September 2015 Blog Posts (63)

Reflecting on 9/11

Joseph Kitchen, Bath Twp. Fire Department (Lima, Ohio)

     I slept right through the September 11^th  terrorist attacks. By the time I awoke, both towers had collapsed, the Pentagon had been attacked, and the last plane had crashed in Pennsylvania. I had worked the night before and only realized what had happened…

Every year around September 11th I like to take a moment and reflect on the significance of the day and honor those that sacrificed (and continue to sacrifice to this day).  I encourage you to do this workout, share your results and challenge others to do the same, at least once a year (on September 11th).    This "tribute" workout is difficult but has a great significance…

Fourteen years.

This week will mark the 14^th anniversary of September 11^th 2001, an anniversary that some say has been forgotten by society at large. While certainly there are exceptions, perhaps it is largely because many do not have a personal ‘tie-in’ to the events that shook places like Shanksville, Arlington, and New York City.

Yet, it remains unforgettable by some, especially to those in our line of work… it is a date that lives…

 

"A point of view can be a dangerous luxury, when substituted for insight and understanding."  Marshall McLuhan

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Over the last week (and most of the year), I have witnessed some disrespectful commentary on social…

In the fire service in a similar way to the military we’re in a very long campaign. Obviously our enemies are vastly different but we still partake in many skirmishes and occasionally some all out battles.

Where our services are quite similar is in the need for effective leaders. 

Leaders who can step up and show us the way in an ever evolving environment both on and off our respective battlefields. 

Someone that people will look to and believe in and follow with…

Question – I am a Battalion Chief in a large department and use my personal cell phone for work related issues like taking pictures of emergency scenes and emails/texting to various chief officers and elected officials. My Chief informed me that material contained in my phone is available for review under a Public Records request for information if I am using it in the performance of my duty.…

Who are You Letting Down?

Before you read any further read this article by Captain Steve Heidbreder.

I don’t know…

With all of the debate about exterior versus interior, I wanted to share a video that I use in many of the tactical classes that I teach and offer a few observations.  First, this is a video that is used for learning, not to critique the methods or tactics that were or were not deployed during this fire.  Second, we were not there and do not know all of the circumstances surrounding why they made their decisions.

Overall, I think they did a pretty good job in the end.

When I…

This has been weighing heavily on my mind, and I don’t particularly like a lot of what I am hearing. It seems like everyone with a computer and access to the internet is weighing in on the whole aggression thing. Unfortunately it seems like supporting a position on the use of aggressive fire ground tactics is a no win situation. The use of aggressive tactics on the fire ground is being discussed as if aggression were an attitude or political affiliation, and not for what it is, a…

Where and Who Do You Get Your Information From?

 by David Rhodes

What if the internet curtain was pulled back on everyone that publishes information…

          I once heard a colleague jokingly say that change would be easy if it wasn’t so hard. I don’t fully agree with that statement. I personally believe that the hardest part about change is actually making the decision to change. I also believe that leading a team through change would be much easier if it wasn’t for a select group of stubborn people who resist change.

          It may be true that most people don’t like change, but it’s also true that for…

     It is essential that both paid and volunteer engine companies understand how staffing shortages will affect their company’s operation at a fire because operating under staffed will greatly change the way they need to think and act at a structure fire. The difference in minor actions and decisions by the company will greatly affect the fire’s outcome and the overall performance of the company.

     One of the first things the pump operator and officer need to consider when…

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us;

what we have done for others and the world remains and

is immortal.” Albert Pike (Introduction, Page 14)

We start our book with this quote and we end every class with this quote because it captures how we should conduct ourselves each and everyday. It forces us to perform a level of self evaluation and determine if our actions are…

The other day at work, I was standing in the apparatus bay having a conversation with one of my firefighters. He is currently working on his acting officer development book and we were having lots of discussion on a variety of topics. One subject in particular was size-up. We were discussing the importance of practicing size-up when responding to automatic alarms, whether they are residential or commercial. I explained the value of taking every opportunity to size-up buildings when going on…

When running an inside gas leak ensure you protect yourself and your crew from possible explosion. Call out your water supply. You may have to take a hydrant further away to avoid passing the incident. Park your apparatus away from the front of the building and approach with your meters on. Call for additional resources as needed. Control sources of sparks, such as lights, doorbells, pilot lights. Turn on all hand lights prior to entering the building.…

This one hits close to home…Pat Taaffe is a friend of mine and fellow fireman for St. Johns County Fire Rescue. Pat is assigned to Engine 12 C and we are both in the same battalion. I’ve known Pat for many years and can remember him riding with us on Squad 17 after he came to St. Johns County. He has dedicated over 20 years to the fire…

Fitness in the Firehouse

According to the CDC heart disease is the leading killer in the United States. Additionally we know according to NIOSH, and the United States Fire Administration that the leading cause of fire service Line of Duty Deaths (LODD) is heart and cerebrovascular diseases (heart attack and stroke). While many factors play a part in these diseases physical fitness plays a huge role in…

Hello, we are back to simulations after a month off, I will attempt to get a couple of sims out a month, again if there is a particular simulation you wish to see send me an email at efdchief3@outlook.com. In this particular simulation you have a fire in a legacy constructed building constructed in early 1900s, I have attached some thoughts to consider and also attached a kitchen table handout with still frame shots of the building to discuss with your members. Some key points again to…