Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

The Deadliest Crash: A look back at the Iron Complex Fire helicopter tragedy

By FireRescue magazine staff

On Aug. 5, 2008, nine men were killed when the Sikorsky S-61N helicopter they were riding in crashed into a hillside in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Weaverville, Calif.

Seven of the dead were firefighters employed by Merlin, Ore.-based Grayback Forestry.

• Shawn Blazer, 30, from Medford, Ore.

• Scott Charleson, 25, from Phoenix, Ariz.

• Matthew Hammer, 23, from Grants… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 5, 2010 at 5:30am — No Comments

Men & Fire: Remembering Mann Gulch

Men & Fire: Remembering Mann Gulch

By FireRescue Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach

On this day, 61 years ago, one of the most tragic wildfires in U.S. history began in Mann Gulch, an area within the Gates of the Mountains Wild Area (now the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness), about 20 miles north of Helena, Mont. Although ignited by a lightning strike on the south side of the gulch on Aug. 4, the fire wasn’t spotted until around…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 4, 2010 at 8:00am — 7 Comments

Dynamic Risk Assessments

Dynamic Risk Assessments (DRA's) are a vital component of any operation if we are to really embrace the "Everyone Goes Home" philosphy.

Do we undertake a dangerous task? Yes!

Are there risks in everything we do? Yes!…

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Added by lutan1 on August 3, 2010 at 10:51pm — 1 Comment

Outside-the-Box Engine Ops: 3 unique options for getting water to the upper floors of a building

By Jerod Levin

You’re the officer of a three-person engine company. Most of the fires you respond to are in single-family homes, but you do have commercial occupancies in your district, too. Does this sound familiar? Do you pull a pre-connect to handle most of your fires? If so, you should ask yourself, “Is my engine company prepared for a fire in a commercial occupancy or a multi-story building?”

Pre-connects are a fast, efficient… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 3, 2010 at 7:00am — 4 Comments

FireRescue Magazine Announces Company Officer of the Year Award Winner

Recipient to receive award at Fire-Rescue International in Chicago

FireRescue Magazine, an Elsevier Public Safety publication, announced today that Lt. Shawn M. Jones, of the Anne Arundel County (Md.) Fire Department, is the recipient of the 2010 FireRescue Magazine Company Officer of the Year Award. The award will be presented to Lt. Jones on Aug. 27,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 2, 2010 at 2:59pm — No Comments

Truss Tragedy: Learning from the Waldbaum’s Supermarket Tragedy So We Don’t Repeat History

Truss Tragedy

Learning from the Waldbaum’s Supermarket Tragedy So We Don’t Repeat History

Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the Waldbaum’s Supermarket Fire in Brooklyn, N.Y. Six FDNY firefighters died in this fire in 1978 when the wooden bowstring truss roof of the supermarket collapsed while they were working on it. At the time, this was the largest loss of firefighters in… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 2, 2010 at 12:30pm — 2 Comments

Planning Today for Tomorrow’s Leaders: Don’t wait until someone leaves to figure out who’s going to fill their spot

President's Letter: From the August issue of FireRescue magazine

By Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE

Legendary athletic programs and iconic businesses are successful year after year because their executives know that leading a team to success is only half the formula. The other half is… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 2, 2010 at 11:22am — No Comments

The Waldbaum Fire Collapse FDNY 1978 Remembrance

The Waldbaum’s Supermarket Fire and Collapse FDNY 1978

by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

Commansafety.com and TheCompanyofficer.com

The Waldbaum Super market fire, Brooklyn, New York occurred on August 2, 1978, thrity two years ago. Six firefighters died in the line of duty when the roof of a burning Brooklyn supermarket collapsed, plunging 12 firefighters into the flames.…

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Added by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on August 1, 2010 at 1:13pm — No Comments

Trying the "True" Belay: Tests Reveal Slow Response Time

Trying the “true” belay: Informal belay tests reveal rescuers’ slow response time

Story, illustrations and photos by Tom Pendley

Over the past 20 years, the concept and practice of belaying in technical rescue have been controversial, to say the least. Two decades ago, it was rare to even see a belay line in the fire service. I’d like to say we’ve come a long way since then, but have we?…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 31, 2010 at 4:00pm — No Comments

PA Department Awarded for Valor in Challenging Extrication Call

The Lingohocken (Pa.) Fire Company was recently notified that they will be awarded the 2010 Unit Valor Award from the Firemen's Association of the State of Pennsylvania (FASP) for their actions during a complex and challenging extrication. The extrication was detailed in the October 2009 issue of FireRescue's Rescue Report column. Greg Jakubowksi, a long-time columnist and editorial board member for FireRescue, is… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 30, 2010 at 9:00pm — 1 Comment

