Share your strategies, tactics and experience!  Every Friday we'll post a picture or video and want to get your take on the situation.

THE SCENARIO:  You're wearing all the hats today! You're dispatched to a reported "structure" fire.  It's the middle of the week during Christmas vacation and the neighbors don't know if the kids are there or not.

• What is your initial report?
• Where is the fire?
• Where is it going?
• How…

Do you know what Photovoltaic (PV) is?           

Photo from UL study for Firefighter Safety and Photovoltaic Systems

What are the safety hazards with PV?

What  tactics should be used at fires with PV present?

How do I…

Over at All Hazards Contemplations, I'm taking a look at a discussion that Capt. Willie Wines is having at Iron Firemen.com  Willie's excellent post on the nuances of phrasing and terminology can be found…

What’s your plan for a collision pinning a victim between the hood of a car and the rear-end of a heavy vehicle?  Is this an unlikely scenario?  Whether you are in a small town or big city, commercial vehicles are stopping and going through your jurisdiction daily.  See my previous post on cribbing for heavy vehicles to get an idea of the weights.

It is imperative for us to…

Phil Burden with JD Vasbinder. Two great trainers!

The following post contains…

Share your strategies, tactics and experience!  Every Friday we'll post a picture or video and want to get your take on the situation.

THE SCENARIO:  You are the Officer on the 4 person TRUCK company who ARRIVES FIRST at this single-family house fire.  Due to other call volume, the FIRST DUE ENGINE is 5 minutes away.

• Where is the fire?
• Where is it going?
• As a TRUCK, what tactics can you perform ahead of, without, an Engine for 5…

According to some, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.  It would appear that this applies to Charleston, South Carolina based on a report based on a fire that occurred in 2010.

The Post and Courier published an article…

Good Day to all,

We would like to appeal for your help, Support or Donation of Old, Used fire Helmets,Turnout coat & pants, gloves, hoods, fire boots, SCBA Packs & Masks, nozzles, hoses that are not already in use by your departments and for disposal already. Our two Volunteer groups…

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                                                The Borden’s Explosion

                                                    December 11, 1983

                                                        By Bob…

After doing some research on a paramedic to RN bridge program I am wondering if anyone has actually ever tried it, and if it's really worth it? I have considered going to school to take my education to the next level and become an RN however, working as a firefighter medic it's almost impossible to get through the amount of time you have to spend in class and at clinicals. I have seen a few websites that talk about bridge programs but I have never heard of anyone actually trying it. Has…

 We had the opportunity to gain some valuable knowledge from our local electric utility company at a recent training.  They provided answers to questions with professional and expert recommendations.  First, I’ll review some terminology through pictures.  Second, I’ll list a series of questions that were asked of the utility company personnel and their answers.  Lastly, I’ll review several…

Coming in 2012 will be an option from General Motors for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) in Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway 4500 vans, which are used in Type A school bus applications.  About 2,600 LPG (autogas) fueling stations are scattered around the country with an anticipated increase in the future making this a feasible option.  Read on.

Pass it on!

This is a very simple post but one that I am finding is ever more important. Take a look at the picture and what is the first thing that you think of? What do you see? We've all done this drill or scenario and we have all at one point or another felt the anxiety of being "stuck" in a box, tube or tight spot. Some may have had instructors that guided us through and others may have been screamed at they needed to get out or they were going to die in there.

The main purpose of this post…

Here is a basic review of wood cribbing capacities and then some thoughts on how to increase your crews critical thinking before the heavy rescue lifting call.

Are you prepared to lift a heavy vehicle off of an entrapped victim?  Do you have the knowledge, equipment, and cribbing to make the rescue fast and safe?  Fast is a relative term in this case.  Technical rescues are not often fast, but we should strive for expeditious rescue with coordinated and competent techniques.  …

VSP is one of the hottest topics of conversation in the fire service today.  Captain Marsar’s research has taken the fire service by storm and has created an interesting “new” flavor of the month for those who feed on “firefighter safety through spectatorship”.  Maybe it was because of my animosity for the “let it burn” folks within our profession that I was initially against the concept of deciding if a building is searchable from the front yard and was unfairly biased.  However, the more I…

The pictures below were sent to me by PTFD Lt. Bronner while on a road trip.  

After you get done chuckling at the photos below consider the following:

• Are your walk-throughs, inspections, and preplans catching building or content alterations that could potentially place you or the occupants at a disadvantage during a fire?
•  Would the umbrella material melt away and not interfere with sprinkler coverage?…

I am currently reading a book a came across when searching through Amazon. It's called Leadership in Dangerous Situations edited by Patrick J Sweeney, Michael D. Matthews, and Paul B. Lester. The subtitle is A Handbook for the Armed Forces, Emergency Services, and First…

Here is a short video on ladder bailout. This drill must be done with a safety line in place and all students must wear all PPE. Make sure the chin straps are secure. Remember, which ever arm is your pivot arm, the one that goes under the rung, it should be on top when you get side ways. Practice and train frequently. Train with your ladders and get proficient.

As always, thanks for reading (watching) and stay safe.…