Basics

[TFDT31]

Whatever happened to the basics of firefighting? Firehouse magazine, in my opinion, has become too commercialized. I would like to see more sections devoted to Engine company operations, Truck Company operations, Rescue company operations and less on politics, futuristic ideas, and especially advertisements. I would like to read a magazine that gives me insight to my job not open it up everytime to pages and pages of ads. I also think the magazine needs to be refreshed. Give us a break with the university of extrication ( it was great for a while but now it is getting old)There have been many new columns added to your magazine that were going to be reoccurring columns and they have disappeared. Start incorporating them into every other or even quarterly. I would like to see more department profiles and fitness issues. Keep us up to date with "Progress Reports" and let us learn from " On The Job" and let us see who had the "big one" in "Hot Shots" but I as a firefighter and reader need articles that are going to help me maintain my proficency on the job in day to day activity and not worry about how to run a department there are other magazines that specialize in those topics. I would like magazine that I won't just skim through and see ad after ad and disinteresting articles about items that make no diference to me the firefighter. Yes keep the advanced topics and political and promotional articles in there, I myself am working on my Bachelors in Fire Administration and understand the importance of educating myself, but get some basics back in. I have watched new firefighters pick up your magazine skim through it and set it down because there has been nothing in it that is interesting or educational to them because it is too advanced for someone who is just learning the basics. Please lets get back to some of the basics and incorporate from there and not become to advanced for your audience..firefighters.

[M G]

Yes, I think I second that thought. Honestly, I prefer Fire Engineering over Fireouse magazine anyday. But I will say this, This is one of the best web sites that I have come across. But the magazine is really awfully crammed with ads and "comercial" unappealing stuff. I like basic down and dirty firefighting stuff. Bring it on Firehouse. Every month the firehouse magazine gets the quick once over and tossed in the pile usually then I sit and drool into the pages of Fire Engineering because it overloads my mind with info I can take out to the field. When I research info for presentations and classes I almost never find anything in firehouse worth quoting with few exceptions. Mike Wilburs apparatus colum has greatly helped me a few times, but as the aforementioned gentleman said, where are the basics? Just my honest opinion guys and gals.

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The information presented herin is simply my opinion and does not represent the opinion or view of my employer(s) or any department/agency to which I belong.

[Truckie from Missouri]

I agree with the above statements.

I would like to ad: Have the occasional history of apparatus issues as well, and bigger apparauts pictorials. I have always enjoyed the classic apparatus, and comparing them to todays modern monstrosities.

How about history of the fire service in general? I am a firm believer that we can learn from incidents of the past.

Ken