December 2011

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Firerescue Magazine
December 2011
December 2011 Issue highlights

cover story

New Firefighter Injury Tracking Program Launched

Battalion Chief Henry Costo reports on the progress of the Firefighter Injury Research and Safety Trends (FIRST) program.

of by Henry Costo

Is the training division willing to endorse and promote the extrication training program? Providing high-quality, objective-based training takes effort. A high-quality program takes cars, equipment and qualified trainers. Firefighters will get bored with standard check-the-box training. Challenge them. Photo Todd D. Meyer

Make the Cut

Are You Willing to Do Your Part on the Extrication Scene?

The extrication scene can be a dangerous place, and to successfully extricate victims without causing additional harm, we must have partners who support our mission. Here, Todd Meyer addresses all the different groups, from the company officers to the sales reps, who need to do their part in order to ensure our extrication operations are as effective as possible.

By Todd D. Meyer extrication, partnerships

Preparation for cold weather is important for all departments, even those that don’t experience a lot of snow and ice. Photo Glen Ellman

Quick Drills

Cold Weather Preparation

When cold weather hits departments like Fort Worth, Texas, it can take a much greater toll than on departments that are used to seeing lots of snow and ice. In this article Capt. Homer Robertson shares some tips for cold weather preparation.

By Homer Robertson cold weather, cold weather ops

Wildfire threatens a house near Possum Kingdom, Texas, on April 19, 2011. AP Photo/LM Otero, File

Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI)

2011 Texas Wildfires: Two Perspectives

The 2011 wildfire season was unprecedented in the state of Texas. The Texas Forest Service and the Austin Fire Department give their perspectives on just a few of the fires they responded to this past year.

By Cindy Devone-Pacheco Austin Fire Department, Bastrop County, Josh Portie, Matt Cox, Paul Hanneman, Pinnacle Fire, PK Complex, Possum Kingdom Lake Fire, Texas Forest Service, Texas Wildfires

From the Editor

Looking Beyond the First 5 Minutes

All firefighters are taught that the first five minutes of any fire are the most important in determining the direction of the incident. FireRescue Editor-in-Chief Tim Sendelbach offers another perspective—that of the chief officer, who cares not only about the operational success of any one incident, but also on the overall impression it makes on the customer.

By Timothy E. Sendelbach customer service, first five minutes, Mrs. Smith

Drying turnouts with the Gear Dryer system takes hours instead of days, and there’s no heating element in the 110-volt fan, which ensures that the dryer is NFPA-compliant and does not void manufacturer warranties. Photo Chad Allison

TNT (Tools News Techniques)

Gear Test: Continental Girbau’s ExpressDry Gear Dryer

Perhaps one of the most uncomfortable aspects of firefighting is wearing wet turnouts. NFPA guidelines do not allow for the use of heating units in gear dryers, which may be part of the issue, but as Chad Allison discovered, you don’t need one. Allison reviews Continental Girbau’s ExpressDry Gear Dryer.

By Chad Allison C6-MU, Continental Girbau, ExpressDry Gear Dryer, model C4-MU

TNT (Tools News Techniques)

Ice Rescue Tips

FireRescue technical editor Tom Pendley recently published his fourth edition of “The Essential Technical Rescue Field Operations Guide.” Here are a few key tips from the guide on proper ice-rescue tactics.

By Tom Pendley

Nozzlehead

The Debate about Names on Turnout Jackets

After a reader writes in to Nozzlehead, asking for how he can get his chief to see the need for adding names on turnout jackets, Nozzlehead explains how such identifiers help maintain fireground accountability so officers can ensure the safety of their crews.

By Nozzlehead

The Commack Fire District took delivery of this 2010 Smeal/Spartan quint that features a mid-mount 100' ladder and a 2,000-gpm pump. Photos Bob Vaccaro

Apparatus Ideas

In Suffolk County, an Early Apparatus Replacement Saves Taxpayer Money

Apparatus Editor Bob Vaccaro takes a look at the Commack Fire Department’s new quint, which was purchased to replace a 10-year-old apparatus, giving the department enhanced fire attack capability while also saving taxpayer money.

By Bob Vaccaro apparatus funding, mid-mount ladder, quint, Smeal, Spartan

Fire Attack

Fires in Balloon-Frame Construction

The work involved in a balloon-frame construction fire doesn’t necessarily end when the seat of the fire is extinguished. As Mike Kirby and Tom Lakamp point out, balloon-frame construction holds many void spaces where fire can extend and hide. Kirby and Lakamp also discuss tactics for fighting the hidden fire once it’s found and the resources required for the job.

By Mike Kirby Tom Lakamp balloon-frame construction, hidden fire, void spaces

The overall “general impression” of a vacant structure is most often good. For interior crews, the obvious sign of vacancy, especially in residential structures, is a lack of furniture. Photo Scott LaPrade

Truck Company Operations

Truck Ops in Vacant, Abandoned & Derelict Structures

During these difficult economic times, firefighters are called on to respond to an increasing number of fires in vacant, abandoned and derelict buildings. Here, Randy Frassetto offers tips about how to identify which type of building you’re facing, and how truck operations should differ in each.

By Randy Frassetto abandoned, derelict, roof, vacant, ventilation

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