Featured Blog Posts – March 2011 Archive (56)

Would You Give the National Fire Service a C Grade? Better? Worse?

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

Unless you were a star student, you know the fearful anticipation of receiving a report card. Well, the fire service just received one of its own.

In his Wednesday morning FDIC session, “Making the Grade,” Oklahoma Fire Department Captain Brian Arnold gave the national fire service a C for how it’s doing overall, and a D for how it’s doing in certain areas—and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Changing the Conversation about the Dangers of Fire Smoke

Changing the Conversation about the Dangers of Fire Smoke

The dangers of long-term exposure to cyanide & CO is garnering more attention

By Shannon Pieper

Do you wear your SCBA until overhaul is complete? Does your department maintain—and enforce—SOPs for gas detection on the fireground? When locating command posts and rehab areas, do you take into account their exposure to smoke?… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 1:00pm — No Comments

At FDIC, Halton Issues a Call for a "Fitting and Proper" 9/11 Memorial

At FDIC, Halton Issues a Call for a “Fitting and Proper” 9/11 Memorial

By Shannon Pieper

At today’s opening keynote at FDIC, Bobby Halton, the education director for FDIC and the editor-in-chief for Fire Engineering, issued a rousing call for a 9/11 monument that properly recognizes first responders.

Halton began by invoking the great monuments of our country—the Statue of Liberty,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 12:01pm — No Comments

At FDIC opening ceremony, Dugan issues a call for firefighters to “change the world”

FDIC Opening Ceremonies: Dugan issues a call for firefighters to “change the world”

By Shannon Pieper

Do you know why you’re in the fire service? And I don’t mean the obvious answers—it’s your job, it was what your father did, you love the work, etc. I mean, if someone asked you that question, is the answer sitting on the tip of your tongue, “To change the world”?

Mike Dugan thinks… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 11:14am — 2 Comments

The life of a Probie

My name is Cindy and I am 24 years old. A few months ago I made a life changing decision and decided to become a volunteer firefighter. I am currently in school to get my firefighter 1 certification and it is such a rewarding experience. So far we have learned everything from search and rescue to the basics of using our PPE and SCBA to HAZMAT. The training I have gone through has been tough at times but its so worth it. I absolutely love what I am doing and its such an ego boost knowing I can… Continue

Added by Cindy Harris on March 21, 2011 at 12:00pm — 4 Comments

Helping Line Officers Through the Decision-Making Process

“Don’t bring me a problem without a solution” isn’t always realistic

By Marc Revere

It’s not uncommon for chief officers to insist that when firefighters and developing officers have an issue, problem or concern, they should bring it to the next rank with a solution, preferably two. In fact, many experienced officers typically demand this of their subordinates—i.e., “Don’t bring me a problem… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 21, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 22, 2011

I am thankful for all that I have but like most people, it's a fleeting thought that passes in a moment of quiet prayer. Every once in a while though I need to reinforce being thankful for where I was and where I am now.

I visited the Market St. Mission Thrift Shop on Saturday afternoon. I feel like the place is full of alot of positive energy. The thrift shop's workers are mostly volunteers who were helped at…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on March 20, 2011 at 9:37am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 20, 2011

Atheists Beware LOL

Yesterday was my CCD class's Confirmation Day. I was thinking how sometimes God gives you something like a GREAT class of kids to keep you motivated. This year was supposed to be my first year off in about ten years of instruction but then a class needed an instructor and there I was.

If you ever get an opportunity to work with a group of teens, you don't…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on March 20, 2011 at 8:30am — 1 Comment

Chesapeake (VA) Auto Parts Store Roof Collapse Double LODD 1996

Chesapeake (VA) Auto Parts Store Roof Collapse Double LODD 1996

Christopher Naum, SFPE

CommandSafety.com

Fifteen years ago, on March 18, 1996, two firefighters were killed in Chesapeake, Virginia when they became trapped…

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Added by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on March 19, 2011 at 11:09pm — No Comments

Frictions: Uncertainties that complicate communication

FIREFIGHTING 360

Frictions: Uncertainties that complicate communication

By Billy Schmidt

Everything is very simple in war, but the simplest thing is difficult.

