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First Due Friday; 2-Story Balloon Frame Rockin’ on the Peninsula

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: Watch the video of this heavily involved 2-story balloon frame house. Note the wind and the exposures. Give us your RECEO breakdown, initial actions and initial rig placement. Have fun…

What is your initial report?
Rescue considerations?
Exposures?
Confinement issues?
Extinguishment strategies and tactics?
Overhaul, what areas will you focus initial searches for extension?
Rig placement?

NOTE: This video was found at The Fire Critic, via YouTube. It shows a challenging fire for our Brothers in Charleston, SC.

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Dispatch & Communications, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, Technology & Communications, Training, Training & Development, Videos

Tagged attack, attack line, Charleston, charleston fire department, Command, crew, Engine, Engine Work, entry, exposure, exposures, fire, fire attack, firefighter, firefighters, firefighting, forcible entry, hose, irons, ladders, manpower, nozzle, radio, rescue, RIC, safe, safe firefighter, safety, saw, SCBA, search, staffing, strategy, streams, survival, tactics, tradition, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation, weather, wind

1 comment Posted by safefirefighter on January 6, 2012

Your Chance to be the Chief’s Aide (Cool Video)

As seen on YouTube and Facebook…

NOTE:

The Command presence
Notice the professionalism of the operating crews
Notice the window A/C unit falling to the street (around :40)
Notice the Outside Vent crew stopping floor below as the Engine starts getting a knock on the fire

Go to the Facebook conversation to get full details, accounts and reactions from brothers in cyberspace as well brother who were at the fire and know the area and operations… http://www.facebook.com/NateDeMarse/posts/292471494132640

Thanks and be safe!

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Dispatch & Communications, Emergency Communications, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Technology & Communications, Training, Training & Development, Videos

Tagged attack, attack line, Brooklyn, brotherhood, Command, crew, Engine, Engine Work, FDNY, fire attack, firefighter, firefighters, firefighting, forcible entry, hose, irons, leadership, pride, radio, rescue, safe, safe firefighter, safety, strategy, tactics, tradition, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation

1 comment Posted by safefirefighter on January 4, 2012

First Due Friday: Row House Fire

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?

NOTE: Source of photo unknown

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Dispatch & Communications, Emergency Communications, Fire Dispatch, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Rescues, Technology & Communications, Training, Training & Development, Uncategorized

Tagged attack, attack line, brotherhood, classes, Command, crew, Engine, Engine Work, entry, fire, fire attack, firefighter, firefighters, firefighting, forcible entry, health, hose, irons, ladders, leadership, LODD, manpower, motivation, nozzle, ownership, pride, radio, rescue, RIC, row, rowhouse, safe, safe firefighter, safety, saw, SCBA, search, staffing, strategy, streams, survival, tactics, townhouse, tradition, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation

2 comments Posted by safefirefighter on December 23, 2011

2012 Class and Event Planning In Progress

Make training, professionalism and pride part of your New Year’s resolution! We’re in the process of building our 2012 calendar with intense, realistic hands-on training, interactive classroom events and good old-fashioned brotherhood. A couple of events already scheduled include:

Ventilation, Entry & Search Techniques – Southeastern Fire School @ SC Fire Academy – March 10, 11
SC State Firefighters/ Fire Chiefs Conference – Myrtle Beach, SC June 4-9

In the works we’ve got:

S.A.F.E. Firefighter- Smart, Aggressive, Fundamental, Efficient (Interactive Lecture, 2 Hour) – 2 in January – Dates in the Works
First Due Forcible Entry (Hands-On, 8 Hour) – Early February – Dates in the Works
Ventilation, Entry & Search Techniques (Hands-On, 16 Hour) – Mid February – Dates in the Works
First Due Forcible Entry (Hands-On, 8 Hour) – March- Dates TBD
Fireground Rescue (Advanced RIC) (Hands-On, 16 Hour) – April – Date TBD

This is just the beginning. We still have numerous other ENGINE & TRUCK classes available for to match to YOUR NEEDS!

Let us know if you want to SIGN UP for any of these classes OR SCHEDULE YOUR OWN CUSTOM CLASS!

