Firehouse Magazine

In This Issue: August 2013

Cover photo by Keith D. Cullom/www.fire-image.com

CAL FIRE Engine 3564 narrowly escapes a wall of fire at the 32,000-acre “Powerhouse Fire.” Gusty winds pushed the fire toward the rig. This incident occurred in Los Angeles County, CA, on June 2, 2013. It took 2,100 firefighters using 93 engines and eight air tankers to control the blaze.

Dedication

This month’s Firehouse© is dedicated to Firefighters Andrew S. Ashcraft, 29, Robert E. Caldwell, 23, Travis C. Carter, 31, Dustin J. Delford, 24, Christopher A. MacKenzie, 30, Eric S. Marsh, 43, Grant Q. McKee, 21, Sean M. Misner, 26, Scott D. Norris, 28, Wade S. Parker, 22, John J. Percin, Jr., 24, Anthony M. Rose, 23, Jesse J. Steed, 36, Joe B. Thurston, 32, Travis Turbyfill, 27, William H. Warneke, 25, Clayton T. Whitted, 28, Kevin J. Woyjeck, 21, and to Garret Zuppiger, 27, of the Prescott Fire Department who died in the line of duty, June 30, 2013. See pages 58 to 61 for coverage and a tribute on page 17.

Colorado's "Black Forest Fire"

by Harvey Eisner
Created: August 1, 2013

The “Black Forest Fire” started on June 11, 2013, and grew to become what was being described as the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history in terms of number of homes lost. The...
How to Assess and Treat Injured Firefighters

by John G. Alexander and Christopher T. Stephens
Created: August 1, 2013

Literature on the topic of rapid intervention, like many other subjects, began as individual articles, grew into larger chapters and has now evolved into entire textbooks. It is such an important...
The 4 Phases Of the Stretch: Phase 4

by Bryan T. Smith
Created: August 1, 2013

The moment of truth has arrived. You are kneeling outside the attack entrance. Boiling, black and gray smoke pushes from the top of the door. Your hoseline stretch is complete; you and your partner...
20 Tough Questions For the Fire Chief: Are You Prepared To Answer Them? Question 16

by Richard Gasaway and Richard Kline
Created: August 1, 2013

The wording of this question may immediately lead the reader to presume that privatizing fire services will improve efficiencies. While privatization may produce improvements in service, it is not a...
First Responders, Take Note: CDC Reports 1 in 50 Children Has Autism

by Leischen Stelter
Created: August 1, 2013

On March 20, 2013, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report stating that one in 50 (more than 1 million) U.S. schoolchildren are diagnosed with autism spectrum...
Station Design Supplement: Part 1 - Built to Last

by Ed Ballam
Created: August 1, 2013

Fire stations are among the most complex, heavily used municipal buildings found anywhere. Simultaneously, they are garages housing millions of dollars’ worth of apparatus; they are dormitories; and...
Station Design Supplement: Part 2 - Outfitting Your Fire Station

by Ed Ballam
Created: August 1, 2013

When the bricks-and-mortar phase of building a fire station has been completed, many items still must go into it. Beds, recliners, garage doors, engine exhaust systems, alert systems and turnout...
2012 National Run Survey: Part 3

by Elizabeth Neroulas
Created: August 1, 2013

For the 32nd 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...
Cover Story: 19 Firefighters Killed In Yarnell, AZ, Wildfire

by Harvey Eisner
Created: August 1, 2013

On June 30, 2013, the worst tragedy to occur in 80 years in wildland firefighting claimed the lives of 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots in a fire near Yarnell, AZ. Another firefighter who was acting as...
Professional Designations: Afterthought or Forethought?

by Derrick S. Clouston
Created: August 1, 2013

Nov. 5, 1987, is the day I first went to the Stoney Point, NC, Fire Department and picked up my application to join. Little did I know that I was starting on the path to a career that has been one...

Three Critical Issues On Fire Service's Agenda

by Dennis Compton
Created: August 1, 2013

There is always a lot going on at the national, state and local levels of government that impact the fire service community. So far, this summer has been no exception. In researching some issues...
Firefighters Trapped At Maryland House Fire - Part 2

by William Goldfeder
Created: August 1, 2013

As reported in the July issue, on Feb. 24, 2012, the Prince George’s County, MD, Fire/Emergency Medical Services Department (PGFD) responded to an arson fire in a single-family dwelling at which...
What To Do When The Police Call for Help

by Brad Harvey
Created: August 1, 2013

I am sure it has happened to your fire department. Two o’clock in the morning and the police want you to set up the aerial so they can get overhead photos of a crime scene or they need to borrow a...
Interior or Exterior: Where Do We Begin?

