12/31/2018 - 10:45 AM EST - I believe that for most of us, it is hard to believe that 2018 is just about finished. In just hours from now, the balls, the oranges, the triangles, the pyramids, etc., will drop down on their cables and ring in the New Year of 2019. Wow! We are just about ready to complete the second decade of the 21st Century. Where the Hell is my flying car?!?!
     Flying cars and/or hovering fire apparatus or not, the new year will be hear soon. As happens every year, numerous newscasts and other television shows will conduct a review on 2018, most often in pictures. There will be photos of big events, both positive and otherwise; photos of those famous people who passed away this year, etc.
     However, I submit to you that most of us can look back relatively quickly. What is truly important is, what lies ahead. What will differentiate 2019 from 2018? And I don't mean the "resolutions" that we see every year. I believe it was either last year or the year before that I saw a news story about new year's resolutions. I believe it said that less than ten-percent of resolutions are actually carried out. Not a great statistic, huh?
     The fact is, that you and I can change that percentage. Instead of resolutions, set goals you wish to achieve in 2019. And make sure they are realistic goals that can be met.  Let's be honest, most of you who are reading this are probably firefighters or other first responders. One thing we love to do is brag! We love to tell the story of the, "Big One," or the one where the, "...the truck blew up just as I rescue three people from the SUV..." Let's promise each other that we're going to leave the bragging out of our goal setting!
     So, what goals do you want to set? Let's also leave the "lose 40 pounds in 30 days," off the list for now, as well. Here are a few ideas:
     1. I plan on monitoring my health. I will have an annual physical as per the IAFC/IAFF or NVFC guidelines. I will listen to my primary care provider and will follow through on any tests he/she believes are directly connected to me as a firefighter. I will not place my department or family in a precarious position by hiding any significant medical findings from them and continuing to perform as though nothing is wrong.
     2. I will learn as much as possible about the Firefighter Cancer Initiative. I will remain, "on-air," will all my turn-out gear, hood and helmet on until such time as I am clearly in the "Cold Zone" or advised by an officer that I can go, "off-air."
     3. Once in the designated "Gross Decon Zone," I will remove my gear and use wipes to wipe the soot, toxins and carcinogens from my face, neck, ears, etc. I will then have follow the balance of our on-site, Gross Decon SOP's.
     4. Upon returning to the station, I will do my best to "shower within the hour," and follow such procedures that will prevent me from spreading toxins and carcinogens are the station and my home. 
     5. I will learn about the Firefighter Behavioral Health Initiative. I will be aware of those around me, my second family. I am all too aware of the toll some of our calls take on me. Add the pressures of our personal lives today, I understand that life can be very difficult. I want to be sure that my friends, my comrades, are doing OK.
     6. In a discussion, whether at the firehouse or online, I will do my best to present my side in a mature manner and not resort to vitriol, yelling and bullying on line with those who may disagree.
     7. I am a firefighter (EMT/Paramedic - LEO) 24/7, whether I am in uniform or not. I will do my best to proudly represent my agency to the public.
     8. As a first responder, I understand that I must continue to learn. I cannot arbitrarily "draw a line in the sand," to say, "I know what I have to. I don't need to learn any more!"
     9. As a first responder, it is my obligation to be a teacher or mentor. It is important that I pass on the "tricks of the trade" to those coming up behind me, so that they will perform well.
     10. I am just another person;  no better or worse than the person next to me. I will remember to maintain my humility and dignity to everyone I speak with and treat them with the respect I I would expect.
     To all, have a Safe, Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year!

     From the last bite of turkey on Thanksgiving to the final sip of your beverage of choice on New Year's Day, this is supposed to be a season of joy and gladness. The mad rush for holiday articles, trees, Hanukkah menorahs, lights, candles, air-filled lawn decorations, etc., often help to re-direct our thoughts away from the real nitty-gritty of our every lives. However, any of you who have been a first responder through even a single holiday season will realize that all too often, the representation from above is not always the case. No matter the season, no matter the day, we respond when "invited."