For more information, call (843) 247-6044 or email info@safefirefighter.com.

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, News, Rescues, Special Operations, Technology & Communications, Training, Training & Development

Tagged attack, attack line, brotherhood, classes, Command, crew, Engine, Engine Work, entry, fire, fire attack, firefighter, firefighters, firefighting, forcible entry, health, hose, irons, ladders, leadership, LODD, manpower, motivation, nozzle, ownership, pride, radio, rescue, RIC, safe, safe firefighter, safety, saw, SCBA, search, staffing, strategy, streams, survival, tactics, tradition, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on December 19, 2011

First Due Friday; Truck Arrives First at a House Fire

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 are the Officer on the 4 person TRUCK company who ARRIVES FIRST at this single-family house fire. Due to other call volume, the FIRST DUE ENGINE is 5 minutes away.

Where is the fire?
Where is it going?
As a TRUCK, what tactics can you perform ahead of, without, an Engine for 5 minutes?
What tactics are a priority?
What are your assignments to YOUR crew?

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Emergency Communications, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, News, Rescues, Training, Training & Development

Tagged attack, attack line, brotherhood, classes, Command, crew, Engine, Engine Work, entry, fire, fire attack, firefighter, firefighting, forcible entry, hose, irons, ladders, manpower, nozzle, rescue, RIC, safe, safe firefighter, safety, saw, SCBA, search, staffing, strategy, streams, survival, tactics, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation

3 comments Posted by safefirefighter on December 16, 2011

First Due Friday: “Big Box” Search

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 are on duty with your usual crew on your usual rig. You arrive at this working fire in Lowe’s. The fire is in the rear loading dock area and spreading into the store. The manager reports at least 2 employees still inside. They were last seen in the rear (close to but not in the area of the fire). YOU CREW IS ASSIGNED PRIMARY SEARCH FOR THE VICTIMS. Smoke conditions diminish as you go deeper into the building until they are almost zero visibility w/ low to moderate heat. You encounter the typical “big box” layout (as pictured).

What are the known hazards?
What are the unknown hazards?
What resources would your FD assign to accomplish the necessary strategy or tactic?
What tactics would you use to accomplish your assignment?

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Emergency Communications, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Rescues, Special Operations, Technology & Communications, Training, Training & Development

Tagged attack, attack line, brotherhood, Command, crew, Engine, Engine Work, entry, fire, fire attack, firefighter, firefighters, firefighting, forcible entry, hose, irons, ladders, leadership, manpower, motivation, nozzle, ownership, pride, rescue, RIC, safe, safe firefighter, safety, saw, SCBA, search, staffing, strategy, streams, survival, tactics, tradition, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation

3 comments Posted by safefirefighter on December 9, 2011

I Have Always Done Victim Survivability Profiling

VSP is one of the hottest topics of conversation in the fire service today. Captain Marsar’s research has taken the fire service by storm and has created an interesting “new” flavor of the month for those who feed on “firefighter safety through spectatorship”. Maybe it was because of my animosity for the “let it burn” folks within our profession that I was initially against the concept of deciding if a building is searchable from the front yard and was unfairly biased. However, the more I read about and discuss it the more I realize that I HAVE ALWAYS PERFORMED VSP!

What conditions do I have, where are they and where are they going?
What time is it and where are the people inside?
Where and how can I get in to this building?
How do I get out of this building?
Do I have enough resources to do what I need to do now?
What can I do now?
Is this an offensive or defensive fire?

Is this a size-up or Victim Survivability Profiling (VSP)?

Our priorities of life safety, incident stabilization and property conservation (LIP) are one of the first things that you learn when you get into this job. As our training continues, we learn about phases of fire, flashover and how to “read” smoke. Then, hopefully, someone taught you about Lloyd Layman’s tactical considerations of RECEO VS (rescue, exposures, confinement, extinguishment, overhaul… vent and salvage… in that order). What is supposed to happen is, you take all this knowledge, fight a few fires, learn from them, reapply as necessary then repeat.

