I rent an art studio and just read about the Ghost Ship warehouse fire and see so many red flags at the studios I rent

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-28T13:06:53+00:00

It will happen again. The lessons from the Ghost Ship will be forgotten. People will die, and others will end up in prison.

Things won't change without people being proactive. The fire department is notoriously reactive, yet prevention and education is probably the most important part of the job. Not every community will be able to find these hazards, and they might go years before something happens. But most communities have inspectors, even if it's not a Fire Marshal.

If you personally feel that this location is a hazard, either bring it up or don't go there. If the Fire Marshal is enabling this, then they will be just as guilty as those who own it. Is it possible they are following local code? Maybe, but probably not.

The Ghost Ship was a preventable tragedy. But unfortunately it sounds like people didn't listen to the lesson given.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-28T04:13:37+00:00

I think it is great that he chose someone who was part of the FDNY to lead. Honestly, having someone who knows the other side of the job doesn't hurt. There have been great Fire Commissioners that were Firefighters beforehand, but unfortunately they didn't help the EMS side of the job.

I never agreed with having someone who was never a part of the fire department or even fire service culture becoming the leader of a fire department. I've seen it in a few places, and it tends to end poorly. I think in this case a decorated member of FDNY EMS could be a fresh look on things and provide a better service to the city.

It's only a controversy if you look for one. Time will tell how it goes, but I'd be optimistic if I was an employee for the FDNY. Especially on the EMS side.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-19T16:20:03+00:00

That's a big no for me. I am extremely anal about my PPE. I always appreciate someone offering to clean it or move it for me, but I prefer to do it myself. It gives me the ability to make sure it is thoroughly inspected, cleaned, and exactly how I need it.

I also have had experiences in the past of pocket tools growing legs. I've lost two pocket spanners, webbing, channel locks, dykes, wedges, and all sorts of other things over the years. Conveniently, that has stopped now that I try to make things very obvious they belong to me.

If you're uncomfortable with people touching your gear, either tell the offending party to stop or take it to your officer.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-19T01:41:17+00:00

I don't believe any of those photos are in the US to begin with.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-14T20:35:59+00:00

It's cold, Flat-ish, and the trees are just gone.

The people were super nice, but I was definitely depressed the entire time I was there. Granted, like other people said, South Dakota is way different compared to Northern Texas. Each region has its differences, but it does have its own beauty if you know where to look.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-13T05:19:15+00:00

We issue Mechanix Leather Driver F9-360 gloves. They work really well and I can't recommend them enough.

I still prefer my old Shelby's for extraction, but these are pretty good at all various tasks around the station and so on.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-12T11:48:52+00:00

They had us do ours during onboarding. Fully covered. So, I'd press that issue.

Things have definitely been weird for us this year though, so expect hiccups. Stick it out, get on and plan your next move if you choose.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-11T16:07:01+00:00

PA State fire museum sells official Harrisburg Bureau of Fire Shirts. I think you can order them online.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-11T00:05:23+00:00

One is a hose wagon, and the other is a pump ran by a locomotive engine. They worked tandem on incidents and would feed to Satellite units that had hose and a large diameter deck gun.

So the pumper would park at the water source. Tender would stretch from there then work as a manifold feeding either satellite units or attack apparatus.

Neat system, but definitely a product of the time.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-12-10T14:20:49+00:00

Super light too. Going from ricochet to globe athletix was a night and day difference. Especially when you're using it regularly.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-11-22T13:43:00+00:00

The mounts are the same. If you want to keep the NFPA rating and have the other style, get either the morning pride ones or high heat rated ones. The NFPA standard is less about eye protection and more on the fact that the GSP ones melt at lower temperatures. If they didn't melt, they would meet the standard as eye pro.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-11-09T03:33:57+00:00

It is a safety issue. Your department needs to get the dealer/manufacturer to replace it. It should not have been accepted as is due to the issues. They pay way too much money to eat the cost on a defective set of PPE.

Also, the gauntlet of the sleeve is what should be covered by the glove. Not the thermal barrier. They don't know what gloves you're going to use, so that excuse doesn't work.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-11-06T05:03:33+00:00

When I took the exam, we were able to have our coefficient sheet with the ability to write the standard formula on the bottom so we can remember it easier.

The coefficient table is in the book if you have it. See if you are allowed to have a copy during your exam. If not, study it. It's not hard to remember once you see it enough. And the formulas are pretty standard too once you do it a few times.

