From the Editor's Desk - Firehouse.com's Editor Peter Matthews blogs about current events, training and other fire service industry news and events.
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West Webster Shooting Stirred Memories for Me
By Peter Matthews - Wednesday December 26, 2012
I was in the kitchen watching updates from the scene where four firefighters were shot in Webster in Monroe County, NY. During the mid '90s, my father and I served with the Rush Fire Department, in the southern end of Monroe County. As this incident unfolded on Monday, it was a haunting reminder of the incidents over the last few years where firefighters, always known as the good guys and gals during emergencies, have been threatened or shot at. I remembered a story from my childhood where my dad was held by a gun toting man inside a house when he responded to a reported sick person. "Hey, what was that incident you responded to next to the school with the gun," I asked. "He just wanted to end his life," my father recalled on... -
Four Guys I Will Never Forget
By Peter Matthews - Tuesday September 11, 2012
Just like it was 11 years ago today, I woke up on a beautiful Tuesday morning and readied myself for work. Just a few weeks before, we finished the New York State Terrorism Awareness class at my Firehouse in Glenwood Landing, a small suburb eight miles away from the New York City border. Terrorism? It wasn't anything we needed to be worried about, except for the massive power plant and millions of gallons of gas and diesel fuel stored in one end of our community. Still, many of us thought that terrorism wasn’t going to impact us. We would never get called into New York City, unless they had a bunch of multiple alarm fires. The week before Sept. 11, I was at a meeting at the National Fire Academy. We were looking at making changes in... -
Remembering Hal Bruno
By Peter Matthews - Wednesday November 16, 2011When I received word that Hal Bruno passed away last night, I took a little time to reflect on the lessons that Hal taught me in my four years working with him at Firehouse Magazine. I learned as much about politics as I did the fire service and journalism from Hal, who always answered his home phone "Bruno!" as if he were in the newsroom at ABC taking a hot tip from a source. Hal was a longtime firefighter in Bethesda, Md., who never forgot his roots as he worked his way up the career ladder. From Chicago fire buff to reporter to the guy that I would see on the television on Sunday morning TV shows. Shows I never watched until I heard a personal connection with one of the frequent guests. In my early days at the magazine, Hal used to... -
Firehouse Unveils iPad App
By Peter Matthews - Tuesday November 15, 2011Today we launched an app for our audience who tote around an iPad as we continue to grow with technology and other needs of the fire service. This is a very exciting venture us, only month's after launching My Firehouse Training's online education offerings. You can download the free app and find exclusive additions to the cotent found in the November issue of Firehouse Magazine. This month's app features videos, photos and more that'll only be found on your iPad. As we continue to roll out the app, we'll feature a portfolio from fire photographers and additional training content. If there is a feature that you would like to see, please e-mail me at: peter.mathews@cygnus.com. You can download the app for free by looking up "Firehouse... -
Remembering Hal Bruno
By Peter Matthews - Wednesday November 9, 2011When I received word that Hal Bruno passed away last night, I took a little time to reflect on the lessons that Hal taught me in my four years working with him at Firehouse Magazine. I learned as much about politics as I did the fire service and journalism from Hal, who always answered his home phone "Bruno!" as if he were in the newsroom at ABC taking a hot tip from a source. Hal was a longtime firefighter in Bethesda, Md., who never forgot his roots as he worked his way up the career ladder. From Chicago fire buff to reporter to the guy that I would see on the television on Sunday morning TV shows. Shows I never watched until I heard a personal connection with one of the frequent guests. In my early days at the magazine, Hal used to...
