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Quick Drill: Apparatus Drill for Appliances

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So, sometimes we need a change of pace or we've had a busy day on shift, but we still need to drill. Or, maybe your at your volunteer department and you have some guys just hanging out waiting for the next call.

 

 Here is a quick drill that, in many cases, will turn into a great discussion and even progress into some flowing of water or advancing of lines.

 

As the company officer we are tasked with drilling our company and personnel. It doesn't matter whether your paid or volunteer, the task is the same.  For this drill make a list of the hose appliances and equipment you have on your apparatus.

 

 

 

 

–Give each member the correct name or lable for one piece of equipment.

–Make them correctly retrieve it and identify it and to hook it up or depoly it.

–They have to give a little presentation on what it is for, how your organization uses it and a scenario that would require its use.  This should include flow rates, friction loss, limitations, capabilities, etc.

 

 

This creates some great discussion and is excellent for reviewing items that are infrequently used but could be critical for our success if needed.

 

This same format can be used in relation to other tools and pieces of equipment as well.  Hand tools, forcible entry tools, hose loads, specific parts on your SCBA, RIT bags and so on. You should get the point by now.

 

The idea is to get intimate with all of the equipment on your apparatus and to do it as a team.

 

Another method is to have the crew inventory the entire apparatus. Write each piece of equipment on a piece of paper and tear it off and place into a hat or empty coffee can.  Have each firefighter draw a slip of paper and have them write down what compartment its in.  After everyone has drawn and written down the compartments, go out and see how you did and explain each piece of equipment you drew.

 

This is a great familiarity drill and works really well during inclimate weather.

 

Whatever you do, get out and drill.

 

Posted by on May 17, 2013 • Filed under: Uncategorized

HexArmor Glove Review

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We were visited by a sales rep from HexArmor who wanted show us their new line of extrication gloves.  He agreed to leave a few pairs for us to use during some extrication training.  We utilized four different pairs of gloves and all performed very well.  A quick note, these are do not carry the tag of meeting NFPA standards yet.  They are being used by some fire deparments for rescue and extrication ONLY. These are not firefighting gloves.  

Here is the review of the gloves.

 

 

A HexArmor sales rep stopped by the fire house one day last week while on way to another fire department.  He wanted a few minutes of our time to show a product that we have never used before.  He showed us the different styles of Extrication gloves that they sell.  We were then given a few pairs of gloves to demo and write a review on.  We then set up an extrication day with our local tow company to work the gloves through the test. 

  We had 4 different pairs of gloves on 4 different firefighters.  We then swapped with each other to see and compare the differences.  We also had another crew from a different house use the different styles of gloves.  4 pairs of gloves 10 different views and opinions. 

One of the neatest options that we shown by the sales rep was the super fabric lining.  Immediately our captain brought out his pocket knife and with a few passes  of the blade the  sample material remained intact with absolutely no signs of damage.

With all of the styles of gloves we tested we all agreed that the protection was excellent.  That was not based off of any cut rating or knife demonstration it was based off of pure use. The gloves feel strongly made and comfortable.  The dexterity and movement was great.  Grips on all models were great  whether wet or dry.  

We were able to move and turn the ball bearings collars on our hydraulic hoses easily.  There were only a few downfalls that we identified one of which was not being currently NFPA compliant.  To our understanding they are working on that.  

The other downfall was  when worn with PPE / turn out gear the models 4011 and the 4013 they could not be worn with our wristlets built into our coats. However, the model 4012 worked fine with the wristlets in our gear.

 

Thanks

Andrew, Glen, Steve

 

Different Views of gloves broken down

 

Gloves 4011 i used immediately after getting them on i noticed the dexterity. Usually with gloves with great dexterity you suffer with protection. That was not the case here.  These gloves have the leather palms and grips that did not slip at all.  The outer shell of the gloves has alot of the rubber which did not affect any of the dexterity as well.   My only downfall of the 4011 was that when used with my PPE my wristletts in my gear did not fit under the coat and could not be used.

 This problem was also the same problem Steve had with the 4013 style gloves.  Overall our opinions of the 4011 was a great overall glove with great support and protection that did not affect dexterity.

 

Glen started with the model 4012 he liked them alot and they worked well with his wristlets in the PPE. He felt that he put them to good use.  He got them wet, oiled, and never lost grip.  He felt protected and did not feel any of the sharp edges when removing glass was removed or any of the sharp edges.   The dexterity was excellent.

 

Steve was using the 4013 model gloves.  He felt just like we did the dexterity was great and even with hydraulic fluid, gas and water on the gloves the grip was excellent. 

Posted by on April 15, 2013 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: ,

Coast Knife Review

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I had one of our firefighters use the Coast Knife DX330 during some extrication training. My own use of the knife was excellent in functionality. It was sharp, felt good in my hand and was durable. The only negative I would say is that the locking mechanism did not always lock the blade. This could be an isolated problem and it wasn't an issue when using because there is a secondary, manual lock that kept the blade locked. Here is the review from the training.

Knife Review

Today during our extrication demonstration my crew and I put the knife to use. We broke windows cut seat belts and really put it to the test. Initially with the knife you notice the overall look and appeal. The belt clip is strong and when opened you notice the straight and serrated blade. Upon my first couple of times opening the knife i did not like how un stable it felt open when you do not use the secondary lock. It felt like it wanted to close on me but when i used the secondary lock it was fine. I don't know if every time i open the knife that i would like the extra work.

During the extrication we used the punch to break out the windows. It took a few swings to understand the strength needed to punch the windows. I hit the corners like needed but it took a few hard swings to break the window. Others that used the knife did not use as many swings and grasped the idea faster than me. It was an effective tool and i would carry this knife for a punch before i carried a window punch.

During the removal of the seat belt I was skeptical but with very little ease the belt was cut clean. We did notice that it was harder to cut when there was no tension on the belt. As long as there was tension and belt held straight the belt cutter razor worked like a dream.

Overall it was a great tool to have and carry daily or leave in your turn out gear just for car extrication minus the looseness of the primary lock.

Andrew Krato

Posted by on April 15, 2013 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Not All Things Change

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I read a lot of books. Some fire service related and others aren’t. I typically prefer historical or biographies of influential characters of our history. I also really enjoy the fire service books that share stories and experiences that are easy to relate to. Relativity is a good thing!

While teaching some of my classes the topic of today’s fire service being so much different than from years ago always comes up. There is no doubt that we are fighting fires in a much different environment than in years past. But, how different is what we are doing on the fireground from the way we did it 20 years ago?

Now I understand that we have to make changes and improvements and I am usually one of the biggest advocates if it is something that makes sense. But, change for the sake change is not good and usually causes more problems than not.

The real reason for this blog post is to encourage all of you to obtain a copy of and read and re-read Tom Brennan’s “Random Thoughts.” I keep this book with me just about all of the time and it is crazy good stuff. I marvel over and over again at the timely material and tactical suggestions that are from 1991! Yes, they are still relevant!

I never knew Mr. Brennan, but his ‘random thoughts’ are timeless. Just the most basic of topics like using a roof ladder is made interesting and is still very applicable today. How to stretch a hose line and how to search. It’s all in there.

I am not one for plugging products or materials, but I feel if ‘we’ in the fire service would follow the advice in this book and learn and share from these nuggets of knowledge, we would all be much better served, and safe.

Take some time to get back to the basics of firefighting and read this book. Just pick a page or two a day, and keep doing that for your career. You and the firefighters that you share with will be much better for it and so will the people you protect.

Thanks for reading and take care,
Jason

Posted by on February 18, 2013 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Progressive Drills

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This past Fall we were doing a Survival class and one of the drills we do is the “following the coupling” drill. It is one of the most basic of drills and is well known throughout the fire service. We have posted on this drill before on using a cut piece of hose to hand to your firefighters and have them tell you which way would be back to the truck.

We get comment about how basic this drill this and some like to try and shrug it off. Well, as we all know, we must master the basics. Like in athletics, we building the fundamentals and gradually move to more advance skills that expand on those fundamental skills. On the surface these skills are very basic but look a little harder; we can make these advanced drills easily that will incorporate the basic skill and more advanced techniques.

This is true for any drills, start with the most basic and when mastery is achieved, add to the drill and make it more advanced. Do this in steps and before you know it you have an expanded drill that will challenge the most seasoned firefighter.

So, for this example of drill progression we will use the “follow the coupling” drill. We start wtih one firefighter on a charged hose line. Black them out or in a smoked room, put them on the line somewhere in the middle. Have them find the coupling and make their way out. Easy enough.

Now, we want to build in the parameters for calling a Mayday, so we have them call the Mayday using LUNAR and they must communicate with command as they find their way out by “following the coupling.” Now they have to think about more than just following the coupling but the basic skill is still being used.

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You get the idea. Here is how this drill can progress:

-One firefighter lost off of the line, one on the line. The one on the line verbally leads the lost firefighter to the line and they follow the coupling out.

-One firefighter has an air issue, they can buddy breath on the way out following the coupling.

-A downed firefighter on the line and his crew packages, fixes the air and removes him following the coupling out.

So, you can see that we can expand on this drill. Your only limited by your imagination and creativeness. Use caution not to make so unrealistic that it frustrates your firefighters though. It doesn’t take much to make a drill challenging; keep it simple.

Have a Blessed and Safe New Year and thanks for all of the support this year.
Jason

Posted by on January 2, 2013 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Buddy Breathing Hose Practice

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Just a quick tip for practicing with your Buddy Breathing Hose. In our classes one of the skills that we notice to be week is the ability of firefighters to manage their Buddy Breathing Hose with gloves on. Although Buddy Breathing is not in the current SCBA standard, it is in the upcoming 2013 standard. Obviously, drilling with your SCBA and using the Buddy Breathing Hose will increase your confidence and skill level. Getting out and using the SCBA and practicing during evolutions is always optimal. But, repetition can take place off of the drill ground.

To increase the amount of frequency that you get to connect and disconnect your Buddy Breathing Hose all you need to do is ride in your apparatus.

For most of us, not all, but the majority of us we have our SCBA in seat mounts so that when we mount the apparatus and buckle in we have the packs in our back. They are in the position they would be in if we were wearing them. This makes the ability to get to our straps fairly easy.

While riding around town, going to a non-urgent call, wear you gloves and find your Buddy Breathing Hose. As you ride, practice disconnecting it and connecting it over and over again. Try not to look while you do it. This will create muscle memory and confidence when we get on the drill ground.

Use your time wisely and be productive as often as you can. Be creative and you can practice other skills like knots while riding the apparatus.

Thanks for reading and train hard. As always, expect fire.

Posted by on December 11, 2012 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Simulation Software

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I have been using this simulation software with great results. It more than meets our needs and is very economical. Check it out and see if it works for you. 

 

 

 

Posted by on November 16, 2012 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Behind the Back and Thru the Legs

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I always loved sports. I played just about every sport I could and eventually settled in with basketball and baseball. The coaches I had were always preaching the fundamentals and basics explaining that as players, we had to master the basics to the point that things like dribbling and passing were second nature. When those basics were mastered we were able to ascend our skill sets to seeing an open player before he is open and making moves on the fly, avoiding the defender with moves that were more challenging because we had a “feel” for the game.

The “feel” for the game allowed us to improvise and do things on the court that weren’t necessarily practiced. A defender stepping in front of us quickly, obstructing our passing lane may force us to make a behind-the-back pass. This is improvising with an advanced skill based on our most basic of skills: passing. Does the player get punished for this advanced skill? Probably not, especially if the outcome is a positive one.

When we get to an advanced level of skill sets, it typically comes from past experiences and hours upon hours of training. With that training and experience also comes the ability to recognize situations that are not typical. These non-typical situations will require us, if trained appropriately, to make the best possible decision for the best possible outcome. The mantra of always use two hands to pass and catch the ball with thumbs turned down may not work or be appropriate in a certain situation because the desired outcome is not going to be achieved.

The same can be said in the fire service. In recent weeks a Philadelphia firefighter made a heroic save and was faced with a decision to give the fire victim his air. There has been a great debate over the actions. I was recently asked by Eric Rhoden on his and Ray McCormack’s radio show what I thought about the incident and the reaction that followed. What came to me was a baseball situation.

We teach our kids to get square to the ball, get our glove to the ground, field the ball in the middle of our body/stance and to turn toward our target and so on. You get the point. But that doesn’t always get the out. Sometimes the fielder has to dive for the ball, getting dirty and bruised and maybe tossing the ball behind his back to get the out. Is there less margin for error? Yes. Is it taught that way? Not usually. Is it effective in certain situations? Absolutely!

There is one important variable however. You must be highly skilled and practice daily to make plays like that. You can’t just walk out onto the field and expect to perform at that level. I don’t know the firefighter in Philly that made the save, but my guess is that he is very competent with his SCBA and has mastered the basic skills surrounding his air supply. I would also guess that he is one that takes his craft very seriously and wants to perform at a high level for incidents just like the one he performed so heroically for.

I always teach that in the fire service there are no “always” and no ” nevers” because right when you think you have every situation covered, a call comes along that you never thought about. Ask yourself every day when you walk onto that engine bay floor, “Am I ready for the worst call of my career?” The conclusion I always come to is “No.” But, I train, drill or engage myself into the fire service every chance I get, just in case that call or situation comes along that requires something a little extra of me. Hopefully I will be ready to dive for that ball to make the play.

Finally, thanks to Ray and Erich for having me on and thanks again to Fire Engineering and everyone on the site, you all keep me engaged and excited about the fire service. Take care and stay cool during this hot summer. Be ready to dive for that ball.

Posted by on July 16, 2012 • Filed under: administration-leadership, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, mayday, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , ,

The Long Stretch and Push

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Take a look at the pictures and think about getting water on the fire to the upper floor and/or making rescues. This building is one that is old and not sprinklered. It sits off of the road and aerial access is extremely limited, almost ineffective.

When looking at this type of building we need to consider the construction type, occupancy, access and egress points and any special hazards. What are our initial resources and what should we have coming on the way? This building is four stories and is a dormartory at a college. The corridor length is 225 from stairwell to stairwell. As you look at the building in the picture, the stairwell on the right is more remote from a parking surface than the one on the left. The elevation that you see in the picture from this side is the same on the opposite side.

There is a basement under this building with tunnels that lead to other campus buildings with limited access and egress where kids sneak away to do what kids sneak away to do. There is a great deal of combustible storage in these basements and tunnels.

Type 3 construction is the type of building we are dealing with and the interior has been altered over the years. There is an automatic alarm system but no standpipes. Water supply is limited; the closest hydrant is approximately 300 feet from where you would likely place first in companies and that hydrant, if laid from, would severely hinder access by other units because of only one access to the campus.

So, here we go……..what are your tactics and why? Watch the video and let everyone know what you would do and why. Use this for discussion purposes and relate it to buildings that you might have in your jurisdiction. Share your thoughts and ideas.

Train hard and we hope to see most of you at FDIC 2012 next week.

 

 

Posted by on April 9, 2012 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, FDIC 2012, fire stopping, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, ladder truck/aerial devices, rescues, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

EngineCo22 and Green Maltese–Training Module on Basement Fires

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You need to check out this training module done by Chris Huston and John Schafer. They did a fantastic job and it is full of great information.

 

Posted by on April 3, 2012 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , ,

Tools for a Purpose

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We have taught a lot of classes and trained extensively on numerous firefighter operations. One thing that always interests me is the choice of hand tools by firefighters. Each has their own preference and favorite, but in many cases when challenged as to why that specific tool is their tool of choice, the answer is not clear to them. Some are bound by the fact that they work on a truck, engine or squad.

 

Some are bound by their riding assignment based on what order they arrive on the scene. In many cases, however, they just pick what they want and what is convenient or easy to carry. This is dangerous and we encourage each firefighter to choose their tool with a purpose in mind.

When choosing your tool some things to consider are what your using it for, will it accomplish your tasks, is it durable and reliable and does it complement the tools of other members. I’m not here to tell you what tool to use, but I have some suggestions for you to consider when picking your too

l –Can you use it for forcible entry or forcible egress?

–Will it get the job your are assigned to do accomplished?

–Will it allow you to perform multiple functions with that tool? Is is versatile?

–Are you familiar and proficient with that tool? Do you train frequently with it?

–Will it complement what your team members are using?

This could be especially important for forcible entry and for being a more efficient team.

Take a look at the pictures and discuss the pros and cons of each tool. For example, I don’t like seeing guys coming off with a close hook. It is good for overhaul, but for forcible entry or breaching walls and getting out of a bad place, it’s not very useful. This is just my opinion. But, I have had firefighters pick that tool because it’s light and easy to carry. Make the tools that are preferred easy to access and train with them. Clean and inspect them on a regular basis. Take care of those tools. Get know their capabilities and their limitations. You have to get your hands on them. Discuss these options as a crew and/or company and share your thoughts. Take care and expect fire. Train hard!

Posted by on March 14, 2012 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, fires, forcible entry, ladders, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, Training, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Get Around

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Here are some more pictures from my A Shift buddies, Jim, Bob and Dave at Florissant Valley Fire Protection District.  These photos show the challenges of just getting into some of our buildings.  It's a lot easier to get a good look at the working mechanisms and traits of these obstacles during daylight and in non-emergent situations.

Take time to know what is behind these doors and grates.  What are they protecting and how secure are they? Is just a matter of prying bolts out of the brick and concrete or are they really seated into the building?  Now is the time to find out.

One note, the pic with the bars is actually a smoking lounge for an adjacent bar. Access is made from inside the building but it looks like a different occupancy.  Don't wait until it's smokey and dark.

Read the doors and try to identify characteristics that can indicate foricible entry challenges.  Do the doors swing out or in? Are the hinges exposed or protected? Is the jamb protected?

These are also important for RIT operations, to read the building and soften it up for interior crews if a company has not already done so.

Stay alert and get out and look around. You'll be surprised what you'll find.

Posted by on March 7, 2012 • Filed under: buildling construction, exits, fire codes, fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, inspections, mayday, rescues, RIT, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, Uncategorized, VES • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Challenges Everywhere—-But We Have to Get In to See Them

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Hey, here are some pictures sent to me by a Brother who is going out the DOING the job. The whole job.  He and his crew are getting out and checking on things.  Bob gets IT and thanks for the pics.  These are in his still area and these are buildlings that get inspected and then they go right back to doing this kind of stuff.   We have to be prepared for everything and anything.  Imagine being the RIT and forcing the back door to make access for a Mayday and dealing with the mattresses?  Look at the pictures and just imagine and discuss the challenges that you would face in those situations.  Not to mention patrons trying to evacuate a smoke filled building.

Stay sharp and get out of that chair.  This is important stuff, don't put it off.  I'm a huge proponent of training on line deployment, search, vent, and all the rest.  This is just as important.  Stay safe and keep training.

Thanks to Bob Tresch for the pics and making a difference by sharing.

Jason

 

Posted by on February 17, 2012 • Filed under: administration-leadership, buildling construction, exits, fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, inspections, mayday, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Podcasting from Missouri Winter Fire School

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This past weekend we at Engine House Training, LLC had the distinct honor to interview and just talk with some of the leaders of the fire service at the 31st annual Missouri Winter Fire School. We were able to sit down with Billy Goldfeder, Dave Dodson, Forrest Reeder, Doug Cline and John Norman. To say the least, it was a great time. Click on the photo below to hear all of the podcasts. We also sat down with some of the great firefighters that attended. Challenge coins were flashed with two FOOLS guys and stories were told. Check it out and share with your friends. We think we are going to make this a regular thing. Thanks and train hard.

(Photo to come, click here for the Podcasts.)

 

Posted by on February 12, 2012 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Missouri Winter Fire School

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Check us out at Missouri Winter Fire School. We will be podcasting live from Columbia, Missouri on the weekend of February 10th. Listen live and listen for recorded podcasts of your favorite instructors and new and up and coming instructors.

 

Posted by on February 3, 2012 • Filed under: Uncategorized • Tagged: , ,

High Rise Markings

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If you have a high rise or respond on mutual aid to a high rise district, do you know if they are marked for floor identification? If so, do you know how they corresspond with the interior labels? High rise buildings are marked differently, if at all. In our area the windows are typically marked with a reflective sticker, one on every fifth floor. Where this gets tricky is when the interior floors are labeled differently.

This high rise has red circle on the corner on the fifth floor window and the 15th floor window. You can see them in the top right hand corner of the windows on the right side. Now, some places will actually put numbers on the windows, but we are going to just address this one method. If you count the windows you will notice that it doesn't add up.

This building has eliminated the 13th floor, thus making the floors on floor off if counting. This is where preplanning comes in.

                                                                                                                      

It is important to know how the outside corresponds with the interior. In some of these buildings the ground floor may be labeled as "Ground" or "Lobby" and not the first floor. In addition, if there are penthouse units at the top they may be labeled as such and not given a numerical label on the elevator panel. On this building the 13th floor has been eliminated. It goes from floor 12 to 14. On the photo below you can see that there is no 13 on the panel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We need to get into these buildings and be familiar with the labeling of floors. The last we want to do is deploy to the wrong floor or take an elevator to close to the fire floor. It is also important when searching for victims, knowing what floor is reported and how the occupants will report floor numbers.

This is by no means the only marking systems, just one method. Get out, know your system and train with it.

Posted by on January 19, 2012 • Filed under: buildling construction, elevators, fire codes, fire service recall, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, high rise, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , ,

Green Maltese

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Check out the most recent blog post from Green Maltese on Photovaltaic Systems.  Thi is some new information that we should know about. I am not going to ramble on about this…….Just check out the post and share with others.  There are new trends currently upon us and coming down the pipe that we have to pay attention to.

Posted by on December 19, 2011 • Filed under: Uncategorized

The Purpose

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This is a very simple post but one that I am finding is ever more important. Take a look at the picture and what is the first thing that you think of? What do you see? We've all done this drill or scenario and we have all at one point or another felt the anxiety of being "stuck" in a box, tube or tight spot. Some may have had instructors that guided us through and others may have been screamed at they needed to get out or they were going to die in there.

