Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

Is Anyone (Else) Out There? First Arriving & Trapped

As reported in our nations news, five DC Fire Department members were injured yesterday in an early morning house fire. They became trapped by a ceiling collapse shortly after making entry. The speed with which the RIC deployed and made rescues, coupled with the the IC immediately requesting a 2nd Alarm resulted in not only rapid rescue of multiple trapped firefighters, but also quick knock down of a serious fire.

Unlike urban/metro FD's, the suburban FD may not have quite…

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Added by SAFE Firefighter on April 11, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Peter Van Dorpe Interview

A new post on Hooks & Irons: Peter Van Dorpe Interview

Added by Eddie Crombie on April 9, 2011 at 2:10pm — 1 Comment

LOOKING BACK AT “THE FRONT SEAT” FOR APRIL 6, 2011 on BACKSTEP FIREFIGHTER

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on April 9, 2011 at 9:47am — No Comments

Firefighters step up for CFSI/NFFF 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

Last…

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Added by Dave Statter on April 7, 2011 at 12:30pm — 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

A Culture of Acceptable Mediocracy

A Culture of Acceptable Mediocracy…

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Added by Eddie Crombie on April 5, 2011 at 5:42pm — 1 Comment

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

Firefighter workouts: a $3-8 billion dollar fitness problem

The NIST re ported that…

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Added by Jeremy Orozco on April 4, 2011 at 10:22pm — 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

The Truth Hurts, So Learn From It on Backstep Firefighter

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on April 4, 2011 at 6:41am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...April 2, 2011

Yesterday a great friend said my mind never stops. And, she is definitely right. I'd like to share something with all of you that may help reduce some of your car insurance costs or other rates that have been raised and you didn't understand why.

Last year I sold my home in a short sale. Incredible medical expenses, loss of employment, reduction in hours and pay of my ex-husband's salary, and a horrible…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on April 2, 2011 at 9:17am — 3 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

Tales from a Tailboard Fireman ~ The realities of our job

I took my 3-year-old granddaughter to Station 16 in San Francisco. It is located in an area known as Cow Hollow. A nice station in a residential neighborhood. The guy I met on the apparatus floor was a good fella. He was there on a staffing readjustment so it was not his home station. He let her sit in the cab and when I noticed some strange gear he told me they did water rescue. It was part of their duty to respond to jumpers off the Golden Gate Bridge. It once again brought to mind the stuff… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 31, 2011 at 7:39pm — 3 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 30, 2011

Two nights ago I held the Accountability Board again. Seems I was born for that board.

My reflections:

Easy way to remember the A side of the building - it's the address.
The front door is not always the A side.
Who took the markers I JUST bought on Sunday? Had to use a ghetto pencil and spit to erase.
It's so rare to hear someone say, "Thank You." I…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on March 30, 2011 at 5:57pm — 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