Fire Family Life
We all know the Fire Life brings its unique challenges to our days. We wouldn’t trade it for anything. Here you can find real stories from real fire families, tips on things that don’t always follow the rules of a Monday – Friday 9-5 schedule, support, laughter, advice, resources, and so much more to help you and your fire family succeed at this crazy, wonderful life we call our own!
Another Bad Call
ANOTHER. BAD. CALL. Unfortunately, we don't always know when our firefighters have had a bad call. Sometimes they fly right under the radar, getting hidden in a compartment somewhere they didn’t even know they had. Our husbands are almost constantly exposed to...
Don’t Hoard the Trauma
You don’t have to hoard the trauma - throw it out. Well, maybe it’s not as easy as throwing it out… but we do have the ability to fight trauma head-on as it happens versus storing it away to grow into a bigger problem over time. Listen to this new way to look...
Have you normalized DefCon5 in your house?
Did you know (or forget?) that when someone is regularly around crazy high levels of crisis (which is every single first responder, and their families secondarily), that high level of crazy can be normalized? You don't even feel the crazy, until the...
New Traditions in the Face of a Covid Thanksgiving
The Fire Community is no stranger to disappointing holidays. We’ve all had to learn to adapt to scheduling conflicts, unexpected changes and spouses/families being alone on some of the most special days of the year. We have to get creative and create new...
Fire Family Protocols: Lessen the Spread of Contagions from the Firehouse to Home
Dear Fire Wife Sisters, What crazy times we are facing. But some of you are no stranger to this. Our firefighters are "first in" on many contagious situations. And for some of you, this is a first. Maybe you are a new fire family or simply haven't faced this situation...
Social Distancing: Covid-19
WHY IS COVID-19 DIFFERENT THAN INFLUENZA AND WHY IS SOCIAL DISTANCING IS IMPORTANT? Some thoughts / tips to understand facts and see how I’m handling this as a mom, fire family and business owner: NUMBERS AND MATH DON’T LIE I say this to my kids and...
Step Away From Your Devices: Your Summer Unplugged
Often we struggle as fire families to make time to do things together. For some of you, the fire service gets nearly every free moment - life shouldn't be that way. (*ahem* I will not call you out so harshly, but if you're not giving your spouse and family...
New Year’s Eve – Date Night Delight or Dud?
Jackpot. A night off on a holiday. It feels like it never happens, right? All the good ones always fall on shift. He gets transferred from station to station and is always back in the rotation where BAM - holidays are workdays. This is the life we signed up....
The Promotional Process Stole Our Christmas
Last Christmas day, my husband sat across the room and said he felt like this Christmas didn't really feel like Christmas. He hadn't really seen any of the gifts that I had been scrambling around the past month to buy for the kids. And...
When a Firefighter is Irritable, Grumpy, and Disengaged When He’s Home
This article is so important because we’ve all been there yet so few admit it and talk about it. There is no shame in relating to this or even sharing this post. You never know who is suffering and needs these words. Let’s just start with these words straight from the...
Top 5 Traits of a Thriving Fire Family
When you are blessed with the fire life, you must face and overcome unique challenges. The fire life comes with a mixed bag of gifts and trials alike: brotherhood, sisterhood, crazy schedules, difficulties in communicating, missed holidays, extended days home, worry,...
Another Bad Call
ANOTHER. BAD. CALL. Unfortunately, we don't always know when our firefighters have had a bad call. Sometimes they fly right under the radar, getting hidden in a compartment somewhere they didn’t even know they had. Our husbands are almost constantly exposed to...
Don’t Hoard the Trauma
You don’t have to hoard the trauma - throw it out. Well, maybe it’s not as easy as throwing it out… but we do have the ability to fight trauma head-on as it happens versus storing it away to grow into a bigger problem over time. Listen to this new way to look...
