In Case You Missed It: August 2016 Fire Engineering Features

Check out more firefighter training articles at http://emberly.fireengineering.com/features.html.

Training Minutes: Nozzle Drop

In this Training Minutes video on engine company operations, Ray McCormack discusses a situation in which the attack team is so focused on line advancement that they lose effective control over fire extinguishment.

VEIS: The Basic Fundamentals

Our number-one goal is life safety, but we cannot forget the fire attack even while in the middle of a rescue. If we put the fire out, 90 percent of our problems disappear, writes O.J. Kolodziej.

Mayday Monday: Situational Awareness

This week, your assignment is to go look in your area for a building that can mess with your situational awareness.

Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Firefighters Accept 22 Push-up Challenge

Members of Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue have taken on the 22 Push-Up Challenge in honor of our veterans who are suffering from depression and PTSD.

Humpday Hangout: Firefighting Tactics and Safety

In this week’s Humpday Hangout, hosts P.J. Norwood and Frank Ricci will talk with guest Anthony Avillo about deploying aggressive fireground tactics while also keeping all members safe.

Apparatus Placement

A good engine company recognizes that little things make a big difference when responding to emergencies, writes Michael Morse.

Training Minutes: Auger Entrapment

In this new Training Minutes video on technical rescue, Mark Gregory, John Tew, and their crew deal with two types of rescue scenarios involving augers, including those involving patients trapped in snowblowers.

Extrication Minutes: Aluminum Body Structure

In this week’s training video on vehicle extrication, Brock Archer of Advanced Extrication discusses aluminum body structures in late model vehicles and considerations for firefighters and other rescuers responding to incidents involving such vehicles.

The Battalion TV: Calaveras (CA) Consolidated Fire Protection District

The latest featured episode from “The Battalion TV” offers a glimpse into the operations of the Calaveras (CA) Consolidated Fire Protection Disctrict in the Sierra foothills.

Construction Concerns: Concrete-Reinforcing Steel

In his new Construction Concerns, Gregory Havel looks at this common construction material that firefighters will usually encounter at building site.

Mayday Monday: Building Construction

In this week’s training bulletin, Tony Carroll looks at lessons learned from the devastating 1978 Waldbaum’s Supermarket fire in New York City, which killed six firefighters.

What is a Fire Fan?

What is a fire fan? What do they do? How long have they been around? Check out the October 1937 issue of Fire Engineering to find out.

Throw Back to Basics: Transitional Attack

Brian Zaitz shares a training bulletin on the concept of transitional attack.

Humpday Hangout: The Critical Role of the Dispatch Center

In this week’s Humpday Hangout, hosts Rick Lasky and Terry McGrath will be joined by Rob Reardon, Mark Payne, and Kellie Hayney to discuss the critical role of the dispatch center in the fire service.

Drills You Won’t Find in the Books: The Dancing PPV Fan Drill

Raul Angulo has a drill that gets your firefighters familiar with blower use in positive pressure ventilation and attack and shares a way to deal with a common problem.

Put Me in, Coach!

There is one big difference between the fire service and sports, (and most other career choices, for that matter): We are expected to know and complete any task thrown at us, writes Michael DeStefano.

Training Minutes: Inverted Vehicle Rescue Option

In this new Training Minutes video on advanced vehicle extrication, Fishers (IN) Battalion Chief Steve White and company demonstrate an option for removing a patient trapped in a vehicle that has landed on its roof.

The Deck Gun: The Forgotten Option, Part 2

The blitz may buy some time prior to the arrival and gathering of enough resources. Read part two of Joe Pronesti’s article on deck gun use

Extrication Minutes: Ultra-High-Strength Steel

In this week’s video on vehicle extrication, Brock Archer of Advanced Extrication talks about overcoming ultra-high-strength steels in late-model vehicles.

The Deck Gun: The Forgotten Option, Part 1

Joe Pronesti writes, “If you understand its capabilities and train with it, you have a viable weapon that can put a quick knock on the fire and, just maybe, allow you and your crews to get inside and stop any forward progress of fire.”

Mayday Monday: Learning from Tragedy

Today’s Mayday Monday drill asks you to look at the operational lessons learned from the tragic death of Cincinnati (OH) FAO Daryl Gordon.

Train on the Basics To Reduce Fire Scene Chaos

Getting back to the basics when it comes to firefighter training will help you avert fire scene chaos. But where do you start? Roger Lunt says take a look at scene management first.

Mission of Honor: Honoring Those Forgotten and Left Behind

Mike Ciampo reports on a ceremony in Wyckoff, New Jersey, to honor those veterans unfortunately forgotten about or left behind.

