575 FOOLS

575 FOOLS member showing some love to the local Deputies!

We are the good guys!!

We are incredibly excited to be sponsoring this class. Come and join us for a phenomenal two days.

Weight matters. Loose the extra, hold on to the essentials.

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 & 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚛

𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟷 𝙻𝙾𝙳𝙳 (𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝙲𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚢): 𝟹𝟿 𝚂𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚛 𝙾𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝟻𝟶.𝟼% 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝟽𝟽 𝚝𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚕 (𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍 𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎).

𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚗𝚞𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚜. 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚠𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚡𝚎𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚘 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜.

𝙾𝚞𝚛 𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚢 𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕, 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚎𝚠 “𝚜𝚊𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚢” 𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜.

Last year, as I was being fitted for a new set of turnouts. They asked if I wanted to replace the velcro with magnets. They added this option to reduce the complaints they get from velcro. I denied the magnets for multiple reasons, but my #1 reason was weight. 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚐𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎.

We have the ability to customize our turnouts as they are built for us. 𝚃𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚛𝚎𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝, 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚎 𝚙𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜. The only pocket that is mandatory, is our right pant pocket. This is due to a policy, we will wear our bailout belts and place the hook, descender and 50’ rope into our right pant pocket. If we don’t have all the pockets, where are we going to put all of our tools? Tools in pockets equate to more weight. We want our firefighters to carry tools that are going to save themselves or a civilian inside a structure fire. Each tool we carry in our turnouts, should be well thought out. The tools that we used to carry, are now in their own go bags. Example: Cable cutters & a 10mm wrench for car batteries are in our car bags, that come with us to the crash. We also have an elevator bag, fire alarm bag, etc. This reduces the weight we carry during fires and allows us to access the emergent tools that we need, when lives depend on it. Removing the double & tripled up material of each pocket reduces ounces on its own. Those areas that are double & tripled up on material, in which many turnout sets have at least 5 pockets covering larger areas are increasing stress, humidity, heat, because the turnouts are not “breathing” as they can/should be.

We don’t allow the manufacturer to put their patches on our turnouts. This is getting in the weeds, but it’s a decision we made based on “Is the patch increasing or decreasing our firefighters risks for burns”? Their patch adds a layer to the turnouts and adds weight, yet very minimal. They do not pay us to advertise their product, so why would we add it to our turnouts? To be honest, we do fly the United States Flag patch on our Right arm and our Station Logo on the left, but we are willing to take the risk for the morale and pride benefits.

We use the 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚖𝚞𝚖 𝚊𝚖𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚎𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚜, to meet NFPA standards. This reduces weight, cost of the turnouts, costs of repairs and reduces the extra layer reducing the turnouts ability to breath and increase firefighters stress and exertion.

We do not use “Red Zone” or cancer prevention fire gear. This gear is adding layers to both the jacket and the pant. With the added layers and cuffs, weight is increased and the turnouts ability to breath are reduced, increasing our firefighters risk for stress and overexertion. Instead, we have two sets of gear and prioritize taking showers upon our return.

We do have escape belts that are mandatory within our department. The belt, carabiners, hook, descender and rope are not lightweight. But we made a decision that is to reduce our risk of being burned over or alike and having the ability to bail out of a window to save a civilian or our own lives. Within two months of mandating the escape kits, HR 5 bailed out of a window on hook with a lady, as the interior door burned through, the room flashed and her life was saved. Weight vs benefit & risk. Many of our members are able to get a correctly fitted escape belt and remove the suspenders from our pants and any attachments. This has decreased their turnout time by a second or two, reduced minimal weight and reduced the weight carried on our backs during fires.

