All Blog Posts (3,173)

Here’s a not so routine extrication to think about as you cruise by your local public park.  How are you going to get a child out of a full bucket swing who has become stuck.

The scenario is: a child’s legs are to big for the openings, but gravity squeezed…

I've worked in the fitness industry for over 20 years and have seen a lot of "fads" come and go.  Not to age myself but when I started in the industry step classes, leotards and zubaz where still popular.  Back in the day every health club focused on having the most updated machinery possible, today you see more minimalistic gyms pop up all the time.  Along with these fads have come the "next" best workout program.  I remember the…

You heard me!

Don’t expect accommodations or special considerations.

You’re a grunt just like the rest of us. Time to pay your dues.

You can’t be on top of your game if you don’t train.

You can’t extend your reach or maximize your effectiveness, unless you are willing to put your blood and sweat into it.

You don’t have the first idea of what I’m talking about, do you?

You were never a firefighter, were…

As a trainer (and as a firefighter in the workout room), I hear people saying, I want “abs” I want to help people achieve this. However, I frequently see people performing the least productive exercise for their abs. This is the crunch performed while lying down on a mat with the head and neck supported. This will not get you results. If you want to see the abs you feel during this exercise, change your diet!

This is another…

Tradition%2

What Are You Using Fire-Service Tradition For?

Jim Spell November 22nd, 2011

In little towns from Maine to the Carolinas, fire stations are resplendent in their brick buildings, draped in bunting and emanating the smell of smoke and leather every time the bay doors open. Helmets are handed down in ceremony from parent to child and sanctified by decades of…

There's no one more valuable than a mentor. I personally have many and cherish each as a dear friend! I hope they know what a huge difference they've made in my life and career as an artist and a firefighter. I'm sure each of us can name many who have shaped and molded us into who we are today. And I can think of no better repayment than to give the same gift…

The video below shows parts of Blue Bird Corporations manufacturing process.  It will help you get an idea of where the strongest parts of the bus are located.  Of course different manufacturers have varying methods.

It is important to know the construction of school buses, so we can attack them in the weakest areas first.  Ultimately they are built like tanks to protect the passengers, which places the challenge on us as firefighters to gain access quickly and extricate rapidly.  …

Engine House Training, LLC

Take a look at the video and let’s have a discussion. It is not a critique of what the video shows, but more of what are our considerations if we pull up to this fire. We all have buildings like this one and depending upon our resources and response area, how would we deploy on this fire? Watch the video and ask and discuss these questions with your crew:

–What type building construction…

For this week's post, I am going to take the oppurtunity to discuss my site http://engineco22.net

This past week the site celebrated 6 years on the web. It has had it's up's and down's, but the battle forges on.

Some of the highlights:

• Added video content
• Added online training modules
• • BRAND NEW CONTENT by GREEN MALTESE, Lt. John Shafer and Produced by…

All the pieces came together for this auger extrication prop.  I originally saw the idea on Brotherhood Instructors page, check it out here.

Firefighter Josh Goetz (Carroll Township FD) was instrumental in locating an old auger from a combine.  Firefighter Kevin Killgor, also from Carroll Township FD lined up a shop for us to fabricate the prop. JD Vasbinder suggested adding an electric box to simulate…

Looking at annual Line of Duty Death statistics, anyone can easily see that cardiac arrest is a Firefighters foe. In fact, heart attack is at least 50% of the reason why we lose so many brothers and sisters each year. We can all agree that improving our health, getting annual medical physicals and exercising are the right things to do. However, I have two questions. First how many of us are working out regularly and to the intensity of the fire ground, getting physicals and eating the way we…

As firefighters we protect life and property by any means necessary. And by “any” we mean the “safest and the best.” This means we do not marry ourselves to any one response modality or school of thought. We don’t always go interior on a fire attack...or always use a Halligan to force open a door (sometimes it’s already unlocked) right? We take into account certain factors along with the environment, resources, etc. and make the best tactical decisions we can.…

A Firefighter’s Own Worst Enemy: A Synopsis

When I created this class it was in response to my own attitudes and behaviors that I had developed over a period of time. During those 18 months of “darkness” I allowed outside influences to dictate my perception of the fire service, what my job is and should be and the direction of my future. Luckily, I had other influences around me that recognized I was drifting and helped to set me back on course.

After I was re-calibrated I…

So, what does the constant thump of complaining do to team unity?

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Are you struggling with being negative or are you dealing with negativity within your organization? Take an hour or so and get a interpersonal dynamics tune up via Fire Engineering's Blog Talk Radio.  FETC Services did a great radio show on how to look at personalities to fix the underlying root cause.  Click here:

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The picture to the left is from a fire the other night in a two story 1,500 square feet residential joint.  It had a gable roof and the second floor was made into one room with knee walls on both B and D walls.  The window seen here was to the first floor bathroom.…

Check out this blog post by Frank Lipski, Co-Owner of Engine House Training, LLC and good friend on Bailout Hooks. Join the discussion and check out our site atEngine House Training, LLC.…

http://youtu.be/evN_Y749UFQ

By now, you have undoubtedly seen the video.

According to wctrib.com, the two Sedan, MN volunteer firefighters occasionally wear dresses to raise funds for their volunteer fire department.

”The group of volunteers were waiting in line in preparation for Padua’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday when a fire erupted in a truck and the firefighters went to…

At FDIC this year I will be presenting a classroom session titled Ventilation Principles and Practices on Thursday 4/19 from 1330 to 1515 in Rooms 134/135. Below is a preview of some of the information I will be covering. Choosing a class to attend from the schedule is very difficult due to the quality of programming and sheer number of sessions. If you are unable to attend FDIC this year or you choose another session I would still like to make my information available to you as…