A Bond of Love
When a wall collapses it makes a wooshing roaring sound that ends in a loud thud that shakes the ground. A silence follows as airborne debris and dust fills the air. Shouting and confusion kicks in as Firefighters scramble to find running mates who only moments before were preparing to fight a fire. It is a heart rending scene that many times is the turning point in the lives of those involved. It was a scene that played out for Detroit Firefighters not too many months ago at a fire on East Jefferson. The collapsing wall forever changed the lives of four of Detroit’s bravest firemen.
No lives were lost but it was, possibly, the last fire these men will ever fight. The injuries they sustained were horrendous. Bones were broken and crushed as tons of bricks and concrete block rained down on them. They were dug out by other Firefighters and quickly transported to the hospital. One of them was paralyzed from the chest down. In the blink of an eye a handsome young man was condemned to a life where he would have to depend on his loved ones to help care for him. All of them will face months and years of medical procedures and therapy to try to mend their crushed bodies.
On October 15th 2010 a consortium of Detroit Firefighters, their wives and girlfriends, concerned citizens, the Axemen Motorcycle club, and the generous owner of the Roostertail nightclub came together to throw an event that lit the light of love that has always been a part of the heart and soul of the city of Detroit. It was a fund raiser aimed at helping the four injured Firefighters. I guarantee there will be no finer event ever produced in the city for many years to come.The workers who created the fund raiser worked very hard to gather items for a silent auction. Members of all of Detroit’s professional sports teams signed all kind of items to be auctioned to the highest bidders. A night on the town for eighteen people, that included a Fireboat ride and dinner at the Roostertail, was offered for eighteen hundred dollars. Many businesses chipped in with donations up to five thousand dollars. One young lady created the large signs and logos that adorned the inside of the Roostertail. Tickets to the event were $50 and included one drink and a chance at the door prize.
My friend Charlie and I have been retired for almost twenty years but we traveled 300 miles to attend the event. We were not alone. We met many old running mates and even talked to some of the young Firefighters we had trained. They were now Captains and Chiefs. All of them came together to create this wonderful fund raiser. It was a night of love and caring. My heart was full of pride as I returned to Northern Michigan the next day. I know those four injured Firefighters will be well cared for. It is a special brother and sisterhood. I was lucky the lord let me be a part of the Fire Service for thirty years. A special thank you goes to the owner of the Roostertail and to all who were involved in this gala event. Firefighter hearts beat as one. We are always together even if we are in different parts of the world. On October 15th, 2010 we came together to honor four brave man and let them know we will always be there for them. We thank them for their service.
Stay safe my brothers and sisters.
Donations and the purchase of T-shirts can be made by going to Facebook and opening to the F.I.R.E. link. Below is the T-shirt logo, available til Dec.
"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry