April 2010 Blog Posts (90)

Live from FDIC: Innovative Drills You Won't Find in Any Book

Innovative Drills You Won’t Find in Any Book

Story by Janelle Foskett

Photos by Raul Angulo

We all know how difficult it can be to motivate some people to train. It’s like working out. We need to do it, but finding the motivation to actually hit the pavement is a whole different story. And similar to… Continue

Added by Janelle Foskett, FireRescue on April 23, 2010 at 3:48pm — 6 Comments

Success as a Company Officer: It starts long before you get the badge

On site at FDIC

Success as a Company Officer: It starts long before you get the badge

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco

Often in life, we can’t plan our future; we just have to work hard and hope for the best. But according to Ray Gayk, Deputy Chief of the Ontario (Calif.) Fire Department, those who hope to promote to the company officer level someday should probably sit down and start making some plans.

Beware the…

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Added by Cindy Devone-Pacheco, FireRescue on April 23, 2010 at 2:00pm — No Comments

FDIC Session: Schmittendorf emphasizes understanding when it comes to the newest generation of firefighters

FDIC Session: “They Are It!” Schmittendorf emphasizes understanding when it comes to the newest generation of firefighters

By Janelle Foskett

Parallel universes may exist on the TV drama LOST, but as Tiger Schmittendorf explained in his FDIC session “From the X-Box to the Box Alarm: Leadership in Today’s Firehouse,” the harsh reality… Continue

Added by Janelle Foskett, FireRescue on April 23, 2010 at 1:40pm — No Comments

Black Diamond Boot Review Part Deux: He Said/She Said

When last we met, my buddy Jim Brunelle was awaiting delivery of a pair of Black Diamond firefighting boots to test out, while my fingers and brain took a mini-vacation from blogging (my imaginary trip to my own private Idaho was lovely, thanks very much).

Jim sent me an email with his thoughts regarding the boots, and I opened it, fully expecting a knuckle-dragging Cro-Magnon-esque male perspective.

You know; something along the lines of "Boots good. Feet…

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Added by Mary Ellen Shea on April 23, 2010 at 11:30am — 10 Comments

On-Site @ FDIC: When you try out Globe’s new PPE, you’ll also be donating to the D.C. Burn Foundation

Climb & Crawl for a Good Cause

When you try out Globe’s new PPE, you’ll also be donating to the D.C. Burn Foundation

When you're at FDIC, there's always certain booths that always have crowds of people at them, where it's apparent something exciting is going on--that, or free T-shirts are being given out! …

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Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 23, 2010 at 11:12am — No Comments

On-Site @ FDIC: Recent NIST research is changing fireground tactics

ON-SITE @ FDIC

Blowin’ in the Wind

Recent NIST research is changing fireground tactics

By Shannon Pieper

If you attended Dan Madrzykowski’s seminar today at FDIC, “Wind-Driven Fires in Structures,” you might have left feeling like some of the tactics you were taught in the academy are under question. Attack from the unburned area first? Maybe not. Don’t… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 23, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

FDIC Award: Robert Colameta Jr. Is ISFSI’s Instructor of the Year

Champion of the Courage to Be Safe Program Awarded the ISFSI's George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award

By Janelle Foskett

During Thursday’s general session at FDIC, Eddie Buchanan, president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI), and Glenn Corbertt, technical editor for FireEngineering magazine, presented the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award to Robert J. Colameta Jr.

In… Continue

Added by Janelle Foskett, FireRescue on April 23, 2010 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

Little Firefighter

If you don't laugh at this one, you're not breathing!!!!

A firefighter was working on the engine outside the Station, when he noticed a little girl nearby in a little red wagon with little ladders hung off the sides and a garden hose tightly coiled in the middle.

The girl was wearing a firefighter's helmet.

The wagon was being pulled by her dog and her cat.

The firefighter walked over to take a closer look. 'That sure is a nice fire truck,' the… Continue

Added by Michael J. Gregory on April 23, 2010 at 8:36am — No Comments

The Nightclub Fire You Probably Never Heard About

The Nightclub Fire You Probably Never Heard About

The history of the fire service is closely entwined with nightclub fires that killed hundreds and resulted in significant changes in fire codes. But there’s one nightclub fire that you may never have heard about.

