On Christmas Eve of 2013, the past chief of Whitesboro Fire Department and Deputy Fire Coordinator 271 for Oneida County was told some of the worst news anyone and their family and friends want to hear. This news affected everyone. Brian F. McQueen was diagnosed with cancer, B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma…
Read moreAs I change my desk calendar to reflect the new year, I have come to appreciate every day I am alive … more than you will ever know. It’s been just over two years since being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphoma. To tell you that my life as a firefighter…
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November 19, 2015, is the Great American Smoke-Out, a day designated to support the efforts of any tobacco user who is ready to take a first step toward quitting. While each person’s battle with tobacco is unique, this day reminds us that we all have a stake in helping our…
Read moreThree months ago, a disturbing video showed a Fresno (Calif.) fire captain falling through a roof while battling a house fire. Capt. Pete Dern, a 25-year fire service veteran, suffered second- and third-degree burns to about 65 percent of his body. The video went viral and, almost immediately, support came…
Read moreBy Robert Fling The topic of cancer and how it relates to the fire service is one that has been front page news for quite some time. It is no secret that we as firefighters are at a much higher risk to contract a host of cancers. Much time has…
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Cancer. This simple six-letter word strikes fear into everyone who has been diagnosed with the dreaded disease, but too many members of the fire service are like the proverbial ostrich with their head buried in the sand: They act as though by ignoring the issue, they can make it go…
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“You have cancer!” … the three words that no one would ever want to hear. These three words are truly game changers in the life of countless firefighters across our country. For my family, my friends and the brotherhood within the fire service in my county, surrounding counties and the…
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