At FDIC International 2022, more than 70 instructors taught four-hour preconference workshops over two days to more than 2,000 students of the fire service. The combined teaching and fire service years of experience of those instructors is a staggering number. We offer a look at the 2022 workshops and chat with the instructors on the importance of their subject matter.
Assistant Chief Brian Zaitz, Kirkwood (MO) Fire Department, “Keys to Success for Today’s Company Officer”: “I chose to discuss the role of company officer, as I found the role the most rewarding and challenging. The ability to lead a crew on a daily basis as both a leader and teammate is one of the most difficult leadership situations. I spent 10 years as a company officer and truly believe it is the foundation for my ability to function as a chief officer and provides me the knowledge to determine what is needed for the organization and how to provide for the crews to do the job!
“The company officer is the link between the line staff and administration. The company officer is the catalyst for organizational change and will determine if the organization is thriving or surviving. As an administrator, if the company officers do not believe the message, it will never move forward. The company officer is tasked with numerous tasks–from conducting and completing training to providing on-scene command and decision making as well as counseling of employees. It is dynamic, to say the least, and requires a unique skillset to be successful. The goal of my class is simple: provide experience (good and bad), knowledge, and trainings to allow company officers to have a positive impact on their company when they return after FDIC!”
Lieutenant Jarred Alden, Akron (OH) Fire Department, “TEMS for the SWAT Medic”: “I chose this topic because of the increased number of active shootings in the United States. TEMS medics and SWAT teams are at the forefront, instructing others in the fire and police services in how to handle these types of incidents. The North Hollywood bank robbery and shootout with police is a perfect example of recognizing the need for tactical medics. Medics in the past had to remain many blocks away in the cold zone, staging and waiting for the scene to be secure. This is not an option in today’s environment because of the criminals’ use of high-powered assault firearms and advanced body armor. Moreover, the majority of these shooters learned various military tactics either serving in the military or through training with extremist organizations. TEMS addresses issues not addressed in the military such as medical care for the elderly, pediatrics, pregnant women, scope of practice, and differences in language.
“I have more than 12 years of experience as a tactical medic for the Akron Fire and Police Departments. I am currently the team leader for SWAT/TEMS team training concepts, skills, and development.”
Chief Dan Kerrigan, Upper Providence Township (PA) Fire Department; and Captain/Training Officer Jim Moss, Metro West (MO) Fire Department, “Reinventing Firefighter Fitness: The Big 8 Method”: “Our mission and passion is to create a healthier fire service, one firefighter at a time. The most important asset we have in the fire service is our people. For far too long, we have neglected our own health and wellness on a national level. We intend to change that by teaching the what, why, and how of firefighter fitness and wellness to as many firefighters as we can both on an individual and departmental level. The fire service continues to face a health epidemic. Annually, approximately 50% or more of our on-duty deaths, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, are related to stress and overexertion. We, as a profession, need to start paying as much attention to the care and maintenance of our people as we do our apparatus and equipment if we are to truly reduce on-duty deaths.”
Kerrigan: “I have more than 36 years in the fire service and am a certified peer fitness trainer and group fitness instructor. I am co-author of Firefighter Functional Fitness.”
Rescue Team Manager Ron Zawlocki, Michigan Task Force 1, “Trench Rescue Shoring: Science or Myths?”: “Firefighters have responded to and rescued people from trenches for decades with a minimal and often inaccurate understanding of soil conditions and subsequent shoring principles and practices. Unfortunately, most trench rescue shoring principles and practices currently in use have not been engineered or tested to ensure they are strong enough to resist the worse-case soil forces that are associated with trench collapse emergency incidents.
“I have dedicated more than two decades of research and development to improving trench rescue shoring operations for firefighters and hope to share those results with today’s fire service community. Trench rescues are high-risk events that can expose firefighters to a variety of hazards. The most common and most lethal hazard in trenches is the collapse of trench walls. It is critical to firefighter safety that many of the shoring principles and practices that are not based on science be replaced with principles and practices that have been engineered and tested for trench collapse specific soil conditions. Firefighters are entitled to know that the shoring equipment and designs that they use will provide them with adequate levels of safety. It is incumbent on fire chiefs to ensure those levels of safety.
