Irmo Fire District, in Columbia, SC, will be hosting 2 open enrollment 4-Hour Street Smart Forcible Entry 1 classes on June 27 & 28.  Both sessions will be from 0800-1200 hrs.  Details are below:

Street Smart Forcible Entry 1 (4 Hours)-  Nothings stops a firefighting operation  faster than a tough door.  Keep your fire attack moving by forcing more doors in a day than you may have in years!  This intense hands-on class challenges participants through high repetition forcible entry operations.  Topics include door size-up, inward & outward forcible entry, “baseball swing” method and through-the-lock.

• BOTH classes limited to 16 students and are filled on first come, first serve basis
• $35/ student
• June 27, 2012 from 0800-1200 hrs OR
• June 28, 2012 from 0800-1200 hrs

• REGISTER FOR THE CLASS HERE: Registration for Forcible Entry 1_Irmo
• CLICK HERE FOR A CLASS FLYER

Hope to see you there!  Be SAFE!

Share your strategies, tactics and experience!  Every Friday we’ll post a picture or video and want to get your take on the situation.

THE SCENARIO:  Here We Go!  What would your FD’s operations look like for something like this?   How many and what type of resources, water supply considerations, exposure considerations, etc.?  Enjoy!

• PLEASE REMEMBER… First Due Friday is a CONSTRUCTIVE tool!  Mudslinging comments WILL NOT be posted.  Thanks and enjoy!

This past weekend, we were fortunate to be able to teach our “Ventilation, Entry & Search Techniques” class at the South Carolina Fire Academy’s annual Southeastern Fire School.  We had a great weekend both teaching (& learning), spending time with old friends and making new ones.  Here are some of the highlights…

• 377 – Ground ladders were thrown
• 290- Security bars were cut
• 232- Rooms were searched
• 87- Doors were forced with the irons
• 58- Locks were cut
• 1- Busted lid

Safe Firefighter, LLC and our instructors would like to thank the SCFA for having us and for their logistical support, especially David Coates.  We’d also like to thank the students for their hard work and open minds.

Get It Done, No Excuses. Be SAFE.

Share your strategies, tactics and experience!  Every Friday we’ll post a picture or video and want to get your take on the situation.

THE SCENARIO:  You’re wearing all the hats today! You’re dispatched to a reported “structure” fire.  It’s the middle of the week during Christmas vacation and the neighbors don’t know if the kids are there or not.

• What is your initial report?
• Where is the fire?
• Where is it going?
• How many lines do you anticipate for this fire?
• What size AND length line would you use?
• HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY DO YOU PLACE ON SEARCH?
• What search tactics would you use?
• What type and where would you vent?
• What tactics are a priority?
• What are your assignments for YOUR crews?

Saws, irons, ladders and rescues were the flavor of week for our brothers in Bluffton, SC.  Safe Firefighter, LLC just wrapped up a RIC Refresher for the Bluffton Township Fire District.  Training included calling the Mayday, self-rescue, rapid intervention crew assignments and operations and performing proactive RIC tasks.

Luckily, each company was able to train with their own crew which made the training that much better.  As a result of their hard work, the BTFD logged the following stats:

• 48 training hours
• 320 staff hours
• 320 Maydays called
• 160 “window bars” cut
• 160 “slide bolts” cut
• 80 “padlocks” and chain cut
• 80 hinges cut
• 80 doors force w/ the irons
• 80 windows laddered and vented by 1 firefighter
• 21 RIC deployments
• 21 downed firefighters rescued

Safe Firefighter, LLC is proud to announce it’s newest sponsor/ partner Desert Diamond Industries.  DDI began manufacturing cutting blades for the construction industry and has found a new, and growing home, in the fire service.

Their key fire/rescue products include the “Safety Blade”, the new industry standard in multipurpose diamond blades currently in use by some the largest and busiest department’s in the U.S. and endorsed by Brotherhood Instructors.  Some of their other FD products include the 12 and 24 tooth carbide tip blades, the ideal option for  vertical ventilation operations, the multipurpose “Chunk” blade and countless other tools  for rescue/ US&R applications.

