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Size up this fire.

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The point of view in this video shows almost everything that is happening so you have to imagine yourself showing up at street level and the limited view you would have had.  The first arriving companies thought it was a fire in the rear porches.  They were right, but, the fire was already inside the second building when they arrived.  

 I spoke with the officers on scene and from their point of view upon arrival they thought it was back porches and they thought they may have inadvertently pushed the fire into the second building.  The officer on the first line to the rear was wondering why the fire was going to 3 alarms, let alone 4.   It was obvious to command what was going on, but from the rear it was a different story.  You can see the rear was a floor lower than the front. 

I wish we could just get a couple second video from the front when the first arriving companies got on scene, but that’s not going to happen.  Too often when someone posts a video the commenter gets to watch the whole thing and then decide what they would have done.  It would be better to just get a few seconds and then watch the comments, to keep everyone honest.  But comment away. 

Was going to the rear with the first line a good choice?

Would going in from the front then making a basement attack have worked?

What size line are you going to bring?

Are there any other issues that should be brought up?

I may sometimes sound like a stickler for rules because a firefighter should at least know the procedures that way if they do something that isn’t in line with the procedures they have to provide reason instead of “I didn’t know”.  My only critique is that at least one of the trucks arriving on the subsequent alarms should have looked at the roof instead of just putting the stick up.  This would have minimized the chance of a guy alone on the roof, especially a relatively new guy.  That’s just my opinion and I have had that opinion since this video was taped almost 9 years ago.

Stay safe.

Posted by on September 22, 2011 • Filed under: command-leadership, Drills, Education/Training, Engine Tips, firefighting-operations, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Truck Tips • Tagged: , , ,

I’m on the Radio.

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I was checking out some of the other firefighter blogs looking for something entertaining.  Lucky for me I stumbled across Lt. Lemon at ELAFF complaining about Radio Redundancy.  http://elaffhq.com/2011/08/19/radio-traffic-redundancy/

I suddenly have the urge to complain about the way some people use the radio.  For entertainment purposes only:

Push and hold the little button before you start to speak, and hold it down until you are finished speaking. Nothing is better than getting the middle and the end of a message. “…teen update for the EMS, patient is not….conscious…”

You aren’t in the military anymore.  “Roger, Wilco” and you don’t have to worry about the enemy tracking you so you don’t need to do the 5 second rush.

On the 5 second rush note, don’t think with the mic on.  Think, THEN speak, and make it short.

Don’t over lawyer it.  Yes you are being recorded, but you still have a job to do.  Don’t start changing protocols or common phrases at random.  For example; MVC or MVA, not giving updates if the patient/incident status changes, don’t hide things that should be broadcast.

Speaking of lawyers; you are being recorded, be professional.  “applyin O2″  classic.  “Patient is disorientated”,”It’s just a bum-he’s moving on”.

You aren’t a Doctor (If you are why are you reading this?). In my department we are only authorized 1st responder level care, EMT-B or P doesn’t matter so-”This guy is drunk” I prefer “altered mental status”.  “Heroin overdose” unless there is a needle nearby I usually go with “respiratory arrest”. 

If you aren’t first to the scene, you don’t need to call off, especially if you have no intentions of leaving the piece, thanks. Exceptions; it is a working incident, you are the chief, the ambulance we are all waiting for, or you are positioned out of sight and ready to provide a function from there. “E12 to dispatch, we are investigating on High St” …3min later…”Ladder 3 is on High St” Good job, the engine is already inside investigating, maybe even done already, they’ll see you when they are done.

Last but not least. DON’T EAT THE DAMN THING!  Keep it away from your mouth.  Did you know you may actually be able to leave it on the clip and speak? That’s 2′ from your mouth!

Posted by on September 1, 2011 • Filed under: Drills, firefighter-safety-health, technology-communications, training-development • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Door Chocking

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I know we’re called Firefighter Basics.  I was actually wondering if this subject was TOO basic to cover.  It’s not.  We went on a run the other day and the officer told the 5 year guy to chock the door.  The 5 year guy reaches up to his helmet and lo and behold the 2 chocks that he wears to balance out his helmet were missing.  He says “My chock is missing”.  The way he phrased it made it seem like it’s not his fault made my mouth drop.  (He didn’t say “I don’t have one.”). The second reason I stared at him like he was and idiot was because we were in a crappy building with litter, debris and CRAP everywhere.  I carry a chock block and have only used it once, to help pop a car door, I only have one chock and I know it’ll magically disappear if I use it somewhere.  So here is a quick primer on “chocking” that door. 

Remember; the Fire Service is goal oriented.  When we do a job there is a mission to accomplish and steps that need to happen along the way.  What are the goals of chocking the door? 

  1. We can get out easily if needed, no locked doors behind us.
  2. Others can get to our location easily, no locked doors in front of our back-up.
  3. Cause no damage or as little as possible if appropriate.
  4. Walk out with all of our equipment.

There are 2 basic ways to chock the door, the first is so its wide open with unobstructed access, and the second is to prevent it from securing.  Preventing the door from securing is usually pretty simple; obstruct the frame, wrap the latching hardware or some sort of complex remove the cylinder process (I’m not a fan).  Preventing the door from securing is the most reliable, the door will usually hold these things in place, they may fall out the first time the door is used but that may be all that is needed.  Propping the door wide open is actually more complicated because whatever you use has to be heavy enough or wedged in adequately to hold the door open reliably

Honestly the highest demand for propping a door open is on the routine medical calls where the apparatus arrives before the ambulance.  An example is a semi-secure building with a desk guy or a buzz to enter building.  The goal is to allow the door to be opened without someone there.  All of these will work and I prefer to use a magazine or flyer of some type at these places.

Everyone loves to talk about chocking a door at a fire. “Door control is paramount” true, but at a legit fire I don’t give a shit about the door, put the Adz end of the halligan behind the hinges and pop the bottom ones free, the door will shift and sit on the ground.  If you need to shut it the top hinge is still in place and the door can be closed if needed.  Understand I’m not talking about forced entry here.

Stay safe

At a tech rescue call where all the other options to chock the door were more of a problem.

Cord, rope or inner tube with 2 holes wrapped around door knobs.

Rug, Mat or some item of clothing thrown over the door.

Old reliable

Floor mat, Magazine, Newspaper under/opening side of the door

Floor mat, Magazine, Newspaper Hinge side of the door

Trash can, furniture, Flower pot as a chock on an open door or agaist the frame.

Some purchased hinge hanger, could also us a wooden Dowel 3/4"X3" with a bent nail for this.

The inverse old reliable, watch out, it falls, but it has it's application.

Posted by on July 18, 2011 • Filed under: Drills, training-development • Tagged: , , ,

Failure During Training

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During the setup a multi-agency drill, a conversation was started after a prop that was going to be used was built. The conversation covered when to remove a firefighter from the prop that will be used as apart of an Air Management course. The statement was made a firefighter starts to lose it you remove them from the prop. My feelings of course is that you allow them to stay there and work it out. My feelings are this way because, I feel that we are giving firefighters a false sense of security. Allowing them to believe that there is going to be a hand to just reach in and grab you when your in trouble. Firefighters who have experienced being lost and disoriented, or running out air know that this is not so. It was said to me that it seems like we just want firefighters to fail this particular skill by allowing them to panic and not pulling them out. My thoughts are the failure would be to pull them out and build that falsehood that help is always going to be right there. The basics are simple and plain if and when you get jammed because if your a firefighter going into structure fires you will, its simple you panic you could very well DIE! Yes I said it! Its a harsh reality,  but true. You have to have a survival attitude and training to go along with it. So I ask you the fire service where is the failure. Is failure allowing firefighters to be pulled out because they panic, or Failure not to let them panic and hammer the point home?

