August 2014

Aug. 1, 2014

THE FLINT, MI, FIRE DEPARTMENT has taken delivery of a KME Flex custom pumper featuring a KME 100-inch Predator Severe Service chassis XMFD, 400-hp Cummins ISL9 engine, Allison...

A very common door-hinge design is typically referred to as the 'C-shaped' hinge design. It consists of two horseshoe-shaped hinge elements that face each other with some means of joining them together with a pin-type attachment. These hinges can be of a relatively large size both in opening of the hinge as well as thickness of the hinge elements themselves. Cutters, spreaders, sawing or chisel tools can be used to remove this door at the hinges. If a light-duty power cutter is used to sever this style of hinge, consider cutting the upper section or 'leaf' of the hinge first and then cutting through the bottom leaf by itself as a second cut. Attempting to cut through the entire hinge assembly will crush each leaf of the hinge together and may stall out a small or less powerful hydraulic cutter tool.

Vehicle Extrication

University of Extrication: Door-Hinge Designs & Styles

Ron Moore

Aug. 1, 2014

SUBJECT: Door HingesTOPIC: Door-Hinge Designs & StylesOBJECTIVE: Determine the most appropriate tools and techniques to remove a door from a vehicleTASK: When assigned the task...

MSA has introduced the Gassonic Observer-i ultrasonic gas leak detector

Ventilation

New Products 8/14

Aug. 1, 2014

Gas Leak DetectorMSA has introduced the Gassonic Observer-i ultrasonic gas leak detector, designed with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) intelligence and real-time broadband acoustic...

'Imagine a world population that understands the value of being prepared for a disaster and is properly equipped to help themselves as well as their neighbors in time of need.' —Dr. Kevin Kupietz

Higher Education: Beyond Smokey Bear

Leischen Stelter

Aug. 1, 2014

Most of what the average person knows about fire safety likely came from his or her early education and involved characters like Smokey Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog. While these...

Crews operate defensively on the Alpha side of the furniture store with a monitor from Roseburg Engine 1332.

On The Job Oregon: Two-Alarm Fire Destroys Roseburg Furniture Store

Jay K. Bradish

Aug. 1, 2014

ROSEBURG FIRE DEPARTMENTChief: Mike LanePersonnel: 42 career firefightersStations: 3Apparatus: 3 pumpers, 1 aerials, 2 brush engines, 2 hazmat vehicles, 1 rehab vehicle, 2 reserve...

Fire Politics: Is It Ever Simply Too Personal?

Dennis Compton

Aug. 1, 2014

Have you ever heard of or witnessed a situation in which two principal leaders from two separate organizations let their personal dislike for each other interfere with their decision...

The Firehouse Frittata makes a great breakfast or brunch dish.

Kitchen & Accessories

Firehouse Chefs Corner: The Journey Continues

Eddie Sell

Aug. 1, 2014

Welcome to this month’s Firehouse Chefs Corner. Last time, we covered summertime grilling and BBQ and I also mentioned that Firehouse Chefs was going to open our first brick-and...

Photo 1. A fluid spill is visible on the surface of water.

Thermal Imagers

Thermal Imaging: Using Thermal Imaging On the Hazmat Call

John Hays

Aug. 1, 2014

Preparation and practice let fire departments make effective use of thermal images at hazmat incidents.

EMS

EMS: Advice to Young Firefighter/Paramedics

Gary Ludwig

Aug. 1, 2014

Gary Ludwig suggests that you become a sponge, but also be a filter at the same time.

(From left) Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Acting Fire Commissioner John Hasson and newly appointed Fire Commissioner/Chief of Department Joseph Finn

For the Record

Aug. 1, 2014

Finn Named Boston CommissionerBoston Mayor Martin J. Walsh appointed Deputy Fire Chief Joe Finn of Division 1 as Fire Commissioner/Chief of Department on July 7. Finn was hailed...

Rural Firefighting Academy: Addressing Rural Water-Delivery Issues

Dominic Colletti

Aug. 1, 2014

Thank goodness that assorted fire service products we routinely use are manufactured by small, privately held, family-owned companies. This is primarily because family-owned businesses...

Flight crew members escort the body of LAFD Pilot/Paramedic Brian Lee, who died in an off-duty plane crash.

Eisner: The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same

Aug. 1, 2014

Editor’s Note: The Firehouse staff wanted to share some of long-time Editor in Chief Harvey Eisner’s work. Harvey, a fixture on New York City firegrounds and at major events and...

Engine 1 was picking up from a car fire when they spotted a cloud of smoke three blocks from their location. They reported a verbal alarm to Central Dispatch and requested a box alarm for two engines, one ladder and a squad. Engine 1 arrived to find the church well-involved. Chief 1 arrived and ordered a second alarm for a fire throughout a church. Chief 1 also requested an additional engine for manpower and an additional company as a rapid intervention team.

