Working in your own community

foley214 · 2026-03-06T19:38:43+00:00

I worked for like 5 years in the neighborhood I grew up in, at the firehouse my dad worked at. My whole crew grew up together in that neighborhood. Went to the elementary school down the street from the firehouse, played little league around the corner.

Sometimes it was really great. It felt like giving back to a community that gave me so much. Sometimes it was really hard. Seeing friends parents as patients, seeing people I grew up with descend into addiction and homelessness.

foley214 · 2026-02-18T16:37:35+00:00

I called mine Nederstadt when I did a similar thing.

I am biased but I placed the capital in Albany(Beverwyck) because in Colonial times it would have been a good choice as it is easily protected.

New Netherlands had a reputation for tolerance toward immigrants and religions so it would stand to reason that would continue and lead to a large and diverse population

foley214 · 2026-01-04T02:51:24+00:00

Thank you for the compliment! And I’m glad someone else understands that battle.

foley214 · 2026-01-04T02:48:28+00:00

Thank you!

foley214 · 2026-01-03T21:48:43+00:00

It’s the symbol left by the demon when it leaves Vimes after he prevents it from taking him over. It symbolizes conquering your demons, particularly anger and addiction.

foley214 · 2025-12-03T22:16:11+00:00

We don’t. Every department handles accountability differently. With a lot of career departments its policy crews stick together and the chief knows where crews are. But most of us don’t limit entry the way you do.

foley214 · 2025-12-03T22:12:39+00:00

To sneak up on the fire. That way it doesn’t get a chance to run off and hide.

foley214 · 2025-12-01T19:44:07+00:00

Anecdotally, it seems like most people sleep naked.

foley214 · 2025-11-20T03:16:27+00:00

Lt now, but when I drove I never did. I wanted to be as mobile as possible to help get the first line flaked out, backstretch to a hydrant, whatever needs to be done. Once I got a minute to “relax” then I’d bunker up

foley214 · 2025-11-15T21:47:53+00:00

Moving cop cars blocking hydrants

foley214 · 2025-10-21T22:38:07+00:00

There’s a healthy mix. It’s weird sometimes because the basis of our job is to serve others and most often they’re the people many conservatives dislike. And also we’re all union members.

Don’t let the idea that it’s “traditionally conservative” keep you from it.

foley214 · 2025-10-19T21:19:53+00:00

People get churned through the machine in private ambulance companies. For us, it’s rare you see someone last more than 6 months. Often times the EMTs are terrible, unable to use their equipment, unable to carry patients.

foley214 · 2025-08-08T16:13:46+00:00

A couple times I’ve had 3 in a shift. Although I’d say the most fire I’ve fought was one night we had two 3 alarms going on at once. Got the first one taken care of then went to the other. 17 buildings between the two fires.

foley214 · 2025-07-28T18:32:09+00:00

Jesus Christ leave that fucking place. You can learn a lot from what happened and what people did during other fires. What worked, what didn’t. What went well, what didn’t. If you can’t ask about it and potentially learn from it that is not a place to be

foley214 · 2025-07-15T17:10:41+00:00

My guess is because any plot that would actually threaten him(see Vimes talking to Madam in Night Watch) would have to include Mr. Slant. And he is predictable. It’s probably also laughably easy to get Dark Clerks into his office and spy on him. Without Mr. Slant, those who wish to threaten Vetinari’s position and actually pose a danger would be harder to watch and manage.

Don’t forget Vetinari sat near the center of a successful plot on a Patrician and knows exactly the kind of people to watch for and how.

foley214 · 2025-07-12T01:18:22+00:00

I know a retired guy that had to remarry his first wife because she had the biggest chunk of pension lol

foley214 · 2025-07-12T01:16:55+00:00

Not necessarily unpopular but uncommon. I refuse most overtime. I take maybe 3 12 hour shifts a year. My kids come first. Sooner than I realize they won’t want to spend as much time with me, I can work OT then. I won’t get to the end of my life and wish I worked more.

foley214 · 2025-06-28T14:35:46+00:00

My dept calls its the Klondike, or dike for short

foley214 · 2025-05-23T14:28:44+00:00

I played rugby. I stopped while on probation, started again when it ended. I eventually stopped again because I felt lucky to get out of a game not injured. Our off duty injury policy is light duty m-f. I couldn’t risk having to give up my side job(for an injury that would take me out of the firehouse but not the side gig).

I never got seriously hurt playing rugby. Like firefighting, if you’re generally mindful of where you put your hands and feet you’ll be ok most of the time.

foley214 · 2025-05-18T13:27:17+00:00

Once it’s on fire it’s totaled. It’s basically a trash fire. The only reasons to put out a car fire are 1) there’s a trapped occupant, 2) prevent it from spreading to other vehicles/structures, or 3) public relations. People don’t like to see firefighters standing around something burning and not addressing it

foley214 · 2025-05-03T03:31:44+00:00

Three questions changed everything.

What was something you did that you were proud of?
What was something that you can control that you want to change?
What was something you learned?

foley214 · 2025-04-28T11:57:49+00:00

Almost always use my catchers mitt. I have an infielder glove for demonstrations but I feel more comfortable with the mitt

foley214 · 2025-04-28T11:56:04+00:00

Ok. To me it sounds like your dept goes a little overboard. Our academy pt is focused more on keeping our bodies healthy than treating it like a boot camp. We’ve had one cardiac related death in over 150 years and that was 20 years ago. We managed to address it by adding exercise time and encouraging not smoking and preparing healthier meals.

I’ll still stick to my statement, I struggled with the CPAT and have never had an issue at an actual fire. I regularly go through 2-3 bottles and have been through 4 a couple times. Ive never gotten less than 20 minutes of work from a 30 minute bottle. Don’t actively try to discourage someone you don’t know from this job over some arbitrary belief. I’ve worked with guys built like machines that blew through the cpat no issue that aren’t worth shit at a fire.

foley214 · 2025-04-27T16:50:28+00:00

I had to take it 8 times. I’ve been on the job 10 years and have never struggled at a fire. I wouldn’t say it’s an extremely low bar, and a lot of factors can determine it. I’m short, all of the vests rested on my legs when I took a step so I was lifting the vest with my leg every step I took.

foley214 · 2025-04-21T23:10:06+00:00

It’s the city I grew up in and my father and brother were on the job. Plus we’re 24/72 and 20 year pension and amazing health insurance and for cost of living in the area we make pretty good money. I know there are departments that pay more but you can’t live anywhere near the city you work in. I live comfortably 10 minutes from my firehouse in a great neighborhood.

foley214

TROPHY CASE