"Raising Engine 11" Update

Work is progressing on the Raising Engine 11 project.   Chief Roberts found the old bell for it and has returned it to its’ rightful place and we thank him for it.  We have secured much of the small equipment needed to put it back in its’ original form.  PPG Industries is donating the paint and supplies to refinish the body and Retired Battalion Chief Jeff Holbird of the North Charleston Fire Department has agreed to lend his talent in painting the truck.  Chief Holbird is a master with a paint gun and we are excited that he is helping us out.  He is known in this area as a builder of many street rods and other cars and one of his paint jobs recently sold on the Barrett Jackson Auction program.  Liberty Art Works in Missouri has agreed to produce two chrome ceremonial axes with “Remembering the Charleston 9” emblem to be mounted on the truck.  We intend to disassemble the truck during August.  We are taking all of the running boards and other tread plate off of it to sandblast and powder coat in a high gloss silver.  We will also powder coat many of the brackets, handles, rails and other accessories courtesy of the Austin Services powder coating shop in Summerville.  Let us know if you would like to contribute a buck or a hand.  It is a worthwhile project. Click on the "Raising Engine 11" photo in the right column of this page for more details on this project.

Where are You?

We know, without question, that many of you are hurting. You have faced much in the past year. The loss of your nine brothers, every aspect of the Department being called into question, many retirements and resignations and a large number of “outsiders” joining your ranks. New procedures and equipment coming at you as hard as a three alarm fire with much more to come. Our Team has been with you throughout it all and we are paying attention. Many of you have sought assistance in our program. A great number of family members have asked for help as well. We have watched you at fires, been with you during training, visited you in your stations, during the day and late at night. We have come to your homes, accompanied you to the emergency room, stood with you during the memorial services, consoled you and you have consoled us. You have disagreed with each other and counseled each other. Many of you have been actively involved in our program and, because of you, others have sought our help. Regardless of where you are in this process, we can all do more to help one another. If something in on your mind, if something is troubling you, give us a call. It is truly a no obligation call. We will respond to you. Call us at any time on our help line (843) 609-7013. You can help yourself while helping others.

Recruit Class in Progress!

This past Tuesday, Richie Denninger, Amanda Custer and I spoke to the new recruit class about our program and what we had to offer them. It was exciting to see a class of nineteen new firefighters, each hoping to become one of Charleston’s own. As we walked around the parking lot afterwards, we noticed license plates from quite a few different states, a sign that there is a great interest all around for firefighters to join this department. It was good to hear that all of these recruits have received Fire Academy 1152 certification prior to coming here. This will give them a good sound basis to build on and something to bring to the table, as they continue to prepare to take their places in the companies. To the new recruits, take pride in being a part of a department in transition as Charleston moves ahead, knowing that you are joining a great group of men and women who have faced the worst of times in the past year but have continued to answer the call to do their duty. To the other members of the department, reach out to these recruits, share your experiences, your training, your beliefs and, most importantly, your spirit as you all work to make the Charleston Fire Department an example for the fire service of this nation.

Be safe, my friends.

What's in a Hug?

Today, the Team had the honor of accompanying the Charleston 9 families and many of you to the memorial service at the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association’s Annual Fire-Rescue Conference in Myrtle Beach. One gesture that I saw over and over again today was firefighters greeting one another with a hug. As I thought back over the years, I don’t believe that I have ever noticed that at all or certainly not as much. We have all experienced much grief and heartache this past year and I believe we have developed an ability to be more open with our feelings, concern and respect for each other because of it. There seemed to be no boundary to this show of emotion as firefighters from all over South Carolina and many other states came together this week in Myrtle Beach to train, to share ideas, to learn, and most importantly, to support each other. It was a great gathering and Charleston was well represented by our CFD 9 families, our honor guard, our escorts, our instructors, our officers, firefighters and the CFD Wives' Club members and their families. I know that the Charleston 9 would have been proud of them all, we sure were.

We Are Charleston!

In 1970, Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia suffered a terrible tragedy when their football team was killed in a plane crash while they were returning home from a game in North Carolina. In 2006, a movie, "We are Marshall" was released in theaters to memorialize those players and to document Marshall University's recovery from this unprecedented event. This week, I participated in a conference held here in Charleston that discussed the work to plan and carry out the Charleston 9 Memorial in June, 2007. The following scene from the movie portrayed Matthew McConaughey, as Coach Jack Lengyel, as he spoke to his team at the gravesite of the Marshall players. As I watched this clip during the conference, I thought it was important to share it with all of you.

The North Charleston Fire Museum is putting on a fire muster on August 23rd. This is a good way to show your spirit in these events. This is the first fire muster of this type to be held in South Carolina since the 1880's. Go to http://www.legacyofheroes.org/ for more information.

Progress!

Any time you think we aren't making progress, check this photo out!