Archive Two Toledo firefighters die in Line of Duty

shook_17

Posts: 3,023

Jan 30, 2014 11:23am

I'm from the Toledo area, a firefighter in a local department. On Sunday Toledo Fire lost two heroes in a stucture fire. There names are Stephen Machcinski, 42, and had 16 years on the service and the other one was James Dickman, 31, and was on the job for 6 months. James had a four year daughter and just had his son on Christmas day. This hits way to close to home for all of us firefighters. I have a lot of friends on Toledo Fire and they are hurting. Life isn't fair. Tonight they are having the "Last Alarm" service for the two fallen brothers. Please keep the families and brothers in your prayers over the up coming days and for awhile. Toledo brothers need all the support they can get.
http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2014/01/29/Firefighters-died-from-bad-burns-carbon-monoxide.html

RIP brothers. We'll take it from here. And we will see you on the top floor.

#ToledoStrong #ToledoFire #TeamFireFighters

SnotBubbles

Posts: 4,492

Jan 30, 2014 11:27am

I read about that. Shit sucks.

Firefighters, police, military men/women....you're all better men & women than I. I couldn't do what you do. Thank you.

ernest_t_bass

Posts: 24,984

Jan 30, 2014 11:30am

I give bigger props to those who volunteer as a firefighter. They're not getting paid!

justincredible

Posts: 32,056

Jan 30, 2014 11:35am

My mom was a volunteer firefighter for 20+ years. My uncle is a firefighter in Columbus. Stories like this always hit me hard. RIP.

W

WebFire

Posts: 14,779

Jan 30, 2014 11:43am

I just "retired" as a volunteer of almost 13 years after moving from the district. Even though we are 1 1/2 hours away, it does hit home. Makes you realize it can be anybody from any department, at any time.

Hope you are doing ok. It can be very emotional.

McFly1955

Posts: 1,441

Jan 30, 2014 11:44am

I'm also from Toledo, and this just sucks all around.

I did read today that all donations made for Machcinski are being donated to the Dickman family...Very nice gesture now that the mom is left with 2 young children who just lost their dad. I have 2 kids 3 and under myself and my 3 year old tells me I'm her 'best friend' every day...I can't imagine what they are all going through.

vdubb96

Posts: 2,210

Jan 30, 2014 11:45am

Sad story, thoughts to everyone involved.

W

WebFire

Posts: 14,779

Jan 30, 2014 11:46am

McFly1955;1574278 wrote:I'm also from Toledo, and this just sucks all around.

I did read today that all donations made for Machcinski are being donated to the Dickman family...Very nice gesture now that the mom is left with 2 young children who just lost their dad. I have 2 kids 3 and under myself and my 3 year old tells me I'm her 'best friend' every day...I can't imagine what they are all going through.

That was extremely generous. I believe they are doing all "benefits", which includes his LODD benefits. The amount will be in the hundreds of thousands.

V

vball10set

Posts: 24,795

Jan 30, 2014 11:53am

ernest_t_bass;1574261 wrote:I give bigger props to those who volunteer as a firefighter. They're not getting paid!

They get equal props imo. It doesn't matter if you're getting paid or not--they're still running into dangerous situations unlike the rest of us who run away from it. Living in Toledo, this has consumed our city, and it's really hit home in a lot of ways. The "Last Alarm" ceremony is tonight, and they're expecting thousands to be in attendance.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2014/01/28/Last-alarm-service-for-fallen-Toledo-firefighters-to-be-Thursday.html

ernest_t_bass

Posts: 24,984

Jan 30, 2014 12:24pm

vball10set;1574284 wrote:They get equal props imo. It doesn't matter if you're getting paid or not--they're still running into dangerous situations unlike the rest of us who run away from it. Living in Toledo, this has consumed our city, and it's really hit home in a lot of ways. The "Last Alarm" ceremony is tonight, and they're expecting thousands to be in attendance.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2014/01/28/Last-alarm-service-for-fallen-Toledo-firefighters-to-be-Thursday.html

I have a cousin who is a volunteer firefighter in the greater DC area, and he says that "full time" people "expect the praise more often, and view themselves as heroes, and often view themselves in a higher regard than volunteers." That's just what he said... I honestly have no clue.

V

vball10set

Posts: 24,795

Jan 30, 2014 12:31pm

^^^I can see where some might be more arrogant, kind of like cops vs. security guards (maybe not a good comparison, but one that immediately comes to mind). They're all studs, imo, 'cause I don't know if I could do what they do...kudos to all of them!

T

thavoice

Posts: 14,376

Jan 30, 2014 1:02pm

vball10set;1574328 wrote:^^^I can see where some might be more arrogant, kind of like cops vs. security guards (maybe not a good comparison, but one that immediately comes to mind). They're all studs, imo, 'cause I don't know if I could do what they do...kudos to all of them!

Paul Blart takes a backseat to no one.

This def sucks for those involved. Down in my neck of the woods only one town in the county has a paid firefighter force and all the rest of the towns are voluntary as well as the EMS. Mad props to all of them, as lately they have been fighting more fires in this shitty weather.

