Firefighter Basics » Uncategorized http://firefighterbasics.com Where Students of the Fire Service Come To Share and Learn Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:26:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 “Brother,” …It’s More Than Just a Name http://firefighterbasics.com/2011/05/brother-its-more-than-just-a-name/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2011/05/brother-its-more-than-just-a-name/#comments Mon, 16 May 2011 22:27:15 +0000 ladderjack http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=1739 Yesterday, I had the unfortunate pleasure of attending a firefighter’s funeral in the town where I began my fire service career, a little over fourteen years ago. This brave firefighter and family man collapsed suddenly in cardiac arrest, after charging the hydrant for his crew, at a building fire earlier this week. Despite the best efforts of the paramedics on-scene, the fire service has added another name to the long list of firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs).
The purpose behind me writing this column, is to ask the question of what makes up “The Brotherhood?” Many of us hear those words sang around the kitchen table while sipping our coffee, or when someone needs a hand putting a roof on their house over a weekend; but has the title of “Brother” lost its meaning? Does it really make a difference if the firefighter was a paid/ career firefighter, or if they were a call/ volunteer firefighter? In the case of this LODD, the firefighter was a volunteer, from a department of about two-hundred.
I ask this question, only because of how disappointed I felt because of the turn-out, while standing in the pouring rain on a 4o degree day, paying my respects to this firefighter. Having attended too many firefighter funerals to count, I know of the usual turn-out, and how many people usually make these events. This funeral had maybe two-hundred firefighters total, show up. The worst part, to me, was that not even half the membership of this particular department showed up to honor their fallen comrade; and they had mutual aid companies covering the town for the duration of the day. Where was the so-called “brotherhood” then? Was it because of the poor weather conditions? Was it because this firefighter died outside the building, and not inside? Or even worse, was it because he was a volunteer, and not a career firefighter?
Today, I am employed by one of the larger fire departments in the country, but will always remember my humble roots. This is one of the reasons why I would not have missed this funeral. Many people forget that the paid/ career firefighter is in the vast minority within the fire service. “The NFPA estimates that there were approximately 1,148,100 firefighters in the U.S. in 2009. Of the total number of firefighters 335,950 or 29% were career firefighters and 812,150 (71%) were volunteer firefighters” (Karter, 2010). It is the volunteer fire service that protects the greatest majority of this country. I am also confident that the majority of the readers of this article would fall into this category, as well.
Most of us are aware, but maybe forget, that the funeral is not for the man or woman being carried on the back of the fire engine; but is for the family members who make just as great a sacrifice in their loss of their loved one. You can see it in their eyes, when they walk by the saluting masses or when they follow the casket for its final ride to the cemetery in the limo; and standing tall are hundreds to thousands of firefighters saying their farewells. Even with the low turn-out to yesterday’s ceremony, the family still seemed thankful for the support of their loved one’s fellow firefighters.
As of today, there have been thirty-one LODDs in the United States (USFA, 2011). We still lose, on average, around one-hundred firefighters every year, due to firefighting operations. Approximately forty to fifty percent of those are due to cardiac-related issues, and that figure has remained constant for over a decade. The United States Fire Administration’s (USFA) 2009 Annual report on firefighter fatalities showed that within the ninety firefighter fatalities, forty-seven were volunteers, with thirty-six being career and 7 were wildland agency firefighters (USFA, 2011). This still shows that volunteers incur the greatest amount of LODDs within the fire service; so why would the turn-out to one of their funerals be any less than a member of their paid/ career counterparts?
When someone calls me their “Brother,” I usually have to take it with a grain of salt. It used to be that I could consider any other firefighter “My Brother,” but those days are slowly drifting away. The fire service is slowly forgetting how united we once, and always were; it truly was a family. Many of us could probably boast about being closer to some of our co-workers, than our own blood relatives. Where did this go? Yesterday opened my eyes further to the chasm that is slowly dividing more and more of us each day. Is one firefighter’s death less important than another’s, because he volunteered his time versus making it a career? Because he died providing one of the most essential functions on the fireground, water supply, and not hugging the nozzle or being disoriented on an upper floor?
When I joined the fire service over fourteen years ago, I remember a feeling of belonging that few get to experience. It truly was joining another family. It’s this feeling that still drives me to visit some of my old friends in this volunteer fire department. This is the same department that I still go to, to recharge my vigor and zeal for the fire service, when my department has me feeling run-down or frustrated. It’s these men and women that I look into their eyes, and see a true passion for being a firefighter, not just a simple paycheck and pension opportunity. Is this the fire department you joined? If not, I encourage you to be the voice of change. Bring back this fellowship, and remember what this job is really about. Career or volunteer, helping others is the simple task we all swore our lives for. If this doesn’t sound like you, maybe it is time to seek another calling or career. The fire service is one of the strongest and greatest families out there, let’s continue to remember that.

