(fireengineering.com)

By John F. “Skip” Coleman, Technical Editor

PHOTO OF THE DAY: When Wayne Township (IN) firefighters arrived at this metal building, they found heavy fire pushing out of multiple openings. Aggressive interior attack operations knocked down the fire fairly quickly. Indianapolis firefighters assisted. There were no injuries. (Photo by John M. Buckman III.) Send your Photo of the Day submissions to Peter Prochilo (peterp@pennwell.com).

New products and meth-ods come and go in the fire service. Some new devices prove themselves and remain in use, and others are tried and discarded. Technology faces a daunting challenge in our “that’s the way we’ve always done it” fire service mentality. I remember in the late 1970s and early 1980s going to the drill school to watch demonstrations of positive pressure fans. I watched as strings of toilet paper were taped to windows and doorways to “scientifically” show the benefits of the use of positive pressure ventilation (PPV). Those fans sure could make that toilet paper wave in the wind! For years, that, along with trial and error, formed the foundation of the use of PPV.

I had the pleasure of working with members of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They came to Toledo to conduct air movement tests in a vacant high-rise building and also to conduct large-area ventilation tests in a vacant high school.

As a new firefighter, I was taught that we went into immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) atmospheres and located (by feeling) victims and removed them to non-IDLH areas. My thought was that in large areas, such as a school gymnasium, wouldn’t PPV remove the IDLH atmosphere faster than a fire crew could blindly searching?

On another occasion, I traveled to Chicago to again work with NIST and members of the Chicago (IL) Fire Department and the Fire Department of New York on wind-driven fires. More recently, NIST visited Oklahoma City and conducted tests with PPV in single-family dwellings.

NIST has shed new, scientifically tested light on PPV. Using the latest technology, NIST has debunked old “theories” and misconceptions and shown the pros and cons of PPV.

This month’s Roundtable question is, Are you aware of the NIST studies concerning ventilation, and have those results changed your current tactics as they relate to ventilation? To post your comments, go to fireengineering.com/roundtable.html.

FIRE LIFE

Do your firehouse meals need a makeover? Check out the newest addition to the Rip Esselstyn and Kipp Rix cooking columns: Frank Vaerewyck, “the Firehouse Foodie” (www.firelife.com).

WEBCASTS

Join us for monthly Webcasts featuring the best of Fire Engineering authors and FDIC speakers. On May 17, Captain Jon Rigolo of the Virginia Beach (VA) Fire Department presents “Training on Positive Pressure Attack.” On June 22, Robert Raheb presents “Roadway Command and Intersection Analysis. Webcasts are free, but you must register.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Michael Hennigan, battalion chief (ret.), San Francisco (CA) Fire Department, writes in Captain’s Corner in “The Power of Goal Setting”: “Top-level athletes, successful businesspeople, and high achievers in all fields use goal setting. Setting goals gives you a long-term vision and short-term motivation.”

Matt Stroud, a Toyota-certified master diagnostic technician, writes in “Cell Phone/Auxiliary Power Device Feedback: An Exploration of a Commonly Held Myth”: “You have arrived at the scene of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) and are at the stage of powering down the vehicle to ensure all systems are off before starting your extrication procedure. You notice that there is a cell phone plugged into the power outlet in the vehicle. Should you disconnect it?” (http://bit.ly/GXGBGG)

David DeStefano, lieutenant, North Providence (RI) Fire Department, writes in “Maintaining a Sharp Edge: Engine Company”: “Maintaining a sharp edge on firefighting skills and continued vigilance over situational awareness can be daunting challenges for the modern firefighter charged with a multitude of missions and fewer personnel with which to accomplish our goals.”

John Hofman, strength and conditioning coach, Sacramento (CA) Fire Department, writes in “How Much Does Obesity Cost Your Fire Department?”: “Sick time, modified duty, and on-line injuries are consistent staples in the fire service. Let’s face it: Firefighting is a very physically demanding job, so injuries will occur. It only makes sense to have a health and wellness program to help reduce the chances of these things occurring.” (http://bit.ly/Hb0Thb)

COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE MONTH

Name: Mark Griffin. Department: Tri-Township Fire Department, Sturgis, Michigan. Title/rank: assistant chief. Years of public service: 20. Agency structure: Volunteer fire department.

The Fire Engineering Community has almost 10,000 members. Are you one of them?