Firemens helmet weight range all over the place, some departments are able to wear leather, while others are not give a choice of style at all. Firemen carry all sorts of gizmos on their helmet, what impact do they have on a structure fire? Firefighters wearing two sets of eye pro on their helmet, adds weight and costs. The manufacturers adds hanger D-rings and attachment for ease of firefighter to hang their helmet. If we don’t hang our helmet on the rig by the ring, do we need this extra weight? (We look at all weight, why would we not). Many helmets have a metal rim covered by rubber beading, which can add a pound of weight for your neck to hold up. I was not able to locate a mandate from NFPA to have this beading, only that if you have it, that it will hold up to a melting point. I believe the reason for this beading on helmets, is for side impact, but never found any real info on it. Is there any documentation that this extra pound of weight on our necks has actually reduced injury or death to firefighters? Or was it just a “great” idea for “safety”, implemented and never followed up with by ensuring the product was doing its supposed job? We have too many new standards, that are not being quality ensured and just adding stress, exertion, weight, heat, costs and repairs to the fire service.

The current SCBAs are adding more frills and thrills to supposedly make firefighters “safer”. Who is pushing these additions? Why? Are they being held accountable for their decisions and are they following up with quality assurance? Many of these additions have added weight, in which we know increases firefighter exertion, stress and risk of injury and death. This is ignoring the known risks for our firefighters.

Structural boots are difficult because we want comfort but also should be aware of the weight.
With increased weight, comes increased risk of injury and death to our firefighters. Our number one killer of firemen is stress/overexertion, we should tackle this issue by way of steering the manufacturers to reduce weight. We have the power to steer the equipment being built for the fire service, but we need the purchasers of our departments to speak up and be loud.

Why don’t departments, the manufactures, the four letter power houses look at the actual data of LODDs & injuries and ensure that we reduce them. Hold the manufacturers and NFPA who sets the standards accountable, 𝚆𝙴 𝙳𝙾𝙽’𝚃 𝚆𝙰𝙽𝚃 𝙵𝚁𝙸𝙻𝙻𝚂 & 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙸𝙻𝙻𝚂, 𝚆𝙴 𝚆𝙰𝙽𝚃 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙴𝚂𝚃 𝙼𝙾𝚂𝚃 𝙱𝙰𝚂𝙸𝙲 𝙶𝙴𝙰𝚁, 𝙰𝙻𝙻𝙾𝚆 𝚄𝚂 𝚃𝙾 𝙱𝙴 𝙻𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 & 𝙵𝙰𝚂𝚃, 𝚁𝙴𝙳𝚄𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙴𝚂𝚂 & 𝙴𝚇𝙴𝚁𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽.

(Pic: Ben Schultz slide)

We still have a few spots open for the LIVE FIRE class on Sept 6th!

This is one of the only classes we offer that is not free to members BUT is...

1. A fundraiser for Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund - Georgia Chapter, as they have given thousands of dollars already to Georgia firefighters.

2. Combined with free stairclimb tickets for the climb on the 7th.

3. Has a merch pack with a tshirt, challenge coin, helmet card, and sticker.

4. Two free braves tickets!

5. A high quality LIVE FIRE class!

Terry Farrell Fund and the Georgia F.O.O.L.S. The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund of GA exists to provide financial relief to firefighters and their families in their time of need.The GA F.O.O.L.S. Association exists to create unique training opportunities between the 5 F.O.O.L.S. chapters throughout the state of GA.

The afternoon portion of our muster consisted of our professional teams. Firefighters quick dressed to start off. We tried sabotaging and even that couldn’t stop how quick these guys are. Some lost air and many push ups were done. Cherokee’s own Fire Chief showed up and competed against the guys. Once the quick dress portion was complete, we moved on to the main events. Those events are:
The Bucket Brigade
The Busted Hose Line
Dress and Sq**rt
The Pittsburgh Drill.

At the end of the events, we had a tie for 1st place between LaGrange’s Goon Squad and Cherokee’s ChickenHawk Cowboys. Judges gathered together for see how the 2 teams would duke it out for a winner. It was decided the teams would have to pull a fire engine, fastest time wins it all.. We went in to OT and the Goon Squad lost the coin toss. The ChickenHawk Cowboys deferred and allowed the Goon Squad to pull first. The ChickenHawk Cowboys went on to win. Thank you to all who showed up and participated. We hope to see y’all again next year!

