President's Letter

Marketing Your Service

IAFC President Chief Jeff Johnson explains the importance of marketing your value to the community, noting that you can market your services, your personnel and your apparatus in order to help achieve community buy-in for your programs.

By Jeffrey D. Johnson

The Issue of Background Noise in Radio Communications

Many departments’ communications systems can become overwhelmed by background noise on the fireground. Ott Huber discusses how to deal with background noise and how to properly train on the use of portable radios. He also discusses what’s being done now by agencies and manufacturers to correct the problem.

By Otto J. Huber
Safety

The Benefits of Performing a Size-Up

Randall Talifarroÿdescribes a particular fire response from his past as an example of what can go wrong when a company officer ignores the BC’s orders, and then addresses the importance of fireground size-up and safety.

By Randall Talifarro
  • President's Letter

    Marketing Your Service

    IAFC President Chief Jeff Johnson explains the importance of marketing your value to the community, noting that you can market your services, your personnel and your apparatus in order to help achieve community buy-in for your programs.

    By Jeffrey D. Johnson
  • Noises from different elements on the fireground can overwhelm radio communications. Center photo: Glen Ellman, truck photo: Mike Meadows, fan photo: Glen Ellman, chainsaw photo: Cary Ulrich

    The Issue of Background Noise in Radio Communications

    Many departments’ communications systems can become overwhelmed by background noise on the fireground. Ott Huber discusses how to deal with background noise and how to properly train on the use of portable radios. He also discusses what’s being done now by agencies and manufacturers to correct the problem.

    By Otto J. Huber
  • Safety

    The Benefits of Performing a Size-Up

    Randall Talifarroÿdescribes a particular fire response from his past as an example of what can go wrong when a company officer ignores the BC’s orders, and then addresses the importance of fireground size-up and safety.

    By Randall Talifarro
  • Near-Miss Reports

    Why We Need RITs

    Using two Near-Miss reports in which a rapid-intervention team was called in to help, Deputy Chief John Tippett explains the importance of RITs and offers tips for how you can ensure your department has a solid, functioning RIT of your own.

    By John B. Tippett Jr.
  • During an indirect attack, firefighters utilize natural barriers, such as roads, to protect them from becoming surrounded by oncoming flames. Photo Ed Sherman
    Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI)

    WUI Attack Strategies

    When attacking a WUI/wildland fire, the objective is always to control the head, flanks and heal of the fire. In this article, Thomas Aurnhammer describes 3 tactics firefighters can employ to accomplish these objectives: a direct attack, an indirect attack and a parallel attack.

    By Thomas W. AurnhammerDavid Vega
  • Company Officer Development

    The Far-Reaching Effects of Company Officer Decisions

    Ray Gayk explains that company officers decide how their crew is going to respond to an emergency, therefore, they have the ability to drastically affect--or impact--the outcome of every emergency. If they assist victims in every way they can, they can potentially alter the individual's life, as well as the wellbeing of their entire community.

    By Ray Gayk
  • Kicking doors in can be hard on our bodies; ankles, knees, back and shoulders pay the price. By using the right tools for the job, we work smarter and look like true professionals. Plus, forcing entry in a controlled manner helps control the effects of ventilation. Photo Glen Ellman
    Quick Drills

    A Forcible-Entry Trick-of-the-Trade

    The “baseball swing” simplifies forcible entry into a one-person job. Homer Robertson gives a complete description of how departments can perform and drill on this useful technique.

    By Homer Robertson
  • Fire Prevention

    The Future of Fire Service Leadership

    Jim Crawford makes the argument that public educators possess many of the qualities needed to lead the fire service in the future.

    By Jim Crawford
  • Response Time

    Promotion Equals Pain?

    Although it’s not frequently acknowledged, leadership roles in the fire service bring substantial challenges that can test even the most confident personalities.

    By Brian A. Crawford
  • It's too late to learn forcible-entry techniques once the alarm goes off; there's usually only enough time to determine which technique will be needed and to ensure the appropriate tools arrive at the entry location. It's the amount of training you do ahead of time that determines the difficulty of the actual skill performed on the fireground. Photo Scott LaPrade
    Truck Company Operations

    Know Your Forcible-Entry Basics

    Jim McCormack explains forcible-entry basics from the right tools to do the job (K-tools, hydraulic tools, rotary saws and, of course, irons) to size-up particulars to specific skills all truck company crews need to know.

    By Jim McCormack

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