All Blog Posts (3,147)

Two phrases heard frequently in the Fire Service, "We will never" and "We have always", are ignorant statements and are just not true. In a profession that constantly encounters new situations, why do we speak in absolutes?

In the previous post, I discussed Training Warning Flags. The first posed question was, Does your training staff (Training Officers, Instructors, and Senior Firefighters) feel responsible for the performance of their students?

This is such an…

We have had two pumps through our shop, in 2011, that the pump housings were totally eaten away causing a failure of the pump. It first appeared to be bad water systems or operator error, however when the second showed up, we begin noticing the the intake strainers were being replaced more often that usual. Both apparatus have polytanks.

A third apparatus from 2010 that had a pump failure, had the same damage as the two new pumps. The 2010 repair, originally had a steel tank, but it…

Does anyone know of a state that requires a state ceertification for a person or company to conduct pump certification test? There are alot of departments here that are getting taken on annual service test being done by people who have never heard of NFPA 1911. Any information will be greatly appreciated. BOB

This week we've got a rippin' 2-story single family dwelling.  Share your strategies, tactics and experience! 

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO!

The firehouse and training grounds are very fun places to be. Lighthearted jokes and razzing are the norm - and quite honestly a very healthy behavior. Good-natured poking and prodding creates friendships, camaraderie, trust, and some of the best nicknames in the fire service. However, when good-natured fun turns to hazing, you need to step in and stop the…

Yesterday was the first 24-hour period in two weeks that we didn't have a call. I'm not sure what to do with the "free time." Last week, with the flooding and storm, we had 12 calls in 36 hours. Maybe I could take up knitting. With fire-retardant yarn, of course.

We are well aware of the fact that fire behavior is heavily influenced by many factors; ventilation, construction, wind, fuel loading. The fact is that there are just as many if not more variables and factors at work on human behavior as there are in fire behavior. The ignorance begins when we watch a video and believe that those at work on the screen are in the same frame of mind as we are at our desk. Only when we consider these influences, couple them with the presented conditions can we…

Training is an issue in any department. At some levels the firefighters cannot get enough training. Whereas some, well, we know how they act. We tend to decide if a training was successful or not by getting those “other guys” to step up and train with us. Could we be missing something though? Are we capable of detecting Warning Flags in training? Do we always have control over those warnings? Let us look at some self-diagnosis.

• Does your training staff (Training Officers,…

Most Firefighters understand what a mayday is and are familiar with Rapid Intervention Crews. What you may not know is that the NFPA has a standard for the qualifications and training "to save our own." Over the weekend, I attended a NFPA 1407 implementation course. This 8-hour session concentrated on the standard and ways to integrate it into our training so we meet the standard for RIC. Rather then get into my own thoughts and knowledge of the subject; I would rather publish a simple list…

If you have a high rise or respond on mutual aid to a high rise district, do you know if they are marked for floor identification? If so, do you know how they corresspond with the interior labels? High rise buildings are marked differently, if at all. In our area the windows are typically marked with a reflective sticker, one on every fifth floor. Where this gets tricky is when the interior floors are labeled differently.

This high rise has red circle on the corner on the fifth floor…

This training idea was sent from David Walsh, Chair of the Fire Science Program at Dutchess Community College in NY.

In this video about an aircraft carrier, note the many parallels between…

http://doug-mitchell.blogspot.com/2012/01/check-your-dance-card.html

I admit it, it's happened to me... and I am sure that it's happened to you too. Honestly, it’s just easy to let it happen.  You can try to justify it, in your own mind by saying that; it's just that we love what we do, and we want to do it all the time!  When fire presents itself, we want to get right in there and go to work. …

It is a fresh new year - full of hopes, dreams, and challenges. Many of us will use the new year as a launching pad for personal improvement and an opportunity to accomplish important goals. Maybe yours is to advance within your department, to finally run that extra mile, or simply lose a few pounds - whatever it is, it's a great time reevaluate and implement…

Edison may have quoted "I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work." In our line of work we must succeed the first time and it’s usually “trial by fire”. How we can always be successful is that we learn from both our failures and successes.



Recently my company was dispatched to a chimney fire. It was the typical M.O. We…

This drill idea is from Phil Burden in SC.

If your out or on your way back from a run and see a gasoline tanker making a delivery at a filling station, stop and ask the driver if he has any time to review some of the parts of the tanker.  Read on.

Pass it on!

As the title says, if your life is in the balance, you want to be sure that you are as prepared as possible right?

Then why is it that on fires in cities and towns big and small, you can find videos or pictures of firefighters getting off the rig without tools? Or worse... carrying a tool then not using it?

I work with some great firemen who you know will grab the same tool everytime they get off the rig because they are masters at using the tool efficiently and expertly. I…

As the title says, if your life is in the balance, you want to be sure that you are as prepared as possible right?

Then why is it that on fires in cities and towns big and small, you can find videos or pictures of firefighters getting off the rig without tools? Or worse... carrying a tool then not using it?

I work with some great firemen who you know will grab the same tool everytime they get off the rig because they are masters at using the tool efficiently and expertly. I…

Watch the video of this heavily involved 2-story balloon frame house. Note the wind and the exposures. Give us your RECEO breakdown, initial actions and initial rig placement. Have fun!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!!!