Heroes Honor Heroes
One of the perks of winning the Stanley Cup is the tradition of getting to showcase the cup in celebration of the victory. In 1994 the New York Rangers took the Cup to Yankee Stadium. The 2010 Chicago Blackhawks paraded the Cup around Wrigley Field. When the Los Angeles Kings shocked the hockey world by winning the Stanley Cup this past June, the Cup made a rather unusual stop.
AEG, the entertainment group that controls the Staples Center in Los Angeles (where the Kings play their home games) wanted to share the Stanley Cup with those who protect that very arena. So, on June 28, just weeks after beating the New Jersey Devils in the Finals, AEG brought the Cup to Fire Station 10, which is located in downtown Los Angeles.
It’s a Jungle Out There
Some kids want to grow up and be firemen, while others want to run away and join the circus. The members of the Oceanside (NY) Fire Department recently had a chance to do both. The Cole Brothers Circus arrived in Oceanside this past July to perform a few shows. With temperatures soaring near 100 degrees, the circus discovered they had a rather large problem…hot, smelly elephants. The department was requested to come down give these big elephants a wash and a drink of some cold water. As the firefighters turned on their hoses, the elephants began to dance and play in the water. The impromptu show featuring the firefighters and the elephants soon became the talk of the town.
Hot New TV Show
From renowned, Emmy Award-winning executive producer Dick Wolf (“Law & Order” brand) and creators Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, comes the high-octane drama “Chicago Fire.” The new show, which will air Wednesdays at 10 PM on NBC, promises to be an edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America’s noblest professions. For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating. These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death.
Firefighter to Run Triathlon in Full Gear
Firefighter Robert Verhelst is doing something that no athlete has done before in the world of Ironman Triathlons. Verhelst, who was selected by Ironman’s panel of judges as part of the Kona Inspired Contest to compete at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI, on October 13, will complete the marathon portion in firefighter turnout gear, including air tank and helmet. Verhelst is doing so with a two-fold purpose in mind: to continue the memory of those lost as a result of 9/11, and to raise awareness about the Code 3 for a Cure Foundation. “I am honored and humbled by this remarkable opportunity that Ironman has given me and Code 3,” said Verhelst.
Code 3 President & Founder Lorenzo Abundiz, a California State Firefighter Medal of Valor recipient, was compelled to form the Foundation after his own personal battles with three different forms of cancer, all relating to his firefighting career. Each year, Abundiz, along with his team of firefighter/cancer survivors, drive a fire engine across America to share their own personal cancer experiences and encourage early cancer screenings among firefighters and the general public. For more information on Code 3 for a Cure Foundation, visit their website at www.code3foracure.com.
NVFC Presents Live Training Webinars
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has been offering a series of live training webinars this summer. The courses covered a range of critical topics, including recruitment, retention, transitioning from a volunteer to combination department, leadership and fire service funeral procedures. Two more seminars are scheduled for September:
Wednesday, September 12 – 2:00pm EDT: Leadership, which will examine leadership styles, qualities and practices to help your department function at a high level by avoiding fire service leadership pitfalls.
Wednesday, September 19 – 2:00pm EDT: Navigating Fire Service Funerals, which explains the steps needed to plan and carry out a fire service funeral.
Register for NVFC courses by going to https://nvfc.webex.com and clicking on the Upcoming Sessions tab under Live Sessions. If you have questions about NVFC courses, contact Allison Moore at [email protected] or 202-887-5700.
This Month in Fire History
September 1, 1923, Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan
Earthquake conflagration kills 142,807
September 3, 1991, Hamlet, NC
Chicken processing plant fire kills 25
September 7, 1926, Drumcollogher, Ireland
Movie theater fire kills 50
September 8, 1934
SS Morro Castle fire kills 135 off New Jersey coast
September 11, 2001, New York, NY
World Trade Center attacks kill 2,666
September 13, 1970, Los Angeles, CA
Ponet Square Hotel fire kills 19
September 17, 1872
First sprinkler system patented by P.W. Pratt
September 20, 1929, Detroit, MI
Study Club fire kills 22
September 28, 1800, New York, NY
First fireboats arrive in the U.S.
Courtesy of NFPA
For details on fires that occurred 100 years ago this month, turn to Paul Hashagen’s “Rekindles” on page XXX.