“My interest in trench rescue grew during my career with the Pontiac (MI) Fire Department (PFD). During that time, the PFD responded to several trench emergency incidents across the state for over a decade as Michigan’s only trench rescue team. Subsequently, I have developed and taught trench rescue training courses for nearly 30 years. The combination of incidents that I have responded to and many trench training sessions have allowed me to collect thousands of hours of experiences at ‘live trenches.’ I have shored trenches in a variety of different soils and conditions across the United States. In 2017, I began working with five professional engineers who are members of the FEMA US&R Structures Specialist Sub-Group in a collaborative effort to provide technical analysis and science to trench rescue shoring. The results of that continuing collaborative effort were an important contribution to the 4th edition of the book Trench Rescue-Principles and Practice of NFPA 1006 and 1670, which I co-authored.”
Lieutenant Tom Sitz, Painesville Township (OH) Fire Department, “Size-Up Videos and Tactics for the First-Due Engine”: “I picked my topic because it is the essence of the American fire service–engine work, putting the fire out. You do not have to have a truck or rescue to be a fire department, but you have to have an engine. It is important to today’s fire service because a lot of fire departments do not stress the importance of being good at engine work. Consequently, this most basic firefighting skill has decayed in a lot of organizations because it does not take precedence. Putting the initial attack line in service on a structural fire as efficiently as possible solves most of our problems and prevents future problems from occurring.
“I starting my 38th year in the fire service and have 26 years as a company officer riding on engines staffed with two, three, and four firefighters.”
Captain/Training Officer William Hopson, Beachwood (NJ) Fire Department, “Fired Up Instructor Leadership”: I deeply and passionately believe a large part of FDIC is the actual instructor development element FDIC offers. While there is no denying that the hands-on and fire suppression element of FDIC remain super important, it is my belief we can collectively continue to improve our overall competency, efficiency, and effectiveness when we teach/instruct and deliver fire service training in the classroom and on the drill ground. I absolutely love the challenge of providing a presentation that can improve the overall competency and raise the credibility of the individual fire service instructor. If we are better in the classroom at delivering and presenting material, we can and will continue to be better on the drill ground and ultimately on the fireground.
“When you look at the various pathways to gain initial fire service instructor certification, most provide a lifetime certification and do not require the individuals certified to keep up with their skills other than by having actual, practical experiences. My presentation not only sharpens the skills needed to be credible and capable in the classroom and on the drill ground, it also challenges the attendees to apply their knowledge and instructor skills. We must continue to teach those who are certified to instruct the best possible methods, philosophies, and accepted practices that allow them to become better than they currently are and become more credible when they interact with students.
“My experience goes back to the first time presenting a classroom at FDIC in 1996 and my experiences of having been a local, regional, and county fire academy director. During the course of my time in the fire service, I have taught on how to be better at our craft of instructing.”
Assistant Chief David McGrail, Denver (CO) Fire Department, “High-Rise Firefighting Operations: Strategic, Tactical, and Task Level”: I am very passionate about this topic and consider it to be of the utmost importance. This is a low-frequency but very high-risk operation. Firefighters from small, medium, and large fire departments must be prepared. High- rise fires do occur in small, medium, and large jurisdictions. Human complacency can set in, as most responses to these buildings turn out to be something other than a fire or significant emergency. Fighting human complacency through developing a proper mindset and continual training is the best way to stay prepared for the high-rise fire.
“I am a 40-year fire service veteran and have responded to and operated at many high-rise fires from nozzleman to incident commander. I researched and wrote the book Firefighting Operations in High-Rise and Standpipe Equipped Buildings. This book is based on my experience, the experience of many other firefighters across the fire service, and years of research and development.
Battalion Chief (Ret.) William Peters, Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department, “Apparatus Purchasing Using NFPA 1901”: I have been a voting member of the NFPA Apparatus Committee since the late 1990s and have been involved in all of the discussions and decisions that go into the apparatus standards. NFPA 1901 is undergoing major changes including combining structural, wildland, airport firefighting apparatus, and fire department ambulances, which I discuss in this class. The subject is important in today’s fire service as fire apparatus are continuously evolving and improving and we need to be fully knowledgeable when investing large sums of money in these units.
“I have been purchasing fire apparatus since 1987 and have been involved in the NFPA process since 1989. I served as the apparatus chief for the second largest fire department in New Jersey for 17 years as well as assisted other communities around the country in purchasing fire apparatus. This is my 22nd year teaching apparatus purchasing at FDIC.”
