Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

Vacant = Dangerous: Tips for truck companies operating at vacant building fires

By Michael M. Dugan

Photo Brian Bastinelli

A fire in a vacant building has a very low probability of civilian injury or death, but it presents a high risk to firefighters. Therefore, truck members must understand the unique problems associated with fires in vacant buildings, be aware of their department’s related standard operational… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 8, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

The Bathtub Collapse, Part 1

This article is co-authored by my friend and colleague Jason Walters. Jason is the Team Leader for USAR SC-Regional Response Team 4. We're discussing this topic at All Hazards Contemplations.

Introduction

FEMA’s USAR system, basic firefighting texts, and other fire-rescue references describe how to recognize and respond to a variety…

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Added by Ben Waller on March 6, 2010 at 9:00am — 2 Comments

What Would Reub Do? Stories from cattle-driving cowboy teach valuable lessons about leading thousands

The following article was published in the January issue of FireRescue magazine.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

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

What Would Reub Do?

Stories from cattle-driving… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Do You Have Gear to Donate? IFRM Collecting Now for Chile FDs

International Fire Relief Mission Toned Out for Chile

IFRM engages its donor network and collection expertise to assist Rosenbauer’s efforts provide emergency equipment to Chilean fire, rescue and EMS workers.

When its sponsoring partner Rosenbauer asked for help collecting donated gear to aid Chilean emergency responders dealing with that country’s 8.8-magnitude earthquake, the International Fire… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Got Apps? Cell phone applications can aid first responders

FireRescue magazine's Technical Rescue Web column

There's an App for That: New cell phone applications can aid first responders on the emergency scene

By Harold Schapelhouman

Imagine the following scenarios:

1) A disaster has struck your community and, as a rescuer, you need some basic reference data to establish an area-wide, methodical, geographic search for survivors and trapped victims; or

2) You’re responding to an overturned… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 10:00am — 12 Comments

Want More Fire Station Design Info?

I spent the majority of my week at the Firehouse World conference, where I was working in the FireRescue booth. I personally love my “booth time,” as it affords me a chance to chat with our readers and get ideas for future articles.

This year, our booth was positioned close to an architecture firm. I had spoken with the lead architect before, specifically when I was covering past F.I.E.R.O. Fire Station Design Symposiums where he… Continue

Added by Janelle Foskett, FireRescue on March 5, 2010 at 11:59am — 2 Comments

Giving 'Fast Attack' A Bad Name? Houston LODD Similarities

The Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office released their investigative report on the house fire that killed Houston Fire Department Captain James Arthur Harlow, Sr. and Firefighter Damion Jon Hobbs on 12 April 2009. The details of the report reveal a pattern of department errors compounded by the effects of wind on fire behavior. The report reveals individual and collective problems that are not unique to this one fatal… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on March 4, 2010 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

A Dirty Chore Made a Little Easier

FIRE PREVENTION

A Dirty Chore Made a Little Easier

Determining who’s qualified to test commercial cooking appliances isn’t easy, but 1 organization can help

By Jim Crawford

How does a local fire marshal determine whether the person conducting work on fire protection systems is qualified to do the work? And how do we prevent low-bidding, incompetent contractors from duping unsuspecting business owners with an “economical solution” that’s… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 5, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

A drill to help members build familiarity on those lesser-used tools & equipment

QUICK DRILLS

What’s in Your Compartment?

A drill to help members build familiarity on those lesser-used tools & equipment

Story & Photos by Homer Robertson

What do your grandmother and your fire department have in common?

Neither one has thrown anything away in the last… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 4, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 4, 2010

I have sold many homes in my life but none have made me feel like the one I am selling now. This house was our biggest, had the best property, alot of good karma, and yet provided the most stress because we simply couldn't keep up with the mortgage after awhile (let's not even go into the situations with my daughter in the house that almost made jump from the roof).

