Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

DNA Detection: It’s no CSI, but it gives closure to victim families

DNA Detection: It's no CSI, but it gives closure to victim families

By Harold Schapelhouman

I was reading an article recently on forensic detection and information databases when it occurred to me that my name may appear in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) database. The majority of those currently in the database are criminals or individuals who’ve been arrested. Although I’ve had some minor bumps in the road early on…

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

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 19, 2011

Today I learned that you can't have a ferris wheel in the same parking lot as a building with solar panels. I don't know why though.

Also, how come the tops of fire hydrants are painted white (the bottom are red) and not flourescent colored paint?

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 19, 2011 at 10:58pm — 1 Comment

Gypsum Board Ceiling Systems and Firefigher Safety

Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

Commandsafety.com and Buildingsonfire.com

The recent events in Los Angeles and the line of duty…

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Added by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on February 19, 2011 at 9:45pm — 1 Comment

Little Things That Can Turn A Fireground Sour

Tunnel vision, prejudices, attitude, excessive talking - all can turn a fireground sour.

The battalion chief pulled over just before the entrance of the cull de sac. He had heard the first due engine officer report that the bulk of the fire had been knocked and that they were checking for extension. Heading down the street he notices the driver of Ladder 7 running past him in the opposite direction. The familiar smell of a house fire… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on February 16, 2011 at 7:30am — 2 Comments

A Review of Modern Pump Panels

Inside the Apparatus Industry

What’s best—the side-mounted, top-mounted or even the side-mounted top-mount pump panel?

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

I’ve written an article or two in my time about how to choose the right pump panel for your vehicle. Those articles focused primarily on your choice between a side-mounted or… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 16, 2011 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 15, 2011

To all my loyal readers: I've decided not to take this blog to a different site. Only you guys truly understand my past, present, and future.

Today was my first experience hearing the fire alarm at work. The sound was brief, but loud enough for me to get up from my desk, grab my coat and pocketbook and head out of the maze of cubes into the main hallway. Only about three other people followed including one…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on February 15, 2011 at 6:37pm — 1 Comment

Where are you going this year?

I hate the term “New Year’s Resolution”. That is why I intentionally waited until now to post this. New Year’s Resolutions are those things we wishfully tell ourselves that we are going to do to make our lives better or more wholesome while we are drunkenly celebrating the turning of the calendar.

No this post isn’t about resolutions, it is about goals.

Do you have any specific goals for your professional development this year (and yes, even volunteers can have…

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Added by Station10Capt106 on February 15, 2011 at 3:54pm — 1 Comment

Common Pitfalls of CAFS

Story & Photos By Keith Klassen

Class A foam, particularly when used through a compressed air foam system (CAFS), is a highly effective tool in a fire department’s firefighting and exposure protection arsenals. But when a department makes the decision to purchase CAFS, there are several pitfalls they must be aware of to ensure that the implementation of the technology will be smooth and effective.

1. Lack of understanding of Class A foam (CAF)—There are many…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 14, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Problems in the Station? The Chief Needs to Know

Problems in the Station? The Chief Needs to Know

By Scott Cook

The other day, Fred, a buddy of mine and not his real name, told me he was going to sue his former career fire department because he received an “ineligible for rehire” letter from them after getting nothing but excellent performance reviews since he hired on. I inquired as to why he thought he got the letter. He hesitated for a… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 11, 2011 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

Getting volunteers to attend training.....

Recently.....my department has had the probably not so uncommon issue of not being able to get folks to training. No matter what the training is over....or how exciting I try and make it I just can't seem to get some people to attend. I have asked what I could do to make things more attractive....and I get no response.

Its to the point now where the Chief is considering putting people on a probationary status until they can start attending training on a regular…

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Added by Erik Wood on February 9, 2011 at 7:57pm — 13 Comments

Identifying Best Practices for Peer Support Groups

Working on Peer Support Programs

Initiative #13 working group works to develop easily accessible and inexpensive ways to identify best practices for peer support groups

By Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki

Following is the fifth in a series of seven articles that describe a new approach to… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 9, 2011 at 7:30am — No Comments

Random Thoughts From an Idle Mind

- What time do you show up for your shift? At work, the shift starts at

0700 and people show up at all kinds of different times. Some will

show up around 0545 or 0600... most show up between 0615 and 0630... and

some will come in with 2 minutes to spare (if they are lucky).

- When do you do your daily rig check? As soon as you get in? At shift change? After breakfast? After your first run?

Despite fighting the urge to want to curl up in a… Continue

Added by backsteprescue on February 8, 2011 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Get the Most Out of Every Acquired Structure

See how one department uses acquired structures to complete a variety of training evolutions

Story & Photos by Paul Hasenmeier

When was the last time your department conducted hands-on training at an acquired structure? Was the training worthwhile?…

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

Charlotte FD Video & Modern Residential Construction

I was…

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Added by SAFE Firefighter on February 8, 2011 at 6:23am — No Comments

Bunk-In or Just Bunk?

I stumbled across a new resource recently that caught my attention: FDLiveIn.com.

The concept of fire station live-ins or bunk-ins, depending on what you call them, has been around for quite some time and with quite a bit of success. Different departments run their programs in different ways but the common theme is that the firefighter lives in the fire station “rent-free” in return for volunteer…

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Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on February 7, 2011 at 11:26am — 3 Comments

tales form a tailboard fireman

Had the thought today that I know a lot of dead people. I guess as we get older that is what happens. I ran into a new guy at a local drug store. He had on SJFD sweats so I introduced myself. When I told him I retired in 1998 his eyes got big. Our department has changed since then. All new people and with the budget issues stations have closed and people have been laid off. When I came on the job in 1973, we had 28 stations with about 700 people. San Jose is a city of over 1,000,000 so we were… Continue

Added by mike simms on February 6, 2011 at 9:57pm — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...Yes it's still February 5, 2011

I just got an exciting offer from an online publication to write a regular column for them - it would be taking Notes from a Rookie Firefighter to a whole new level. Have to ask my Chief! OMG what if I get writer's block?

PS Imagine if I could really write what I wanted to. LOL

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 5, 2011 at 8:15pm — 2 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 5, 2011

Since I've moved, I am about 4 miles from my fire house. However, there's another smaller station in our department less than one mile away. I finally decided today, amidst the urging of many firefighters, to try to make some calls at the closer fire house to get my percentage up. So today I did that. I still missed the truck, but I felt a renewed sense of enthusiasm. I can't explain why though.

Added by Denise Imperiale on February 5, 2011 at 8:09pm — 2 Comments

Public Relations and open houses

Hello i am a lt at the local VFD and i am planning a big open house event here in my hometown with the fire dept... i dont really just want it to be come talk meet us go home i want this day to be educational and fun... We are currently working on alot of projects around the fire house including ISO insurance rating which is very based on the community ... I Could really use a hand on things such as fire safty for kids.. I want it to have the intrest of the kids and reach through... any… Continue

Added by Lt David Handford on February 5, 2011 at 1:15pm — 1 Comment

Welcome to my world!

Good morning and welcome to my world!

I am a carreer oriented fire Lieutanant/Paramedic with my home town department. Im going on 14 years on the department and cant imagine doing anything else with my time. I was one of the lucky ones who tested on a whim because I didnt like my original job option and started at ten on the list out of several hundered. I have had so many doors opened for me since I began my journy on the department, I just wish there were more hours in the…

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Added by Timothy on February 4, 2011 at 10:30am — No Comments