Christmas at the Firehouse
Ladder 8 and Engine 27 had the best cook in the fire department. His name was Johnnie Brycz. Johnnie was a creative cook. He could take a piece of beef that had walked from Texas to Detroit and make it tender and tasty. His Polish cuisine would make you do the polka. One of his specialties was world class tacos. You may recall, John was the cook at the 7th Battalion Taco eating championship between Loomis and Baxter. He was good.
John was a quiet man with a poker face. When the guys would complain or make fun of some of his creations, he would just keep plugging away without a comment. One of his most important jobs was to buy the Christmas tree for the engine house on the annual holiday. I can never remember John ever buying us a beautiful tree. It was always a scraggly looking fir tree with missing branches and a bad case of falling needles. The guys accused John of buying last years rejects. The trees were atrocious. We would bitch, at our poker faced cook, when we were decorating the tree. John would just keep stirring his soup without a hint of emotion.
As I look back at those days, running with that special group of Firefighters, I now realize how important it was for John to buy a ratty tree. He knew the guys would jump all over him. In his heart he enjoyed the attention. He also knew the money he saved on the tree would go into the food he bought for our Christmas dinner. He made our day away from our families a special occasion. It was all in the spirit of Christmas. It was a special time in my life.
During this holiday season I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You active guys be extra careful when working a fire. You retirees thank the lord for taking you safely through your time on the job. To all my civilian readers I want you to know all your Firefighters are proud to serve you.
Stay safe my brothers and sisters.

"Fire Talk" Archives
- Benny the Hook
- Got To Love Texas
- The Fog of Retirement
- Two Tough Kids
- On Leaving the Department
- Cop Talk 3, Ceremony
- Putting it on the Line
- A Bond of Love
- God Will Protect Us
- Stealing Fires
- Poo Poo Pants
- Decoy Carver
- Firefighter's Road Trip
- Day Twenty-seven. Road Trip
- Down Mexico Way
- Zoo in the 7th
- A Gentle Landing
- Always a Firefighter
- Christmas at the Firehouse
- Harem Sacrum
- The Crow Who Spoke Polish
- Once a Firefighter always a Firefighter
- A Brotherhood
- Retiring a Hall of Fame Firefighter
- Anatomy of Forcible Entry
- 911
- Old Horses
- The Milk Wagon
- The Howling
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 26, Destructo
- Memories of the 7th Battalion
- Running Mates
- Engine 32
- Last Alarm
- Tiger Stadium Fire
- To Moosenee and Back
- Memorial Day 2009
- Anatomy of a Fire at a Dangerous Building
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 25, A Typical 7th Battalion Fire
- Boris the Talking Dog
- Wear and Tear
- Tales of the Seventh Battalion 24, Legends
- Axemen
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 23, Ankie
- Anatomy of a Dwelling Fire
- A Firefighter's Spring
- Input
- My Running Mate
- The Singing Fireman
- The Right Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 22, A Desperate Rescue
- 300 Spartans
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 21, Men Who Fight Bears
- At the End of His Rope
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 20, Wolf Warriors
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 19, Motorcycle Maniac
- Career Ending Injuries
- Detroit Loses One of Its Finest
- On Duty Injuries
- Unpractical Jokes
- Dedication in the Fire Service
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 18, Spare Parts
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 17, Passage to Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 16, Gallant Warrior
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 15, Big Ones
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 14, Chicago Lil
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 13, Bridge Fires
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 12, Hot Stuff
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 11, Taco Wars
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 10, Day in Hell
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 9, Engine House Cat
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 8, Finding a Pen
- The Polish Squad
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 7, Wayne Soap
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 6, Junk Yard Goat
- The 1967 Riot in Detroit 3
- Department Legends
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 5, The Fonz
- The 1967 Riot (an entry from Tom Hart)
- The 1967 Detroit Riot
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 4, Howard
- The Buhl Building Fire
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 3, Engine 27
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 2, Roof Rescue
- Tales of the 7th Battalion 1, Explosion
- The worst 7th Battalion Fire
- Fire Incidents
- Beeler's Fog Monster
- Thoughts of a Retired Firefighter
- Dogs of the Realm
- Going to the Dogs
- Firefighter/Lawyer ?
- Moe Tales
- The Legend of Moe
- A POEM: When Brave Men Cry