Deputy Chief of Operations Seth Barker, Big Sky Fire Department, “Rural Firefighter Operations: Training and Tactics”: I picked my topic due to the nature of the environment I work in. I have spent my entire career working in the rural fire capacity. We operate in a fire district island surrounded by U.S. and National Forest. Our nearest mutual-aid partner is roughly 45 minutes away. To say that we operate in a rural firefighting world is an understatement. We have to be innovative, creative, and calculated when it comes to tactics and strategies on the fireground with low staffing and minimal resources. As the modern fireground gets more complex, it is imperative that each member understands their strengths and weaknesses to make informed decisions on how to attack fires. By understanding modern fire behavior and incorporating that science into tactics, we can be better informed firefighters to accomplish more with less.
“I am a career firefighter with 22 years of service, serving in all the ranks in a rural fire department.”
Deputy Chief Dan Shaw, Fairfax County (VA) Fire & Rescue Department; and Captain Doug Mitchell, Fire Department of New York, “25 to Survive: The Commercial Building Fire”: “The commercial building fire is responsible for some of the most notable multiple line-of-duty deaths in the American fire service. While it is not the most common fire we operate at, the repercussions of not being prepared to fight these complex incidents can be tremendous. Given fires in this type of occupancy are less common than the residential, complacency can creep in. These hurdles to our success demonstrate why it was so important that we not only address the challenges in fighting these fires but also provide drills, tips, and techniques for success at these incidents. These high-risk events demand a level of mastery that is difficult to achieve when they are at lower frequency than other incidents. Yet, we continue to see more and more types, configurations, and designs of commercial buildings that demand us to be prepared to match the challenge and be successful.
“We have been responding to, operating in, and commanding fires in the urban, suburban, and rural residential setting for a combined nearly 60 years. Our experiences as firefighters, company officers, and command level staff can provide insight at all levels of operations.”
Battalion Chief Richard Ray, Durham (NC) Fire Department, “House Fires: The Core Competencies”: Somewhere in America each day, a fire department is faced with combating a house fire. It is known that fire attack and search are the top priorities at any house fire. This class is based on taking an in-depth look at how to ensure the fire attack and search are done quickly and at the beginning of the incident. House fires are considered the bread-and-butter operation for most fire departments. However, some fire departments still struggle with attacking the fire and searching the building. These struggles can be as a result of not enough resources or failure to understand the fireground and how to apply the right tactic with the right strategy. The class is designed to provide simple, effective methods to help departments achieve success when faced with a house fire.
“My fire service experience crosses both disciplines of career and volunteer; the challenges associated with house fires are difficult for both. I have experienced success and failure at house fires, serving as a firefighter all the way through battalion chief. It is my desire for the class to lean on my experiences coupled with the studies from Underwriters Laboratories to provide solid tactics for those firefighters to chiefs who may attend.”
Chief (Ret.) Rick Lasky, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department; and Battalion Chief (Ret.) John Salka, Fire Department of New York, “Chief Officers Field Training Program”: “There are many people in various ranks throughout the fire service who have a dramatic impact on the effectiveness and operational success of their department. Departments that use the services of a shift commander, battalion chief, district chief, or other chief level officer in the field have a unique and distinct advantage over departments that do not. After 25 years of providing soon-to-be-promoted and current company officers the tools they need to be successful in ‘riding the front seat,’ we realized that we were lacking in that same preparation for those chief officers who are assigned to the field. This program walks you through the numerous vital skills and abilities that field chief officers need to be successful. This was not written as an administrative chiefs’ program but rather a detailed guide for field chiefs to follow from their first hour in the firehouse to their last assignment of the shift. With more than 80 years of combined experience, in every rank, in both volunteer and career departments, we walk you through the numerous vital skills and abilities that field chief officers need to be successful.”
Lieutenant Steve Crothers, Seattle (WA) Fire Department, “Be a Powerful Instructor Now”: “We all come into the fire service to be firefighters; that is our passion and calling. As firefighters become stronger in their craft as they work to become subject matter expertise (SME), they start teaching other firefighters and eventually take on some leadership positions teaching within their department. Generally, the department will require that the firefighter take some version of the state instructor 1 class. Once competed, they are recognized within their department as an instructor and usually that’s the extent of their formal training on how to teach. Unfortunately, the fire service does a poor job teaching our members how to effectively communicate their message.
