Fire Rescue Magazine's Blog (463)

Firefighters & Back Injuries: The New Study

Study involving San Diego firefighters examines back muscle strength, endurance & flexibility

By Joe Verna, Colin Stowell, Richard Parker, Antonio Duran & John Mayer

For information about exercises to help support back strength, check out "Back for More: Exercises that can help prevent low back pain or injury," by Jeff and Martha Ellis, in the November issue… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 3, 2010 at 7:00am — No Comments

It’s Not Your Grandfather’s Fire: Lightweight construction has fire prevention implications, too

It’s Not Your Grandfather’s Fire

Lightweight construction has fire prevention implications, too

By Jim Crawford

“It’s not your grandfather’s fire.”

That phrase was used by Bob Backstrom of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to describe the kind of fire produced by modern contents, construction techniques and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 2, 2010 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

What’s the Difference Between Using a Search Rope & a Rope-Assisted Search?

TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS

Understand the factors that affect whether you will enter a building to conduct a search—and what type of search you’ll conduct once you’re in

By Michael M. Dugan

Searching a fire building can be an extremely difficult and time-consuming task for any truck company. One of our options to help us in this endeavor—a… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 1, 2010 at 6:00am — No Comments

Texas Firefighters Make Numerous Flood Rescues Resulting from Tropical Storm Hermine

By Tom Vines

As Tropical Storm Hermine moved from the Gulf of Mexico into southern and central Texas in early September, it showed much of its force in wind; however, it soon walloped the area with a massive downpour of rain, making for a long shift for firefighters in Killeen, Texas, located approximately 70 miles north of Austin.

Hermine Hits

The long shift began on Sept. 7 at… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 27, 2010 at 5:30am — No Comments

Remembering 6 FDNY Firefighters Killed at Soap Factory Fire 48 Years Ago Today

Today we remember the six FDNY firefighters killed on Oct. 26, 1962—48 years ago today—at the Sefu Soap and Fat Co. Fire in Queens.

• Captain William Russell; Engine 325

• Firefighter James Marino; Engine 325

• Firefighter Richard Andrews; Engine 325

• Firefighter George Zahn; Engine 238

• Firefighter Richard Gifford; Engine 238

• Firefighter Francis Egan; Ladder 115

More than 20 firefighters were working at a four-alarm fire in a soap factory when… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 26, 2010 at 12:00am — No Comments

Internal & External: Managing fireground risks involves controlling situational factors & human factors

FIREFIGHTING-360

By Billy Schmidt

My last FF-360 column, “Means to an End: Effective communication leads to action,” was the first in a series that addresses the characteristics of effective communication and the barriers that prevent it. Following columns will review areas such… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 22, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Back It Up: Dead lifts help strengthen back muscles & prevent back injuries

By Jeff & Martha Ellis

In the July 2007 column “More Power to You,” p. 110, we addressed functional lifts that strengthen your muscles for moderately heavy lifting, such as lifting a ladder from the ground to overhead. There are, however, many situations when we need to lift and move something that weighs considerably more than a ladder, such as extrication power units or fans—not necessarily overhead, but off the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 21, 2010 at 4:00am — No Comments

Good Things Are Happening at E-One These Days

Inside the Apparatus Industry

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

E-One, one of the top five apparatus manufacturers, has weathered the storm surrounding its sale from Federal Signal 2 years ago, and it seems to be doing OK for itself these days. In fact, it’s made some big announcements in the past year. Let’s review.

At FDIC this year, E-One announced its… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 20, 2010 at 6:00am — 4 Comments

USAR Team Rescues Victim from Structural Collapse

Northwest Ohio Region #1 Urban Search and Rescue Team performs complex structural collapse rescue

Story & Photos by Paul Hasenmeier

On July 7, 2010, rescuers in Ohio were called to the scene of a significant structural collapse with two victims trapped. The rescuers—who came from volunteer, combination and full-time fire departments, and who had varying levels of experience and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 19, 2010 at 6:00am — 2 Comments

Tips for Mastering Extrication Tactics Involving Wheel Assemblies

Your guide to the terms, equipment & benefits associated with using wheel assemblies to assist with extrication procedures

