Fire Rescue Magazine's Blog (463)

Ergonomics in Apparatus Design -- Where Are We Now?

A review of some of the safety-related design changes I’m seeing

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

If you’ve been reading my columns over the past several years, then you’ve probably heard me use the term “ergonomics” many times. I guess when I like a word, I tend to use it a lot—sorry to be redundant! What’s more interesting: Apparatus manufacturers seem to like the word as… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 20, 2011 at 8:30am — No Comments

Don’t Know the Fundamentals of Wildland Firefighting? It’s Time to Learn

REALITY CHECK

By Scott Cook

How fast can you run?

On Friday, April 15, Eastland, Texas, firefighter Gregory Simmons died in a wildland fire. Simmons’ death was initially thought to be the result of being overrun by the fire, but a later report from the medical examiner relates that he died from blunt-force trauma.…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 19, 2011 at 8:00am — 3 Comments

Web-Based Training for Mental Health Professionals Serving Firefighters

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is working with the Medical University of South Carolina staff to prepare Web programs to meet this need

By Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki

Following is the last in a series of seven articles that describe a new approach to mental and behavioral health in the fire service. Read the other six articles:… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 19, 2011 at 6:00am — No Comments

Tornado response requires effective command & knowledge of different agencies’ roles

Taming the Twister

Tornado response requires effective command & knowledge of different agencies’ roles

By Mike Walker

Every community recalls history through pivotal events. For example, April 19, 1995, and Sept. 11, 2001, are both dates that changed the course of history for the United States. Most people can say where they were and what they were doing… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 15, 2011 at 6:01pm — 3 Comments

Building Support for the Cause: Lessons learned from the “Ready, Set, Go!” pilot program

By Chief Bob Roper and Lucian Deaton

Firefighters remember the fires that impact our departments and serve as guideposts in the development of our own careers in the fire service. Yet, as we all know, the public will soon forget the threats that they’re experiencing today. Development in the wildland/urban interface (WUI) introduces new and existing residents in our communities—many of whom have pre-existing notions of what it means to live in close proximity to forest,…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 13, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Handling the “Leadership Absenteeism” Crisis Ahead—a Career Perspective

By Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE

The following article focuses on a growing issue in the career fire service: the “leadership absenteeism” created by a generation of leaders retiring. Read a complementary article by Tiger Schmittendorf about this issue’s impact on the volunteer fire service… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 13, 2011 at 7:00am — 2 Comments

Handling the “Leadership Absenteeism” Crisis Ahead—a Volunteer Perspective

By Tiger Schmittendorf

The following article focuses on a growing issue in the volunteer fire service: the “leadership absenteeism” created by a generation of leaders retiring. Read a complementary article by Jeff Johnson about this issue’s impact on the career fire service here.…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 13, 2011 at 6:30am — 3 Comments

Mentoring Advances the Quality of Future Fire Service Leaders

Mentoring Advances the Quality of Future Fire Service Leaders

Seasoned fire officials can help prepare next generation’s leaders for excellence

By Kenneth Morgan

With varying missions, a constantly changing environment and decreasing revenue sources that hamper an increasing service demand, anyone in the fire service today knows our occupation is in constant… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 12, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Tool Purchasing 101: Important Questions to Ask Yourself before You Spend the Cash

Story & Photo by Todd D. Meyer

When the salespeople come to visit, make sure you have cars available to cut—and the newer the better. Run the tools through multiple evolutions, attempting different objectives: roof removal, dash roll,…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 6, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

The Prevention Evolution: Mentoring transfers knowledge to the next generation

The Prevention Evolution

Mentoring transfers knowledge to the next generation while expanding our perspective

By Jim Crawford

There’s been a lot of talk recently about mentoring in the fire service, and about how those of us who’ve been around for awhile need to bring younger people up to speed so that they can take over.… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 5, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Dr. Denis Onieal on Higher Education in the Fire Service

A Higher Grade

Dr. Denis Onieal shares his thoughts on higher education in the fire service

Across most industries in the United States, the last 50 years have seen a gradual emphasis on the need for education beyond a high school diploma or even an associate’s degree or a technical certification. More and more jobs require four-year degrees. The fire service is not immune to this trend, and as a… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 4, 2011 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

Fire in the Sky: Truck Company Operations at High-Rise Fires

By Michael M. Dugan

Firefighters battle a multiple alarm blaze in a multi-story elderly assisted living facility in Southwest Houston. Photo Ryan McDonald

All high-rise fires are not created… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 4, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Held Fast: Tips for ensuring effective vehicle stabilization

Held Fast

Tips for ensuring effective vehicle stabilization

By Homer Robertson

In past Quick Drills, I’ve given you some tips to make vehicle extrication operations go smoother. Our response to motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) has changed so much in the past 25 or 30 years that it’s hard to believe we did things the way we… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on April 1, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Kettlebells: An old tool brings new life to firefighter workouts

By Mike Ong

In my last article, I wrote about the three main criteria you should consider when choosing an exercise program for yourself and/or your department: safety, applicability/functionality and ease of use by people of varying ages and fitness levels. This article discusses the kettlebell, a piece of equipment that meets all three criteria and can actually be used for a wide variety of unique exercises.…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 30, 2011 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

Rocky Mountain Rescuers Rise to Challenge of Winter Rescues

RESCUE REPORT

By Tom Vines

Rocky Mountain National Park, located northwest of Boulder, Colo., sits astride the continental divide with peaks rising up to 14,000 feet. During a Jan. 30 rescue, Park rescuers demonstrated how they handle difficult and exhausting rescue operations in the backcountry during winter.

Emergency Beacon… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 29, 2011 at 7:00am — No Comments

Plants & Animals: A vegetarian diet means reduced health risks, not reduced protein intake

A vegetarian diet means reduced health risks, not reduced protein intake

By Jeff & Martha Ellis

Back in the early 90s when I first joined the fire service, being a vegetarian was an anomaly. The guys made fun of my vegan cookies, turned their noses up at my meat substitutes and acted like they were doing me a favor by eating what I cooked for supper.

Having not eaten… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 28, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Vegetarianism, Meat & Health: Another Perspective

Maybe meat’s not so bad after all

By Jeremy Gordon

Photo iStock.com

Editor’s Note: In… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 28, 2011 at 8:00am — 3 Comments

Negativity & Volunteers: An interview with Chief Tim Holman

How to deal with negativity in volunteer departments

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco

Not since the Great Depression has the United States undergone the difficult economic times that it’s experiencing today. Although reports indicate that the “Great Recession” ended several months ago, for many people—particularly those in the fire service—that just isn’t true. In fact, it may feel as though things are getting worse: Violent crime is up, the cost of food has increased,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 25, 2011 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Chief Joseph Auffert Wins Hale’s Safe Firefighter of the Year Award

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

Chief Joseph Auffert of the Howell County Rural Fire Department #1 in West Plains, Mo, was honored with the first-annual Safe Firefighter of the Year Award Friday morning at the Hale booth (1823). The program, sponsored by Hale in cooperation with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), is designed to help fire companies stay focused on the importance of the 16 Life… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 25, 2011 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Fire Down Below: Australian structure fire training

Designing a successful fire behavior training program

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco

The Australian fire service has embarked on a journey of sorts. Until fairly recently, they took a more reactionary approach to fighting structure fires. Today, they are implementing what is commonly referred to as compartment fire behavior training (CFBT). What does that mean? John… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 25, 2011 at 11:22am — No Comments