In 1940, in Natchez, Miss., 207* people died in the Rhythm Night Club fire. It ranks among the NFPA’s 10 deadliest public assembly and nightclub fires in U.S. history. And if… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 23, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

The Rhythm Nightclub Fire: Tragic lessons many of us never heard about

FIRE PREVENTION

An Untold History

The Rhythm Nightclub Fire provides tragic lessons, but many of us never heard about it

By Jim Crawford

Editor's Note: This article first appeared in the February issue of FireRescue magazine. We're sharing it here to mark the anniversary of the Rhythm Nightclub Fire.

February is Black History Month. I was born in 1954, and I… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 23, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

FDIC

GOING TO FDIC

Added by Ivan D Gregory Jr on April 22, 2010 at 11:15pm — No Comments

Siarnicki Awarded 2010 Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award

Siarnicki Awarded 2010 Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award

Announces that military firefighters who die while performing firefighting duties will be included in the NFFF memorial

By Janelle Foskett

Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen Firefighters… Continue

Added by Janelle Foskett, FireRescue on April 22, 2010 at 2:50pm — No Comments

Ricci at FDIC: “It’s Time to Take Back the Fire Service”

At FDIC, Ricci evokes Brennan, urges “political courage”

In a forceful address that touched on topics as diverse as fire service culture, the need for stronger leadership, equal opportunity, merit and the debate over education vs. experience, Frank Ricci urged FDIC attendees to have “political courage” in his keynote address at today’s General Session.

Ricci, a lieutenant with the New Haven (Conn.) Fire Department who became a fire… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 22, 2010 at 11:21am — 3 Comments

Conroe Firefighters Rescue Another Victim from Alligator Creek

By Tom Vines

Photos Courtesy Courier of Montgomery County/Conroe Police Department

Training and experience paid off once again for the Conroe (Texas) Fire Department during a March 1 water rescue.

The Fire Dispatch Center for the city of Conroe, located north of Houston, received a 911 call at 0710 HRS reporting that a man was struggling in the waters of Alligator Creek, under… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 22, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...April 22, 2010

The outcome of last night and an update to my article as per the Daily Record since the last one was too late to get in:

A Plea for Common Sense among Safety Concerns

By Denise Imperiale, Morris Township resident

Emotions ran high during the Morris Township Committee meeting Wednesday night. There was standing room only as firefighters, family members, and residents voiced their concerns about what could be a… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on April 22, 2010 at 6:21am — 1 Comment

On-Site @ FDIC: Class focuses on how to combat cultural & career development shortcomings in the fire service

ON-SITE @ FDIC

The Enemy Within

Class focuses on how to combat cultural & career development shortcomings in the fire service

By Shannon Pieper

In March, the Cumberland Valley Firemen’s Association rattled the fire service with its report, “Fire… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 21, 2010 at 5:00pm — 1 Comment

On-Site @ FDIC: The Dreaded Counseling Session

On-Site @ FDIC

The Dreaded Counseling Session: How to make it a mere speed bump, not a train wreck

If you ask company officers what they like least about their jobs, I’d venture to guess that a fair number of them would say the personnel issues that come with being an officer. No manger likes dealing with personnel issues—or if they do, they’re certainly not a manger people… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 21, 2010 at 4:13pm — No Comments

On-site @ FDIC: Research illuminates the relationship between firefighting and cardiac strain

On-Site @ FDIC

Hard on the Heart

Research illuminates the relationship between firefighting and cardiac strain

By Shannon Pieper

By now, you can probably recite in your sleep that “heart attacks are the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths.” But do most… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on April 21, 2010 at 4:00pm — No Comments

New on Firehouse Zen - Art in Unexpected Places

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Added by Mick Mayers on April 21, 2010 at 9:43am — No Comments

Assistance to Firefighters Grant (NY)

Four area Fire Departments have received money from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant this month. North Greece will receive $163,638 under Operations and Safety for equipment. Brighton will receive $47,549 under Operations and Safety for equipment. Churchville will receive $32,395 under Operations and Safety for equipment and training. Gates will receive $76,932 under Operations and Safety for Personel Protective Equipment and training.

Added by Davin Eshelman on April 20, 2010 at 5:06pm — No Comments