Firefighter Sam

Coming in August - Real Heroes: Firefighter (Wii)

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 22:45:00 +0000

I recently received an email asking if I would mention a particular product on Sam's blog. Requests of this nature are quite common, not because this blog is anything special, but because people with new products or services often conduct a search and contact anyone who runs a related blog and might be willing to advertise for them. This email was different because it was regarding a product that interested me greatly, Real Heroes: Firefighter for the Nintendo Wii.

I had learned of the game last year and have been anticipating its release. Sam loves video games, but many of the offerings are either too violent for him to play or too "babyish" to hold his attention for very long. I think this one will be right up his alley though.

Designed by Epicenter Studios the game emphasizes non-violent, environmental puzzles and challenges that mirror the on-the-fly choices firefighters face every day. It is targeted at pre-teens but looks like it would be a blast for anyone. Epicenter is a small game studio that wanted to create a fun, but non-violent, action-packed game suitable for everyone. They are also donating a portion of all sales to The Firefighter Cancer Support Network. The game releases August 4th. You can see more videos on their Facebook page.

Overturned Vehicle on Morrisville Carpenter Rd.

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 01:13:00 +0000

Passed by this accident on my way home from work today. Cary Fire Department, A-Shift, E7.

Sam Helps the Winnipeg Fire Department

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:10:00 +0000

I was recently contacted by Community Safety Net, an organization that helps to provide departments with safety books and DVDs free of charge. They had come across Sam's blog and asked if they could use some of his photos in a fire safety banner. The banner will be used by the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service as part of their elementary school fire safety campaign. I think that it turned out great. Looks like a lucky member of one of our favorite departments made it into the banner as well. Sorry Adam.

Morrisville Fire Department's Wet Down Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:05:00 +0000

The Morrisville FD provided some unique July Fourth fun this year for the community. They held a wet down ceremony for their new Pumper 3, a 2009 Pierce Contender 1500/1000/40. The whole event was organized quite well and was very kid friendly. After a brief ceremony, the wet down began. Tons of water rained down on the the pumper, and the kids had a blast while they got soaked. Once everything was sufficiently wet, everyone has a chance to dry the truck and then it was pushed into bay by many eager volunteers and placed into immediate service.

Click HERE or on the image below to see all of my photos from the day. Also, HERE are Lee Wilson's great shots of the event as well as detailed views of the new pumper.

Updated - Looks like Sam made it into one of the images posted in July 5th's edition of The Raleigh News and Observer.

RFD Station Six 60th Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:36:00 +0000

Sam and I got to check out one of Raleigh's oldest stations this past Saturday when RFD's Station Six celebrated its 60th anniversary. I was sans camera, but Lee Wilson was there to take up my slack. Check out the rest of his photos HERE.

Falls Fire Department 2009 Public Safety Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sun, 31 May 2009 11:45:00 +0000

Saturday brought one of Sam's favorite days, the Falls FD Public Safety day. This was our second time going to this event, and as usual, we had a blast. We saw lots of friends and Sam got to partake in all of the usual fun kid activities. Photos HERE.

Long lost video exclusive

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 03:16:00 +0000

Okay. So the posts have been few and far between lately. Sorry, but there's just not been a lot going on recently. Never fear, things should be ramping up soon. In the meantime, and on the cusp of Sam's fifth birthday, here is a never before seen video exclusive. This was taken two years ago when Sam first starting going goofy over firefighting. His first set of bunker gear had just come in the mail that day, as well as a long length of hose and a nozzle. Check out the mouth on this kids towards the end. Doesn't he know that a firefighter is always supposed to be nice to his sisters?

Trip to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:59:00 +0000

Trying to make the best of a cold rainy day, Sam and I drove down to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum located in Fayetteville. Sam loves military related stuff, and so does Dad, so we had a blast. The museum is top notch with lots of guns, gear, and military vehicles. We stopped by the gift shop on our way out and picked up a new toy assault rifle to replace a recently broken one. Then we went to General Jackson's Military Surplus to get Sam a set of BDUs. He thinks he's the real deal now. PHOTOS courtesy of my cell phone (Once again forgot to bring my camera).

Toy Firefighter

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:29:00 +0000

Just a silly shot taken with my new phone. Not bad for a cell phone camera.

Field trip to the Cary Fire Department

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:03:00 +0000

Today, Sam's preschool class visited Cary Fire Station 5 to learn about fire safety. First, the kids got to watch a safety video featuring Michael Winslow of Police Academy & Geico fame (When I think fire safety he's the first person I think of, don't you?) Then there was a Q&A session with FF Jones. Next it was off to the Aqua Velva/ sweat sock infused sleeping quarters to see where the firefighters bunk for the night. Finally it was out to the bay to play on the fire trucks and ambulance. Everyone was surprisingly well behaved and seem to have a lot of fun. Thanks to the guys and gals from B shift! Click HERE for the pictures. P.S. - sorry, the pictures are not very good. I need a decent flash.