As this process continues over years, you hone your skills, learn from your misreads, mistakes and close calls (or better yet someone else’s) and get better and smarter. After time, you become the “senior man” or the officer in charge and get to use that knowledge and experience. YOU decide mode of operation, where and how to position the first line and where/how to start a search. NOW YOU GET TO DECIDE WHO LIVES AND WHO DIES. If a civilian dies at one of “your” fires, DID YOU AND YOUR CREW (as an extension of you) DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO PROTECT THEIR LIFE in the manner you were taught your first week of fire training?

TENABLE versus VIABLE, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. Tenable may depend on smoke, heat, flame and interior layout of the occupancy or any combination. Things are NOT always as they appear from the exterior. Viability MAY be related to tenability, however occupant age, health and relative location to the fire all impact how long someone may be “viable”. For that matter, our actions may directly impact tenability and how long someone may be viable.

How efficiently the first line gets stretched, advanced and water gets on the fire will have the greatest impact on tenability. The time it takes us to get the smoke out of the building will also directly and greatly drive how long someone may be viable. However, the only location on the fireground that is the most tenable AND protects viability is OUTSIDE. Getting IN, searching tenable areas and pulling people OUT of the buildings is the only true way of holding up our end of the deal.

One of my favorite quotes from Chief John Salka is “You don’t know what you don’t know.” We live and work in the unknown and OUR REALITY is making decision based on limited or unknown information. Sometimes a situation leads us into some dangerous areas based on conditions, information and YOUR gut feeling. These factors may lead you through or around “untenable” areas into those “voids” where panicked civilians seek refuge when faced with no exit and certain death. They are not condemned to death; they are just waiting for us to come in a get them. That’s where our training, experience, discipline and professionalism are put to the test. It is not our job to decide who lives and who dies. It is our job to do our job by getting water on the fire, letting the smoke and heat out and helping the helpless.

“Can They Be Saved? Utilizing Civilian Survivability Profiling to Enhance Size-Up and Reduce Firefighter Fatalities in the Fire Department, City of New York.” , Stephen Marsar
“Survivability Profiling: Applying What We’ve Learned”, Stephen Marsar, Fire Engineering July 2011
“‘Survivability Profiling’ is Key to Ending Preventable LODDs”, Stephen Marsar, FireRescue Magazine November 2011
“Muliple Rescues in Fatal Lewisdale Fire”, from www.hvfd.com
“…Report Critical of Pasadena Fire Department’s Failure to Find Woman’s Body After Fire”, from Pasadena Star News Online
“Sometimes It’s Not So Simple”, from www.backstepfirefighter.com

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Major Incidents, News, Rescues, Technology & Communications, Training, Training & Development, Videos

Tagged attack, backstep firefighter, brotherhood, Command, crew, dave leblanc, efo, Engine Work, fire, fire attack, fire engineering, firefighter, firefighters, firefighting, firerescue, health, hvfd, leadership, LODD, manpower, motivation, nfa, nozzle, ownership, rescue, RIC, safe, safe firefighter, safety, SCBA, search, staffing, stephen marsar, strategy, streams, survival, tactics, tradition, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation, victim survivability profiling

2 comments Posted by safefirefighter on December 1, 2011

RIC Refresher Breakdown

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

Everyone’s great attitudes and efforts made the last two weeks a blast and an awesome training environment!

Thanks to everyone who participated, to the BTFD Training Division and Command Staff for their help and support. As always we appreciate the feedback we received from everyone and there’s no doubt that future training will be made better from your ideas and observations.

We would also like to thank our partners, Desert Diamond Industries, Leatherhead Tools and Avon Mfg. Their continued support enables to provide the most realistic training with the best equipment, all made in the USA!

If your department is looking for REALISTIC & INTENSE, HANDS-ON BASED TRAINING, check out our CLASSES PAGE or contact us at INFO@SAFEFIREFIGHTER.COM or (843) 247-6044.

