Firefighter Nation

Firefighting & Rescue Social / Professional Network

New! Visit FireEMSblogs.com for Hot Content - 40,000+ Members - Invite Firehouse Friends - Not a Member? Join Now
Joel C Kelley
  • Male
  • Kurtistown Hawaii
  • United States
Share/Send to Friends & Co-Workers 

Joel C Kelley's Friends

Joel C Kelley's Groups

 

FIGHTIN FIRE AT THE VOLCANO!!!!!

Latest Nation Member Activity

Martin joined Joel C Kelley's group
A forum for those who want to share idea about nutrition and fitness so we can all do our jobs more healthfully and with less 'fat on the fire'.
November 2
Here's another bottom line: The flag is the flag, not a patch, or a sticker, or a t-shirt or a ball cap. True flag etiquette indicates that to have a sticker of the flag on one's locker is actually to lessen the meaning of that banner, and lessen ...
October 27
Your Right Your Right! Come join us I changed the age for that statement.
October 8
Joel C Kelley added a discussion to the group New Generation Firefighters
Aloha to the new generation fire fighters! I would join this group, but I am 41. Although I have been in the fire service for 19 years, I still consider myself a new generation firefighter. Why? Because I do not believe in crapping on the new guys...
October 8

Profile Information

Hometown:
Cortez, Colorado
I Live: (City, State)
Kurtistown, Hawaii
Years in Fire/EMS:
seventeen
Why I Joined the Fire/EMS:
To help get right with the universe and to give myself a challenge.
Relationship Status:
Married
Primary Fire/EMS Department:
Hawaiian Acres Fire Department, Kurtistown, Hawaii
Department Type:
Fire/Rescue Department - Volunteer
Rank/Role There:
Firefighter
Years With This Department/Agency
2
2nd Department Type:
Other Response Agency Type
Rank/Role at Second Department:
Emergency Management Coordinator/Staff
Years With Second Department/Agency
1
Other Past or Current Departments:
Wheat Ridge F.D., Colorado.
Hondo V.F.D., Santa Fe County, New Mexico.
My Training:
FF 1 & 2, New Mexico and Colo.
Fire Officer 1, New Mexico
S-130, S-190 USDA forestry.
USFS I.C.S.
Holmatro rescue tools Cert.
EMT-B, New Mexico & Colo.,
EMT-I, New mexico.
PHTLS
ACLS
Hazmat Responder 1 & 2 Colorado and New Mexico.
About Me:
Too many years ago to count, about 17, My friend borrowed my folk's car to go on a date. While DUI, he totalled the car and killed his date. The State took no action, so I did. I set about to make things cosmically right by joining the volunteer department that responded to the call. They were the best! I could not have gotten better training if I had gotten into a paid academy. I made Lieutenant in three years and after two years in that position, thought I might try to go paid, so I moved to Denver. Four years trying to compete in that climate of "do anything to get the job", left me tired and burnt out, realizing I just wanted to Volunteer. When I moved to Hawaii this year, that option came again open, and here I am, on Engine Company 5-B in Hawaii County, and proud of it!
Day Job:
Mauna Kea Ranger
Side Jobs or Other Organizations:
Outdoor Outfitter and gear head
Personal Site/Profile:
http://www.ohanaoutfitters.com
Top Issues Facing Responders:
The disparity between union and non union departments, Guaranteeing good recruits in volunteer departments, funding in small departments with small tax bases, good training.
I Love Being in Fire/EMS Because:
Being able to make a difference in my community
>

Joel C Kelley's Photos

Loading…

Joel C Kelley's Blog

Joel C Kelley

Election day!

YES WE DID!!!!!

Posted on November 9, 2008 at 9:33pm —

Joel C Kelley

Advice to Rookies

This is very likely to piss of the old timers, but I want to start talking about it, in hopes that our industry can find what it really needs and dispense with what is either outdated or does not work. I found this advice on a fire website today, and while some of the items are great advice, others really smack of hazing and a lack of teamwork. I am going to publish the original in black and my thoughts on it are underlined. I would like to see what kind of discussion this prompts to find out wh… Continue

Posted on August 18, 2008 at 6:00pm — 9 Comments

Joel C Kelley

Climate change

From the title, you might get the idea that this post will be about global warming.... well its not. I looked at the draft report from NIOSH on the Charleston LODD's from last year, and got to thinking about the climate in which we do our jobs. Incidentally, the report is available at: http://static.wciv.com/niosh.pdf.

