Fire Rescue Magazine's Blog – March 2010 Archive (18)

The 19th Watchout: Treating a WUI fire like a structure fire

The 19th Watchout: Treating a WUI fire like a structure fire

By Brad Mayhew

This article originally ran in the April 2010 issue of FireRescue magazine.

Author's Note

The 18 Watchouts are designed to help firefighters recognize warning… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 30, 2010 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Mt. Rainier Rangers Rescue Skier from Snow Cavern

By Tom Vines

On Jan. 31, Mt. Rainier National Park rangers received a report that a woman had fallen into a deep “hole” in the snow while skiing and was unable to get out. Mt. Rainier National Park, located in Northwestern Washington State, includes Mt. Rainier, the tallest volcano in the Cascade Range.

A ranger followed the reporting party about three-quarters of a mile from the trailhead to a “moat,” a snow cavern created… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 25, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

History in the Making: Response to the 2009 North Dakota flood

History in the Making: Response to the 2009 North Dakota flood By Captain Leon Schlafmann

Editor's Note: For more information on Fargo's 2010 flood preparations, check out FireRescue's interview with Captain Schalfmann.

When it comes to fire…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2010 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

COAL WAS WEALTH: Size-up basics you need to know, part 2

FireRescue magazine's Fireground Operations column

COAL WAS WEALTH: The basics of size-up, part 2

By Freddie LaFemina

Editor's Note: For the complete 13-point size-up strategy, be sure to read part 1 of this article.

Last month, I addressed the first seven points of a 13-point size-up strategy (COAL WAS WEALTH) for evaluating problems… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 22, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

The Right Time to Give: Through March 31, Pierce Is Matching Donations to NFFF

If you're considering giving to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, now is the right time. Through March 31, Pierce Manufacturing will double all donations up to $10,000 through the NFFF Full Throttle Support II initiative.

In addition, anyone donating is entered into a sweepstakes to win a custom, one-of-a-kind Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Firefighter Special Edition motorcycle.

“The Pierce family is an integral part of the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 18, 2010 at 5:00pm — No Comments

What’s All the Hubbub about Striping?

Inside the Apparatus Industry

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

By now most of us have seen new apparatus deliveries with the new NFPA 1901-required reflective striping on the front and rear. Whether you like it or not, it’s here to stay. In my opinion, it really makes a vehicle stand out on a highway, which was the intent of the standard to begin with.

Anything we can do to improve apparatus visibility on the fireground or at accident scenes is a… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 17, 2010 at 1:30pm — 4 Comments

The Science Behind Our Business: Use data to your department’s advantage

The following article was published in the March issue of FireRescue magazine.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE

The Science Behind Our Business

Use data to your… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 17, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Two Firefighter Deaths Highlight the Need for Rehab

Two Firefighter Deaths Highlight the Need for Rehab

Story & Photos by Jeffrey T. Lindsey

Training is an integral part of the fire service. Senior firefighters and company officers conduct training exercises and drill every day throughout the country. But whether it’s initial training or station drills, the risk of injury or death is always present.

Cases in point: On May 31, 2008, a firefighter recruit died…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 15, 2010 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

What About Bob? A message for firefighters who shun the job but take credit for the work

What About Bob?

A message for those firefighters who shun the job but take credit for the work

By Scott Cook

I recall my very first fire when I joined the Rendon Volunteer Fire Department here in Texas, circa 1988. I’d been through the fire behavior classes, the burn house, PPE instruction and all those things that… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 12, 2010 at 8:00am — 6 Comments

Green Bay Fire Rescues Man from Fox River

By Tom Vines

Photo iStock

A Jan. 23 ice rescue in Green Bay, Wis., demonstrated how the right preparation and equipment can overcome a significant challenge.

Calls to 911 reported that a person had fallen through the ice on the Fox River, which runs through the city of Green Bay.

At 1337 hrs, the Green Bay Fire Department dispatched Engine 1, Engine 2, Engine 3, Ladder 2, Ambulance 3 (ALS), Ambulance 2 (ALS),… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 11, 2010 at 12:00pm — 6 Comments

NFFF & Everyone Goes Home Program Launch Firefighter Safety Video Contest

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Everyone Goes Home program are pleased to announce their partnership with Fireman's Fund to launch the Everyone Goes Home Safety Video Contest.

The contest, which runs until May 7, 2010, asks departments to show their safe culture by creating a video… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 9, 2010 at 3:00pm — 1 Comment

Vacant = Dangerous: Tips for truck companies operating at vacant building fires

By Michael M. Dugan

Photo Brian Bastinelli

A fire in a vacant building has a very low probability of civilian injury or death, but it presents a high risk to firefighters. Therefore, truck members must understand the unique problems associated with fires in vacant buildings, be aware of their department’s related standard operational… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 8, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

What Would Reub Do? Stories from cattle-driving cowboy teach valuable lessons about leading thousands

The following article was published in the January issue of FireRescue magazine.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

By Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE

What Would Reub Do?

Stories from cattle-driving… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Do You Have Gear to Donate? IFRM Collecting Now for Chile FDs

International Fire Relief Mission Toned Out for Chile

IFRM engages its donor network and collection expertise to assist Rosenbauer’s efforts provide emergency equipment to Chilean fire, rescue and EMS workers.

When its sponsoring partner Rosenbauer asked for help collecting donated gear to aid Chilean emergency responders dealing with that country’s 8.8-magnitude earthquake, the International Fire… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Got Apps? Cell phone applications can aid first responders

FireRescue magazine's Technical Rescue Web column

There's an App for That: New cell phone applications can aid first responders on the emergency scene

By Harold Schapelhouman

Imagine the following scenarios:

1) A disaster has struck your community and, as a rescuer, you need some basic reference data to establish an area-wide, methodical, geographic search for survivors and trapped victims; or

2) You’re responding to an overturned… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 10:00am — 12 Comments

A Dirty Chore Made a Little Easier

FIRE PREVENTION

A Dirty Chore Made a Little Easier

Determining who’s qualified to test commercial cooking appliances isn’t easy, but 1 organization can help

By Jim Crawford

How does a local fire marshal determine whether the person conducting work on fire protection systems is qualified to do the work? And how do we prevent low-bidding, incompetent contractors from duping unsuspecting business owners with an “economical solution” that’s… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

A drill to help members build familiarity on those lesser-used tools & equipment

QUICK DRILLS

What’s in Your Compartment?

A drill to help members build familiarity on those lesser-used tools & equipment

Story & Photos by Homer Robertson

What do your grandmother and your fire department have in common?

Neither one has thrown anything away in the last… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 4, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Have a Ball! Work out for less

Survival of the Fittest

Story & Photos by Jeff & Martha Ellis

In the spirit of exploring creative and inexpensive ways to strength train, we’d like to expand on the usefulness of a very simple but versatile piece of equipment: the exercise ball. So many exercises have been created or adapted for use with the ball that whole books have been devoted to the subject.…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 2, 2010 at 10:00am — 1 Comment