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Mass Casualty Incident, News, News and New Stuff, Rescues, Special Operations, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized

Tagged Avon Mfg, brotherhood, classes, Command, crew, Desert Diamond Industries, Engine, FAST, firefighter, firefighters, firefighting, forcible entry, health, irons, ladders, leadership, Leatherhead Tools, LODD, manpower, motivation, ownership, pride, Proactive, radio, Rapid Intervention, rescue, RIC, RIT, safe, safe firefighter, safety, saw, search, strategy, survival, tactics, Training, Truck Work, ventilation

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on November 16, 2011

Taking Saws and Blades to the Next Level!

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

Posted in Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, News, Rescues, Special Operations, Technology & Communications, technology-communications-ems-topics, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Truck Work, Uncategorized, Videos

Tagged classes, entry, fire, firefighter, firefighting, forcible entry, rescue, safe, safe firefighter, safety, saw, strategy, tactics, Training, truck, Truck Work, ventilation, vertical ventilation

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on October 3, 2011

Video- Detroit’s 9th Fire in One Hour!

Found this 2-part video of a serious fire in Detroit. This fire originated in the obvious dwelling, then spread to the neighboring duplex.

Some background of this incident and some of the things people will notice:

According to the description, this was the 9th arson fire in THIS NEIGHBORHOOD in ONE HOUR.
The minimal use of SCBA. According to the comments, these crews had run FOUR fires continuously and their was no more air available when this fire was dispatched.
The Officer at the exposure performing “Das Boot” forcible entry. Remember, bringing a tool (especially a Halligan or set of irons) can accomplish in one try what his boot took four. This will hold true in MOST residential setting barring any security “surprises”.

Some of the interesting points about this operation:

The initial rig placement w/ the truck front and center
The flawless layout of the notorious “Detroit Bundle” AND an exposure line from the first Engine, putting two lines in service simultaneously
The immediate attention given to the exposure (both residences) despite heavy fire from the main dwelling. No one had “moth to the flame”. Granted in Detroit, I’m sure they’re pretty much past that stage.
As a result of the above, very quick knockdown of both the exposures and the main dwelling fire
An overall very professional operation by some of the hardest working fireman in the country. Great job.

Enjoy the videos and be SAFE!

Posted in Command & Leadership, fire, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Funding & Staffing, Major Incidents, News, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Truck Work, Vehicle Operations & Apparatus, Videos

Tagged attack, attack line, brotherhood, Command, crew, Engine, Engine Work, entry, fire, fire attack, firefighter, firefighting, forcible entry, irons, manpower, safe, safe firefighter, safety, SCBA, staffing, strategy, tactics, Training, truck, Truck Work

2 comments Posted by safefirefighter on October 2, 2011

Change the Way You Train

Are you looking for quality, cost-effective Fire Service training options?

I’m excited to be a part of a new training event series that will bring first-rate education and hands-on training to affordable, regional locations. There are two events this fall from Go>Forward Training:

Gateway Midwest in St. Charles, MO, Oct. 21-23

Liberty Regional in King of Prussia, PA, Nov. 4-6

Over the weekend, more than 18 educators will teach 30+ sessions for firefighters, company officers & chiefs. The instructor lineup features a combination of speakers – both big names you’ll recognize and some new faces with fresh perspectives. Pre-conference seminars will start two days before with big fire service names such as Tim Sendelbach, Alan Brunacini, Dennis Rubin and Rich Gasaway.

These unique and fully interactive events will feature hands-on training, conferences and social opportunities all geared towards making you a better firefighter, officer and leader!

The hands-on training includes classes like RIT, Forcible Entry, Man-in-Machine, Engine Co. Officer Development and more – and you can choose two-day progressive classes or combine hands-on and conference sessions. And there’s time for social sessions and 1:1 interaction with peers and instructors, so you can really build your network.

I’m excited to be teaching “S.A.F.E. Firefighter: Smart, Aggressive, Fundamental, Efficient” in both locations, and also “Get Your Head In The Game: Size Up for Every Seat” in Pennsylvania.

“S.A.F.E. Firefighter…Your” This class will compare what we learn in the classroom to working on the street. We will talk about that dirty little word; “aggressive”, how it is perceived and how aggressive mentalities should be applied in the fire service. We will also talk about firehouse and fire ground fundamentals. Finally, we will discuss how to bring all of these concepts together, apply them to your daily life as a firefighter and the impact that it will have on your crew and department.

