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Permalink Reply by joemac on January 12, 2011 at 7:30pm

I suggest running some drills covering the things you're likely to do most often, such as throwing ladders, stretching hose, tapping hydrants, drafting from whatever is available, plus practicing efficient cleanup and stowing tools, rolling and re-decking hose, etc.

Practice makes perfect. Have your guys work on the teamwork aspect of firefighting/rescue ops and get them thoroughly familiar with where the tools are on your rigs. Repetition of the common gruntwork will pay off with safe and effective work practices at the scene.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Murphy on January 12, 2011 at 8:25pm

I would hope you have covered the basics already in some sort of an academy; department organization, PPE, ladders, SCBA, hose pulls, forcible entry, mayday, communications, safety. When you have covered those topics to exhaustion, go to some of the online training videos for some detailed techniques on the above topics. Try to make it fun. Include the crew in the class as much as possible. Have different people, with competence in the topic, demonstrate different evolutions for the group. Take care, stay safe.

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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on January 12, 2011 at 8:45pm

If your guys are all relatively new, use the objectives outlined in FFI or by your state association. Then throw in some variety with videos, powerpoints, hands-on drills and scenarios. Just keep it different. Use ideas you find here in the training groups, at Firehouse, Firefighter Close Calls and many other great websites. From time to time join with neighboring departments to do combined drills.

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Permalink Reply by Wade Seely on January 12, 2011 at 9:00pm

One of the best ways to learn is to teach. I would recommend giving some of the department a topic to teach such as hose loads or ladder placement. Make sure that it is something that they should know and of course be there to monitor them and correct if appropriate.

TCSS

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Permalink Reply by Corey Carr on January 13, 2011 at 8:39am

Work on RIT drills and other thingsd of this nature. You can also do hose mazes and different size up drills. THese are all very important subjects that need to be covered. Also test your FF's on their knowledge of trucks and the first due area.

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Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on January 13, 2011 at 3:48pm

Water shuttles

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Permalink Reply by Robert McGregor on January 16, 2011 at 1:25am

Company evolutions. Run a "house fire". Run it like a fire ground, the closer you get to the real thing the better you will operate as a team on the real deal. Do it multiple times and have the crews rotate Attack, back-up, vent, search, rit. Have debreifings and share what each person learned/liked/disliked. It is possible to learn from yourself with repetition, then teach it to others. The more techniques you know the more tools you have in your arsenal.

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Permalink Reply by Leland Lavender on January 29, 2011 at 2:29am

Go through Mastery learning techs on the basics, Throw in some Harold Richman's Fireground ops, throw the biggest, dirtiest ladder you have with your company limitations.

sitting around the table discussing is helpful to an extent but to be good, go out and do it.

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Permalink Reply by Erik Wood on January 31, 2011 at 11:31am

I would recommend basing all of your firefighter related training on your states FF1 curriculum. Test to this standard and train to this standard.

In my state (Kansas), the state has on their website the skills sheets required. We use these sheets to teach, and drill. Something else you might want to consider is having some required skills that are trained on and tested on an annual basis.

Good luck....and congratulations...

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