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Ben Waller

Male

Bluffton, SC

United States

Profile Information:

Type of Organization: Fire/Rescue Department - Paid
Job Function: Battalion Chief / Division Chief
Years in Fire/EMS:: 37
Primary Fire/EMS Department:: An East Coast Fire Department
Years With Department/Agency: 9
Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations: Mt. Aetna VFD, Hagerstown, MD
Tri-Community VFD, Collegedale, TN
Highway 58 VFD, Harrison, TN
Bradley County EMS, TN
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue, TN
Hamilton County EMS, TN
Hamilton County Hazmat Team, TN
McMinn County EMS, TN
Chattanooga Fire Department
Greenville County Technical Rescue, SC
Greenville County Hazmat Team
Greenville County COBRA Team
1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Swifwater Rescue Team
2000 Olympic Team Trials Swiftwater Rescue Team Leader
Contributing author, Fundamentals of Technical Rescue, Jones & Bartlett
Contributing author, Swiftwater and Flood Rescue FOG, Jones & Bartlett
Water Rescue Editor, Technical Rescue Magazine
Member, NFPA 1670 Technical Search and Rescue Committee
My Training:: M.P.A. Public Administration
B.P.S. Fire Administration
A.S. Paramedic
IFSAC Fire Officer I
IFSAC FF II
Tennessee Journeyman FF
South Carolina and Tennessee Fire Instructor
South Carolina, Tennessee, and National Registry Paramedic
EMACS and HAZWOPER Hazardous Materials Technician
NPQ Hazardous Materials Operations
WMD TERT
USAR Rescue Specialist
Technical Rescue Instructor
Extrication Instructor (Basic, Advanced, Bus, Big Rig, Instructor Trainer)
Swiftwater Rescue Instructor
Incident Command (NIMS) Instructor
Unified Command Instructor
ICS for Structural Collapse Instructor
Farmedic Instructor
About Me:: I'm living proof that rookies can survive their own stupidity through good luck.
Day Job:: Look up
Relationship Status:: Married
Why I Joined Fire/EMS: For the low stress, comfort, and the money.
Why I Love Fire/EMS: I get to work with some of the best people on the planet.
Top Issues Facing Responders:: The economy
Unrealistic expectations

Comment Wall:

Ed Cate

Good to hear from you, yes I work with Todd at Oak Ridge FD He is the Captain on B shift there. Yes Waldo is still waddling around He is no longer at Life Star he teaches HLS classes for UT now. Rick is still at LS, Wormy retired from the squad about 10 yrs ago but still come around. J. Yu is still here he is a special member and just teaches PSD for us.

Myers told me that Randy O is gone to another new job up the road and that he and you are now Batt Chiefs good job on both of you. Glad you are still teaching watch over my to youngster at the swift water classes. We have put 32 through the school and I highly reccomend it to everyone.

Wel I will let you go call us when you get into town and maybe if our schedules will allow it we can meet.

Ed Cate

Jun 18, 2008
FireCat

Hi Ben,

I was happy to read this statement "I'm living proof that rookies can survive their own stupidity through good luck"...hopefully I will make it.... lol

TCSS
Cat :o)

Jun 29, 2008
Ben Waller

My first coat was rubberized black canvas duck, then a regular black canvas duck after I melted the rubber.

I got my own Nomex - one of the first ones Janesville ever made before I completed recruit school at MFRI. The Nomex - along with one of the first set of Nomex bunker pants and the first Nomex hood in SE Tennessee - saved me from serious burns when I was blown out of a house by the only backdraft I've ever experienced. The coat sleeves were about 3 inches shorter after that fire, but I didn't get burned. The pants required extra cleaning, and the liners were never the same after that.

