May 2009 Blog Posts (130)

I'm back

In January of 2008 I was kicked off of a scene and my Fire Dept because of false accusations by my best friend and his new best friend, but thats okay, I'm not bitter anymore. In November a couple of Firefighters that I had worked with in the past approached me and wanted me to come work for them as a paid volunteer at Orleans. The town had just hired one as Administrater and the other as Chief to fix and reorginize the department. It's been great, in just 5 months we've doubled the number of… Continue

Added by Ray Crane on May 8, 2009 at 6:08am — 1 Comment

Rope Rescue Question...

So the other day I went on a 10-50 and long story short, ended the call carrying a 550lb+ guy up a steep hill on a longboard about 50 yards or so to the ambulance. I was one of six, myself the only firefighter, helping a couple emt's and the rest cops, and unforunately the communication lacked making the job overly difficult. My dad is a career firefighter and gave me an idea of using a stokes tied off to a rope, and a pully as an axis point on the truck at the edge of the hill. With enough… Continue

Added by Jake on May 8, 2009 at 12:14am — 10 Comments

Know Your Mobile Water Supply Options

RURAL FIRE COMMAND

Tender Tactics: Mobile water supply methods for the rural setting

Story & Photos By Keith Klassen

In many areas of the country, apparatus carrying large amounts of water to the scene are called water tankers. In fact, according to the National Incident Management System, tanker is the correct term for such a thing. But in the western United States, if you request a tanker to respond to your fire… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 7, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Hazmat gets a little more comfortable

You might not like it, but fire service responsibility for hazmat is here to stay. And as more firefighters become certified to NFPA 472 Operations as a minimum training competency level for hazmat incidents, there’s growing need to have chemical and hazmat personal protective clothing (PPC) that allows firefighters to actually move and work with less restriction.

Conventional chemical PPC are often heavy and cumbersome, “moonsuits” that, while designed for maximum protection of the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on May 7, 2009 at 3:52pm — No Comments

Successfully Transitioning from Company Officer to Battalion Chief

One of the most difficult and challenging transitions in the fire service is going from “us to the them,” particularly the jump from company officer to battalion chief. One day you’re riding shotgun in the engine supervising a crew of typically one to four personnel, and the next day, you’re most likely driving the SUV or Crown Victoria, riding by yourself, and supervising anywhere from five to thirty personnel, or even more.

Becoming a chief officer should not be taken as… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 7, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Engine Company Principles, Part I

Originally posted on Firefighter Behavior, October 2008, this article is intended as a guide for determining how to tailor your engine company riding assignments to fit your response demographics.

This series will look in detail at three principles of a disciplined and effective engine company: Prepared to Work; Knowing the Response Area; and Basics of Handline Stretches. Each… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on May 7, 2009 at 7:54am — 6 Comments

whats your department?

mine is little river volunteer fire department. station 11. my department number is 11-41. i was wanting to see how many other small town firefighters are out there. even big city firefighters. tell me a little bit about your department..if your paid what truck your assigned to.

Added by Dylan Blake Zachary on May 6, 2009 at 11:29pm — 4 Comments

Tornados around us

We are getting tornado starting to spon here everyone stay safe

http://www.myfox8.com/wghp-pg-storm-090506,0,3567058.photogallery

This is where you can go to see some picture from NC area

Added by Robert Nichols on May 6, 2009 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

Double-Ended Roof Ladders to the Rescue!

TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS

It Takes 2 … : Hooks at both ends of the ladder simplify roof operations

By Peter F. Kertzie

It’s easy to become enamored with the newest, fanciest and most technologically advanced products that fire service manufacturers can come up with—especially those being pitched with the most “flash” or displayed with the help of a model in a bikini top and bunker pants. The excitement caused by some of… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 6, 2009 at 12:00pm — 10 Comments

Pick your battles

I have mourned the loss of a friend who died senselessly on a service call, and I have held dead children in my arms at a fire. I cannot agree with you more! I have but one simple rule: Pick your battles carefully. Fighting fires is like fighting an army. You never go into a battle without adequate intelligence on your enemy, and you never willingly fight an army when you are out manned and out gunned. Sadly, you only need to read a few NIOSH reports to realize that we commit to both of these… Continue

Added by Brian Couzens on May 6, 2009 at 10:43am — No Comments

Early Registration Ends May 9 for Hazmat Conference

The IAFC's 26th annual International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Confernece is May 27-31 in Hunt Valley, MD. Sign up now to take advantage of the early-bird deadline and to make sure that you and your department get the latest in hazmat education and training.

The conference offers essential training on topics such as:

Prevention and… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 6, 2009 at 9:48am — No Comments

So we havent had a lot goin on. wish we did, have had a wreck or two on besides that nothing much so just drop a line

Added by Zerkle 523 on May 6, 2009 at 1:30am — 5 Comments

fog or smooth bore nozzle?

at my dept. theres always an argument in which is better. i prefer fog nozzles just because of the fog. if you know how to use one properly they can save your life. they cant prevent a flashover but can help you in getting out of the structure away from it. so my point is what do you prefer smooth bore or fog nozzles? and why do you prefer it?

Added by Dylan Blake Zachary on May 5, 2009 at 11:45pm — 7 Comments

Funeral Service Tomorrow For Former Fire Chief

The Caribbean Fire Service fraternity will gather tomorrow on the island of Dominica in a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Julien Baptiste former Chief Fire Officer of the Dominica Fire and Ambulance Service.

The Dominican Fire Service family was in a state of mourning after being informed of Baptiste’s death on April 18, 2009. Baptiste reportedly died in Cuba where he was receiving medical treatment for an ailing kidney condition.

We take this opportunity to extend… Continue

Added by Glyne Alleyne on May 5, 2009 at 7:30pm — 1 Comment

Stories of the Volunteer (NOT A RANT)

As some of you may know I am an actor as well as a firefighter.

I'm starting a new project and would like to hear any volunteer fire department stories. I'm looking for dramatic, or not so dramatic, funny, or not fire or rescue stories by volunteer firefighters.

Why ?

The project's purpose is two fold: First, to educate the public about volunteer firefighters. Second, to encourage people to join.

Sorry Career Guys, unless you volunteer as well, you'll… Continue

Added by Richard Shankman on May 5, 2009 at 5:11pm — 11 Comments

I wonder...

If anyone else is on the beach here today in Sunny SD.....

Added by COURTNEY THEIS on May 5, 2009 at 3:33pm — 4 Comments

Got an idea for a new fire service product? DHS' TechSolutions wants to hear about it

Do you have an idea for a new fire service product? Have you identified a need for a technology that would help you better perform your job more safely, efficiently and effectively?

The TechSolutions program, run by the United States Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), is providing a venue for first responders to directly submit "capability gaps"--basically, an idea for a new product or technology that isn't met by current products on the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 5, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

hard at work

it's crazy in the ER today!!!

Added by COURTNEY THEIS on May 4, 2009 at 5:06pm — 1 Comment

IAFC and FCC Partner on Digital TV Transition

The IAFC and the Federal Communications Commission are partnering to create a voluntary program to help meet the June 12 deadline for the public transition to digital television (DTV) and ultimately aid the expansion of the national public-safety communication network.

The IAFC seeks fire and rescue departments interested in participating in this program. The program links community members who are having technical difficulties installing or using DTV converter boxes with… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 4, 2009 at 11:12am — No Comments

Finished Teaching FFI/II - Reflections

In January I started teaching my first Firefighter I/II course. Last week was the last official night of class and I have a couple review nights scheduled this week before they take the state exam. I hope that this has been a good experience for those in my class and that they have learned the essentials needed to do the job safely.

I learned alot during the past 4 months. First is that no matter how much experience we have we can always learn something. Going through the course I… Continue

Added by Station10Capt106 on May 4, 2009 at 10:49am — 1 Comment