Maybe I am just venting and maybe this will conclude with some ideas for positive change, I don't know. But I do know that generally speaking, the public, the municipalities we s… Continue

Posted on May 9, 2008 at 4:37pm —

Joel C Kelley

The Creed of the Sociopathic Obsessive Compulsive Fire Captain

1. If any thing can go wrong, fix it! To hell with Murphy!


2. When given a choice- take both!


3. Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.


4. Start at the top then work your way up


5. Do it by the book, but be the author!


6. When forced to compromise, ask for more.


7. If you can't beat them, join them, then beat them.


8. If its worth doing, its got to be done right now.


9. if you can't win, change the rules.


10. If you can't c

Continue

Posted on September 25, 2007 at 6:12pm — 2 Comments

Joel C Kelley

Welcome to DaKine!

Aloha Kakou!


E komo mai, welcome, to the blogspot for a lowly, but experienced rookie on the Big Island of Hawaii! This is my return to the fire service after a multiple year hiatus. After losing the love of the job in Colorado, I have come here to Hawaii and joined a volunteer department. Let's just say that the issue was the drive to go career forcing out those of us that just want to run free. I volunteer, and I didn't have any real desire to go pro. I had a good job, a good family

Continue

Posted on September 19, 2007 at 10:48pm — 2 Comments

Comment Wall (47 comments)

You need to be a member of Firefighter Nation to add comments!

Join this social network

At 9:21pm on August 6, 2009, Scott said…
Hi, Do you still have the N6A helmet for sale. I know its been awhile but I thought I would check.
At 5:12pm on July 6, 2009, Charles Becvarik said…
Hey Joel,
Sorry it has taken a while to get back to you. everyone says hello from Hondo. We just had the 4th of July Picnic at Station 1. It went well, even though we had several calls during the event. It was ok, you know how everyone loves to see us take off with lights and sirens. Oohhhhs and Ahhhs from the fans.

Keep in touch and be safe!

Charles Becvarik - NM EMS Bureau / Hondo FD
At 1:07pm on June 8, 2009, Daniel Robert Garvin said…
Thanks again Joel!!! Stay safe brother.

Daniel
At 1:15pm on June 3, 2009, Daniel Robert Garvin said…
Hi Joel!!

Patch arrived today...just wanted to say thanks for the swap! Please stay safe my friend.

Daniel
At 9:52pm on May 16, 2009, Chad King said…
Sounds like you have to be creative with the equipment to get the job done.
At 12:10pm on March 18, 2009, Chad King said…
How is everything in Hawaii? Typical spring day here in New York. Mid - 50"s and they are still forecasting snow. Take Care. Do you guys have any unique fire apparatus that helps get the job done in the islands as opposed to in the states?
At 11:03am on March 18, 2009, alex said…
hi mate its alex from victoria austraila just looking for someone to chat to.. over here on the 7. 3. 09 we had a big fire that took out over 2000 homes and killed 210 still rateld as a vol
At 4:41am on March 17, 2009, josh sare said…
hey, my name is josh and interested in becoming a fire fighter in hawaii county. just curious if you got any advice or pointers. i currently live in paridise park.
At 7:15pm on March 3, 2009, Daniel Robert Garvin said…
I can understand busy...been there myself a few times. I appreciate your answer. Stay safe brother.

Daniel Garvin
4399 Viau Street
Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada
H9H 3B1
At 4:45pm on March 3, 2009, Daniel Robert Garvin said…
Hello Joel,
I am just wondering if I can expect to receive a patch from you in return for the one I sent. Please let me know if I should or will I just chock it up to a loss? Thanks and stay safe.

Daniel
 
 

Sign in

E-mail

Password
 or Sign Up
By signing in, you agree to the amended Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Forgotten your password?

Latest Nation Member Activity

Courtney"Peanut"Lenz 221 tired and gotta work tomorrow
37 seconds ago
Oliver Boggs updated their profile
1 minute ago
Oliver Boggs bored and bout to go to hooters
2 minutes ago
Vladimir Mijic added 2 videos
3 minutes ago

FFN eMail Alerts

Get hot content from FFN and FireRescue
FireRescue eNewsletter
Breaking & Daily News
Special Promotions
Webcast/Content Alerts
*Your eMail Address:
 

© 2009   Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief, an Elsevier Public Safety & Go Forward Media, LLC Product -   Partners: JEMS Connect - FireRescue - JEMS
Contact Us: Report an Issue, Inquire About Advertising & Partnerships
This site is intended for use by current and former fire, rescue & EMS professionals. Non emergency service personnel may be subject to review and removal. Using this site inappropriately to spam/advertise or solicit members in any way will result in account termination. Commercial companies may have profiles, but blogs, forums, videos and photos may not be used for self-promotion.

Badges  |  Contact Firefighter Nation  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service