Jul 2, 2008
Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

Hi Ben, Read through some your writing and enjoyed your style and insight. Thought I'd send off a friend request and share my world with you. I am certain that we both work in two entirely different worlds... We get nasty wildland urban interface fires where I work and live. My fire station is located on the Pacific Coast overlooking the Channel Islands. The front country that we protect is dry and ready to burn, in fact we have a major fire hitting us right now. Of course, you must be thinking that if there is such a big fire then why isn't this guy out there dealing with it... Truth is I blew out my knee over a month ago, had surgery last week and am now going through the wonderful world of physical therapy. To make matters worse, heres some photos I took yesterday while my daughter drove me to Santa Barbara for my PT...

Jul 3, 2008
Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

Ben, With your special ops program, are you involved in hazmat wmd? Also, considering that California is the land of lawsuits, SOP's are being replaced by SOG's. The thought here is that procedures are more restrictive legally verses using the word guidelines.
Here's my fire station:

Stay safe, Mike

Jul 3, 2008
Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

Oh yea... forgot to put the view looking out the front of the station... :D

I'm sure where you work, on an island? Isn't too bad...

Jul 3, 2008
Cafryrmn

Ben I just watched the video of the Glassmaster. Does this saw kick up a lot of "dust". We have used the Dewalt but have stopped this technique because of the "floating glass" particles. Usually will leave the windshield in place when practical. We have tried duct tape and then cutting with the saw but it gummed up the blade. Cutting the windshield out by removing the moulding and cutting the adhesive/rubber moulding has not always worked.

Jul 13, 2008
John Kriska

Ben, if your Tempest programs are only about PPV then you probably have their training info from the John Mittendorf era. They do have some new products that cover PPA. I would also check with all of the blower manufacturers for training programs that they have available. However, for even the latest info on PPV/PPA, Isuggest you do the following:

Visit www.fireventstudy.com. There is a several part training program that I found very interesting.

Visit www.nist.gov. They have a DVD titled: PPV Research, Videos and Reports. They gave this DVD away at FDIC this year. Their reportts provide you with alot of data that is useful. I would especially read their report on using PPV on Room Fires.

I would recommend purchasing the book "Positive Pressure Attack for Ventilation and Firefighting" by Kriss Garcia, Reinhard Kauffman and Ray Schelble. It is available via Fire Engineering.

My web-site, www.kriskfiretraining.com includes a basic PPV presentation that you can use. I also provide free of charge a powerpoint presentation on PPV/PPA. If you would like it please provide me with a e-mail address. Send to fckris@yahoo.com

Hope this helps..

Jul 17, 2008
Michael Farrar

Hey Ben. Just stopping by to say hi and see how everything is going.

Jul 20, 2008
Michael Farrar

Ben it sounds like you need to slow a little bit.

All is going good up this way. Not many calls lately. We had a small house burn up the other night but other then that not much going on. We also have been hit hard for the past few days with storms but no really calls came of it.

How many houses does you fd have? Who is building your new trucks?

Jul 20, 2008
Jim Seargent

Good Evening Ben, and welcome to the snarkiest group on the Nation.

After reading some of your stuff I look forward to your discussions. I have no doubt that you will find some of the most passionate, articulate and intelligent wits in the group.

Jim Seargent
F.O.G.I.E.S.

Jul 23, 2008
John Kriska

Ben: Noticed on one of your posts that your son was a Marine Corps Captain. Next time you talk to him, give him a big Semper Fi from this old retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant.

Aug 3, 2008
John Kriska

Your welcome on the PPV info. I was never stationed at either Beaufort or PI but I have been to both bases for a very short period of time on an assignment. Since the Marine Corps encouraged community involvement, while on active duty I was a member of the Belton, MO, Hubert, NC and Dumfries/Triangle, VA Fire Departments.

Aug 4, 2008
Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

Hey Ben, How's your summer? Hopefully no major incidents like we had here in Santa Barbara, ie. the Gap Incident which burned close to 10,000 acres and threatened a lot of multi-million dollar homes, much like the ones you protect in Hilton Head. I 'm not familiar with where you work and live but saw an advertisement on tv for Hilton Head and it looks pretty snazzy and upscale. Just like Santa Barbara...

I just put a new video on my FFN site that will give you an excellent teaching tool for IAP's. I get some awesome stuff from friends in the EPA. This is one of them.

