A rescue by the Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District of Breckenridge, Colo., proves that you may need to employ rope rescue techniques in the most unexpected places.



On Jan. 31 at 1511 HRS, the Summit County Dispatch center received a 9-1-1 call reporting that a 21-year-old male had fallen down an elevator shaft in a house. The caller said the patient was unconscious and shaking.



At 1514 HRS, the Red, White & Blue Fire District dispatched units… Continue

L EADERSHIP SKILLS

Managing the “Personal” Side of Fire Service Leadership

Leadership requires people skills to maintain operational readiness

By Marc Revere



“Leadership is horrible! Leadership is lonely!” I’ve… Continue

By Keith Klassen



For years, the fire service has been embroiled in the “great compressed-air foam system (CAFS) nozzle debate”—a debate that focuses primarily on which nozzle is best for compressed-air foam (CAF). In reality, CAF can be pumped through any nozzle. However, that doesn’t mean fire departments should just pick a nozzle at random. Nozzle selection must be based on research into how CAF works and consideration of the various factors that make each department…

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A review of some of the safety-related design changes I’m seeing

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro



If you’ve been reading my columns over the past several years, then you’ve probably heard me use the term “ergonomics” many times. I guess when I like a word, I tend to use it a lot—sorry to be redundant! What’s more interesting: Apparatus manufacturers seem to like the word as… Continue

REALITY CHECK

By Scott Cook



How fast can you run?



On Friday, April 15, Eastland, Texas, firefighter Gregory Simmons died in a wildland fire. Simmons’ death was initially thought to be the result of being overrun by the fire, but a later report from the medical examiner relates that he died from blunt-force trauma.…



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The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is working with the Medical University of South Carolina staff to prepare Web programs to meet this need

By Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki



Following is the last in a series of seven articles that describe a new approach to mental and behavioral health in the fire service. Read the other six articles:… Continue

Taming the Twister

Tornado response requires effective command & knowledge of different agencies’ roles

By Mike Walker



Every community recalls history through pivotal events. For example, April 19, 1995, and Sept. 11, 2001, are both dates that changed the course of history for the United States. Most people can say where they were and what they were doing… Continue

By Chief Bob Roper and Lucian Deaton



Firefighters remember the fires that impact our departments and serve as guideposts in the development of our own careers in the fire service. Yet, as we all know, the public will soon forget the threats that they’re experiencing today. Development in the wildland/urban interface (WUI) introduces new and existing residents in our communities—many of whom have pre-existing notions of what it means to live in close proximity to forest,…

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



The following article focuses on a growing issue in the career fire service: the “leadership absenteeism” created by a generation of leaders retiring. Read a complementary article by Tiger Schmittendorf about this issue’s impact on the volunteer fire service… Continue

By Tiger Schmittendorf



The following article focuses on a growing issue in the volunteer fire service: the “leadership absenteeism” created by a generation of leaders retiring. Read a complementary article by Jeff Johnson about this issue’s impact on the career fire service here.…



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Mentoring Advances the Quality of Future Fire Service Leaders

Seasoned fire officials can help prepare next generation’s leaders for excellence

By Kenneth Morgan



With varying missions, a constantly changing environment and decreasing revenue sources that hamper an increasing service demand, anyone in the fire service today knows our occupation is in constant… Continue

Story & Photo by Todd D. Meyer



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The Prevention Evolution

Mentoring transfers knowledge to the next generation while expanding our perspective

By Jim Crawford



There’s been a lot of talk recently about mentoring in the fire service, and about how those of us who’ve been around for awhile need to bring younger people up to speed so that they can take over.… Continue

A Higher Grade

Dr. Denis Onieal shares his thoughts on higher education in the fire service



Across most industries in the United States, the last 50 years have seen a gradual emphasis on the need for education beyond a high school diploma or even an associate’s degree or a technical certification. More and more jobs require four-year degrees. The fire service is not immune to this trend, and as a… Continue

By Michael M. Dugan



All high-rise fires are not created… Continue

Held Fast

Tips for ensuring effective vehicle stabilization

By Homer Robertson



In past Quick Drills, I’ve given you some tips to make vehicle extrication operations go smoother. Our response to motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) has changed so much in the past 25 or 30 years that it’s hard to believe we did things the way we… Continue