August 2010 Blog Posts (68)

Rolling the Ball Uphill: Poor leadership makes poor frontline firefighters

Rolling the Ball Uphill

Poor performance at the line level has a direct connection to poor leadership at the officer level

By Scott Cook

On March 20, 2009, the USS Hartford and the USS New Orleans collided in the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. What does this have to with the firehouse? Read on.…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 13, 2010 at 8:00am — 5 Comments

Portland Firefighters Battle Treacherous Conditions to Rescue Injured Climber

By Tom Vines

Early summer seems to be a good time for getting into trouble in the outdoors. People slip off cliffs, plunge into raging waters, get lost in the backcountry—the list goes on. This was certainly the case in June, when Portland Fire & Rescue responded to a variety of unique rescue calls.

On June 24, a 911 call to the City of Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications reported a fallen climber at Rocky… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 11, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Common Goal: Partnerships between the fire department & private corporations reap mutual benefits

Common Goal

Partnerships between the fire department & private corporations reap mutual benefits

Story & Photo by Rob Ugaste

As you scan this article, you’re probably wondering why you should invest 5 minutes of your life to read about public-private partnerships. In return, I’ll ask you a question: How important is the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 10, 2010 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

2010 Ice cream social is done

Our annual social is finally over and it was a long day but a fun day. Not as big of crowd that we hoped for but still alot of people enjoyed good food an awesome demos. This year tho I was able to do the demos as the driver on the apparatus, that was awesome so I of course had a blast doing them. It was great seeing all the kids watch as each crew went to work on make believe extrications, car fires, and an old fashion bucket brigade. I am now looking forward to next years social.

Added by John on August 8, 2010 at 10:36pm — No Comments

When are folks going to learn?

I see it everyday . . . drivers cutting in front of a fire apparatus, refusing to yield the right-of-way, or just blocking their path and refusing to allow them to pass. All too often, the end result ends up looking something like this . . .

Keep in mind that this accident took place, probably, somewhere in the 1920's or 1930's and things have steadily gone downhill from there. Now-a-days not only are cars…

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Added by Walter "Tommy" Little on August 8, 2010 at 8:15pm — 7 Comments

August Training Prompt: Top Floor Fire, Truck Duties

Along with a few other changes and updates, we're bringing back the monthly training prompt series. Keeping with the original purpose the idea is to prompt you to respond to the subject and questions provided. What you do next can range from something grand such as a company level drill, to something as simple as looking up the answer in your rookie…

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Added by Bill Carey on August 8, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

The Face of Terrorism: A new DHS assessment points to success & challenges for first responders

TECHNICAL RESCUE

The Face of Terrorism

A new DHS assessment points to success & challenges for first responders

By Harold Schapelhouman

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently published an assessment on plots and attacks targeting government facilities in the United States, which should be of interest… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 7, 2010 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Past Chief of White Mtn. Lake F.D. may be going to jail.

WOW. It looks like the former Chief of WMLFD will be going to jail. ( look it up on WMICentral.com head line news 8-6-2010). He has 6 class 2 felonys and 2 class 3 felonys that he is being charged with. I do feel bad for him, as he was my Chief and friend. I was on the Dept. when this whole thing went down and was laid off in Jan. of 09. It took the county 18 months for the investigation. The Chief always told us not to worry and that we had the money to operate on. I guess ................ not.

Added by Jason Sherwood on August 7, 2010 at 12:49am — No Comments

Lead The Way or Step Aside

A notice to the leaders of every emergency service, world wide!

Lead the way or step aside.

As leaders, we must set the example in everything we do.

The photos below (taken from a profile here on FFN) are of a training burn. Last time I checked, a training burn can get just as hot as any other fire we respond to.

Complacency in training leads to poor decisions and actions…

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Added by lutan1 on August 6, 2010 at 11:30pm — 9 Comments

2010 Ice Cream Socialfor Washington Twp Fire Montgomery County Ohio

This Sunday August8th from 11am til 6pm We are having our 62nd annual IceCream Social at 163 Maple Ave (Station 41) We will have lots of good food and lots of ice cream, as well as demos from the Washington Twp Fire Dept, and raffle for some cool stuff. If any one is in the southern part of Montgomery county come on down and have a great time.

