Firefighter training drill by Forest Reeder
Being able to forecast potential hazardous conditions or situations allows the incident commander (IC) and members operating at the scene to be prepared to react to bad situations. However, we cannot identify every potential hazard, since some occur with little time to react.
- Suburban Firefighting: Plan B, Force Multiplier
- THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PLAN B
- David DeStefano: Plan B
Everyone on the fireground has a role in taking action when things go bad. Page 1 of this drill identifies some emergency situations. As a crew, identify what actions need to be taken by the member or company in distress to deal with the problem and write them into column 2 and then identify what the proper actions by the IC or other crews would be and write them into column 3. Some suggested actions and responses are on the following pages; discuss these with your responses.
Download this week’s firefighter training drill as a PDF HERE.
MAD Training and Response Solutions
Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as fire chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety, and officer development and earned his Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and co-author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices, now in its 3rd edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety, and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation.
