as a long process involving
engineering calculations and the development of sophisticated plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t happen that way…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINsaLXmg7g-qyDe9oJ2DBqffjMbSVtxruZTUc6D68meOhl-vlTN0Ly0dZt8mo1WSQVM7A34nyVj0ObOcKgDU80cyOWtJTlYFvYi1_0b-kkWny-HpmubPhcLG-gY8Pg1iRnyv0VFTzq11T/s1600/Commissioner_Robert_Quinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINsaLXmg7g-qyDe9oJ2DBqffjMbSVtxruZTUc6D68meOhl-vlTN0Ly0dZt8mo1WSQVM7A34nyVj0ObOcKgDU80cyOWtJTlYFvYi1_0b-kkWny-HpmubPhcLG-gY8Pg1iRnyv0VFTzq11T/s1600/Commissioner_Robert_Quinn.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Back in 1958, Chicago Fire Commissioner
Robert Quinn borrowed a tree trimming truck with a 50 ft. articulating boom and
platform and attached a monitor nozzle to the basket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A three inch hose line was strapped to the
booms to feed it, and a new piece of firefighting apparatus was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Load and stability testing was done on the
tree trimmer, and when found to work, the rig was painted red and placed in
service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Known in the “Windy City” as
“Quinn’s Snorkel,” reputedly because the firefighter’s got so wet in the bucket
and thought it resembled the diving device—I don’t see the resemblance
myself—the name stuck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPOlA7B3NCHpDGxAOhKLz0wFuAQFJt4qPc0PCsqJwTD6ztFuQXGN437O4q0G4REyloZ1SPzx6Cwe4vgqxGLHhI3_oN6pkYzRQx9IUXVdlzMTglfomYAF4YJ-i5enqFHdFohm2twK0eW07/s1600/QuinnsSnorkel.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPOlA7B3NCHpDGxAOhKLz0wFuAQFJt4qPc0PCsqJwTD6ztFuQXGN437O4q0G4REyloZ1SPzx6Cwe4vgqxGLHhI3_oN6pkYzRQx9IUXVdlzMTglfomYAF4YJ-i5enqFHdFohm2twK0eW07/s1600/QuinnsSnorkel.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The original tree trimming truck was
built by the Missouri based Pitman Manufacturing Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1959, a stockholder by the name of Art
Moore acquired the Snorkel product line and established the Snorkel Fire
Equipment Company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The first Snorkel was retired in 1968,
and subsequently acquired by the Snorkel Company and restored at their St.
Joseph, Missouri manufacturing facility.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While less common elsewhere, snorkel type apparatus remains in service
in Chicago to this day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtW-NbLwi-MPxGNB_rxo9aX9AbxuTQG3EH2V3e8iWgVV1ivc9Izf-cPHHjHsQRq7iEQL5QteI4PcEj47sfAqeZKQf8-OQdIr9YGO1TuPts4iU7vED8yLRLzyfs5ewBL-WBTSvAHS_QvaV/s1600/CFD-Squad-2A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtW-NbLwi-MPxGNB_rxo9aX9AbxuTQG3EH2V3e8iWgVV1ivc9Izf-cPHHjHsQRq7iEQL5QteI4PcEj47sfAqeZKQf8-OQdIr9YGO1TuPts4iU7vED8yLRLzyfs5ewBL-WBTSvAHS_QvaV/s1600/CFD-Squad-2A.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The author flying a circa 1970 American LaFrance "Aero-Chief" articulating platform in the early 1980s.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerH0eCMHUWy7n-ZOhBCeyuBr-TbrJ-C0dmNTgTnMoELKmi4hkCxnfIzmlRsKkdft3nSsbqxu-ZsqzDfKVG74XYq4cjWEVmmeyPs7Dy0sP9qyFUd55gestygRe2B01IfFoe6F8v-xTXg6k/s1600/298911_2433119557591_818880993_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgerH0eCMHUWy7n-ZOhBCeyuBr-TbrJ-C0dmNTgTnMoELKmi4hkCxnfIzmlRsKkdft3nSsbqxu-ZsqzDfKVG74XYq4cjWEVmmeyPs7Dy0sP9qyFUd55gestygRe2B01IfFoe6F8v-xTXg6k/s1600/298911_2433119557591_818880993_n.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu4s_1w5dVohBUc9mhsWTuTBdcFpEx901txBny8MEUSb9aLU5MqKtmS-iOyMXHoNsp-i-fR-sVzDpK9znR_B8rm-aKdvByoVzJwl-Ni8dwVtYca9mZi0eVTWK95sR4K9YEe7pKN-LPYGl/s1600/318320_2433119317585_1008036258_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEu4s_1w5dVohBUc9mhsWTuTBdcFpEx901txBny8MEUSb9aLU5MqKtmS-iOyMXHoNsp-i-fR-sVzDpK9znR_B8rm-aKdvByoVzJwl-Ni8dwVtYca9mZi0eVTWK95sR4K9YEe7pKN-LPYGl/s1600/318320_2433119317585_1008036258_n.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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A great look back. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/1XTsuHTx4f4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-86471763118581676192013-12-26T13:26:00.001-08:002013-12-26T14:32:02.340-08:00A Throwback Thursday VideoA fire from Chapter 16 of <em>Fire Men: Stories From Three Generations of a Firefighting Family.</em><br />
<em></em><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/W89qb2wlu6U?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W89qb2wlu6U" target="_blank">Pallet Plant Fire</a></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-80640282645344454422013-12-07T06:11:00.000-08:002013-12-07T06:11:51.117-08:00A New Way of Training: Changing How We Think
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Just
about two weeks ago, I had the great opportunity to discuss fire service
training on the Fire Engineering radio show hosted by Chief Dennis Rubin along
with Chiefs P.J. Norwood, Jonathan Riffe, and Lieutenant Frank Ricci.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The questions and discussions were thought
provoking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For myself, I tried to
concentrate my comments beyond the day to day tactical training areas which,
while critically important, were covered exceptionally well by my fellow
participants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, I tried to focus
on an area I see as under discussed—advanced education.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s
not sexy and certainly not as “fun” as live fire evolutions, firefighter
survival, or even the bread and butter practice of advancing lines or throwing
ladders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it is, though, is critical
for the “business” of the fire service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
