On Novemeber 28, 1942, the Cocoanut Grove nightclub was full of friends and family celebrating the holiday season and a college football upset.  That night would prove to be one of the worst public assembly tragedies that America has ever seen. The fire killed 492 people and injured hundreds more.  The fire was believed to have […]

This picture doesn’t show anything spectactular or out of place.  What it does show is what every community in every jurisdiction has; subdivisions. These subdivisions will have dozens to hundreds of houses built by a single contractor or just a handful of the same contractors.  These are prime locations for EMS calls.  Those EMS calls […]

It was a year ago today that terrorists started fires in the Mumbai Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Mumbai, India.  It was obiously during a holiday and many tourists were visiting the luxury complex.  Other facilities were targeted and when the ordeal was finally over, at least 167 people were killed between the locations […]

We are just a few days past the anniversary of the MGM Grand Hotel fire that claimed the lives of 85 people and injuring 14 firefighters. The facility was allowed to open without fire protection systems and the fire that started on the lower levels and the heaviest fire was on the second floor, smoke, […]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF7MtfDDp6A] Over the next few days I will be posting some videos of the people who keep us firefighters busy over the holidays. I am sure we will all run into some of these deep fried turkeys in the coming weeks.

This fire took place in Nov. 23, 1963, the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. The fire claimed the lives of 63 of the 84 patients in the facility. The fire started at approx. 4:45AM from what is believed to have been overloaded electrical wiring. After the fire recommendations made for all […]

I will keep taking pictures and posting them in regards to training and firefighter safety. I would also like you to post or send info to post any of the same. If you don’t want to post yourself, send me your pictures and comments at jhoevelmann2665@live.com and I will get them on. Thanks for looking […]

This is the top of an old shoe factory that still is in operation as mostly storage for the shoes and componenets. It is a two three story heavy timber with brick building. These can prove to be difficult to open due to multiple layers of roofing. When inspecting these, get to the roof to […]

Just some old photos I have from our local fire department. I will post more every so often. I think they are really cool. Don’t forget your past and remember those who came before us.

This is an example of poor judgment. The firefighter in the door must have an SCBA on. There is still smoke pushing and you never know when that front room could light off. If this room would flash or even quickly push smoke and heat the full length of the door, this firefighter is in […]