All Blog Posts (7,003)

A Newcomer’s Guide to Participating in the Firefighter Combat Challenge

Where to start when it comes to training, team creation & more

Story & Photos by Michael DeGrandpre

A relay team follows their teammate down the course as he drags the Rescue Randy to…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 8, 2011 at 7:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 8, 2011

My fund drive letter was a success!!!!! I am now going to work on a new website and email campaign. It's been my dream to raise a huge amount of money for the fire department. It's a good day.

Added by Denise Imperiale on March 8, 2011 at 6:35am — No Comments

Australian Airshow Aces

Hi everyone!…

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Added by Alison Aprhys on March 7, 2011 at 8:41pm — 1 Comment

Hot-Button Issue: Live-fire training in acquired structures

By Kevin Milan

Beyond traditional helmets and smooth-bore nozzles, the most controversial subject in the firehouse is live-fire training. This issue polarizes training officers and departments, and for good reason.

I live and work in Colorado, a state well known for many firsts in fire service training and certification. For example, NFPA 1403: Standard on Live-Fire Training Evolutions, has its roots in Colorado—but…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 7, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Can You Hear Me Now? Staying Alive: Prince George's County Fire, EMS Department Unveils Mobile Mayday Simulator

New Technical Services Battalion uses department box truck to create a complex mayday classroom.

Recommendations, as well as actions themselves, led to the Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department creating a rather complex mayday training lesson that involves a mobile simulator. In April of 2009, a house fire in the Largo area… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on March 5, 2011 at 8:01pm — No Comments

Public Safety's Not Affected, A False Dichotomy. Shared Post From CMD-FD

Gabriel Angemi shares how despite Camden's cuts, firefighters can't just hold back. Maybe.

On a national level layoffs have become the norm for public safety personnel, regardless of the threat posed to the ones they leave behind or the residents of the area they once protected. How is it then, when a city such as Camden NJ has its civic and public safety leaders stand up at a podium; hair done, neat… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on March 5, 2011 at 7:51pm — No Comments

February Highlights at Backstep Firefighter

A monthly review of our popular postings.

March is definitely starting off well, but first, lets catch you up on some of our February posts.

Dave LeBlanc took a look at why it appears many firefighters are coming off the rigs with either the wrong tool or no tool at all (or the "favorite" tool). Part of this is because of a lack of riding assignments. Dave recalled Tom Brennan's great article on hand tools for truck work in… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on March 5, 2011 at 7:41pm — No Comments

Tales from a tail-board fireman

We buried a good man today. Twelve rigs and over 200 firefighters, captains and chiefs from all the local departments showed up. Nine pipers and a mixed honor guard from various departments participated. The large church was filled with friends, family, retired firefighters, and police. It was a good service, like so many others I have attended over the past years. His son spoke, the local union president-who is the son of a firefighter I worked with-spoke. A film collage of his life and open… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 5, 2011 at 7:01pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 5, 2011

Verizon customers: Go to this link and put in your work email address. You may be able to get 10% off your cell phone bill like I did. http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/employee/emaildomainauthentication.jsp

I was told by Facebook friends that it works if you…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on March 5, 2011 at 3:00pm — No Comments

BUT WE TRAIN ALL THE TIME on BACKSTEP FIREFIGHTER

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on March 5, 2011 at 7:35am — No Comments

TOOL CHOICE ON BACKSTEP FIREFIGHTER

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on March 5, 2011 at 7:22am — No Comments

firefighters from central Europe

Hi, I am Pavol Varačka and I am from Slovakia. It is small country in Central Europe. I working on projekt www.protipoziarne.sk It s a web about Slovak firefighters, but there are a lot of interesting photos and videos, which could be interesting for firefighters around the world. Please check my web, and tell me your opinions.

Added by Bc. Pavol Varacka on March 4, 2011 at 5:08pm — No Comments

Spanning the Gap in Extrications from Ditches

Using a ladder, basket litter and rope for extrication from a ditch provides a more efficient, less labor-intensive method than forming a chain of rescuers

Story & Photos by Les Baker

During the 2010 Southeastern Extrication School, the “Down in the Ditch” program covered the topic of vehicles that come to rest in various positions in ditches of different sizes and configurations.… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 4, 2011 at 5:30am — 2 Comments

Rubber-Necks we all deal with them

I hate Rubber-Necks what are Rubber-Necks Rubber-Necks are On-Lookers who want to see whats going on

the ones who drive by a Car Wreck or a Major fire and pull over on the side of the road Blocking the Fire Departments from getting By and getting in the damn way in the long run when they Know that the Fires moving right for them the ones who show up at a call just to see whats going on looking at the scene and not whats in front of them

there head turned as they go by in a 360 degree… Continue

Added by Joseph Monroe on March 4, 2011 at 3:06am — 5 Comments

Tales from a tail-board fireman

It is amazing that we have to fight for our rights and pensions we paid for. I am going to yet another funeral for a firefighter. John was 61 and had battled Cancer for the past number of years. This was guy that competed successfully in the firefighter iron man contests. He was in top shape physically and mentally, yet cancer linked to the job took him. Although we worked for different departments, I got to know him when one of my guys wanted to compete. He was glad to mentor a brother… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 2, 2011 at 6:17pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter - Need your Input!!!

Hi guys,

I'm working to revamp our company's funddrive letter. If any of you have a successful one can you please send me a copy? I would like to see what language brings funds.

Thanks for all your help.

Denise

deeimperiale@gmail.com

Added by Denise Imperiale on March 2, 2011 at 6:13pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 2, 2011

I've been waiting days to sit and write this blog post, deciding whether or not it's appropriate for any type of forum. However, this morning I've decided the heck with it I'm writing it.

We all know that stress is among the #1 killer for people in emergency services. Being a perpetual rookie firefighter, you may think, "What kind of stress can she have?" We all fight different types of stress and cannot control…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on March 2, 2011 at 7:24am — 3 Comments

Fired Up! More Big Fire Photos with Tactical Tips

By Scott Cook & Homer Robertson

Editor’s Note: In this year’s Big Fire Photo Essay, FireRescue’s technical editors based their tactical tips on four topics: apparatus positioning, defensive operations, fire attack and reading smoke—four key issues that must be addressed at every large fire.

See the March issue of… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 1, 2011 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

Unique Mystery Series Based on Wildfire Investigation

I just discovered FireFighter Nation. I worked as a wildland firefighter for ten years before I began writing a mystery series based on fire investigation, that has been popular with fire professionals and outdoorsmen. In fact, a friend of mine who teaches fire investigation sells the books at his courses. I do a lot of research with police, forensics techs, and arson investigators, like Steensland. Trying not to sound like a salesman here, but if you work in fire or arson investigation,… Continue

Added by Dave Hugelschaffer on March 1, 2011 at 3:23pm — No Comments