Videos added to my website

I've added some fire videos to my website, www.wowmephotos.com. My new camera, Nikon's D90 can record HD video as well as take still photos. Still working on mastering the new features.
The entire gallery can be seen here
This is one of the videos, Buffalo Fire at a multiple alarm on Goodyear Avenue in an abandoned grain mill.



Let me know what you think!

Buffalo Fire Museum Promotional Video

A brief video tour of the Buffalo, NY Fire Museum.

1250 Bailey - 2nd Alarm 12/23/09

Some photos and a short video from the 2nd alarm at 1250 Bailey on December 23, 2009.

Great post on Paw Nation!

Simply amazing video from Wales using sheep dogs, sheep, LED lights and some ingenuity!

Great post on Paw Nation!

10% Coupon!

Smugmug now has coupons! Save 10% on all orders from my website, www.wowmephotos.com now til December 31st. Enter code xmas10 at checkout!

Buffalo Fire 2010 Calendar

Looking for a unique Christmas present? Check out my 2010 Buffalo Fire calendar at my Zazzle store!

Buffalo Fire 2010 Calendar by BuffaloK

Bailey Avenue Fire

Fantastic fire photographer Keith Muratori was in town recently and caught this worker at 1418 Bailey on Oct. 12, 2009. This was his second trip to Buffalo after being "skunked" the first time with no fires in town.

Firefighting Collectibles Auction

There will be a silent and live auction of firefighting memorabilia and collectibles held at the All Saints Parish Hall, 207 Esser Avenue at Henrietta Street on Saturday, November 14, 2009. The auction will begin at 10:30 AM.
Breakfast and lunch will be available. Some of the many items available include die cast models (corgi, matchbox, code 3, etc.), framed prints, alarm boxes, helmets, nutcrackers, and axes. Be sure to stop and bid on some items!

Buffalo Fire Awards Ball 2009 Video

Check out this excellent video produced by Lt. Mike Zarbo and Sterling Sound and Video. It was shown at the Buffalo Fire Department Beneficiary Association's annual awards dinner held October 2, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The video is dedicated to fallen firefighters Charles McCarthy and Jonathon Croom. RIP brothers.

Buffalo Fire 2009 Awards video from Michael Zarbo on Vimeo.

Brotherhood Instructors, LLC Fire Training

Is your fire department looking for practical, realistic training taught by instructors with years of experience and diverse backgrounds?
Then be sure to check out Brotherhood Instructors, LLC for your FD training! They specialize in teaching the fundamentals of firefighting, from forcible entry to FAST team training, all with YOUR department's manpower and response area in mind. You'll find all the information you need at their website, as well as free online drills for your department to use today!

Buffalo Firehouses Map

I made up this map of the current (September 2009) locations of all the Buffalo, NY firehouses and photos of them. Enjoy!


View Buffalo, NY Firehouse Locations in a larger map

Electric Tower Fallen Firefighter tribute

Electric Tower Fallen Firefighter tribute, originally uploaded by Kevin Brautlacht.

Downtown Buffalo's Electric Tower was lit in purple in honor of Lt. Charles McCarthy of Rescue 1 and FF Jonathan Croom of Ladder 7. Both firefighters died in the line of duty on August 24, 2009. May the Lord watch over them and their family and friends they leave behind. You will be forever in our hearts.

Senior Portraits

Just a little preview of the photo shoot with Maggie. Very nice young lady and a great looking model.

Waldfest 2009

Waldfest 2009, originally uploaded by Kevin Brautlacht.

Spring Garden Park on Two Rod Road in Marilla, NY was the setting of the annual German "festival in the trees". Food, drink, dancing and traditional German music filled the valley along with hundreds of happy festival goers.

I was shocked to read this news story of a Columbus FF who shot and killed his two dogs in order to avoid paying for boarding them while he went on a vacation. He tied them to a pipe in order to shoot them in his basement. Anyone who has owned a dog will understand that those dogs probably went willingly with him because they trusted him.

He even had the nerve to brag to his co workers about what he had done!

Fireboat Edward M. Cotter at work

With the large fire June 12, 2009 at 364 Baraga Street I was finally lucky enough to get some photos of Buffalo's fireboat, the Edward M. Cotter at work. She is the oldest active fireboat in the country and is listed as a National Historic Landmark. For more information and history of her, check out the Cotter's webpage and this article from the magazine "Sea Classics", written by Sam Guadagna.

Congratulations to Battalion Chief Joe Brocato on his retirement! Chief Brocato was a great fireman and will be missed. He would always stop and say hello when I would see him on the fireground, truly a class act all the way! Good luck and enjoy your retirement. Don't forget to stop in at the Museum on Saturdays for lunch!

Buffalo Fire rides for Roswell

ride-for-roswell, originally uploaded by Kevin Brautlacht.

 The Buffalo Fire Department's Local 282 is raising money for Roswell Park Cancer Institute by participating in the "Ride for Roswell" event on Saturday, June 27, 2009. The money they raise will help researchers and physicians better understand the causes of cancer and discover new methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Visit their page today and join the team or make a donation!
The BFD's page can be found here

My first magazine cover

  I've finally gotten a photo published as a cover! The February 2009 issue of Fire Engineering will have my photo from a fire on Kamper Street.

  I've had several photos published before inside other magazines, but this is the first cover and boy it just feels great!

  I'd like to thank Diane Feldman, Nate DeMarse and all the other fine folks at Fire Engineering for their help and professionalism.

A podcast for fire photographers

  I recently found a new podcast about emergency services photography, the Fireground Action Photography podcast. It can be found here.
  It's a weekly show produced by Craig Durling, an excellent California based photographer. Co-hosting the show along with Craig is Ross A. Benson, an equally impressive photographer. The podcast delivers a wealth of information; not only on fireground photography; but on gear, technology and photography in general.
  For anyone interested in photography, and especially those shooting firegrounds, it is definitely worth checking out.

My first fire of 2009

 Photographed my first fire in 2009. One of my resolutions is to post more content. The fire occurred on Fredro Street and was dispatched shortly before 2PM as a PS assignment(preliminary signal) sending 2 engines, 1 ladder and Battalion Chief. First due E35 requested the balance with a fire on the first floor of an occupied 2 story wood frame. Crews made a good stop on the first floor and had to chase some fire that went up to the second floor. No definite cause, but the dispatch came in as a fire in the dryer. I was going to go on the PS, but waited till they called for the balance, I might have had some better shots.

 The rest of the photos can be seen here