Story and Photos by Bob Kolva



When the pager sounded at 1800 HRS, the air temperature was 12 degrees F with a wind chill of -10 degrees F. We were responding to a motor vehicle crash (MVC) on a hill covered with compact snow and ice. A 1980s Caravan packed with young door-to-door salespeople had crossed the center lane, meeting a full-sized Cadillac head on.



With five passengers in the van and one in the Cadillac, there were plenty of potential patients milling…

By Kevin Milan

A fireground mentor once told me, “It’s OK to vary your plan, as long as you have one.” As a young fire officer, I understood the message: We can change ventilation tactics so long as we plan to vent. A secondary water supply can come from either direction, so long as it arrives. Little did I know that this mentor imparted wisdom about things far beyond commanding the initial fire…

By Michael Ong

Fitness is a big industry these days. Companies spend millions of dollars competing for consumers while nutritional supplements, fitness equipment and various workout programs flood the market with the endorsements from big-name athletes. Advertisements even include testimonials from firefighters and their success stories that came about as a result of using the products. Video workouts, Web-based workouts and “boot camps” are all the rage at the firehouse…

By Kriss Garcia



Today’s structure fires are becoming more infrequent yet more aggressive all the time. This, along with the fact that we’re in a construction era where building materials are becoming less resistant to the damage fire can cause, makes it imperative that we get the most experience and education possible out of the fires we do have. How do we accomplish this in a manner that translates to real learning, where we can make decisions based on real-life…