     For some reason, I have only recently subscribed to Chief Billy Goldfeder's, "The Secret List," and I now realize, even more than ever before, what a powerful and positive messenger Chief Goldfeder is for us. Yet, when I see a new email from "The Secret List," I often cringe with fear and uncertainty. And that has truly been the case the past couple of weeks. For while we (using the inclusive) first responders, should be able to enjoy all the excitement of the holiday season, our devoted vocation or avocation pulls us out of the mainstream to address one form of emergency or another. (BTW - if you are a subscriber, be sure to "Pass It On," to someone you work with!)
     If you are a subscriber to this email, you will know of what I write; it has not been a good two-and-a half weeks for Emergency Services. The three main branches of EMS, Law Enforcement and the Fire Service, have all suffered Line-of-Duty-Deaths. Each of us has lost a comrade, a colleague, a brother and/or a sister. And in the midst of what should be a joyous time, we are forced to face the grim reality of loss.
     Moreover, there is also a great body of evidence that comes out during this season, regarding how this time of the year is often very trying for some, especially though with behavioral health issues, and not for the general public alone. More recently, the American Fire Service has begun to focus on those same issues that affect many of our colleagues, not just now, but throughout the year.  Sadly, the numbers do not lie. In 2017, we lost more colleagues in the fire service to suicide than to all the LODD's for that period. And now, the fire service has begun to develop a strong and positive Behavioral Health Initiative to help those members who are going through all types of turmoil and pain within their personal lives.
     In my civilian life, working in Jewish synagogues and ritual life, I have to attend to too many families who have suffered a loss. Some whom I knew, other I did not, yet I cherished them just the same. As many of our Chief's and Commissioners know, it is not easy to deal with a bereaved family. It takes a strong mix of compassion, empathy, understanding and an inner "steeling of the gut," as one chief put it.  We do so and we demonstrate that we are there for them and will try to guide them down this difficult path.
     Let us remember all those we have lost, have loved, have worked with, have joked with, have dined with. And let us reach out to those around us to make sure that they are doing well and not masking their inner pain with a fake smile. "Tis the season. God bless us all.

     I have been looking at some recent statistics for our podcasts and even after all this time, I'm still both surprised and puzzled by some of the numbers. First I'm surprised by how many listeners in foreign countries we have and how many of those countries there are.  However, part of that comes from the many places where you are able to find our podcast.
     Let's start at "home plate," which is our host's site. "5-Alarm Task Force" is hosted with Podomatic, Inc.,  located in San Francisco CA, USA. I have been with them from the start and I have been very lucky to work with two of their top people, Matt, who works in customer relations and Francisco, who is their tech specialist. With out them, neither this podcast nor this website would be what they are.
     Each podcaster on Podomatic has his/her/their own page. Mine (in "longhand") is https://dalmatprod206.podomatic.com/. I've "abbreviated" it using the services of the website, Bit.ly, and thus you have, http://Bit.ly/5-AlarmTFPodcast. That address, will take to the first one, noted in the the prior sentence. So, each time one of our listeners accesses an episode using either of those URLs, it becomes a statistic on our Podomatic account.
     Next, would of course be this website of ours, www.dalmatianproductions.tv. However, even though you'd be on our website, listening to our podcast, it is not recorded as an actual Podomatic visit. Instead, whether you listen to our show from the homepage or from the PODCAST page, it is counted as an "embed." An "embed" is accessing a podcast by a "player" that is embedded on someone's website; in this case, our own. However, there are some great folks out there, some who have been guests and others who just want to help spread us around, who embed our player on their own website. And we are truly thankful that they do. So, when you visit their site and listen to an episode, it is regarded the same as listening to it on our website, as an embed. That also includes when you use iTunes, Google Play, Spotify or one of the large number of podcast streaming services or "aggregators" out there. And, I've found that there are a lot more than I realized! A few months ago, I "googled" our name, "5-Alarm Task Force," and besides the few I've just mentioned, I found over a dozen more I had never heard of! But every time one of my episodes is accessed from them, it's counted in our stats!