Backed by a “Lifetime Operator Error Warranty”… “When lives are on the line, the last thing you need to worry about is your blade!”

To see their full line of products click here: Desert Diamond Industries

You can see these products in action during any of our Truck Company and/or Forcible Entry Classes!

Contact Safe Firefighter, LLC @ info@safefirefighter.com for more information

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I recently updated the through-the-lock setup that I carry in my gear (see pics below).  For years I had used a modified set of locking pliers (ViseGrip style) with separate key tools and shove knife. This setup has proven extremely effective at both alarm runs and working fires.

I’ve decided to change my setup to a modified “Channelok” setup.  It’s going to allow me merge 2 tools into 1 and I’ll be able to store it in a smaller pocket.  I am actually using an Irwin/ Vise Grip brand plier that slide-locks into place (no more finding the right notch) that is modified to match the Kerry Key from Fire Hooks Unlimited (see pic).

Though I was taught early in my career the importance of door and lock knowledge and “alternate” means of gaining access, it is apparent that this is a lost art in the fire service.

Below are some links to great articles, videos and pics.

Happy training and Be SAFE.

Photo by author

Photo by author

Photo by author

ARTICLES:

“History of Lock Pulling Tools”, www.midwesternfirefighter.com

“Through the Lock Forcible Entry: Key in the Knob Locks”, www.blog.brotherhoodinstructors.com

Video of Brotherhood Instructors, LLC via YouTube

Video of Brotherhood Instructors, LLC via YouTube

Video from Wichita FD via www.VentEnterSearch.com

Snapped this picture during an EMS run. Invaluable lessons can be learned by paying attention during non-fire runs.

Some of the things we noted:
1. The additional slide bolt lock on the front door
2. No door knob on the bedroom door
3. Open light fixtures
4. Only one smoke detector (in the kitchen, not pictured) but it was 3 feet down the wall.

What hazards and/or fire behavior can we expect from these pictures?

When discussing attack line tactics, one of the most important points to remember is for the Nozzle Firefighter to always show up at the door with, at least, 1 section of hose often referred to as the “working length”.  This working length is intended to ensure that the Nozzle Firefighter has sufficient line to advance into the fire area and accomplish extinguishment.  What about the 100 feet or so behind the working length? Who manages that hose and how?

Regardless of staffing, there are certain objectives, or good practices, that all engine companies should try to accomplish that will aid in advancing the attack line into the structure.

• Load the line properly and neatly in the first place. A line loaded nicely will deploy nicely.
• When stretching the line, the second firefighter on the line needs to either have the next 2 sections (100 ft.) on their shoulder or grab the next coupling behind the working length. By grabbing the coupling you eliminate the possibility of it becoming snagged during the advance as well as move 2 sections of line
• Spread out on the line. The fire building should be crowded enough.  Implement a Control Firefighter position whose job it is move line from outside to inside the building and, once the line is in, chase kinks and snags to ensure the line keeps moving.
• Train on ways to effectively move line with limited manpower and physical exertion. The pictures above demonstrate the “loop” method for moving extra hose into a building.  This method requires very little physical effort to move and you can “roll” the loops in the hallway instead of having to find somewhere to flake out line.

Often times, we focus on the end and forget about the means, getting water on the fire but not considering how to get water to fire.  This often results in either a scramble by the attack crew to find out why the line will not move or assigning additional resources to help get the line moving again.  In both cases time and/or resources are wasted and risk to operating crews and possible victims is increased.

There should be little debate that the most important tactic on the fireground is getting the first attack line in service and on the fire.  Keeping the line moving is the most important factor in making that happen. We have to train to be coordinated and proficient at every fire.  Use the smells-and-bells and the “bread and better fires” to hone skills like these so that the next challenging fire you run turns out the way we all want it to.

Practicing these concepts will get the next 100 feet of line through the door and give the Nozzle Firefighter the best chance to use his working length effectively.

Thanks and Be SAFE