The social media world is providing instructors with numerous options to pass on knowledge.  As an instructor, I am often wanting more time in the classroom or on the training ground.  Here’s a way to gain valuable class or training time.

By making a video preview of an upcoming lecture or hands-on drill, instructors can increase the knowledge base of their students prior to them even stepping foot in the classroom or on the training ground.  This will allow for greater conversation…

Here’s a piece brother firefighter Charlie Hillman (Norwalk (OH) FD) wrote about a chimney fire last winter.  He brings up several fireground basics that we all should remember.  Pass it on!

On Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 0850 hours the Willard Fire and Rescue department was dispatched to a chimney fire.  The chimney fire was reported in a 1 ½ story wood-framed, single family dwelling, ranch style home.  Upon arrival the supervisor initiated incident command and a…

by: Lou Angeli

Suburban Philadelphia, PA -- (October 18, 2011 )  During the next 6-8 weeks thousands of suburban firefirefighters around metro Philadelphia will have the opportunity to decide who will lead their volunteer department during the year 2012. For nearly 300 years, they will determine by 'popular vote', who is best suited to command the department,…

Look at the patch the FDNY Fire & Ice Hockey Team is wearing in this picture. This patch comes from the 9/11 Patch Project (established in December of 2011) and is one of four 9/11 Tribute Patches produced over the years. The FDNY is wearing this patch in the 2011 World Police Fire Games. All 56 members of the Melbourne Australia team is wearing one of…

I hope the job has not been changed due to the times we live in. When I worked  (1973-98) no matter what runs we got, having fun at the firehouse was S.O.P.

I was taken once. When I was working toward a promotion to captain I applied for a position in our support services division. It would have required me to go on a forty-hour week and commute every day. I really did not want to get it but had to put in to show I was a company guy. I got a call at the fire house and the voice on the…

The following farm rescue options were learned and passed on to a group of about 70 firefighters in Wakeman, Ohio at the 2nd Annual Farm Rescue course hosted by the Northern Ohio Fools & the Ehove…

• According to the description, this was the 9th arson fire in THIS NEIGHBORHOOD in ONE HOUR.
• The minimal use of SCBA.  According to the comments, these crews had run FOUR fires continuously and their was no more air available when this fire was…

Michael's Memories.org  -- Our mission is to provide firefighters that have cancer the chance to take an all-expense paid vacation with their family.

Over the last several years, the diagnosis of cancer has become more and more prevalent in our society.  No profession has felt this more than firefighters. …

A conversation heard at a Midwestern fire department between Bobby, the Training Officer and his Chief:

Fire Chief:  Go away, Bobby, I’m eating.

T.O. Bobby:  Hey, Your Eminence, I have some good news and I have some good news.

Fire Chief:  You know me, Bobby.  Give me the bad news first.

T.O. Bobby:  There is no bad news, Chief.

Fire Chief:  There’s never no bad news, Bobby.  This is 2010,…

We recently received several new fire engines. These beautiful Pierce Quantums are everything you could want in a fire engine. However, it seems there is at least one thing that some people don't want. The seats in the engines have sensors that can tell if someone is sitting there and whether or not the seat belt is buckled.

Last week, as I was gathering my gear from the engine, the Captain who relieved me asked the engineer if the engine had one of those seat belt…

Once again, the country is honoring the First Responders who fell on 9/11. Big ceremonies are happening all over the land with politicians using the date to get photo ops with firefighters and police. Then on 9/12, they will go back and continue the fight to take away benefits negotiated by us, which we worked 25 to 30 years of daily danger for. When we left our families to go to work, our wives and children did not know if they would see us come home. Many of my friends have died…

It was an honor to carry FF Van Hine's name up 110 floors during the Sacramento 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Even with the training I did it was an incredibly hard climb.

On Sunday September 11, 2011, at 8:00 am, a Memorial Service will be held at the quarters of Engine 40 Ladder 35 "The Cavemen" in remembrance of the members of The Cave who made the Supreme Sacrifice on 9/11/2001. Engine 40 Ladder 35 is located at 131 Amsterdam Ave and West 66th Street in…

343 firefighters will climb 110 stories  at the Renaissance Building in Downtown Sacramento on Sunday 9/11/11. Over 3,000 others will complete a 5K Run/Walk on the Riverfront. After the completion of the Stair Climb and 5K there will be a tribute concert in the Capitol Mall.

This event is sponsored by the Local 522 Sacramento Area Firefighters, Placer County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Sacramento Police Officer…

This truck fire appeared routine on arrival.  The driver reported no occupants in the truck and no hazmats in the box.  You’ll see a quick knock down with water and foam, but burning magnesium kept burning through the foam blanket. Usually more H2O will suppress this type of burning metal fire, but sand was used for final extinguishment in this case.

 …

I recently updated the through-the-lock setup that I carry in my gear (see pics below).  For years I had used a modified set of locking pliers (ViseGrip style) with separate key tools and shove knife. This setup has proven extremely effective at both alarm runs and working fires.

I've decided to change my setup to a modified "Channelok" setup.  It's going to allow me merge 2 tools into 1 and I'll be able to store it in a smaller pocket.  I am actually using an Irwin/ Vise…

The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District recently completed a Serious Accident Review. On May 31, members of Metro Fire were operating on a residential structure fire. A truck company was on the roof performing vertical ventilation when a roof collapse dumped one firefighter into the burning garage. The firefighter was successfully rescue by adjacent crews. Follow this link to the report

Ellsworth SAR…