     Finally, (to keep this short and sweet), you may not be able to listen to a podcast I've just released right away, but you want to listen to it later when you're working out, walking the dog, or pretending to listen to Aunt Hazel who came for Thanksgiving and hasn't remembered to leave yet! Of course, that becomes a "download;" you save the podcast to listen to  it later on. Our biggest numbers every week come from our downloads. For example, in the week from November 23rd - November 29th, we had exactly 600 downloads. That seems like a lot and for us, it certainly is. We actually average 500-600 downloads per week, in each week that I launch a new podcast. Of course, that averages around 2,000 downloads a month!
     For many podcasters who sell advertising on their show (we are one, too) it used to be the number of downloads of a podcast that drove the pricing of the ads. However, more recently, instead of just looking at the downloads, folks are now talking in terms of "total accesses," per week or month." In other words, they are looking at every way that a podcast is "accessed". Thus, for the month between October 31st through November 29th, we've had nearly 4,000 total accesses to our podcasts!
     So remember, you will probably find us on your favorite podcast service. However, if you want to explore, just choose your favorite search engine, type in our name and maybe you too, will be surprised where you will find your next listen to, "5-Alarm Task Force!"

     Where has this year gone? Here we are, less than 48 hours before Thanksgiving. I still remember watching the ball go down to kick off the New Year! How does the time pass so quickly?
     I guess we could ask a physicist or an astrophysicist and he/she could quote Einstein and others to explain how time works. Actually, Einstein would probably say that time, in and of itself, doesn't exist. He believed that space and time are part of the same fabric of the universe. thus the action of one is directly connected to the other. Oy! I'm getting dizzy just writing about it. Nevertheless, I feel that as I've grown older, time truly does seem to pass more quickly.
     What all this boils down to is that, as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches here in the U.S. and for our brave men and women serving around the world, and for other American who have chosen to work and/or live in other parts of the world, I want to say, "Thank You," to all of you who have become listeners to "5-Alarm Task Force!" I have been amazed at all the numbers I see and how many of you come from lands far away.
     There are several "gabillion" podcasts to choose from every moment of every day. Yet, many of you have chose this podcast to listen to. Perhaps you're a firefighter, a fire buff or an interested civilian. You tune in to listen to my guests. It is my sincere hope that I bring you guests and discussions that are interesting to you and perhaps, that teach you or guide you, as well.
     So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for listening. Stay Safe & Stay Well!
Steve

     Some of you may know me, Steve Greene, solely as the creator and host of “5-Alarm Task Force,” and that I was a volunteer firefighter EMT for two years, before being sidelined by an injury. However, long before I started the podcast or even joined Twitter, myself, along with three terrific friends/business partners, created our company, Dalmatian Productions, Inc.
     This was back in 1999. Reality television was in its infancy with shows such as “On Scene: Emergency Response,” “COPS,” “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol,” and a few others. My best friend (whom I had met at the small, combination fire department in the Greensboro NC area back in 1977) and I started thinking that there should be a reality show that focused on the fire-rescue services and set to work planning it out.
      Initially, our focus was to be on the volunteer side, as not only had we serviced together in the NC department, he came from Washington DC and had spent some time ride with Bethesda Chevy-Chase Rescue as a volunteer. First things first, though – we had to come up with a name that spoke volumes about the fire service. You can be sure there was a lot of discussion on that. However, we both finally agreed on Dalmatian Productions, Inc.
      In short order, we hatched a name for our idea: “America’s Heroes: The Volunteers of Fire-Rescue.” I ran a letter in FIREHOUSE® Magazine, asking for departments who might like to be featured, to contact us, not holding out much hope. Wow were we wrong! We received letters and packages that looked like they were assembled by the local Chamber of Commerce. We received department descriptions, call sheets, t-shirts, caps, bumper stickers and more!
