Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

Can You Hear Me Now? Staying Alive: Prince George's County Fire, EMS Department Unveils Mobile Mayday Simulator

New Technical Services Battalion uses department box truck to create a complex mayday classroom.

Recommendations, as well as actions themselves, led to the Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department creating a rather complex mayday training lesson that involves a mobile simulator. In April of 2009, a house fire in the Largo area… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on March 5, 2011 at 8:01pm — No Comments

Public Safety's Not Affected, A False Dichotomy. Shared Post From CMD-FD

Gabriel Angemi shares how despite Camden's cuts, firefighters can't just hold back. Maybe.

On a national level layoffs have become the norm for public safety personnel, regardless of the threat posed to the ones they leave behind or the residents of the area they once protected. How is it then, when a city such as Camden NJ has its civic and public safety leaders stand up at a podium; hair done, neat… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on March 5, 2011 at 7:51pm — No Comments

BUT WE TRAIN ALL THE TIME on BACKSTEP FIREFIGHTER

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on March 5, 2011 at 7:35am — No Comments

TOOL CHOICE ON BACKSTEP FIREFIGHTER

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Added by Dave LeBlanc on March 5, 2011 at 7:22am — No Comments

firefighters from central Europe

Hi, I am Pavol Varačka and I am from Slovakia. It is small country in Central Europe. I working on projekt www.protipoziarne.sk It s a web about Slovak firefighters, but there are a lot of interesting photos and videos, which could be interesting for firefighters around the world. Please check my web, and tell me your opinions.

Added by Bc. Pavol Varacka on March 4, 2011 at 5:08pm — No Comments

Spanning the Gap in Extrications from Ditches

Using a ladder, basket litter and rope for extrication from a ditch provides a more efficient, less labor-intensive method than forming a chain of rescuers

Story & Photos by Les Baker

During the 2010 Southeastern Extrication School, the “Down in the Ditch” program covered the topic of vehicles that come to rest in various positions in ditches of different sizes and configurations.… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 4, 2011 at 5:30am — 2 Comments

Tales from a tail-board fireman

It is amazing that we have to fight for our rights and pensions we paid for. I am going to yet another funeral for a firefighter. John was 61 and had battled Cancer for the past number of years. This was guy that competed successfully in the firefighter iron man contests. He was in top shape physically and mentally, yet cancer linked to the job took him. Although we worked for different departments, I got to know him when one of my guys wanted to compete. He was glad to mentor a brother… Continue

Added by mike simms on March 2, 2011 at 6:17pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

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

I've been waiting days to sit and write this blog post, deciding whether or not it's appropriate for any type of forum. However, this morning I've decided the heck with it I'm writing it.

We all know that stress is among the #1 killer for people in emergency services. Being a perpetual rookie firefighter, you may think, "What kind of stress can she have?" We all fight different types of stress and cannot control…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on March 2, 2011 at 7:24am — 3 Comments

Fired Up! More Big Fire Photos with Tactical Tips

By Scott Cook & Homer Robertson

Editor’s Note: In this year’s Big Fire Photo Essay, FireRescue’s technical editors based their tactical tips on four topics: apparatus positioning, defensive operations, fire attack and reading smoke—four key issues that must be addressed at every large fire.

See the March issue of… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 1, 2011 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

Why Lloyd Layman Is Still Relevant

By Warren Whitley

Editor’s note: For more on Lloyd Layman’s theories and how they can be applied in modern-day firefighting, see “The Plug” in the March issue of FireRescue.

In 1953, Lloyd Layman published Fire Fighting Tactics(1), followed by Attacking and Extinguishing Interior Fires(2) in 1955. The books complement one… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 28, 2011 at 8:00am — 7 Comments

Camp Houston Fire-Spring 2011

Camp Houston Fire

Dear Friends…

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Added by Laura Hunter on February 28, 2011 at 7:39am — No Comments

Why the pathway from door to nozzle needs to be clear

I joined Dave LeBlanc in stressing to you why the pathway from door to nozzle needs to be clear

A blog over at http://backstepfirefighter.com/2011/01/29/make-a-hole-make-it-wide/ discusses why advancing toward the seat of the fire it is important that the path in is clear. Come and check it out. Feel free to pass along.

Let no man's ghost say their training…

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Added by Ray J on February 27, 2011 at 7:37am — No Comments

Public Safety Workers Hit the Ice to "Check for Charity"

Firefighters in Minnesota are lacing up their ice skates to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Photo Courtesy Hennepin Generals

On Feb. 27, dozens of Minnesota and Wisconsin paramedics, EMTs, firefighters and police officers will lace… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 25, 2011 at 7:06pm — No Comments

Haters Need Not Apply

New post over at Firehouse Zen discusses why maybe some people are incapable of independent thought. Come and check it out. And if you now of anyone who meets the standard, pass it along to them too.

Added by Mick Mayers on February 24, 2011 at 1:40pm — No Comments

Arizona Firefighters Rescue Teens Stuck in Middle of Flooded Creek

RESCUE REPORT

By Tom Vines

On Dec. 23, Arizona firefighters responded to a call for “kids in tree”; however, that account didn’t turn out to be as descriptive as they may have liked, as by the end of the day, they had performed a well-coordinated water rescue.

The 9-1-1 call to Sedona Fire Dispatch was initially assigned as an EMS dispatch. At 1658 HRS, the Montezuma Rimrock… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 24, 2011 at 6:00am — No Comments

Straight Stream vs. Fog: A Visual Aid

Among one of the greatest, and most historic debates in the fire service is the use of smooth bore versus fog nozzles. What’s better and/or safer etc.? A byproduct of that debate is hose stream selection for fire attack. The question is, do you use a wide fog pattern, a narrow fog (a.k.a. power cone) or a straight (or solid) stream for… Continue

Added by SAFE Firefighter on February 23, 2011 at 8:30am — 2 Comments

Meridian Plaza Fire: Would Your Department Be Prepared?

20 years ago, 3 firefighters lost their lives battling a fierce high-rise fire

On Feb. 23, 1991, a pile of rags ignited a fire in a high-rise building under construction in Philadelphia. Three firefighters were killed when they became disoriented in the thick smoke and ran out of air. The fire caused an estimated $100 million in direct property loss. …

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 23, 2011 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

Writing an Effective Fire Department Vision Statement

Writing an Effective Fire Department Vision Statement

By Chief Marc Revere

What’s the difference between effective leaders and great leaders? Effective leaders encourage individual members to succeed within the organization. Great leaders communicate a vision that enhances the success of both individuals and the entire fire department.

Most agencies have a mission statement that… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 22, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments