Blog Archives
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That’s all Folks-It’s Not about Entertainment
By Christopher J. Naum - Friday December 4, 2009
When we focus our attention on Building Construction, Command Risk Management and Firefighter Safety and the essence of combat structural fires; Structural firefighting is what it’s all about, is it not ? The fundamental nature and reason we have such veneration for firefighting and the fire service and all it entails, has a lot to do with going into burning buildings and fighting fire. We enjoy it tremendously; we have fun at, because of who we are and what we do-as firefighters. It’s the job and it’s a calling. Firefighting; It's not something you do, it's something you are. But firefighting has its adverse consequences, with all too familiar costs, in the form of injuries, debilitating accidents and line of duty deaths... -
The Worcester Six + Ten: Remembrance 1999-2009
By Christopher J. Naum - Thursday December 3, 2009
Today, December 3, 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire that resulted in the line of duty death of six courages brother firefighters. The Worcester Six; Firefighter Paul Brotherton Rescue 1 Firefighter Jeremiah Lucey Rescue 1 Lieutenant Thomas Spencer Ladder 2 Firefighter Timothy Jackson Ladder 2 Firefighter James Lyons Engine 3 Firefighter Joseph McGuirk Engine 3 Overview: On Friday, December 3, 1999, at 1813 hours, the Worcester, Massachusetts Fire Department dispatched Box 1438 for 266 Franklin Street, the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. A motorist had spotted smoke coming from the roof while driving on an adjacent... -
Searching in the Modern Environment
By Doug Cline - Wednesday December 2, 2009
type='node' cid='362591' /> When given the task of search and rescue one of the first thoughts that comes into your mind as you begin the process of mounting an aggressive search for potential victims on the incident scene is “where’s the victim(s)?”. One may ask why you are processing the task in this manner. It is pretty simple when you analyze fires fifty years ago verses today. The environments are very different. These differences range from building contents to construction. So why are we concerned with searching in the modern day environment? type='node' cid='362591' /> When given the task of search and rescue one of the first thoughts that comes into your mind as you begin the process of mounting an aggressive... -
Strategic Planning: How Much Fire Department Do We Need?
By Dr. Harry Carter - Wednesday December 2, 2009
Over the past several years, I have seen a certain diminution in the level of fire protection that exists in a number of areas. I have seen this in communities of every size. I have seen this in career, and combination, as well as volunteer departments. Far too many appear to be taking a hit from their political and administrative leaders. As an observer of the fire service scene, I have chosen to take a close look at the reasons why fire departments appear to take a disproportionate hit at budget time. We must all recognize a number of things: · Crime pays (at least for police budgets) · Fire departments are unaware of how big they should be, how many people they should utilize, or how... -
The Art of the Size-Up and Risk Assessment
By Christopher J. Naum - Tuesday December 1, 2009
Since the early 1950’s and the advent and subsequent development of the incident size-up function, the performance of size-up at an incident scene played an important role and has traditionally been considered to be a crucial element in the overall step-phased approach towards fire suppression operations and methodologies. More recently there’s been a constant hum in the background with dialog and discussion on the evolving process of size-up and what it means in terms of current day firefighting operations and developing theories on fire suppression and incident management. Adding to the nomenclature of size-up, we find situational awareness, risk versus gain, decision-making summary, risk benefits, risk analysis, risk... -
Day 13 - First Quarter Practical Exam
By Tim Butler - Tuesday December 1, 2009Lungs burning….legs like lead weights….arms completely limp….I cannot remember the last time I was this out of breath….I am guided off the Keiser Sled by Captain Deno, and barely manage to respond, “Yes, I’m all right!” to his question. He had warned us that if we didn’t answer him promptly, he’d be radioing “Dispatch” and requesting a medic rig response. (I had joking asked him to have one standing by in advance for me….it wasn’t so funny now!). He announces my time, and it’s less than 7 minutes! YES - SUCCESS!! I’ve just completed a “practice” run through of the First Quarter Practical Exam that we’ll take “for real” this coming Friday. The exam tests our speed and proficiency... -
Thanksgiving Weekend Workouts
By Tim Butler - Monday November 30, 2009
It's early Monday, and I'm looking forward to academy classes resuming this morning after a 4 day Thanksgiving break. Classes this week will focus on Ventilation (getting the smoke and heat out of the interior of a burning building so fire crews can work more safely inside), and Building Construction. The afternoon practical sessions will focus on donning all Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) in less than 90 seconds and our "First Quarter Practical Exam" (a combination of physical skills like hoisting equipment from ropes, climbing stairs with full PPE/SCBA donned while carrying a 60 pound hose bundle, connecting supply hose to hydrants, etc). The Practical Exam is also a timed... -
The Wrong Dragon.....Hey, just look over your shoulder!
By Christopher J. Naum - Saturday November 28, 2009
I’ve commented and posted on some various blog sites on the issues related to engineer building construction components and assemblies. I posed some questions related to Engineered Structural Assemblies & Systems ( ESS) and asked if you knew what they represent and how these components, assemblies and systems may affect or influence incident operations? I also presented some information on the pioneering efforts and quantitative results of the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) engineers and fire service representatives from the Chicago Fire Department, HERE and HERE. If you’ve spent any amount of time reading through the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, LODD Reports or have invested... -
Stop Smigiel: Social Network formed to fight against MEDEVAC privatization in Maryland
A social network has been formed to unite local residents and statewide EMS, fire companies and police supporters of the Maryland MEDEVAC helicopter medical evacuation program and the state Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System (MIEMSS). The group is coming together to protect MEDEVAC and MIEMSS against Delegate Michael Smigiel (Mike Smigiel) who this year tried to destroy the system through privatization. That would have thrown a lot of EMS people, pilots, nurses, etc. out of their state jobs and dismantled the statewide system that provides training and equipment grants to local volunteer fire companies. Smigiel would have turned the system over to private, profit-making businesses! He didn't win in 2009 but expect... -
The false belief that you can do more with less.
By Dr. Richard Gasaway - Friday November 27, 2009Twenty five years ago I was the candidate for a fire chief’s job and during the interview I was asked by one of the panelists my plan for how to do more with less. This is where I committed a rookie mistake of interview protocol by engaging my mouth before I engaged my brain and before I knew it, I blurted out the answer “I don’t know how to do more with less, but I’d be willing to discuss with you how we may be able to do less with less.” That response sure raised the eyebrows of the person who asked the question. I pretty much knew right there that I wasn’t going to be getting a call back from them with a job offer and I was right. It was a lean economic time in the region of the country where this town was located and...
