In defense of the sledgehammer
This is in reference to Brad Graham’s response (Letters to the Editor, May 2007) to Nicholas A. Martin’s article “Choosing the Appropriate Forcible Entry Method” (March 2007). Graham writes, “Remember, a sledgehammer is a one-dimensional tool, whereas a flathead ax can be used for many other operations such as a door chock or door hook closer and to force open windows and check for hidden fire.” He goes on to say, “Any fire department relying on a sledgehammer when a flathead ax is available is taking a knife to a gunfight.” I couldn’t disagree more.
A sledgehammer is an excellent tool for moving/removing objects such as doors, windows, window bars, and HUD-style window coverings. I have also found it useful for breaching walls and opening walls constructed of plaster and lath, roofs, floors, and ceilings.
Door chocks will help keep you from using your flathead ax or sledgehammer as a door chock, allowing you to continue on with your hand tools.
I have found that the flathead ax is often too light or can be buried into the object being struck when using the blunt or sharp end, rendering your tool useless.
Often, tools can be found to have more than one use, even those considered “one dimensional.”
Terry Reynolds
Captain
District of Columbia Fire Department
A solid resource for the troops
Compliments on the June issue of Fire Engineering. Tom Donnelly’s article “Primary Ventilation: A Review” (Training Notebook) is exactly the reason I have been subscribing to the magazine for more than 30 years-solid information the troops can use every day-safety, fire department connections, vehicle extrication. And the new layout looks good, too!
Denis M. Murphy
Assistant Chief Instructor
Nassau County Fire Service Academy
Old Bethpage, New York
FDIC fosters renewed enthusiasm for the job
I wish to compliment the FDIC 2007 staff. It was the first FDIC I attended and, hopefully, it will not be my last.
Through my networking with Editor in Chief Robert Halton and other FDIC instructors, I have also developed a keener interest in the editorial content of Fire Engineering. I plan to read every issue front to back.
I took every class and learning opportunity possible at FDIC. These classes were taught by the best instructors around. They were able to keep me interested in the classes despite my having stayed up (a little bit) late the night before.
In addition to the immense amount of knowledge I gained in such a short time, I came away from FDIC with improved leadership skills. I believe that attending FDIC has made me a better instructor and leader. I have since had several opportunities to put some of these skills to use. I have spent the past several months in the capacity of an acting officer and have come to gain a great respect for the challenges faced by supervisory staff. Last week, I used Scott Joerger’s “Firefighter Survival: SCBA Air Confidence Drill” (Real-World RIT, April 2007), which was very informative and taught my crew and me a ton about the way our SCBA works and what we can do with it.
I have been in the fire service since 1994, when I was 14 and began the Fire Explorer program. At age 18, prior to graduating high school, I graduated from EMT-B school and was working as a medic full time. At 19, I joined the Clive (IA) Fire Department and have been here ever since.
I have watched my department grow from a paid on-call department with limited in-station staffing to part time to the present combination department. I have been through many classes in many areas in many places. I have always loved the job and tried to stay enthusiastic about it. My department is a very positive place. We have excellent leadership and people who are here to do the job. Our department is fairly active and very progressive. We run fire and EMS, have a technical rescue team, and run mutual aid in four surrounding cities. We are equipped for a mass-casualty incident (as well as one department can be) and also for a large-scale foam operation.
It has been a long, long time since I have seen the level of enthusiasm I saw at FDIC. It was refreshing and has given me a new outlook. Since FDIC, I have decided that being a firefighter is my mission. Nothing else satisfies me like this job.
Ayal Naggar
Firefighter/Medic
Clive (IA) Fire Department
EDITOR’S NOTE: In the June 2007 News in Brief, “2007 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award: Lt. Howard Carpluk, FDNY” says, “He [Carpluk] was cited for his selflessness in attempting to save the life of Probationary Firefighter Michael Reilly, who had been out of the Fire Academy for six months.” Firefighter Reilly had been out of the Fire Academy for six weeks.