“Get Your Head in the Game…” This “kitchen table” style training will introduce new ideas for performing en route size ups, initial on scene reports and traditional on-going assessments. Participants will be able to interact during open-forum conservations and tabletop scenarios comparing “old school” and “new school” fire conditions, strategies and tactics. Regardless of experience level, everyone will get great feedback, ideas and drills to take home and share.

To check out these events and register, go to www.goforwardtraining.com.

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, News, Technology & Communications, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized

Tagged brotherhood, classes, Command, Engine, Engine Work, entry, fire, firefighter, firefighting, forcible entry, GoForwardMedia, GoForwardTraining, health, irons, leadership, LODD, matt mcdowell, motivation, ownership, pride, safe, safe firefighter, safety, strategy, survival, tactics, tradition, Training

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on September 18, 2011

Preplanning During EMS Runs

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?

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged behavior, ems, Engine, fire, fire attack, firefighting, forcible entry, irons, medical, Preplan, safe, safety, strategy, tactics, truck

3 comments Posted by safefirefighter on August 8, 2011

What Is The Best Complement You Can Get?

Short and Simple…

As a firefighter, what is the best complement that you can GIVE and/or RECEIVE?

Be SAFE

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics

Tagged blog, brotherhood, complement, development, ems, fire, firefighter, mentor, mentorship, quote, safe, safe firefighter, safety, Training, trust

1 comment Posted by safefirefighter on July 13, 2011

Not So Vacant, Vacants (Part 2)… What Would You Do?

Notice Anything Strange w/ These “Vacant” Under Construction Rowhomes?

In last weeks post, “Not So Vacant, Vacants”, we showed some pictures of a vacant, under construction, row with signs of occupants. Now we want to hear from you.

What would you do given the following scenario?

You are dispatched to “smoke in the area”. Dispatch is reporting multiple calls. You arrive on the block to find heavy smoke pushing from the second floor, middle of the row.

Do you suspect life hazard? Why or why not?
What is your operational mode?
What are your tactical priorities?
How would you deploy your crew and how would you assign other resources?

Take this scenario as far as you want. If you run with 1 on a rig, go with it. Tell us how you would accomplish your suppression goals. If you have 16 firefighters on a First Alarm and want to take it to 3-alarms, awesome, tell us how you would use the resources. We look forward to your feedback.

Be SAFE

Posted in Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Training & Development

Tagged Command, Engine, fire, firefighters, fireground, life hazard, safe firefighter, safety, search, strategy, survival, tactics, truck

3 comments Posted by safefirefighter on July 6, 2011

Not-So-Vacant, Vacants

We were out in the Engine and noticed something odd about the rowhouse pictured below. Construction was stopped a couple of years ago, this row was boarded up and marked “unsafe”. However, the opened windows on the second floor peaked our interest. As we checked it out further, we discovered a problem that may be easily taken for granted in a “suburban” area.

When most of us think about fighting fires in vacant buildings we either envision urban areas with blocks of old and derelict houses or rural settings where a single old house sits decaying in the overgrowth. These pictures are from a random row of empty, new construction, houses in an otherwise well-kept suburban neighborhood. Given the demographic of this area, firefighters generally wouldn’t think twice about calling this row “EMPTY” or “VACANT”. Presumably, they would set their strategies and tactics in motion accordingly.

THESE PICTURES ARE PROOF THAT WE CAN NEVER TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED. This is why we EXPECT FIRE and WHY WE SEARCH!

This post is riding on the coat tails of couple of recent Fire Engineering Blog Talk Radio episodes where they discussed strategy, tactics and size up of vacant structures. The links are below and it’s a GREAT listen.

: Notice Anything Strange w/ These "Vacant" Under Construction Rowhomes?

: That's not normal!

: Would your 360 notice this?

: Is this a sign of occupants or slack construction workers?

: These holes are from one end of the row to the other.

