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Featured Blog Posts (679)

Be Honest; Call It Bureaucratic Bulls**t!

I will provide the pertinent links at the end of this blog. But first…the blog. On February 9, 2007, a terrible tragedy occurred in Baltimore, MD. Fire Cadet Racheal Wilson died during a live burn training exercise at an abandoned row house. Her death lit up the fire service discussion boards across this country over a multiplex of issues. The incident brought swift and sweeping changes within the Baltimore City Fire Department; most notably the removal of the Director of Training and the resi… Continue

Added by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on November 18, 2009 at 4:20pm — 11 Comments

Elevator Rescue, Country-Style

First off, you have to understand - there aren't a lot of elevators in Millbrook. To be precise, counting the new high school and the new library, there are three that I can think of. In a few other buildings, there are semi-enclosed handicapped lifts that hold a single wheelchair, but as far as actual, shaft-type elevators - not many buildings over one story, so not much of that. That being said, we try to be proactive, so the first-due engine carries a full set of regulation elevator keys, an… Continue

Added by Ted Bownas on November 17, 2009 at 6:30pm — 7 Comments

Challenges of Wind-Driven High-Rise Fires

Blowin’ In the Wind, Part 5 The challenges of working in wind-driven high-rise fires By Fred LaFemina Editor's Note: This article is part of a series on high-rise fires. Read the other posts: Part 1: Understanding conditions behind wind-driven fires Part 2: Performing an exterior sur… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 16, 2009 at 3:34pm — No Comments

When “Through the Lock” Won’t Work: Tips for forcing entry without the usual tools

When “Through the Lock” Won’t Work Tips for forcing entry without the usual tools Story & Photos by Steve Shupert

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Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 16, 2009 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

FireEMSBlogs.com, Firehouse Zen and You

If you haven't checked out FireEMSBlogs.com yet, here's an invite over to see what the WebChief and others hath wrought. We've got a few of the old gang from over here on FFN blogging as well as some others, but there's some real quality information, e… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on November 19, 2009 at 9:42pm — 1 Comment

3 Hot New Products from Fire Research Corp.

One Proactive Manufacturer: Fire Research Corp. pumps out 3 new innovative products By Bob Vaccaro Long Island, where I hail from, is not really known as a hotbed of fire industry manufacturers. However, one company that calls this place home is actually a major player in the game—a player that may sometimes get overlooked: Fire Research Corp. (FRC). If you attend the various fire service shows around the country like I do, it would be really unusual if you didn’t notice the large displ… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 15, 2009 at 2:00pm — No Comments

Know Who You Should Thank for Their Work--& How to Thank Them

LEADERSHIP SKILLS Giving Thanks: Know who you should thank for their work—and how to thank them By Jim Broman The mayor stood and walked to the podium, pulling a small set of speaking notes from his jacket. He glanced across the banquet tables filled with city employees, volunteers and family members. After noti… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 11, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Who's The Moron? Firefighter arrested for speeding to call

Firefighter arrested for speeding to fire call in NC screams the headline on FireRescue1 at http://www.firerescue1.com/volunteer/articles/602445-Firefighter-arrested-for-speeding-to-fire-call-in-NC/ GIBSONVILLE, N.C. — A Gibsonville firefighter arrested last month on his way to an apartment fire no longer faces felony charges, but the district attorney's office won'… Continue

Added by lutan1 on November 10, 2009 at 2:30am — 17 Comments

The First Line Determines the Result

A fundamental basic to any successful fireground operation is a successful initial hoseline stretch. It seems simple enough, so why should we drill on it so much? Three main reasons: Errors in the initial stretch have resulted in firefighter injuries and fatalities We go to fewer fires … Continue

Added by Bill Carey on November 9, 2009 at 10:45pm — 3 Comments

The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© - Episode #34

Anyone Got a Light? The house at 431 Maple Street died a very quick death. From the time Engine 53 arrived, it only took 12 minutes for the structure to start its collapse into the basement. Jake had seen fast-moving fires, but those were in warehouses and were fueled by wood, paper, mattresses, propane gas and air; lots of air! But he had never seen a residential fire burn so quickly. Man, that friggin’ fire had some energy thought Jake. “Fire spread was supersonic, eh… Continue