To My Dear Husband, I Am Worried Your Heart Has Hardened
As fire wives we must understand this : Our husbands are exposed to trauma everyday. Sometimes, it isn’t one large traumatic event that can take a mental toll on your spouse, it’s the constant and continual exposure to these so-called ‘minor’ traumas...
The Fire Department is Destroying Us All
Let’s not pretend this thought to quit the fire service never crosses your mind. (and if you are living some amazing fire life where it never has, can we ask for a moment of your silence here because based on our experiences with this world, you are the...
Have you normalized DefCon5 in your house?
Did you know (or forget?) that when someone is regularly around crazy high levels of crisis (which is every single first responder, and their families secondarily), that high level of crazy can be normalized? You don't even feel the crazy, until the...
Why Your Holiday Feelings are Bigger (and how to guide that sleigh)
You know what feels good when life gets crazy? Validation that you aren't crazy. Yes, Virginia, Your Fire Family Christmas IS Extra crazytown. We validate that as professionals with professional advice. You already know this as a fire family (but let's check...
Fire Wife Wisdom {On Duty Communication Plan}
Do you have a plan about how and when you contact your firefighter? We often get the question, "I have a problem (insert a long list of possible issues from mild to important ), should I call my firefighter, or wait until he gets off duty?" "I have this...
New Traditions in the Face of a Covid Thanksgiving
The Fire Community is no stranger to disappointing holidays. We’ve all had to learn to adapt to scheduling conflicts, unexpected changes and spouses/families being alone on some of the most special days of the year. We have to get creative and create new...
A Cry For Help From The Homefront of the First Responder Mental Health Crisis
This article is a call for accountability to solve a root cause as to why violence happens by first responders. We live in a world where I need to add that disclaimer. Let's get on with the important work. This is a marathon, not a sprint and a healthier humanity...
It’s Cancer. Again.
Yep. It's another skin cancer spot. I've sensed it for quite awhile as I watched this open wound on his forehead, right where his helmet rides, never really heal. We're talking months. And shame on us (me for not nagging? him for not listening?) we didn't press...
Surviving Breast Cancer; Choosing to be proactive.
Please welcome Fire Wife Sisterhood member, Jennifer Edwards. She is one of our many fire wives who have battled and beat cancer. She shares with us a little bit about her breast cancer journey. Thank you so much, Jennifer. In February 2010, I was loving life being...
Operation “Keep ‘Em Bouncing”
This post comes to you from a firefighter's wife who has a fight ahead. Her words, her story, her message to you. Thank you for sharing Ashley and we wish you all the best. Operation "Keep 'Em Bouncing"...That's the name I've bequeathed to my cancer journey. It says...
Department Programs
Have you normalized DefCon5 in your house?
Did you know (or forget?) that when someone is regularly around crazy high levels of crisis (which is every single first responder, and their families secondarily), that high level of crazy can be normalized? You don't even feel the crazy, until the...
My Apology Letter to the Chief
I wrote an apology letter to fire chiefs everywhere. It's my personal story and my personal apology but I am very certain I am not the only fire wife who owes this apology and therefore on behalf of all of us, I put it out there. We'll get to that, but first, some...
Difficult Calls
Another Bad Call
ANOTHER. BAD. CALL. Unfortunately, we don't always know when our firefighters have had a bad call. Sometimes they fly right under the radar, getting hidden in a compartment somewhere they didn’t even know they had. Our husbands are almost constantly exposed to...
Don’t Hoard the Trauma
You don’t have to hoard the trauma - throw it out. Well, maybe it’s not as easy as throwing it out… but we do have the ability to fight trauma head-on as it happens versus storing it away to grow into a bigger problem over time. Listen to this new way to look...
What to Say to Your Firefighter When He’s Had a Bad Call
You can feel the air turn tense before a word is even said. You know it was a bad shift. Something must have happened to make such a drastic change in your firefighter. Maybe he is angry, or silent, or sad....you just know something isn't right. Do you ask about it?...