     There was a second benefit to the letter posted in FIREHOUSE® Magazine, as well. After I left NC, we moved up to the Onondaga County/Syracuse NY area, where I joined another combination department. As it turned out, a member of that department who was also the County Fire Coordinator saw the letter. He reached out to another gentleman who had been a deputy chief in the village next to ours and who had also relocated to South Florida. Better yet, he was a television news cinematographer! He reached out to us and after a meeting to get to know each other, he came on board to handle our video and editing. Or so we thought. Turns out he was working for one of the TV stations here in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area and he was going to be too busy to be able to work with us. To make a long story short, when the flood of letters were coming in, we had received one from a firefighter/PIO in Delaware who owned his own production company, worked for a news station in Philadelphia and was as deep into the culture of the volunteer fire-rescue service as we were. We had our cinematographer!
     Over the next couple of years, we produced several different pilot episodes and, wound up broadening the name of the show to, “America’s Heroes: The Men & Women of Fire Rescue®.” You can still see that pilot episode of YouTube at http://bit.ly/AmericasHeroes. Things were looking good. We had a new partner who was based in Los Angeles and worked on both sides of the camera in television, a distributor and several other shows in talking stages with FDNY, Israel television and even a children’s segment on fire safety for October’s Fire Prevention week for the then-Rosie O’Donnell Show”……by the end of summer, 2001.
    
We ceased our efforts in light of the terrible loss that those of us in the fire service and all of America suffered on 9|11. It was the right thing to do.
 
    Yet, at the same time, it helped us rededicate ourselves to our ultimate goal – to deliver a high-quality and very realistic and lifelike television or streaming program about the brave men and women of the fire-rescue service. Thus, in the middle of the twenty-first century’s first decade, I came up with a concept regarding the unique make-up of the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Fire Marshal’s Office. Not only did they have their own investigators, they also had a Philadelphia Police Department detective assign to their unit, as well as an agent from the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) along with his accelerant-detecting dog! This could make a great story. But it had to be told correctly, scripts that told the real stories of what firefighters face today, i.e. cancer, marital problems, drug problems, the dangers of the job, etc. This would be a show for and about firefighters, written by firefighters!
     I wrote up what is referred to as a “treatment” which is a synopsis of the story or plot line and shared it with my partners. Everyone liked it and immediately jumped in to tweak this or improve that. When it was finished, we handed it over to our LA-based partner and hoped for the best. And so, “CAUSE & ORIGIN” was born.
    However, mid-2014, the only people who liked the treatment were close friends and a few folks in the fire service that we shared it with. They all asked for more. Unfortunately, none of them worked for a network or production company. I had worked very hard on this and was deeply disappointed and was ready to throw it away. That is, until a close friend who is a former student of my wife and graduated Cal State-Fullerton with a degree in screenwriting. She explained that there was more power in a full script than in just a one-page treatment. I passed this on to my partners and even our guy in LA had to agree. So, we decided to write a script for the pilot episode.
     Our friend pointed me in the right direction for the screenwriting software and guided me in crafting the script for the pilot episode. I’d would share sets if several pages with my partners and added their feedback. By the summer of 2015, we had a full script for the pilot episode of C&O. And we started to share that with our small list. But this time, it grew some “feet.” One of the friends we shared it with was a friend with the then, Commissioner of Fire of the Philadelphia Fire Department and shared the script with him. He liked it. That was a good sign.
     At the time, one of our daughters lived and worked in Philadelphia and we planned to drive up there as part of our summer vacation. Before we left. I received a phone call from the director of the Philadelphia Film Office. It seems the Commissioner brought up our script and desire to work with the Philadelphia Fire Department with her. With a trip already planned to see our daughter, I made an appointment and asked my partner in Delaware to join me.
     Our meeting went very well. Both the Film Office and the fire department were interested in the project and explained the processes that we would work through together, if and when, we had a production deal.
    Since that time, we have done as much as possible to present the concept to as many people as possible, in the industry. During that time, a new Fire Commissioner was appointed. And, thanks to social media, we got the script in front of him and a Deputy. Both responded that they liked the premise and, should a production deal be set, would be interested in working with us.
