Featured Blog Posts – May 2009 Archive (33)

How Aggressive Suppression?

Fire Engineering editor Bobby Halton makes statements that force us out of our comfort zone. My first encounter with this was reading the December 2006 editorial about fire-based ems. Flying out to a January conference in Phoenix, here was the opening paragraph of a letter-to-the-editor I was writing:

I was left with a queasy feeling while reading Chief Halton’s December editorial “Rampart, This is Squad 51.” I understand the issue of protecting the fire service… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on May 10, 2009 at 7:11pm — 12 Comments

When did it happen.........

I turned 45 this year and I got to wondering, when did I go from being the young eager kid who wanted to know everything I could about fire and rescue work, to the one that the young kids look to for answers to their questions. I don't really recall a point where I knew that I was no longer the young wide eyed kid, it just happened gradualy. I started learning more and eventualy there was someone asking me the same questions that I had asked. I went through FFI and FFII, the haz-mat, and… Continue

Added by John Schander on May 10, 2009 at 5:00pm — 3 Comments

On Duty Sleeping Conditions

How does your department operate? What kind of beds do you all use? We have recently been placed in vinyl matresses that are extremely uncomfortable to sleep on and some members on my shift have resorted to sleeping on air matresses and egg carton foam. Just looking at what you all use. Thanks!

Added by Keenan Mulvaney on May 10, 2009 at 1:57pm — 6 Comments

Staying Fit in a Weak Economy

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Finding Strength in a Weak Economy: How to remain physically fit on a tight budget

Story & Photos by Fire Captains Jeff & Martha Ellis

Times are tough. We’re all feeling the pressure of our current economic state. Some of us are worried about keeping our jobs or current salaries. Families, fire departments, municipalities—they’re all tightening up their budgets. As a result,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 10, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Quick tips for deploying hose from the rear hosebed

QUICK DRILLS

Move to the Rear

Common mistakes & effective strategies for deploying hose from the rear hosebed

Story & Photos by Homer Robertson

If you look at the way our fire apparatus have evolved over the last 30 or so years, it’s amazing how many changes and improvements have been made. This is especially evident when you look at how hose is stored and loaded on new fire apparatus.

Not that many years ago,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 8, 2009 at 8:00am — 14 Comments

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

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

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

Word of Mouth

"Word of Mouth" from Firefighter Behavior

In fire departments our most influential training opportunities are not necessarily the yearly recertifications or the latest seminars but the working fire. Our trade is a hands on service where the majority of learning is done by doing. We go to fires; we stretch hoselines; we search rooms; we open up the roof. And if we happen to not do any of those… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on May 2, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Safety Culture vs. Extinguishment Culture – Smart Fire Departments Can Have BOTH!

If you have a personal or departmental "Extinguishment Culture", would you grab a line and enter this flashed over abandoned house that is showing signs of impending collapse? If you have a personal or departmental "Safety Culture", would you wear your SCBA , a traffic safety vest, and crank a PPV fan while sitting in the rig a half-mile down the street? Chances are, if you are a U.S. firefighter, you'll choose an option somewhere… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on May 1, 2009 at 8:30pm — 12 Comments