“Fools Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread”

Although our work environment sometimes seems to be a place where angels would fear to tread, we should heed the first part of the quote and not make ourselves the fools that rush in, writes David DeStefano.

Throw Back to Basics: Fireground Communications

Communications are a key to success on the fireground. As with any skill, the only way to improve them is through practice. Brian Zaitz offers a refresher.

Humpday Hangout: Power Saw Safety

In this week’s Humpday Hangout, the group will continue their conversation on chain and rotary saws, with specific attention to safe cutting practices. This week’s panelists include Mike Dugan, Bill Gustin, Clark Lamping, Jason Hoevelmann, and Dan Shaw.

What’s in Your “Bag of Tricks”?

Tom Sutkus asks, “What’s in your “bag of tricks” and how much time and effort have you invested in filling it?”

Extrication Minutes: High-Voltage Service Disconnect

In this week’s training video on vehicle extrication and rescue, Brock Archer discusses considerations for the high-voltage service disconnect found on hybrid and electric vehicles.

Training Minutes: Search Plan

In this new Training Minutes video on “Working in the Flow Path,” Sean Gray and Cobb County (GA) Captain Kevin Lewis discuss the benefits of having a search plan when trying to locate victims.

Construction Concerns: Decorative Bamboo

In his new Construction Concerns, Gregory Havel takes a look at this fast-growing plant that has been used in construction for centuries in Asia, tropical America, and Africa.

Mayday Monday: SCBA Confidence Drill

In this week’s Mayday Monday drill, Tony Carroll offers a drill on SCBA confidence called the “Shake and Bake.”

Quick Drill: Outrigger Issues

This new “Quick Drill” from Nick Martin looks at this vital aspect of setting up the aerial device, a benchmark skill of any ladder company.

From the Jumpseat: All Fires Go Out, All Bleeding Stops

The fire service should be actively seeking out new ideas and perspectives, and looking at everything we do with the intent of continuous quality improvement, writes Mark Cotter.

Throw Back to Basics: Gear Cleaning and Inspection

Turnout gear is “personal” protective equipment. It is your responsibility to maintain, inspect, and clean your gear, writes Brian Zaitz.

From the Fire Engineering Vault: Black Tom Pier Attack

The city of Jersey City, New Jersey, recently commemorated the 1916 attack by saboteurs on Black Tom Island, which was, at the time, the largest ammunition depot in America.

Training at the company level

Humpday Hangout: Training at the Company Level

In this week’s Humpday Hangout, hosts Steve Pegram, Aaron Heller, and Brad French continue their discussion on the planning and delivery of company-level training, including the challenges of scheduling, consistency, and quality.

Chief Dave Downey performs his SCBA annual proficiency.

Video: Miami-Dade (FL) SCBA Proficiency

How proficient are you when it comes to donning your self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)? Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue recently shared a video of Chief Dave Downey performing his SCBA annual proficiency.

Firefighter Training: VEIS

The Firefighters Support Foundation’s (FSF) newest training program is now available. This training program, featuring a video and a PowerPoint presentation, deals with vent-enter-isolate-search (VEIS) operations at structure fires.

Firefighter training: Ray McCormack and company discuss some tips on the nozzle position.

Training Minutes: The Nozzle Position

In this Training Minutes video, Ray McCormack and company discuss some tips on the nozzle position, including establishing and mainting the optimal grip and stream.

Extrication Minutes: Windshield Management

In this video on vehicle extrication and rescue, Brock Archer examines glass management, specifically how it relates to windshield removal.

Occupancy Classifications: An Orientation

Like building construction types, learning the occupancy classes is necessary for understanding associated challenges and characteristics related to the occupancy layout and occupant demographics, writes Eric G. Bachman.

Incident Report: Fatal Explosions, Fires in Spanish Fireworks Factory

George Potter reviews lessons learned from the deadly 2015 fireworks factory blasts and fire near Zaragoza, Spain.

Mayday Monday: Stay Low and Stay Alive

We need to train to recognize the temperatures found in a fire. Check out a new Mayday Monday bulletin from Tony Carroll.

In Case You Missed It: January 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: February 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: March 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: April 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: May 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: June 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: July 2016 Fire Engineering Features

Hand entrapped in rope gripper

Elevator Rescue: Rope Gripper Entrapment

Mike Dragonetti discusses operating safely while around a Rope Gripper and two methods of mitigating an entrapment situation.
Delta explosion

Two Workers Killed, Another Injured in Explosion at Atlanta Delta Air Lines Facility

Two workers were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion Tuesday at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility near the Atlanta airport.