Firehouse Magazine

In This Issue: April 2012

Cover photo by Martin Nate Rawner

Six people were displaced after a suspicious fire in a two-story apartment building in South Los Angeles on May 11, 2011.

Dedication

This month’s Firehouse® is dedicated to Firefighter III Duane Ibarra, 50, of the Maui County Department of Public Safety in Kahului, HI; Firefighter Brandon Little, 19, of United Hook and Ladder Company 33 in New Oxford, PA; Firefighter Bruce Turcotte, 58, of Hopelawn, NJ, Engine Company 1; and Captain Walter C. Sumner, 49, of the Cranesville, PA, Volunteer Fire Department, who died in the line of duty, January 2012; and to Senior Firefighter/Engineer/Paramedic Doug Haase Sr., 60, of the St. Charles, MO, Fire Department, who died in the line of duty, February 2012.

Tools & Technologies: Firefighter Turnout Gear: Why Is Fit Important?

by Mark Mordecai and Pat Freeman
Created: April 1, 2012

Mark Mordecai and Pat Freeman explain why the days of building turnout gear that fits a "normal" range of firefighters are over.
Fire Chief Interview: FIRE CHIEF CHARLES HOOD San Antonio, TX, Fire Department

by Harvey Eisner
Created: April 1, 2012

Firehouse: You recently gave a “state of the department” address. How did that come about? Hood: As you are well aware, communication within any organization can be a challenge...
On The Job Indiana: Three-Alarm Fire Destroys Vacant Lowell Factory

by Jay K. Bradish
Created: April 1, 2012

n Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, a three-alarm fire destroyed the former Rieter Automotive Systems Group plant in Lowell, IN. Due to the advanced stage of the fire on arrival, no interior operations were...
Higher education: E-Textbook's Fast Growth

by Paul Snodgrass
Created: April 1, 2012

As a graduate student at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ, Dan Kerrigan had extensive experience with e-textbooks. Nearly all of his textbooks were in PDF format. Kerrigan, an assistant fire...
20 Tough Questions For the Fire Chief

by Dr. Richard Gasaway
Created: December 2, 2011

The poor economy has had a considerable impact on municipal budgets and, subsequently, on fire department budgets. Elected officials are feeling the pressure to reduce operating expense and they are...

As Firehouse Sees It: Three Cheers

by Harvey Eisner
Created: April 16, 2012

First, we salute all those nominated in the annual Firehouse ® Magazine Heroism and Community Service Awards program. The “Bravest of the Brave” earn their title each and every year...
EMS: EMS Near-Miss Program Website Launched

by Gary Ludwig
Created: April 1, 2012

For many years, I have seen people in the EMS profession die in the line of duty in a variety of ways. Some fatalities involve helicopter crashes, some deaths result from ambulance crashes and some...
Thermal Imaging: Deployment – Getting Thermal Imagers Into the "Right Hands"

by Brad Harvey
Created: April 1, 2012

The term “deploy” has been used in military circles for more than 200 years. It comes from French roots meaning to unroll or unfurl. Random House defines “deploy” as “to arrange in a...
Close Calls: Firefighter Seriously Burned While Attempting Searches

by William Goldfeder
Created: April 1, 2012

T his month, we continue our coverage of a close call in University Heights, OH (see part one in the March issue). Our thanks to University Heights Fire Chief David Rodney and Firefighters Paul...
Fire Technology: D Block: The Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network

by Charles Werner
Created: April 1, 2012

For more than six years, I have been writing articles and columns to inform you about the concept of a nationwide public safety broadband wireless network. On numerous occasions, I have asked the...
THE FIRE PIO: Qualifications of a Fire Department Public Information Officer

by Timothy Szymanski
Created: April 1, 2012

No matter what type of department you are a member of – volunteer, combination or career – it should have a designated public information officer (PIO). It doesn’t matter where you are; every...
University of Extrication: Thermal Events: Part 1

