Fire Rescue Magazine's Blog (463)

Firefighting in Suburbia: Q&A with Capt. Jim Silvernail

A closer look at what it means to be a firefighter in a suburban environment

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco

Much talk in the fire service centers around the strategies, tactics and overall experiences had by larger, urban departments—and with good reason. Large departments in urban settings encounter an extremely wide variety of responses—everything from fighting high-rise fires to delivering babies on the subway. Therefore, they gain a certain level…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 25, 2011 at 11:00am — No Comments

Do You Know How to Read Fire?

Learn the language of fire so you can make better decisions on the fireground

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor of FireRescue magazine

Here in the United States, we hear a lot about “reading smoke”—an invaluable tactic on the fireground. But what do we know about reading fire?

In his FDIC Friday morning session, “Reading the Fire:… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 25, 2011 at 10:30am — 1 Comment

10 Training Tips & Tricks to Keep Crews Interested

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? According to Paul Hasenmeier, the answer is yes. In his FDIC session “Train As If Your Life Depends on It,” Hasenmeier, a lieutenant with the Huron (Ohio) Fire Department, offered some useful tips for how to ensure that every member of your department—from the most seasoned “old dog” to the greenest rookie—gets the most out of training. In… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 25, 2011 at 8:34am — 4 Comments

Live at FDIC: A Closer Look at How Water Is Used in Fire Suppression

A Closer Look at How Water Is Used in Fire Suppression

It’s more complicated than just “putting the wet stuff on the red stuff”

By Shannon Pieper

Globalization isn’t just a trend that affects businesses and trade patterns; it’s affecting the fire service as well. As the exchange of knowledge and information becomes easier, we are seeing more… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2011 at 4:00pm — No Comments

The new Dash CF Pumper: Pierce steals the spotlight again at FDIC

The new Dash CF Pumper: Pierce steals the spotlight again at FDIC

By Shannon Pieper

I remember last year when Pierce didn’t announce any major new products at FDIC (sure, they had the Striker, but how many departments are buying one of those?). There was surprise, then disappointment, as the weeks before the show went by without Pierce’s usual ads enticing you to imagine… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2011 at 2:00pm — 2 Comments

Managing the Media: Q&A with Dave Statter

How and why to feed the media beast

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

Have you ever watched video of a serious fire emergency, like the San Bruno (Calif.) gas explosion, or read a scandalous story online about a fire chief’s alleged inappropriate behavior, and found yourself wondering, “If this happened here, at my… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2011 at 2:00pm — No Comments

John “Skip” Coleman Receives Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

John “Skip” Coleman received the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award during Thursday morning’s general session at FDIC. Assistant Chief Coleman, a 33-year veteran of the fire service, retired from the Toledo (Ohio) Department of Fire Rescue in 2008. Coleman is perhaps best known for his developing the “oriented method of search” to train recruits—a search tactic used by… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2011 at 1:04pm — No Comments

Live at FDIC: Risk Management the Volunteer Way

Risk Management the Volunteer Way

VFDs face unique—yet surmountable—challenges when it comes to managing risk

By Shannon Pieper

Keeping firefighters safe involves identifying the factors that pose them risk; this is the core element of a risk management strategy. But even large career departments struggle with effectively managing risk. How then… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2011 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Gustin at FDIC Keynote: We Need to Focus More on Basic Engine Ops!

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

“We have put too little attention on basic engine company operations!” This was perhaps the message that most resonated from today’s keynote address at FDIC, delivered by Captain Bill Gustin of the Miami-Dade (Fla.) Fire Rescue Department.

During a passionate and animated address titled “The Challenges We Face: Issues Confronting Today’s Fire Service,” Gustin… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2011 at 12:10pm — No Comments

Friends and Family Remember Fire Service Icon Bob Barraclough at FDIC

Friends and Family Remember Fire Service Icon Bob Barraclough at FDIC

By Shannon Pieper

Fire service leaders from across the country gathered yesterday evening to remember Bob Barraclough, a 51-year veteran of the fire service who died in January after a distinguished career as an apparatus expert, writer and safety crusader.

