Strategy & Tactics Web Exclusives

  • Fire Behavior Indicators and Fire Development - Part 1

    A fire can continue to grow through flame spread or by ignition of other fuel within the compartment.

    Article • March 30th, 2008

  • Commercial Construction Considerations: Concrete Under Fire

    Firefighters think that concrete will be unaffected by fire, and in most cases, that is far from the truth

    Article • March 27th, 2008

  • So You Are In Charge: Smoke & Water

    As the company officer in charge, you must now determine if your company can move in and knock it down or if you must retreat to a safer location.

    Article • March 20th, 2008

  • Ethanol: It's Not What You Think it is, or is it? - Part 2

    During our research we found a number of sources that had incorrectly reported E85 has more volatile properties than gasoline at 32 degrees.

    Article • March 9th, 2008

  • High Risk/High Reward - Searching for Life on the Fireground - Part 1

    Preparations for performing fireground search must be mental as well as physical.This article is a part of a series of articles focused on considerations for primary search.

    Article • March 6th, 2008

  • Steel Bar Joist Trusses And Steel C-Beams - Part 2

    Many renovated buildings replace wood and masonry structural elements with steel. The replacement of heavy wooden roof and floor joists with the lighter steel open-web bar-truss joists is a common renovation change. A lightweight steel open-web...

    Article • February 29th, 2008

  • Commercial Construction Considerations: Interior Features

    Fire departments should try to develop a working relationship with the facility managers of large commercial facilities in their response area.

    Article • February 27th, 2008

  • Not for a Piece of Property

    William Mora offers risk management principles to evaluate the risk of fighting structure fires. Factors include the presence of basements, fire conditions, defensive attacks, life safety and more.

    Article • February 14th, 2008

  • Response to 'Nuisance' Fire Alarm Activations

    In 2003, United States fire departments responded to 2,189,500 false alarms, excluding good intent and smoke scare calls.Everyday throughout the United States, fire departments respond to numerous fire alarm activations. Automatically, most...

    Article • February 4th, 2008

  • Search and Rescue Operations

    By request of the author, this article is not available online.

    Article • January 31st, 2008

  • Rapid Intervention: The RIT Way

    The idea of having the RIT companies available to complete other tasks while on scene is both good and bad.Rapid intervention is a theory that is no longer a new one to those in the fire service. Rapid Intervention Teams, or RIT as we know it, has...

    Article • January 27th, 2008

  • Commercial Construction Considerations: Design & Layout

    This series of articles will help firefighters have a basic knowledge of the architectural, structural, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, electrical, and fire protection systems that exist today.

    Article • January 20th, 2008

  • Claustrophobia

    In the name of affordable housing and the American dream to own a home, higher density construction emerged as a means for reducing the price sticker for the new houses.

    Article • January 15th, 2008

  • Ethanol: It's Not What You Think it is, or is it? - Part 1

    Does ethanol burn the same as a gasoline fire or; does it burn more like a propane fire? How many E85 fueling stations are in your response area, if any at all?

    Article • January 8th, 2008

  • Engine Company Operations: The 2 1/2 Inch Handline

    TOPIC: ENGINE COMPANY OPERATIONS: THE 2 ½ INCH HANDLINE TIME REQUIRED: 1.5 - 2 HOURS MATERIALS: Minimum 150 feet 2 ½ inch handline Smooth bore nozzle, preferably 1 1/8 inch Engine

    Article • January 2nd, 2008