     Now, it’s 2018 and nothing has changed. Again, thanks to social media, we have continued to share the script with dozens of folks in the fire service. All of them have loved the script and the show’s concept and some are reaching out to their contacts in an effort to help us. To get an idea of the show, visit this page on our website, https://www.dalmatianproductions.tv/development.html.
     Now, we are asking you for your assistance. If you want to see a program that depicts the passion of real firefighters without the Hollywood “fluff;” a show that tells our story because we have lived it ourselves, then we’re asking you to help. If you have any relatives or friends who are in the television or streaming services business, please tell them about us and “CAUSE & ORIGIN.” We’ll be happy to provide them copies of both the treatment and script.
     You can share my email, steve-at-dalmatianproductions.tv with them or on Twitter, we’re at @CAUSE_ORIGIN.
     Let’s all play a part in creating a show about firefighters, for firefighters, by firefighters.
     Thank you and as always, STAY SAFE!

       It's been a very busy month here at Dalmatian Productions/5-Alarm Task Force. We ran our first crowdfunding campaign at the end of August and I must admit, that I was truly surprised by the amount of time and effort it took to manage all the social media work for this campaign. I was regularly putting in 5-6 hours every day to keep up with all the posts, questions, etc.
     Just as the campaign was closing, I launched the third season of "5-Alarm Task Force." For that, I wish I could have been an octopus! I had interviews booked almost every Tuesday and Thursday. Then there was the editing of each show to have it posted three days later! Thankfully, I have had some wonderful guests who just seemed to make the task easier. And there are still more to come.
     As I am writing this, word just just trickled down the Chief Tim Sendelbach, Editor-in-Chief of FIREHOUSE Magazine, and a past guest on the podcast, will be stepping down from his position on September 25, 2018. As a long-time subscriber and reader of FIREHOUSE, I can tell you that Chief Sendelbach has done an excellent job in leading FIREHOUSE in this digital age. From the magazine to the website, plus the two major conferences, FIREHOUSE Expo, which takes place next month in Nashville, plus FIREHOUSE World, next February, which is moving from San Diego to Los Angeles next year, he balanced each one with a keen eye and a style that kept us, the readers, the attendees, the exhibitors, etc., anxious to work with him.  I wish Chief Sendelbach the very best in whatever his next endeavor will be and hope that whatever it may be, will benefit greatly from his association.
     The month of October is just around the bend and we have more guests already scheduled for you, as well as the fact that from October 24th-27th is the Great Florida Fire School. I have been invited back again this year, not only to grab some great photos, videos and interviews, but I have also been invited to be a presenter for a class at the School. My topic is, "The Elephant in the Firehouse - When Ego Gets in the Way of Passion."
     And please don't forget, I have opened a "5-Alarm Task Force" storefront with our friends from Teespring. Just go to Bit.Ly/DalmatStore and choose one of our 4 t-shirts or one of our 2 coffee/tea/hot chocolate mugs! And the best part is that part of the net proceeds are bring donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, which is what I have done with the royalties on my book, "Fish Out of Water: 2 Jewish Guys in a Deep South Firehouse."
     I'd would love to hear from you with your comments and/or suggestions. Feel free to drop me a line at dalmatprod@outlook.com.
     Stay Safe & Stay Well!

     I have learned that the number of facets the job of podcasting has, is far more than I had thought. Take for instance the recent crowdfunding effort that completed last week. To keep this effort moving forward, I spent four-to-five hours on social media everyday. I would jump between Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, PLUS sending out additional emails to my personal contacts. To be absolutely honest, the campaign results were no where near the goal I had set; barely fourteen percent of the goal was attained. However, I am sincerely grateful to those who did help and extend my heartfelt appreciation to them. Moreover, I will use those funds towards the goals I had set forth in the campaign mission statement, which will allow me to improve my abilities as a podcaster and my service to my listeners.
     I would also like to tell you that my dear friend and business partner, Tom Mitten has launched his own podcast, "Fire-Rescue-EMS-Today." Tom's podcast is usually published once a month and it can also be found on iTunes, Good Play and Spotify.