When a Firefighter is Irritable, Grumpy, and Disengaged When He’s Home
This article is so important because we’ve all been there yet so few admit it and talk about it. There is no shame in relating to this or even sharing this post. You never know who is suffering and needs these words. Let’s just start with these words straight from the...
Life, Death and Healing Hearts
{life and death reflections} I just had a more graphic conversation than normal about a run my husband took yesterday. A girl's hand was amputated in a car wreck and I couldn't resist asking if they recovered the limb. It's like some weird human drive that I just had...
If It Were My Child
The last call I got from my husband last night was heart breaking. He was on a short break to warm up from being on a missing person hunt. In deep snow. In single digit temperatures. He didn't have to call me and possibly shouldn't have even taken that moment but...
When a Firefighter Needs Help
He came in and sat the bags of things I asked him to pick up on his way home on the kitchen floor. I didn’t look up or even greet him, I was “too busy” trying to fix the dishwasher tray as the kids had broken it the night before. He reached over me to grab a drinking...
The Dichotomy of Decadent Cupcakes and Homeless Children
All these years and I've never done a ride along at my husband's station. It truly only ever occurred to me that I should (or even could) after some conversations here in our fire wife community. It's so not my domain and not a match for my skill set that when I...
Female Firefighters
The Underwear Policy
A Brief (ha ha!) Introduction to this series..... Through the Eyes of a Female FirefighterOne of my BFFs is a female firefighter. I can't say this has always been the case. I just met her about a year ago actually through the Fire Wife Sisterhood. She's my go to girl...
Another Bad Call
ANOTHER. BAD. CALL. Unfortunately, we don't always know when our firefighters have had a bad call. Sometimes they fly right under the radar, getting hidden in a compartment somewhere they didn’t even know they had. Our husbands are almost constantly exposed to...
Don’t Hoard the Trauma
You don’t have to hoard the trauma - throw it out. Well, maybe it’s not as easy as throwing it out… but we do have the ability to fight trauma head-on as it happens versus storing it away to grow into a bigger problem over time. Listen to this new way to look...
To My Dear Husband, I Am Worried Your Heart Has Hardened
As fire wives we must understand this : Our husbands are exposed to trauma everyday. Sometimes, it isn’t one large traumatic event that can take a mental toll on your spouse, it’s the constant and continual exposure to these so-called ‘minor’ traumas...
The Fire Department is Destroying Us All
Let’s not pretend this thought to quit the fire service never crosses your mind. (and if you are living some amazing fire life where it never has, can we ask for a moment of your silence here because based on our experiences with this world, you are the...
Have you normalized DefCon5 in your house?
Did you know (or forget?) that when someone is regularly around crazy high levels of crisis (which is every single first responder, and their families secondarily), that high level of crazy can be normalized? You don't even feel the crazy, until the...
Why Your Holiday Feelings are Bigger (and how to guide that sleigh)
You know what feels good when life gets crazy? Validation that you aren't crazy. Yes, Virginia, Your Fire Family Christmas IS Extra crazytown. We validate that as professionals with professional advice. You already know this as a fire family (but let's check...
Fire Wife Wisdom {On Duty Communication Plan}
Do you have a plan about how and when you contact your firefighter? We often get the question, "I have a problem (insert a long list of possible issues from mild to important ), should I call my firefighter, or wait until he gets off duty?" "I have this...
New Traditions in the Face of a Covid Thanksgiving
The Fire Community is no stranger to disappointing holidays. We’ve all had to learn to adapt to scheduling conflicts, unexpected changes and spouses/families being alone on some of the most special days of the year. We have to get creative and create new...
A Cry For Help From The Homefront of the First Responder Mental Health Crisis
This article is a call for accountability to solve a root cause as to why violence happens by first responders. We live in a world where I need to add that disclaimer. Let's get on with the important work. This is a marathon, not a sprint and a healthier humanity...
Sleep Well My Love
My husband has been a firefighter for well over a decade. In the early years, he worked at many stations and shuffled his gear and bedding from one house to the next in the back of his truck. It got a lot of mileage and firehouse dirt tracked all over it....