Customer Service & the Fire Service: Results of a Firefighter Nation Survey

Service Makes the Difference

Reactions to & recommendations from a survey on fire department

customer service

By Dean Pedrotti

Editor's Note: In April, FireRescue conducted a survey on Firefighter Nation, asking readers to weigh in on customer service in… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on August 2, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Join Chief Reason Art Goodrich as we explore the poisons in what we normally call "smoke"

On Thursday, July 29th, Firefighter Netcast Presents The Voice of Reason will welcome special guest Shawn Longerich, Executive Director for the Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition (CPTC) and can be found on the world wide web at www.FireSmoke.org.…

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Added by Firefighter NetCast on July 28, 2010 at 9:12pm — No Comments

54 Years Ago: Explosion Kills 19 Texas Firefighters at the Shamrock Oil Refinery

By FireRescue magazine staff

On July 29, 1956, 19 firefighters were killed while battling a fire at the Shamrock Oil Refinery in northern Texas. This incident caused the fourth largest loss of firefighter lives in U.S. history.

We remember those killed 54 year ago tomorrow: Allen W. Cleveland, Billy Joe Dunn, Sam A. Gibson, Jr., Albert O. Milligan, Paschal Pool, Meryl W. Slagle, Donald W. Thompson, Ray Biles, Lewis A. Broxson,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 28, 2010 at 11:29am — No Comments

New programs, staffing & funding sources bring electronic preplanning to volunteer fire departments

VFDs Go High-Tech

New programs, staffing & funding sources bring electronic preplanning to volunteer fire departments

By Bob Galvin

Pre-fire planning, undeniably a critical activity toward preventing and fighting fires, has become an uphill battle for most fire departments to accomplish. A lingering and brutal economic recession… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 28, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Rescue Report: Fort Worth Firefighters Quickly Switch Gears to Perform Trench Rescue

By Tom Vines

Firefighters often arrive at the scene of a rescue only to find that the situation is completely different from what the 911 call reported. This was the case on June 2, when the Fort Worth (Texas) Fire Department responded to a 911 call that reported a fallen construction crane with persons trapped. Although this wasn’t exactly what responders found when they arrived on scene, the incident shows how with the right… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 28, 2010 at 6:00am — No Comments

Ft. Lauderdale Receives Rigorous Structural Collapse Training

Ft. Lauderdale Receives Rigorous Structural Collapse Training

By Chief Robert F. Bacic

The Ft. Lauderdale Fire-Rescue Technical Rescue Team recently completed an 80-hour structural collapse technician course that included exercises in shoring, concrete…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 26, 2010 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

343 Reports; "What's on your Radar Screen?"

3*4*3 Reports; "What's on your Radar Screen?"

By Christopher J. Naum, SFPE

Commandsafety.com & TheCompanyofficer.com

I recently posted an article on CommandSafety.com that addressed a series of Major Influencing Fire Service Reports, Issues and Focus areas that should be on …

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Added by Christopher J. Naum, SFPE on July 25, 2010 at 12:36pm — No Comments

Get Your Rules of Engagement Poster!

FireRescue magazine is excited to announce that we’ll be giving out a poster depicting the “Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival” and “The Incident Commander’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Safety” at Fire-Rescue International next month. The poster will be available at the FireRescue booth (#1142) and the IAFC’s Safety, Health and Survival (SHS) section booth (#1621).

The poster (pictured… Continue

Added by Janelle Foskett, FireRescue on July 23, 2010 at 5:30pm — 5 Comments

Aerial Apparatus Makes Swiftwater Rescue

Aerial Apparatus Makes Swiftwater Rescue

By Travis Boudrey

In late winter and early spring, the combination of weather conditions and human behavior can create a recipe for disaster, especially when roads with low crossings become flooded due to overflowing rivers and streams. Sometimes, as motorists approach these crossings, they seem to overestimate the ability of their automobile and underestimate the power of water. This serious…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 21, 2010 at 9:00am — 2 Comments

A Forcible-Entry Homerun: The one-person “baseball swing” simplifies entry on inward-swinging doors

QUICK DRILLS

A Forcible-Entry Homerun

The one-person “baseball swing” simplifies entry on inward-swinging doors

By Homer Robertson

If you read this column regularly, you know that we focus on the basics of firefighting and rescue ops. Being able to do the basics well is the trademark of great firefighters and great… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 19, 2010 at 8:00am — 7 Comments