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Meet in the middle!

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Many things are being discussed in our service today. My take on things is a mix I suppose you could say between sides of the fence that the Fire Service has created. We have the “Safety Sallies” in the blue corner and the “Aggressives” in the red corner. I did the groups in specific corners for a reason, if you figure it out wonderful, if not, sorry. Many issues are in the front of our minds right now. Searching of insert name of building type here, proper size hose lines, ventilation, etc. We seem to split down party lines and to me this about the worst thing we could possibly do.

 Here’s a novel idea, break down the fence and meet in the middle!Many outstanding and far more intellegent folks tha I, occupy both “camps,” so how about instead of “flinging poo” as Chief Goodrich has elluded to in his post and “Sir Lancelot etc” by Dave LeBlanc, both on this sight. If you haven’t read them, please do before you finish this. These two gentlemen, who, Dave I know personnally and Art I know through his writing and chatting with, represent the corners. These two guys don’t share the same beliefs on some of the issues, yet they are friends, and meet in the middle, in the battleground that has become of Safety vs Aggressiveness.

We all came on this job to be a fireman, to my knowledge no one forced you to get on that engine, truck, or rescue, if someone was forced to come on the job, stop reading now. Being a fireman, is a tough demanding and dangerous job, period! We’ve come a long way from hanging on the tailboard, trying to pull our boots up, to enclosed cabs, with Seatbelts! Wow, are we good are what? Spare me the butt slapping and back patting we all do, before the job is done. Our job is never going to be done, fires happen, fact and people die, if not for us!  Real quick, if you don’t like being referred to as a fireman and would prefer Fighfighter, the touchy feely PC way, just pretend. We have some of the smartest folks in the world working in our profession. IAFF, NFPA, NIOSH, EGH, IAFC,etc, these folks are giving us tools to put in our paperwork toolbox everyday and as firemen and bosses, we need to use them to help keep our members safe. We have hands on training like Brotherhood of Instructors, Vulcan training groups and many other teaching the apparatus toolbox things to make us better firemen, everyday folks!

Novel idea time! Lets use the skills we honed in our apparatus tool box, get the saw, irons, hooks, axes, etc,  to take apart this fence and instead having party lines, like the politicians we all agree we don’t like. Let’s look together and have civil disscussions and conversations on how to make both toolboxes work together, to better enhance the Fire Service. Leave the fingerpointing and second guessing outside of our circle. We truely as Firemen are better than that. Be mindful of the families of the lost or injured Brothers the next time you feel you need to point a finger at any Brother or Department, it could be you tomorrow.

We are in the greatest Profession in the world, the bond we have with each other has no borders, nor should our professionalism to our citizens, towns, districts, and our country! Be Safe, but all buildings get searched, we say when and if that building is unoccupied.

Posted by on February 1, 2011 • Filed under: administration-leadership, Education/Training, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, line-of-duty • Tagged:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE BASICS!

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From all of us at Firefighter Basics, we wish you all a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving! To our Brothers and Sisters that have the watch, while we eat our turkey, Stay safe, remember the basics! We hope you will have a quiet tour with your second families.  Take care everyone, enjoy the day, because  Firefighter Basics will be coming back at you with many new challenges in the upcoming days.

Posted by on November 25, 2010 • Filed under: Uncategorized

HAPPY SAILING!

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To Firestudent 1 and Mrs. Firestudent 1, from all of us little helpers, We have the Watch, enjoy the vacation! You deserve it, the SSDD will be around for us all. From all of us at Firefighter Basics, enjoy the ocean. We hope the boats name didn’t start with a T or end in an ANIC! LOL!

Posted by on November 3, 2010 • Filed under: Thoughts

Engaged and Ownership

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What do these two little words mean to you in your life? They have different meanings for all of us I’m sure, but, how much thought do we give to these words in our Professional lives as Firemen and as Brothers

In our everyday lives we are engaged in sports, playing, coaching, watching, etc. We are engaged in our families, by being loving husband or wives, fathers or mothers, watching our children grow into well rounded adults. We own cars, houses, computers, cell phones, you name it, we seem to own it. I’m sure everyone out there could fill the page or pages with more, but what do these two little words mean to us as a Fireman? Look in the mirror and ask yourself, if the same level of engagement and ownership at home, is the same level you put forth, when the bell sounds, if everyone did, this would not have ever been written.