When a Firefighter is Irritable, Grumpy, and Disengaged When He’s Home
This article is so important because we’ve all been there yet so few admit it and talk about it. There is no shame in relating to this or even sharing this post. You never know who is suffering and needs these words. Let’s just start with these words straight from the...
Commitment Weekend – From the Mouth of a Firefighter
If you have not experienced Commitment Weekend (formerly known as FlameFest), or you wonder what it is like, read on! A fellow firefighter wrote about his experience and shared it with us to give you an inside look at what can come from making a weekend commitment to...
Stop Being Mean to Mommy and Start Leading
{Welcome back guest blogger, Benjamin Martin. This firefighter, husband, father shares the wisdom of lessons he has learned in hopes that you can avoid learning them the hard way. Thank you, Mr. Martin, for sharing your real life lessons. } “So that’s what it...
Stand By Your Man – A Word from a Firefighter Husband
{One of our favorite things EVER is when our husbands, the firefighters, write in to share words. Their words are so powerful to the men around them everyday on the job. And we are so grateful for their courage to speak them out loud. Thank you Dave! And for...
Legacy versus Impact: I’m In conflict
Please, welcome our guest, Benjamin Martin. He brings us a great message to share. Benjamin Martin is a lieutenant with the Henrico County Division of Fire (Va) and an 11-year veteran of emergency services. He is a graduate of and former Deputy Curriculum Chief with...
Now a Word from Firefighter Husband – “Act Natural”
As a Firefighter Husband, I struggle with what I have to offer in writing to an audience of wives. The practice initially sets me back as I don't want to appear as though I have all the answers. (Trust me, at least in the fire community I work in, nothing is...
New Traditions in the Face of a Covid Thanksgiving
The Fire Community is no stranger to disappointing holidays. We’ve all had to learn to adapt to scheduling conflicts, unexpected changes and spouses/families being alone on some of the most special days of the year. We have to get creative and create new...
New Year’s Eve – Date Night Delight or Dud?
Jackpot. A night off on a holiday. It feels like it never happens, right? All the good ones always fall on shift. He gets transferred from station to station and is always back in the rotation where BAM - holidays are workdays. This is the life we signed up....
The Promotional Process Stole Our Christmas
Last Christmas day, my husband sat across the room and said he felt like this Christmas didn't really feel like Christmas. He hadn't really seen any of the gifts that I had been scrambling around the past month to buy for the kids. And...
Holiday Exhaustion – How Will It Impact Your Marriage?
Can you feel it? The bloat of stuffing and the turkey just fading away. The jingling bells of Christmas and the holiday season coming right for you? The holidays are officially here and hollering merrily that it is time to decide what WILL be the perfect gift for...
Choosing Vacation Days for Fire Families
One Day Off = Five Days Off - How lucky are we? One vacation day in the life of a firefighter can mean a lot of days off. For a firefighter who works 24 on, 48 off, one vacation day actually gives them 5 days away from the station! No Monday - Friday employee I know...
Cover Your Heart with Celebration
COVER YOUR HEART Although lights are twinkling, candy canes flock trees, jolly music is playing in every store, the difficult world of the fire life does not stop. Tragic medical calls, people losing homes and loved ones to fires, horrific auto accidents, firefighters...
Fire Kid Crafts for your Firefighter
No matter if you prefer a special DIY gift (or the checkbook just doesn't have much give,) these ideas are great! They're personal and would look great on any desk or locker at the firehouse! Such a great way to connect the kids to their favorite...
What Your Husband REALLY Wants for Valentine’s Day
Courtesy of our Fire Wife Fashion Consultant Mia Salituro. Al little research on what your husband REALLY wants for Valentine's Day. Here's a hint....put away your billfold.Men don't care about Valentine's Day, right?Wrong! I've been doing some research for you and...
Christmas has been rescheduled.
