Posts Categorized: Commentary
Race To The Bottom – Part Three
The workers and security personnel labored quickly and diligently to snuff the blaze but they were no match for the rapidly spreading conditions.
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Race to the Bottom – Part Two
Triangle became the 1911 poster child of what were concerted efforts to not only improve fire safety, but working conditions and wages as well.
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Race to the Bottom
On Saturday March 25, 1911 as the work day was ending, smoke was noticed as a fire flared up in a scrap bin under a cutter’s table in the northeast corner on the eighth floor.
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Lessons Learned …. Or Not?
Lesson One of Four - Burnable Chicago
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The Vicious Cycle
We have to get our act together to break this vicious cycle, or there will not be an American Fire Service to pass on to the next generation of firefighters.
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Truth IS Stranger (Than Fiction) – Part Four, Conclusion
Truth IS Stranger
(Than Fiction)
A Historical Vignette
by Tom Parquette
Part Four, Conclusion - The Roundup Continues
(This article begins with Part One HERE
Continue with Part Two HERE. Part Three is HERE.)
It was 1986 and it se…
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Truth Is Stranger (Than Fiction) – Part Three
Now the state takes an interest in Kermit
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Truth IS Stranger (Than Fiction) – Part Two
Now We Get To Know Wig a Little Better
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Truth IS Stranger (Than Fiction) – Part One
On the bank of the Tug Fork River, in Mingo County, sits the community of Kermit, West Virginia.
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CAFS and Cops – A Commentary
Just Who Do You Think Our "Friends" Are?
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How Deceptive Journalism Can Hurt a Good Firefighter
I was horrified when I saw that so many fire-rescue sites ran the story, because as a journalist I instantly recognized that the piece was riddled with inaccuracies and fabrications.
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Fewer Fires = Fewer Firefighters, Right? Wrong!
Fresh Excuses Leave The Same Results
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We Won!
It's not what you think.
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Clothes Make The Man.
Can Intent Justify the LODD?
There's a reason why they make compartments - it's to put stuff like gear into.
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LAFD Woes Continue
THE VIGOROUS CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR of Los Angeles (California) is exposing more failures of the City Council and the Mayor. Among the agencies which are coming up short is the Fire Department.
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Why We Search: Camden
Pot of Gold at the End of the Row?
Demolition crew arrives day after fatal fire, years after neighbors' requests.
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The Little Engine (Maker) That Could …. And Did – Part 3
Nott barreled head-on into the new century offering new equipment and addressing, or at least trying to address, the advent of motorized fire apparatus.
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Saving Money Instead of Lives
Mayor Has His Priorities
HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, HAS BEEN going through a period of slashing firefighter positions in the name of economy while keeping city hall populated and the most recent cut has been to reduce the city's rescue squad unit t…
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The Little Engine (Maker) That Could …. And Did – Part 2
An effort was underfoot to eliminate virtually all competition among manufacturers and it got dirty. Very dirty.
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The Little Engine (Maker) That Could …. And Did
Let's look at the W.S. Nott Company of Minnesota fame.
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Defense, Offense, Defense …. OK?
What's it going to be, offense or defense?
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Have We Learned From Our Past? – A Historical Commentary
April 16, 1947 was just another spring day even in 1947.
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The Lighting Store
An enlightening look at the makeup of our fire service.
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Taking Chances – a Commentary
I like the union's theory that this is an effort by the city to intimidate the members into refraining from reporting injuries and thus reduce the city's workers' compensation claims.
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Race to the Bottom – Conclusion