W

WebFire

Posts: 14,779

Jan 30, 2014 1:12pm

ernest_t_bass;1574321 wrote:I have a cousin who is a volunteer firefighter in the greater DC area, and he says that "full time" people "expect the praise more often, and view themselves as heroes, and often view themselves in a higher regard than volunteers." That's just what he said... I honestly have no clue.

Don't let him fool you. A LOT of volunteers do it just for the praise and to be seen in the uniform.

shook_17

Posts: 3,023

Jan 30, 2014 3:46pm

WebFire;1574275 wrote:I just "retired" as a volunteer of almost 13 years after moving from the district. Even though we are 1 1/2 hours away, it does hit home. Makes you realize it can be anybody from any department, at any time.

Hope you are doing ok. It can be very emotional.

Its very emotional. Its actually really hard, not going to lie. Im 23, a lot of my firefighter/EMT buddies are my age. And we all FELT invincible prior to Sundays events. Now it blah. Like these things aren't suppose to happen to us. We do the rescuing and needing to be rescued.

Tonight its going to be hard. The Last Alarm is coming up here shortly. Actually typing this from my truck getting ready to leave in the ladder.

sleeper

Posts: 27,879

Jan 30, 2014 4:14pm

Gotta respect the firefighters out there. Tough job. I'll keep them in my thoughts.

V

vball10set

Posts: 24,795

Jan 30, 2014 4:15pm

shook_17;1574438 wrote:Its very emotional. Its actually really hard, not going to lie. Im 23, a lot of my firefighter/EMT buddies are my age. And we all FELT invincible prior to Sundays events. Now it blah. Like these things aren't suppose to happen to us. We do the rescuing and needing to be rescued.

Tonight its going to be hard. The Last Alarm is coming up here shortly. Actually typing this from my truck getting ready to leave in the ladder.

From a fellow Toledoan, thanks for what you do, shook, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Machcinski & Dickman families. Chief Santiago (Luis) is a personal friend of the family, and I don't think I've ever seen him this distraught--he's aged 10 years in the past 5 days

Classyposter58

Posts: 6,321

Jan 30, 2014 8:09pm

Yeah pretty sad stuff on TV, it's been pretty bad the last few days though ever since this came out

V

vball10set

Posts: 24,795

Jan 30, 2014 8:58pm

Wow, that was emotional, especially the 'last alarm'....wow

shook_17

Posts: 3,023

Jan 31, 2014 10:27am

vball10set;1574453 wrote:From a fellow Toledoan, thanks for what you do, shook, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Machcinski & Dickman families. Chief Santiago (Luis) is a personal friend of the family, and I don't think I've ever seen him this distraught--he's aged 10 years in the past 5 days

I wish I had the chance to meet Chief Santiago, seems like a well rounded man, and I can only imagine what he is going through. Along with all the familes. And thank you for the support!

vball10set;1574549 wrote:Wow, that was emotional, especially the 'last alarm'....wow

The ringing of the Last Alarm three times is where it tore a lot of us up. If I get some time I will post some pictures. The out pouring of support over the last week as been simply amazing. For the Toledo Fire brothers and everybody else. Toledo strong is no lie, its real.

GoChiefs

Posts: 16,754

Jan 31, 2014 2:17pm

Couple of news clips about it.

[video=youtube

K5vq1Flxug][/video]

Those damn bagpipes always get me.

[video=youtube;47FvlQnACG4][/video]

A little tribute video I guess if you will that I saw on YouTube. It's all pictures. Just a heads up, as it does have some stills of the fire and the firefighters fighting the fire.

[video=youtube;ru2pKAnNUYE][/video]

V

vball10set

Posts: 24,795

Jan 31, 2014 3:52pm

http://www.toledoblade.com/Police-Fire/2014/01/31/Owner-of-apartment-building-arrested-in-deaths-of-2-firefighters.html

They should put this bastard on a spit and cook him like a rotisserie chicken!!!

Q

queencitybuckeye

Posts: 7,117

Jan 31, 2014 4:32pm

Not to defend this piece of garbage (allegedly), but I thought aggravated murder required the intent to kill the victims.

W

WebFire

Posts: 14,779

Jan 31, 2014 4:54pm

Wow!

GoChiefs

Posts: 16,754

Jan 31, 2014 5:46pm

queencitybuckeye;1574915 wrote:Not to defend this piece of garbage (allegedly), but I thought aggravated murder required the intent to kill the victims.

Aggravated can also mean that the victims were killed while another crime was being committed. (Arson)

shook_17

Posts: 3,023

Feb 1, 2014 5:35am

The things I wish I could say right now, the things other firefighters could say right now. Fucking POS scumbag mother fucker. I'm speechless. Another punch in the throat and wind knocked out of you. This just makes this ten times worse. Stephen and Jamie were robbed from their families. A good friend of mine was married to Stephens sister. They were best friends, the look in his face when I showed him the breaking news alert. Unreal.