Do you take ownership of the Fire Service? Many of our “brothers” will tell you they do, while they are on that cell phone they own, discussing their secondary job for the next day, in the middle of a light weight building construction class? Think about you and the members you rely on every day. This example is only one of a thousand different examples floating around our Profession.

Is your department, your company, or most importantly you as a Professional Firefighter, regardless, career or volunteer, fully engaged in your Profession for the your tour, however long it might be? Do you train, using relevant training or do or you officers pencil whip it to make everything look in order? Do the officers and the senior members work with the younger, newer members to mentor them, or is that “silly training” we just did a couple months ago? Okay, so what’s your point 

Are we as Fireman fully engaged to the job at hand? I say absolutely not for many of us and to me that is unacceptable. Josh Materi, from the Seattle Fire Department put it best. I hope many of you have seen the quote, if not try using that computer you own to search Facebook for it, instead of checking out prospective dates or local pubs. Pay attention to lessons learned by becoming engaged in the recent events going on in our Profession, the rescues in Lowell Mass, wall collapses injuring our Brothers in Detroit, and many more. Become Engaged in our Job, not the fantasy football team you are going up against next Sunday.

Every tour is a training tour; every tour is a learning tour. Fires happen period. We as true Brothers would take a job every shift, but, it doesn’t work out that way. Every time we get on the rig, is a time for us to shine, because we are not being called just to see our smiling faces. We are being called to mitigate someone’s worst day. For those out there that do not like running calls or feel the strong need to drive extra slow to that alarm activation, because you are sure it’s false or we might get disregarded, consider another line of work! This Profession is about so much more than a paycheck and days off. Our Profession is about saving Lives and Property, it is time for all of the Fire Service to stand up look in the mirror and treat Ownership and Engagement as Priority number 1.

Posted by on October 26, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Education/Training, Thoughts, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: ,

“Try Me” drill for you and the Drillmaster

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OK Brothers and Sisters, a little homework for all of us. I sit behind this keyboard and come up with drills that we all have used or have used in company training to keep up on our toes. I would like you all to give me some topics that hold specific meaning for you and your departments. I want to hear from all of you, this gives me an opportunity to learn from you all as well, let’s give this drill a shot. Fear not, engine, high rise, you make the call, building construction, and many more are sitting in my folder for the future. This “try me” drill is one of the first drills my first volunteer Chief dropped in my lap 28 years ago. Away we go, let’s see what is out there! Drillmaster2.

Posted by on September 29, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Education/Training • Tagged:

Type V Construction and You

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This is an easy drill Brothers, maybe. Company officers it’s time to teach, both you and your members. On the next tour, make some time and drive around your first due area, make a list of all the type V structures. We know the residential are, but what about businesses. Make your lists individually and check them against your inspection files, when you get back in the house, see how well you and your company did. Grab some lunch, then discuss the risks associated with these buildings and how you will handle them, when you get that call at 03:00. Enjoy! special thanks to Chief Gettemeir from FVFPD, for the class I attended to jog my mind to pass this drill on to everyone.

Posted by on September 20, 2010 • Filed under: Building Construction, Drills, Education/Training • Tagged:

What’s in your hosebed?

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How often do we think about the line in the hosebed of the engine? The answer for most of us is not enough, unless you are among the lucky Brothers that drop line on the ground on a regular basis. Even if you do, how much attention do you pay to the loads, size of hose carried, forward lay, or reverse lay, or both, what are your options, how will you adapt? Many of us only deal with the hosebed come hose testing or on the occasional job, where maybe a few hundred feet of hose hits the ground.

Drill Time: Get out on the floor, every member must know how much of each hose is carried in that bed. The size, the name of the load your department uses, how to hook a plug, etc. Try setting up a small mock hosebed in the apparatus room, young guys teach the old guys. Our younger members know or should all about repacking hose, they are the newest out of the academy right? Make sure your folks know the difference between an intake and a discharge, seriously, it just might save someone’s behind literally. Learn your hosebed so you take guess work out of this equation. Bosses try this, you might just end up scared. Drivers you should be watching and helping where needed, if you have to ask about your engine, hosebed, or hose carried,maybe you should be on the backstep! Use this to train. Tweek this any way you want, but use it to ensure our professional performance on every tour. Train hard Brothers, be safe!

