As many of Battalion Chief Chris Brown's crew will tell you, Battalion Chief Brown taught as many as he could how important Brotherhood and Sisterhood really is. I know he would have been very proud to see the outpouring of Brotherhood and Sisterhood yesterday at his funeral service. We should be all very proud to be a part of this family we call the Fire Service. A huge thanks goes out to the Roanoke County and Salem firefighters that came out to staff our stations so Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel could attend the service. Honestly we can't thank you enough. I could go on and on to tell you what kind of man Battalion Chief Brown was but I suggest you talk to the men and women, family, and friends that knew him the best. To listen to them remember the life he lived is amazing. Please visit Mike Overacker's site here and Lt. Rhett Fleitz's site here for photo and video coverage of the service. Rest in peace brother and Battalion Chief Chris Brown.
On another note, A-shift has adopted a vicious feline friend. Visitors beware because "Fire Cat" is on guard. Our new little friend has drawn blood on mulitple occasions. So you ask why do we even bother with the little guy that continues to bite us? Well we hope that maybe he'll develope a taste for someone else someday. Thanks to Drew for keeping Fire Cats belly full. Heres a pic of our blood sucking buddy posing for the camera out front. 
Middle day of the cycle we took a field trip over to the new William Fleming H.S. before school starts. Wow! It turned out to be a very large and very nice facility. E9, E13, L13, and M3 joined us for the tour. We learned a lot about the new building so that when we respond we will have a much better idea of where everythings at.....even the credit union in the cafeteria. I know what your thinking...a credit union in a school? We thought the same thing but yes there is a small Member One branch located in the cafeteria. Oh and btw the longest hallway is 220 yards long! 
Like us on last day, he got to fight a little fire(notice where he's standing, hint hint). 
As I mentioned above we did catch a little job yesterday. Not a whole lot to it but a little basement fire, but it was a working fire none the less. L2 was the first to arrive on scene and pulled their line to make the initial knockdown. E3 and M3 were getting our learn on out with Chief Manuel at the airport when the alarm went out and we were the next Engine in after having to jump our own call! We were all deeply saddened to have our ARFF training cut short by this silly fire. E3 brought the water in from a stubborn red-top and then layed an attack line in from side "C" into the basement. The fire was pretty well knocked down so we did a thourough overhaul and hung out til Joe and Becky cleared up. Other units on scene were M3, E2, E5, E9(oh yeah, can't forget the "heros" hehe), BC2, Jimmy on the service truck, Chris Price, and the investigators(sorry if I left anyone out). Also, thanks to Salem firefighter/paramedic student Hunter(ridin M3) for helpin out on scene. Here's a few shots of the aftermath I took with my phone. 
After a bit of "editing" by our very own F.F. Medic Drew Abel, the Cap liked it ever more.....
We decided to put 2nd Battalion on the back as well since the original 3 was on the south side of the city. I'm selling them for $10 so if interested give me a call.