Posted by on July 8, 2011 • Filed under: command-leadership, Drills, Education/Training, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics • Tagged: , , , , , , ,

Single Person Evolutions by Training38

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What do you think of when you take an Engine Company class? You think of a three or four person crew arriving on the first due apparatus. A lot of departments in South Carolina do not respond with 3 or 4 people on the first arriving apparatus. They arrive with one person and have additional personnel arrive at different intervals, in apparatus, staff vehicles or POV. The latest study shows how effective an engine company can be with 4 and 5 personnel riding on the rig. The study accomplished 22 different tasks. When you have one or two people arriving on scene, the study showed accomplishing those same 22 tasks, increases the work load and the overall time to complete those tasks. One question I have is most departments are fully aware of the increased work load with the initial one or two persons arriving. Does your department practice one person engine drills? Do you honestly train like you fight? What do you expect to accomplish in 3-6 minutes by yourself. Not much you are probably thinking. What if I told you that one person can in less than six minutes complete the following:

  • Arrival on scene with a windshield radio size-up (Time starts when the cab door opens)
  • Pump engagement
  • Donning your structural pants
  • Deploying your 200ft pre-connect
  • Charging your line
  • Donning the rest of your gear, including your SCBA
  • Deploying the PPV close to the front door
  • Donning your mask
  • Conducting an educated exterior attack (Time stops when the handline is flowing water)

Would you believe that this can be accomplished in 3:30 seconds? Right know you are probably saying that can’t happen and are probably asking yourself what about the walk around. In less than 5 minutes with a walk around all of this can be accomplished. It all falls back to technique and having a procedure so you maximize your movements while also being dressed for success. I am not by any means advocating conducting an interior attack alone. STAY OUT until adequate resources is on scene prior to the interior attack! For those firefighters that understand, how the first person arriving can have a dramatic impact on the initial stages of the fire and how multiple people are arriving with in the first five minutes and inundate the scene. This really hits home. For those that run a traditional style engine company you’ll appreciate the techniques of those in a rural environment. In a rural setting a lot of times the person who gets the engine to the scene may or may not be the one who operates the fire pump. With being fully dressed out you can make a safer exterior attack. You may be lucky enough to extinguish the fire or you may keep the fire at bay until additional help arrives. Either way your PPE is in place and provides you with the most protection. Once additional personnel arrive, firefighters fall into place, pump operators, Incident command, Additional attack line, RIT teams, Search crews and the list goes on and on and on. Next time you have a drill night, try this single person evolution and see what you can accomplish. You will be surprised. Understand that this is worst case scenario for a department, most of the time multiple firefighters and tankers are arriving with the engine or within minutes behind the engine. This drill is nothing fancy, no fancy tactics or techniques. Just sticking to the basics and maximizing your movements.

Posted by on January 28, 2011 • Filed under: Drills, training-development • Tagged:

Disorientation Drill

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To Setup the Drill you will need an area where you can run multiple sections of hose and charge it.

Materials Needed

  1. 300 feet of 1.5 or 1.75 fire hose
  2. Two nozzles
  3. Two instructors

When locating a coupling to gain orientation and get out of the structure. One saying that is used is ” Smooth Bump Bump and to the Pump” Referring to running your hand from the smooth shank portion of the female coupling to the lugs and then the lugs on the male coupling.

Firefighters should be in full PPE including SCBA and vision blocked.

Posted by on January 12, 2011 • Filed under: Drills, training-development • Tagged: ,

Hello VPS!

17 comments

I heard these were coming to my city.  The department said they would be put on some vacant properties in the “less desireable” areas of the city.  Imagine my surprise to see it 2 blocks from my house.

Moving on.  Cruising the neighborhood DOES count as training.  I let a few truckies in the area know about this and now my street looks like a parade route.  Either they are interested in the VPS security system or someone is giving away free lunch.

These are not easily defeated.  They do not help with ventilation.  They do not help with access or egress for us.  The properties involved are arson targets and as you can see in one of these pictures the rear porch doesn’t have decking on it. What does that imply about the rest of the building?

