During a fire the interior structural components are attacked and failure of these components can cause an exterior wall to fail at the same time. The joists, for example, will rest in the masonry or brick wall and may be used to support the exterior walls. When these joists fail or burn out, they can compromise the support of the exterior wall it is connected to.

This marks the 6th anniversary of the Black Sunday fire in New York City. Two brothers, Lt. Curtis Meyran and Lt. John Bellew. Four other firefighters were severely injured after jumping out of the fourth floor of an apartment building, Firefighters Jeff Cool, Lt. Joe DiBernardo, Firefighter Eugene Stolowski and Firefighter Brendan Cawley to escape severe fire conditions.

It’s hopefully a way to provide you a list of training opportunities for you to take advantage of. If there are events that you want us to post or add, feel free to provide us the information and we will try to get up in a timely manner.

This video is from Mike Perrone from FDNY Ladder 175. Mike has developed a forcible entry door prop for firefighters and he has a long list of departments and training companies who are using the door.

It should be a habit that every time you come off of the truck for an alarm there should be a tool in your hand. And take a tool that you can do something with. Some of the most common tools are the Halligan and a flat head ax. You can take a pick headed ax and/or a sledge hammer, depending on what your function or task is.

I don’t normally put this kind of stuff on my blog, but Eddie Buchanan has done so much for the fire service, I feel obligated to give him and his band Rosie Soul and the Rock and Roll Cowboys some well deserved props.