Author Archives: Robby Dawson

The best training involves scenarios that are as close to real-world experiences as possible. But, as skills involved become more complex, technical, and advanced, the real risks become more real. But the desire for real world rescue scenarios to test the skills, abilities, and equipment of rescue teams in Virginia lead to the start ofContinue reading “Episode 5: Rescue Challenge”

This incident happened on October 25, 1994 in Chesterfield County at the Dutch Gap Power Station and involved a confined space rescue, high angle and technical rescue, and some creativity and a plenty of nerves of steel. A worker had been on the top of a 300-foot-tall smokestack had fallen but his fall was arrestedContinue reading “Episode 4: The Dutch Gap Power Station Rescue”

There are incidents we respond to over a career that stick with you. For Captain Sylvester Henderson and Captain Keith Andes (then both lieutenants), this mid-day fire was just such an incident. These two officers were the first on scene to what has been described as, “the second biggest [fire] in the city’s history behindContinue reading “Episode 3: The VCU Fire”

In this episode, Henry and I talk to the legend who inspired this podcast. R.C. “Tiny” Dawson is a retired Deputy Chief from Henrico’s Division of Fire. His visit to Station 21 last year to take a look at a new Haz Mat Unit was a glimpse into the past for the crew that wasContinue reading “Episode 2: The Origins of Henrico HIT”

Welcome to the first episode of what will be a fantastic journey into the stories of our past. Episode 1 touches on how this podcast was inspired by a dinner conversation about a visit to a firehouse by a retired Deputy Chief. That story will be told in greater detail in Episode 2. I amContinue reading “Episode 1: The Introduction”

Thanks for checking out The Firehouse Logbook Podcast site. My name is Robby Dawson and after almost 40 years working and volunteering in fire and emergency medical services, I retired – well sort of. Through out those years there were those senior members and mentors who told stories of when ambulances were Cadillacs and turnoutContinue reading “Episode 0: A Preview”