All Blog Posts (3,147)

Hard to believe it's been four years since I lost my friend and mentor. It took a few years after his death to put my feelings into an editorial cartoon and I desperately hope this message will help others out there!



Listen and be involved in their lives - be there for them!



R.I.P., my…

I occasionally get requests for advice on problems others are having in their respective departments. The topics range from how to get away from officer elections, officers who don't train, senior firefighters who are not buying in to new ideas and how to get their departments to train more. Every situation is different and it is tough to offer much without being directly involved. So, inevitably, I offer a diplomatic thought, which I hate to do. But, we know there is always two sides…

“The National Fire Protection Association list 13 attributes that the job of firefighting requires. Most are physical- the ability to climb a lot of stairs, lug a lot of gear, move heavy hoses around, rescue large people and the like. But one goes under the helmet. The NFPA says a firefighter ‘must be capable of critical, time sensitive, complex problem solving during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments (including hot, dark, tightly enclosed spaces)…

Get a front row seat next to the Battalion Chief for this working Multiple Dwelling fire in Brooklyn.  Listen to the BC give great radio reports, great size-up information and even take time to talk to the neighbors.  Nice video with links to the popular conversation on Facebook.

Other things you'll see:

• The Command presence
• Notice the professionalism of the operating crews
• Notice the window A/C unit falling to the street (around :40)
• Notice the…

Have you ever heard someone say on the fireground or back at the firehouse, "Man I sure was lucky on that one", I have and I thought to myself, why do they say or feel that way? Shouldn't we be saying, "Man, if it weren't for my training I wouldn't have got out of that situation". Your training is what you fall back to each and everyday. When the stuff hits the fan or you find yourself in a sticky situation, don't rely on "luck" but what you have learned throughout your career to see you…

Take a look at the pictures and ask a few questions. There are always variables that we don't know about using a still photograph, but we can put ourselves in that picture and think about what we would do. The idea is to consider different approaches and outcomes and keeping ourselves ready should a similar even occur.

1. Is there tenable space in this…

There have been numerous complaints from a small group about my latest seat belt cartoon. Enough so that Brother John Willgohs felt compelled to share his story of an apparatus accident that happened in 1998. If you can read this, and look at the attached photo without realizing the necessity for you and your crew to buckling-up, well, maybe it's time for you to…

There have been numerous complaints from a small group about my latest seat belt cartoon. Enough so that Brother John Willgohs felt compelled to share his story of an apparatus accident that happened in 1998. If you can read this, and look at the attached photo without realizing the necessity for you and your crew to buckling-up, well, maybe it's time for you to…

2012 is just around the corner.

If you haven't already made plans for the new year, then you'd better start now.

I am speaking to volunteer fire departments.

Have you made plans to recruit, and then retain new members?

There are people in your communities who are sitting on the fence. They want to get involved in their community in some way. Do you know who they are and have you reached out to them?

The days of…

Here's hoping that everyone has a very safe, job secure, and happy New Year!!!

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Share your strategies, tactics and experience!  Every Friday we'll post a picture or video and want to get your take on the situation.

THE SCENARIO:  You're wearing all the hats today! You're dispatched to a reported "structure" fire.  It's the middle of the week during Christmas vacation and the neighbors don't know if the kids are there or not.

• What is your initial report?
• Where is the fire?
• Where is it going?
• How…

So many times I hear "Why do we have to train?" or "Why is it so important?". When I hear these comments I can't help but get upset and mad. But I have had to remind myself numerous times that when I hear things like this it is my job to change those "Attitudes". We must do "Whatever it takes" to make sure we are ready to answer the call when the bells go off. Training is what keeps us as firefighters safe and ready to do our jobs better and more effectively. Yes there is always that chance…

On December 22, 1999, we lost three (3) Keokuk, IA firefighters (http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200004.html).

I received the news on the fire in Keokuk, IA that claimed the lives of Assistant Chief Dave McNally, Firefighter Nathan Tuck and Firefighter Jason Bitting as they attempted the rescue of three, small children, who also perished in the fire.

The headline in the Thursday,…

Water supply is vital for the completion of our job of extinguishing fires. It really is as simple as that.  Arguably, no incident demands for the quick actions of a competent driver as much as a Highrise building.  They are tasked with establishing and maintaining a positive water supply in this normally standpipe equipped building.  The added element of supplying a Fire Department Connection (FDC) certainly adds an additional dimension to that of a residential structure…

Here is a short video that you can use for a drill or training night. Feel free to use however you like. This is from a recent basement fire and what was looked for and what was done. There are some considerations to think about. This is not everything for all basement fires. Just a simple tutorial. Feel free to add your experience and ideas to this video.

Stay safe,

Jason…

"There Ain't No Slack in Initial Attack!"

After 6 Seasons with Cal-Fire, and 7 Years of College, I finally said it out-loud.

I want to start a company and an NPO to partner with that provides Fitness, Education, Training and Resources to Wildland Firefighters.

We are Here! And - Here is…

My wife and I were at the mall finishing up our Christmas shopping and taking in the sights of the holiday season.

There were grade schoolers singing Christmas songs or I assumed that they were. I couldn’t hear them over the Christmas music blaring over the mall’s speakers.

There were dancing sugar plum fairies. Check that; it was mall cops chasing another shoplifter.

Everyone was in the Christmas spirit. Some could be heard complaining about how crowded it was. Others…

Have a safe and wonderful Christmas, everybody!!

Oh, and keep an extinguisher by the fireplace, just in case Santa needs a little assistance!

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Within the culture of the American Fire Service, we have sub-cultures. There are those who seek to be professionals in their chosen trade. Then there are individuals who simply seek entitlement. No matter where you align yourself on that scale, this trade has minimum requirements. You must position yourself within the team and carry out the duties you are assigned. Our business has been forged through blood, sweat and tears. Even if you care not for the sense of pride and accomplishment…