Thanks for the warm welcome

Devan,
Try this we start taking apps on April 18, you can do it on line. http://www.spokanecity.org/jobs/ I will be out of town for 6 days starting tomorrow. I will not have a computer, when I get back I can answer any questions for you.

Do college if you have the chance, you will never be sorry.

Hey Devan, I have been well, I have been building a new company level training program for our station. It has been slow the las month or so, but they 14 calls yeasterday and we have had 4 this morning (07:30 to 09:30) so it is shaping up to be a busy day. Have you been testing at any departments?

Nice to meet you!!

Thanks for accepting my friend request! It's nice to see someone else from the Heart of Dixie! :) Come see us at the CDP sometime! Take care and God Bless!

Let me know it that worked, if not send me your e-mail and I will e-mail them. In the building of training props Station 4 has done the following. They have rail cars on tracks in out training area, a non-pressurized tanker they can practice entry into. The have buried some concrete sewer pipe that runs into a underground cistern. This has several sizes of pipe coming into it, 18 inch, 24 inch, 36 inch. They are built into a maze so they can be used for entry and retrieval practice. Our sewer and street departments provided us with damaged pipe that they were done with and helped us put it in. They also have some concrete slabs that they can practice digging under, they are all piled caty-whampus like a building collapse. There is also a trenh area so they can practice collaped trench rescue. The team from Station 4 trains everyone on the department on recognition and operations every year. This R&O class is required in our state for trench, confined space, rope rescue and Haz-Mat every year. It is a big job training 300 firefighters.

2.50.03.02 Trench Rescue (11-11-03).pdfDevan, Sorry this took so long. You know how it goes sometimes. I am sending you our policies on confined space rescue and trench rescue. These are the operational policies for the first on scene engine of truck. The tech rescue team, Ladder4 and Engine 4 have their own rules to work from. I will see if I can get that later. This is recognition and operations policy for first arriving companies, not technition level stuff. Be safe.2.50.03.01 Confined Space Emergency (11-11-03).pdf

Devan, I am off work for a weeks vacation. When I get back I will see what our department has now and send it to you. In 1995 I worked on Ladder 4 and we were the first company to be trained in Tech Rescue, con/space, rope and trench. Now Station 4 (E-4 & L-4) do tech rescue. I was instrumental in starting the program. I will add that the IAFF will come and train departments free of charge but I think you have to have an IAFF local ask for the training. I will check on that also. I will get back to you.

Thanks Devan for refering me to this site. I like it already .

Devan, I think Cairns makes the best leather. Check out the fire equipment suppliers in your area ans see if you can try some on. Mine is a "Houston" model, 6A I think.
Also, the officer, LT. and Capt. are behind the nozzleman or with the ladder crew on every fire department that I know of, none of them are with IC, we do have officers with IC but they are not Company Officers. They might be a training Lt. or a Safety officer, etc.

Our tillerd ladder, Ladder 4 has the officer, two drivers, the tillerman gets drivers pay and 1 FF. The tillerman and the FF are the roof (ventilation) team, the officer and the driver go inside and search, they also do forcible entry. Also, we have 4 shifts, we work 24 hrs on duty and then have 3 days off. We also have 9 days a year we have to work extra, out of that schedule, to make the work week balance at 46.1 hours.

Yes, we have 4 FF on our ladders, that si 1 officer, 1 driver and 2 FF. Wverone handles tools and the work load. My engine has 4 as well, most of our engines have 3 people. So if you are a captian, every ststion has a station captian and he is the shift officer on his shift. He also runs the station. Every other shift has a lieutenant on duty, they are the shift officer/company officer. Everyone pulls hose, masks up and fights fire. Our Battalion Chiefs do not go into the fire, they have the command duties.

Devan, The info is in my profile. But briefly, I work on Engine 3, Spokane Fire Department, Spokane, Washington. Spokane has 205,000 population, we are 35 miles from Idaho and 110 from Canada. Our Departments has 305 full time paid firefighters. We have 13 engines, 3 ladders, 1 heavy rescue and 2 battalion chiefs onduty. That is 56 people on duty every day. My engine ran 3805 calls last year. Engine 3 is the busiest engine in Washington, Seattle and Tacoma have some busy companies as well, but not quite as busy as we are. I have been a FF for 35 years, a lieutenant for 20. I have been on engines most of the time but I did work on a squad for 3 years and ladder trucks for 8. If you have questions just ask.

Great to meet you. Stay safe. Heather

Helmet is SOLD

Devan, Most of the schools around here are between 12 and 18 months. It takes out medics about that, the department puts them through the community college. Central Washington State U. has a medic program as well. We run medics on our engines, a private ambulance transports. I have two medics on my engine, we had about 3600 runs last year. Good luck.