All Blog Posts (7,003)

Welcome to my world!

Good morning and welcome to my world!

I am a carreer oriented fire Lieutanant/Paramedic with my home town department. Im going on 14 years on the department and cant imagine doing anything else with my time. I was one of the lucky ones who tested on a whim because I didnt like my original job option and started at ten on the list out of several hundered. I have had so many doors opened for me since I began my journy on the department, I just wish there were more hours in the…

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Added by Timothy on February 4, 2011 at 10:30am — No Comments

Know the Tool Cache Manager’s Roles & Responsibilities

A tool cache manager can be invaluable on the extrication scene, organizing tools, coordinating resources, acting as a safety officer and much more

By Todd D. Meyer

The cook who supports the cattle drive. The pit crew that supports the race car driver. The administrative assistant at Station #51 who keeps the BCs inline. The ground support crew that keeps the fighter jets in the air. My… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 4, 2011 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

Whats your worst call?

Q: What Was Your Worst Call?

(Squad) My first call with the squad was an unconcious/unresponsive in the summer of 2010. The ambulance responded with 4 people, and myself and 2 other members responded in our support vehicle. When we arrived on scene, we came across approx. 12 people standing outside the house, 2 of them (which i knew) said "He's in the attic, please hurry!" We grabbed our gear and rushed up the steps into the attic. We found a 20ish year old male laying on the bed; head… Continue

Added by Cody Reiger on February 4, 2011 at 12:38am — 11 Comments

CIS Policy

I have been given the assignment of creating a CIS Policy for my department. Does anyone have one in place that I can study?

jason.zinger@kitchener.ca

Added by Jason Zinger on February 2, 2011 at 2:49pm — No Comments

Winter Storm!

It's freezing, there is snow and ice everywhere. I decide to cross the road just to get the mail. As I turn around, a guy speeds past me, skidding all around the road. And he wasn't the only one. Is it me, or do people drive recklessly during these storms? He was going WAY over the speed limit in the first place, and some others nearly crashed into a car pulling into a driveway. Can't people SLOW DOWN?

Though this storm is nasty, I had a good laugh when I walked by a tree and ALL of… Continue

Added by Sarah on February 2, 2011 at 10:58am — 1 Comment

Factoring Weight-Per-Firefighter When Choosing Handlines

Factoring Weight-Per-Firefighter When Choosing Handlines

By Skip Dorgan

Editor’s note: In an article in the February 2011 issue of FireRescue magazine (“Let the Pump Do the Work,” p. 62), Skip Dorgan provided the results of some comparisons between 1¾", 2" and 2½" hose, specifically comparing 2" vs. 2½" handlines noting… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 1, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Why We Search: Shared Post Courtesy of CMD-FD, on Squatter Resourcefulness

Camden squatters and the resourcefulness and creativity which they have attained.

We are adding to our "Why We Search" page with a very well written post from Gabriel Angemi of the Camden, New Jersey Fire Department and his blog CMD-FD. We thank Gabriel for allowing us to pass along this latest detailed coverage of squatters thriving in… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on February 1, 2011 at 7:32am — No Comments

January on Backstep Firefighter

A monthly review of our popular postings and the editorial cartoon.

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January was an interesting month of issues for Backstep Firefighter as we looked at the vacant, abandoned building searches and hyped-up commentary as well as victim survivability profiling. Dave LeBlanc reminded us that a significant part of our job is search and… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on February 1, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

The Blizzard of 2011......

Its winter.....in case the temps in the teens, ice and snow had already told you....and now for the second time in almost two weeks the weather forecasters are predicting the storm of the century here in the wonderful midwest. With ice falling now...and over a foot of snow with 40mph winds to follow I look out the window from the day room.....see the ever depressing sight of my fellow citzens driving as if it were summer. I know I had better get a nap in....as the next 36 hours are likely to… Continue

Added by Erik Wood on January 31, 2011 at 2:57pm — 5 Comments

Organ Donation

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=2706

http://www.cfnews.org/ByrneInterview.htm

http://catholicinsight.com/online/features/article_935.shtml

If organs are only supposed to be taken from "dead" donors, when is a…

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Added by Rachel on January 30, 2011 at 9:30pm — No Comments

NY!

Going to NY in 2 weeks! Going to ground zero and fire museum!! Any other places to visit?

Added by Cassie on January 30, 2011 at 11:54am — 3 Comments

"MAKE A HOLE, MAKE IT WIDE" on Backstep Firefighter

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on January 29, 2011 at 6:51pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...January 29, 2011

Today is clear off a hydrant day at the firehouse. I even noticed in one of the online newspapers an opportunity for residents to get a free coffee for doing it to help the fire department out. I remember last year doing the clean off with my captain and driving through the complex that I now live in. There were alot of residents parking in the fire lanes.

I guess people see snow and don't think fire. But they…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on January 29, 2011 at 11:12am — 1 Comment

The Hubbard Street Fire: The 50th anniversary of a tragic dual collapse

By the time crews arrived at the warehouse on Hubbard Street, the seven-story structure was already heavily involved, with flames shooting out the windows. All photos courtesy Fire Museum of Greater Chicago

…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 28, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

my fire squad

http://www.morningsidevfd27.com/

this is the best squad i have ever worked with you rock

Added by Jaymie Billy Johnson on January 27, 2011 at 11:40am — No Comments

Long Beach (Calif.) Firefighters Rescue 2 Port Workers from Crane

RESCUE REPORT

By Tom Vines

Editor’s note: For more on crane rescue, see “No Rescue Too High” in the January 2011 issue of FireRescue magazine or click here for the online version.

Crane rescues present… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 27, 2011 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

Icy Situation Provides Cautionary Tale for Winter Rescues

Story and Photos by Bob Kolva

When the pager sounded at 1800 HRS, the air temperature was 12 degrees F with a wind chill of -10 degrees F. We were responding to a motor vehicle crash (MVC) on a hill covered with compact snow and ice. A 1980s Caravan packed with young door-to-door salespeople had crossed the center lane, meeting a full-sized Cadillac head on.

With five passengers in the van and one in the Cadillac, there were plenty of potential patients milling…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 26, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Tips for Removing a Victim in a Tower Crane

No Rescue Too High

From the January 2011 issue of FireRescue magazine

By Andy Speier

Tower cranes run anywhere from 86 to 262 feet in…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 26, 2011 at 6:30am — No Comments

It's What We Do

This was written by Rel LT. John Gariti of the Chicago Fire Department and really hits the nail on the head of the best job in the world. Tell me what you think.

Running into a burning building sounds crazy Watching firefighters disappear into the black smoke sometimes even a vacant building because maybe there could be a homeless person. (It's what we do!)

Cutting a person out of a car that's on fire and then crawling inside of it to extricate someone! Why would anyone?… Continue

Added by paul on January 26, 2011 at 1:34am — No Comments

Losing It...

"Then we have that crazy moment where everything should be working, but it isn't... and we (in the 2 1/2 ton Attack Engine) start to slide downhill - backwards. The OnSpot's didn't engage. We start to slide faster - which gives you that really sick feeling in your stomach. Then the engine starts to swing around, leaving us sliding downhill backwards AND sideways... nose end coming toward the same drop-off..."