“So often, I see powerful SME firefighters who struggle to share their message and are completely unaware of their shortcomings. In general, the fire service does not understand or recognize the power of working on how we present our information. What if those same motivated SMEs spent time working/drilling on how they communicate, teach, or instruct? I set out to create a class that would provide real tools to allow the SME to grow and become effective in instruction, establishing concepts to help firefighters constantly work on self-improvement as an instructor. How do the SMEs get better, what resources are they using, and how are they truly challenging themselves?
“This topic stems from my passion and desire to work with firefighters and help them effectively get their message to the rest of the fire service. The national fire service does not provide effective training in teaching firefighters how to communicate their message successfully. I have spent years researching this topic and building curriculum that supports my desire to see firefighters improve their ability to successfully communicate. I have hundreds of hours of instructional experience teaching and training fire departments around the United States. I am always looking for opportunities to grow and develop my skills, as I am on a continual journey to learn.”
Chief Scott Thompson, The Colony (TX) Fire Department, “The Functional Fire Company”: “I am passionate about investing in the American fire service and sharing my experiences over 37 years. I have conducted a tremendous amount of research on the subject of positioning small groups for success and survival. There is very little written on defining success in the fire service. This program covers what I believe are the six essentials of organizational and fire company success and many other subjects that I believe are essential for positioning firefighters for success and survival. I wrote the book The Functional Fire Company: Positioning Small Groups for Success and Survival, which basically journals my research on a variety of topics and my experiences over the past 27 years with six fire department organizations. I have presented on this topic to thousands of firefighters and have received a tremendous amount of feedback on the subject.”
Chief (Ret.) Jerry Streich, Andover (MN) Fire Department, “Dealing with Difficult People and Their Organizational Impacts”: “As a new fire chief, I quickly learned my operational training and experience did not prepare me to handle complex and high-risk personnel issues. I was not expecting my new role as chief would include harassment, threats, murder, and suicide, but it did. How did I miss that training? After a lot of reflection and research, I discovered there was no training on handling people who threaten, belittle, intimidate, and harass. I built this class to talk about my experience and teach people how to handle people who are consistently changing the organization’s mood. The fire service is driven by operations, so most of our training is focused on making sure firefighters understand their role on the fire scene.
“We have failed to train our firefighters how to work within a team, support one another, and maintain civility. We also fail to teach how to support one another when they need help. This class walks firefighters through real-world scenarios and teaches them how to handle the top seven difficult people within their fire station. In conjunction with my formal education on organizational development, I have studied the negative impacts of bullies and incivility. I am an affiliate of the Workplace Bullying Institute and have a bachelorette degree in human resources. I speak across the United States on difficult people and regularly write on the topic.”
Security Operations Manager Adrian Cales, Paramus (NJ) Public Service Enterprise Group, “Essentials of Fire Investigation; The Complete Fire Scene Examination”: “Just as with everything else in the fire service, the field of fire investigation has, and is, changing dramatically. The change is a continual evolution. With the advent of NFPA 921, Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations, the approach to conducting an investigation into where and how the fire started took on complexities and challenges never before encountered by the fire investigator. Shortly thereafter, NFPA 1033, Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator, came along, which now speaks to “who” the fire investigator needs to be. Fire investigation, origin and cause determination, and what happened at the fire scene are no longer based on antiquated theories and defunct assumptions.
“In 2021 and 2022 respectively, both NFPA 921 and NFPA 1033 were updated and new versions adopted. They both contain substantial and significant changes and differ greatly from their predecessors. The ability for today’s fire investigator to conduct a thorough, detailed, and comprehensive investigation at the scene of a fire to determine the point/area of origin, the heat source responsible for igniting the fire (cause), and in most instances the manner of the fire (is this an accident or a crime?) must be methodical and must be in line with what NFPA 921 says. There is little room to deviate. Today’s fire investigator needs to be NFPA 1033 compliant. Failure to follow NFPA 921 is a precursor to a flawed fire investigation. Not having the requisite training, qualifications, and knowledge as specified in NFPA 1033 sets the fire investigator up for challenges in court that are insurmountable. Nonadherence to the requisites of NFPA 1033 will likely prevent the fire investigator from testifying as an expert witness in a legal proceeding.
“My program is designed to provide the fire investigator with an adaptable format to use at any fire scene. Just as not all fires are the same, not all fire investigations are the same. What is of paramount importance is the step-by-step, all-encompassing process that must be employed at the scene of a fire when the investigation is being conducted. I know how difficult it is to establish credibility in the field of fire investigations. What I want to prevent is fire investigators losing that credibility.