FireEngineeringTalkRadio, Episode 46- Keeping Fire In Your Life from June 20, 2011

FireEngineeringTalkRadio, Episode 38- Traditions Training from June 7, 2011

Thanks and Be SAFE

Posted in Command & Leadership, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Major Incidents, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos

Tagged Command, fire, firefighter, go, no-go, operations, safe, safefirefighter.com decision, safety, strategy, structure, structure fire, survival, tactics, tasks, vacant, vacant structures, victim, victim survivability profiling, VSP

1 comment Posted by safefirefighter on June 28, 2011

Equations or Effectiveness? Have We Become So Smart We’re Stupid?

The following article is a great “peek” into the state of the modern fire service and shares a very honest and accurate observation as to our possible direction and future as the American fire service. It is being shared with permission from Joe Brown, www.justlookingbusy.wordpress.com. Enjoy!

How did it come to be this way? Is this truly the future of the fire service, to not fight fires at all? It’s hard to be called out for being wrong when you stand on the side of over-cautiousness with a second helping of safety. And alas that is where the nation’s authors have gone to avoid confrontation, a catch phrase contest on who can be the safest.

I have a new catch phrase for you, “Return to Effectiveness”. Effective actions combined with appropriate timing to achieve a positive outcome. Effectiveness = fires go out, people get rescued, the fire department does it’s job.

Don’t sell yourself short… read the rest of this great post at www.justlookingbusy.wordpress.com

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Lessons Learned, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics

Tagged brown, DCFD, fire, firefighting, joe, kentland, mentoring, safe firefighter, safefirefighter, safety, strategy, tactics, Training

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on May 18, 2011

“Out Of Air”, Great Video for Air Management Program

This video was sent to me by Matt Mokracek via Facebook. It’s a trailer for an air management training program. The message is clear and hard-hitting. CHECK IT OUT & PASS IT ON!

Thanks again to Matt for the link.

Be SAFE

Posted in Administration & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, In the Line of Duty, Training & Development, Videos

Tagged air, air management, cancer, fitness, health, operations, RIC, safety, SCBA, survival

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on April 11, 2011

Burn!

Think your FD needs help?

Check out this promo for a documentary on Detroit Fire Department. It’s a great video and can really put things into perspective.

Be SAFE

Posted in Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, News, Training & Development, Uncategorized, Videos

Tagged Burn, cutbacks, Detroit, economy, fire, health, LODD, safety

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on February 23, 2011

Tricks vs. The Trade

“What you showed me isn’t in the book. What are the Chiefs gonna say if I do this? Are you gonna have my back if I do this and someone says something?”

This is a real quote from a firefighter at a recent training. As an instructor and a fire officer, one of the “hurdles” I have encountered is that people have FF1, FF2, a cape and a “S” on their chest. However, when they pull up with fire blowing, they don’t know whether to stretch a line or go fetal.

We seem to always worry about what “the book”, the Chief or a lawyer will say. Also, we are so worried about book knowledge and pieces of paper that we fail to learn the real life application of our job.

A buddy of mine took a class from Mike Ciampo at FDIC. In that class, Ciampo told them that he didn’t agree with the term “tricks of the trade” because the “the tricks ARE the trade”. We are losing, or have lost, mentorship and skill sharing in the fire service. If we don’t learn it in “the Essentials” or take an online class about it, it doesn’t exist. Then we wonder why firefighters die.

I’ve gotten deer in the headlight looks when asking firefighters what they would do if their preconnect didn’t reach, how to size up a handline and what “shocking the door” was. Guys have told me that we offensively attack fire with a wide fog and didn’t know what “the irons” were. And we wonder why firefighters die.

Safety is more than just a buzz word, a sticker on a helmet or a program. True safety is grassroots, its hands-on and its continuous. It’s being proactive instead of reactive. A couple of nuggets that I remember from Tom Brennan are his desire to perform “seven tasks all at once” and to “make the building behave the way WE want it to”. If our training and operations more closely mirrored this approach, we may see the LODD numbers continue to drop.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS!

