Here’s some dedication for you.
Anaheim Fire Capt. John Strickland and firefighter Kevin Harris spent 27 straight hours on the fire lines in Anaheim Hills and Yorba Linda Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening.
And yet here they were this morning, dressed out and looking sharp in the Santa Ana courthouse to testify in a murder trial.
They were subpoenaed by the prosecution to testify in the trial of Jose Sauceda-Contreras, 30, of Anaheim, charged with killing his girlfriend and attempting to destroy her body by setting it on fire in a backyard trash can.
Strickland and Harris were among the first firefighters to arrive when a neighbor phoned in and reported the fire in Sauceda-Contreras’ backyard on Jan. 10, 2007. They quickly summoned Anaheim police when they discovered the body.
Coincidentally, the preliminary hearing for Sauceda-Conteras was delayed in October because Strickland and Harries were fighting the Malibu fires.
Not the kind of duty firefighters sign up for, finding burned bodies in trash cans…
Heroes with a capital “H”
Kudos to Stricklind and Harris for making it to court after pulling an all-nighter!
And to think….Contrera’s smarmy lawyer will probably try to use the fact that they were fighting the fire dfor 27 hours against them! I can see it now….”Isn’t it true that you have been actively fighting fires for over 27 hours? Your memory must not be up to par!” or some crapola like that! Moronic defense…..
Thank you, heroic firefighters, for your dedicated service - on and off the fire lines!!!
They are getting paid to show up in court, so what the big deal? They are probably making 125 an hour so pardon me if
I have no sympathy! These guys are nothing more than overpaid hose pullers. They sleep and play basketball 11 months out of the year. Im so sorry that they have to work boo hoo. I hope they privatize these fire departments!!!
Fireman do earn their pay during times like these, but the rest (majority) of the time their waxing their boats, jetskis, and sitting in big fluffy recliners while getting paid overtime…..
Yes, I’m jealous as I too have spent 30 plus hours driving a patrol car with dried vomit pn the back seat, floorboard….It’s the same car I get to drive almost everyday, no cable T.V, recliners, or BBQ’s…And I don’t stage!
Know Em All - It sounds like you might have stood in the wrong line and took the wrong test.
I grew up in Anaheim, attended Rancho High, and now reside near Sacramento. My husband is on an engine crew in the Yorba Linda area, fighting fire and helping to save whatever property can be saved. I am proud of him, and all of the other people (firefighters, police, paramedics, emt’s, etc) who are out there helping the community to recover from this tragedy. My heart goes out to all those folks affected by this fire. The only good thing to come out this is the knowledge that when bad things happen, neighbors and strangers come together to help each other. For that, I am proud of you all.
Why didn’t you just clean the vomit?! Oh wait…BITTER pigs like to wallow in their own vomit and crap.
I have family members and a very close friend that work for the police department (different jurisdictions by the way) and I have never heard them whine or complain!!! They have a little too much pride and respect for what they do!
Did the fire dept. shut you guys out and run up the score in the annual football game?! Holy tomatoes…you’ve gotta be kidding me.
God bless ALL police officers…including the bitter ones….and all firefighters as well….SHEESH
By the way…there are PIGS and there are Police Officers…I smell bacon!
Ok, settle down there. We’re not the ones with the guns. I’d go into a hostile scene if I had a handgun, tazer, ASP, straight stick, pepper spray, and cuffs on MY BELT. That’s why we stage buddy
Sorry about your low Firefighter test score.Give us the guns, hold the attitude, keep the recliners, we’ll make it happen like all the other stuff you guys don’t do.
Firefighters dedicate their lives to the protection of life and property. Sometimes that dedication is in the form of countless hours volunteered over many years, in others it is many selfless years working in the industry. In all cases it risks the ultimate sacrifice of a firefighter’s life. They should be recognized and honored for their sacrifices to ensure that their communities and environment are as safe as possible.
When you mix training and dedication…you’re called a Professional.
When you mix compassion and caring…you’re called a Friend.
When you mix bravery and selflessness…you’re called a Hero.
When you mix all three…you’re called a FIREFIGHTER.
They may not drive around day after day in Patrol cars…but let’s face it…It takes an exceptional human being to stand in those boots! Thanks guys!
Firefighters dedicate their lives to the protection of life and property. Sometimes that dedication is in the form of countless hours volunteered over many years, in others it is many selfless years working in the industry. In all cases it risks the ultimate sacrifice of a firefighter’s life. They should be recognized and honored for the sacrifices they make to ensure that their communities are as safe as possible. They may not drive around day after day in a Patrol car…but it takes an exceptional human being to stand in their BOOTS!
Think about it…
When you mix training and dedication…you’re called a Professional.
When you mix compassion and caring…you’re called a Friend.
When you mix bravery and selflessness…you’re called a Hero.
When you mix all three…You’re called a FIREFIGHTER!
Believe me…it takes more than guts to put out those big BBQ’s!
Great response, but re-read my original post….Fireman earned their pay this week, but overall it’s a very cush job….Reference staging it was a joke, but now that I think about it. I have been involved in fights while big brawny firemen stood by as spectators, waiting for me to control the person not using any equipment other than my fists….Meow
Holy crap! Just 7 years ago WE ALL stood side by side, reinforcing
the importance of teamwork…. unity…. and selflessness. Does 911 mean anything to anyone anymore? As an 18 year veteran Flight nurse (with 2 degrees and a Masters), I stll make very little money and perform an extremely dangerous service. BOTH the fire department AND the police department have proven invaluable to myself and my coworkers. To squabble over who makes more money, who more brave in the line of duty, or who’s job is more “cush”, is just plain pathetic. I have someone’s life in my hands, hanging in the balance, every single shift I work . . .I still torture myself with the “what if’s” . . . Most people aren’t aware that flight attendants make more than I do!
But WE CHOSE THESE CAREERS KNOWING THE PAY, KNOWING THE HOURS, KNOWING THE HARD WORK, AND KNOWING THE LONG HOURS. That’s truely what makes us all heros…
If you’re unhappy with the amount of money you make I have shocking news for you - - YOU DO HAVE A CHOICE!! 3 INFACT!! 1) Increase your education in order to “move up the ranks”, so to speak, 1) Quit, change jobs, find something that bores you to tears but “brings in those big bucks”, 3) Stop whining! Do you ever hear about a “hero” on Wallstreet?? Does your 5 year old want to be a “day trader” when he/she grows up?
Firefighters and police officers Stood, worked, cried, and died side by side on, and many weeks after, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. You filled our nation with tremendous pride.
The point in the “original” blog was mearly to recognize and thank two firefighters who, literally, remained awake for 27 hours strait (as many many other firefighters did) to fight the recent “L.A. Fire Storm” and . . . xlthough exhausted and worn, they made certain they were in court, on time, for the murder trial of a woman, who was found by these two firefighters, as she was burning to death in a garbage can. And the “cliff note” version officer’s response was “Why thank them? They were probibly getting overtime pay.” I have a great respect for police officers in general, but “WHATSTHEBIGDEAL” can’t seem to open his mouth without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.
Pardon the errors in my posting… I had just finished a 48 hour OVERTIME shift. No extra pay, WHATSTHEBIGDEAL, I was just needed. It’s my job.