Added by John on August 6, 2010 at 5:13pm — No Comments

The 1916 Mack Bulldog Roars Again

After 39 years, the restoration of Baltimore Fire Department Engine 23 is virtually

complete and on the road again. Stephen Heaver, Sr. and Stephen Heaver, Jr.,

past…

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Added by Rob Williams on August 6, 2010 at 10:46am — No Comments

Orans newest Fire Fighter !!

Pleased to welcome Tucker Allen Rechkemmer into the world !! Fire Fighter Shane and Wife Jessica brought Orans newest Fire Fighter into the world late last night.
Looking forward to the day Tucker joins "Orans Bravest"

Added by Timothy T. Miller on August 5, 2010 at 8:42pm — 1 Comment

The Deadliest Crash: A look back at the Iron Complex Fire helicopter tragedy

By FireRescue magazine staff

On Aug. 5, 2008, nine men were killed when the Sikorsky S-61N helicopter they were riding in crashed into a hillside in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Weaverville, Calif.

Seven of the dead were firefighters employed by Merlin, Ore.-based Grayback Forestry.

• Shawn Blazer, 30, from Medford, Ore.

• Scott Charleson, 25, from Phoenix, Ariz.

• Matthew Hammer, 23, from Grants… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 5, 2010 at 5:30am — No Comments

could use some HELP

we have a horse ranch with some rescued horses anyone that might have any used 1 3/4 hose or 2 1/2 hose that insted of throwing out if you could donate would be a great help to the horses

Les

Deptford Nj

Added by Lester T Spickler Jr on August 4, 2010 at 10:34pm — 5 Comments

Still Healing...Going in for an MRI Tomorrow

So its been one week since I injured my wrist and we were hoping that it would be doing better. However, I'm still pretty sore so the doctor has ordered an MRI to see how bad the tear is and if its something that is going to require surgery or just time to heal....Lets hope for the best

Added by Firefighter Chris on August 4, 2010 at 10:43am — 1 Comment

Men & Fire: Remembering Mann Gulch

Men & Fire: Remembering Mann Gulch

By FireRescue Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach

On this day, 61 years ago, one of the most tragic wildfires in U.S. history began in Mann Gulch, an area within the Gates of the Mountains Wild Area (now the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness), about 20 miles north of Helena, Mont. Although ignited by a lightning strike on the south side of the gulch on Aug. 4, the fire wasn’t spotted until around…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 4, 2010 at 8:00am — 7 Comments

Dynamic Risk Assessments

Dynamic Risk Assessments (DRA's) are a vital component of any operation if we are to really embrace the "Everyone Goes Home" philosphy.

Do we undertake a dangerous task? Yes!

Are there risks in everything we do? Yes!…

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Added by lutan1 on August 3, 2010 at 10:51pm — 1 Comment

Failures!

Hey guys...Until I can figure out how to post my video blogs on here...I'll just give you the link for now...Sorry for the inconvience...

www.firefighterselfrescue.com

Please let me know what you think! Thanks for the support!

Justin

Added by Justin Lewis on August 3, 2010 at 10:36am — 2 Comments

Feeling Better

Feeling a little better today, my swelling in my foot has went down quite a bit, still not enough to zip up my duty boot, but enough that it doesn't hurt nearly as much anymore. I've got one more day to go with my wrist in a splint before I can take it off and see how it feels, Doctor said come Thursday if my wrist feels better I can return to full duty so thats what I'm hoping for!

Added by Firefighter Chris on August 3, 2010 at 8:37am — No Comments

Outside-the-Box Engine Ops: 3 unique options for getting water to the upper floors of a building

By Jerod Levin

You’re the officer of a three-person engine company. Most of the fires you respond to are in single-family homes, but you do have commercial occupancies in your district, too. Does this sound familiar? Do you pull a pre-connect to handle most of your fires? If so, you should ask yourself, “Is my engine company prepared for a fire in a commercial occupancy or a multi-story building?”

Pre-connects are a fast, efficient… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 3, 2010 at 7:00am — 4 Comments