Forcible entry is always an interesting discussion around the service.  On one side, you've got the forcible entry purists (myself included).  These guys can force a door with a safety pin, a rock and a piece of duct tape.  Despite their McGyver-esk skills, they prefer the irons.…

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REALITY CHECK

By Scott Cook



In January, Hood County, Texas, narrowly avoided our first line of duty death (LODD). Operating at the scene of a structure fire, a firefighter complained of some chest pain. When he was evaluated, he was found to be having a heart attack. Rushed to the hospital—and defibrillated out of v-fib twice during his course of treatment in the cath lab—he is alive… Continue

I started collecting fire helmets about twenty years ago. It was just one of those things I fell into. One day I was chatting with the guys in the Fire Brigade Benevolent Fund and one of them mentioned that that they had a load of recently decommissioned helmets for sale as a fund raiser.



So I bought a couple, thinking my two young kids would love them. The did, for a few days and then they were buried in the toy box. But it sewed the seed, I spotted a MSA… Continue

Our Changing Role

We’re much more than “first responders,” so we must build skills to communicate that  

By Denise Pouget



Fire officers coming up through the ranks today face myriad challenges. Right now, most of us are focused on confronting harsh economic realities within our departments, but we should not overlook some broader, more long-term… Continue

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

Story & Photos by Michael DeGrandpre



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Hi everyone!…

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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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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

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

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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.

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

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

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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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