All Blog Posts (7,007)

Fear, Enemy or Ally

We as Firefighters, First Responders and EMS Personnel live with fear everyday and on every call.

The fear we feel for others in distress, is what drives us. That fear can also make us careless and we make mistakes. We must learn to deal with the urge to rush in and take chances. We are no good to a victim if something happens to us. That fear needs to be controlled or we become part of the problem not the solution.

The fear we feel for our own safety is the fear we need… Continue

Added by Fred Eppinger on October 14, 2009 at 11:05pm — 1 Comment

The Head Rule

When I joined the fire service “a couple of years ago”, my mentor was a wise young captain. He offered up what he called the “Head Rule”. It is something I have made a point to pass along to all probies struggling to find their fit in this great service:

“You’ve got two eyes and two ears; keep ‘em open. You have a nose, keep it clean. But above all, keep your mouth shut!”

The fiasco in DC that burned our brothers on video…

Continue

Added by FireDaily.com on October 14, 2009 at 7:13pm — No Comments

Operational Firefighting: The Unknown Art

Military operations provide a model for the fireground

By Chief Warren Whitley

Most firefighters and officers are familiar with the terms “strategy” and “tactics” as applied to firefighting operations. However, the true operational level of firefighting is not discussed much in firefighting literature nor overtly addressed in our practices. Because we traditionally use military terms to describe our work, including references to fire as the “enemy,” it’s useful to discuss… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 14, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Give me a break!

Its funny with the business I’m in I talk to allot of departments all across this great nation we live in and just here recent I had a department Chief ask me if I had the answers to the NIMS 300 and 400...The only thing I could do was laugh....Now I know most of the departments out there complain about all these NIMS courses and when is it ever going to stop and the famous I wont ever need this crap...Well folks all I can say is its here and its here to stay until something comes up that’s… Continue

Added by CHIEF NORMAN on October 14, 2009 at 2:29pm — 7 Comments

Safety Tips for Working in the Water

FIRE OPERATIONS

Water rescue requires absolute adherence to safety precautions

By Fred LaFemina

Photo Cary Ulrich

In January, a commercial jetliner made an emergency landing into the Hudson River. This may not be a common occurrence, but domestic flight patterns in the United States put aircraft everywhere, which underscores that we must be ready for the almost unimaginable. The U.S. Airways crash was a rarity, for sure, but water operations are… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 13, 2009 at 5:00pm — 1 Comment

Fighting Fire Without Breathing Apparatus ("Good Morning")

Can you fight/ penetrate Fire with out breathing apparatus? Here in the Philippines we fight fire without breathing apparatus ,here in my Place(Cagayan De Oro City) I do not know what breathing apparatus is because we have none and i don't even see what kind of thing is that .What we use to protect ourselves in times of conflagration is by using a Good Morning,Do you know what Good morning is ? That's not what you Think, Good morning Is a brand of towel here in the Philippines.What we do is to… Continue

Added by aris ramoso on October 13, 2009 at 2:23pm — 4 Comments

Brotherhood and Enemies

If there are concepts that are polar opposites, Brothers and Enemies are great examples.

Brotherhood means treating the people whom you call "brother" as if they were indeed blood relatives.

Practicing the concept can sometimes be a little tricker, as brothers sometimes engage in family fights.

I have three brothers, and when growing up, I often lost fights to both the two older ones, who were bigger and more powerful, and a younger… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on October 13, 2009 at 1:30am — 9 Comments

Launching Of Our Sub Station

Today Is the launching/turn over of one fire trucks to one of the Barangays here In Cagayan De Oro city.The said Firetrucks are donated by the Tainan City,Republic of China for the People of Cagayan de Oro City.There are 5 Fire Trucksgiven and will be distributed to a different Barangay's here in Cagayan De Oro City.

Added by aris ramoso on October 12, 2009 at 6:00pm — No Comments

Never Fear Dying, Fear Never Living

As we go through life, many words we hear strike us and remain with us throughout our life for many reasons. They may be life changing; they may be simply words of wisdom; they could have taught us a lesson; they may just have been catchy and just stuck in our cranium for further usage. A few favorites of mine, over the years, have been, "Plan your work and work your plan" , "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, then to open it and remove all doubt" and "If you can't dazzle… Continue

Added by Andy Marsh on October 12, 2009 at 2:59am — No Comments

Rescue

rescue can be seen in so many different levels from very small to very big but the one thing that most rescues have in common is that it takes alot of training to accomplesh the common goal of learning how to deal with each incident as its own and how you can learn from each and every one. to be a rescuer it is not about how much schooling you have or how long you have been in the service its about how you understand how to midigate the problem. it is also the manor that is use to accomplesh… Continue

Added by lucas miller on October 9, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Roads and Friends

So many roads, so many people. several choices, some free and some with tolls.