References
Karter, M.J., Stein, G.P. (October, 2010). U.S. Fire Department Profile. National Fire Protection Association.
United States Fire Administration. (2011). Firefighter Casualty Reports & Statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/ffmem/ffmem_results.jsp?p_mn_status=1&p_last_name=&p_first_name=&p_fd_city=&p_fd_state_code=&p_death_year=2011

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2011/05/brother-its-more-than-just-a-name/feed/ 5 Advice to all Probies http://firefighterbasics.com/2011/02/advice-to-all-probies/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2011/02/advice-to-all-probies/#comments Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:15:57 +0000 anchorpoint1 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=1631 The latest crop of future leaders emerged from the physically and mentally demanding fire academy 1 week ago.  First off; Congratulations, and great job. Welcome to the best job on Earth.

Now that we got past that “LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING KID…“:

1.Forget EVERYTHING you learned in the academy.  Those book smart idiots don’t know shit about how real firefighters work.

2. Top priority everyday is to make sure the coffee is made.  Get your equipment ready after that.

3. Learning your streets is your second priority after the coffee.  I know you aren’t allowed behind the wheel for a year but you need to know all the streets right now.  Where’s Action Court?  Ha, Wrong!  It’s a street off Action Road that doesn’t have any buildings on it, actually it’s just a named driveway, learn your streets kid.

4. Never leave the truck without a tool.  if it’s a minor car accident bring the pick head axe.  The ambulance drivers can do the medical crap, that’s beneath us.

5. Always carry the pick head axe when investigating alarms.  It looks cool as hell and you can hit things with it.

6.If you wear your tank while investigating an alarm you are a punk and/or scared.

7. Take that suspension and ear flap crap out of your helmet.  You look stupid.  As a matter of fact we could put in the oven for a couple of minutes and take that shine off.

8.In order to be a more streamlined and effective firefighter you have to control your weight.  Dump the search rope, pliers, cable cutters.  Take the liner out of your Bunker pants.  You already have an integrated pass so get rid of that stand alone nonsense.  Now let’s get some cake and watch Wheel of Fortune.

9.Those guys down the street on the west side are so caught up following the book that they forgot they are supposed to be aggressive firefighters.  If you see them stop to catch a hydrant drive around them and we’ll run a line off the tank.  We’ll be alright but if we run out they can fill us.

10. I’ve been on this job so long that I don’t need to check my equipment or the truck.  Besides, the guy yesterday should have done it all.

11. I don’t care if you are a grown man who did 3 deployments to Afganistan as a combat medic.  You don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m a better medic than you’ll every be.

12.  “There I was at that 4 alarm fire……Just me….against the Red Devil…..”

This is advice I’ve heard people tell Probies.  Most of these are direct quotes.  The caliber of leadership can sometimes be astounding.

Stay Safe

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2011/02/advice-to-all-probies/feed/ 4 Happy Holidays From Firefighter Basics http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/12/happy-holidays-from-firefighter-basics/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/12/happy-holidays-from-firefighter-basics/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 11:04:15 +0000 firestudent1 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=1548 The Crew here at Firefighter Basics would like to take this time to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday Season. Not sure that everyone is aware that the Crew here is all active Firefighter’s, and Instructors.  At times we can not always post as we would like. We are working very hard to bring you great content and deliver it in a way that you can immediately apply it to your next run. We will be re-doing our site and we are asking you what you would like to see. What are we getting right? The site is for firefighter’s by firefighter’s. Email us your ideas at firefighterbasics@gmail.com and if you would to contribute write something and submit and we will get back to you. Again Have a Happy Holiday Season.

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/12/happy-holidays-from-firefighter-basics/feed/ 0 HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE BASICS! http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-basics/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-basics/#comments Thu, 25 Nov 2010 18:11:36 +0000 drillmaster2 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=1528 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.

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving-from-the-basics/feed/ 0 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!!! http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/10/happy-birthday-jeff/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/10/happy-birthday-jeff/#comments Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:30:47 +0000 basiceditor1 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=1375 We would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to our friend and crew member Jeff Schwering. Hope you have a great day brother!