Christmas is quickly approaching and I’m trying to keep the joy of the season from escaping me. My firefighter will be working both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’m not new to the fire world but I am new to missing both of these days and I am bummed! Big time. ...
New Traditions in the Face of a Covid Thanksgiving
The Fire Community is no stranger to disappointing holidays. We’ve all had to learn to adapt to scheduling conflicts, unexpected changes and spouses/families being alone on some of the most special days of the year. We have to get creative and create new...
Step Away From Your Devices: Your Summer Unplugged
Often we struggle as fire families to make time to do things together. For some of you, the fire service gets nearly every free moment - life shouldn't be that way. (*ahem* I will not call you out so harshly, but if you're not giving your spouse and family...
Your Fire Family’s Health: Can you fix a bad mood?
I’m not one to throw around excuses. My personal belief is that we’ve got to own our stuff, recognize what’s going on and be self-aware of our own triggers and reactions. This is so easy to write and so hard to live. We all have those days when we just can’t seem...
Fire Family Freezer Cooking
The challenge has been thrown down. My husband was giving me those looks all summer when someone said "what's for dinner?" Our crazy spring schedule is still in the recent uncomfortably hungry memories. This fall we will NOT be left without dinner options. I...
Going Into Labor While Firefighter is on Shift
Pregnancy is a crazy exciting time as it is. Add in the shift schedule of a firefighter husband and the excitement multiplies....by a lot! Especially around the due date. A million questions will roll through your mind. Do I have my bag packed? Do I have childcare set...
Will You Risk a Lot to Save a Lot for Your Family?
This guest post was written for 24-7 COMMITMENT by Benjamin Martin of the Henrico County Division of Fire. He makes the connection between how a firefighter treats and prioritizes saving people on the job and how to that same effort and priority should be put into...
Avoid Putting Callouses in the Hearts of Your Loved Ones
"One more minute Daddy" We have a ritual with our oldest child, Ayla, who is three years old. We finish each nightly bedtime routine by starting with three, and counting down the minutes until it’s time to go to sleep. She decided on her own one night, that after one...
DIY Fire Kid Air Tank
Many of you may remember seeing this photo on our Facebook Page during FDIC. This is the best DIY Air Pack we've seen in person! Everyone loved it and so many of you have asked... "How can I make my own?!" What fire kid wouldn't love their own air tank?!...
Firefighter Dads, Little Girls and Broken Hearts
Warning: This is a roller coaster, emotional heart-breaker, happy ending kind of storyIt's been a fun season in our household. We survived promotional testing process and guess what? My husband ended up first on the list! I couldn't be prouder. It's been a long...
Top Things to Do When Your Firefighter is on Shift
Our Time Together is Kind of a Big Deal... How do you prioritize your schedules when your firefighter is on shift? Do you have certain things that only happen on a shift day/night so you can make the most of every moment when they get home? On last week's Shift Night...
Going Into Labor While Firefighter is on Shift
Pregnancy is a crazy exciting time as it is. Add in the shift schedule of a firefighter husband and the excitement multiplies....by a lot! Especially around the due date. A million questions will roll through your mind. Do I have my bag packed? Do I have childcare set...
How We Track Schedules in a Fire Marriage
From our series "Fire Prevention in Your Marriage", here's a little transcript-style article about shifts, tracking schedules and marriage. October is "Fire Prevention in Your Marriage" month and we talk about schedules and the fire life in your marriage because we...
Missing Date Night? How to Find Alone Time with Our Crazy Firefighter Schedules
Credit to Heather Isaacs As most people know, our firefighters have very odd schedules (odd to most people = normal to us). It’s only more complicated with those of us that have kids in school, working outside the house, and kids involved in extra-curricular...
Back Off! That’s Our Time – Protecting Your Fire Family Schedule
Have you ever been at a family event or a neighborhood gathering or church and someone says "That was fun. We should all get together again." and your insides start to squirm and your brain starts thinking of polite excuses? So these are super nice people and...