importance of lifelong learning cannot be over emphasized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next generation of fire service leaders
will be confronted with a spectrum of problems only some of which we can imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Others will reveal themselves over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Managing the “all hazards” response agency
that fire departments have become in a continuing era of increasing demands and
highly pressured financial resources will need a new problem solving
paradigm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This won’t come about by
simply repeating what we’ve done in the past, as good as it may have been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will require a new generation of strategic
multi-dimensional thinkers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The military
has understood this for decades, sending officers for advanced degrees in a
multitude of disciplines at “civilian” universities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve
argued before, college level classes, particularly in the humanities, won’t
teach you to handle a nozzle better, but if you let them, they will teach you
to think, to examine and solve problems differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Problem solving, with the challenges of the
future, will be a skill of paramount importance. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">A
thought process which looks at problems from a historical perspective, from one
of engineering and mathematics, business and statistics, and puts all these
pieces together, will help bring new and innovative solutions to the
forefront.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The catch phrase “thinking
outside the box” is easy to say, but much harder to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Non fire related classes teach some of these
alternative problem solving methods, how to look at issues from other
directions and perspectives—essentially a new and different way to think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The
next generation of leaders will need not only to be great firefighters and
command officers; they will need to be outstanding writers, politicians,
accountants, business managers, and strategic planners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-30705143719926372662013-11-08T12:18:00.001-08:002013-11-08T12:18:01.101-08:00Smoke Detectors and 10 Years: What's So Special?Great to have the cover story of Connections Magazine in the November edition!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.connections-magazine.com/cover-story/smoke-detectors-and-ten-years-whats-so-special/" target="_blank">Connections Magazine</a><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQisPbEJCqpAmAw9Loyv4J-_YUR1djqzJGw_JhGu-x9duZCSih38FCzr5v1lYmmJkSCzfHmc5aWPK1KRlZGy993SSNpqT_tWCtGKyeH0f9_hX7kmkjQbjXL6XnvD3MhyxfKfP96OqM3J7/s1600/SmokeDetectorpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQisPbEJCqpAmAw9Loyv4J-_YUR1djqzJGw_JhGu-x9duZCSih38FCzr5v1lYmmJkSCzfHmc5aWPK1KRlZGy993SSNpqT_tWCtGKyeH0f9_hX7kmkjQbjXL6XnvD3MhyxfKfP96OqM3J7/s1600/SmokeDetectorpic.jpg" /></a></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-63972796509202715182013-10-27T08:24:00.000-07:002013-10-27T08:24:33.870-07:00Upcoming Radio Show Appearance...<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Hosted by Chief Dennis Rubin......</span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"></span> </div>
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed">
<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">"Please join me for the next "Contemporary Issues in the Fire - Rescue Service on Fire Engineering Blog Radio. We "Go Live" on Monday, November 11, 2013 at 7:30 pm (Eastern Time Zone). The topic for my November 11th Fire Engineering Blog Radio Show will be "Tips, Tricks & Pitfalls of Fire-Rescue Service Training & Education". <br /><br /> We have an amazing cast of presenters for the show on the 11th. Appea<span class="text_exposed_show">ring live and in person will be Chief Paul Norwood (CT), Chief Jon Riffe (MD), Chief Gary Ryman (PA) & Lieutenant Frank Ricci (CT). I will be personally honored to be your host and moderator. Has my Mother always told me, I am the man with the "Face for Radio". Please call-in and let's chat about training issues. <br /><br /> So, please tune-in and listen to the best in the business talk about all aspects of training presentations to include textbook development, DVD programing and much more! Be there or Be Square - See you on the Radio my friends. Until next time please be safe out there!"</span></span></div>
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fireengineeringtalkradio" target="_blank">Fire Engineering Radio</a></span></span></div>
Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5075743030431694802.post-19351381001115321232013-10-06T06:09:00.000-07:002013-10-06T06:09:03.809-07:00Memorial Weekend<span class="userContent">A brick with the names of the three generations will be placed in the Memorial Walk of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. Giving "Generation 1" the certificate</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMF1-mYCXA0UIYLs3R8Rr85TmHMLNl2w-gZcB9mQQsfPgRyVPzgq1ButXMR6CLMXyoNnUjm62mgQZADVsEG0YW-_zGL3Se9QWM9MY_cL3mbunUnFUVGqm_8TauP9MJGQdZB41viel2hnU/s1600/1234182_10202023057767843_1812283463_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMF1-mYCXA0UIYLs3R8Rr85TmHMLNl2w-gZcB9mQQsfPgRyVPzgq1ButXMR6CLMXyoNnUjm62mgQZADVsEG0YW-_zGL3Se9QWM9MY_cL3mbunUnFUVGqm_8TauP9MJGQdZB41viel2hnU/s320/1234182_10202023057767843_1812283463_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="userContent"></span>Gary Rymanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10129228225035179666noreply@blogger.com0