Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

How You Can Help Build the Library on the USS New York

Recently, I was contacted by FireRescue contributor Freddie LaFemina of FDNY, about an important project the FDNY is involved in: helping create a library on the newly commissioned USS New York.

That may sound like a strange project for a fire department, but it actually makes perfect sense. Many of you probably know that the USS New York was fashioned from steel from the World Trade Center, so FDNY firefighters have a close connection to the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on February 23, 2010 at 3:20pm — No Comments

A Show of Steel: NYC exhibition highlights naval warship built with WTC steel

A Show of Steel

NYC exhibition highlights naval warship built with WTC steel

By Jane Jerrard

There are countless memorials, tributes and remembrances to the victims who fell at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. But few are as powerful as the U.S. Navy’s new warship, the USS New York, whose bow was forged from 7 ½ tons of steel… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 23, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

COAL WAS WEALTH: Size-up basics you need to know

FireRescue magazine's Fireground Operations column

COAL WAS WEALTH: The basics of size-up, part 1

By Freddie LaFemina

As a young firefighter, I’d always run fire scenarios through my mind. Whether I was checking the apparatus prior to a tour, checking tools or responding to an incident, I’d always perform a mini size-up in my head. Using any information available, such as dispatch information, prior fires or fire prevention inspection… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 22, 2010 at 10:00am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...February 20, 2010 (what day is it? LOL)

To all you blog followers out there, I am sorry I haven't written lately!!!! Alot has happened since my last blog post, some good, some not so good, and some funny.

First for the funny stuff - one of the guys at our firehouse, a very experienced veteran, drove the ladder truck to a call about a mile or so away. General alarm call, nothing to speak about, and 15 minutes or so later was back…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on February 20, 2010 at 9:25am — 1 Comment

You Can’t Do Everything at Once: Multitasking on the Fireground

You Can’t Do Everything at Once

What you need to know about multitasking & how to control it on the fireground

By Billy Schmidt

How can firefighters complete several important tasks—safely, effectively and in a timely manner—while working in the challenging fireground environment? The answer lies in understanding task management and multitasking. Firefighters are only as effective as the results from the actions they take. In this column,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 19, 2010 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

LEADERSHIP VIRTUES

LEADERSHIP VIRTUES…

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Added by Al Mozingo on February 18, 2010 at 4:19pm — No Comments

Guidelines & Best Practices in Youth Fire Service Program Now Available

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Volunteer & Combination Officers Section’s Silver Ribbon Report, Opening New Doors: Guidelines and Best Practices for a Successful Youth Fire Service Program, is now available for download. The fifth in the series of Ribbon… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 18, 2010 at 12:00pm — 1 Comment

Apparatus Junkies: Check Out FAMA.org!

Inside the Apparatus Industry

Check It Out: Fama.org offers an abundance of apparatus information

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

If you’re anything like me, a fire apparatus junkie who never gets enough chrome, red paint, lights and sirens, you may want to take a look at a neat little Web site, www.fama.org, the Web site for the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA), a non-profit association composed of 115… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 17, 2010 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company & Employees Donate $94,496 to Help Haiti

Following the destructive earthquake in Haiti, many companies serving the fire, EMS and law enforcement communities are playing a crucial part in rescue efforts. Over the next few weeks, FireRescue will highlight those companies that are having a direct impact on relief efforts.

Following is one example of a company striving to make a difference in this… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 17, 2010 at 12:00pm — No Comments

CA-TF2 Honored for Service to Haiti

“Everybody is somebody,” said Haiti native and special guest speaker Sam Jean, translating a Haitian proverb for the more than 500 in attendance at the California Task Force 2 (CA-TF2) Recognition Ceremony on Feb. 11, held at the Cecil R. Gehr Fire Combat Training Center for the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD). Screenwriter and attorney Jean, who serves as a board member of the Yele Haiti Foundation founded by his brother, musician Wyclef Jean, delivered an eloquent message on… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 16, 2010 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Only the Best: How to hire the right officer

Only the Best: How to hire the right officer for the job

By Stephen M. Coleman Jr.

As a fire chief, promoting a firefighter to company officer may be one of the single most important decisions you make.

