Firehouse Magazine

In This Issue: June 2012

Cover photo by Kevin Heckman

An early-afternoon four-alarm fire ripped through four buildings in the Morris Park section of the Bronx, NY, on April 14, 2012. With heavy fire venting from the cockloft, the building suffered a second-floor collapse that briefly trapped two firefighters. They were not seriously hurt.

Dedication

This month’s Firehouse® is dedicated to Captain Mark G. Ratledge, 35, of the Cottonwood, CA, Fire Protection District, who died in the line of duty, February 2012; and to Chief Nolan Ervin “Goat” Pittman, 46, of the Centreville, MS, Volunteer Fire Department; Lieutenant/EMT Jamison Kampmeyer, 34, of the Colby, WI, Fire Department; Lieutenant Mark W. Morrison, 53, of the St. Lucie County, FL, Fire District; and Senior Captain Thomas “Bill” Dillion, 49, of the Houston, TX, Fire Department, who died in the line of duty, March 2012.

2011 National Run Survey: Part 1

by Elizabeth Neroulas
Created: July 1, 2012

For the 31st year, the career fire service takes to the pages of Firehouse ® Magazine to share and compare statistics about company and department activity levels, funding, staffing and pay. A...
Two-Alarm Fire Destroys Historic Lodge in North Tonawanda

by Jay K. Bradish
Created: June 1, 2012

On Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, a two-alarm fire destroyed the historic Elks Lodge in North Tonawanda, NY. The fire presented water-supply challenges to firefighters. The hydrant grid system terminated in...
20 Tough Questions For the Fire Chief: Are You Prepared To Answer Them? Question 2

by Richard Gasaway and Richard Kline
Created: June 1, 2012

The primary responsibility of your fire department is to deliver fire, rescue and life-safety services to your community. To provide these services, fire departments have historically placed...
Firehouse Expo 2012 Preview

by Harvey Eisner
Created: June 1, 2012

Firehouse® Magazine Editor-in-Chief and Firehouse Conference Director Harvey Eisner and Vice President of Firehouse Events Ed Nichols talk about what people can expect at this year’s event.

"Legacy of Leadership" In Challenging Times

by Dennis Compton
Created: June 1, 2012

It was April 25-26, 2012, at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC. Front and center was the 24th annual Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) seminars and dinner. Nearly 2,000...
Thermal Events – Part 3

by Ron Moore
Created: June 1, 2012

SUBJECT: High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Vehicle Batteries TOPIC: Thermal Events OBJECTIVE: Upon the conclusion of this series, the fire service responder will have a better understanding of the...
Doing Less With Less

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

I keep hearing the term “doing more with less” concerning people and organizations that are having financial difficulties these days. It’s an old saying and people just keep on saying it with...
Predictability and Performance Of Buildings on Fire

by Christopher J. Naum
Created: June 1, 2012

When we look at various buildings and occupancies, past operations (good and bad) give us experience that defines and determines how we assess, react and expect similar structures and occupancies to...
Talking with People: Yes, It's That Easy

by Daniel Byrne
Created: June 1, 2012

Current economic difficulties are negatively impacting the fire service in many ways. Today, governmental managers can do things to the fire service that five or 10 years ago would have been...
Community Paramedicine – The Next Step in EMS

by Gary Ludwig
Created: June 1, 2012

Picture this scenario: You work for a fire department in a small rural community of fewer than 3,000 people. Your closest medical clinic, doctor and hospital are more than 50 miles away. Even the...
Dealing with Distrust In Your Department

by Kimberly Alyn
Created: June 1, 2012

Many fire departments struggle with creating high levels of mutual trust within their departments. Maybe you can relate to the following scenarios. A fire captain contacted me recently about some...
Wildland Fires and Thermal Imaging

by Brad Harvey
Created: June 1, 2012

I remember the first brushfire I ever responded to, as a mutual aid assignment. I was very young and very new. We could see the smoke for miles before we got there. Thick and black, it covered a...
The USAR Incident Support Team

by Michael Daley
Created: June 1, 2012

There is a common belief that the decisions made within the first five minutes will dictate how the next 24 hours will go at the scene of any emergency. Some emergencies can be considerably...
Beer Bust in a Firehouse: What is a "Reasonable Suspicion"?

by Steve Blackistone
Created: June 1, 2012

Last September, Washington, DC, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief Kenneth Ellerbe walked into a city firehouse and found several cans of beer in the refrigerator. He immediately placed all...
Did You Know That?

by Harvey Eisner
Created: June 1, 2012

The first installment of what has grown to be the multi-part annual National Run Survey appears on page 50. The numbers for the busiest engine category fluctuate, but remain extremely high for some...

New Deliveries 6/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: June 1, 2012

THE DEEP GAP, NC, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT has taken delivery of a KME elliptical ES tanker built on an International 7600 SBA chassis powered by a 430-hp Maxxforce 13 engine. Components include a...
Scuttlebutt 6/12

by Steven Shaw
Created: June 1, 2012

Goodloe Receives Leadership Award The Congressional Fire Services Institute’s Board of Directors selected Marcine D. Goodloe of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association as the...
For the Record 6/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: June 1, 2012

USFA Reports Focus on Residential Building Fires, Injuries The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) issued two special reports related to Residential Fires (both of which can be found in their entirety...
Rekindles 6/12

by Paul Hashagen
Created: June 1, 2012

MIDDLETOWN, CT: JUNE 1, 1912 – Wesleyan College suffered its second fire in two weeks when flames broke out at around noon in the Chi Psi Lodge. It was believed an electrical problem ignited the...
Speak Up 6/12

by Firehouse Readers
Created: June 1, 2012

In March of this year, I had the good fortune to travel from Florida to Ireland as an official representative from Ocala Fire Rescue. Two police officers from the Ocala Police Department accompanied...
LODDs 6/12: Firefighter Line-of-Duty Deaths

by Jay K. Bradish
Created: June 1, 2012

Ten U.S. firefighters died in the line of duty in April. Three volunteer firefighters and seven career firefighters died in nine separate incidents. One incident claimed the lives of two career...
Product Showcase 6/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: June 1, 2012

3M The 3M Peltor ORA TAC Headset is lightweight, comfortable to wear and, having no external microphones or ear cups, can be used with most respirators, eyewear, face masks, helmets and hard hats...
Industry News 6/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: June 1, 2012

GEARGRID , specialists in wire forming and fabrication of custom retail POP display and OEM components, as well as its propriety line of GearGrid gear-storage systems for fire and rescue, athletic and...
Hot Shots 6/12

by Firehouse Staff
Created: June 1, 2012

DETROIT, MI, APRIL 7, 2012 – Detroit 8th Battalion companies responded to a reported dwelling fire. Engine 44 found a vacant two-story dwelling going throughout. Chief 8 ordered defensive operations...

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Firehouse Magazine Insider

Firehouse Managing Editor Elizabeth Neroulas talks with Deputy Chief Ray O'Brocki about his Chief Concerns article “It's All Hands On Deck When Disaster Strikes" which appears in the March 2013 issue of Firehouse Magazine . Listen as the two discuss how Baltimore City, MD, Fire Dept. handles emergency calls during extreme weather events. Read: It's "All Hands On Deck" When Disaster Strikes View: The March issue of Firehouse Magazine Subscribe to...

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Heroism & Commmunity Service Awards

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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DEADLINE: Jan. 25, 2013

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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Career Departments

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Combination Departments

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