Huge shoutout to all of our sponsors, we could not have done this without you guys!
Truck On Leather Co
Reformation Brewery - Canton
1st In Prints
Georgia Fire & Rescue Supply
Taylor's Tins

Pictures from our first ever Muster. These explorers competed in an individual quick dress. After that was done, teams of 7 competed in other drills. Those drills were as follows.

The bucket brigade: teams have a 55 gallon drum in an elevated platform. They have to fill 2 gallon buckets and quickly/carefully hand them off to their team mates. They have fo fill up roughly 40 gallons of the drum and that is when time stops.

The busted hose line: team members start off on the nozzle. Timer starts and members have to run back and clamp off the hose line to be able to replace a section of it that is torn and free flowing water. Once that section is secured, water will be turned back on and they must get back to the nozzle and knock over cones that are at a distance.

Dress and Sq**rt: team members start behind the line. Once the timer starts, all members must quick dress. Once they are all dressed appropriately, and only then, can they cross the line and gather the equipment they need. They must assemble a hose line and charge it. Once the line is charged, they must get to the nozzle and advance the line and knock over cones that are set up at a distance.

The final event was the Pittsburgh Drill:
Team maximum of 4, all members must crawl through a confined space, crawl over an A Frame, crawl through a tube and make it to a firefighter that has gone down (a dummy). They must then drag the dummy back through the obstacles they just went through. Timer stops once all 4 members and the dummy are back to the starting line.

Thanks again to all the explorers that showed up and participated. We hope to see you again next year.

And we are done with our professional teams fire muster. Thank you to all the teams that showed up and participated. Our quick dress winners are as follows:
1st Place: Beau Witcher (Cherokee Fire)
2nd Place: Braxton Smith (LaGrange Fire)
3rd Place: Lamar Casper (LaGrange Fire)

Our teams competed hard and after the end of all four events LaGrange Fire and Cherokee Fire teams were tied for 1st place. We improvised and made them do a 5th event, tie breaker…. A truck pull. All 7 team members lined up and pulled a fire engine for about 50 feet. Fastest team took 1st. The results are as follows:
1st Place: ChickenHawk Cowboys (Cherokee Fire)
2nd Place: Goon Squad (LaGrange Fire)
3rd Place: Looney Toons (Central GA Departments)

Thank you fellas for joining us for our first ever Firefighter Muster. We hope to see y’all again next year.

More pictures and videos to follow later.

Our Explorers portion of the muster has officially finished. Shoutout to Oconee Fire, Cobb Fire, Cherokee Fire, Barrow Fire, and Forsyth Fire for allowing these young men and women to attend today’s events. Our quick dress winners are as follows:
1st Place: Seth Stephenson (Cherokee Fire)
2nd Place: Henry Melvin (Oconee Fire)
3rd Place: Amber Patelis (Barrow Fire)

Our over all winners for the events that took place are:
1st Place: Oconee Fire (A Team)
2nd Place: Cherokee Fire
3rd: Barrow Fire

Thank you explorers and to your wonderful advisors for showing out.
More pics to follow later.

We hope to see you again next year!

It’s GAME DAY!! Reformation Brewery - Canton

Some last minute additions to the trophies for tomorrow's Muster. Hand made by firemen for firemen. Rough edges come at no extra charge!

Members from the 575 FOOLS helped out with Elite Fire Training the last three days teaching "Made the Grab, NOW WHAT?" to the Calhoun Fire Department and members of Dalton Fire. What an amazing class. So often we don't talk about what the next steps are after a grab. Who does medical care until the EMS crew gets there? We do.

I'm not here for me, I'm here for we, and we are here for THEM

1st In Prints coming in clutch as usual. Come out Saturday for some fun, fellowship, and swag. We still have some team slots available too for anyone feeling froggy at the last minute. 575fools.com for competition details. Thanks to them all of our other event sponsors Truck On Leather Co, Reformation Brewery - Canton, Taylor's Tins, Georgia Fire & Rescue Supply

We're Back Baby!
Our Facebook is back and in our control!

