Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

There's more to a "Parade Load" than just looks...

Sure a Parade Load looks great, and our employers (citizens/ taxpayers) always deserve to see that we take our job seriously. We should do everything with a maximum amount of pride and professionalism, but more importantly, a Parade Load has an important functional purpose. That rain guard should protect the hose. If hose is "bulging" out of it, then the loops just get wet, look ugly AND potentially allow hose to be grabbed unintentionally by an… Continue

Added by S. Trotter on May 18, 2009 at 12:00pm — 6 Comments

A Spartan Attitude for Firefighters

I recently watched the movie “300” and find it to be inspiring and historically interesting. I have seen it maybe three or four times and this most recent viewing it made me stop and think. These Spartans were a proud, honorable and highly trained group of men and society. It was an honor to die protecting Sparta.

Sound familiar? The fire service should be a place that we are proud, honorable and in trying to save a life, we are revered for giving our lives to save another. At least that… Continue

Added by Jason Hoevelmann on May 17, 2009 at 11:07am — 10 Comments

1st Due Arithmetic

The "When is it Vacant...?" discussion on Firefighter Nation brings up a basic question about balancing the response to the incident. I don't have all of the answers to such a complex question, particularly in a short venue in a blog like… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on May 16, 2009 at 2:59pm — 1 Comment

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2009

Sunday 17 May marks the 26th anniversary of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is among the world’s oldest movements for HIV/AIDS remembrance, awareness and community action.

The first International AIDS Candlelight Memorial was held in 1983, when the cause of AIDS was unknown and no more than a few thousand AIDS deaths had been recorded. The organisers wished to honour the memory… Continue

Added by Glyne Alleyne on May 15, 2009 at 7:04pm — No Comments

Why Cut AFG? DHS Secretary weighs in

In a previous post, I noted that IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger hinted at increased funding to come for the fire service.

Unfortunately, last week the administration actually proposed reducing the AFG program by 70 percent. Although this was "offset" by significant increases in the SAFER grant, it was hardly sounded like the increase in funding Schaitberger promised--overall, as… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on May 15, 2009 at 10:30pm — 3 Comments

IAFC VP Testifies Before Congress Supporting Better Hazmat Preparedness

The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) 1st Vice President Jeff Johnson, chief of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, yesterday called for improved national preparedness for the response to hazmat incidents in his testimony before Congress.

During his testimony, Chief Johnson noted that among the nearly million daily shipments of hazardous material each year, there are about 250,000 incidents. When those incidents occur, he assured Congress that “the local fire and… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 15, 2009 at 8:16am — No Comments

June 1 Deadline to Apply for IAFC Foundation Scholarships

The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation (IAFCF) is accepting applications for its educational scholarships from qualified first responders until June 1, 2009.

Any person is eligible to apply if he or she is an active member with a minimum of three years’ volunteer, two years’ paid or a combination of paid and volunteer of three years with a state, county, provincial, municipal, community, industrial, or federal fire department.

Scholarships provided by the… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 12, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

Dinosaurs and Kids These Days - Generational Differences in the Fire Service

“I don’t know what to do,” said the senior officer. “My firefighter talks on his personal cell phone on the way to emergency calls and texts during group meals. When told to do something around the station, the first thing he says is, ‘Why?’ or ‘Right now?’ The kid is strong and smart, and you couldn’t ask for a better firefighter on emergency scenes. But this other stuff is a real problem.”

“I don’t get it,” responds the younger firefighter. “How can you become a leader… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 11, 2009 at 5:36pm — 9 Comments

When did it happen.........

I turned 45 this year and I got to wondering, when did I go from being the young eager kid who wanted to know everything I could about fire and rescue work, to the one that the young kids look to for answers to their questions. I don't really recall a point where I knew that I was no longer the young wide eyed kid, it just happened gradualy. I started learning more and eventualy there was someone asking me the same questions that I had asked. I went through FFI and FFII, the haz-mat, and… Continue

Added by John Schander on May 10, 2009 at 5:00pm — 3 Comments

On Duty Sleeping Conditions

How does your department operate? What kind of beds do you all use? We have recently been placed in vinyl matresses that are extremely uncomfortable to sleep on and some members on my shift have resorted to sleeping on air matresses and egg carton foam. Just looking at what you all use. Thanks!