“I have been involved in the field of fire investigations for more than 35 years in both the public and private sectors. I have been a presenter at FDIC since 1997. I have spent the majority of my career teaching both police and fire service members the “do’s and don’ts” of fire investigation. I have developed and taught fire investigation-related topics at Rutgers University (NJ), Passaic Community College (NJ), the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, and the NJ Chapter of the IAAI.”
Fire Commissioner/Past Chief of Department Thomas Merrill, Snyder (NY) Fire Department, “The Professional Volunteer Fire Department”: “Too many times in discussions with the public, I am asked whether I am a professional firefighter or just a volunteer firefighter. I take exception to that and politely explain to those inquiring that there are paid firefighters and there are volunteer firefighters, but all firefighters, including volunteers, can be viewed as professional. Our volunteer members must embrace the mindset that developing, maintaining, and upholding a professional reputation are the duty and responsibility of all firefighters. Professionals do not say, ‘But, we’re only volunteers” and use that as an excuse for poor performance, not training regularly, treating citizens and even fellow firefighters in a bad way, or not taking the role of firefighters seriously. It is very upsetting when firefighters bring discredit to the profession by exhibiting bad behavior and engaging in unethical or even illegal practices. It’s important for our members to realize that it is a much different world we live in today. It’s a much more scrutinizing and in many ways a more mean-spirited world than ever before.
“Back in the day, volunteer firefighters were plentiful, and communities recognized that they provided a cost-effective method for providing such an important service. If a company had a bad day at the office–poor response, poor performance, or members acting inappropriately–it might not have received any attention at all. It’s not true today. The world today dictates that we run a professional operation in our volunteer firehouses. Don’t you expect professionals to be teaching your children? Working on your car? Showing up when you need police assistance? Our residents expect it from their local fire department as well.
“This topic is so relevant because of the large number of volunteer firefighters throughout the United States. Out of the 1,056,200 firefighters in the United States, more than 600,000 are volunteers and of the roughly 30,000 fire departments, close to 20,000 are staffed by all-volunteer departments. It’s important that they strive to deliver competent, compassionate, and professional service.
“I have been a member of the volunteer fire service since 1982. I spent 26 years as a department line officer, including 15 in the chief officer ranks and five as chief of department. I also host ‘The Professional Volunteer Fire Department’ on Fire Engineering Blog Talk Radio where I discuss issues in the volunteer fire service.”
Assistant Chief Eddie Buchanan, Hanover (VA) Fire & EMS, “Quality Training for Volunteer/Combination Fire Departments”: “Training can be a challenge for combination and volunteer fire departments. Our department has transitioned from primarily a volunteer system to a fairly large combination system over the past 22 years. This journey has presented a host of challenges that we’ve had to overcome with many lessons learned the hard way. I picked this topic in hopes of saving those on a similar journey some of the struggles we’ve experienced. Additionally, it’s a great opportunity for those passionate about training to share ideas among the other attendees in the workshop. Firefighting is a dangerous business, and training officers in volunteer and combination departments serve many masters. It’s vital that training programs create professional and passionate firefighters within the constraints of a volunteer/combination system. Training is and always will be vital to any successful fire department.
“I wrote my very first article for Fire Engineering in November 1998, ‘Quality Training for the Volunteer Fire Service.’ I authored the Volunteer Training Officer’s Handbook in 2003 and I’m working on an updated edition for release next year. I spent 10 years of my career assigned to our Academy, specifically focused on our basic academy and officer development. I also served as president of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and continue to serve on the NFPA Technical Panel for Fire Service Training. I’ve always been passionate about training, particularly getting firefighters hands-on whenever possible. A properly designed training system can keep firefighters engaged and improve service to the community and safety for the firefighters.”
Captain (Ret.) Raul A. Angulo, Seattle (WA) Fire Department, “Drills You’re Not Going To Find in Books”: I am still amazed how this topic has stood the test of time–well over a decade at FDIC International. The primary purpose of these drills is to save firefighter lives. During 2021 and the first half of 2022, there has been an increase in line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) inside burning structures. Some factors that led to these deaths were from mistakes that should not have been made or well-established practices that were missed or overlooked. Regardless, the contributing factors that led to the LODDs identify a training need that needs to be addressed in the subjects presented at FDIC International. As senior firefighters and officers retire, they take their combined years of experience with them. Unless it is passed on and shared, that experience is lost. That is what this workshop does. It harnesses and captures senior expertise and training experience leaving the fire service and shares it, because the learning curve for new entry-rookie firefighters is ever present.”