     One of those goals was to develop a line of promotional items linked to "5-Alarm Task Force," like t-shirts, hats, hoodies, etc. We are already busy on designing the first t-shirts and when they become available, you will be able to see and order them very easily. So, keep checking here on our website or check your copy of our newsletter for details.
     I am writing this entry less than forty-eight hours after a tragic fire in Chicago that took the lives of eight people, six of whom were children and injured one of our Chicago comrades with non-life threatening injuries. Early reports indicate that there were no smoke detectors in this home!
     While those of us connected with the fire service realize that yes, even in this day and time, there are still homes in this country without smoke detectors, it is extremely difficult to comprehend the "why" of this problem. In most communities, fire departments are able to provide the latest, 10-year smoke detectors at no charge and, will install them for free, if asked!  Thousands of smoke detectors find their way into homes this way every month and the firefighters and officials are only too happy to provide this service! Why? Because it is possible that a smoke detector may help to avoid this type of tragedy.
     We are over a month away from October, which is traditionally labeled, "Fire Prevention Month." What's important for all of us to realize is that we cannot and should not "box up" our fire prevention efforts into the month of October and tie it with a pretty bow. It is imperative that we see fire prevention as our primary task, 24/7/365!
     While it is true that the number of fires is down, the fires that we do face are fiercer than they have ever been before. Where we used to have 7-10 minutes before a fire truly flamed up to the point where firefighters were needed, today, that time is down to 3-4 minutes! That means that residents barely have time to get out if an active fire is there only warning!
     More importantly, smoke detectors are just one tool that we must always stress and have available for our citizens. Proper and ongoing education is the best tool we have. We must continue to teach E.D.I.T.H.'s lessons and drills, "Close the Door," is another, as well as a clear evacuation plan that every member of the family knows and the family should practice once every quarter.
     We must do whatever we can to assist our citizens to avoid being "tested,"  before they have a chance to "learn the lesson." Sure, both budgets and scheduling is tight, but is that the excuse we provide to someone who just lost loved ones in a fire? We must face the reality that fire prevention education is second only to firefighting itself. When we do, we will start to break the hold that the lack of knowledge has on those we tragically lose.

If you're a first responder, you well aware of the fact that what we do is very often not easy, not in the least bit. And some of the things we see....well, we hope and pray that no one else has to see that. I joined the fire service in 1977 and wow...could I have used some...OK, many of what you have today.
Let's start with a radio for every member on the apparatus. Back when I responded on my T-Rex with a red flashlight tied to his head, there were two radios on the apparatus; the one bolted under the dash and one for the officer. That was it!
How about gloves and hoods? Sure, we had latex gloves, but there were only worn on a retrieval, never on-scene where someone might see us! And hoods? The only hood I had was on my parka when I lived in Syracuse NY and the winter temps dropped to -20 degrees!
And what about the SCBA? Sure, we had SCBA units. The tanks were made of steel and a complete harness, including the regulator, weighed in at about 40 pounds and if you were lucky didn't exert yourself, you might get a good 20 minutes of air before your bells rattled and you had to go change your bottle. Today, the job seems a lot easier or at least, you have more access to great tools to help you do this job we love to do!
In my "professional" life, I worked with non-profit religious organizations. And sometimes, I would think that working the most difficult fire or rescue was easier than what I did when I wore a suit and tie. The most difficult part? Asking for money.  For even though everyone who participated in the institution knew that there were times where you would have to be the one who did ask or the one who was asked.
Well, my friends, I am in a very similar "boat" right now. As you may be aware, today I launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $2,500 for "5-Alarm Task Force." I did a great deal of both soul-searching and research before finally devising my program through a website called Indiegoogo.com. They have been doing this for a good number of years, assisting in raising small amounts like mine for "artistic" efforts like a podcast, to raising $10 Million for a start-up product company. And, as I just mentioned to my wife, there are lots of "help" articles that revolve around a "team effort" to orchestrate the campaign, but I wasn't able to find too much when you  are doing so, all by yourself!