Added by Keenan Mulvaney on May 10, 2009 at 1:57pm — 6 Comments

Staying Fit in a Weak Economy

SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST

Finding Strength in a Weak Economy: How to remain physically fit on a tight budget

Story & Photos by Fire Captains Jeff & Martha Ellis

Times are tough. We’re all feeling the pressure of our current economic state. Some of us are worried about keeping our jobs or current salaries. Families, fire departments, municipalities—they’re all tightening up their budgets. As a result,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 10, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

How Aggressive Suppression?

Fire Engineering editor Bobby Halton makes statements that force us out of our comfort zone. My first encounter with this was reading the December 2006 editorial about fire-based ems. Flying out to a January conference in Phoenix, here was the opening paragraph of a letter-to-the-editor I was writing:

I was left with a queasy feeling while reading Chief Halton’s December editorial “Rampart, This is Squad 51.” I understand the issue of protecting the fire service… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on May 10, 2009 at 7:11pm — 12 Comments

Rope Rescue Question...

So the other day I went on a 10-50 and long story short, ended the call carrying a 550lb+ guy up a steep hill on a longboard about 50 yards or so to the ambulance. I was one of six, myself the only firefighter, helping a couple emt's and the rest cops, and unforunately the communication lacked making the job overly difficult. My dad is a career firefighter and gave me an idea of using a stokes tied off to a rope, and a pully as an axis point on the truck at the edge of the hill. With enough… Continue

Added by Jake on May 8, 2009 at 12:14am — 10 Comments

Quick tips for deploying hose from the rear hosebed

QUICK DRILLS

Move to the Rear

Common mistakes & effective strategies for deploying hose from the rear hosebed

Story & Photos by Homer Robertson

If you look at the way our fire apparatus have evolved over the last 30 or so years, it’s amazing how many changes and improvements have been made. This is especially evident when you look at how hose is stored and loaded on new fire apparatus.

Not that many years ago,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 8, 2009 at 8:00am — 14 Comments

Hazmat gets a little more comfortable

You might not like it, but fire service responsibility for hazmat is here to stay. And as more firefighters become certified to NFPA 472 Operations as a minimum training competency level for hazmat incidents, there’s growing need to have chemical and hazmat personal protective clothing (PPC) that allows firefighters to actually move and work with less restriction.

Conventional chemical PPC are often heavy and cumbersome, “moonsuits” that, while designed for maximum protection of the… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on May 7, 2009 at 3:52pm — No Comments

Know Your Mobile Water Supply Options

RURAL FIRE COMMAND

Tender Tactics: Mobile water supply methods for the rural setting

Story & Photos By Keith Klassen

In many areas of the country, apparatus carrying large amounts of water to the scene are called water tankers. In fact, according to the National Incident Management System, tanker is the correct term for such a thing. But in the western United States, if you request a tanker to respond to your fire… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 7, 2009 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Successfully Transitioning from Company Officer to Battalion Chief

One of the most difficult and challenging transitions in the fire service is going from “us to the them,” particularly the jump from company officer to battalion chief. One day you’re riding shotgun in the engine supervising a crew of typically one to four personnel, and the next day, you’re most likely driving the SUV or Crown Victoria, riding by yourself, and supervising anywhere from five to thirty personnel, or even more.

Becoming a chief officer should not be taken as… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 7, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Double-Ended Roof Ladders to the Rescue!

TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS

It Takes 2 … : Hooks at both ends of the ladder simplify roof operations

By Peter F. Kertzie

It’s easy to become enamored with the newest, fanciest and most technologically advanced products that fire service manufacturers can come up with—especially those being pitched with the most “flash” or displayed with the help of a model in a bikini top and bunker pants. The excitement caused by some of… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 6, 2009 at 12:00pm — 10 Comments

Got an idea for a new fire service product? DHS' TechSolutions wants to hear about it

Do you have an idea for a new fire service product? Have you identified a need for a technology that would help you better perform your job more safely, efficiently and effectively?

The TechSolutions program, run by the United States Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), is providing a venue for first responders to directly submit "capability gaps"--basically, an idea for a new product or technology that isn't met by current products on the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 5, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Safety Culture vs. Extinguishment Culture – Smart Fire Departments Can Have BOTH!

If you have a personal or departmental "Extinguishment Culture", would you grab a line and enter this flashed over abandoned house that is showing signs of impending collapse? If you have a personal or departmental "Safety Culture", would you wear your SCBA , a traffic safety vest, and crank a PPV fan while sitting in the rig a half-mile down the street? Chances are, if you are a U.S. firefighter, you'll choose an option somewhere… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on May 1, 2009 at 8:30pm — 12 Comments