Deputy Chief (Ret.) Carl Haddon, North Fork (ID) Fire Department, “New Vehicle Extrication and Electric Vehicle Fires”: “New automotive technology, components, and construction techniques have changed and continue to change with each new model year, often making extrication operations much tougher and more dangerous. Firefighters and rescue personnel don’t typically get new technology vehicles or new electric vehicles to train on. I am fortunate to work directly with a number of automakers and automotive lithium-ion battery makers to be able to share firsthand information with the fire service. One of the biggest things that I’ve discovered about the topic of my program is that what we (the fire service) don’t know about this topic can gravely injure or kill us in a number of ways. The other reason this topic is so important to have a better understanding of is that it can dramatically increase the speed, effectiveness, and safety factors of our extrication and electric vehicle fireground operations. This has been a primary topic of my studies since 2007. Over these many years, I have had unparalleled access to proving grounds and automotive testing facilities where I’ve learned about and done extrication work on consumer cars and trucks that aren’t released to the public until months or years later. I have been teaching the topic at FDIC since 2011.”
Battalion Chief Chris Hubbard, Hanover (VA) Fire EMS, “Live Fire Training Simplified”: “15 years into my career, I was assigned to the training academy, where I found the 1403 standard and organizing live fire training a challenge. I spent a great deal of time getting familiar with the standard and learning best practices to organize live fire training. In doing so, we became compliant, efficient, and safer and produced a better recruit. The fire service is always changing, and this includes the best practices for live fire training. There has been a great deal of research directed at Class A fuel, personal protective equipment, and fire dynamics that presents a need for instructors to remain informed.
“For the past 10 years of my career, I have been an alternate member on the NFPA Fire Services Training Technical Committee. I have served as a lead instructor for the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and have delivered its three-day Live Fire Instructor Credential in 20 states. These opportunities have afforded me the chance to see our diverse fire service throughout the United States.”
Deputy Chief (Ret.) Ted Nee, Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department, “Simulation Design and Development”: “While there are several excellent simulation authoring programs available, there is a dearth of information regarding the design and development process for creating simulations. I chose this topic so I could share my expertise with other fire service instructors. How to bring new officers and incident commanders up to speed quickly has always been a problem in the fire service. Increasingly, departments have turned to incident simulation training to accelerate the acquisition of the core cognitive and social skills needed to manage the fireground. I have been designing and developing incident simulations for more than 25 years. Over that time, I have authored thousands of simulations ranging from simple size-up activities to complex multiunit responses.”
Captain (Ret.) Michael Dugan, Fire Department of New York; and Captain (Ret.) Mike Gagliano, Seattle (WA) Fire Department, “This House Rocks: Achieving Firehouse Excellence”: “This class is reflection of our belief that the firehouse can be the most influential and rewarding professional experience of your life. We have both experienced the transformational impact of being a part of a great firehouse and the incredible things that can be accomplished when the members are united. And it is something that can be achieved, no matter the size of your department or the current situation that exists in your firehouse. You will spend the majority of your fire service career in and around the firehouse. We hope to give some hard-won wisdom on doing it in the right way and creating an environment that is effective and fulfilling–and one that is an absolute blast to be a part of.
“Having a great team and vibe in your firehouse has always been critical. The firehouse is truly the engine that drives the fire department. There has never been more a crucial time to have cohesive crews looking out for each other and striving for excellence given the chaos that permeates our current society. Where there is division and distrust in the population all around us, the firehouse can be calm from that storm. And for us to fulfill our mission, it needs to be, especially in troubled and uncertain times. Now more than ever, the fire service needs unified and committed members of great firehouses.
“We are both retired captains with more than 30 years of experience and been a part of some great firehouses. We’ve also seen the other side of that equation and what a drag it can be. What we’ve learned through all our years in the fire service is that most of the problems end up being the same, no matter the size, location, or configuration of your department/firehouse. The difference comes in the commitment of the leadership and members to make ‘Their House’ something they can be proud of and is conducive to high level of operational effectiveness. We spent our careers going to fires and enjoying the magic of the firehouse. This class is about sharing how that can happen for everyone.”
