Congratulations Battalion Chief Jason Harmsen!!!
WHOA!? Sometimes life gives you moments where you have to stop, look around, and really take in what is happening. Hearing that Jason Harmsen has been promoted to Battalion Chief…
The Firehouse
Firefighters and Police Are Being Asked to Do More With Less
I recently came across an article titled “When Firefighters Are Pulled Into Law Enforcement Activity,” and it got me thinking about the direction public safety is heading. The article shared…
Sometimes You Just Need the Right Shot: What Cam Newton’s Message Taught Me About Life
Cam Newton gave a speech years ago to high school football recruits that still hits home today. His message was simple but powerful…. do not chase the biggest name just…
Are You Okay? Why Larry Conley’s “Powerless” Speech Matters More Than Ever
I was working on a project and came across Larry Conley’s speech, “Powerless,”. It hit me in a way that I think many firefighters, first responders, military members, nurses, and…
Firefighters Are Not Robots: Why Sleep Needs To Become Part of the Culture
There was a picture I saw recently with a quote from Abraham Lincoln that really hit home for me: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I’ll…
Should We Charge for EMS Calls? Why I’m Both For It… and Against It
I’ll be honest…I was all for it at first. When I heard about Douglas County charging a fee for EMS calls where a patient is treated but not transported, it…
From Explorer to Firefighter: Thank You, Chief Hall & Clayton County Fire
I started my journey as an Explorer at just 13, turning 14. I didn’t know what I wanted back then. I thought maybe I’d be a teacher, then the military,…
No Ambulances Available… “We Gotta Go”
Over the past few days, I read a story out of Atlanta that honestly hit home for me. The article titled “‘We gotta go’ Atlanta officers rush 9 year old…
The Breaking Point: Why Fire & EMS Must Fix Pay, Burnout, and System Overload
After more than a decade in fire and EMS, I’ve seen the same issues pop up over and over. It’s not about one department or city, this is bigger. Across…
The First Year As A Firefighter: Being Proactive and the Power of the Little Things
I recently had the chance to attend a recruit graduation for the Clayton County Fire Department something I hadn’t done in probably a good decade. As someone who’s been in…
