We lost one of our past firefighters this month, and a present long-time member is fighting a deadly disease.

Joe Meyer was one of my trainees when I was an Albion Fire Department instructor, and he remained a member for ten years, alongside his brother.


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 So, I'm retiring. Not from my full time job of dispatching to become a Gentleman Author, as I wanted. (It's like a Gentleman Farmer, a rich person who just farms as a hobby. No real farmer is a Gentleman Farmer, especially considering their ungentlemanly language while going through bills ( Read more... )

Many thanks to Mike Miller of NIPSCO, who gave a presentation on flammable gasses at the Albion Fire Department recently. Miller, also an experienced firefighter, used props and demonstrations to show the properties and hazards of propane and natural gas.
You can watch a few short videos of it here:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/S2N8-om-CLY

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            It goes without saying that the best way to maintain safety in a kitchen is to keep me out.

But I said it anyway, and as it happens, the theme of this year’s Fire Prevention Week is "Cooking Safety Starts With YOU". Even a group of Congressmen couldn’t argue over whether that’s a good idea. Could they?
           “My ( Read more... )

If you should be near Albion during the Chain O’ Lakes Festival, don’t forget to drop in on the fish and tenderloin fry at the fire station Wednesday, June 7th. This has been an annual tradition for many decades, with proceeds going to equipment and training for the Albion Fire Department. (Indiana, for those of you near other Albions.)

It’s from ( Read more... )

As we close out the 100th anniversary of Nation Fire Prevention Week, I thought I’d take a quick look at the history of firefighting.
You might want to brace yourself, we’ll be moving fast.


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(While this event isn't until November, it'll get here faster than you think. After all, it already feels like November. So spread the word, and if you're going to be nearby, mark your calendar!)
-------------------------------  I'm still not all that good at promoting my books or anything else, but I keep working at it. I have learned that when ( Read more... )

 And ... I missed most of it. Which I really don't mind, because I'm not much of a fair ride rider. I am a fair food foodie, but my wife and three doctors held me down and beat me with broccoli sticks until I gave them all my cash.


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With the Albion Fire Department's annual fish and tenderloin fry coming up Wednesday (June 8th), I thought I'd let everyone know just how long the AFD has been doing this fund raiser, which you can read more about here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1125758564936177The answer: I don't know. I do know we've been doing it for at least forty-five ( Read more... )