Added by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on November 9, 2009 at 8:22pm — 2 Comments

Approaches to more effectively & safely attacking high-rise fires

High in the Sky Approaches to more effectively & safely attacking high-rise fires Editor’s note: Over the years, complex high-rise fires have challenged some of our most seasoned firefighters; these fires include the First Interstate Bank of Los Angeles, Four Leaf Towers in Houston and The One Meridian Plaza in Philadelphia. Some of the most extreme issues deal with wind-driven fires, limited access for civilian rescues, complex air management requirements and crew rotation, l… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 9, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

The best advice I got from an old firefighter was:

We have such a wide variety of ages in the membership here at FirefighterNation.com. Such diversity offers the great opportunity to pass along nuggets of knowledge from the old, grizzled, sometimes cranky old veterans down to the younger firefighters who represent the future of the fire service. Some are good, some are just plain funny. But, I've found that I can lea… Continue

Added by FireDaily.com on November 7, 2009 at 4:08am — 4 Comments

Class A Foam Makes for Speedy Attack on Vehicle Fires

RURAL FIRE COMMAND Quick Knockdown: Class A foam can make for a speedy attack on vehicle fires in rural areas Story & Photos by Keith Klassen Although vehicle fires are a common response for any department, they can be more challenging for rural departments where longer response times and distant water so… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 5, 2009 at 12:00pm — 7 Comments

Trading Precious Resources for TIN!

Having been involved in the fire service for almost 30 years, I have read and discussed firefighter deaths, as well as listen to many fire service intellectuals espouse their opinions on our fatality rate compared to other occupations, risk vs. gain, community expectations, etc. What I have found is that there are TWO, distinctly separate camps, where it comes to what is “acceptable” and what is not. That is; there are those who believe that an average of 100 deaths a year isn’t bad, when you c… Continue

Added by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on November 15, 2009 at 10:31pm — 7 Comments

Candlemoth Syndrome

How many firefighters have experienced Candlemoth Syndrome? I know I have, particularly when I was younger and less experienced. Candlemoth Syndrome is a firefighting cousin of Target Fixation, where firefighters ar… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on November 4, 2009 at 7:33pm — 7 Comments

Study recommends frequent rest for fire service instructors

Accept Your Limits: Study recommends frequent rest for fire service instructors By Stefan Svensson Recent studies conducted in Sweden have led to changes in the way live-fire instructors conduct training. The results of these studies were presented at the International Firefighting Safety Conference, held in conjunction with the International Fire Instructors Workgroup meeting in Australia earlier this year. The studies measured consequences due to hyper-thermal exposure. Because they c… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 3, 2009 at 8:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

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Added by Denise M. Broesler on November 2, 2009 at 7:06pm — 1 Comment

30 Minutes a Week of Training is Unfair, "Unreal"...

I had just finished reading a depressing thought I found on facebook by Christopher Naum: “There’s an awful lot of time, energy and resources being committed and directed towards fire service safety. Is anyone really listening? Does anyone really care?” Are we just running against the wind? Almost immediately after reading that, I find out that a downs… Continue

Added by FireDaily.com on November 2, 2009 at 1:36pm — 8 Comments

Exemption from traffic laws doesn't exempt you from safe driving

…With Appropriate Care Being exempt from regular traffic laws doesn’t exempt apparatus operators & company officers from ensuring safe driving By Scott Cook On April 9, AOL Autos published an article titled, “‘We Run Red Lights for a Living’: Inside A Fire Engine Driver’s Mind.” T… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 29, 2009 at 8:00am — 11 Comments

What You Need to Know to Properly Spot & Stabilize an Aerial

TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS Ready, Set … Proper aerial spotting & stabilizing requires a thorough knowledge of your rig By Peter F. Kertzie Local carnivals move and set up several times, often weekly, as they move from town to town. The North Bailey Fire Department was in view from my bedroom window in the h… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on October 28, 2009 at 11:30am — 5 Comments

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