Firefighter saves fellow firefighter when roof caves in

Firefighter saves fellow firefighter when roof caves in

2014 Opener

Southern Nevada Railroad Museum, Boulder City, NV

It's a new year! Not feeling to ambitious to explore the area in the winter (besides being under the weather), my buddy decided that we explore the old neighborhood where he lived.  So off we went to Boulder City, Nevada...granted it has changed a lot since I last was there myself in the mid 90's.  A little more exploration a little later into the year we shall.

Along with nature, no matter how much we try to prevent something or campaign about like "Zero Fatalities", it is only human nature and nature that will always prevent it; therefore, tragedy will always strike, it all depends on how severe nature will hand it to us.  In this case it might not seem too severely, but we don't know the situation that the individuals are in.  Help each other out, get to know your neighbors, know who's in your neighborhood, someday you might have to call on them or help them.











Fire Service open houses are fun!  Here we have Clark County Fire Department, Station 29, setting up for their open house and a cameo appearance from the Remembrance Rescue Project (RRP) out of Schaumburg, Illinois.  They (RRP) will travel throughout the United States visiting cities spreading the news of remembrance, you can visit them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Remembrance-Rescue-Project).  Well, let us see what else is in store for 2014!  Welcome to the new year and enjoy it!.

End of the Year Review 2013

     Once again we have come to the end of another year, 2013, yes I know it's early, but lately with my work schedule and assignments, I really have been away from the computer.  For a quick recap, hopefully my mind stays with me through this, I have started to do photography work for Asst. Chief Johnson with the CCFD and his Volunteer Firefighter's Program, from there had a meeting with Chief Washington (pictured below with me) and Asst. Chief Baker that does the community outreach stuff and as some of the Firefighters have told me, Chief Baker's Public Information Office; during the transition of getting settled into the photography for CCFD, I got noticed of my appointment.  I went before the oral board to become a Volunteer Firefighter and made it known that my interest was to be assigned to Station 78 (pictured below), and when I least expected while ironing out things for the photography within CCFD, I get a call advising me that I have been selected and assigned to Station 80; I have been informed that the photography portion is still a go!  

      During one of the open houses that I attended and took photographs at, Station 78, I met one of Australia's finest paramedics from Victoria, Paramedic J. Green, with Victoria's Ambulance Services.  It was bummer that we could have not hung out a little more, but what a great fellow.

      During one of the E.L.F.F. training at CCFD Training Center, I got to see the new fleet being prepared and pictured below is Truck 16, and to my surprise one of the captains for that truck has the same last name as to the Battalion Chief that help me get started with the understanding of arson photography, B.C. McBride of Redondo Beach FD, now the photo hangs somewhere inside the day room at Station 16.

      One of the greatest things to happen to me, besides what I have mentioned above, is that I finally got to see my daughter and getting to know her.  She had the privilege to meet her grandfather, which is hard to catch him since he travels a lot (where I get my photography hobby from among other things), and to my surprise even my daughter likes photography and she quite good at it for a 17 year old.  During my runs down south of the border, anything south of Nevada & especially going into California from any angle, I managed to visit the Space Shuttle Endeavour that a friend of mine got lucky to see it on her street while they were moving it to it's present location and to visit my old stumping grounds of Redondo Beach and enjoyed a beautiful sunset that I have not seen in over 20 years (no I'm not moving back).   During all the commotion of life's fast lane, dealing with the courts, getting set up to become the official photographer for CCFD, trying to get photo shoots, etc., once in a while something off the wall will take place and make you smile, laugh, cry, whatever, in my case a candid photo shot of what's normal in some parts of Las Vegas, to be seen as a normal thing among Cosplayers as I have been introduced to this strange and fun World of Cosplay, I think I will enjoy this.

      To all that read this, skim through here, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  See you next year if the good Lord is willing!

The Fire Chief Washington

Goodsprings VFD, NV CCFD Sta78

Victoria, AU finest Paramedic J. Green

CCFD new Truck16

Space Shuttle Endeavour 

Cosplayer but normal for Vegas!

