All Blog Posts (3,147)

While signing books on Monday during FDIC, a large (pushing 375 lbs) firefighter approached me with his slightly slimmer, but still girthy entourage of three. I extend my hand in greeting, which was met with a chest puffing and the comment "I don't like the way you make fun of big people!" Being taken off my guard by his comment, I respectfully asked if he is a front…

This is a quick drill for you company officers and acting officers. So much of what we do is coach and mentor our younger firefighters. When we are out and about we need to take the time point out things that might be obvious to us, but maybe not so much to others on our crew.

Use these photos to explain the challenges, dangers, benefits and tactical oppportunities with this roof. Share what you see and pass it on. You might pick up on something that someone else does not. But, maybe…

It's on...

We have been leading up to our dance with this "beauty of fire" in both Part 1 and Part 2 of "Check your Dance Card."  Feel free to go back and take notes as we journeyed closer and closer to this 'beauty.'  We have…

The attached vidoe is a very short and simple clip about how teach firefighters to low profile. As we tell firefighters in our classes, removing your SCBA should be a last resort, but a skill that you must be proficient at. Being prepared is as much about mastering the basics as it is about being able to perform in the event that conditions dictate survival skills must be used.

Some quick pointers about low profile SCBA use:

–Know your air supply and that of your…

By: Brian Brush

It should be no surprise that firefighters appreciate quality tools. The more we know about the tools of our craft, the greater our ability to leverage our skills and efforts. With that said, there are times when the original tool, regardless of the quality, does not completely meet your needs due to regional differences, manufacturer limitations, or simply a lack of communication between the end user and vendor. With this article, I’d like to provide you an example of…

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.…

To all my Brothers and Sisters out there, have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!!

Paul

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

When tasked with forcing entry into an occupancy with multiple inward- swinging doors, such as a hotel or apartment building, fewer tools will maximize our efficacy at forcing doors than will the hydraulic forcible entry tool.  Firefighters who are blessed with a hydraulic forcible entry tool in their arsenal will quickly proclaim the benefits of utilizing such a valuable implement.  Not only does this particular tool make quick work of most inward- swinging doors, its use is very…

Acting Officer Information

In general try to simply maintain the current culture of the station.  Do not try to change things for the sake of making an impression; it usually does not go well.  The crew is highly trained and well disciplined.  The goal of the acting officer is to fit into that unit.  Rely on the crews to help answer any questions if you are not sure about the day to day operations.  They will not take advantage of you.

Know that the…

Beyond the Door 

 "What Vs. Why"

The Fire Service continues to be the last line of defense for those we serve.  As hazards evolve we continue to be the "All Hazards" mitigation agency.  Those who have gone before us have created an expectation in the public that we are the" go to" agency.  This is what draws a great deal of the people we hire.  We must always know our history and our craft.

There has been a shift.  We have…

"You never know when you're being watched. It's my least favorite part of acting, celebrity."

- Denzel Washington

 

Make no mistake, when you're operating at an incident you are a celebrity. People gather to watch the drama that is unfolding within their neighborhood with admiration, fascination, and curiosity. This is a behavior that has not changed…

By: Brian Brush

Think to yourself about a professional athlete that you believe truly has a love for the game. Those who so clearly stand out, not just for performance and consistency, but also their humbleness and approach. The ones that take to the field, court, or ice because it is what they live for, not what makes them a living.

On March…

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…

December Fire Engineering magazine commentary.

Click link below to see more of Paul's work or to order prints:
http://www.artstudioseven.com/page-LE_Prints.htm

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       Tradition is a very big part of the Fire Service, Next to Training and Fighting Fires it's a Key element that defines us as to who we are. From the day we walk in as a Probationary Firefighter to day we Retire or Leave a office that we have held , Tradition is there, Its  A Right of Passage .

      Tradition can best defined as a Ritual, belief or object passed down within a Society, also a baiscal character of a society meaningful clothes [ i.e Uniforms , and such] . The…

Last night I was sent the picture below.  Let me first say that this particular light is not on a fire apparatus.  We had a little bit of discussion about the labeling on Facebook and figured the topic was worth sharing.  Here’s what the label says if you can’t read it in the picture:  #1 Push black release on bottom  #2 Pull upward on flashlight.  Check out the picture and think for a moment about training.  Then scroll down for a few more thoughts.  …

It’s that time of year again when the common cold and flu begins being passed from one person to the next. Each year the common cold affects the average person two times, and can affect the fire rescue athlete even more.  The sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and runny nose leave you wanting to curl up under the bed covers. To avoid this misery, prevention is the best…

Now that I have your attention, it is time we speak about buckling up. Before your attention wanes because you think this is yet another fire service writer imploring you to wear your seatbelt, realize that I do not wish to speak of seat belts in this post. I do wholeheartedly agree with wearing a seat belt on the apparatus, but that is a subject for another day. Take a look at the photos below, and I want you to take in the stark difference between the two.…