The service was led by Bob’s closest friends and family,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 24, 2011 at 11:27am — No Comments

Check Out These Incident Commander Do’s & Don’ts from FDIC

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

Wouldn’t it be nice is someone just handed you a list of do’s and don’ts so you’d know exactly what to do as an incident commander? Well, maybe I can help with that.

In his Wednesday FDIC session “Incident Commander Do’s and Don’t,” Teaneck (N.J.) Fire Department Battalion Chief Joseph Berchtold offered attendees a long list of… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 5:30pm — No Comments

Would You Give the National Fire Service a C Grade? Better? Worse?

By Janelle Foskett, managing editor, FireRescue magazine

Unless you were a star student, you know the fearful anticipation of receiving a report card. Well, the fire service just received one of its own.

In his Wednesday morning FDIC session, “Making the Grade,” Oklahoma Fire Department Captain Brian Arnold gave the national fire service a C for how it’s doing overall, and a D for how it’s doing in certain areas—and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Changing the Conversation about the Dangers of Fire Smoke

Changing the Conversation about the Dangers of Fire Smoke

The dangers of long-term exposure to cyanide & CO is garnering more attention

By Shannon Pieper

Do you wear your SCBA until overhaul is complete? Does your department maintain—and enforce—SOPs for gas detection on the fireground? When locating command posts and rehab areas, do you take into account their exposure to smoke?… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 1:00pm — No Comments

At FDIC, Halton Issues a Call for a "Fitting and Proper" 9/11 Memorial

At FDIC, Halton Issues a Call for a “Fitting and Proper” 9/11 Memorial

By Shannon Pieper

At today’s opening keynote at FDIC, Bobby Halton, the education director for FDIC and the editor-in-chief for Fire Engineering, issued a rousing call for a 9/11 monument that properly recognizes first responders.

Halton began by invoking the great monuments of our country—the Statue of Liberty,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 12:01pm — No Comments

At FDIC opening ceremony, Dugan issues a call for firefighters to “change the world”

FDIC Opening Ceremonies: Dugan issues a call for firefighters to “change the world”

By Shannon Pieper

Do you know why you’re in the fire service? And I don’t mean the obvious answers—it’s your job, it was what your father did, you love the work, etc. I mean, if someone asked you that question, is the answer sitting on the tip of your tongue, “To change the world”?

Mike Dugan thinks… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 23, 2011 at 11:14am — 2 Comments

Helping Line Officers Through the Decision-Making Process

“Don’t bring me a problem without a solution” isn’t always realistic

By Marc Revere

It’s not uncommon for chief officers to insist that when firefighters and developing officers have an issue, problem or concern, they should bring it to the next rank with a solution, preferably two. In fact, many experienced officers typically demand this of their subordinates—i.e., “Don’t bring me a problem… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 21, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Frictions: Uncertainties that complicate communication

FIREFIGHTING 360

Frictions: Uncertainties that complicate communication

By Billy Schmidt

Everything is very simple in war, but the simplest thing is difficult.

--Carl von Clausewitz

Prussian military thinker Carl von Clausewitz, dead for almost two centuries, continues to be one of the most important strategic… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 18, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Recipe for Disaster: The characteristics & components of home-made explosives

By Martin Greene

The time is now for hazmat teams to develop and/or expand their working relationship with their local bomb squad. Why?

A house erupts in flames on Dec. 9, 2010, during the controlled burn of a home in Escondido, Calif., that was so packed with…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 17, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Why Test Your Pump? A Quick Refresher

INSIDE THE APPARATUS INDUSTRY

A quick refresher on how to ensure your pump is ready to go

By Bob Vaccaro

Photos Courtesy Keith Klassen

Should you test your pump? You would think the answers would be a no-brainer; however, I’ll bet that if we conducted a survey around the country, we’d find that a large number of fire departments don’t… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 16, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

Finding Reliable Web-Based Behavioral Wellness and Self-Help

The NFFF builds resources that address the behavioral aspects of health, wellness & safety for firefighters

By Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki

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

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 15, 2011 at 8:30am — No Comments