Portland Firefighter Stair Climb-2012

The Seattle Stair Climb sold out in 10 minutes, but don’t worry…..there is another Firefighter Stair Climb that you can participate in! The Portland Stair Climb is not until the end of September, BUT registration for this event is open NOW and the fee is only $50! This event is not raising money for Leukemia, but it is raising money for something just as important, Cystic Fibrosis.

The man who started this stair climb has an amazing story. SO…I would highly suggest you go to their website to read his story and then register to climb on Sunday, September 23, 2012!

Firefighters’ Wives will be there with a booth and we look forward to meeting everyone! Click on the link to register for the event!

www.PortlandStairClimb.com

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2012 Light My Fire Auction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 17, 2012

Local Firefighters Join Auction To Benefit Leukemia & Lymphoma
Society Firefighters from throughout the state are once again coming together to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma society. People in the community are invited to support their efforts.
Whether you need help with storm debris cleanup, basic yard work or a community event – or simply want a hot date – the 2012 Light My Fire Auction is a fun and tax-deductible way to get what you desire and to support LLS at the same time.

Silent and live auction winners donate directly to the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society. That means 100 percent of funds raised go to fight blood cancers. The benefit for LLS brings in $6,000 to $12,000 each year. “The firefighting community puts on a top-notch event – great people, amazing auction items, great entertainment – the fun factor couldn’t be higher. The icing on the cake is that it’s all for a good cause,” said Christian McLendon, owner of Oddfellas where the auction will be hosted. Firefighters from throughout the state volunteer their time for the event.

Winners in the live auction gain either four hours of labor from one
or more firefighters or a four-hour date from an individual
firefighter. There’s also a silent auction with everything from
white-water rafting trips and baseball paraphernalia to fire station
dinners and wine-tasting parties to trapeze and cooking lessons.
One lucky guest will even win a “Desperate Housewives Party” with a group of firefighters from the 2012 Firefighter Calendar, sponsored by the Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation. Firefighters featured in the calendar also will be on hand to sign the 2012 calendar. “These firefighters are amazing – many of them volunteer for the Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, which this even traditionally follows – and then give even more for this auction,” said event coordinator Linda Kent of Professional Union Firefighter.

The party starts when doors open for Light My Fire at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 31. It’s in the Rainier Room above Oddfellas at 102 W. Main in Auburn.

Entry is a $30 donation for an individual and a $50 donation for a
couple.
Online tickets are available at:
http://wa.support.llsevent.org/lightmyfire. Included is a great
dinner, a drink and 10 raffle tickets. The event also includes a full
night of entertainment, featuring classic rock band 3rd Degree Burn, drink specials, and the chance to meet firefighters featured in the 2012 Firefighter Calendar, some of whom are volunteering as individual auctionees. The band starts rockin’ as soon as the auction closes. “We ensure all of our guests who come out to support Light My Fire have a fabulous time because we really appreciate the support for LLS,” Kent said. “That way, you get something back right away at this event – other than future help with chores or dates with firefighters, tax deductions and excellent silent auction items.” Kent said there’s still time for people and businesses in the
community to get involved with Light My Fire via volunteering and
donating.

New this year is the opportunity for businesses and individuals in the community to become table sponsors. Cost is $250 to “buy” a table.

Sponsors can choose to send people to the auction to fill the table or simply set up a sponsor display and let other attendees sit at the table.

“Participating in Light My Fire is an excellent way to get good
publicity, earn goodwill in the community and achieve a tax
deduction,” Kent said. “Not to mention you are marketing to the
steadily-employed firefighting community and its supporters.”
The auction traditionally follows the annual Scott Firefighter Stair
Climb. The climb brings more than 1,500 firefighters from fire
departments around the world to raise money to fight blood cancers.
This year’s firefighter climb is on March 11. This year,
firefighters from 27 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand will climb 69 floors – or 1,311 stairs – in this fund-raising effort.
Beth Rosapepe, Campaign Manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Washington chapter, said fund-raising for the society is vital. “Each and every donation – no matter how large or small – is
essential in helping to raise money to fund lifesaving research and
support patients and their families,” Rosapepe said.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary
health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research,
education and patient services. Its mission is to cure leukemia,
lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since 1949, the Society has invested more than $550.8 million for research specifically targeting blood cancers.