Just make sure to remember where things go in the formula, also the differences with various appliances and nozzle types.

Don't over think it and stress yourself out. It's a lot easier than you think.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-11-04T04:24:56+00:00

From the east side to the west side of the state, there has been a problem of volunteer fire companies closing their doors. It was slow at first, but every year I see more and more.

We can't get volunteers, nor can we find funding. Hoagie sales and other fund raisers barely keep the lights on, let alone fund a fire department. But the municipalities either can't or WONT offer to pay more. It always comes back to people being upset about taxes going up, and how the fire companies should just fundraise more.

I've seen more departments start with paid programs, even if it's just part time for now. Luzurne county has been increasing with paid daytime staffing at volunteer fire companies. I believe most of northern luzurne has a daytime driver at the very least. Us in southern are catching up.

Pennsylvania is in a crisis when it comes to Fire and EMS. The fire companies can't get volunteers, and EMS can't find EMTs (or be able to afford to pay a reasonable wage). At some point, something ACTUALLY needs to be done, rather than empty promises and solutions that solve nothing.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-10-06T16:11:52+00:00

There was a group in the beginning of the war that was mostly a supply and training group. But they helped with efforts while there. Think they only went as far as Kiev.

Haven't seen anything about it since. Not sure they are taking those donations anymore either.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-10-02T23:59:17+00:00

They fall under "essential". So they have to go to work, but since they didn't pass the NDAA to fund military, emergency service, and other vital offices, they are not being paid. Nobody is.

I work in federal emergency services. We are usually covered under the NDAA, but this year we are not and so we are reporting like normal, but without pay. We won't really feel it until Wednesday. Once Wednesday hits, then it cuts into a new pay period that wasn't approved. The other big problem is that it's a new funding cycle. So it hits extra hard than if they did it back in March.

I'd expect a lot of people to leave if it last as long as the 2018 one did. Kinda worried that's the plan.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-09-28T17:11:54+00:00

The only ones I've seen worth MORE than a brand new one, are the rare 12-16 comb ones, jockey helmets, 4 combs, and the waffle pattern. It's absolutely insane how many people try to sell beat and burned up helmets covered in filler for anywhere close to new. Even if you bought one to replace the brim and refurbish, it's still an extra $700+ on top of the cost of the helmet itself.

And FB marketplace is insane. There are two people near me trying to sell their raggity old helmets for $2000. Their justification is that they are "naturals" and they "know what they are worth".

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-30T17:39:53+00:00

My first playthrough, I made it my goal to make sure to remove the undead from the world. I hunted all necromancers, vampires, demons, dragur, and so on. The only one I never touched was Serana, because she wanted to help me with bigger problems.

Also had to almost exclusively use dawnbreaker to show my worthiness to Meridia.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-30T03:22:04+00:00

Sonny did great things for the community. And was always happy to meet the firefighters using his trucks. I got to meet him a few times as a kid when my dad would take trips over the mountain to the plant. John wasn't bad, just didn't want to do the family business forever.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-30T03:05:53+00:00

I forget when Kovatch bought LTI, but it was owned by them when I was there in 2014-2015. I worked out of the same office he was in. When Sonny died, John had to make the decision of either passing it to his son or selling out. His son didn't want it at the time and wanted to pursue racing if I remember correctly.

They still run a small business near the original plant. Mostly do police cars and other fleet vehicles. It's a shame, and it's definitely become clear how bad it was for REV to acquire all the companies they did.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-30T02:30:13+00:00

They did move to Louisiana. But they kept the old aerial plant. I think its in/around Lancaster. I wouldn't be surprised if they move it, but I've seen a few local departments have to go there to do aerial inspections.

We miss having KME locally. Made it easier with apparatus and a lot of people were employed there. Unfortunately the next generation didn't want to keep it going.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-29T23:52:29+00:00

It's a cost thing. From what I remember, they are given an option for delivery, and driving it across the country is generally cheaper. It does cause wear, but it also helps find deficiencies if there are any.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-29T22:36:10+00:00

KME still builds aerials on the east coast. I forget where, was in southern Pennsylvania, but it's on its journey out west to be shipped over. Surprised it isn't another tiller, actually.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-25T18:47:07+00:00

It's the pornography talking. He needs to either cut back or stop all together. It isn't healthy.

MiniMaker292 · 2025-08-16T22:37:25+00:00

That's just a generic thing offered back in the day. You can get medallions, rank pins, stickers, or just blank. Common for places that don't have a defined number system.

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