May 2011

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Firerescue Magazine
May 2011
May 2011 Issue highlights

Best Practices for Tornado Response

Chief Mike Walker of the Oklahoma City Fire Department shares best practices for tornado response, built on years of experience in responding to such incidents.

By Mike Walker

Big-Rig Extrication Tips & Tactics

Accidents involving big rigs are daunting incidents for first responders. There are a host of unique extrication factors to consider, including those related to stabilization, load types, vehicle construction and other hazards. Todd Meyer offers tips for big rig extrications.

By Todd D. Meyer

Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI)

Red Lodge Fire Rescue & the Cross Boundary Grant Program

Tim Ryan outlines Red Lodge (Mont.) Fire Rescue’s experience while participating in the Cross Boundary Grant Program, a federally funded program designed to enhance a more coordinated response by local, state and federal resources during wildland/urban interface fires.

By Tim Ryan

Tornadoes often hop, skip and jump, leaving some areas destroyed and others intact.
As you identify new areas of damage, assign area commanders to them, along with task forces made up of fire/rescue, law enforcement and EMS transport. (Photo AP/Jaime Oppenheimer)

Best Practices for Tornado Response

Chief Mike Walker of the Oklahoma City Fire Department shares best practices for tornado response, built on years of experience in responding to such incidents.

By Mike Walker animal control, area command, building triage, emergency management, heavy equipment, incident command post, NIMS, NOAA, preplanning, RECON teams, tornado, tornado response, unified command

Big-Rig Extrication Tips & Tactics

By Todd D. Meyer big rigs, big-rig rescue, cribbing, extrication, semi-trucks, semis, shoring, Stabilization, trailed failings, trailed loads

In 2008, the U.S. Forest Service started a trial “cross boundary” program in which federal, state and local resources cooperated on WUI fires. Cross Boundary crews worked several fires together, including the 2008 Cascade Fire. The result: increased mitigation and increased protection of land and homes in the WUI. Photo Courtesy INCIWEB

Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI)

Red Lodge Fire Rescue & the Cross Boundary Grant Program

By Tim Ryan Cross Boundary Grant Program, fire map, fuels reduction, hazard assessment, Healthy Forest Restoration Act, home assessment, Mapping, mutual aid, public education, WUI

Quick Drills

Use “Recipe” Cards to Enhance Training

When it comes to training, volunteer departments struggle with time limitations. In this Quick Drills, Homer Robertson introduces a form of training that fits better for adult learners and allows members to train on their own time throughout the month.

By Homer Robertson Adult learning, recipe cards, self-directed learning, skills evaluation

I took the 550 cord on a backcountry ski tour, where I used it to descend a steep bank. (Photo Glenn Pinson)

TNT (Tools News Techniques)

Gear Test: SurvivalStraps’ Survival Bracelet and Survival Belts

After testing SurvivalStraps’ Survival Bracelet, Belt and general 550 cord, Andy Speier reports that the products would be great to have during rescue emergencies, as they can be deployed quickly and can be doubled up to form descent-control devices. Also, a portion of the proceeds go to a good cause.

By Andy Speier drop line, Extrication Rescue Gear Test, Rope Rescue, Survival Belt, Survival Bracelet, SurvivalStraps, tagline

AFD personnel now use QlikView’s Operations Dashboard to monitor four key measures: NFIRS report completion, CE completion, inspection completion and turnout and response time. (Photo Courtesy Austin Fire Department)

TNT (Tools News Techniques)

By the Numbers

Research conducted in UL’s Northbrook, Ill., facilities examined fire service ventilation practices, combined with fire behavior involving modern home construction and furnishings. The conclusion: There are major changes happening in the residential fire environment and, as such, firefighters need to reexamine their tactics, especially those related to ventilation.

By Elizabeth Gray Rhoda Mae Kerr

Nozzlehead

Tough Times Ahead for Fire Departments

After a reader writes to Nozzlehead explaining that he is being too negative about how the economic crisis has affected fire departments, Nozzlehead tries to address the reality of station shut-downs, brownouts, declining volunteer numbers, etc., and offers ideas for how the fire service can help change the public’s perspective.

By Nozzlehead door control, legacy construction, lightweight construction, modern fuels, synthetic fuels, UL, Underwriters Laboratories, vent enter search, ventilation, ventilation-fueled fire, VES

UL’s 3-minute video shows a modern room where a lit candle is placed on the sofa. These photos show the room at 3 minutes after ignition. (Photos Courtesy Steve Kerber/Underwriters Laboratories)

A Closer Look at the UL Ventilation Study

By Jane Jerrard door control, legacy construction, lightweight construction, modern fuels, synthetic fuels, UL, Underwriters Laboratories, vent enter search, ventilation, ventilation-fueled fire, VES

Rescuers deployed a throw bag to each victim, and then sent PFDs on the throw-bag lines, which were controlled from the shore.

Rescue Report

Ventura County Water Rescue

After a difficult search for the location of a potential water rescue, the Ventura County (Calif.) Fire Department discovered four men stranded atop their 4Runner, surrounded by the cold, fast-moving water of a flooded creek. Tom Vines offers the play by play of how rescuers saved the men.

By Tom Vines flood, water rescue

Response Time

Leadership Is About Serving Others

In his final column before retiring from the fire service, Chief Brian Crawford reflects back on his career and the lessons in leadership he learned along the way.

By Brian A. Crawford dedication, leadership lessons, service, serving others

2013 ISSUES

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OLDER ISSUES (2009-2006)

December 2009	August 2008	April 2007
November 2009	July 2008	March 2007
October 2009	June 2008	February 2007
September 2009	May 2008	January 2007
August 2009	April 2008	December 2006
July 2009	March 2008	November 2006
June 2009	February 2008	October 2006
May 2009	January 2008	September 2006
April 2009	December 2007	August 2006
March 2009	November 2007	July 2006
February 2009	October 2007	June 2006
January 2009	September 2007	May 2006
December 2008	August 2007	April 2006
November 2008	July 2007	March 2006
October 2008	June 2007	February 2006
September 2008	May 2007	January 2006