Seriously, I read all the time, and hear all the…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on March 4, 2010 at 7:24am — 1 Comment

Rookie's and Veteran's

As a fire service instructor over the years I have met a lot of fellow firefighters and not until recently did I realize the stories from these firefighters were always the same from rookies and veterans. The rookies always say “we don’t fit in” and the veterans always say “ the rookies just don’t get it”. I guess the reason it didn’t hit me sooner was as a fire service instructor and as a company officer it is my…

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Added by Vince Curry on March 3, 2010 at 5:36pm — 2 Comments

Social Networking With Bajan Firefighters

AS social networking sites continue to grow in popularity, the Barbados Fire Service is the first emergency service agency in the island to seize the initiative and maintain a strong connection with the public.

“We have been following the development of the various social networking sites, looking at the ones that are popular and user friendly, selecting Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, Ming, YouTube and Ustream,” informed the man behind the… Continue

Added by Glyne Alleyne on March 1, 2010 at 7:22pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 28, 2010

I had a killer week so yesterday I took advantage of the quiet morning and decided to sleep in. At 9:40 a.m. I heard my pager from two rooms away asking for all members to report to their respective stations for hydrant duty at 10. I started to drift back to dream land and then POPPED out of bed. I never had hydrant duty before and figured it had to do with the foot and a half of snow we've had here in…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on February 28, 2010 at 9:18pm — No Comments

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-explosions big and small

We just had a news story about a person who found a pipe bomb on the beach and transported it to our local firehouse. Why someone would do that escapes me. I know we are the ultimate fixers, but come on. If you think this is a one-time event, I have a story.

One afternoon Gary and I were sitting in front of the apparatus door watching the world go by. A car pulled up and two guys got out. They carried a package to me and I thought they were… Continue

Added by mike simms on February 28, 2010 at 11:58am — No Comments

ALWAYS BE PREPARED: USFA offers a quick response program to help firefighters become more pro-active in their community.

ALWAYS BE PREPARED:

USFA offers a quick response program to help firefighters become more pro-active in their communities.

The Quick Response Media Corps (QRMC) is a free U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) initiative open to all members of the fire service. QRMC provides members with up-to-date information about the latest USFA public education campaign news. The goal of QRMC is to…

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Added by U.S. Fire Administration on February 26, 2010 at 4:46pm — No Comments

Hit by the “Stupid Truck”: Personal conduct can leave your career, department & public trust in the wreckage

The following article was published in the February issue of FireRescue magazine.

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

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

Public attitude surveys regularly cite the fire service as one of the most highly respected professions. While humbling, this… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 25, 2010 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Phoenix Fire Performs Rescue at “Praying Monk”

RESCUE REPORT

By Tom Vines

On Jan. 17, the Phoenix Fire Department successfully rescued a seriously injured rock climber who had fallen from a popular climbing route.

The 911 call—initially received at Police Department Communications and then directed to Phoenix Fire Dispatch—reported that a person had fallen on “the Praying Monk,” an 80' rock tower on… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 25, 2010 at 11:00am — No Comments

“MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!”- Are You Ready?

Did you get enough training so far this week? Because you are a proud and

professional firefighter, I already know your answer. So allow me to offer some more.

Here’s a little something to think about: Is everyone on the same page regarding MAYDAY's on the fireground?

Many…

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Added by FireDaily.com on February 24, 2010 at 10:30pm — 2 Comments

MUST-SEE VIDEO: Tower Imploded to Make Room for New Fire Training Facility

Members of the Erie County Department of Emergency Services (ESU) watched from a safe distance as the county's 40-year old fire training tower was blasted with dynamite.

Seven pounds of explosives were used to blast out two pillars, collapsing the tower on to the area previously occupied by the smokehouse training prop, which was demolished earlier this week.

Click here to read the rest of the story and view this must-see video and photos:…

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Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on February 24, 2010 at 9:52pm — 1 Comment

Back to the Basics: Build a training program that refocuses your troops

Back to the Basics

How to build a training program that refocuses your troops on their primary mission

By William Sturgeon

Several years ago, I was playing golf with a friend of mine who happened to be a triple-A baseball pitcher. I wasn’t playing very well that day, so I asked him, “What do you do when you start pitching poorly?” He told me he always goes back to his fundamentals and recommits himself to mastering the basics again.

This made me… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 24, 2010 at 8:00am — 4 Comments