by Ron Moore
Created: April 1, 2012

This University of Extrication multi-part series comes right from the headlines of today’s newspapers. The topic being addressed is what vehicle engineers call “thermal events” involving...
Command Post: Riding the Right-Front Seat – Part 10: Be Ready

by Dr. Harry Carter
Created: April 1, 2012

So, you thought it would be easy riding the right-front seat? It is never easy, because you have to worry about taking care of other people. Once you decide that you actually know what you have in...
Fire Politics: Employee Relations: The Relationship Is Changing

by Dennis Compton
Created: April 1, 2012

Difficult economic times have had a significant effect on many aspects of our society. One of the most obvious has been in the area of employment – not just whether people have jobs, but also the...
Fire Law: Can a Homeowner Just Say No?

by Curt Varone
Created: April 1, 2012

Alerted by a passerby, a 14-year-old boy dials 911 to report a possible chimney fire in his house. Fire crews are dispatched, but the boy’s mother calls back to report she does not want the fire...
The Fire Scene: The Role of the Safety Officer At a Structural Fire

by John J. Salka, Jr.
Created: April 1, 2012

When was your most recent working structural fire? If you are like me, you probably remember just about everything you saw and did while at a structural fire. Whether it was a fire involving a...
Leadership Lessons: Developing Leaders Within Your Department

by Kimberly Alyn
Created: April 1, 2012

Countless firefighters have voiced their frustration to me when their departments open the promotional process to outsiders instead of promoting from within. This often hurts morale as firefighters...

New Products 4/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: April 1, 2012

Portable Tank System ZIAMATIC CORP. has introduced the Model PTS-HA hydraulic portable tank system. With the PTS-HA, Zico combines its portable tank system design with the added strength and...
Hot Shots 4/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: April 1, 2012

JERSEY CITY, NJ, FEB. 19, 2012 – Nine firefighters were injured during a five-alarm fire that involved a large, two-story frame building that housed several stores on the first floor and...
Industry News 4/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: April 1, 2012

THE ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICIALS (APCO) INTERNATIONAL has received a $50,000 grant from the MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS FOUNDATION to provide qualified association members with...
Rekindles 4/12

by Paul Hashagen
Created: April 1, 2012

MARYSVILLE, WA: APRIL 4, 1912 – About 7 o’clock in the evening, fire was discovered on the second floor of the Anderson Building, just over the entrance to the Star Theatre. Within a short time...
New Deliveries 4/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: April 1, 2012

THE FORT LEE, NJ, FIRE DEPARTMENT has taken delivery of a Sutphen custom pumper/tanker built on a Sutphen Monarch chassis. Components include a 515-hp Detroit Diesel engine, Telma retarder...
Scuttlebutt 4/12

by Steven Shaw
Created: April 1, 2012

This Month in Fire History April 1, 1853, Cincinnati, OH First salaried fire department established April 4, 1949, Effingham, IL St. Anthony’s Hospital fire kills 74 April 10...
For the Record 4/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: April 1, 2012

Closing After 128 Years Santa Ana Fire Chief David Thomas will be switching out his collar ornaments on April 20. That’s because his 128-year-old fire department will no longer exist, a victim...

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Firehouse Magazine Insider

Firehouse Managing Editor Elizabeth Neroulas talks with Syracuse, NY, Fire Chief Mark McClees about his participation in Firehouse's "2011 Heroism & Community Service Awards" that appears in the April 2012 issue of Firehouse Magazine . Listen as the two discuss this year's awards program and some of the difficulties that came with judging such important heroic acts. For More: Read: The 2011 Heroism & Community Service Awards View: The April issue of Firehouse...

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Nominate a department member for heroic acts and extraordinary community service that occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2012. This annual program is the largest of its kind in the United States.

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Annual Run Surveys

Each year, Firehouse publishes three surveys to help fire departments compare statistics including personnel, budgets and response data. In the spring, the Combination Run Survey focuses on combination fire departments. Over several issues in the summer, career departments compare statistics through the National Run Survey. In the fall, the Volunteer Run Survey shares details of the largest segment of the fire service. Take part in the next Firehouse Run Survey by downloading the proper form below.

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