Thanks and be SAFE

Posted in Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Line of Duty, Training & Development, Uncategorized

Tagged firefighting, LODD, safety, trade, tricks

3 comments Posted by safefirefighter on January 5, 2011

Roll Call for October 9 – October 22

Roll Call for October 9 through October 22

SAFE Firefighter is going to give an overview of how WE did as a fire service from Saturday to Friday of every week. Please feel free to leave comments or add comments with links to additional information. Thanks and Be SAFE!

Roll Call for the week of October 9 through October 22…

LODD-RFB

William Akin Jr., Fire Police Captain (Ghent, New York)
65 for 2010

Civilian Fire Deaths

58
1468 for 2010

Close Calls

Other News

Posted in Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, In the Line of Duty, News, Roll Call, Safety and Health, Training & Development

Tagged health, LODD, news, safety, Training

1 comment Posted by safefirefighter on October 25, 2010

Roll Call for October 3 – 9

SAFE Firefighter is going to give an overview of how WE did as a fire service from Sunday to Saturday of every week. Please feel free to leave comments or add comments with links to additional information. Thanks and Be SAFE!

Roll Call for the week of October 3 through October 9…

LODD-RFB

2 (Jim Saunders and Thomas Innes)
64 for 2010

Civilian Fire Deaths

46
1412 for 2010

Close Calls

“Mayday in Emmitsburg, MD Fire” from www.firefighterclosecalls.com
“7 Firefighters Transported from HazMat Fire in IL” from www.firefighterclosecalls.com
“CT Fire Apparatus Struck by Semi” from www.firefighterclosecalls.com
“House Fire Injures Three Tennessee Firefighters” from www.firehouse.com

Other News

“5 Dead, 7 Injured in Ohio House Fire” from www.firerescue1.com
“Run-Down Gear May Put Fire Crews at Risk” from www.boston.com
“Phoenix Fire Department Asking Feds for $6.8 Million” from www.azcentral.com

Posted in Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Line of Duty, News, Roll Call, Safety and Health, Uncategorized

Tagged fire, LODD, roll call, safety, Training

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on October 15, 2010

What it Takes To Be Aggressive

I started this blog to educate members of the fire service as to what it REALLY means to be a safe, aggressive, fundamentally sound and efficient firefighter. The interaction of all these principles is equally as important as any one by itself. Of each of these, the principle of being aggressive seems to be the black sheep that no one really wants to talk about due to its “stigma”.

If you are not willing to aggressively perform ALL of the tasks necessary to extinguish a fire, then you are, or will be, lacking in the other three principles.

In our business, being aggressive reflects confidence in your abilities and those of your crew(s). There are, however, conditions to being an aggressive firefighter/crew. Lack of adherence to these conditions results in the actions of the ignorant and foolish and THIS is what causes firefighter injuries and deaths. This ignorance, disguised as being brave and aggressive is what gives the term “aggressive” its stigma.

To be truly aggressive at a fire, you have to:

Know and understand ALL equipment on your rig
Know and understand your role on the fireground
Know and understand ALL types of building construction
Know and understand how to “read smoke”
Understand the effects of fire on roof and floor systems
Size-up the building and fire conditions BEFORE making tactical decisions (regardless of rank)
Fully understand the principles of BTU vs. GPM
Understand what aggressive AND coordinated ventilation means
Realize that ladders are for US also
Realize that a fire is not out until we put it out
Realize that a building is not clear until we clear it
Have adequate resources on scene to execute “Plan B”
Be able do ALL of these things at EVERY fire!

If you, as a firefighter, fire officer and/or command officer can account for all of the above, then your decisions will be educated and your risks will be managed. However, if you cannot, then you may be flirting with disaster. Will you be aggressive…or ignorant?

Thanks and Be SAFE.

Posted in Command & Leadership, Firefighting Operations, Training & Development

Tagged aggressive, safety, tactics

2 comments Posted by safefirefighter on July 5, 2010

Commercial Forcible Entry for Residential Doors

I caught this on vententersearch.com the other day and then was forwarded a link to additional info by LT Derek Franks (BTFD T375). This door is pretty intense and, if not identified recognized on scene, could waste time and energy should we have to gain entry into a building.

