Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...November 15, 2009
Sometimes I try to say witty things on this post but not today.
I am so proud of myself. I have been trying to tell someone something for three years and had the courage to say it last night. Do I feel better? I don't know yet. But at least I did it.
This is lame, not anything to do with the fire service I know, but who do I tell but you guys that would not judge me, as always?
Enjoy your day,
Love from NJ
Denise Broesler, NJ Rookie Firefi…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on November 15, 2009 at 11:03am —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...November 15, 2009
Sometimes I try to say witty things on this post but not today.
I am so proud of myself. I have been trying to tell someone something for three years and had the courage to say it last night. Do I feel better? I don't know yet. But at least I did it.
This is lame, not anything to do with the fire service I know, but who do I tell but you guys that would not judge me, as always?
Enjoy your day,
Love from NJ
Denise Broesler, NJ Rookie Firefi…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on November 15, 2009 at 11:03am —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...November 13, 2009
Here it is, Friday the 13th, and I can't stop thinking that this day has to be a good one. My week at the fire service was slow with only two calls I believe. Anyway, I didn't feel so well and would have had to stay back anyway.
The end of the year brings alot of activities at our firehouse - pancake breakfast, visit with Santa, elections, etc. I was nominated to be trustee and secretary. I chose the latter. In any organization there are peop…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on November 13, 2009 at 1:42pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...November 4, 2009
Read more about OSHA's proposed ruling on combustible dust and let your comments be heard.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=21152 Continue
Added by Denise M. Broesler on November 4, 2009 at 8:12am —
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on November 2, 2009 at 7:06pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...October 26, 2009
I work in Chatham, NJ, only two miles from St. Pat's Church where Father Ed Hines was murdered by the janitor of the Church. I work across the street from the Chatham FD, where Father Hines was a chaplain. The flag is half staff and the flag is outside, showing a death in the fire department.
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on October 26, 2009 at 12:22pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...October 22, 2009
Almost every day I have an egg sandwich at this tiny diner across the street from my office. While I was walking to the diner today, the fire alarm went off in Chatham. I passed a little girl walking with her Mom and the child was holding her hands over her ears. She yelled, "Mom, what's that noise?" The mom mumbled something about the sound being the railroad, which happens to run behind the Chatham firehouse. It wasn't my place to correct her…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on October 22, 2009 at 3:35pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...October 21, 2009
SCBA 2 Drill - Not for Rookies
Last night I finally felt like I was past Rookiedom.
We did SCBA Part 2 in the smokehouse. Last year I wasn't SCBA certified yet so I did the drill but didn't go through the mazes or hatches. I did it last night though.
For all you guys and girls that are experienced, young, and fit, stop reading because you will think I am quite lame. For those of you brave enough to keep reading, I want to tell you some retro…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on October 21, 2009 at 9:30am —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...October 18, 2009
Today we had a great drill. My husband told me I should rename this blog, "Running to a Drill," since that's what I always seem to be doing. It was a vehicle extrication drill and taught by one of my officers. I learned things I hadn't learned at school and maybe I wasn't ready to learn at that time anyway (perhaps FF 2). For example, the direction to put the fire out if it's in the hood, and the proper way to set the scene with the yellow tarp…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on October 18, 2009 at 8:10pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...October 15, 2009
It's funny...I realized the reason I have been writing on this blog less is because I write all day long for a living.
I went to see a therapist the other day to learn how to cope with mentally ill and drug addicted children I have in my life. On the initial intake, the therapist asked me what I do in my free time. My answer was hang out with the old timers at my firehouse and listen to stories.
That didn't really sit well with her.
Then she…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on October 15, 2009 at 1:30pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...September 30, 2009
I did a little detective work because a friend of mine couldn't get to the convention in Wildwood a few weeks ago and he wanted a golf shirt. Because of my work I have learned how to investigate and research using the internet and I found a way to get merchandise from the convention. I won't bore you with the details of how I found the link, but I will share it with you:…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on September 30, 2009 at 8:47am —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...September 28, 2009
Hi everyone! I had a great day yesterday at a CERT training sem…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on September 27, 2009 at 8:40pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...September 1, 2009
I can't tell you how sad I am now packing up my daughter's room. I have gone through the countless papers and stories she has written. They are all about drugs and how wonderful they are. I thought I was going to vomit. Right next to the drug stories were her Barbies and Betty Spaghettis. She is 18 and what is called MICA. That stands for mentally ill chemically addicted. She has recently started heroin.
We are doing all we can to get help fo…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on September 1, 2009 at 9:50pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...September 1, 2009
I can't believe a week has gone by since this happened.
I was eating pizza at an outside table at Arminio's in Chatham, NJ where I work and a truck made a tight turn around the corner very close to my table. A cylinder (probably propane) popped off the truck and started hissing with flames shooting out. I went inside and told the owner to call 911 and then went back outside to make sure people didn't walk near the cylinder. The truck driver t…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on September 1, 2009 at 9:46pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...August 26, 2009
I forgot to tell you about Sunday. I had a GREAT time at an exempt picnic at one of our firehouses.
In our township, you are exempt if you are with the fire department for seven years. I am not exempt, but the picnic is opened up to all the firefighters in the township.
Last year I attended the same picnic but this year I knew more people, and I knew some people a little better than I did last year. I even caught a poker game with three firefi…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on August 26, 2009 at 6:35am —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...August 22, 2009
Tomorrow is an important day. It's a bone marrow drive in Staten Island for a retired Staten Island firefighter named Roy Chelsen. Roy was a hero during 9/11, and according to some accounts, was responsible for getting his crew out of the WTC that day.
If you are in the NY, NJ, Connecticut area, please consider attending the bone marrow drive for Roy, or joining the bone marrow donor registry.
Here's the Facebook link to an article about myelo…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on August 22, 2009 at 4:50pm —
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on August 21, 2009 at 8:12pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...August 16, 2009
I have wanted to write a post for weeks, but don't know what to say. I'd like to say something witty, like I'm going to the beach each weekend, or I'm sitting by a pool with a beer in my hand, but I cannot tell a lie.
While the rest of the world seems to be enjoying a great summer, or in NJ at least, I am struggling with real life issues that would have crushed another person. Yes, crushed. The fact that I know I can reach out to a team of peop…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on August 16, 2009 at 9:30pm —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...August 11, 2009
Last night we had our part 2 of a Decon drill. It was way interesting.
While working I stumbled upon this interesting press release and new guide on combustible dusts from OSHA:
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=16137
Denise Broesler
NJ Rookie Firefighter
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on August 11, 2009 at 11:34am —
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Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...August 10, 2009
Hola from New Jersey!
Did you ever sit with a group of people that were totally knowledgeable about so many topics and wonder how they got there? It seems whenever I am at the firehouse, I get all the answers.
What do I do about the green spots on my house? What do I do about my sump pump not making any noise? How can I make my daughter understand that a 450 degree flat iron on a wood floor can start a fire? How come my pager isn't working?
I…
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Added by Denise M. Broesler on August 10, 2009 at 6:30am —
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