Nevertheless, I did not want to have to do this. And if I keep things just the way they have been going for the past, almost two years, I can probably manage to continue without too much of a problem. But I don't want to do that! You see, I believe it's time to expand the mission of "5-Alarm Task Force!"
I want to be able to travel to FDIC or a FIREHOUSE conference and grab interviews there or even broadcast a podcast live, from the venue! To do so though, incurs travel and registration costs. To do so, required the type of camera that I do not currently own.
Additionally, with listeners around the world, it's time we had some "swag" available on our website, where you can show your support for the podcast and wear it proudly.
Finally, it will help defray the costs I've put into the equipment, broadband and hosting since we started this little adventure, back in 2016.
Thus, as much as I truly do not like to do this, I'm asking you for your help. Large or small, it will go to help me to what I love doing, for the people I love doing it for. And even if you're unable to donate funds, how about helping by spreading the word across the worlds of social media?
To visit our campaign page, please head over to https://igg.me/at/5-AlarmTFPodcast.
Thank you and God bless.

     Though we have just closed our second season, we are working hard towards having a very successful third season. As I write this entry, I am hoping that you have cast your ballots in The Podcast Awards for "5-Alarm Task Force," as we enter the fray for the first time. I thank you very much for your vote.
     While I have been fortunate to have had some of the biggest names in today's fire and EMS services join me as guests, I still have the "hunger" to bring you more, more guests, more coverage and of course, more information that will help you perform this job we love to do. I am happy to say that I have already booked two new guests, who will bring you amazing personal stories about their connection and/or work, with the fire service.
     Back in 2016, I had heard of podcasts, yet had never listened to one! The funny thing is, way back in 2001, I was asked to join a live, radio show about the fire service entitled, "Burning Issues," hosted by a gentleman who was a firefighter/medic and PIO for a nearby fire department. As I said, he broadcast a live radio show, every Sunday evening, from the studios of a local AM radio station. The signal was sent to the Internet by a Real server (let's see how many of your remember all the software from Real Audio), that has hosted by a fire apparatus manufacturer. That was all before Apple has re-invented the word, "pod!"
     Now,  after sharing a lot of tweets with firefighters on Twitter, a group of them started to "gang up on me" to start a podcast. By now, they new my long experience in audio-visual and felt that I'd be a natural. After several months of "teasing" and "bullying," I finally caved and "5-Alarm Task Force," was born.
     I hasn't been easy, but I have loved every minute of what I've done and I wouldn't change a thing....except to bring you even more great program content. And how about having some "5-Alarm" swag for you to enjoy, like T-shirts, hoodies, caps and more? I truly want to bring you all of that. And it is for those reasons (and more) that I have decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign.
     "Oh, oh," you're probably thinking. "He's asking me for money here!"
     Nope, I'm not. SURPRISE!
     I simply what to tell you about the campaign because it is not just for my listeners, it's for anyone who wants to help me help the fire service! The campaign will be hosted on a great crowdfunding site, Indiegogo.com. They know this business inside and out. They know it so well, that they have an entire area set aside just for podcasts!
     I have not launched the campaign yet. What I do have is my "practice" page and I want to let you take a look at it and tell me what you think. Just go to www.indiegogo.com/project/coming_soon/preview/f50433f3 that's it. All the videos work, as do the photos! You can see now what others will see when we launch the campaign.
     Now, if you like what you see and you may be interested in seeing the real campaign when it goes live, just enter your email in the magic box. Then, when we launch the campaign in the next week-to-10-days, you'll know about it right away.
     Finally, it is certainly understood that in this tight economy, many people who would like to help are unable to help - - - financially. But that doesn't mean you can't help me at all! Because you can tell your friends about the campaign and they can tell their friends and so on. Not only that, but Indiegogo actually has programs to help campaign followers spread the word.
     Remember, every single time you listen to an episode of "5-alarm Task Force," you are helping me! Every time you rate our podcast, you are helping me. Every time to tell a friend about the podcast, you are helping me. And I sit at this desk, typing this entry, humbled and honored that you are interested and like my podcast. I thank each of you, from the bottom of my heart.