How to Disconnect the Fire Brain on Vacation
Our big day is here! The first time EVER we are taking a 2 week vacation. (Ok, 12 days of vacation plus one day yesterday to pack and one day at the end to unpack, but who's counting?) Planning to make the most of this, I spent some time praying, dreaming, writing,...
Keep the Love Fires Burning Over the Distance
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it sure makes the rest of you lonely." Charles M. Schultz I am going to be honest, there were times I wasn't sure we would make it through and still be together in the end. But there were also times when I was flying...
Marriage Gratitude 23: Deep Feelings
Hey family! Just so we're clear... this series is for both firefightes and their spouses 😉 Need to catch up on all days and snag the free printable? Head HERE! Day 23 Today I am thankful for those deep feelings and thoughts that I can only share with my spouse. ...
Our Fire Family, Apart But Not Alone for the Holidays
When our firefighters are out there giving, it means we are giving too. Our time together, that is. Firefighter wives across the country are home on holidays cleaning, prepping, wrangling children, keeping up the holiday cheer while their firefighters are at the...
Marriage Gratitude Free Printable #3
Here is a third Free Printable for you to use. Leave anyone a thank you, for any reason you'd like or use in conjunction with the 24-7 Commitment 30 Days of Thanksgiving for my Marriage. You'll be able to find the complete 30 Day list and all of our free printables...
Marriage Gratitude Free Printable #2
More FREE Printables. A gift from us to you. Use them during your 30 Days of Thanksgiving for my Marriage. Surprise your spouse with a thank you note or something that you are grateful for. Find the complete list of 30 Days of Thanksgiving and free printables HERE...
Marriage Gratitude Printable #1
We hope that you have all been enjoying each day's reflection of marriage gratitude. If you've missed a day, that's ok! You can find them all on the Marriage Thanksgiving Page or on our Pinterest Board HERE. Every day thank yous are so important and we encourage...
Fire Kid Crafts for your Firefighter
No matter if you prefer a special DIY gift (or the checkbook just doesn't have much give,) these ideas are great! They're personal and would look great on any desk or locker at the firehouse! Such a great way to connect the kids to their favorite...
A Special Mother’s Day
Mother's Day is RIGHT around the corner! Are you ready to make sure she feels SUPER special?? I know I am now, and you're about to thank me BIG TIME! The Dating Divas created the most amazing Mother's Day Printable Pack for all of us to use this year! (You're peeking...
Fire Wife Kitchen {Thanksgiving Recipes}
Our fire wives in our online Community love to share recipes so we're going to share a few with you! These would be great to try at home and repeat for Thanksgiving if you like them! Maybe even cook for the firehouse if your firefighter is on shift this...
What to Say to Your Firefighter When He’s Had a Bad Call
You can feel the air turn tense before a word is even said. You know it was a bad shift. Something must have happened to make such a drastic change in your firefighter. Maybe he is angry, or silent, or sad....you just know something isn't right. Do you ask about it?...
Is Alcohol Tearing Your Firefighting Family Apart?
Most of us keep a pretty regular schedule. We go to sleep and wake up at pretty much the same time every day. We have our weekday routine and our weekend routine. Our bodies are keeping track of our routines as well—physically and mentally. So many of our bodily...
The Bravest Thing I’ve Ever Seen a Firefighter Do
This may be the most important blog post you read this year. It's the bravest thing I've ever seen a firefighter do. It's about Mental illness. Some prefer to call Behavioral Health, but I like Mental Illness because it truly is an illness and we must see it that...
Honor and Commitment – Online Book Study
Finally: the resource you need to live with Honor and Commitment, both at home and on the job. This book study is for everyone. Firefighters, fire wives, anyone in the fire service. You can participate in this study alone or create a group study with fellow...
Rockin’ the Retirement!
Many firefighters have mixed emotions about their retirement from the fire department. Being a firefighter is not just a job, it is an integral part of their life and a second family. Leaving family, even for good reasons, can be a difficult transition. After the...