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/10/happy-birthday-jeff/feed/ 1 Cooking Mexican http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/09/cooking-mexican/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/09/cooking-mexican/#comments Wed, 15 Sep 2010 12:30:08 +0000 fire3fighter0 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=36 Ok, so this doesn’t have anything to do with cooking Mexican food, but it does deal with paying attention the next time you are at a Mexican restaurant. When you sit down and look at the menu, take a few minutes and look around. Notice how they are all laughing and carrying on having a good time. They don’t fight over who’s table is who’s or who is going to do what. They all work together and get the job done. One waiter brings you your chips and salsa, another takes your order, another brings you your drinks and yet another brings you your dinner. The point I am trying to make is that you could learn a few things from watching these guys work. Proficient and fluent work, with little talking among them. They know what each other is going to do and know that if one person misses something, there is going to be another right behind them grabbing it.  One guy can carry four plates on one arm from his wrist to his shoulder, and still carry one to two more plates on the other.

If these guys can do these things with small plates, why is it that we have firefighters that can’t even carry one tool? Why is it that some firefighters on the fire ground, have to be told what to do? There should be very little talking about what to do on the fire ground. The officer should be able to tell the crew what he wants done before they even get off the truck and not worry about checking behind their guys to make sure they do the job right.

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/09/cooking-mexican/feed/ 3 Tactics Tuesday http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/tactics-tuesday-8/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/tactics-tuesday-8/#comments Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:19:22 +0000 firestudent1 http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/24/tactics-tuesday-8/ Give your size up an incident operations based on what you see

Tactics Tuesday, posted with vodpod

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/tactics-tuesday-8/feed/ 2 South Carolina Low Country Firefighters you have been Challenged to a Bowl Off For MDA by The St. Andrews Fire Department http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/south-carolina-low-country-firefighters-you-have-been-challenged-to-a-bowl-off-for-mda-by-the-st-andrews-fire-department/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/south-carolina-low-country-firefighters-you-have-been-challenged-to-a-bowl-off-for-mda-by-the-st-andrews-fire-department/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 05:00:06 +0000 firestudent1 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=915 1st Annual St. Andrews Fire Department Bowl-A-Thon to Benefit MDA

August 20th &21st

1963 Savannah Highway

Name_____________________________________________________________________

Company__________________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________________

Phone ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­__________________Fax _________________Email _________________________

Want to play or be a sponsor? Teams or individuals may sign up to play, or your company may do even more by choosing to be a sponsor.  Some options include:

Team Registration Teams of four may sign up to play together.  Don’t have a foursome?

Don’t worry, we will match you with other players for your convenience.   $ 30 per person

Strike Sponsor Your company name/logo will be displayed on a sign at one lane for only:   $50/one day or $ 75/two

# of people to register: __________                       August 20th (Circle 1) 6PM-10PM or August 21st 12PM-4PM

Register one team of 4 players __________

My check will follow this fax via mail, made payable MDA.

_______ I will not be able to attend but please accept my donation of $ ______________ to follow by mail.

_______ I would like to sponsor a Lane. My check will follow via mail.  Please contact me for sign information.

Deadline: August 13th.

Fax Your Fast entry form to (843)556-7826

Mail your check to:

Muscular Dystrophy Association

29 Leinbach Drive, Suite D-5

Charleston, SC 29407

To pay by Credit Card or to make a donation please call (843)556-3654.

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/south-carolina-low-country-firefighters-you-have-been-challenged-to-a-bowl-off-for-mda-by-the-st-andrews-fire-department/feed/ 0 Happy Birthday to Our Copy Editor Kelly Bush http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/happy-birthday-to-our-copy-editor-kelly-bush/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/happy-birthday-to-our-copy-editor-kelly-bush/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 05:40:07 +0000 firestudent1 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=1020 Happy Birthday to our Copy Editor Kelly Bush. Kelly works hard for us when we actually submit our post in to get edited. We hope she has a very special day and want to say thanks for all you do.

]]> http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/08/happy-birthday-to-our-copy-editor-kelly-bush/feed/ 6 Flashover Friday http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/07/flashover-friday/ http://firefighterbasics.com/2010/07/flashover-friday/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:27:21 +0000 firestudent1 http://firefighterbasics.com/?p=978 Unload your feelings on any topic you feel. No pointing fingers, and NO NAMES!

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