In December 2024 and January 2025, we examined the four attributes of smoke: velocity, volume, density, and color. Understanding each attribute is important, but firefighters must also know how to combine those observations into a quick, repeatable size-up.

   Here it is the middle of April and we are staying busy as usual. No big surprise to anyone in the public-safety spectrum.

   At 12:34 p.m.

   South Dakota in the spring time. Single digit temperatures with blizzards one week. The next week, record high temperatures with flooding and spring wildfires. Good grief.

   One of the most gratifying things I get to do as a fire instructor is teach the Essentials of Firefighting Class hosted by the Fire School held in Sioux City.

   This past month I had the privilege of Presenting my dad “Chief David Raska” with his retirement award from the Radcliffe Fire Department.

   Recently I was made aware that there are fire/EMS departments which have created a series of initiation rituals which have become a sort of tradition over the years to be able to join their fire

   April showers bring May flowers. And the Mayflower brought pilgrims.