What Retirement Looks Like for a Fire Family
So what happens when he's not a firefighter anymore? I mean, let me correct myself because recently I was quickly reminded by many that they never stop being firefighters 😉 What happens when he stops being on shift, on call, at the station, taking runs, otherwise...
Another Bad Call
ANOTHER. BAD. CALL. Unfortunately, we don't always know when our firefighters have had a bad call. Sometimes they fly right under the radar, getting hidden in a compartment somewhere they didn’t even know they had. Our husbands are almost constantly exposed to...
Don’t Hoard the Trauma
You don’t have to hoard the trauma - throw it out. Well, maybe it’s not as easy as throwing it out… but we do have the ability to fight trauma head-on as it happens versus storing it away to grow into a bigger problem over time. Listen to this new way to look...
To My Dear Husband, I Am Worried Your Heart Has Hardened
As fire wives we must understand this : Our husbands are exposed to trauma everyday. Sometimes, it isn’t one large traumatic event that can take a mental toll on your spouse, it’s the constant and continual exposure to these so-called ‘minor’ traumas...
The Fire Department is Destroying Us All
Let’s not pretend this thought to quit the fire service never crosses your mind. (and if you are living some amazing fire life where it never has, can we ask for a moment of your silence here because based on our experiences with this world, you are the...
Have you normalized DefCon5 in your house?
Did you know (or forget?) that when someone is regularly around crazy high levels of crisis (which is every single first responder, and their families secondarily), that high level of crazy can be normalized? You don't even feel the crazy, until the...
Why Your Holiday Feelings are Bigger (and how to guide that sleigh)
You know what feels good when life gets crazy? Validation that you aren't crazy. Yes, Virginia, Your Fire Family Christmas IS Extra crazytown. We validate that as professionals with professional advice. You already know this as a fire family (but let's check...
Fire Wife Wisdom {On Duty Communication Plan}
Do you have a plan about how and when you contact your firefighter? We often get the question, "I have a problem (insert a long list of possible issues from mild to important ), should I call my firefighter, or wait until he gets off duty?" "I have this...
New Traditions in the Face of a Covid Thanksgiving
The Fire Community is no stranger to disappointing holidays. We’ve all had to learn to adapt to scheduling conflicts, unexpected changes and spouses/families being alone on some of the most special days of the year. We have to get creative and create new...
A Cry For Help From The Homefront of the First Responder Mental Health Crisis
This article is a call for accountability to solve a root cause as to why violence happens by first responders. We live in a world where I need to add that disclaimer. Let's get on with the important work. This is a marathon, not a sprint and a healthier humanity...
How To Watch a Fire Movie With Your Firefighter
Firefighter movies. You cannot escape them as a fire wife, nor should you in my opinion. Whether it's watching live burns on Youtube videos or the ritualistic watching of Ladder 49 or Backdraft (with all the commentary as to what's real and accurate and what's...
Ebola: Whom shall I fear?
I'm not sure what to think of this Ebola thing. But clearly I am thinking. I wasn't sure I wanted to write this (yet) for our fire wife community. But then decided I must. If it's on my mind, and in my husband's training at the fire department and all over...
9-11 Stories from Real Fire Wives
I think most people remember 9/11/01, almost like it was yesterday. People around the world remember where they were and what they were doing when they found out America had been attacked. Every September I have a range of emotions that come flooding back, mostly...
Talk With Fire Wives Live About Worry and Fear on 9/11
I shared so many thoughts on worry and fear on 9/11 over here at this post and also in my featured article at the California Casualty blog. And I'm thrilled to see so many people not getting caught up watching replay after replay on their TV but going out and...
A Firefighter Wife’s Irrational Fear of the Pole Hole
At my husband's station, the kitchen and sleeping areas are upstairs. So of course the fastest route to the trucks is down the pole. This is in an approximately 10x10 room with heavy duty commercial doors on opposite sides of the room entering from either the...