Posted by on September 7, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Engine Tips, hose, training-development

RIT and a little challenge tossed in.

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Ok  folks, here we go. We all or most have been hit by less manpower, because we all know we can do more with less. For those of that run with a 3 person company, (Driver, Boss, and a Firefighter) no real challenge here. For those who have 5 or 6 member teams here is the challenge. My company just went through this, we had an acquired structure, through a neighboring FD, but be creative! Three member company as RIT, now take one out to be the victim, two out right? Mayday called, the two member team, equipped with a TIC, RIT bag, and at least a tool, goes in after the downed FF, this downed FF is on the second floor or basement, ours was on the second floor. Drill and Challenge Time!!

1. Do your members know how to call a Mayday and When to call? You might be surprised.

2. Building construction and layout of the structure, confusing?

3. Can two members handle this job?

4. Composure, think about it

5. Radio Traffic

Bosses need not be a victim! Train your folks, show some leadership ability or don’t see what happens. Brothers will more than two members, try this with two, as they say, see how the other half-lives!

Enjoy, can’t wait to hear from all ranks, Be Safe, this is to make us think, not get us hurt!

Posted by on September 1, 2010 • Filed under: Building Construction, Drills, Education/Training, Engine Tips, Truck Tips

Large Area Search Drill

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My department and my company were involved in a large area search drill our last shift. This was a multi- company, multi -department event in an old automotive plant in a neighboring district. I urge everyone reading this to go to Urban Firefighter Magazine, volume 1 for the whole background on this drill, the Brothers on the West side of my State came up with this after the loss of one of their own, there is your background, Drill Time!

Large area can even be the engine room, if needed. Two teams, a search and a rescue team, of two members. First team, Officer leads in both members tethered together. Tools needed, TIC, tool, and a rope bag. The rope is secure outside the door to the search area. The first guy in sweeps the area for a downed member. The officer needs to take a look at the ceiling to check the temperature of the ceiling, if it’s up about 600 degrees are we going in? In a large area, big box store, automotive plant, etc, are we dealing with a basement? Normally walking in is acceptable. Officer take your time with the camera, use it correctly.

Second in on the search team is the “mule” this member is carrying the RIT/RIC bag. the search is performed while always being aware of air management and situational awareness. Stay in constant contact with command advising your status. When the Search team finds the downed member, advise command, give a situation report, and request the second team.

When the Rescue team is activated and making their way in, the Officer moves to position the downed member for removal, the “mule” holds the downed member in a sitting position if possible.

When the rescue team arrives, the second on the rescue team moves to assist the “mule” each grabbing a shoulder strap of the downed member. The Rescue Officer, turns while maintaining contact with the rope. The #2′s of both search and rescue grab a strap of the rescue officers SCBA, with the Search officer following a keeping the rope tight, it’s time to get out. The rescue officer leads both crews out with the downed member.

This takes practice and research on preparing ourselves to do this. Please read the article on LAST in UFM. This is a taxing drill, our drill area was smoked up very well and tested our skills, it truly was a rewarding experience. Just to be clear, the rescue officer is responsible for the downed members air, obviously with his second team member. If anyone does this different or has questions, please don’t hesitate to comment. Be Safe Everyone!

Posted by on August 23, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Truck Tips

Fire Alarm activation drill

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Ok Brothers and Sisters, we all run these things regularly. The drill portion of this is quick and easy, well maybe. We all have policies for AFA’s do we follow them the same at 2 in the afternoon or 2 in the morning? We all need a refresher from time to time.

1. get out the policy for responding to AFA’s see how many members know the policy as they should, Bosses you are not exempt.

2.Next pull a target hazard out, they normally have a slightly different SOP, SOG, whatever, do you know the policy for the target hazard or hazards.

3. Take the time to discuss with the members, probie or veteran, why these policies are in place and why they need to be followed religiously on every alarm. Answer questions about what you know to be fact Bosses. If you don’t know for sure find out, so your folks are safe!