My thought is exterior ops, then send minimal crews in for overhaul.  Your life safety should not be risked for an obviously vacant building.   Get in touch with the company that is managing the property and take a tour, figure out how to defeat these things.  I’ve heard they have steel cross bars inside just like the wooden models that board up companies put up.  If that is the case you’d need a diamond blade on the demo saw.  I would recommend the standard abrasive blade but I think that would dissolve quickly and you might only get 1-2 cuts at the needed depth.

Let me know if you have a trick to getting these off safely.

Stay Safe, and good luck with these.

www.vacantpropertysecurity.com

Posted by on November 11, 2010 • Filed under: Building Construction, Drills, Education/Training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Truck Tips • Tagged: ,

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: ,

Pre-Planning, Where to start.

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In my current capacity as a rental boss I don’t have the privilege of having my own crew.  Where ever I get sent is the crew I have.  It’s sort of like taking care of brothers grown kids; they know what to do, your just there for occasional guidance.  Here is one of those instances.

We were responding to alarms sounding in a building and I hear one of the guys in the back say “I hate this building, It’s confusing and if we get something here we are going to look like crap”.   Well that’s just ducky, thanks for instilling confidence in me.  We run the call and the crew wants to hurry out. I ask them “since we are here and we have the maintenance guy, let’s walk the whole building”.  No problem.  We drew a little map, found the utilities and then found roof access.  10 min well spent.  .  We also realized if we parked on the side of the building we could run a line directly to 3/4 of the building instead of just  the 1/4 when we parked out front.   When we got back to the barn I showed them how to put it into the CAD

2 drills for the day.  They loved it.  The reason they never did it before was because they thought it would take too long.  Now they know, and with the info in the CAD the whole city can know if they want.

In our line of work avoiding things usually makes them worse.  If there is a building in your area that you “don’t like” get on it.  Make an appointment and walk through it.  Find the utilities, roof access, any little secrets you can.

Next time  we’ll talk about the actual pre-planning process.

Be Safe

Posted by on September 30, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, training-development • 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:

Five Point Size-Up by Lt. Bob Pressler

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B- Building

E- Extent

L- Life Hazards

O- Occupancy

W- Water

Posted by on September 27, 2010 • Filed under: Building Construction, Drills, Education/Training, firefighting-operations • 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:

Join some of the crew from Firefighter Basics in Class Colleton Fire, Task Force 1

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Colleton Fire, Task Force 1 Join for trainingColleton Fire, Task Force 1 Join for trainingPlease Click the above link to learn more information for this great training opportunity.

Posted by on September 9, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Education/Training, Scenarios, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics

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.

2 comments

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

Basic Competition Drill

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Here is a quick and easy drill that we found on the internet a little while back. It is fun and promotes friendly competition between all members. All you will need is full P.P.E with SCBA, tape tools, a cone and a stop watch or other timing device.

Setting it up takes about 5 minutes. First figure out your starting point, measure out 10 feet and place a piece of tape on the ground. Place 3 or 4 different hand tools to one side or the other. Measure another 10 feet and place another piece of tape down. Measure about 25 to 30 feet and place a cone or other highly visible marker on the spot. You are now ready to perform the drill.

First you start with a rapid dress drill and start the stop watch. Have members get all gear on EXCEPT their face piece. Go to the first mark and select one of the tools. Move to the next mark and kneel down and put your face piece on and go “on air.” Make a radio announcement that you are entering the structure to perform a search. Go to the cone and around it then back to the second marker. Make a radio announcement that the search is complete and the time is stopped.

This is just a quick and easy drill to help promote a little friendly competition between your members. If you happen to know which department originally came up with this drill please feel free to let us know so that we can give them a little recognition for a great drill. Take care, be safe and have fun.

Posted by on August 30, 2010 • Filed under: Drills

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

Truck Company Daily Checks

4 comments

Like always, I’m not here to tell you your job.  Do what’s in your SOP’s and what you’re told to do by your bosses.  I’ve been bouncing around the city in my half a$$ promotional status and I’ve had the pleasure and displeasure of working with a variety of crews.  I just want to review your apparatus operational checks that you do every day.  Again, this isn’t a safety check or anything else, just thoughts.

