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Latest Nation Member Activity

Jack, if "we" were in you bunker gear pocket, we might be shorter, but we'd be LOTS wider.
yesterday
Are you referring to the "daisy chain" method of linking the webbing loops so that it is more compact, is less likely to become tangled, and takes up less pocket space?
yesterday
Thomas, Our state system uses 3:1 prussics for all vertical belays, highline, and swiftwater rescue tension diagonal applications. They've worked well, and we've never had a system failure when using them. I'm following the "If it's not broken, ...
yesterday
The reason for using prussics is that they slip if they get over-tensioned. Klemheists have a firmer grip on the rope, and are more prone to over-tensioning. This is a particular problem with highlines. The other issue is that if you're using a a...
on Sunday
A way to post new firefighting terms and enjoy some firefighting humor at the same time.
on Saturday
Thats sweet!!!!! LMAO
on Thursday
A way to post new firefighting terms and enjoy some firefighting humor at the same time.
on Thursday
Use 50 PSI nozzles and the nozzle reaction problem goes away. So does the need to have the backup firefighter bang his mask on the nozzleman's SCBA cylinder.
on Thursday

Profile Information

Hometown:
Asheville, NC
I Live: (City, State)
Bluffton, SC
Years in Fire/EMS:
34
Why I Joined the Fire/EMS:
A 3rd grade field trip to Asheville's downtown station hooked me for life. Two busloads of us came back to school wanting to be firefighters, but I'm the only one of the 80 that actually did it.
Relationship Status:
Married
Department Type:
Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer
Rank/Role There:
Battalion Chief / Division Chief, Training Officer, Firefighter / Paramedic (or Other ALS), Hazardous Materials Team Member
Years With This Department/Agency
6
Second Department (if appl.)
Hilton Head-Bluffton USAR RRT-4
2nd Department Type:
Other Response Agency Type
Rank/Role at Second Department:
Safety Officer, Firefighter / Paramedic (or Other ALS)
Years With Second Department/Agency
3
Other Past or Current Departments:
Mt. Aetna VFD, Hagerstown, MD
Tri-Community VFD, Collegedale, TN
Highway 58 VFD, Harrison, TN
Bradley County EMS, TN
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue, TN
Hamilton County EMS, TN
Hamilton County Hazmat Team, TN
McMinn County EMS, TN
Chattanooga Fire Department
Greenville County Technical Rescue, SC
Greenville County Hazmat Team
Greenville County COBRA Team
1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Swifwater Rescue Team
2000 Olympic Team Trials Swiftwater Rescue Team Leader
My Training:
M.P.A. Public Administration
B.P.S. Fire Administration
A.S. Paramedic
IFSAC FF II
Tennessee Journeyman FF
Fire Instructor
South Carolina, Tennessee, and National Registry Paramedic
Hazardous Materials Technician
WMD TERT
USAR Rescue Specialist
Technical Rescue Instructor
Extrication Instructor (Basic, Advanced, Bus, Big Rig, Instructor Trainer)
Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
Incident Command (NIMS) Instructor
Unified Command Instructor
ICS for Structural Collapse Instructor
Farmedic Instructor
About Me:
I'm living proof that rookies can survive their own stupidity through good luck.
Side Jobs or Other Organizations:
Adjunct Faculty Instructor - South Carolina FIre Academy
Water Rescue Technical Development Committee - S.C. Fire Academy
Rope Rescue Technical Development Committee - S.C. Fire Academy
Hilton Head-Bluffton Hazmat/COBRA Team
Tennessee Rescue College Instructor
Top Issues Facing Responders:
Firefighter Safety
All-Hazard Response
Funding Inadequacies
Turf Wars
I Love Being in Fire/EMS Because:
I get to work with some of the best people on the planet.

Ben Waller's Photos

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Ben Waller's Blog

Ben Waller

Candlemoth Syndrome



How many firefighters have experienced Candlemoth Syndrome? I know I have, particularly when I was younger and less experienced. Candlemoth Syndrome is a firefighting cousin of Target Fixation, where firefighters ar… Continue

Posted on November 4, 2009 at 7:33pm — 7 Comments

Ben Waller

Brotherhood and Enemies


If there are concepts that are polar opposites, Brothers and Enemies are great examples.
Brotherhood means treating the people whom you call "brother" as if they were indeed blood relatives.
Practicing the concept can sometimes be a little tricker, as brothers sometimes engage in family fights.
I have three br… Continue

Posted on October 13, 2009 at 1:30am — 13 Comments

Ben Waller

Ambulance Driving and Internet Credibility

Another FFN blogger recently posted this little gem "I Am Just An Ambulance Driver". I have several problems with this. For starters, the piece was obviously copied from somewhere with no attribution. I found a previous version of it with a minimal search at EMTLife forum board. Note that the comments ther… Continue

Posted on September 20, 2009 at 3:00pm — 15 Comments

Ben Waller

Getting Familiar with Unfamiliar Dirt

I recently spent a week on vacation that included a lot of reading on the beach. I was able to complete a six-book series, the Corean Chronicles by L.E. Modsitt, Jr... an excellent read if you're into the genre. In one of the books, a group of soldiers is deployed to an area with which none of them are familiar. They're tired from traveling and just want to… Continue

Posted on September 6, 2009 at 12:20pm — 1 Comment

Ben Waller

Ramp Strikes, Mom's Name, and Survival



From All Hazards Contemplations...

Although I love to read, I haven't had much reading time lately. Work and completing the edits of my chapter in Jones & Bartlett's new… Continue

Posted on August 30, 2009 at 9:38pm — 1 Comment

Comment Wall (88 comments)

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At 9:22pm on November 13, 2009, AirLifeKaren said…

At 11:27pm on October 26, 2009, Kali Goddess of Destruction said…
Ben -

Amazing, huh? The combination of the prospect that occasionally people can learn along with your sweet compliment warmed the dark recesses of my furry black heart :o)

And it was you who turned the tide. You never know, she might be a keeper...

Hooved Beasties -

Kali
At 11:10pm on October 20, 2009, josh slagel said…
Hi chief hows it goin in hilton head.
At 1:06pm on October 20, 2009, jocelyn chiasson said…
Hi Ben ,

Thank you very much for adding me as friend i can see your veteran with alot of experience and i hope to be able to learn alot from you if you don't mind!!!
and i seen a few post where people with no experience thing that propane is not a accelerant...
well they don't kow what they're talking about!!!

take care brother!!
J.C.
At 11:41pm on October 17, 2009, WestPhilly said…
It seems to be un-closed now.
At 11:37pm on October 17, 2009, WestPhilly said…
It wasn't me, Ben. WN is such a friggin tool!
At 8:58pm on October 16, 2009, WestPhilly said…
I think I might have just been converted.
At 11:03pm on October 12, 2009, Streetking said…
thanks for the group add bro!
At 4:36pm on October 10, 2009, Reg Mathis said…
Hey Ben,

Small world, huh? Next time you head through and have about 2 minutes, drop me a note and I'll give you a tour of our station! 2 minutes should about cover it! But at least we can offer you a cup of coffee!
At 8:57pm on October 9, 2009, OMNIS CEDO DOMUS said…
http://www.firefighternation.com/forum/topics/fuel-usage-for-acquired
 
 

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Latest Nation Member Activity

3 minutes ago
Way to go Ladd.
26 minutes ago
I would have to go with C. Ted brought up some very valid points.
27 minutes ago
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