I write this in gratitude of the response our local emergency services provided during a mass casualty shooting yesterday and also to the school my sons attend. I also write this to my colleagues in Public Safety as a gentle reminder that training does pay off.  

"It Happened Here"

Yesterday, March 8, 2012, a mass casualty incident occurred at the Western Psychiatric Institute Clinic.…

Large residential w/ HEAVY FIRE!  We'll call this one a rural firefighting operation.  Could your FD handle a water shuttle operation for this?  What resources would you use for it?  What may be some other issues to consider?  What does the RECEO VS profile look like for this one? Enjoy!

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Thanks and Be Safe!

Here are some more pictures from my A Shift buddies, Jim, Bob and Dave at Florissant Valley Fire Protection District.  These photos show the challenges of just getting into some of our buildings.  It's a lot easier to get a good look at the working mechanisms and traits of these obstacles during daylight and in non-emergent situations.

Take time to know what is behind these doors and grates.  What are they protecting and how secure are they? Is just a…

Norwalk firefighter Charlie Hillman sent me this picture of some significant calcification in an old ductile iron main.  Think about the following questions:

• How does this effect our water supply?
• Besides the water department having a break in the line or a customer noticing a decrease in water, how can we discover this problem?
• Does the calcification increase or decrease pressure to hydrants?
• My guess is this is a 16″ main that is decreased down to…

To start the evolution, the apparatus moves 200 feet to location B.  The tanker is filled from a fill site engine.  When the water tank is full to overflow, the fill line(s) are disconnected (ensure all firefighters are seat belted in prior to moving apparatus), and the tanker moves 200 feet and stops (document your total time for later use with ISO).  Read…

Excerpt from new post at pipenozzle:

"Back in January overpaid management consultants released a report on the Philly Fire Department that got a few paragraphs attention by the Philadelphia Inquirer based on the executive summary–for one day.  And then, like all other expensive time-wasters, the study disappeared onto a dusty shelf from which it will be pulled for political cover by the local government to reduce fire service further in Philly with allegedly…

  This is an excerpt from my next book, love some feedback.

THE SCENARIO:  HEAVY FIRE from the attic w/ extension to TWO other houses!  If this one doesn't test the strength and discipline of your crews and alarm assignments, congratulations!   Give us the report and your RECEO VS considerations.  Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO!

It is with a heavy heart that I must report the following. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Mobile Bay in Alabama has recovered the remain of two of the three missing crew members that perished in a helo crash this week. The remains of one crew member are still unaccounted for. Please keep them and their families in your prayers. Also please remember to keep the Coast Guard in your prayers. When a Coast Guardsmen passes all Coast Guardsmen whether active, reserve, retired or service completed,…

Here’s another moving water drill.  If you missed the portable pond set-up drill, click here.  Move the water as you would in a water shuttle operation.  (Record and document times for later use with ISO).…

Below are a few pictures of the 2012 Ford Explorer taken at a recent car show.  As you scan the pictures think about your cut zones and the need to rip some plastic to look for new vehicle technology. Read on.

Click over to Boron Extrication for more.

Pass it on.  

Over the next few weeks several water shuttle related company drill topics will be added.  In Ohio the terminology is tanker, however, it is synonymous with other regions tender terminology.   Many of these skill set times are evaluated when ISO comes to visit you, but more importantly the training will improve your operations.  *Keep track of your times and the evolution description for later use with ISO.  …

High Cholesterol...

“On Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 10:45 a.m., the San Francisco Fire Department responded to Box 8155, at 133 Berkeley Way. What was seemingly a routine working fire in a single family residence quickly transformed into a fierce and unrelenting incident with ultimately tragic results...Read the report excerpts and follow the links on CommandSafety.com…

What would your FD do for this attached garage fire?  What would you do to address the extension issues?   Give us the report and your RECEO VS considerations.  Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO

Be Safe

I was asked by a reader if I was ever drunk at work. That is a difficult question to simply answer with a yes or no. In the early days before my alcoholism had fully bloomed, I did show up to work hung-over frequently.

By the standards now in place in the modern world, I’m sure I showed up under the influence. Nobody can drink all night long on a Friday, from 8-9 o’clock until 2:00 am and show up to work at 7:00 and be sober. It’s…

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120221/news/702219948/video/