1.  Safety check, walk around, brakes etc…. DOCUMENT ALL ISSUES and send the report to the proper place.

2. Check the jacks for operation, and range of motion before setting them to throw the aerial.  Do you know any override procedures and how the override affects the aerial operation?  When you throw the aerial don’t just spin it and drop it in the bed.  Throw it to the roof and climb it, one fire house I was at had a garden on the roof and it was the truck operator’s job to water it.

3. Saws need to be warmed up or they will gum up and won’t run properly.  RUN them.  Run the generators and hook up a load, flood lights, fans, whatever they should be loaded to get to full operating temperature just like the saws.  If you’re allowed to, clean out the air filters.

4. Sharpen your tools.  “Salty” tools look pathetic and unprofessional.  Grind the burrs off, wire brush them smooth, and then a LIGHT coat of oil.  They don’t have to be super sharp or you’ll just damage them worse the first time you use it.  You’ll get the hang of it.

5.  Check the jaws and open and close them, don’t forget to leave them open just a little.  We have had issues where the motor ran fine but the pump wouldn’t work or a line was leaking.  Unless you have a new style tool that can be connected and disconnected under pressure make sure you go back after you shut it down and operate all the valves to balance/release pressure.

6. A quick look at the ladders to see if they look right and make sure to operate any pencil/little giant that you have, they get sticky.

7. Finally; check on all those odd ball tools that never get used.  They might be in that rusty compartment that no one knows about.  Give a quick look and identify their uses.  They all exist for a reason so make sure you know it.  You might get to use them once in your career but that one time you’ll be glad you had it.

Let me know what I missed and Be Safe

Posted by on August 19, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Education/Training, Truck Tips

Water rescue Basics

6 comments

So, after another frustration round of training where everybody knows everything and the boss gets shouted to the back row,  I’ve come to a conclusion (again).  You need to have an SOP that outlines what companies should do at different incident types.  Lacking that there should at least be a list of minimum standards.

I’m going to start with water rescue because we just messed this up the other day, at a drill not an incident.   I’ll just list the minimums and you can go from there.

1. PFD, PFD, PFD.  Don’t go near the water without one.  Stay in the spectator area if you are only going to contribute to the crowd.  Otherwise you can/will  fall in and become part of the problem.

2.  If you have a dingy that you toss on top of your apparatus STRAP IT DOWN.  If it’s on a trailer take the extra second to make sure it’s attached correctly to whatever is pulling it.

3. If that dingy has a motor shut the motor off when near people or floaters or whatever.  Don’t operate the blender near flesh.   Send a rescuer to the victim and pull them to the boat together.  If you don’t need to get in the water DON’T.

4.  Don’t let the non-swimmer do a damn thing. Keep them away from the water or they will find a way to add to the problem.  Have them go get towels or something equally useful.

5. Remember water rescue in this order; Teach, Reach, Throw, Go.

Teach: “Hey, stand up!” or “Move that way”

Reach: “Grab the stick, Side of the boat, or That buoy”

Throw: “Grab the rope.” Grab the ring”  Etc..

Go: “Jump in there Jr. Man”  Make sure your guy has a rope on him.  We don’t play the maybe game.  If he goes out, we always have a way to get them back.

At training there should be a safety boat or another dingy that stays out in the water and does nothing but keep an eye on everyone in the water.

I only say these things because we messed most of them up.  How do you do this all the time and still be clueless?  And every time we go out and play in the water someone gets run over by the front of the boat and everybody laughs, me included, because if reinforces so many points

Be Safe

Posted by on August 18, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Education/Training

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

Tactics Tuesday

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Double House Fire. Give your Size up and Incident Operations.1. Any Special Considerations you would make.2. How many alarms?

Tactics Tuesday, posted with vodpod

Posted by on August 10, 2010 • Filed under: Drills

Dumpster Fire To go along with Drill

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Please see drill below

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

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

Tactics Tuesday

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Give your Size Up, and Incident actions

Tactics Tuesday, posted with vodpod
Posted by on August 3, 2010 • Filed under: Drills, Scenarios

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