Story & Photos by Les Baker

Many responders rarely consider using the wheel assembly to assist with extrication procedures. In fact, most only work with wheels if their department’s protocols involve deflating tires during stabilization. Further, many of these… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 18, 2010 at 1:30am — 3 Comments

Catastrophic Collapse: Remembering 23rd Street

At 2136 HRS on Oct. 17, units responded to a fire in a four-story structure at 7 E. 22nd St. The location housed an art dealer who reportedly stored highly flammable paint and lacquer in the building’s cellar where the fire originated. All photos courtesy…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 17, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Tragic Structural Collapse: The Cardinal Lanes Bowling Alley Fire

On Oct. 16, 1967, the Cardinal Lanes Bowling Alley, located at 515 Anderson Ave. in Cliffside Park, N.J., was involved in a fire. Several crews from neighboring towns responded to the blaze, including five firefighters from the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department, which was called on mutual aid. Several firefighters entered the building that day; tragically, the responding crew of volunteers never made it back out.

Today we remember Chief Gustave A. Genschow, 43, a 27-year…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 16, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

More for Their Money: If we expect a pay raise, we have to do more than just show up when called

More for Their Money

If we expect a pay raise, we have to do more than just show up when called

By Scott Cook

I’ll be the first to say that fire and EMS personnel generally aren’t paid nearly enough. I’ll also be the first to say that we knew what the job paid when we took it—practically begged… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 15, 2010 at 8:00am — 5 Comments

More Power to Ya: 2 lifts that develop strength & integrate muscle groups

More Power to Ya

2 lifts that develop strength & integrate muscle groups

Story & Photos by Jeff and Martha Ellis

Editor's Note: This article originally ran in the July 2007 issue of FireRescue magazine.

There are many benefits to performing lifts that… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 14, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Helicopter Maneuvers Below Bridge to Complete Challenging Rescue

RESCUE REPORT

By Tom Vines

Photos Courtesy Deputy Eric Heilman/Mason County Sheriff's Office

On Aug. 17, six teenagers were hiking in a canyon in the Olympic National Forest in Washington state—specifically, an area that had been closed to the public due to its hazardous terrain—when their expedition took a scary turn. The subsequent rescue… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 13, 2010 at 6:00am — No Comments

Triple Threat: Howard County (Md.) Fire Rescue takes delivery of 2 pumper/tankers & a water-delivery unit

Triple Threat

Howard County (Md.) Fire Rescue takes delivery of 2 pumper/tankers & a water-delivery unit

By Bob Vaccaro

Howard County, Md., has seen significant growth in the last several years. As a result, the Howard County Department of Fire & Rescue Services (HCDFRS) is currently going through some growing… Continue

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

Training Exercise Test Illinois Public/Private Partnership

Putting the Partnership to the Test

A full-scale training exercise provides an opportunity for public- & private-sector leaders to learn from one another

By Rob Ugaste

Photos courtesy Lake-Cook Regional Critical Incident Partnership…

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 11, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

A Look Back: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871

FireRescue recalls the monumental tragedy that spurred the creation of Fire Prevention Week

Note: This article was originally printed in the October 2006 issue of FireRescue magazine.

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Editor’s Note: In honor of Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 8–14, we at FireRescue would like to present our readers with a historical account of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the incident that…

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

The Forgotten Fire: On the same day Chicago burned, disaster of even greater proportion struck in Peshtigo, Wis.

The Forgotten Fire

On the same day Chicago burned, disaster of even greater proportion struck in Peshtigo, Wis.

By FireRescue Magazine staff

Most people remember Oct. 8, 1871, for the Great Chicago Fire, and the devastation and destruction that it caused. But on that same day, a fire of even greater destruction took the lives… Continue

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

Pull-ups Work: A pull-up bar lets you use your own weight to gain muscle strength

By Jeff & Martha Ellis

As firefighters, we’re big on inexpensive tools that facilitate physical training. In many cases, you don’t need equipment at all, just gravity and an imagination—and those are free.

There’s one piece of equipment, however, that provides a multitude of options when strength training and conditioning without requiring you to take a rig out of service to pay for it: a simple pull-up… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 7, 2010 at 4:30am — 1 Comment