December 2012 Blog Posts (18)

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…

Understanding the word within its culture

Preposition: If a certain word defines our identity and self-worth it is vital to know how we alter such word from its true definition. Fleshing out some thoughts on whether or not we're changing what the word really means.…

A few questions to challenge you and your crew

Jacksonville, Florida firefighters at the scene of a working house fire with a report of people inside. For this post we’ll use certain parts of the video to create a prompt for you to use as training with your own crew for similar incidents. The video appears…

Fire Safety Challenges of Green Buildings

Author: Brian Meacham, Brandon Poole, Juan Echeverria and Raymond Cheng, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  Re-posted by permission  of Brian Meacham NFPA

Introduction Many new commercial facilities are being designed and constructed with an objective of achieving a “green building” certification. There are many sustainable building features and products that singly or together may have an impact on fire safety unless…