All Blog Posts (1,586)

I will start of with a brief recap of my last blog. I began with a contemplative question that challenged the value of our thoughts and trends, as they relate to risk assessment on the fireground. I opined, that we might be defaulting to a “risk avoidance” strategy because we were falling to acknowledge the other causes that make firegrounds go bad.

I then suggested that the fire service as a whole has done a poor job of offering a subjective and systematic way of assessing…

The box alarm (structural assignment) is transmitted, reporting a fire at the Home Depot. It's mid-afternoon, the building is 100% sprinklered and companies have responded to the reporting address a number of times for false calls, odors, electrical…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 33rd Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter & Captain Stanley Wilson has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and our brothers & sisters of the Dallas Fire Department.

Stanley A.…

I know that many fire houses use white rice as a side dish. It can be quick and easy to use. Even though white rice can be simple to make it does not have many of the nutrients that our bodies so desperately need. These days when a recipe calls for rice instead of using white rice I now use brown rice. Even though it may take a little longer to prepare I believe the benefits it provides are worth it.

White rice comes from brown rice. The difference is brown rice still has its…

It is in great sadness that we as a Brotherhood post the 32nd Line Of Duty Death for 2013 from the United States Fire Administration. Fellow Brother Firefighter Bradley Harper has made the ultimate sacrifice in love for his fellow man. Our sincerest condolences go out to his family, friends and our brothers & sisters of the Phoenix Fire Department.

Brad Harper…

There are many facets of accountability on the fireground today. One of which is the tags, rings or passports that tell incident commanders which personnel are riding each apparatus on the scene. Another major one concerns personal…

I have heard things from pistol grips are junk, they instill bad habits, they are the devil, pistol grips are for firearms only. But in all honesty are they really that bad?

I say no, there not bad. To be honest with you I like them on my nozzles, yet I dont even use them unless its for a…

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