Wendell Fire Department's live burn

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 03:27:00 +0000

Today we headed out to Three Sisters Road near Knightdale to watch the Wendell Fire Department conduct a training exercise. Sam spent a lot of time pretending to be a firefighting/soldier/spy dude. When the flames kicked into high gear, he switched over to full firefighter mode. Click HERE or on the photo below for the pictures.

Look Ma! No training wheels

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:10:00 +0000

A big day today for the Samster. He finally mastered the two-wheeled monster.

Major Fire in Raleigh captured by Lee Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Here are some great photos, from Lee, of an apartment complex fire on Tall Timber Drive in Raleigh. The fire occurred early on the morning of 2/13.

Showin' off the guns

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Here's Sam, proudly showing off the band-aids covering up his vaccination sites. He recently had to get several shots in order to get ready for kidergarten in a few months.

Sam helps to promote Falls Fire Department 2009 Public Safety Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:12:00 +0000

The Falls Fire Department was nice enough to include a couple of photos of Sam in the promotional poster for their upcoming Public Safety Day on May 30th. The photos were taken last year at the same event. Falls really does a first class job with their safety day event. Sam and I had a lot of fun last year and look forward to coming again this year.

We're still here and we'd love to come for a visit

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:51:00 +0000

It sure has been a while since our last post. Sorry about that, but there's been a lot of non-firefighter related stuff going on lately. Christmas was hectic, Sam has battled a couple of nasty ear infections over the last several weeks, and it's been darn cold lately too.

Anyway, Sam is dying to have some firefighter fun. If you know about any upcoming stuff, drop us a line at info@firefightersam.com

This has nothing to do with anything, but here's a funny cell phone video that I recently took of Sam trying to be a robot.

Fire related Xmas gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:17:00 +0000

Each day this week, Stop, Drop and Blog will be reviewing firefighter related gift ideas for the big and small enthusiast in you life. There are some good ideas there already, so head on over and check it out.

Oh, the places you'll go

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 16:07:00 +0000

Decided to play around with Google Maps. Zoom in and click on the place marks to see all of the fire departments/ stations that Sam has visited over the past year or so. The links will take you to corresponding blog entries.

View Larger Map

Ask a Firefighter

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:26:00 +0000

As mentioned in a previous post, Fire safety educator Dayna Hilton had started a segment on her blog entitled Ask a Firefighter. She has since created a site dedicated solely to this concept.

"How It Works: Children submit questions via video or e-mail to the askafirefighter.net website. One fire department (chosen from a list of participating departments) is selected to respond to each child's question. Fire Departments answer the question within two days by video to the website."

"If your department is interested in participating, please send a note to daynark@gmail.com and put "Ask a Firefighter" in the subject line."

Apex Explorer training

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:45:00 +0000

Last night, Sam and I went to Apex to watch members of the Apex Explorer program participate in training exercises. We didn't stay too long, so I only took a few pictures. Thanks to everyone from Apex for letting us come out though. You can learn more about the Apex Explorers by checking out their blog.

Animoto...Morrisville

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 01:39:00 +0000

Played around with the Animoto slideshow creator website again. The free version unfortunately only allows for a thirty second clip to be produced. The photos are from a live burn conducted by the Morrisville FD back in August.

Halloween 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:15:00 +0000

Well, the big day has come and gone. Biggest sister Abby skipped trick-or-treating this year and went to a party dressed as Tinkerbell. Little, big sister Andi dressed up as a ghoul and went door-to-door in a different neighborhood. Clone Trooper Sam and I scoured the Empire looking for evil candy strongholds.

While Sam was a Star Wars dude for trick-or-treating, he decided to impress all the ladies at his school by wearing his turnout gear for the school party. You all know how chicks dig firefighters, right? Click HERE or on the photo to see some pics that Traci took at his pre-school.

Sam helps Firefighter Dayna

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 20:58:00 +0000

A few posts ago I mentioned Dayna Hilton. She is the fire safety educator who, assisted by her dalmatians, teaches fire safety to children across the country. Well, she recently started a new segment on her blog called Ask a Firefighter. It's a segment in which children can record a video question and have it answered by a real firefighter.

Dayna asked if Sam would be the first to kick off her new project and he was happy to help. He wanted to know all about the job of a fire chief. Take a look to see how it turned out. Sam thought that is was neat that the Chief addresses him directly in the video.

Thanks to Firefighter Dayna for asking Sam to participate.

Vote results

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 22:32:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who took the recent poll regarding the new layout of the site. The overwhelming majority of you like the new design. I found that it wasn't loading as fast as I would like, however, so I made some minor changes including getting rid of the "Rate this post" feature. I really liked that tool, but it was gumming up the works.
I also added a neat little archive calendar designed by Phydeaux3.

Feeling fine

noreply@blogger.com (Sam) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 22:28:00 +0000

Well, Sam is running at full throttle again. Thanks to all those who recently inquired about his health. I, on the other hand, am feeling like crud. Wonder who gave it to me?