A Los Angeles Fire Department airborne paramedic carries a sick infant to a waiting air ambulance for an emergency trip to Children’s Hospital on Aug. 10, 2013.
Dedication: This month’s Firehouse® is dedicated to Lieutenant Bruce A. Stayner, 49, of the Scioto Township, OH, Fire Department; Fire Chief James J. Knesek Sr., 59, of the Muenster, IN, Fire Department; Assistant Chief James C. Wilber, 58, of the Franklin, NY, Fire Department; Captain Dennis Channell, 54, of the Poyen, AR, Fire Department; and Fire Rescue Officer William S. Tanksley, 40, of Dallas, TX, Fire Rescue, who died in the line of duty, February 2014.
“Standing on the shoulders of giants” is a proverb meant to describe the process of using the understanding gained by major thinkers who have gone before in order to make intellectual progress. As I begin the process of writing columns under the title...
Federal Agencies Coordinate to Advance EMS
In an effort to further coordinate federal efforts in emergency medical services (EMS), the members of the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) reached consensus on a strategic plan that maps action...
For the 33rd 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 total of 216 fire departments took part in this year’s...
PATERSON, NJ, APRIL 20, 2014 – Flames consumed three wood-frame, mixed-occupancy buildings on Easter Sunday, leaving 11 people homeless. A passing battalion chief radioed in the alarm, requesting a full assignment and then a second alarm.
Photo by...
FDNY Firefighter Meets His Blood Donors
The New York Blood Center (NYBC) hosted its annual Long Island donor recognition and appreciation awards dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY, on May 7. During the night, FDNY firefighter and...
Three U.S. firefighters died recently in the line of duty. Two volunteer firefighters and one career firefighter died in three separate incidents. All three deaths were health related.
FIRE CHIEF HUGH FERGUSON , 52, of the Damon, TX, Volunteer Fire...
W.S. DARLEY & CO. has announced the addition of Vice Admiral (ret.) Joe Maguire to the Board of Directors. Maguire was a career Naval Special Warfare Officer (SEAL) and retired from the Navy in 2010, having served 36 years in uniform. Prior to retiring...
Firefighters spend a lot of time training. This training can include pump and aerial operations, donning of turnout gear, hose extending and pulling drills, forcible entry and victim drags and carries. Most departments would consider these important for...
There is a lot to report this month about the fire service. First, we feature our Firehouse ® Magazine Heroism Awards Program in this month’s issue. Congratulations to those whose names were submitted for consideration this year. We thank Managing...
Editor’s note: David Griffin was the driver of the first engine to respond to a furniture warehouse fire that claimed the lives of nine of his fellow firefighters in Charleston, SC, in 2007. Since then, he has dedicated his life to ensuring that the...
As we have been reporting over the past two months, on Jan. 18, 2014, the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department (M-LFD) of Long Island, NY, was alerted to respond to a reported fire in a dwelling. What happened on that call teaches a lesson for all of us...
The one constant in life is change – and fire departments operating in the new healthcare environment, since the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), must be willing to change or they may be left standing on the...
Mike Daley focuses on the need to remain proficient with the ropes we utilize in the fire service. He reviews the safety rules when working around rope, how to select the proper rope for your intended use, and how to care for and inspect this valuable...
Welcome back! Summertime heat, fun and food! As we get ready for another active wildland fire season, it’s also the time to clean the grill and get some quick, healthy and delicious food into our firehouse kitchens.
Today’s fire service is tasked...
Rarely do fire departments need to look to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for guidance. However, when it comes to developing social media policies, they would be well advised to do so. Many common departmental policies regarding social media...
Author’s note: To give our readers a sense of history regarding the non-firefighting world as it was 100 years ago this month, on June 28, 1914, a Serbian terrorist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir apparent of the Austria-Hungarian Empire...
I’ve talked about fire radios before, but some of the issues and ideas revolving around radio usage in the fire service continue to evolve and resurface. Let’s look at some important ideas and suggestions related to our fire radios.
The first and...
For most members of the fire service, buying new apparatus is not an everyday occurrence. It can be challenging and fraught with costly missteps. Fortunately, people who have bought numerous fire apparatus over the years are willing to share their...
Editor’s note: The Fire Politics column, “Tampa2: Updating the Path Forward,” in the May issue by Chief Dennis Compton, a Firehouse ® contributing editor, reported on the March 2004 Firefighter Life Safety Summit and the recent 10th-anniversary...
The strength and unity of our nation’s fire service was once again on display in Washington, DC, on April 30 and May 1. A large and diverse group of representatives from throughout the fire and emergency services community joined together to participate...
Since Sept. 11, 2001, much work has been done in the pursuit of interoperable public safety communications. In 2002, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Interoperability and Compatibility (OIC) published the SAFECOM...
Custom Apparatus Cab
E-ONE has debuted the redesigned Quest custom cab featuring improved ergonomics that can be seen and felt with lower and wider cab steps allowing for easier, smoother egress. Visibility is improved by lowering the center...
We are pleased to announce the newest honorees in our 2013 Firehouse ® Magazine Heroism Awards program and take pride in highlighting the bravery of these outstanding individuals.
We recognize the judges: Chief Edward "Loy" Senter Jr. of...
5.11 Tactical
The Water Repellant Job Shirt from 5.11 Tactical , global innovator of tactical gear, is crafted from genuine Storm Cotton, providing all-weather comfort and performance. This innovative job shirt features a fade-, wrinkle- and...
APRIL 1: FRANKFORT, IN – Fire consumed about a half-acre of wood pallets and plastics stored outdoors at a commercial lot. Local residents and occupants of an elementary school were advised to shelter indoors.
APRIL 1: LANHAM, MD – A...