Still going to physical therapy and getting full use of my right leg back. Slow process...

Take care brother, let me know what you thought of the video or if you need any training stuff. I'm your wingman, sitting at home, looking forward to going back to work, but still very bored. Maybe I'll give Arnold a call and get together for some golf...

Cheers! Mike from Santa Barbara

Aug 5, 2008
Engineco913

We're still getting clobbered with an unusual number of fires. I actually got to be in Command of one the other day. Be afraid, be VERY afraid."

Love the comment you left Siren. Was Mick at the NFA when this occured? I figured with the two of you combined on fire scenes it must be an experience beyond all my expectations. You both appear (in the short time I have read your imput here) to be on the forefront of leadership for the fire service we are in.

Aug 7, 2008
Engineco913

Well, with your personality (what I have seen) and your knowledge I would be privelaged if you allow a friends request to go through. I anjoy networking with people who are learners and have experience to back up what they say.

Aug 7, 2008
FF Schoen

Ben,

I had my bunker pants on becuase i had personal safety system on them. The cars had been locked and tagged out at the console and both cabled and the air system was shut off at the top of the ride. I was belted during the rescue itself. We thought about the direct point during the rescue and utilized it after emptying out the occupants of the 1st car. They went to a small platform and down the ladder that had been positioned there. It was only after that one was clear that I made my crossing of the cars happen. To get to the other kids and help position them, harness them, and help the other rescuers get them down the ladder. The operation overall was safe. In hindsight, I could have done without wearing the bunker pants, I just did so since I already had a safety built into them.

I appreciate your comments Ben, and I will think about a different approach the next time. This was our first rescue like that at the amusement park. It turned out to be a learning experience for all involved in case it happened again.

Aug 25, 2008
William Williams

I just got done reading your reply to FF Schoen's daring jump from the platform to the roller coaster car..... I agree with you. lol. I also saw you responded to a couple of my Forum posts. Good to know there are people on here with knowledge and experience. You guys get any of the bad weather? Here in Savannah, we got a lot of rain, nothing major though. Take care, and thanks for accepting my invite. Glad to see some local area brothers.

Aug 26, 2008
Wes Anders

I apperciate your comments on my responses I am a very trusting person some times it bits me in the butt and sometimes its great. I just wont believe that the world is all bad there are to many people like you and me that give to help others at risk of themselves for nothing to give up hope.

Sep 7, 2008
Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd

As always, I hope I can find more ways to keep you entertained. I've only got one more day to play like this... then, it's reality. Ok, maybe that's not exactly true. Friday morning, I'm driving down to Ventura and taking a boat ride across the Santa Barbara Channel to Santa Rosa Island. It's the same as it was in the 1800's. I'll be sure to take pictures!

Mike

Sep 9, 2008
O'Kitty

Pay you must for my have this stuck in my head most of the day!

Sep 12, 2008
O'Kitty

Not very good at rodent identification are you?

Sep 13, 2008
O'Kitty

Chinchilla

Sep 13, 2008
O'Kitty

That is NOT the rabbit we have been discussing ... I'm sure I could post a pic of one of those too, if you'd like?

Sep 16, 2008
Colin Fanning

You need to sleep once in a while! We had a lovin' with Lavarn session today. Very informative!

Sep 17, 2008
Isaac

hey chief you have some really good points on your blogs keep up the good work i enjoy reading them.

Sep 29, 2008
Isaac

Rusty is the captain at the rescue squad still. Worlds a small place. I am in rookie school in Johnson city. Its areally good school they have. Today we was at Eastmond in Kingsport doing a afff class. It was very good

Sep 30, 2008
Chris Mills

Hey, just my opinion, you should work for a magizene and write articles for a living. exellent blogs!

Oct 3, 2008
Brandon Roark

Sweet brother. I was in that Sea Pines House some time ago. My father has a buddy that lives in the pines. i will certainly give you a yell next time i am on the island.
If your buddy ever needs tickets give me a yell, there are always some floating around the firehouse.
take care, stay safe and GO IRISH

Oct 11, 2008