BY JOHN “SKIP” COLEMAN, TECHNICAL EDITOR
Welcome to Fire Engi-neering’s Web Watch, where each month in the magazine we’ll highlight what’s new on our four Web sites—fireengineering.com, fdic.com, fireengineeringuniversity.com, and community.fireengineering.com—and point out some features you may have overlooked.
ROUNDTABLE
The format for Roundtable has changed. It is now featured exclusively on fireengineering.com. The question will be posted at the beginning of the month. You will be able to post your response or post a comment on others’ responses/comments. This new forum will provide up-to-the-minute commentary on today’s pressing fire issues.
This month’s question is: What equipment and procedures do you have in place to move/transport morbidly obese patients? This is a question that you should think about before you are standing in front of an obese patient who requires transport. Go to the home page of fireengineering.com and click on “Roundtable” to join the discussion.
EXCLUSIVES
There are a number of exclusive feature articles in March at fireengineering.com. In February, Assistant Chief (Ret.) Ron Hiraki of the Seattle (WA) Fire Department began an online series on fire service management and leadership called “Stepping Up.” The first installment discussed writing performance evaluations. His March column gives valuable insight on mentoring.
Lieutenant Alan Robidas of the Concord (NH) Fire Department looks at a new way of defining solid stream nozzle tips. He concludes: “Just because something isn’t available or hasn’t changed in a century certainly shouldn’t mean we are stuck with a ‘close is good enough’ attitude. Don’t leave water in the hose; put it where it belongs.” He offers insight on how to accomplish this.
Deputy Chief Bruce Tenniswood of the Westland (MI) Fire Department discusses technology and not neglecting the basics in today’s fire service in his article “Progress Doesn’t Mean Forgetting the Basics!” He writes: “I heard a radio transmission that absolutely stopped me in my tracks. I heard ‘Captain One to Engine One: Send some tools in here.’ ”
Training Coordinator Tom Kiurski of the Livonia (MI) Fire Department shares how his department educates children on the dangers of fire. In “Fire Is … Opportunity!” he describes the program, its expected outcomes, and how to download it for free.
In this month’s “Construction Concerns,” Gregory Havel from the Burlington (WI) Fire Department examines wooden stairways and wall intersections in wood-frame construction.
FEATURED SECTIONS
In the Extrication Zone, Matt Stroud begins a series of monthly articles on hybrid vehicles. His February column posed this question: “Have you ever thought about how you would handle yourself or your crew when dealing with a hybrid vehicle that was involved in an incident? Maybe you have taken a class. Did you get enough information from that class to make you comfortable dealing with any scenario? Did you walk away having questions unanswered? Even worse, did you walk away with more fear than before the class? Maybe you have never even thought about it.” Follow his series for the latest hazards, tips, and techniques when dealing with extrications involving hybrid vehicles.
FEATURED VIDEOS
I find it unimaginable that firefighters today would crawl into a building affected by fire and not have a solid understanding of how that building will react to the fire. In a new Training Minutes series, Fire Marshal Paul Dansbach of the Rutherford (NJ) Bureau of Fire Safety discusses buildings of ordinary construction with heavy timber wood truss assemblies. The first installment looks at alterations made to a truss assembly and the alterations’ effect on the entire structure.
FIRE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY
Did you know you can get continuing education credits through Fire Engineering University? Fire service professionals who currently subscribe to Fire Engineering magazine will receive continuing education courses bound into certain issues. Other courses are posted online. Each course contains educational objectives, 20 multiple-choice questions based on the text, and an answer sheet. Complete the answer sheet and fax it or mail it in for grading with the appropriate test fees. If you receive a score of 70 percent or higher, Fire Engineering University will mail you a certificate of completion.
FIRE ENGINEERING RADIO
In their Fire Service Court radio program, attorneys Chip Comstock, John K. Murphy, Brad Pinsky, and Curt Varone discuss topics related to the fire service and the law.
In his Pride & Ownership podcast, Chief Rick Lasky of the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department interviews special guests.
COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Name: Stephen Leinoff.
Department: Norwich, Vermont.
Title/rank: Chief.
Years of public service: 36.
Agency structure: Combination fire department.
Top issues in your department: Recruitment and retention of volunteers, financial.
Professional qualifications: ICS instructor, EFO, fire inspector 2, adjunct faculty Vermont Technical College.
Topics you provide training for: Fire Officer, ICS 100-400, Fire Service Hydraulics, Basic and Advanced Firefighting.
Network on the Fire Engineering Training Community, which has more than 6,500 members and is growing daily. It’s free.
