All Blog Posts (3,146)

I completed my Instructor several years ago and at the time I was only interested in teaching short, hands-on classes if any at all.  I always liked passing on information to my members at the station.  I started teaching (assisting) some basic firefighter classes and quickly found how much I enjoyed it.  Not only was it fun and fulfilling to see a new firefighter go from learning to don gear to making actual fire attacks; but it is also a great way to stay current on basic skills and new…

Why the Quint works for us.

By Lou Comenale and Justin Ientilluci

In many firehouses across the country you mention the word “Quint” and you might have well just insulted that firefighters favorite football team.  Even in our own department some guys still wish we would run just a Ladder Truck.  Slowly the culture is changing and the reality is setting in that running a Quint actually works in our department.…

Looking for a fun Christmas gift idea? Well, pre-orders for my new book Drawn By Fire, Too are now being accepted on the PennWell bookstore. Over 150 cartoons in a beautifully bound hard-cover book. A link for personalized copies will be available on my webstore by tomorrow. Thanks,…

We…

Chief Ron Kanterman

I have a re-visiting guest blogger this month. My good friend and associate Captain Rob Beattie of the North Plainfield (NJ) Fire Department has returned, infiltrated my Journal and penned an amusing analogy of team work and the firehouse coffee pot. Show this to your probies/rookies/new guys and where applicable, your old guys. Thanks Rob for your insight. I enjoyed this one! Ronnie K …

Watch your giblets - it's budget time!

Click link below to see more of Paul's work or to order prints:…

This post was Co - Authored by Ryan Royal

Commercial outward swinging doors can be some of the most difficult forcible entry situations due to the locking systems and added fortification but what is often overlooked in training is access challenges. The outward swinging door below was on the back of a commercial building. You can see this situation has a half wall on the hinge side and the jamb side…

We are not all “Big City Fire Departments”

By Lou Comenale and Justin Ientilluci

We see the hats, t-shirts, posters and even TV shows that advertise the “Big City” fire departments.  The reality is, we all can’t be the big city.  Most of us work or volunteer,  in comparison, small towns, in all types of departments (Paid, Combination, Paid on Call or all Volunteer).  It’s nice to think we can operate like a big city but in…

Units from my department and other companies in Prince George's County, Maryland responded to this second alarm fire last week. It involved a strip of two-story, attached, ordinary constructed, garden style apartment buildings.

Companies on the initial alarm had a well advanced fire in an entire apartment unit with substantial extension to the attic space.…

Training is not just for the drill ground or the classroom. We need to look for learning moments and practice opportunities whenever we can.

We recently responded to a fast-food joint for a fire in the kitchen. I was on overtime and we were on the engine that was second in. The first in company used a Type-K extinguisher to put out the small grease fire on the grill.

The first due captain indicated that the fire was small enough that the suppression system above the grill did…

The term two-hatter has traditionally been used in the fire service to recognize firefighters who work for a career fire department, as well as volunteer for another. However, on this Veterans Day, I would like to recognize another two-hatter - the men and women who serve as firefighters in their communities, and serve our country as warriors here at home and abroad.…

In September I began writing a web column for fireengineering.com titled "Modular Concerns".  My goal is to generate a discussion among fire service members on the hazards inherent in certain construction techniques used by the prefabricated (modular) construction industry.  The first submission was designed to frame the discussion; modular construction is everywhere, these buildings are nearly impossible to distinguish from traditional stick built construction, they often utilize…

Multiple rescues from vacant home and commercial structure

Fire crews in Buffalo, New York and Sacramento, California responded to fires in vacant, abandoned buildings and rescued squatters from each.

Buffalo

Video courtesy of Don…

Drawn By Fire, Too pre-orders are now being accepted from the PennWell bookstore. Over 150 cartoons in a beautifully bound hard-cover book. Here's the link:…

Company Training no matter if your career or volunteer it is a necessity in your job in saving lives, property and the environment.

Company training must be diversified, and relevant to your mission and needs.

In a career department, each shift should be a training day. Learn one thing or refresh up on one skill will enhance your skills and will improve crew proficiency.  In a career department each member should have a day that is scheduled so can they present…

WET YOUR SPONGE

I looked at my original fire coat today. Copper rivets repaired broken clips and canvas patches covered cuts in the coat. Although it shows some wear and tear it certainly brings back some fond memories. I remember the pocket wedges, sprinkler stops, pliers, screw drivers and a pocket knife and in which pocket they were kept and why. I physically touched each tool every morning.

Back in the day Rookies like me were given a small sponge by the veterans and told…

There are exciting things going on in the fire service these days. A lot of what we thought we knew is turning out to be false. I think it's safe to say we have also learned that we still have a lot to learn. The research being done has proven a lot of important facts. Pushing fire isn't possible. Cooling the environment from the exterior is a viable option. Synchronized ventilation and fire attack is critical. Fires are burning hotter and faster. Fortunately now have emperical data to back…

OK,  Before I move on,  as a curiosity, if you pulled up and were assigned search - nothing else was said over the radio or face to face because Command was busy, would you first move towards the victim in the window in apartment C or, because of conditions showing, would you do something else?  Is this the time to split the Crew?  (Can you split your crew because of the staffing on your rig?) 

Lastly,when you deciden…