This year, we welcome several new instructors and topics to Firehouse Expo’s hands-on training (HOT) lineup on Monday, Sept. 25, and Tuesday, Sept. 26. Preregistration is required, so visit FirehouseExpo.com today to ensure that your spot is reserved. The All Access pass includes two days of hands-on training plus three days of conference sessions and exhibits access, which is by far the best offer for a full week’s worth of education.
Among the new classes this year are two live fire programs.
Twice the opportunity
“LIVE FIRE: Engine and Truck Operations at Dwelling Fires” will be led by Capt. Ariel “AJ” Jackson from the Anne Arundel County, MD, Fire Department and Chris Robbins, a battalion chief with the Teaneck, NJ, Fire Department. Designed with a limited number of openings on both days, students will work through various scenarios, including size-up, forcible entry, hoseline operations, search and ventilation during multiple live fire scenarios. The small class size allows for true hands-on experience alongside a cadre of instructors who will provide guidance, tips and tricks.
Instructor Joey Baxa and the Insight Training cadre will deliver “LIVE FIRE: Quality Counts When Quantity Is Absent,” a HOT program for departments that have limited staffing on the fireground, particularly in the first minutes of an incident. This class will teach students about basic and advanced fireground functions with one- and two-person crews. During the class, the Big Three fireground skills will be applied during various scenarios plus tools that can assist you, including thermal imaging cameras, piercing nozzles and master streams.
You can visit Baxa, Andy Starnes and the Insight Training cadre on the exhibit floor in Booth #659 during exhibit hours to catch up on thermal imaging and training.
Search and RIT
Chris Sturtz will use data from the results of the Firefighter Rescue Survey to lead the “When Seconds Count—Residential Search” HOT class to shed more light on fireground search and rescue efforts. Utilizing a fully furnished home, attendees will carry out search techniques, victim drags and other skills in scenario-based drills under realistic conditions.
With more lightweight construction added to communities all over, Capt. Greg Obert and Capt. Matthew Fuentes will lead “Roof RIT Operations” to help fire departments to prepare for the rescue of firefighters who fell through the roof. Students will learn removal skills based on the depth that a firefighter fell, how to safely move a firefighter from elevated positions, nonverbal communication skills, and the use of ropes and ladders for rescue.
Longtime Firehouse contributor Michael Daley will look at vehicle extrication beyond the basic techniques in “Modern Solutions to Problematic Extrications.” Students will rotate through several hands-on skills stations, including vehicles on their roof and side and compromised by other objects. Size-up, stabilization, vehicle power systems and advanced disentanglement methods will be covered.
Truck ops & elevators
Truck company work is critical to aid both trapped victims and firefighters, and Trevor Meador and his Capitol Fire Training cadre will lead “Varsity Truck Operations.” Students will discuss building construction, size-up skills, riding positions and ladder placement. From there, students will be involved in search, forcible entry, ventilation and other tasks.
We’re fortunate to have retired Columbus Capt. Greg Lash, who is a leading truck company instructor, lead a full-day elevator rescue class with Nelvin Young. The class will allow firefighters to learn about elevator systems, how to operate safely and effectively in shafts, and the techniques that are needed to open different doors while using real elevators. This class only is offered for one day, so sign up immediately to save your spot.
Lash and Young also will lead “Walking Columbus: Talking Tactics and Construction” on Tuesday, giving attendees an interactive class to combine building construction and fireground tactics on the streets of our host city.
Forcible entry
Robert “RJ” James, Charles Hendry and the Capitol Fire Training cadre return with their popular “Down and Dirty Urban Forcible Entry.” The class will go beyond the basics of a set of irons, with students learning how to size-up doors, force inward- and outward-opening doors and garage and roll-down doors, and use saws to cut through various security lock systems. This class is for everyone on the job, from the rookie to the 20-year veteran, to ensure access and egress can be made quickly.
