All Blog Posts (7,007)

Remain Calm, All is Well

Dave LeBlanc on how the smart firefighter keeps his head while everyone else is running around losing theirs.

Maintaining your calm on the fireground maybe be one of the most important skills you can acquire. There is enough excitement and confusion already, if we arrive and start screaming and yelling nothing will get done.

In December, Baltimore had a fire that claimed the lives of six people. In… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on June 25, 2011 at 11:40am — No Comments

The Floor Above. Why a game changer demands different training

Brian Brush on why we should - and shouldn't - rely on the stairway when going above.

If you review the statistics, multi-story single family and multi-family dwellings are our most common fire. They also present the greatest risk as the core of the life hazard occupies an upper floor and the bulk of where the fire starts will occur on a lower floor. The game changer in residential construction is the open stairwell. Identifying this game… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on June 21, 2011 at 8:01am — No Comments

Line Of Duty Deaths. Canadian Editorial Asks Why All The Fuss?

Editorial asks if we use LODDs to hype our profession and image.

An editorial in the Brantford Expositor by Christopher Brennan (no, not that Chris Brennan) takes up an issue with why aren't the deaths of people if other dangerous (or more dangerous) professions given the same heraldry as those of firefighter and police officer line of duty deaths.…

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Added by Bill Carey on June 21, 2011 at 7:57am — No Comments

Back to the Basics With Wedges

Some of you probably remember having to lift something heavy with wedges and cribbing. That isn’t the case with many of the new recruits, mainly because we show them how to use the…

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Added by Paul Hasenmeier on June 20, 2011 at 9:54pm — 1 Comment

June 17th Stop and Remember NEVER FORGET

Father's Day, Sunday, June 17, 2001

It was a relatively slow day for FDNY till 2:19 PM when a phone alarm came into Queens dispatch that a fire was in 12-22 Astoria Blvd, Long Island General Supply (a hardware store). Units arrived within 5 minutes and gave a 10-75 (working fire). The boy's were making good progress but at 2:48 PM something went wrong. Witnesses on the scene report hearing a small explosion followed by a huge blast. The shock wave…

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Added by Ray J on June 17, 2011 at 8:36am — No Comments

Detroit's New Vacant Building Policy. All Flash, Little Substance and A Big Loophole

Why the same old risk analysis dressed up is no good compared to the wrecking ball.

While not exactly scientific it will be interesting to see where popular opinion lies in Detroit Fire's Facebook poll.

- Bill

First allow me three disclaimers on this subject.

1. I do not advocate the reckless abandon of safe, knowledgeable firefighting simply because a building is on fire and we must be… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on June 17, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

fishing and golfing in costa rica

I help firefighters go fishing and golfing in costa rica contact facebook group "Firefighters fishing and golfing in costa rica"

Added by dan corcoran on June 16, 2011 at 7:23am — No Comments

Been Sometime...

Wow the last time I added a blog it was from Lt. to Capt. well now its Capt. to assitant chief!

Added by Todd on June 13, 2011 at 10:27pm — No Comments

What is the deal with the National Testing Network?

I'm trying to get information and schedule testing, as required for most of the departments in my area. When I go to www.nationaltestingnetwork.com all I get is a bunch of useless code. Is this company still in business?

Added by Gary Guy on June 12, 2011 at 8:56pm — 1 Comment

The Third 10

A look at the third 10 line of duty deaths in 2011

From 17 February to 18 April another 10 fire service personnel have died in the line of duty this year. The current total, as of 23 May rests at 36 dead. The statistics for this group reveal the gamut of the American fire service ranging from a young teen killed in personal vehicle collision to an octogenarian dieing from a fall injury. A west coast firefighter died in the most traditional… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on June 11, 2011 at 11:14am — No Comments

What is a Grant Request?

Grants are often though of as free and easy money. Nothing could be further from the truth. …

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Added by Ray Myers on June 10, 2011 at 3:04pm — No Comments

Go To The Funeral

Brian Brush shares a timely reminder before the San Francisco funerals.

The following is from Brian Brush (contributor to Backstep Firefighter), from a friend of his in the Denver area. If you're "in the job" then realize that this is part of "the job."

What, You Have Something Better to Do?

By Oren Bersagel-Briese

November 12, 2004

I don’t understand the fire service sometimes.… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on June 10, 2011 at 12:53pm — No Comments

Barrel Vaulted Ceiling

Click the link below to check out a picture of a barrel vaulted ceiling with engineered wood I-beams. Several questions to ask your crew during a company drill are also included.

http://paulhasenmeier.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/barrel-vaulted-ceiling/#more-287

Added by Paul Hasenmeier on June 9, 2011 at 4:08pm — No Comments

CYCLING TO KEEP FIT

JUST WONDERING ANY FIRE FIGHTERS IN TO CYCLING I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF A CYCLING CLUB HERE IN IRELAND FOR A GOOD FEW YEARS AND I DO SOME RACING ITS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP FIT

Added by Ian Kavanagh on June 8, 2011 at 5:15pm — No Comments

Combi Concerns: Fostering unity & diversity in a traditionally competitive & conflicted environment

EMERGING LEADERS

Combi Concerns

Fostering unity & diversity in a traditionally competitive & conflicted environment

By Dan Eggleston, EFO, CFO, CMO

The definition of the term “combination” is the act of combining or the state of being combined. It seems rather simplistic, doesn’t… Continue

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

Promotion

yesterday i was Promoted to Lt In my dept. feeling a little nervious about it but im sure that will pass after all i did earn it and i will keep workin hard nothing will change i'll do the same and even better than i did as just a firefighter.

Added by Travis Hofmann on June 7, 2011 at 6:55pm — No Comments

Alot of fun has been taken out of the fire serive

You know I remember when it used to be something to say you was a firefighter, something to be proud of and today it still is but I think some fun has been taken out of it and the real meaning of what it is like to be in something so great and to be able to help your community in times of need and to really be proud of what you have... I am talking about it seems like some depts has gotten to macho meaning military like with all the physical requirements, yes I think you should be tested… Continue

Added by Firedog on June 3, 2011 at 7:03pm — 3 Comments

Practice Like You Play

I'm sure that many of you have heard this saying, whether it was on the baseball field, basketball court, or maybe even on the training ground, but do you follow it?

If you lag behind and don't take your training seriously, how can you expect to do a job right on the fireground? Especially at 3am.... you're not going to have time to think, normal people would be sleeping but the tones and bells just dropped and woke you up from a dream about being on a desert island with a horde of… Continue

Added by backsteprescue on June 3, 2011 at 12:05pm — 1 Comment

Huron Fire Department Ladder Struck on a Highway

This report is based on information from recorded times, recollections of HFD personnel on the scene during this incident, and the after crash investigation. The

information should be used in a manner to train, educate, and make roadway

incidents safer for emergency responders. …

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Added by Paul Hasenmeier on June 3, 2011 at 10:34am — No Comments

Tangled Up: When your SCBA gets snagged, do you know what to do?

QUICK DRILLS

Tangled Up

When your SCBA gets snagged, do you know what to do?

By Homer Robertson

In the last 30 years, the fire service has made huge gains in the area of SCBA use. Today, most departments have strict policies that address when, where and how SCBAs should be… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on June 3, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments