All Blog Posts (1,579)

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…

Let's see a show of hands (metaphorically speaking) - who has a suit of armor that will protect them from almost any accident, catastrophe, or evil genius? Anyone? ...I didn't think so! However, how many of us will take on preventable risks with the same brazen carelessness and complacency as if we're wearing…

Heads Up Firefighting: One Size Fits All

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 31st Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter Albert Nejmeh has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and members of the Tacoma Fire Department.

Albert A. Nejmeh…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 30th Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter Brian Woehlke has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and members of the Westland Fire Department.

Brian Woehlke…

Does PowerPoint make the instructor, or does the instructor make the learning experience? Don't get me wrong, PowerPoint is a wonderful tool and a great visual aid, but when you lean on technology and slides too much, the only thing being taught is that you don't know your material well enough to expand…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 29th Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter Daniel Davidson has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and members of the Sacramento Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest.

Daniel Davidson

Rank:…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 28th Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter & Asst. Chief Stanley Martin Jr. has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and members of the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department.

Stanley Martin Jr.

Rank: Assistant…

I recently have had a lot of suggestions and requests to post on some volunteer, rural, combination issues that the fire service faces. I started and am still a member of a mostly rural volunteer, now combination, department. My earliest exposure to the fire service was at this mostly rural department.



 We had a large majority of our fires outside of our public water area and our staffing was limited, just like it is today. Most of our trucks were single cab…

That title is so true to the fire service.

I mean let’s think about it. Probie school, we are told wear all your turnouts, how to wear them etc. Yet the same guys telling the probies this are wearing SCBA's without the waist straps on. I don’t know about you, but to me that is a double…

Check out the presentation by NASA Astronaut Mike Mullane which lead to Lance Peeple's article on the Normalization of Deviance...http://headsupfirefighting.blogspot.com/2013/05/normalization-of-deviance.html

       Tactical efficiency means getting the most accomplished, in a timely manner, with the personnel that you have on the fireground. As I've mentioned in previous posts, with the prevalence and abundance of synthetic fuels and lightweight construction, fighting fires in 2013 and beyond is, and will be, different than fighting fires in past generations. The enemy is more formidable and the battlefield is less…

By Ron Kanterman

I got a feeling that you opened this because we just got home from FDIC. In fact it was a killer show. It was my 23^rd FDIC and it simply gets better each year. For me, it’s a family reunion and for one week, it’s the center of our universe. Great training, great expo and great times. Start saving now for next year. It rolls around quick.

“Killer Show” is actually the title of a book (John Barylick, University Press of New England) that was…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 27th Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter Gene Kirchner has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and members of the Reisterstown

Volunteer Fire Company.

Gene Kirchner…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 26th Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter Dale Scott Queen has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and members of the Oak Ridge Volunteer Fire Department

Dale Scott Queen

Rank: Firefighter

Age: 37

Gender:…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 25th Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter and Fire Chief Rodney Paul Miller has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and members of the Loganville Fire Company.

Rodney Paul Miller…

#fireofficertrust Check out an impromptu interview with BC John Mittendorf of LAFD @fdic ow.ly/kCJG7

To all of the wonderful brothers and sisters who came to my presentation on Interior Benchmarking I thank you. I appreciated all of your questions, comments, and instructor reviews. Take care and stay safe. Lt. Billy Greenwood…