Adam J. Hansen's Blog (17)

​“Did you hear about the line of duty yesterday?” Nine heartbreaking words no firefighter ever wishes to hear.  But guess what……

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Power Lines & Breaker Box’s

Upon arriving at an incident, whether it’s a working structure fire or a “possible structure fire”, there are many tasks to be completed.  Water supplies, size ups, 360’s, interior reports, and a whole host of other actions that…

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We all enter the fire service knowing it’s the greatest job on earth and there is not another occupation we’d rather be doing. We also grasp the harsh reality that we are in fact a 24/7 service being open for business on nights, weekends, holidays, and everything in between. At the start the year, shift, or however your respective department operates, there is one specific date everyone immediately checks.....am I gonna be stuck working Christmas? If assigned…

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The Blame Game



​The fire service is an occupation that can literally at times dictate life or death. Structure fires, extrications, medicals as well as a whole host of other emergencies that place us dead center in the middle of stressful situations. Over time it’s human nature that we become numb or to think the calls in which we respond are no longer taxing. This may be how we view our daily…

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             Obtaining acquired structures is a first-rate asset within our fire service.  If an organization is fortunate enough to have a good training division with members actively working with contractors, developers, and the building department of their city; you can’t put a price on it. …

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         A few weeks back, our training division was able to acquire a structure set for demolition. It was a 1960, two story, Type #2, Commercial, measuring in around 10,500 square feet. With time always equaling money, organizations are often limited to having these structures for just a few days prior to coming down. However, with this particular structure, we had the tremendous opportunity of having it at our disposal for an entire month. We utilized it to the…

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            The number of people switching to natural gas as a fuel source is ever growing. It’s obvious the frequency of “gas calls” in which we respond seems to be increasing by the day. With this becoming a solid reality, the opportunity of becoming complacent as a fire service when responding to these calls has become a tangible threat. The following is a call we responded to where even the gas company representative was surprised to find what had materialized.…

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Michael C. Reilly

“The Hard Charger Award”

 

By: Adam J. Hansen…

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            Stretching a hand-line is one of the most fundamental tasks we perform within our fire service. Without being proficient at stretching/advancing a line, it’s safe to say we can expect nothing short of an inadequate outcome when operating on the fire ground. Stretching is one of the first things we learn as new firefighters. In academy’s across the country, evolutions are repeated over and over at nauseam with instructors ordering “I want that line to the front door”, “Stretch…

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The Brotherhood’s Not Dead

 

            The Brotherhood. A fraternal order that has existed for centuries within the fire service; it’s a bond amongst firefighters unmatched to any other organization on earth. To gain admittance, one can’t simply get hired or join but must first prove ones worth. Not by talk, but by action. It’s the fellow brothers/sisters who say when and if you become a member. Once admittance is granted, you become a…

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“Jacks of all trades and masters of all”.  As firefighters, our charge is to ensure we live up to this incredible responsibility.  The vast array of highly specialized disciplines we must not only comprehend but also more importantly, be proficient with is no easy task.  Being an officer does not make them the very best at everything.  What do you think happens?  A firefighter wakes up the day of their promotion, puts on a light blue shirt and all of a sudden has a higher power of…

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Looking back on childhood memories, most can recall our parents telling us “if you work hard enough, you can do anything you want.” Our family’s encouragement is what sets up the fundamental understanding of “if you want something bad enough, all it takes is courage and determination and your possibilities are endless.” This premise continues as we proceed throughout our lives; teachers keeping us on the right path, coaches pushing to reveal our full potential, and friends encouraging us to…

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Training – “The Collapse Pile”



Within the fire service, it is essential for every member to be “jacks of all trades and masters of all”. Fire suppression, technical rescue, EMS, Hazmat, etc; the list of our roles and responsibilities continues to grow each year. It is mandatory we stay in a constant state of readiness. At the start of our tour, we must ensure we are prepared to perform any task that may present itself. With that said, the various tasks we perform have different…

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            When firefighters begin their careers, formal training starts with either a trip to the Academy or a Firefighter One/Two class.  It is these institutions which provide basic knowledge and where the groundwork is set.   After the foundation is poured, it is up to the individual firefighter to go back to their department and decide what standard of career they will…

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Since the beginning of my fire service career, there’s been a concern I’ve heard time and time again, “we just don’t have the tradesmen coming on the job like we used to”. Stories are told about how “back in the day”, each of the various trades had representation in the fire service. Prior to getting hired on a department many members grew up in more of a “blue collar” environment. Children followed the footsteps of their parents and learned the family trade. If your parent was a stonemason,… Continue

            As a young kid growing up in suburban America, I like most of you, developed an unexplainable desire to become a firefighter.  The sound of the federal blaring down the street would draw me to the front window every time the local engine company went on a run.  Firefighters and firefighting was something that seemed bigger than life!  When you stop and think about it, it’s crazy so many of us knew exactly what we wanted to be when we grew up; even before we knew how to count to…

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