The main purpose of this post is to find out what we are trying to accomplish. It is more than just getting through the prop. We want to emphasize calm and deliberate actions. I like to point out the small things. Calm breathing and think one step ahead. What is at the other end and how should I prepare my next action accordingly? Is there a drop off? Is there a tighter space? I also like to practice getting to my pockets. Whether I actually need to or not, if I get into a position that I would need them, I have practiced that. I will be confident that I can reach my wire cutters in a tight spot. The same with my flash light; can I turn it on? Do I have an extra one I can get to?

Can I reach my radio? Can I reach my PASS device? I like to feel the space I'm in with one hand and arm to determine what the shape of the space I am in. It may just help me with placing my tank. It's not always on the bottom corners. There could be debris or the opening may be wider at the top. Feel the shapes and contours.

I know this sounds simplistic and time consuming. It is! But, if we do it over and over again, we will be better and faster at it. With these drills it's not always about speed. Creating good habits that will be easy to recall in a crisis situation just may save your life.

 

Posted by on December 5, 2011 • Filed under: administration-leadership, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, mayday, rescues, RIT, scba, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , ,

Honoring 343 Fallen

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I have read many articles, blogs and stories about the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and have decided to keep this short. Not out of disrespect or laziness, but because I believe that how we remember and honor those 343 and the firefighters who have passed since from working on the "pile" should be shown daily in our actions.

I ask that you honor those brave firefighters everyday by being a real firefighter every day. The following is a list that I have come up with to honor their memory daily.

Have pride in your job and profession.

Treat your citizens the way they expect to be treated.

Master your craft. You must train yourself and those with you.

Plan, expect and prepare for fire.

Be a mentor, coach and a leader. Not in your words but in your actions.

Be in engaged and active in your profession.

Ask yourself everyday, "How am I making a difference?"

Be a Brother. Don't just say it, BE one. Actions speak louder than words.

Finally, keep all those firefighters and families in your prayers daily. Live your life and career in a manner that would honor all of the brave men that lost their lives that day trying to save others.

I pledge to do these things to remember and honor the Fallen 343 everyday.

God Bless all of our firefighters,
Jason

Posted by on September 11, 2011 • Filed under: 911 coin, Uncategorized • Tagged: , ,

Basic Tactical Considerations

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This post is just a simple challenge of tactical considerations.  The photos that are posted show a single-family house that had fire venting from the C/D corner when first units arrived.  The first in crews could not make the entire hallway on the first push do to intense heat and smoke.

The smoke was banked almost to the floor even with the fire venting from that corner bedroom.

What are some considerations that must be looked at with this fire?  What would be your next plan of action?  Why ist there so much heat and smoke with the fire venting the exterior?  What is your size up?

Share your thoughts and answers with everyone and use this as discussion with your crew.  

As always, train hard and stay safe,

Jason

Posted by on July 23, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighting-operations, fires, search, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized, vent, ventilation • Tagged: , , , , , , , , ,

What’s Your Take?

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I spend a lot of time looking at buildings and thinking about "how would I do this or that" and what kinds of challenges would exist should a fire happen.  It drives my wife nuts! You know what I mean? You go to an establishment or an event and you are looking around for exits, sprinklers, fire alarms and just the general layout of the building.

It is good for us to identify these different characteristics on a frequent basis. Even if it isn't in your area, I believe it keeps you sharp. It's like practicing all of the things you have learned in your head.  Granted, you aren't manipulating a tool or pulling a line, but you can do all of those things in your head.  What would you do with this type of door? How about this wierd little addition and the ventilation problems that it poses? These are all considerations you can do any time and any where.

Here a few pictures from a recent trip to Nashivelle, TN.  We were walking back from LP Field after the half-marathon and this building was right next to the pedestrian bridge we were on.  I stopped and started taking pictures and thinking. Of course I got behind and my wife had to explain to everyone else in the group that I was a just a wierd firefighter who does this all of the time.

Take a look and share what you see and all of the different considerations and challenges that could be recognized during a fire in this buillding.

Take care and train hard.

Jason

Posted by on May 12, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, inspections, mayday, rescues, RIT, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Where Goes the Second Line?

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We all know that it is easy to fall into a rut when it comes to training and even operating at what is labeled the "routine" call. Especially for those that are in suburban, mostly bedroom communities.  

If your like most of the country, you pull past the house to get three sides, stretch a pre-connected hand line and make entry into the front door.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  And, more times than not, this works just fine.

However, sometimes the bigger issue becomes where to take the second line? What apparatus does it come from and what size should it be?  What about the length?

For most single-family, single story homes, line placement becomes mundane and we get a bit complacent.  The second line many times gets pulled from the same rig as the attack line and goes in the same door as the attack line.