We're getting close to the muster! Sign up now!

These trophies need a good home. We still have room for more teams and the individual quick dress competition. Get signed up for a chance to take home some bragging rights and one of these guys! Visit 575fools.com to register.

9-11 Memorial Stair Climb is coming up on 9-7. Support the organization that supports your firefighters. Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund - Georgia Chapter Georgia FOOLS Association Peach Belt FOOLS Metro Atlanta FOOLS Dirty South FOOLS Black Sheep FOOLS Terminus Fools

Nonprofit hosting annual Sept. 11 stair climb The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund will host the annual Memorial Stair Climb at Truist Park on Sept. 7.

“The firefighter has to be the kinda guy who will stand up and say damn right I’m a firefighter. It’s something I’m proud of.”

“There’s a type of person who becomes a firefighter. He’s athletic dedicated has common sense and wants to help others.”

"We're No Heroes" We lived in Engine Company 16, Truck Company 3 in Washingto DC for a Month with the Firefighters. We trained at the trainning center for Firefighters before doinf…

Just 4 Saturdays away! Get your team signed up and come show up and show out!

We are hosting a Firefighter Muster on August 24th, 2024 in Canton Georgia!

We are having TWO divisions competing!
An Explorer (Youth) Division.
And a Professional Firefighter division.

We are accepting 10 Teams for each Division.

There will also be an individual Quick Dress competition, and we are accepting 20 competitors from each Division!

Check out the link below for more Info on the competition!

https://575fools.com/575-f-o-o-l-s-muster-competition/

Reformation Brewery 1st In Prints Taylor's Tins Truck On Leather Co

The little kid didn't wave as the big red truck went by.

The homeowner stated, "These firemen have a 5 star review, hope they save my house" as their life went up in flames.

Grandma said, "it's okay, boys. I know it's 3am. I'll call back later, just leave me on the floor."

These things don't happen.

When you raised your right hand and swore some things, you gave up some others.

To be lazy.
To complain.
To underperform.

If you can't throw that ladder.
That is on you.

If you can't mask up efficiently.
That is on you.

If you can't get along with your crew.
That is on you.

Simple things done quickly.
Hard things done correctly.
Attitude is yours to control.

Show up.
Show out.
Be who your kids expect.

There are 24 hours in a day.
USE THEM.

Always forward, always moving.

-Train or Die

www.trainordieTX.com

30 Days!

We are hosting a Firefighter Muster on August 24th, 2024 in Canton Georgia!

We are having TWO divisions competing!
An Explorer (Youth) Division.
And a Professional Firefighter division.

We are accepting 10 Teams for each Division.

There will also be an individual Quick Dress competition, and we are accepting 20 competitors from each Division!

Check out the link below for more Info on the competition!

https://575fools.com/575-f-o-o-l-s-muster-competition/

Reformation Brewery 1st In Prints Taylor's Tins Truck On Leather Co

Just under a month away! Get your team signed up and show us what you got.

Chiefs in turnouts, ladders in windows, truck to the roof. Strong work today.

H/T Tommy DeWitt

Still time to sign up for a free webinar by some of the best in the Thermal Imaging business!

You can still register for tomorrow’s webinar, Thermal Imagine Unscripted - Roundtable with Top Trainers!

Instructors Manfred Kihn, Joe DeVito, and Andy Starnes review some of the common pitfalls and shortcomings of many fire departments’ current approach to thermal imager training, and share ways to challenge your firefighters’ understanding of TI concepts and offer practical ways the TIC can be trained of and used on the fireground.

Go here to register: https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/webcast/expert-ti-training-techniques-from-top-trainers/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3U5mifLXgO877wNDJHQ8Ydg2yvhcx7xjWRquaktg7NaUjRhQZT5AO8jBs_aem_Fd9rR48QkxijTe8DNuSPCQ

Bring back the flat top.