by John J. Salka, Jr.
Created: August 1, 2013

Some members of the fire service are experimenting with variations of what have become standard firefighting tactics in many departments – the “interior attack,” sometimes called an...
Electric Plug-In Vehicle Extrication Techniques - Part 4

by Ron Moore
Created: August 1, 2013

SUBJECT: Electric Plug-In Vehicles TOPIC: Extrication Challenges of Electric Plug-In Vehicles OBJECTIVE: Understand any unique procedural changes necessary when accomplishing vehicle rescue...
Talking People Out Of Going to the Hospital

by Gary Ludwig
Created: August 1, 2013

I have been on several calls where people were playing Russian roulette. Usually, the people were young and drinking was involved. In Russian roulette, one bullet is loaded in chamber of a revolver...
A Really Bad Day

by Harvey Eisner
Created: August 1, 2013

According to the latest complete statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2011, the U.S. fire service responded to 30,098,000 alarms. Divided by 365 days, that comes to an...
Riding the Right-Front Seat: You Must Be a Student

by Dr. Harry Carter
Created: July 1, 2013

I know lots of people who are book smart, but operational dumb. One buddy had two conflicting knowledge-related attributes: • Photographic memory for information • Inability to use that...
Communications Standards: The Who, What and Why

by Barry Furey
Created: June 1, 2013

The fire service is no stranger to standards, and many of the more commonly known entities such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) have...

Fire Station Security ... A Whole New Ballgame

by Firehouse Readers
Created: August 8, 2013

When you think of security at your fire or EMS stations, your thoughts usually encompass door locks, alarm and video systems, secured drugs or petty cash storage. But emergency service organizations...
Hot Shots 8/13

by Firehouse Staff
Created: August 1, 2013

LOS ANGELES, CA, APRIL 22, 2013 – Five people were injured, including a person who later died, at an early-morning, greater-alarm fire in an apartment building in North Hollywood. Three people were...
Scuttlebutt 8/13

by Steven Shaw
Created: August 1, 2013

“Monster” Support for NFFF For the past five years, the fall NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at the “Monster Mile” (Dover International Speedway, Dover, DE) has been a day to show appreciation...
For the Record 8/13

by Firehouse Staff
Created: August 1, 2013

Nonresidential Building Fires (2009-2011) Last month we presented the findings of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) report on Residential Building Fires (2009-2011). Here are some interesting...
Rekindles 8/13

by Paul Hashagen
Created: August 1, 2013

BANGOR, ME: AUG. 1, 1913 – A nighttime fire that started in the business district in the manufacturing plant of the S. Flory Co. destroyed the entire structure and spread to several other...
Industry News 8/13

by Firehouse Staff
Created: August 1, 2013

W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES INC. has reported on new research that highlights the importance of moisture barriers in managing firefighter heat stress. Although firefighters need protection against...
A Really Bad Day

by Harvey Eisner
Created: August 1, 2013

According to the latest complete statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2011, the U.S. fire service responded to 30,098,000 alarms. Divided by 365 days, that comes to an...
New Products 8/13

by Firehouse Staff
Created: August 1, 2013

Rechargeable Flood Light STREAMLIGHT INC. has introduced the E-Flood LiteBox HL, a rechargeable flood light that delivers maximum illumination at 3,600 lumens. The portable lantern uses six C4...
LODDs 8/13

by Jay K. Bradish
Created: August 1, 2013

Twenty-five U.S. firefighters recently died in the line of duty. Twenty-two career firefighters and three volunteer firefighters died in seven separate incidents. Twenty-one deaths were the result...

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Firehouse Magazine Insider

Firehouse Managing Editor Elizabeth Neroulas talks with Tim Szymanski about his Fire Safety Education article “Fire in My Own Home” which appears in the March 2014 issue of Firehouse Magazine . Listen as they discuss Tim's experience having a fire in his own house. Read: Fire Safety Education: "Fire in My Home" View: The March issue of Firehouse Magazine Subscribe to Firehouse Magazine

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Heroism & Commmunity Service Awards

Nominate a department for heroics acts and extraordinary acts of community service that occurred between January 1 and December 31, 2013.

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DEADLINE: Jan. 25, 2014

Annual Run Surveys

The Combination, National and Volunteer Run Surveys from Firehouse

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.

2013 National Run Survey Deadline: March 26, 2014

Volunteer Departments Deadline: August 23, 2013

Career Departments Deadline: March 26, 2014

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