All Blog Posts (7,007)

Becoming an EMT-B

For all the EMT's out there i am in EMT-B class in Pa and i made it to the "practical". What is the practical i know that you have to perform skills in front of the state but thats all i know about it. Is there anything else to know and what is the test like after the practical. Is it easy hard how long should i study/how much should i study and any tips on them?

Added by Zach Pfeifer on February 22, 2011 at 4:09pm — 9 Comments

A new way to communicate

Alright people listen up! There is a site out there that will decrease the amount of time it takes for someone to send information to your entire department, https://www.texcom.com/index.php this site works. At first I was a little skeptical, as in OK something else I have to sign up for, but once I logged on as an administrator for my counties training association and really looked into what its capabilities are WOW. Just for starters its FREE,…

Continue

Added by jdstamp on February 22, 2011 at 10:04am — No Comments

Writing an Effective Fire Department Vision Statement

Writing an Effective Fire Department Vision Statement

By Chief Marc Revere

What’s the difference between effective leaders and great leaders? Effective leaders encourage individual members to succeed within the organization. Great leaders communicate a vision that enhances the success of both individuals and the entire fire department.

Most agencies have a mission statement that… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 22, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Multiple Alarm Operations with Wind Driven Fire

Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

Commandsafety.com

TheCompanyofficer.com…

Continue

Added by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on February 21, 2011 at 1:54pm — No Comments

Outstanding Firemen

-Outstanding Firemen (gender neutral! Outstanding firefighers just didn't sound right)

- Yardbreathers, etc.

Most of our departments have them or we know of places that do. Of course I am not referring

to smart, aggressive firefighters who love the job, but rather those

firefighters who can be found "out-standing" in the yard

while everyone else…

Continue

Added by backsteprescue on February 21, 2011 at 1:14pm — 1 Comment

Don't anger the priests...

.... Back about '87, we were dispatched to a report of a dumpster fire, in the parking lot of the Rec Center at the church down the way. We responded with a Mini Pumper, the Engineer and myself. Nothing showing on arrival, we checked all of the dumpsters in the covered housing area, also the dumpsters in the park across the street, still nothing. Was then contacted by the Priest in charge, who pointed out the fire, but I didn't see it, he pointed to the 30 gallon green can in the center of the… Continue

Added by Fireman Larry on February 21, 2011 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Rescue Tools

Hello Guys my company has just purchased a couple sets of rescue tools. We are looking to find out from other companies how often they get there tools serviced. We are a small company and will only use them once or twice a year at a real emergency and a hand full of times in training. We called a local AMKUS dealer about getting them serviced and they told us it would be around $2,000. We have one power unit, 2 cutters, 2 combination tools, 1 spreader and 4 rams. We just wanted to know if…

Continue

Added by Ryan Pedone on February 21, 2011 at 11:17am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 21, 2011

Dig this guy!!!! I did LOL

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 21, 2011 at 8:13am — 2 Comments

DNA Detection: It’s no CSI, but it gives closure to victim families

DNA Detection: It's no CSI, but it gives closure to victim families

By Harold Schapelhouman

I was reading an article recently on forensic detection and information databases when it occurred to me that my name may appear in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) database. The majority of those currently in the database are criminals or individuals who’ve been arrested. Although I’ve had some minor bumps in the road early on…

Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 21, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter and Concerned Mom...February 19, 2011

Has anyone heard of the cigarette thingie called Disposable ECIG? My 17 year old son and his friends have all bought them, since they have no tar but they do have nicotine. I warned them all that since they are not FDA approved they could be dangerous. The warning says no more than puffs than 15 per hour. Here's the website http://www.logicecig.com.

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 19, 2011 at 11:10pm — 3 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 19, 2011

Today I learned that you can't have a ferris wheel in the same parking lot as a building with solar panels. I don't know why though.

Also, how come the tops of fire hydrants are painted white (the bottom are red) and not flourescent colored paint?