4. Lastly, everyone, bosses included, reflect on enforcement of the policy. Do we follow this all the time even in 99 degree heat or do we slack off and what can happen if we throw caution to the wind.

5. This drill can be used in house, or while you are on the street, but, use it. It has worked for me, it will work for all of you! Enjoy!

Posted by on August 16, 2010 • Filed under: Drills

Building hazard identification

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Let’s take a look at identifying hazards in different structures. This drill is great because it can be used in-house or on the street and really should be used by officers and firefighters alike. This drill is gaged to make us think and use our common sense, yes I said it, Common Sense! Since this has the ability and should be expanded to meet everyone own first due and then some, I’ll give you ten occupancy types, identify a minimum of 3 a maximum of whatever your company wants, of construction, entrapment, fire spread, etc, hazards for each. These examples are out of my own town of 4 square miles. Enjoy!

1. Single family residential

2.  Bowling alley

3. Occupied multiple dwelling

4.  Auto repair Center

5.  Big Box Store

6. Fast Food Resturant

7. Strip Mall

8. Car Dealership

9. High- Rise Structure

10. Large Shopping Mall

Posted by on August 12, 2010 • Filed under: Building Construction, Education/Training

Dumpster fire

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Ok, while I’m not great at getting all the pretty visuals in here yet, this is another good drill for everyone, boss to probie.

Your company is dispatched to a dumpster fire at 01:30 in your apartment complex, your dispatcher notifies you that PD is on the scene with a dumpster fully involved at the location. As your company turns onto the street you pass the closest hydrant, you can see a glow from around the last building in the complex. You arrive to find a commercial dumpster going from end to end, with exposures on the B, C, and D sides of the dumpster. Vehicles on the B and D side and a wooden privacy fence, and electrical pole well involved on the C side. Dumpsters are a cake walk right, wrong! Here’s some questions to jumpstart the mind.

1. What level of PPE is required on this job?

2. Where should your apparatus be positioned?

3. What size line are you going to stretch?

4. What hazards present themselves with the dumpster?

5. Overall hazards of this fire?

6. Do you have procedures in place at your FD for overhaul?

7.  What safety considerations are needed for your crew?

8. Trash line attack, or do you have other option?

9. Are bystanders or PD a reliable source of information?

10.Oh yeah, you have 500 gallons of water, now what?

Enjoy guys!

Posted by on August 9, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Education/Training

Portable radio Drill

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Here is a quick a simple little drill for improving our knowledge of our portable radios, without even picking one up. Needed for the drill: Piece of blank paper for each member, a pencil, and hopefully, the memory is up to the test.

Every member gets to draw a rough picture of the portable they carry, including all pertinent buttons, knobs, bands, and explain all. When everyone is done, get a radio and compare how the crew has done.

Each members keep the drawing, for review at a later day. Simple and easy, the end results are interesting and a review we all need from time to time.

Posted by on August 4, 2010 • Filed under: Education/Training

Drill Time

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Hello all I’m Drillmaster, Fire Student asked me to keep the site in drills for basic company operations. I will be putting up drills regularly to give firefighters and company officers alike, a place to grab a drill for the shift. We train everyday, we train to be our best in our chosen profession, and we train to survive! Now let’s start the show.

Expanding on mayday procedures, here is the drill:

1. The next EMS run, at the conclusion, have a firefighter tell you how he/she would call a mayday from a room that you choose inside the structure, see if the guys were paying attention to their surroundings or day dreaming.

2. Next tour on inspections or building familiarization, stop and have a member call a mayday, from an area of the structure that you’ve been through.

3. Finally, if you don’t get out of the house due to weather or whatever, pick a member, let them know this is only a drill and they aren’t being kidnapped. Put a hood over their head, turn them around twice and take them to another area of the engine house. They should have a clue where they started, see how close they are to where they end up.

4. Last on the list, Bosses are not exempt! This is a great drill to learn your skills and build company pride, if you’re in a double house, challenge the other company, losers pick up the Ice Cream for the Shift!

Posted by on August 2, 2010 • Filed under: Drills