Cover Story: Fire Destroys Landmark Detroit Church

Aug. 1, 2014

DETROIT, MI, MAY 11, 2104 – A suspicious fire in a vacant, 124-year-old Romanesque Revival church destroyed the building in the early morning. The remaining portions of the state...

Detroit, MI, July 5 – Companies from the 8th Battalion dispatched to a reported fire in a dollar store. Chief 8 reported smoke showing from the building. Upon further investigation and fire load in the building, Chief 8 order all companies to stay out of the building and reported a doubtful. Two extra engines, Ladder Platform and Level 1 Hazmat were requested. Companies operated from the exterior of the building. After 30 minutes, Chief 8 requested a second alarm. Ladder 17 set up for tower operations on the A side of the building and several handlines were stretched. Companies operated at this scene for three hours to bring the fire under control. The building was a total loss with complete building collapse.

Fire Wire 8/14

Aug. 1, 2014

MAY 20: OCALA, FL – Crews arrived to a report of a kitchen fire to find the resident had kept damage to a minimum by using a fire extinguisher to contain the blaze. He then evacuated...

An incident involving mass violence requires an immediate joint response, including law enforcement, fire and EMS.

EMS

Disaster Response: Current and Emerging Threats in Mass Shooting Events

August Vernon

Aug. 1, 2014

Mass shootings. Active shooters. Mass violence. Responding firefighters, rescue teams and EMS personnel must be aware of the nature of these incidents and how to respond safely...

Jill Roberts, a graduate student at Eastern Kentucky University, works on a computer terminal in the Stratton Building Computer Library. Students must be careful to avoid even inadvertent incidents of unauthorized copying of source materials that could jeopardize their academic and fire service careers.

Plagiarism: Ethical Lapse or Misunderstood Act?

Paul Snodgrass

Aug. 1, 2014

Computers make it easy to cheat and easy to get caught when writing research newspapers.

Guest Commentary: "Going Big" Demands Focusing on Fundamentals

Glenn A. Gaines

Aug. 1, 2014

Top-performing fire and EMS organizations hold to very high standards. These standards range throughout the organization from the chief operating officer down to frontline personnel...

Two fire lieutenants died and two firefighters were badly injured as a result of a flashover that occurred during a fire at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bryan, TX, on Feb. 15, 2013.

Close Calls: An Extreme Close Call With Incredible Heroism - Part 1

Billy Goldfeder

Aug. 1, 2014

It is my hope that each reader of this column is somewhat already aware of the tragic fire that took the lives of two Bryan, TX, fire lieutenants in February 2013. The fire also...

Giving talks to senior citizens and other community groups during Fire Prevention Week is a good way to spread your fire safety message. Here, Sparky the Fire Dog lends a hand.

Community Risk Reduction

Fire Safety Education: It's Time to Get Ready For Fire Prevention Week

Aug. 1, 2014

On Oct. 9, 1871, a conflagration occurred in the United States known as the Great Chicago Fire. It lasted for 27 hours, killed more than 250 people, left more than 100,000 people...

Don't Let Yourself Be Caught In the Retaliation Trap

Curt Varone

Aug. 1, 2014

The retaliation trap often develops out of an understandable desire to be fair in dealing with a complicated interpersonal situation between co-workers.

Tech & Comm

Fire Dispatch: Caught in a Jam: Intentional Interference

Barry Furey

Aug. 1, 2014

The misuse of public safety radios puts both responders and the public in danger. Find out what to do should you encounter this situation.

FDNY Engine 47 responds at top speed along Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan circa 1910.

Rekindles 8/14

Paul Hashagen

Aug. 1, 2014

WEST POINT, NY: AUG. 1, 1914 – Flames destroyed a section of the stables at the U.S. Military Academy during the night. Cadets raced to the scene and began firefighting efforts...

The Fire Scene: America's Real Fire Problem

John J. Salka Jr.

Aug. 1, 2014

I am constantly hearing and reading stories, discussions and debates about the mission of the fire service and how it is changing. No doubt it is changing, as everything always...

Hot Shots 8/14

Aug. 1, 2014

LAWRENCE, MA, JUNE 8, 2014 – Fire involved an unoccupied three-decker in South Lawrence. First-arriving companies found fire on all floors. Firefighters had difficulty with overhead...

Apparatus

Industry News 8/14

Aug. 1, 2014

PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC. has announced plans to host its second annual Pierce 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI, on Sept. 6, 2014, beginning at 9 A....

Ensuring that your volunteer fire and EMS department is recruiting in the best way possible can have a major impact on the success of your personnel.