###
Media Contacts
For more on Light My Fire: Contact event organizer Linda Kent:
253-376-5947 or professionalunionfirefighter@comcast.net

For information about Leukemia and how the funds raised help: Contact
Beth Rosapepe, campaign manager for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Washington chapter: (888) 345-4572 or (206) 957-4588, or
beth.rosapepe@lls.org

More Information
Online Tickets (will call) or table sponsorship:
http://wa.support.llsevent.org/lightmyfire

Tickets and table sponsorships, donations and volunteering also may be arranged by calling Linda Kent, 253-376-5947.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Light-My-Fire/295101273848622

Information on the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb:
www.firefighterstairclimb.org
Auction sponsors:
Professional Union Firefighter: www.professionalunionfirefighter.com
Oddfellas 102 West Main Street. Auburn: www.oddfellaspub.com
The WSCFF Burn Foundation Firefighters Calendar:
www.firefightercalendar.org

Top 10 ideas for auction winners

10. Still got storm debris? Get some helping hands and write it off on
your taxes.
9. Compared to the fire truck, driving your “party van” for a
night out will be a snap for your firefighter.
8. Have your firefighter help at your kids’ car washing fund-raiser
– or any other charity event.
7. Need a hot date for your company party or barbecue?
6. Firefighters are great at pressure washing – lots of hose
practice!
5. Need that roof cleared or tree trimmed? Firefighters sure aren’t
afraid to go up on ladders!
4. Got career day at your kid’s school coming up? Bring a
firefighter in.
3. Moving Day always goes better when a firefighter is on the scene.
2. It’s a well kept secret, but firefighters are actually great in
the kitchen. Have one help you prep and cook meals to freeze for the
future.
1. Got an ice cream social coming up? It’s a perfect fit.

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Introducing Kristen….and smoke alarms!

We have a new blogger! Kristen, of Safe Keepers LLC, will be writing a monthly blog for Firefighters’ Wives! Her website will be live next month, but until then, she is kicking off her February blog talking about smoke alarms! Check it out!

Let’s talk smoke alarms. Wait I should probably introduce myself first, then we’ll talk…

My name is Kristen. I have worked in the fire service for the last 6 years, child passenger safety the last 13. Before that, well, it was a mixture of work with preschoolers, elders and customer service with the public in general. That is probably enough for now – more later.

Now let’s talk smoke alarms.

I have a feeling many of you probably know more than I do about them… What I have found though, during my time in the fire service is we are sometimes not the best at practicing what we preach, so I want us to have the conversation… None of us wants our husband, boyfriend, son or brother to have to deal with a “kid call”, but have we done everything we can to prevent it for our own families?

Did you know there are different kinds of smoke alarms – ionization and photo-electric. Both detect fire and smoke a little differently, so it is best to have a combination of them in your home to best protect yourselves and your family.

Ionization smoke detection is generally more responsive to flaming fires.

Photoelectric is generally more responsive to smoldering fires.

You can’t predict the type of fire you may have in your home or when it will occur. The important thing is to have a combination of the two and assure they are working -in order to provide early warning of fire at all times of the day or night and whether you are asleep or awake.The best evidence has always indicated that either type of smoke alarm will provide sufficient time for escape for most people. (we will talk about Home Fire Escape Plans next time).

Do you know where and how many you should have? For best protection – one in every sleeping area (this includes living rooms and family rooms where kids might have slumber parties or where dads/grandpas might nap before bed), one in the hallway (outside the bedrooms), and one on every level of your home. I know, I know, it seems like a lot, doesn’t it? Well consider this – in my house which is just over 1000 sq. ft., we have 6 – three of which are hard-wired and interconnected. We have two in each of our bedrooms. Unfortunately, the hard-wired ones were only available with ionization technology and I also wanted photo-electric in our bedrooms. You never know….

Working smoke alarms save lives – check yours monthly!

Kristen Thorstenson | President

SafeKeepers, llc

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Volunteers Needed!

It’s that time of the year again! We are going to have a booth and be volunteering at the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb in Seattle on Sunday, March 11th. We will be in charge of handing out the official event t-shirt to each racer. This is a big task and it’s a very busy task, so you will be busy the entire time! We are looking for a total of 8 volunteers to help throughout the day. If you are in the area and would like to join us for this great event, we would love to have you! Please email us your name and phone number at info@FirefightersWives.net and we will get back to you with details!