Essentially, they are high security, reinforced steel doors with up to six (6) dead bolts (controlled by a single lock) and dressed to look like standard residential wooden doors. Though it’s deceiving, shocking the door prior to attempting to force it should help you identify its construction as well as strong, and not-as-strong, points.

After seeing pictures and watching the video, it seems that either a K12 or solid through-the-lock techniques may be the best option if you find yourself up against this door. Since all of the throws are controlled by one lock, pulling or spinning the lock and using key tools should be pretty quick.

Here are some links to info about the doors and to some tactics for forcible entry:

Residential Security Door – from vententersearch.com

Master Security Doors – Manufacturer’s website

How It’s Made – Master Security Door YouTube Video

Shocking Doors – YouTube video from Brotherhood Instructors

Through-the-Lock – YouTube video from Bellingham Fire Department

Posted in Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Strategy and Tactics, Training & Development, Truck Work, Videos

Tagged doors, fire, forcible entry, locks, safety, strategy, tactics

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on May 26, 2010

March Madness & Company Teamwork

It’s March, which means that the NCAA Basketball Championships are happening. Like most, this year has been full of surprise wins, surprise losses and surprise teams. Every year, flashy, marquis teams are sent home by teams from small schools that play hard-nosed and fundamental basketball. Because I relate everything to firefighting, it occurred to me that there are lessons to be learned from these teams that can be applied to our profession and personnel.

Someone once asked me if I would rather be, ” a great player on an average team, or an average player on a great team.”

The problem with average teams with great players is that, if you take away the great player, you lose. The success of the team depends solely on the performance of an individual (or very small group of people). You are in trouble if any of the “great” players have a bad day or are not there. Not an ideal position to be in.

Oppositely, if you are an average player on a great team, the recipe for success could have many different ingredients. For example, you may be a great player surrounded by other great players. You may also have a group of average players who know and understand their role within the team, making it very effective and successful. Either one, or a combination, of these is a good example of what a fire company should strive to be.

I relate this to urban/metro fire department versus suburban/rural fire departments. Urban departments often get the repetition (fire action) to become great players. Sometimes, their staffing allows them to specialize and truly hone their knowledge and skills. Meanwhile, suburban departments may have to take on a “jack of all trades” approach. There is nothing wrong with either of these scenarios. Things are what they are, however what is important is identifying what type of “team” you have and clearly identifying and understanding everyone’s role.

One of the most important things, for any fire company, First Alarm Assignment and department is for everyone to know each other’s role and how it fits into the big picture. Whether you are the first Engine arriving with five members or three or the second Truck with four or two members, everyone needs to know what’s going on and what needs to be done. Whether it’s a basketball team or a fire crew, their ability to know and execute the game plan is vital to their success, and for us…safety.

Posted in Command & Leadership, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Training & Development

Tagged CRM, safety, teamwork

No comments Posted by safefirefighter on March 31, 2010

Firefighter Health and Wellness

I was checking out Firehouse.com this morning and read the headline “N.J. city Bans On-Duty Firefighter from Gyms”. After reading the article, I realized that many of the people that we are accountable to (i.e. citizents and politicians) really don’t get it. They don’t get how physically demanding this job is and they don’t get why we need to maintain active lifestyles and still get plenty of sleep and rest(even on duty). Perhaps we (as a fire service) are not doing a good enough job of educating and justifying our programs. During times like these, the need for us to justify almost everything should be expected.

The City’s Business Administrator justified their actions by saying “the cost of medical claims, not to mention loss of personnel as they recover from those injuries, makes the gyms an expensive liability.” There are numerous long-term studies that confirm that comprehensive and ongoing health and fitness programs reduce worker comp claim and associated costs. The collateral benefit is that you also get a healthier, happier and better prepared firefighting force. The Administrator goes on to say, “Until someone tells us that working out is job-related, you can’t do it”. Really?!

Perhaps someone should educate them on the IAFF/IAFC Wellness Fitness initiative or on the “Firefighter Health and Safety Research” project being completed by Indiana University on the effects of physical conditioning and sleep on firefighter health.

Below is a short news clip of the I.U. Research project from WTHR 13 in Indianapolis. Watch it and share it with your crews, your chiefs and your city officials.