Again, I prefer a seconday apparatus for the back up line, but in most house fires the front door is appropriate for the back up line too.  Of course, it all depends on what is taking place and many other variables as well.

One of the biggest problems I see quite often is on two story house fires.  The first line goes to the fire up stairs and the back up line is at the door.  One of the primary concerns is the integrity of those stairs.  That second line needs to go to the stairs to protect the egress for the crew operating on the second floor.

The same has to be done if you have an attack team on the first floor and a search team on the second; a line needs to be deployed to the stairs.  We must protect that  egress point.  In addition, note changing conditions to the search team and the attack team.  Maybe the fire has spread or can't be found by the attack team and your observations are important.

What are your operational guidelines for the back up line?  Share you experiences and thoughts.

As always, stay safe and train hard.

Jason

Posted by on April 23, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, rescues, RIT, search, situational awareness, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

Basement Considerations

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With the recent posts about the anniversary of the Colerain-Township LODD from 2008, I thought I would provide some thoughts about basements and some of the things we can do to better prepare.

It recent years it seems we hear a lot about firefighters being killed and injured in residential fires where the basement was involved.  There are a few reasons for this including changing building construction as in the use of engineered i-joists and the heavy fire loads that we have in basements.  In addition, most houses with basements don't just use them for storage anymore. Basements are used as active living spaces increasing activity, heating and electrical demands that were not always present in the past.

One thing that we can do to help prevent some of these issues is to know what we are dealing with.  Probably one of the most important tasks a fire officer can do when arriving on the scene of a residential fire is to complete a 360 walk around of that building.  This gives us information we cannot obtain by darting for the front door.

By seeing all four sides of the fire building we can see if the seat of the fire is in the basement and may allow us a more direct attack from the same level as the fire reducing the chances of floor failure.  We are also able to see hazards that impede our egress if a quick escape is necessary.  It gives us an idea of our options for ventilation and fire control.

The pictures show some of the hazards that we can find and keep mind of during our 360.  Exterior stair wells are altered and secured causing us difficulty making an egress.  This is a perfect time for the first due officer to relay these findings to the next due or the RIT crew.  These other units should cut locks, open bulk heads and make sure the egress points of the basement are accessible.

Additionally, we need to know the characteristics of the buildings in our still area.  This is a picture of a house that is approximately 50 years old and the stairs to the basement are in the garage.  Not knowing this could put our initial attack team at risk by searching the main level while fire is burning under them increasing the chances of a failure.  Some of these homes have no outside exit and we must protect the stairs for the basement crew just like we would for a crew that ascend to a floor above us.

Take some time to look around your area and discuss these issues with your crew.  Prepare your newer members for that thermal layer as you descend the stairs into a basement.  We all know what that first experience is like.  Train hard and don't forget to do that 360, it may just save your life.

Train hard and stay safe,

Jason

Posted by on April 8, 2011 • Filed under: buildling construction, engineered lumber, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, i joists, line-of-duty, rescues, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Black Diamond X2 Boots

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I am late with this review, but it has just been so busy with everything going on this time of year. But, the delay has given me some extra time to really get familiar with the new Black Diamond X2 boots. I mean, I tried these boots in just about every situation you can imagine.

They tout this new gel insert for comfort, so, I took off in them for a little run thinking they would be great for that.

They protect your feet from water and ice, so I used them during some SCUBA training.

I played basketball in them and even tried that new toe cap protection on the soccer field. I just wasn’t getting the feel for them.

Finally, I had the opportunity to wear them for some live burn training at the academy. During these days the instructors are on our feet all day. There is a rotation in and out of the burn tower, but we are active most of the day and these boots were on my feet the entire time, excluding lunch. img_1882img_1883img_1884img_1885

A short time after that, I had the opportunity to wear them at FDIC 2011 for the HOT class that I attended, Truck Company Essentials with Mike Ciampo and the Brotherhood Instructors. Needless to say, I was on my feet all day again.

Having the opportunity to really wear these boots has given me a very strong opinion about them. By far the best pair of structural firefighting boots I have every worn. And that is no BS!

I am going to give it to you straight here from a firefighters perspective.

First, I ordered a size that is the same as my running shoe. They offer three different widths, I am a medium and was more than pleased. The boot feels like a shoe or duty boot with just a little extra space. The boot doesn’t slip, but when I’m on my feet all day or in the summer, my feet swell a little bit and this boot allows for that or for an extra pair of socks in the winter.