--Carl von Clausewitz

Prussian military thinker Carl von Clausewitz, dead for almost two centuries, continues to be one of the most important strategic… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 18, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Ramblings of a helmet collector #3

I've got a nice little German leather helmet that has sat on a shelf in my workroom for several years because I have no idea of how to restore it. It's made by Rosenbaeur around 1930 or so and has a two-piece hard leather crown with enamelled steel front and back peaks sewn on to it.

When I got it the crown had shrunk and become misshapen and the stitching rotted away. Re-stitching it is no…

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Added by Andy Turnham on March 17, 2011 at 4:25pm — No Comments

Advance Look at What Pierce is Unveiling at FDIC

Ok, that title made you click, didn’t it? I confess it’s a little misleading. True, I DID just get back from an event where the major fire service media were shown a sneak peek at Pierce’s latest innovation, which will be unveiled in a matter of days. However, I also had to agree not to disclose any details until that official unveiling. Well, that’s not entirely true—Pierce did tell us that we were allowed to share three details: it’s a new product, it has to do with increased space in the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on March 17, 2011 at 9:59am — No Comments

Recipe for Disaster: The characteristics & components of home-made explosives

By Martin Greene

The time is now for hazmat teams to develop and/or expand their working relationship with their local bomb squad. Why?

A house erupts in flames on Dec. 9, 2010, during the controlled burn of a home in Escondido, Calif., that was so packed with…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 17, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

What's in a title?

I know there is a lot of sometimes heated discussion over the terms we use in the Fire Service to describe paid and unpaid Firefighters.

The term, "Professional" in ordinary usage by anyone outside of the

Fire Service means someone who "Follows an occupation as a

livelihood." (Random House Webster's Dictionary, definition 1) by almost

any definition, firefighters who are paid to be Firefighters and make their

livings as…

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Added by Greenman on March 16, 2011 at 8:29am — 10 Comments

Why Test Your Pump? A Quick Refresher

INSIDE THE APPARATUS INDUSTRY

A quick refresher on how to ensure your pump is ready to go

By Bob Vaccaro

Photos Courtesy Keith Klassen

Should you test your pump? You would think the answers would be a no-brainer; however, I’ll bet that if we conducted a survey around the country, we’d find that a large number of fire departments don’t… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 16, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

tales from a tailboard fireman

Doug S. is retiring in August. He was a captain when I came on the job in 1973. He is pushing 70 now and is captain of engine 1 in downtown San Jose. It is a running company, lots of calls at night and one of the busiest in the city. I don't know how he does it. When I was in my 30s and 40s I could be up all night and have a life the next day. I would get off duty and could work on my home projects. In my late 40s and 50s night calls would ruin me the next day, I would go home and nap , but I… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 16, 2011 at 1:30am — No Comments

You Probably Won't Die, No Matter What You Do

Does it sound crazy for a firefighter to say that? Maybe it does, but at All Hazards Contemplations, I've pointed out that statistics show that approximately 100 U.S. firefighters die in the line of duty each year, with a smaller number of annual non-firefighter EMS…

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Added by Ben Waller on March 15, 2011 at 10:39pm — 4 Comments

Finding Reliable Web-Based Behavioral Wellness and Self-Help

The NFFF builds resources that address the behavioral aspects of health, wellness & safety for firefighters

By Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki

Following is the sixth in a series of seven articles that describe a new approach to mental and behavioral health in the fire service. Read the other articles:…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 15, 2011 at 8:30am — No Comments

Tales from a tailboard fireman~Taking Heat

I went to a retirement dinner for a good guy. He worked at our downtown station for 30 years. It was a multiple unit firehouse and he always made sure he was on the rig getting the most runs. Usually our union does large combined retirement dinners, but due to legal costs over the last year money is no longer available. This dinner was put on by people he worked with over the years. He was involved in some great rescues and when he realized he could not do the job the way he felt it needed to… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 13, 2011 at 9:04pm — No Comments

Ramblings of a helmet collector #2

Here's a issue I've long pondered. Is it right to renovate or refurbish a vintage helmet? For many years I would do no more than clean up a helmet. I felt that to renovate it close to it's original condition would, somehow, degrade it.

I got to discussing this issue with other collectors and got differing opinions. Quite a few thought as I did, that they should be left "as found" but there seemed to be just as many who felt that, as long as it was in… Continue

Added by Andy Turnham on March 11, 2011 at 5:27pm — No Comments