Each year, safety professionals are required to complete a defined number of activities, such as training courses, giving technical presentations, performing various workshops, etc. The objective is professional growth. For those of us responsible for fire department safety initiatives, we must keep current and understand not only what is occurring, but what the future may hold.
Staffing in the fire service has dwindled because of numerous reasons over the past few decades. An engine or ladder company arriving with half a dozen personnel was once the norm; it is now a rarity. Both in the career fire service as well as the volunteer fire service, we are responding with less and less resources. Specific National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards can be used to justify resources and staffing whether the department is career or volunteer.
Somewhere in the country, a crew of firefighters will initiate a fast and aggressive interior attack at a residential structure fire only to be engulfed in a rapidly advancing and blinding wall of fire. As a result, the crew will instantly become disoriented and some will not be able to evacuate the structure.
Public participation in the development of NFPA's codes and standards is essential. All NFPA codes and standards are revised and updated every three to five years in revision cycles that begin twice each year and that normally take approximately two years to complete. Each revision cycle proceeds according to a published schedule that includes final dates for all major events in the process. There are over 300 codes and standards; many are extremely import to the fire service.
One of the key elements to the success of any fireground operation is the ability of the incident commander to keep several steps ahead of how the incident is unfolding. Proper planning and deployment of resources has a direct impact not only on the success of the operation but also in the safety of the members operating at that incident.
Fire officials are investigating an early-morning blaze at the Union Grove American Legion hall Friday.
Crews with the Union Grove-York Fire Department were called to the scene on the 1000 block of New Street at about 3 a.m., after a sheriff's deputy noticed smoke coming from the building, WISN 12 News reported.
Investigators said the fire caused extensive damage, but that the hall's exterior is still holding up.
One of the struggles you have no doubt encountered is how to motivate members of the department to do their job safely. If you are in a career environment, this may come easy, as you probably have a progressive discipline process for those who don't comply. However, volunteers may not have such a policy and where they do, find it very difficult to enforce.
Editor's Note: This point/counterpoint column is dedicated to fostering honest discussions about issues confronting the fire service today. It is not our intention to upset or anger anyone. Rather, our intention is to bring important and sometimes controversial topics to your attention and give you the opportunity to share your thoughts and offer your solution. We want to hear what you have to say. Feel free to agree or disagree. Make your voice heard as we work together on behalf of our fire service.
Recently we were on our way to the local civic arena to test the latest crop of rookie in their job skills abilities. Our department uses this test to measure the skill level that a new person has achieved in the first year of joining our department.
Editor's Note: This point/counterpoint column is dedicated to fostering honest discussions about issues confronting the fire service today. It is not our intention to upset or anger anyone. Rather, our intention is to bring important and sometimes controversial topics to your attention and give you the opportunity to share your thoughts and offer your solution. We want to hear what you have to say. Feel free to agree or disagree. Make your voice heard as we work together on behalf of our fire service.
