All Blog Posts (3,146)

Will you fit? Better find out before the box

Companies in the 39^th Battalion responded to Box 1873 for the reported fire on the fourth floor of 1308 Loring Avenue on 29 July 2014. Reports of children trapped led to the initial assignment being made…

Has the fire service changed?

That's the question I've asked myself over the last several months. My guys have asked the same questions about changes, leadership and tradition. My answer to my crew is simple.

Times always will change and we have to be prepared for it. But you prepare for the challenges in the classroom and the training grounds. Given our ever changing…

A health and safety issue when dealing with carbon nanotubes (CNT) and carbon nanofibers (CNF).  Many of do not even think about carbon nonotubes or carbon nanofibers but they represent the newest technology that creates a health hazard for our firefighters. NIOSH ¹ rated the health hazards, based on comparison, with silica, asbestos, ultrafine carbon black…

I am adding another web article to Fire Engineering’s web site in Fire Dynamics. It is called “What Would You Do? Here is the link:   http://www.fireengineering.com/articles/2014/09/what-would-you-do-lightweight-wood-building.html

Twice a month, I will post a scenario on the web site.  It will contain a looped video of a fire situation, a brief description of the building and…

Many times there are situations in which the "chosen ones"-the spreader and cutter are not the best option for freeing a heavily trapped patient. When faced with heavy side intrusion, we need to consider cross ramming. It is incredibly beneficial when the side causing entrapment is against an object or when extremities are pinned in an…

The Boy Scout motto is, "Be Prepared".  We admire the people who seemingly can show up and simply figure things out on the fly.  It simply isn't true.  If hope and luck are what you operate on, you are asking for trouble.  Eventually the clock will strike midnight, your engine will turn into a pumpkin, and…

One of my favorite benefits of the Internet is the ability to communicate with extrication trainers from around the world.  So I asked several extrication trainers a simple question. In one to two sentences, why do you train in extrication?

Jorg Heck

It simply doesn't work efficiently without training...

Randy Schmitz

Well in a nut shell I think the removal of a patient trapped in the wreckage of an automobile or other…

Here's a quick tip on avoiding problems making a cut at the top of the B-Pillar.  The seatbelt height adjuster is another reason that you should always peel off the interior trim prior to making a cut.

The seat belt height adjuster can be found on the B-pillar and even the C-pillar depending on the type of vehicle. Much like a seat track adjuster, the…

Here's a little end of Summer silliness. Enjoy our last few days of warmth, brothers and sisters - snow is just around the corner.

Take care, stay safe, and always make a difference!

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

We're only here for a little while.

Each day someone from each side(s) calls or writes me, pissed off at the world over all the debates in the fire service. Passion, tradition, pride, education, frustration, etc. it all comes to a head. I don't have all the answers and am very, very, very far from being a solution but the past has taught me that time is short. Make your time meaningful in your own way.



Keep it…

Losing Our Experts

A few years back you had your engine guys and your truck guys. You had the guy in the department that was the expert in friction loss and nozzle flow. You had your expert in elevators. You had your guy that knew how to write the truck specifications. The go to guy in forcible…

Is over a dozen too many for the upcoming and speed-reading generations?

Back in 2004 we were given 16 items, "Life Safety…

I have recently been awarded my Graduate Membership from the Institute of Fire Engineers, and what a learning process it has been in regards to studying the fire service.  Much emphasis is placed on advanced studies and the compliance with firefighter safety and fire prevention.  Re-living previous studies and classroom presentations are a must in this business in order for you to progress as a firefighter, company officer, and as an incident commander.

Just yesterday, Captain Jason…

It is impossible to strive for excellence and forget about the well being of your people. You cannot neglect morale. Morale is a choice in the sense that everyone must work tirelessly to protect it because we all have stake in the well being of the company.  It is particularly important that the leader have a…

The Sunday Preach:



'Head on a Swivel'



"Company Officers must not be completely focused on the locking devices on the door itself. Those are forcible entry firefighters' tasks. They must keep their heads on a swivel. While they must offer calm, focused advice to the FE team, they must also be watching smoke and fire conditions and watching the status of the hoseline." Pg.200, "25 to Survive: Reducing…

Many of us have accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge, and have challenged others to donate and help bring awareness to ALS. Unfortunately, firefighters being the competitive creatures that we are, have been taking this a little too far and injuring themselves and others (much like the Cold Water Challenge from earlier this year). This challenge is a great way to bring…

I'm going to be real careful about how I word this post as not to offend anyone. But I have to admit, I have been shaking my head about some posts for a while now and regarding some comments to posts.



I know that the new 'stuff' coming from UL, NIST, ISFSI and others is not popular with some, and I'm fine with that. I have no problem with that at all.



I know and understand that some in the fire service may have taken their tactics to one extreme or another for varying…

Every fire department I’ve ever seen has a uniform.  With that uniform come rules and standards regarding its appearance and the manner in which it is worn.  Nobody hands out a uniform and says, “Here, wear this however you want.”  There is something to be said for uniformity of appearance and presenting a professional image to the public.  I care what I look like to the public.  YOU should care what you look like.  But more important than how we look, we should all care how we…

To Save Lives and Property

Usually nothing is better than the original and that holds true with mission statements. Departments all over have severely missed the mark by a compelling desire to outdo each other with prolific works that are turned into posters and plaques.…