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 19, 2011 at 10:58pm — 1 Comment

Gypsum Board Ceiling Systems and Firefigher Safety

Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

Commandsafety.com and Buildingsonfire.com

The recent events in Los Angeles and the line of duty…

Continue

Added by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on February 19, 2011 at 9:45pm — 1 Comment

OHIO POV AND LAWS

I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS I NEED SOME HELP WITH. IN OHIO, DO FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDING IN A POV HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL LAWS? THIS INCLUDES SPEEDING AND CAREFULLY RUNNING INTERSECTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE AS LONG AS YOU PUT NOBODY IN DANGER. I HAVE HEARD BOTH YES AND NO. ALSO THE DEPT IM ON SAYS THAT WE CANT USE LIGHTS AND SIRENS (OR EVEN HAVE THEM ON POV FOR THAT MATTER, EVEN IF NOT HOOKED UP) UNTIL AFTER AT LEAST 1 YEAR HAS PASSED AFTER WE HAVE BECOME CERTIFIED.

AFTER WE GET CERTIFIED WE GET A… Continue

Added by PATRICK on February 19, 2011 at 3:37pm — 4 Comments

Inappropriate Behavior

Inappropriate behavior is everywhere. What do you do if a superior is making inappropriate decisions and taking inappropriate actions that can/will result in someone having their position, and job, compromised?

Added by Trentation on February 18, 2011 at 1:59pm — 1 Comment

POV sirens in new jersey

In new jersey, are laws regarding volunteers POV's are from the 1970's. I recently spoke with our state senator and he will back my plan to try and update these laws. As it stands right now, only chiefs are allowed to have sirens. If regular firefighters were allowed to have sirens, it would allow us to have a greater presence on the roads, which would mean that it would lessen our chances of a MVA. If we were to be allowed to have sirens there would be EXTREMELY tough consequences for people… Continue

Added by jerry harper on February 17, 2011 at 9:30pm — 21 Comments

Brighton Fire & Emergency Study Released

Last night at the Brighton Town Board meeting, the Brighton Town Board accepted and made public a town wide study of Fire and Emergency services for the Town of Brighton.

Here is the report on the town website.

http://www.townofbrighton.org/index.aspx?nid=459

Here are the reports.

2011 Study:…

Continue

Added by Davin Eshelman on February 16, 2011 at 4:06pm — 1 Comment

Little Things That Can Turn A Fireground Sour

Tunnel vision, prejudices, attitude, excessive talking - all can turn a fireground sour.

The battalion chief pulled over just before the entrance of the cull de sac. He had heard the first due engine officer report that the bulk of the fire had been knocked and that they were checking for extension. Heading down the street he notices the driver of Ladder 7 running past him in the opposite direction. The familiar smell of a house fire… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on February 16, 2011 at 7:30am — 2 Comments

A Review of Modern Pump Panels

Inside the Apparatus Industry

What’s best—the side-mounted, top-mounted or even the side-mounted top-mount pump panel?

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

I’ve written an article or two in my time about how to choose the right pump panel for your vehicle. Those articles focused primarily on your choice between a side-mounted or… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 16, 2011 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

paramedic or nursing?

Hi, I was goin to school for nursing but recently had to come back home for some personal reasons and I was a nursing major. I live in a small town in ga and want to move somewhere to a big city and be a firefighter/medic and possibly work with air evac. I had heard that you can become a paramedic and then bridge to an registered nurse. Will it be better to do that or just go back and get a 4 year degree in nursing? I was thinking the bridge but, I know some of yall are more experienced in this… Continue

Added by Jordan Anderson on February 15, 2011 at 7:23pm — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 15, 2011

To all my loyal readers: I've decided not to take this blog to a different site. Only you guys truly understand my past, present, and future.

Today was my first experience hearing the fire alarm at work. The sound was brief, but loud enough for me to get up from my desk, grab my coat and pocketbook and head out of the maze of cubes into the main hallway. Only about three other people followed including one…

Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 15, 2011 at 6:37pm — 1 Comment