All Blog Posts (3,147)

Just as the car industry has reinvented itself with the “Hybrid” vehicle, today’s Main Streets have reinvented themselves by renovating nineteenth century structures by adding and renovations thus breathing life into…

Let Us Remember to Thank Our Mentors

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

            As we progress through our careers in the fire service, we meet many amazing people. Instructors, company officers,…

Before you go Hog wild (sorry, had to say it) on bacon please read the following disclaimer.  Let me state up front that saying bacon is “healthy” does not mean it’s healthy to eat it in huge quantities nor does it mean it’s healthy to eat large amounts seven days a week. Try to stick to small servings, blot extra bacon grease off to lower fat intake, and avoid adding extra salt or other high sodium seasonings.  I suggest to consume only 2 or 3 slices and only once a week.  Also,…

Know Your Ladder Lengths/Heights!!!

We always use the scenario that in 0300 hours we need to perform like it is 1100 hours.  We try to promote muscle memory but sometimes I think we tend to lack on the mind part of the memory.  Firefighters perform the skill efficiently for each task…

ELECTRIC LEADERS (+ or -)

While speaking in beautiful Wisconsin, I began the leadership segment by introducing myself as Bo Ryan, the very successful and beloved basketball coach at UW. I talked to the class (imaginary prospective UW basketball players) about what would be expected of them IF they wished to be…

FDIC, April 20 – 25, 2015, is the week to get your firefighter on and become refreshed and rejuvenated in our profession shared with 35 thousand other like minded firefighters. FDIC is the oldest and world renowned firefighter’s conference held in Indianapolis who has opened their arms wide to welcome firefighters from all over the United States and numerous foreign countries.

For you who have been there, you know it…

Stretching an attack line dry is a tactic for a set of very specific situations. A couple that come to mind are exterior stairwells, protected interior stairwells, and for tenable halls/corridors from a protected stairwell. With all of these, somebody must be assigned to mind the hose before it's charged and it must be laid out correctly in the stair well. In the photos below, you'll notice the hose on the 'inside' of the stairwell; it should be on the outside. Folds of hose can slip down…

The "Quick Tip" this week is part 2 of a 3 part series. We will be covering one of the most important and often unappreciated extrication scene positions-SQD Driver. More often than not, this position will make or break the scenes efficiency. From insuring the safe travel, to anticipating the needs, this position will be working until the situation is under…

The Sunday Preach

"SPRING HAS SPRUNG"

Spring is about re-emergence, starting a new. "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." Maria Robinson.

S - 'Safe' defined is 'free from harm,' fires... most often are not

P - Preparation is a key step to create the "Combat Ready You"

R - React quickly to changes in your fire environment

I - Involve everyone in training, for in battle they will all be with…

There is plenty of change going on the world these days, and the fire service is no different.  We are looking into the science of our business and debating how to apply it, wrestling with generational issues, technology, etc., but one of the most striking changes to come along in the last ten years or so has been the way we get our information.  And it is important to recognize these changes and how they influence our industry.  Our younger members may not have the experience to recognize…

Got Street Credibility? Applications Now Being Accepted

So who do you listen to? Maybe more importantly why do you listen to certain people? A friend of mine once told me that firefighters listen to the one with the biggest mustache. I laughed but then thought about it and…

Whole lot of Monday Morning Quarterbacking going on around Twitter and Facebook today - typical after an accident or tragedy. Nothing wrong with learning from videos posted online, but keep your social media expert advice to yourself. Move away from the keyboard and show some…

Below is a story I posted to "The 1st Battalion" Facebook page a few days ago. We write to a mixed audience, including many folks from the community, so please excuse the layperson language. I wanted to share it here because these little passive CO monitors work! My department chose the Protege CM- we have them wire-tied to every aide/BLS/jump bag in the department. Ours alarmed less than a minute after initial patient contact, at which point we very quickly removed the two residents and all…

I often hear this question mentioned numerous times, how young is to young to be in this service? Where do we drawl a line and say their not old enough?

Having come from a rural department in Kentucky I understand the need for working hands, but is their an age that stands out as "they are too young"?

in the state of Kentucky 18 is the minimum age to join up as an active duty firefighter but many municipalities set their hiring age at 21, is there a reason; and…

     From just reading the title, I know what you’re thinking, “Why don’t I get to decide which line I pull at a fire, that’s crazy talk!” Let me clarify that, we don’t get to decide which line size is appropriate to pull at a fire, the fire dictates that, not us.

     Over almost the last three decades in the fire service I have heard many of the same comments about using a 2…

DRAWN BY FIRE Flashback - Because who doesn't love the constant blowing of hot air through a big h*** that never closes!

Can I get an amen?!

Order prints and books here:…

Never Forget Your First Day

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

     I love the fire service. I truly believe that being a career firefighter is the best job on the planet. Thrilling, exciting, fulfilling, and demanding are all…