Department personnel are the backbone of our organization, so if we don’t promote high-quality people to lead them, we’re setting up our departments for decreased employee morale, legal concerns and/or problems with public perception and support.

So we… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 15, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

This was always my biggest nightmare

Another tragedy is hitting too close to home for Station 8 of the Cy-Fair Volunteer Fire Department. Last year, one of its firefighters lost both legs in an accident. On Thursday, the daughter of the station's fire captain was killed in a crash the firefighters were sent to in northwest Harris County.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/22536909/detail.html

I don't believe that my children ever really… Continue

Added by Oldman on February 12, 2010 at 10:49am — 2 Comments

Educating community members can make our jobs easier and keep them safer

Helping Others Helps Us

Educating community members can make our jobs easier and keep them safer

By Scott Cook

A few nights ago, my wife woke me up at 2:30 in the morning saying someone was beating at the front door. Pistol in hand, off I go and peek through the peep hole to see four of Hood County’s finest on the porch. I put the pistol on the cabinet and opened the door to a “What’s going on in there?”

“Sleeping.”

“We got a… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 12, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Portland Firefighters Free Man Trapped Between Crane & Steel Plates

RESCUE REPORT: Industrial accident leaves man trapped between crane and steel plates

Photo Courtesy Portland Fire & Rescue

On Jan. 7, Portland (Ore.) firefighters used skill and ingenuity to successfully rescue a worker who had been in an accident at an industrial facility.

The Portland Emergency Communications Bureau received the 911 call reporting the incident at Oregon Steel Mills at 1802 HRS. Within a minute of the call, Portland Fire… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 11, 2010 at 1:30pm — No Comments

What were they thinking in 1982? Same as today?

Head on over to Backstep Firefighter…

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Added by FireDaily.com on February 11, 2010 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Another Flood for Fargo?

FireRescue magazine recently checked in with Captain Leon Schlafmann, emergency services coordinator for the Fargo Fire Department, on the current flood status in Fargo. According to reports, the area will again be deluged by floodwaters from the Red River of the North, and responders have already begun preparations. Last year, responders worked around the clock as record-breaking floodwaters caused hundreds to evacuate. Note: FireRescue will post a…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 9, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

Collapse Time for Different Assemblies

Collapse Time for Different Assemblies

Need-to-know info from Underwriters Laboratories study

By James M. Dalton, Peter Van Dorpe, Robert G. Backstrom and Steve Kerber

Editor’s note: In the February issue of FireRescue magazine, authors James M. Dalton, Peter Van Dorpe, Robert G. Backstrom and Steve Kerber share some information and tactical tips for fighting fires in buildings made of lightweight construction. What follows here is… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 9, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Tactical considerations for firefighting operations in lightweight construction

Battling the Hidden Danger

Tactical considerations for firefighting operations in lightweight construction

By James M. Dalton, Peter Van Dorpe, Robert G. Backstrom & Steve Kerber

Multiple firefighter fatalities at large commercial fires attract the attention and scrutiny they warrant. However, it’s also important to remember that many line-of-duty injuries and deaths occur in single- and multiple-family dwellings during routine, “bread and butter”… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on February 9, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Firefighters Save Elderly Woman

An elderly woman was saved from certain death in a house fire at Britton's Hill, St. Michael. Firefighters responded to the call around 1:57 a.m. and discovered the woman was unable to escape due to burglar bars which were erected on the doors and windows of the smoke filled house.

Three fire tenders with 10 officers from Fire Service Headquarters under the command of acting Divisional Officer Wilfred Marshall and Station Officer Tyrone Trotman responded to the fire which extensively… Continue

Added by Glyne Alleyne on February 8, 2010 at 11:30pm — No Comments

Incident Management Team Plays Critical Role in Connecticut Plant Explosion

Yesterday’s explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Middletown, about 20 miles south of Hartford, killed five people and wounded a dozen.

FireRescue caught up with Bill Higgins, State Fire Disaster Plan Administrator for the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control, who responded to the scene to support the county coordinators and the incident commander with special statewide resources.

“It was an overwhelming… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on February 8, 2010 at 6:30pm — No Comments