Being careful in picking both is wise.

We travel short and long journeys together with both.

Signals appear with both and it's important that you use them appropriately.

Crossroads appear in both. Sometimes leading in one direction when you need to back up to get on the other .

Both need taken care of as potholes in our paths occur in both.

Every once in a while you get to a curve. It's… Continue

Added by Andy Marsh on October 8, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

FireRescue magazine's parent company helps IAFC provide Explorer scholarships

IAFC Foundation Announces 2009 Scholarship Winners: Awards Help First Responders Further Their Fire Service Education

The IAFC Foundation’s Board is pleased to announce that $30,000 is being awarded to 33 first responders representing a range of departments and ranks to further advance their fire service education.

In these difficult economic times, the IAFC Foundation increased its total level of support for first… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 8, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Allinson Receives 2009 NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) bestowed its 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award to Fred G. Allinson, a volunteer firefighter from Washington State. With a distinguished record of service, including six years as NVFC Chairman and 39 years as a volunteer firefighter, Allinson’s accomplishments exemplify outstanding performance. The NVFC Lifetime Achievement Award is sponsored by… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 8, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

9/11

if you were old enough to remember 9/11/2001 you will never forget it I was sitting in class when the whole thing unfolded and the first thing that went through my mind when that building collapsed was all those fire fighter had to give there lives when they least expected it in a event that could have never happened. this hole thing could have been avoided but there is no reason to point blame on anybody but it shows how a persons life can be cut short when they least expected it that building… Continue

Added by lucas miller on October 8, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

RE facebook

hello all fellow firefighters
hope all is well and safe.
if you have face book you can add me
search Brian Farnsworth
thanks hope to see and chat to you soon

Added by Brian Farnsworth on October 8, 2009 at 7:16am — No Comments

Kyra

I have had my daughter all week since sunday it is going to be hard to give her back to her mother!!!!!

Added by Andy on October 7, 2009 at 11:01pm — No Comments

Firefighters, disasters, injury, and death

Firefighters:

Guys, there are firefighters that were affected by the tropical storm and Typhoon that hit the Philippines a week ago. The last typhoon that hit us decided to stop and come back. It is now a tropical storm almost stationary and it is causing more and more rains in an already flooded area.

Disasters:

Disasters are bad and here in the Philippines we are getting pounded with rain everyday making the… Continue

Added by Jason McDonald on October 7, 2009 at 10:01pm — No Comments

Hello all!

hey there, im new to this site, so i just wanted to say hello to all, and introduce myself to the community.

My name is David

I am 18, and i live in houston texas

i am not a firefighter yet, however, i am working on becoming one. i have wanted to become a firefigher since i was like 8, and that has not changed. most of all, the main reason i want to become a firefighter, is to help people, have always felt that way. anways, in november, i will go to a orientation at the HCC Fire… Continue

Added by Firefighter Walther on October 7, 2009 at 7:01pm — 5 Comments

TAKE ACTION

IT WAS JULY 9TH 2009 I WAS OFF THIS DAY AND I WAS TAKING CARE OF MY HORSE AND LIKE ANY OTHER DAY WE PUT FEED IN THEIR STALLS AND MAKE SURE THEY HAD WATER THEN WE WOULD LET THEM IN AND THIS DAY THERE WAS ABOUT 6 OF US THERE JUST TALKING ETC AND WHEN ALL AT ONCE I HEARD A CRY FOR HELP AND THE LADY THAT HAD LET THE HORSES IN WAS DOWN BEHIND A STALL DOOR THAT WAS A SOLID OAK STALL WOODEN DOOR AND SHE WAS HOLDING HER LEFT ARM AND I GOT THE SCENECLEAR AND I GAVE A ORDER TO GET THE HORSES IN THEIR… Continue

Added by sherry miles on October 7, 2009 at 2:41pm — No Comments

Fall Webinar Series: Gain the Knowledge and Solutions You Need

The IAFC has announced its fall webinar series. These webinars are open to both IAFC members and non-members.

Scheduled topics and dates:

Tues., Oct. 13: A Pandemic’s Effect on EMS Operations

Thurs. Oct. 15: H1N1: Continuity of Operations and Workforce Issues

Tues. Oct. 20: Lightweight Construction Performance Under Fire Conditions

Thurs. Oct. 22: Lightweight Truss Construction Case Study Tues.

Tues. Nov. 3: Making the Pieces Fit - Through Cooperative… Continue

Added by IAFC on October 7, 2009 at 11:41am — No Comments