Redondo Beach, CA sunset

Incident Command Post Carpenter 1

Carpenter 1 Fire Information Board

Today I visit the ICP Carpenter 1, learned some things from the PIO, to put into use in the future and walked out with an invitation and a schedule photo shoot.  As I spoke to the PIO and explained what had happen to me a few days back, immediately the PIO understood and knew that I had received my “experience in California”, for they made reference to that State and I was instructed that Nevada is very “competitive” among their “media photographers trying get that one shot”, in fact the PIO advised me that at this incident they had a media personnel attempt to gain access by pretending to be a resident, but they were stopped on their tracks by “Metro”.   During our improv meeting the PIO recognized IFPA, understood what I do, and commanded me for doing my research on keeping up to date with their policies, e.g. NWCG memo pertaining to media access and guidelines.  The PIO managed to set up a photo shoot for me and invited me to tour the area on a different day, which I already have the time for it.  I’m looking forward to the photo shoot, however, large or small it may be, but still it’s a shoot.

USFS Fire UT-13, unk, CA-BDF E314, BLM Fire 3630 & 3634, USFS Fire Unk Engine

Fire Season

Looking East from southbound US-95 between Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon (2013 July 5)

This year the fire season started early, unfortunately with tragedies.  In the State of Nevada alone there are approximately six fires going, two of them being major fires, Bison with approximately 25, 733 acres burned (Carson City District) and Carpenter 1 with approximately 19,757 acres burned (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest), both with the possibility and most likely to increase in acreage.  Both of the major fires have cost over $4 million and in my area the good news is there has not been no structure or injuries reported.

However, the communities that have been affected by the fire in my area (Carpenter 1) seems to be criticizing how the fire is being handle and they don’t think enough was done at the beginning of the fire that was started by lighting, I just love how “others” seems to know how to do the job better without the education and/or experience needed in any given line of work.  I think those folks should step up and volunteer their experience and see how much they really know. 

Nevada Division of Forestry heading towards Carpenter One Fire, about 5-6 units passing me while I'm on the shoulder.

NSFA 78th Annual Training and Conference 2013V

I attended the Nevada State Firefighters' Association 78th Annual Training and Conference that was held in Mesquite, Nevada.  Unlike the California State Firemen's Association (CSFA) that I attended in the mid 80's, this conference included hands on training for firefighters, most of the firefighters that attended the conference were volunteers.  The Volunteer Firefighters in their district receives training from their appropriate department and/or from the paid fire department that sponsors them so they can keep current with the issues and hone their skills, the State association training and conference that I attended, I notice that it not only brings the brotherhood together (paid firefighters were on hand too), have vendors present to show the latest equipment for the fire service, but offered classes for any individual to learn more in a specific field and some of the classes an individual can receive a certificate.  All attendees that participated representing a specific fire department (paid or volunteer) receives credit towards their training as I was explained by one of the State Marshall officials.  They collect the name badges that were issued at to the individual at the classes to give them credit and as a check-in status for any of the firefighters that were sponsored by their department to be at the conference to ensure they were at the conference and not spending the entire time at the pool, as it was told to me.

This year host were the Clark County Fire Department's Volunteer stations of Logandale, Bunkerville, Moapa, Overton, and the City of Mesquite Fire Department...they did a great job. 

VFF learning to stabilize a vehicle

LPG Live Burn exercise

LPG Live Burn exercise  

LPG Live Burn exercise

Animegacon 2013

 I was invited to go to my first Animegacon Convention, at first I was like "A what Anee-mega-uh?"  I had no idea what I got myself into nor if I knew I was going to have fun or not, but as always I carry my cameras with me where ever I go to entertain myself.  However, I must admit that I did have fun at the convention and looking forward to other conventions that are similar.  Special thanks to Tiffany Tyler for inviting me to Animegacon.

Johnny Yong Bosch signing a Power Ranger card

Cos-player

Maid Cafe host