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REDBOOK’s Hottest Husbands In America Contest

Remember last year when Redbook contacted us and wanted us to submit our Firefighter husbands for their Hottest Husbands in America Contest? I’m not sure if any of you did, BUT here’s the link to the finalists and they say some are Firefighters. So, if one or some of them are your husbands we’d LOVE to know which one(s)!
CLICK HERE FOR FINALISTS

Not only did Redbook send us the link the finalists, they also sent us the link for you to enter your hot Firefighter husbands into this year’s contest. Here’s the details…..

REDBOOK is searching for the Hottest Husbands in America, and we
always love getting submissions from your group. The winner of next
year’s contest gets a 5-night trip for 2 to the Bulgari Resort in
Bali and will be featured in the magazine.
CLICK HERE TO ENTER

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The Firefighter Grinch

A couple of days ago we had a Firefighter’s wife back east write in to us with a gripe.

Dear Firefighters’ Wives
How do you deal with or feel about situations like these….
My Firefighter has to work on Christmas Day. We are doing Christmas with his side of the family on Christmas Eve and we will wake up to do Christmas with our kids before he leaves for his shift at 6:30am. As a Firefighter family, we understand that everyone has to take their turn working on holidays and some years it seems you get stuck working EVERY holiday. My children are young and would love nothing more than to spend Christmas with their Daddy, but what makes my blood boil is selfish Firefighters! In the past, Firefighters have called in sick on Christmas Eve or Christmas, putting everyone in a bind. I understand that everyone wants to spend Christmas with their family, but this is the job and you have to take your turn with the holidays. If you don’t like having to work on the holidays, then go out and get an 8-5, 5 days a week desk job! In my case, a Firefighter in my husband’s department is trying to get guys to come in early on Christmas day, so that he can leave early to go home. REALLY? You get to spend ALL DAY with your family on Christmas and you are asking guys who also have kids and will only get to spend 30 minutes on Christmas with them, to come in early? I feel this is very selfish of this Firefighter to even ask such a thing! Like I said, everyone takes their turn working the holidays and at a time like this, just work your shift and realize that you aren’t the only one working who has family. So, I’m wondering how all the wives out there feel about this. I don’t feel like I’m overreacting, my husband will usually go in early or cover for guys all the time, but to ask on Christmas is just selfish.
-Fired Up East Coast Wife

This is a tough subject, but a very real one. Like this wife said, we as a fire family, know that sometimes the schedule will fall on the holidays and that’s just how it is. MOST guys won’t call in sick, ask people to stay over or come in early. There are some guys who are younger, who don’t have kids and will volunteer to come in early or stay late and in the future, when they have young families, they will understand the importance of that. This is the first year in 4 years that my Firefighter has his 4 days off starting Christmas Eve and I am very thankful for that, next year he will work Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas and that is just how it is!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, whether your Firefighter is off or working, as a fire family, we know that you will make the most of the holiday no matter which “date” you have to celebrate it on!

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Small Business Saturday SALE!

November 27, 2011

It’s small business Saturday and that includes us! The 2nd annual Small Business Saturday® is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year. On November 26, we’re asking millions of people to Shop Small at their favorite local stores(store front & online) and help fuel the [...]

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Holiday Item Of The Week-PARACORDS!

November 23, 2011

Men, women & children will love to get a paracord bracelet in their stocking this year! These are truly the hot seller at every event we attend. At the Portland Stair Climb, we sold out to the people working the event, so the climbers and their families didn’t even get to see them, but they [...]

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Business Of The Month/Holiday Item Of The Week

November 16, 2011

Our Business Of The Month goes right along with our Holiday Item Of The Week! We were approached a couple of months ago by two Firefighters who own their own business locally roasting premium coffee! They thought it might be fun to create a blend of coffee just for us. Of course we couldn’t pass [...]

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Holiday Shopping-Item Of The Week!

November 9, 2011

Each Wednesday, we will feature one of our products as the Item Of The Week! When you buy that product during the week, we will throw in freebies, such as gift certificates, extra products, etc! So be sure to take advantage of the Item Of The Week, so you can score some extra goodies to [...]

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