Chief Jim Silvernail, Kirkwood (MO) Fire Department, “Suburban Fire Tactics”: “I have always been a student of the fire service and an FDIC attendee for the past 20 years. Throughout the course of learning, I noticed a slight deficiency in our industry: There wasn’t a focus on topics dedicated to the specific adaptation of tactics and strategies for medium- to small-size fire agencies. In addition, when I began gaining experience and rank, I concentrated on the development of standard operating guidelines, analyzing operational proficiencies and customizing necessary procedures for a safe, effective, and efficient fireground. FDIC provided the perfect opportunity to learn essential skills, knowledge, and abilities with regards to essential fireground functions. However, I wanted to take this a step further and apply this toward realistic implementation, adapting tactics that fit agency circumstances and capabilities. Every fire service agency has different circumstances and capabilities that dictate their ability to implement tactics on the fireground. It is necessary to analyze and prioritize the essential fireground functions, their timed impact to operations, and how they play a role in the desired coordinated fire attack. It is also essential to realistically take into consideration your specific staffing, resources, and response areas characteristics and how these factors affect your ability to implement tactics. The importance of this topic stresses that we must strive for safe, effective, and efficient operations to achieve our fireground objectives.
“I have been in the fire service for more than 25 years, serving as a company officer, battalion chief, and chief. A large focus of my career has been analyzing and developing structure fire standard operating guidelines in a suburban demographic. I was able to document this experience and author the text Suburban Fire Tactics (Fire Engineering, 2013). In addition, I have been instructing at FDIC on this subject for the past 11 years and I have been a contributing author for Fire Engineering, publishing nine articles over this 11-year period.”
Firefighter Jason Rivera, New Haven (CT) Fire Department, “Overcoming Common Engine Company Mistakes and Fireground Problems”: “Time and time again at fires, I see issues with getting the initial attack line in service. Often it is no fault of the engine company members; there are simply unexpected issues that need to be dealt with but, on occasion, we make mistakes with the initial stretch and this causes a delay in getting water on the fire. I want to minimize these mistakes and help firefighters quickly overcome these fireground problems. This topic is important to today’s fire service more than ever because we are facing staffing shortages. From larger career departments to small volunteer fire companies, we are often lacking personnel. The topics I discuss will help us be more efficient despite these shortages. My experience with this topic has been a 28-year career in the fire service, working and volunteering in departments big and small, urban and suburban. The topics I discuss are relative to every fire department in North America.”
Chief (Ret.) Richard Marinucci, Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department, “Leadership, Politics, and Culture”: This topic is important to all in the fire service and not frequently addressed in training and education. There are lots of leadership programs but few that tie it into politics and the specific cultures that exist in individual departments. No fire department can provide quality service without resources. Those resources are controlled by folks outside the fire department. Through leadership, involvement in politics, and an understanding of the local culture, those in the positions whose job it is to gain resources can be more successful.
“I have more than 45 years of experience in the fire service, with nearly 38 as chief of department. I have also served as acting chief operating officer of the U.S. Fire Administration and am a past president of the IAFC. I have presented variations of these topics at previous FDICs. I have also presented on leadership, politics, and culture separately but have not combined them into one presentation before now. I also write chief columns for Fire Engineering and Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment magazines.”
Captain Steven Hamilton, Fort Jackson (SC) Fire Department, “Active Shooter: Preplanning the Response”: I began instructing in 2010 on violent scene response for fire and EMS personnel. At the same time, I started working as a reserve deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and began some intensive active shooter training as such. As I started to see the law enforcement perspective and its mission, it was glaring that between disciplines, a lack of knowledge in operational procedures and practices existed. The ‘how’ of what all the different agencies do to achieve their mission and, in some instances, even the ‘why’ was misinterpreted or misunderstood. Additionally, after responding to several, thankfully erroneously, reported ASHER emergencies, I started identifying areas of improvement and circumstances that had the incident been an actual ASHER emergency, responders would have had significant problems meeting mission objectives. From that, I developed programs to aid in bridging that gap and share the knowledge to allow agencies to work with one another more effectively.
“In 2018, I began attending the NFPA 3000, Active Shooter Hostile Event Response Program, meetings as a guest. In short order, I applied and became a technical committee member, a position I still hold today. The presentation I am facilitating at FDIC centers around the preparation for an ASHER incident and provides competencies necessary to return to your department and build a comprehensive plan that addresses major response challenges highlighted in the past several years of ASHER incidents. I have had the honor of traveling throughout the country over the past decade lecturing, meeting, and training with some of the most respected and revered agencies in emergency service delivery as well as those who have experienced the tragic reality of this threat. This program has been developed and sharpened through those experiences.”
