Piney Woods FOOLS

Taking care of our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Both are vital for our overall well-being.

#988

FREE Training - Hazmat Railcar Specialist - Hotel & Tuition Included!

Register today at https://teex.org/class/HAZ026/ - there are still class dates available this summer with more seats per class! This training is Grant-Funded through The Assistance for Local Emergency Response Training (ALERT) Grant.

Nerdy, but extremely informative.

Thermal response of timber connections in the cooling phase Structures are conventionally designed to maintain load-bearing capacity during the heating phase of a fire. However, in structures with moderate or high thermal inertia, the thermal field which resu...

When did it become ok for an engine company to perform at a mediocre level?

Has the job of extinguishment suddenly become irrelevant? Has it become easier?

Why is it that we can be assigned to an engine company every third day, and yet go months without stretching a single hose line.

I mean, the pre-connect is fine right??

I don't know about you, but when I take my car to a mechanic, I want him to have more than one or two adjustable wrenches. I want him to have an array of tools designed for specific jobs, and I want him to be a professional at using them.

The public expects the same of you.

Whether your department appreciates it or not, be a professional nozzle company. It's your job.

Thank you, Rob Backer, Smooth Bore Cartel, and the wives and mothers of the families who were represented today on Mother's Day.

It was a very educational weekend as local firefighters learned critical information to help better educate them for tactical success.

Also, magic happens when you give Kyle a whiteboard and a marker!

Today’s lectures and camaraderie have been outstanding!

If you missed today, come tomorrow and gain some of this critically important firefighter knowledge.
Moms love firefighters so bring her along as a Mother’s Day gift!

Don’t forget, tomorrow or Sunday are awesome opportunities to catch these great presentations!

We hope to see many of you there!

Coming up!

Coming up!

Snow is dedicated to the fire service and enhancing the capabilities we provide as firefighters.
Good to see him recognized by his FD. He started this Chapter and is our driving force, for which we are grateful.

- Bardwell

It's the best day of the week x2 because not only is it Friday, but it's ! We're excited to throw a shout-out to Firefighter Chris Snow!

"It truly is an honor to firefight and ride backwards for Smith County ESD2.

Since joining Smith County Fire in 2018, I've had the opportunity to experience a lot of amazing training opportunities to help better equip me for the citizens I serve and to have more tools in the toolbox in attempts to make it back home after every tour to my loving wife and kids. In a profession that's inherently dangerous, you cannot train nor workout enough to stay prepared, and those are two fundamental values I uphold when we look at our mission statement of "Service Above Self." So to see an organization put that as high priorities, is something that I smile at. It makes you proud to ride for the brand and be apart of a true family when those core values are upheld. Not to mention there's endless opportunities to train, both locally and abroad, and opportunities to join state USAR and TIFMAS teams to serve outside a local capacity as well.

I'm thankful to have been poured into from the jump, by passionate firemen who want to see the service better than they found out, and I do my best to honor that every chance I can. We are in all honesty, the communities humble servants, who has a head down, smile, and do the hard work mentality all without seeking praise. We are called to do this. I get to do this. Of all the possible ways to make a living, I'm grateful God called me to the fire service, and I'm grateful it's here with Smith County Fire.

There are two Biblical scriptures from God's word that I really embrace as it pertains to being a husband, dad, brother, and a fireman, and that is:
1 Corinthians 15:10 - "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace towards me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."

John 15:13 - "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

Firefighter Snow, we're proud to have you on our team and we appreciate all the work you do to pour into our guys. You're truly an asset to our team and the community.

FOOLS in the Field!

This week, FOOLS from our chapter along with Brothers Of The Boot were involved with instruction and attending the introductory 40 hour NWCG Wildland Firefighter course hosted by Kilgore College Fire Academy with cooperation from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Students came from career and volunteer fire departments, some were fresh out of their structural fire academy and we even had a biologist who is now considering a career in the fire service!

Although this was not a FOOLS sponsored training, we feel it’s worth showing that the membership and spirit of the FOOLS can be found in so many places striving to promote training and growth as firefighters!

Are you incorporating AARs in your operations?
They are beneficial following all types of operations to determine what’s working and what can be improved upon.

An After Action Review (AAR) is a professional discussion of an event.

The objective is to identify successes and failures. It is a tool that leaders, teams, crews, and units can use to get maximum learning benefit from every incident or project. It is essential for wildland firefighters to learn from mistakes and to capitalize on successes.

It is considered a valuable tool in high-risk professions, where the smallest mistakes can lead to disastrous results.

https://www.nwcg.gov/6mfs/fire-communication/after-action-review-aar-part-1

Alright folks, we are proud to partner with Tyler Local 883 and Smith County Local 5300 for this outstanding training opportunity!

Rob and Kyle will be presenting some top-notch lectures that every firefighter would benefit from attending.

Saturday and Sunday’s presentations are the same so everyone can attend either day that best fits their schedule.

Free admission and no registration required!

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Great wildland courses at great prices!
Registration ends soon…

Arkansas Wildland Fire Academy Arkansas Wildland Fire Academy

Here’s some training you normally wouldn’t consider doing in our line of work, but it does go well with it!

Don't Forget....We will be in Longview, TX tomorrow evening for SKYWARN. Please come out and join us!