All Blog Posts (7,007)

Do You Know the Letters of Leadership?

The Letters of Leadership

You don’t have to be born a leader; you can learn these valuable skills

By Battalion Chief Jonathan L. Pennington

I was standing in a burned-out kitchen at one of our housing projects, giving advice to an acting captain on the hazards of not performing a thorough overhaul. My shift has had a captain’s vacancy for some time, and this acting captain had been filling the slot. Tests had already been given, interviews were scheduled,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 25, 2009 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

S.W.O.R.D. Checklist for Helicopter Landing Zones

Attached is a checklist I use when flying. I believe it could be useful for air or ground operations. Any comments, suggestions or additions to the checklist based on a firefighter or landing zone coordinator perspective would be greatly appreciated.

S - Size, Surface, Slope.

Size matters when it comes to landing zones, and in all cases, bigger is better.

Surface - what type? grass,…

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Added by Troy Shaffer on November 25, 2009 at 12:46pm — 2 Comments

Please Share Your SOP's SOG's. Please?

One of our members Abe Winter has put a call out for any SOP's/SOG's you might be willing to share with him. His department is in the process of updating theirs.

Folks, this is exactly what needs to be done.

In my last post, one of the recommendations constantly surfacing in NIOSH LODD reports is to develop or update effective SOP's and SOG's. Having a set is not enough; keeping them current is a constant task necessary to ensure the safety of our… Continue

Added by FireDaily.com on November 24, 2009 at 6:57pm — 8 Comments

Fire in the Hole! Transformer vault explosions & carbon monoxide are a dangerous mix

Fire in the Hole!

Transformer vault explosions involving carbon monoxide require specific size-up & tactics

By Freddie LaFemina

We all understand the major difference between transformer vaults and manholes: Manholes can have multiple types of utilities inside their spaces: gas, water, steam, etc. Underground transformer vaults store electrical equipment.

But when there’s a fire in either one, which occurs quite frequently, things can… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 23, 2009 at 10:00am — No Comments

Driving Permit Test Tomorrow!!

ok so i just had my 16th birthday thursday and tomorrow i go to take the written test for my permit. Im really nervous about failing the test as im sure i would never be able to live it down no matter where i go lol... i passed 2 out of 3 practice tests so im hoping ill do ok... ive never been this nervous before lol... any tips?

Added by Jessica Travis on November 22, 2009 at 9:52pm — 2 Comments

If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll get what we’ve always gotten

I see that NIOSH reports have popped up on the radar of the blogosphere recently. Frankly, I’m surprised at the heat a few have been giving them. Maybe I’ve been missing something (it’s happened before). So I took a closer look.

We already know that heart attacks and traffic accidents are the main murderers of us firefighters, so I’m sure we’ve already dedicated the necessary resources to firefighter health and safety initiatives and…

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Added by FireDaily.com on November 22, 2009 at 2:30pm — 5 Comments

IN MY THOUGHTS

JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL IN MY PRAYERS DAILY AND WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT I STARTED A GROUP CALLED PRAYER ROOM AMD PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN.

Added by Waylon Spencer on November 22, 2009 at 12:44pm — No Comments

Is it just me?

Is it just me or do some people not take this job seriously enough?

I am by no means an old hand at this job, but it seems that lately incoming firefighters don't quite seem to realize that our profession is, in fact, a dangerous one. I get that many people join the department for the camaraderie, evenings spent around the bar telling stories, or just to be able to tell a girl in a bar, "hey, I'm a fireman." But I feel that some people join without taking into account the risks… Continue

Added by Adam Box on November 21, 2009 at 11:39pm — 2 Comments

Is this our best approach?

From: www.tigerschmittendorf.com

I’ve read and watched this news clip from the NY Daily Dispatch about how training requirements in New York State are hurting the volunteer fire service: http://www.weny.com/News-Local.asp?ARTICLE3864=9148872

Unfortunately, I think it follows a growing pattern of articles and news pieces that focus on the problems – and not… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on November 21, 2009 at 3:18pm — 16 Comments

Building Maintenance

I have been a member of my volunteer fire department for over 12 years now. I have held positions as the President, Secretary, Lieutenant and just firefighter and EMT. This year I took over as the Building and Grounds chairman. This position has been an eye opener. After all those years I never realized how much work is involved in maintaining an aging facility. In this position you need to keep up on dozens of regular maintenance issues, along with emergency problems, but also have a dozen of… Continue

