Category Archives:

Significant Stuff from the UL/NIST Studies: Not Exterior Water Application
August 4, 2014 | administration-leadership, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, ventilation, VES | dc802 | 6 Comments

I have been sifting through information, articles, blogs, classes, videos and everything in between for the past couple of years from the recent UL and NIST burns and research. We have all argued or debated about the application of exterior water and whether or not this is appropriate or not. While I believe there is […]

Simple Webbing Tips: Storage
June 15, 2012 | fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, mayday, patient-management, rescues, RIT, scba, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, VES | dc802 | 1 Comment

Here is one of our instructors from Engine House Training,LLC on some simple webbing techniques. He will be running a series on different webbing uses, so stay tuned!

VES with Ladder Bail
May 22, 2012 | enter, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, forcible entry, ladders, rescues, RIT, scba, search, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, VES | dc802 | 1 Comment

This is a video of a drill we do. It starts as a VES drill with the firefighter ascending the ladder and then clearing a window. The space is smoked up and the fierfighter enters, starting his search for the door. While he’s searching we throw a rug or piece of plywood ontop of them […]

Get Around
March 7, 2012 | buildling construction, exits, fire codes, fire-prevention-education, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, forcible entry, inspections, mayday, rescues, RIT, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, Uncategorized, VES | dc802 | No Comments

Here are some more pictures from my A Shift buddies, Jim, Bob and Dave at Florissant Valley Fire Protection District.  These photos show the challenges of just getting into some of our buildings.  It's a lot easier to get a good look at the working mechanisms and traits of these obstacles during daylight and in […]

Anatomy of a Basement Fire
December 25, 2011 | administration-leadership, buildling construction, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, rescues, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, VES | dc802 | No Comments
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Here is a short video that you can use for a drill or training night. Feel free to use however you like. This is from a recent basement fire and what was looked for and what was done. There are some considerations to think about. This is not everything for all basement fires. Just a simple tutorial. Feel free to add your experience and ideas to this video.

Judge Not….
December 11, 2011 | administration-leadership, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, in-the-line-of-duty, line-of-duty, major-incidents, mayday, news, rescues, RIT, scba, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, Training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, vacant building fires, ventilation, VES | dc802 | 3 Comments

I’ve done it and you’ve done it. It is going to happen again and it’s going to happen soon. With every line of duty death the Monday morning quarterbacks come out and tell us all what they should have or should not have done. We preach and teach to learn from these tragedies by understanding […]

The Daily Drill 2: VES
July 12, 2011 | RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, VES | dc802 | 2 Comments
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Notice how the roof ladder projects into the window slightly.  However, the ladder is already at a very low angle that could result in the butt kicking out.  Should the ladder tip be removed from the window to allow for easier emergency exit/victim removal or does the angle of the ladder preclude this?  What are possible solutions?

The “Me” Environment
July 2, 2011 | administration-leadership, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, rescues, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, VES | dc802 | 12 Comments

I have to admit that I am a proponent of safety.  I believe in wearing seat belts. I believe in wearing all of your protective gear and equipment. I believe in being healthier.  I believe in doing a 360 and situational awareness.  These are just a few of the safety issues that I believe in.

Release the Ladder Rack!
March 6, 2011 | fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, ladder truck/aerial devices, ladders, rescues, RIT, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Uncategorized, vent, ventilation, VES | dc802 | 1 Comment
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As apparatus drivers when we pull up to the scene of a working fire we are thinking about charging the appropriate line, getting the right gallons per minute to your interior crews and finding a water supply source before the tank water is exhausted. That is a lot to do and you normally do it all on your own. Well, there is one more thing I would like you to add to your list.

Fire Service Books
February 4, 2011 | backdraft, buildling construction, command-leadership, fire stopping, fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, forcible entry, heavy timber, high rise, i joists, search, self rescue, situational awareness, size up, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, trusses, vacant building fires, vent, ventilation, VES | dc802 | 1 Comment
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Keeping these books and others within reach is a good way to stay engaged. These resources gives you valuable information at your fingertips when you need it. It is also a good way to pass on information to others and to have meaningful conversation about “fire stuff.”

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