Wearing them all day was like wearing a pair of duty boots. Sure, they are a bit larger and bulkier, but they don’t feel like a pair of bricks are tied to you. I was really surprised how light they were. I do a lot of running and I love light shoes, for what they are built for, firefighting, they are extremely easy to wear.

I really liked that they are easy to pull on and off. The large opening allows easy and fast donning and the canvass back does not irritate my calves when I am on my knees or bending. At first they were a bit stiff, but after breaking them in, they are more flexible than other boots I have worn.

Having done instruction for many years, being in any fire boot can be very hard on your feet. I have come away from very long days in my boots only to have really sore feet when it was all over. This makes the training difficult due to being uncomfortable. I can honestly say that these boots did not provide the same results.

Being on my feet for two 8 hour days had absolutely no adverse affects on my feet. They really got it right with the Ortholite Footbed. As I said, I am used to wearing running shoes on a regular basis and I like soft, light shoes. Now don’t get me wrong, these are not running shoes, but they do provide some comfort right where you stand.

I have two cons to admit to. One, the ankle protection is very stiff. Over time this started to loosen up, but at certain times the stiffness of the ankle can cause some irritation, especially on the outer part of the ankle.

The second con would be, like Fire Critic stated, it is made in China. I know in my department there is a strong desire and move to buy only American made products. At times this is difficult at best, not just for fire boots but for all our purchasing needs in regards to station wear and PPE. I don’t know if that is a consideration, but I think it would go a long way in the American fire service.

My general opinion is that these boots are well worth the price tag, which is reasonable. I will continue to wear these boots and would have no problem recommending them to friends and colleagues. However, I would not recommend them for running, soccer, basketball or SCUBA diving. But, they are great for fighting fires and operating on emergency scenes.

I also want to thank Black Diamond Boots for the opportunity to review their product.

As always, train hard, stay safe and wear good boots!

Posted by on March 30, 2011 • Filed under: Black Diamond Boots, fdic 2011, Product review, Uncategorized • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Release the Ladder Rack!

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As with most departments, and mine is no different,  trying to get guys in the habit of throwing ground ladders takes a lot of work.  We know the benefits of doing this and there is a great article in the most current issue of Urban Firefighter Magazine that gives some great direction on how and when to use these valuable tools.

Typically, those throwing the ladders are the firefighters and officers  riding on the trucks and not those that are driving them. There are some exceptions to this rule depending on how your department operates.  In the area that I work, the apparatus driver is tasked with water supply and support.

Any time we have multiple stories we want ladders thrown. Any time we have people on the roof, we want ladders thrown.  It is an important task and one that must be trained on and made a permanent part of your operations.  However, this post is not about the actual act of throwing the ladder, but how we can make this job easier for those that do.

As apparatus drivers when we pull up to the scene of a working fire we are thinking about charging the appropriate line, getting the right gallons per minute to your interior crews and finding a water supply source before the tank water is exhausted.  That is a lot to do and you normally do it all on your own.  Well, there is one more thing I would like you to add to your list.

Depending on what type of configuration you have on your apparatus, the ladders on today’s engines and trucks are not convenient to get to.  We have them on the top of the truck so that they have to be lowered to get to them. They are placed “through the tank” with an access panel on the rear of the apparatus which if you lay line can make them impossible to remove because they are blocked by charged lines coming off of the truck from a rear discharge.  There aren’t many traditional stowed ladder configurations on apparatus anymore.

As operators we have to keep this mind. The photo I have posted shows the lowering arm that the ladders are stowed on.  This arm is lowered for firefighters to gain access. One of the downfalls to this is that the access to compartment space is limited, but not entirely blocked.

Once we get water to our crew and have established a water supply, take a second to check overhead and on the side for obstructions and lower the ladder arm.  If ladders are needed they are ready for deployment and easy to get to.  The RIT crew can use them for preventative measures by throwing ladders to create an egress point for firefighters and rescue teams can use them to make quick access to upper floors for search and rescue.

What about the compartments?  Before you lower the rack, take out the equipment that is most commonly used that must be deployed fast and have it ready to go.  On this particular truck, the PPV fan, the RIT bag and some spare SCBA bottles would be removed prior to lowering the rack.

Get familiar with your ladders and how they are removed. Know what obstacles you might face in placing the ladders in operation based on your apparatus configuration.  Be prepared and train on these facts.

As always, follow your local guidelines for operating on the fireground.  We must continue to train and do the simple things perfect. Master the basics and don’t forget to use your ground ladders.

Posted by on March 6, 2011 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, ladder truck/aerial devices, ladders, rescues, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized, vent, ventilation, VES • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,