Michael Barakey

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MICHAEL J. BARAKEY, CFO, is a 31-year fire service veteran and the chief of Suffolk (VA) Department of Fire & Rescue. He is a hazmat specialist; an instructor III; a nationally registered paramedic; and a neonatal/pediatric critical care paramedic for the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia. Barakey is the participating agency representative and former task force leader for VA-TF2 US&R team and an exercise design/controller for Spec Rescue International. He has a master’s degree in public administration from Old Dominion University and graduated from the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program in 2009. Barakey authored Critical Decision Making: Point-to-Point Leadership in Fire and Emergency Services (Fire Engineering Books), regularly contributes to Fire Engineering, and is an FDIC International preconference and classroom instructor.

Content By Michael Barakey

Posts found: 14
Suffolk Virginia trench rescue

Suffolk (VA) Firefighters Respond to Tech Rescue Incident at Construction Site

Suffolk (VA) firefighters responded to a complex technical rescue incident at a construction site that left one person dead.
Confined Space RescueTechnical Rescue
Suffolk firefighters training on Mayday drags

Mayday Drill: Years in the Making, Phase 2

Owen C. Thomassen III and Mike Barakey discuss how Mayday training helped the Suffolk (VA) Department of Fire & Rescue improve.
Firefighter DrillsFirefighter TrainingMagazine
Destruction from tornado

System vs. Situation: Successful Failures

Critical decision makers must recognize when the situation overwhelms the system. Michael Barakey on how fire departments should ready for natural disasters.
Fire Department LeadershipFirefightingMagazine
Suffolk Virginia apartment fire

Lessons Learned at a Virginia Apartment Building Fire

On April 13, 2022, Suffolk (VA) Fire & Rescue (SFR) was presented with a fast-moving fire in an occupied residential apartment building that challenged firefighters.
FirefightingMagazine
RIT Mayday drill firefighter training

Mayday Drill: Years in the Making

Owen Thomasson and Michael Barakey outline Suffolk (VA) Fire & Rescue's first large-scale, department-wide Mayday training exercise.
Firefighter TrainingMagazine
Fire vents from rear of Suffolk building

Suffolk (VA) Firefighters Battle Church Fire

Suffolk (VA) firefighters responded to a New Year's Day fire at a local church that injured one person.
FirefightingPhotos
Suffolk high-rise fire Mike Barakey January 2023 article

Rescues at a High-Rise Residential Fire in Virginia

On July 13, 2021, Suffolk (VA) Fire & Rescue was presented with a high-rise fire in an occupied residential apartment building that challenged firefighters.
FirefightingMagazine
Virginia firefighters at trench rescue

VA Firefighters Rescue Man Trapped in Trench

Firefighters from the Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Suffolk (VA) Fire Departments responded to a trench rescue Wednesday afternoon.
NewsTechnical Rescue
Suffolk firefighters at fire scene

Safety First vs. High Performance: What Is Too Safe?

The fire service is morphing into a “safety-first culture,” and firefighter performance is suffering, says Mike Barakey.
Firefighter HealthFirefightingMagazine
Michael Barakey

Complacency and Actual vs. Theoretical Danger

Michael J. Barakey looks at complacency and actual vs. theoretical danger, breaking down what makes each a unique but similar threat.
Fire Department LeadershipFirefighting
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