Firefighter Combat Challenge Coming to Charleston!!

The Firefighter Combat Challenge Competition is coming to Charleston on May 20 & 21, 2011!  The two day event includes elite competitors from around the United States who will compete in events such as the Victim Rescue, the Five Story Tower Climb, the Hose Hoist, Forcible Entry and the Hose Advance.  There will be a Kid’s Challenge course and an Expo with a ton of vendors and activities for all. This is the 20^th anniversary of this nationwide series and their first visit to Charleston.  Come out and bring the entire family for two days of fun and excitement! Visit the website www.firefighterchallenge.com for more information or click on the headline above to see the promotional video.

"Never Forget" Camaro Heavily Damaged in Wreck!

Sadly, I must report that the "Never Forget" Camaro was heavily damaged in a wreck tonight while competing in a race at Dorchester Dragway. Thankfully, our driver, Doug Livingston, was not injured but the old hot rod is pretty bent up.  Doug lost control about halfway through his pass and skidded into the retaining wall. The entire right side and the front end will need to be replaced.  I expect we will be out for a while before repairs can be made.  Thanks to all who came out tonight to support us. Wish we could have put on a better show.

Fire Museum to Host 4th Annual Bike Rodeo and Safety Fair!

The North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire Museum and Educational Center will be celebrating its fourth anniversary on Saturday, April 30, 2011 with the Annual Safe Kids Bike Rodeo and Safety Day. The Fire Museum opened its doors to the public April 28th, 2007 and since that time has hosted over 110,000 visitors. As a thank you to the community the Fire Museum, in conjunction with the Safe Kids Trident Area, will be hosting a full day of family fun activities aimed at entertaining the entire family while preventing accidental childhood injury. Children will receive a FREE new bike helmet while enjoying the free jump castles, climbing wall, music and water games. Guests will be able to visit over 30 different vendors, watch vehicle extrication demonstrations by the North Charleston Fire Department, the South Carolina Highway Patrol roll over simulator and police bike team exhibitions. Children will also be able to navigate their way through the bicycle obstacle course after receiving a free bike inspection and tune up. Bring your own bike or use one of the free bikes available for check out. Attendees will to be able to cool off in the museum and enjoy FREE admission for the entire family.

The Bike Rodeo runs from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. and the Fire Museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. with the last admission at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

For more information please contact Max Sterling (843) 740-5550 x 221 or email him at maxjsterling@gmail.com at the Museum.

CFST Page is now "Featured Site" on FireRescue1.com!

We received an e-mail today from the folks at http://www.firerescue1.com/ that we are now a "Featured Site' on their blogs links page. Thanks to the FR1 folks for the consideration in allowing their readers to access us through their site.

"Wear Red for the Nine"

As we approach June 18, we ask you to join us to "Wear Red for the Nine".  We have a stock of most sizes of the Charleston 9 shirts for those of you who are interested.

Please message me at gerald@scfirefighters.org or call (843) 609-8300 for more information.

Run for the Nine" Set for June 11!

The 2011 "Run For The Nine" will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Joe Riley Stadium, 360 Fishburne Street, Charleston, SC 29403. The event will open at 7:00 a.m. and last until 1:00 p.m. Start time for the run is 8:00 a.m. There will be a party inside Joe Riley Stadium with food, drinks, music & activities, fire trucks and other equipment after the run.

Early registration fees for the run are due by Saturday, June 4th and are $20 for Individual Run/Walk participants and $100 for 5-Person Team participants. After Saturday, June 4th and including race day the entry fee is $25 for Individual Run/Walk participants and $125 for 5-Person Team participants. If you are participating as a 5-Person Team each member must fill out a registration form. After Saturday, June 4th, registration on active.com will close and anyone who wishes to participate in the run that has not signed up by that date, will have to fill out a registration form at the event on the day of the run.

To register for the run, online, at active.com, please visit: http://www.active.com/running/charleston-sc/run-for-the-nine-2011.

All proceeds raised from this event will go to the Charleston Nine Memorial Project, which will help to organize and finance the planning, development, construction and maintenance of the Charleston Nine Memorial, to be built at the site of the Sofa Super Store Fire, 1807 Savannah Highway, in West Ashley.

"Never Forget" Camaro to Run Double Header Next Weekend!!

We will be competing with our hot rod in the Top 8 Doorslammers series next weekend, Saturday, April 23, at the Union County Dragway in upstate South Carolina before returning to the Dorchester Dragway on Sunday, April 24 to complete a double header. We invite all of our upstate friends to join us at Union County and our hometown crowd to come see us run at Dorchester.  Dorchester Dragway is located between Summerville and St. George on Highway 78. Qualifying will begin around 4:00 p.m. Hope to see you there! 

An Exciting Day in the CFD!

Today we celebrated with CFD Recruit Class 10-02 as they graduated after 23 grueling weeks of training and take their places as the newest members of the Charleston Fire Department. They received their badges at the Simons Center Recital Hall on the campus of the College of Charleston before a large crowd of family, friends, and fellow members of the department. Congratulations to Daniel Arthur, George Corrie, William Easterlin, Evan English, Kyle Franklin, Thomas Fulmer, Jamaal Goss, Gregg Hayre, Justin Kroboth, Edward Lloyd, Daniel Mansdorf, John McDonald, Patrick Mulhern, Grey Mumpower, Joseph Rivers Robinson, Brandon Shaw, Casey Sullivan and Paul Tumminia on your accomplishment.

As I stood at the back of the hall and watched the ceremony, I couldn’t help but notice the members of the fire department in attendance that are second and third generation firefighters. Special recognition goes to Edward Lloyd, a new recruit, who was pinned by his father, CFD Assistant Chief Raymond Lloyd. Edward is the fifth generation of his family to be a firefighter! Furthermore, many of the new graduates had their children with them today and I wondered if we were looking at some of the future generation of firefighters. If I could offer any thing personally to the new members of the department, it would be to enjoy this day for it marks the beginning of an exciting time in your lives.

"Who Ya Gonna Call?!"

Amanda Custer, Gerald Mishoe, Sherri Dangerfield, Sarah Braswell & Chris Wells

We feel honored each day to be a part of the CFD Family. Thanks to all of you for your support of us and our program!

"Dancing the Two Step"

I had the opportunity to drive Engine 11 to a school carnival this morning where we displayed it for the kids and parents alike.  When I fired it up, the sound of the old Thermodyne as it cackled to life brought back many good memories of days gone by.  As I drove through the streets of Summerville on the way to our show, I enjoyed the old “two step” it takes to coax this old truck through the gears. Quite frankly, it gave me some satisfaction that I can still manage to get it done. You see, the “two step” is a process of double clutching and feathering the gas pedal to get it through the gears.  It does takes some hand and foot coordination to get the “dance” down pat. In addition, you must begin to turn the steering wheel well before your turn or you’ll never catch up to that old wheel in time to make it.  When we arrived at the carnival, I parked Engine 11 next to a Goose Creek Rural Fire Department engine that was state of the art for today.  It was equipped with air conditioning, power steering, automatic transmission and all the other bells and whistles; truly a nice truck.  I couldn’t help but wonder what will replace it fifty years from now?

Team Trains in Myrtle Beach!

CFST Peer John Winn Addresses Group

We traveled to the Myrtle Beach Fire Department today to train with their CISM team. The afternoon session included open discussions on issues facing all of us as peer counselors.  We appreciated the opportunity to share our experiences and to learn from theirs. We were excited to be able to work with these folks and we'll look forward to seeing them all again in the future. 

CFST Peer Pete Salvo in Discussion with MBFD Members