Added by Michael A Freezer on November 21, 2009 at 5:30am — 1 Comment

Leadership Lessons from a Cold War Warrior

Back in the day – I had the opportunity to do a fellowship that took me to the Ames Research Center of NASA. There, tucked in a small corner office, off of a typically bureaucratic hall was the cluttered office of an aging gentle man, who toiled in near obscurity, surrounded by small mementos of his life – autographed pictures of he and President Johnson, personalized memorabilia from Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, and memorial tokens of Gus Grissom – who was a personal friend, lost in the… Continue

Added by Chris Carlson, PhD on November 20, 2009 at 1:11pm — 2 Comments

How USAR Started, Part 1

FireRescue's Technical Rescue Web column

How It All Started

The history of the national Urban Search & Rescue program, part 1

By Harold Schapelhouman

During this current economic crisis, as many agencies struggle for survival and all of us look for answers, it’s easy to lose focus on the future. Where we are and where we need to go are often not the same place— and that applies to the nation’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 20, 2009 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

FireEMSBlogs.com, Firehouse Zen and You

If you haven't checked out FireEMSBlogs.com yet, here's an invite over to see what the WebChief and others hath wrought. We've got a few of the old gang from over here on FFN blogging as well as some others, but there's some real quality information, especially from old pros like Dave Statter,… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on November 19, 2009 at 9:42pm — 9 Comments

FIRE WATCH SAFETY TIPS VIDEO

Added by aris ramoso on November 19, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Visit the USS New York: In Tribute

USS NEW YORK: In Tribute

On Friday, October 30, 2009, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center opened a new exhibit, USS NEW YORK: In Tribute.

In 2002, the U.S. Navy approached Governor Pataki to request steel from the World Trade Center for a new ship. Seven and a half tons of World Trade Center steel was melted into the bow stem of the USS NEW YORK, which will be commissioned in New York on Nov. 7, 2009. For any further information about the USS NEW YORK, please visit… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 19, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Hydraulic Ram: The Forgotten Tool

THE CUTTING EDGE

Hydraulic Ram: The Forgotten Tool

Use the hydraulic ram to create more space in the passenger compartment

By Brad Havrilla

During extrications, the hydraulic ram seems to be the third tool of choice, following cutters and spreaders. This is only natural, I suppose, as we’re taught to spread the doors and cut the roof pillars and the hinges. The only use for rams has been to push the dash.

I’ve watched European rescuers use rams… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 19, 2009 at 1:00pm — 2 Comments

"A Time For Thanks"

As Thanksgiving day is just around the corner, I would like to take this time to give thanks to Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich, for his artistic stories and his educational topics. We are fortunate to have such a well grounded leader amongst us!

Chief, May God bless you; and your family.
Thank You!

Added by Rusty Mancini on November 19, 2009 at 12:52am — 8 Comments

need some input

So a few days ago I went to the child support enforcement agency and requested that a paternity test be done on my son and estranged husband. I figured this would shut him up about him not being his son and just maybe get him involved. I have no doubts for good reason that my son is OUR son. Sooo in light of this I decided to do the honorable thing and I sent him a text letting him know that he would be get papers in the mail soon for a Paternity hearing and that it would be court ordered. I… Continue

Added by Daniele on November 19, 2009 at 12:32am — 7 Comments

2 Children, Adult Killed In Fire and yet again (Firefighters Drive To Wrong Building) in NYC

A man and his two children were killed in a fire in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The apartment on the top floor of the six-story building at 654 St. Mark's Avenue caught fire at around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Fox 5 News reported on Wednesday that firefighters were delayed in getting to fire because they were went to the wrong address.

People who live in the neighborhood say they had to run to another block direct the fire trucks to the correct address.

Fire department… Continue

Added by Robert Mott on November 18, 2009 at 10:06pm — 2 Comments

Hello Again

Well, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth...just my computer did, actually it took a nice hit during a thunderstorm and I had to replace it...took a while to find one I actually wanted but now I am back in the world of technology!!!! In the meantime, my husband and I joined the local rescue squad...like we weren't involved in enough things already...I'm ever so glad to be back in an ambulance again, unfortunately I have to go through class all over again since I've been out of it for… Continue

Added by Beverly on November 18, 2009 at 7:53pm — 1 Comment