January 2015 Blog Posts (55)

GEE HAW

While speaking recently at the IAFC/VCOS conference in Florida, I told the story of a time when a fire officer and I didn’t see eye to eye. I said that we did not gee haw. After the session, a Texan approached me and told me that he had not heard gee haw in many years and he asked what the term meant to me. I explained that when two people disagree…

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The Sunday Preach:



Laddering



Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of a day that made me extremely proud to be a fireman and fire officer. I was a member of the first to arrive ladder company that made 4 "grabs" (removal of civilian occupants) from a well involved residential building fire. While one victim was removed via the interior, the other 3 rescued civilians presented themselves at…

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Boss/Manger Leader vs Expert Leader

Does it matter if the fire incident commander was never a competent company officer? Does it matter if the company officer had limited time as a firefighter? Does it matter is the chief was an expert firefighter?…

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 I love Christmas time, especially now with the children.  It is a blast to be around family and enjoy the time together.  But does anyone else have that one relative who complains about everything at the family get-together?  That one relative who shows up for the family…

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This week’s “quick tip” seems basic; however, it is incredible how often this quick step is being overlooked. We must get into a habit of turning off the ignition and removing the key on motor vehicle crashes. It is a quick, easy, and often overlooked step. Typically, this will secure roughly 90% of the systems on any…

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In part 1 we focused on window failure. Now we will be focusing on door failure. When I was first taught to enter a second floor window without the protection of a hand line to search a bedroom (VES) I was taught to immediately close the door. I was also told if there was no door, find a door, take it off the hinges and put it in place. Today, many beat the drum that there is no reason to include the “I” (isolate) into the VES acronym. We have all heard it “if you were taught the right way…

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There is no question that it takes discipline to do this job. It takes discipline to perform. It takes discipline to come in everyday and make sure your tools are ready for the fight. We never know when it will happen and we must always be prepared. Now let’s take it to the fireground. Coordination of ventilation and fire attack is one of the most important things that takes place. Almost a harmonized dance between the engine and ladder crews. The engine knowing that the ladder made it to…

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By Peter Callan, Jason Balletto & Frank Ricci.…

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In the early years of fire departments being organized, men who joined their local fire departments were immediately put to work and gained knowledge from on the job experiences.  As time…

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There has been a great focus placed on "upstreamist" thinking in the medical field. An "upstreamist" is one that focuses on preventing people from falling into the river of medical system over-use. They don't focus on only treating their patient's condition, they look at what caused it and what they can do to help remedy the situation so the patient can live a happier and healthier life. This in return lessens the burden placed on the medical system and allows attention to be focused on truly… Continue

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A common question that is posed from current and prospective officers along with engaged firefighters is "how do you deal with superior officers or an organization that doesn't want to move forward?"  

First, it's not always the organization or the superior officers that are the sole problem. I've seen good, engaged, enthusiastic  firefighters circumvent the chain of command, rush into projects without regard to organizational needs and just plain and simple ignore the need to be…

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                In part 1, I discussed the ability of a single four person engine company to aggressively attack an external apartment building fire, by deploying a deck gun blitz attack on the outside seat of the fire that was extending up the exterior of the building and threatening, or already in the attic space, while at the same time, getting a 2 ½ inch line up to the top floor and flowing water into the attic. Part 1 can be found here:…

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New year, new beginnings, new opportunities to grow, share, and serve. What will you do in 2015?



May you all have a safe and fun year full of life and learning.





Want your own printable goals sheet? Just click on the image below and print (8.5x11).…

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It’s a new year and in many fire departments across America large or small, paid, part-paid and volunteer, members of our service will be retiring from positions of command and new faces will be taking their spots. If you are in one of these categories of either retirement or promotion I say congratulations and Godspeed. Now, for those of you getting promoted to command positions (which will include me in 2015) I ask if you are ready to hear one word repeated three…

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