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
From Backstep Firefighter
Do you realize that it has been five months since the infamous “Shot Heard ‘Round the Firehouse”? In that time, there have been 14 articles written devoted to “Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”. Was this an employer directed punishment, an adult version of writing “I will not be aggressive at hous…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on September 29, 2009 at 7:59am —
1 Comment
The new guy was just putting away the last dish when someone yelled “First due box!” He’s the last one on board and the engine pulls out just as he closes his door. Bouncing back and forth in the cab, he buttons up, and tries to slip his arms into his SCBA straps. Forgetting his radio, he slips out of the SCBA and slips the radio on. As he leans against the rig while taking a corner, he notices his hood on the floor of the cab. Instinctively he leans down to pick it up and is jerked to a halt by…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on September 14, 2009 at 11:31pm —
1 Comment
There can be no substitute for overwhelming force
In the past months the nation has seen firefighters and other first responders face complex and difficult times. On the world stage we have viewed the inner department difficulties of a wide range from firefighters charged for committing criminal acts to firefighters justifying their right to a credibly earned promotion. Coupled with these we also see the constant difficulties that fire departments across the country are facing with budgets. No…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on August 9, 2009 at 12:00pm —
1 Comment
In 2009, from January to June, 53 persons died in the line of duty. The cause and nature of their deaths varies and is representative of the many different fire department personnel across the country. The nature of their work at time of death ranges from removing an occupant from a window of the fire building to a surgical complication following a work related injury. Their ages, 18 to 77, also represent the wide spectrum of men and women in firehouses across the country. In some ways, their de…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on August 3, 2009 at 1:10am —
1 Comment
From January to June 2009 the following line of duty deaths are categorized by medical cause, nature and response. When comparing this data with the earlier articles, readers will see an overlap in the listing of fatalities related to apparatus response. For the purpose of viewing both fireground specific fatalities and those of traumatic nature, these deaths are in each article. The purpose is not necessarily to recalculate the number of line of duty deaths specifically, but to look at them in…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on August 1, 2009 at 8:09pm —
4 Comments
Firefighter Behavior
A further, more specific, breakdown of the numbers and information shows the following:
Position Types
Chief Officer: 6; Line Officer: 15; Firefighter: 32
Line Officer, in this writing, refers to traditional sub-command positions (i.e. captain, lieutenant, and corporal) as well as “station chief” as it was listed congruent with “firefighter”.
Of the 32 firefighters, I include air crew positions…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on July 8, 2009 at 8:08am —
No Comments
"2009 LODD 6-Month Summary", Firefighter Behavior
The following is a brief look at the line of duty death numbers for the first half of the year. Future posts will take a narrow look at these fatalities, the difference between "on duty" and "line of duty", and without the inclusion of the December 2003 Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act. This is to be a cultural and numerical evaluation and is purpo…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on July 4, 2009 at 9:30am —
No Comments
Radios are perhaps the most important tool we have, and each firefighter should have one.
But, not every firefighter knows how to talk on one.
Everyone, officer and firefighter alike, should know…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on June 29, 2009 at 8:00pm —
2 Comments
Firefighter Behavior
In June of 2009, the line of duty death investigations of four persons was published. Each had a cause of death attributed to cardiac failure. These four deaths should cause leaders and individuals in the fire service to face two powerful medical implications:
1. To provide quality staffing departments have to ensure that its members are routinely undergoing medical and physical evaluations, regardless…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on June 27, 2009 at 4:25pm —
3 Comments
The following was written by Andy Fredericks and is shared with permission from the staff at Fire Nuggets
Father's Day
Andrew A. Fredericks
On Sunday, June 17, 2001, a fire occurred in a hardware store in the Astoria section of the Borough of Queens, New York. The FDNY was notified and responded with a full first-alarm assignment, including Rescue Co. 4, which was returning from a box…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on June 18, 2009 at 6:17am —
1 Comment
For those readers unfamiliar with Firefighter Behavior, May marks the point where I have been writing for one year. This is a reflection on the purpose and value of that writing and common themes that were very prevalent in that year.
Introduction Revisited
Firefighter Behavior, May 2009
A year ago I had begun my fire service writing with a reflection of the powerful statement in an article b…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on May 30, 2009 at 3:00pm —
1 Comment
From Firefighter Behavior, May 2009
The second part of the NIST Wind Driven Fire Conditions reports has been released. This part details the experiments and results from…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on May 12, 2009 at 7:40am —
1 Comment
Originally posted on Firefighter Behavior, October 2008, this article is intended as a guide for determining how to tailor your engine company riding assignments to fit your response demographics.
This series will look in detail at three principles of a disciplined and effective engine company: Prepared to Work; Knowing the Response Area; and Basics of Handline Stretches. Each will look at…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on May 7, 2009 at 7:54am —
6 Comments
"Word of Mouth" from Firefighter Behavior
In fire departments our most influential training opportunities are not necessarily the yearly recertifications or the latest seminars but the working fire. Our trade is a hands on service where the majority of learning is done by doing. We go to fires; we stretch hoselines; we search rooms; we open up the roof. And if we happen to not do any of those items on the la…
Continue
Added by Bill Carey on May 2, 2009 at 8:00am —
No Comments
