As a pioneer in eLearning, I can relate to several questions you may have when it comes to eLearning. Like you, I had several questions when I was first introduced to this new technology. So, you’re responsible for training for your Fire Department and you just acquired a new Learning Management System for your Department training. As you looked through the training they had to offer, a lot of it didn’t follow your SOP’s and Protocols. As the new training officer, you want to be able to…

The Sunday Preach: 



I, US, WE, FAMILY...



"Only a firefighter truly knows what it is like to be a firefighter. Only we, who crawl down smoke filled hallways, know what it is like when lives are on the line." Page XI. http://25 to Survive: Reducing Residential Injury and…

The other day I was reading the January issue of Fire Engineering and came across the Paul Combs cartoon about how a single firefighters bad behavior affects all of us in the fire service. (Fire Engineering, January 2015) I then thought of all the bad stories I had been reading lately about firefighters caught having sex in departmental vehicles and stations on duty, a former fire chief pleading guilty to grand larceny, a firefighter charged with sexual battery of a patient, another chief…

The first officer on the scene, often a company officer from an engine or truck, establishes command upon arrival to all types of incidents, day in and day out. Ranking officers, usually chiefs, whether they show up simultaneously or some time later, often assume command out of hand.

When officers get comfortable and competent with managing incidents with all their many facets, whether high or low frequency, high or low risk, there is a reward system that exists in every one of us. It…

The North American Fire Officer Leadership Learning Survey

A few years back a consultant asked US Army brass how they learned their leadership skills – and the answers were surprising, and important to those who need to plan the development of new officers and to expand the skills of incumbent officers. Ascend Leadership (the folks that developed The Right Seat DVD series with Fire Engineering) have…

Finding the balance between leadership skills and the popularity contest can be the most challenging transition faced by newly promoted leaders. This is a career long struggle for some. It is not easy switching roles. One day you are working for the idiot and the next day you are the idiot. It doesn't take long to realize that maybe; just maybe, you didn't give your officer enough credit for all of the issues they had to deal with on a day to day basis. I know the switch to company officer…

HOW’S YOUR ROUND?

“Our life and leadership are like a round of golf; we begin and end at the same place and the only thing that really counts at the end of the day is the things that we did in between and how we did them.” I said that.

When we embark on a round of golf or we choose…

 “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.” Joseph Stalin

After recently reading Dan Ariely’s book, Predictably Irrational, and his use of this quote, I pondered if this quote from the feared Communist leader Joseph Stalin could help reduce our line of duty deaths and the answer is YES! While Stalin’s quote was most likely intended for more sinister purposes it does…

Charlie V.…

Mike "Coop"…

Training Tip:  The Sunday Paper

Lt. Brad French

            Sundays in the firehouse at my department are the best days of the week:  Sunday brunch, football, and some down time from the hustle and bustle of all the other “business” days.  However, remember that to truly be effective as a company, every day (even Sunday) should be a training day.  At least for a…

Penciling is for Drawing a Nozzle Fully Open

When recruit firefighters are told one thing and then shown something different they end up applying what they were…

Transmission Tuesday:



Ever see this face in the crowd when discussing MAYDAY events and when to call one?



~What's your departments verbiage of when to call a MAYDAY?

~What do you use as your "MAYDAY" parameters?



ARE THEY THE SAME, SIMILAR or WAY DIFFERENT?



My department uses "IOUMMPL" or remembered as "I Owe You My Miserably Pathetic Life.



I - Imminent…

Leading Without Rank

Joseph L. Kitchen, Fire Chief – Bath Township (Lima, Ohio)

Shiny collar brass, gleaming white helmet, command vehicle, right front passenger seat, forty hour week. Do any of these make…

How do you run your 2 1/2" lines?

What types of nozzles?

Pre-connect or static?

Length?

What is your preference and why?

This is a valuable weapon when deployed correctly. However, some are of the opinion that it's just to big and heavy to use for an initial attack or with just one person. What are your experiences with handling the big line?…

We all know that getting water on the fire as quickly as possible is the best way to avoid bad situations. We also know that some of the best in the business have been confronted with situations beyond their control even after doing all the right things and were forced to make very tough decisions for survival.

Our, (Engine House Training, LLC), class is not an excuse for a lack of training in fundamental…

This multi-part blog series has focused on the ventilation issues that occur on our fireground and their impact on the tactical assignments. We have discussed when doors and windows fail and the devastating impact a failure can have on companies operating inside that environment. 

In this last part, I want to discuss the officer’s role in predicting these events that will help keep their members safe. However, it must be stated this is not just the officer’s role. Every member has the…

The Sunday Preach:



'Everyday is your Superbowl'



"We have no such luxury of scheduling either our fires or where in the home these fires will occur. We may go to two in one day, one this week, or one in a year. Whenever a fire happens, we must be ready. For firefighters, every day is potentially game day, and we must be ready to play." (…