By Diane Feldman, Managing Editor
“Do You Know a Brawny Man?”
According to manufacturer Georgia-Pacific, LA County Firefighter Mario Cantacessi will appear on one million special edition packages of Brawny paper towels. Cantacessi was selected from among 4,000 contestants to win the company’s “Do You Know a Brawny Man?” contest. He also won a pair of 2003 Dodge Durango SUVs. According to a company spokesperson, the special edition package “helps bring the Brawny spirit into American homes.”
Training tip
Battalion Chief Billy Goldfeder, Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department, gave this advice at the 2003 FDIC West show in Sacramento: “Post one-page training bulletins in the bathrooms, just like sports bars post the newspaper there.”
That’s a big hole!
An assistant chief in Texas was in command of a two-story apartment fire that occurred right after the Shuttle Columbia crash. He thought the shuttle caused a big hole in the roof of the apartment building on fire. It turns out that the big hole in the roof was caused by the fire itself, which burned through the roof, revealing an atrium below.
Make training a priority
Battalion Chief Billy Goldfeder, Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department, on the importance of training (at the 2003 FDIC West show in Sacramento): “We talk about how important the job is, but when we get back to the firehouse, our priorities are the meal and the TV. Make your people train. Make the priority training.”
See the Yenta, staff; learn how to be an author
Once again, the Yenta will be on the road, this time for the FDIC in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 31-April 5. Stop by the Fire Engineering booth in the lobby near the entrance to the Exhibit Hall and introduce yourself to the entire Fire Engineering staff. Mary Jane Dittmar, Rob Maloney, and Chris Mc Loone will all be there. On Thursday, April 3, there will be a special panel discussion open to all in attendance on how to be an FDIC speaker/Fire Engineering author. Come by and say hello if you’re in Indy!
Wishing him a speedy recovery…
Tom Brennan, former editor of Fire Engineering and current technical editor, is home recovering from quadruple bypass heart surgery. You can e-mail him at tfb111@swfla.rr.com.
If you have a tidbit for the Fire Yenta, e-mail dianef@pennwell.com.
Past Yentas
3/7/03
2/21/03
2/7/03
1/24/03
1/10/03
Click here for Fire Yenta–2002
Diane Feldman is a 13-year veteran of Fire Engineering; she has spent the past 12 years as managing editor. She has a B.A. in English/communications. Previously she was an editor at the American Management Association in New York City.
