(fireengineering.com)

By John “Skip” Coleman, technical editor

As we are all aware, it takes a certain kind of individual to become a firefighter. The factors that make someone a good or great firefighter are even more complex. If you have a few years under your belt, I’m sure you can think of firefighters who are quintessential firefighters, and I am equally sure you can think of individuals on the job who beg the question, “How did they ever get on the job?”

How firefighters are hired—the actual selection process—has changed, at least in the Toledo (OH) Department of Fire & Rescue, since the time I came on the job in 1975. The testing process and the physical requirements have certainly evolved. When I came on, it was a question of how many sit-ups and chin-ups you could do. Today, Toledo has a certified job-based physical agility test that all new hires must successfully complete. Written tests are also job-related and validated by a panel of experts, but to my knowledge Toledo does not give any psychological screening to candidates.

This month’s Roundtable question is, Does your department conduct psychological screening for new candidates? Go to http://emberly.fireengineering.com/index/roundtable.html and click on this month’s question to add your comments.

FIRE LIFE LAUNCHES

Firefighting entails a complicated life choice. We pride ourselves on our humility. We do heroic, selfless acts and then usually go great lengths to avoid the spotlight. We see the ugliest sides of life (and death) and then hurry home to hug the family and do whatever is mentally possible to shield the family from “the job.”

Fire Life (www.firelife.com) is a new Web site designed for the whole family that provides a holistic look at what it means to be a firefighter and a family member of a firefighter. It looks at the other side of being a firefighter—the off duty, physical “self” and family side. If you are a 24/48 shift firefighter, this site is geared to the “48” of the equation, including the family. If you volunteer, it’s about the time when you are not at the station or on a run.

In the video column “Off Duty with Kevin Shea,” you can go along with retired FDNY Captain Kevin Shea on hunting and fishing trips. Videos include a recent bear hunt and fly fishing. Shea is also organizing a pig hunt in Texas in February 2011 for 15 lucky firefighter-hunters.

In “What Every Firefighter’s Spouse Should Know,” Anne Gagliano, who has been married to Captain Mike Gagliano of the Seattle (WA) Fire Department for 24 years, writes about topics of interest to firefighters’ spouses/significant others. She provides thoughtful insight into what it takes to “successfully” live with a firefighter. In her column “Re-Entry Time,” she discusses how to help a firefighter who has come home after one of those “ugly” days on the job.

One of my first tastes of cooking was as a firefighter. Great recipes at the station were copied and taken home for the family to enjoy. This is the flavor of the column “Fire Station Cooking.” Most firefighters have a “specialty” they cook when the regular station cook is off. Expand your menu with these recipes from fire stations around the country.

FEATURED ARTICLES

In “Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in Firefighters,” Michael G. Hamrock, M.D., a marathoner and former Boston firefighter, reviews recent injuries in the Boston Fire Department. He finds that a Boston firefighter suffers an ACS every three weeks and that, if trends persist, in eight years nearly 10 percent of active firefighters will experience an acute coronary event. Hamrock discusses athletic response to this preventable situation.

Ever have the chief or mayor call you into the office and tell you that you are now in charge of a special event in your department? Brian Stoothoff, a 28-year veteran of Ocala (FL) Fire Rescue, tells you what you need to do, using fire department anniversaries as an example of a special event.

Paul Shapiro writes on dual pumping for fires that require more than one pumper to extinguish and the methods used to supply these pumpers, such as the use of multiple supply lines or having one pumper bring in the supply and pumping smaller supply lines to additional units.

Kevin Roy Nunn, a structural firefighter for the Pigeon Forge (TN) Fire Department, writes on how to present a wildland interface training program for your department using a National Fire Academy online course.

David DeStefano, a lieutenant in the North Providence (RI) Fire Department, writes on responding to outside fires such as trash, vehicle, and dumpster fires. He cautions firefighters about developing a laid-back attitude toward these types of incidents and discusses how to apply size-up skills to seemingly routine incidents to ensure safe outcomes.

COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE MONTH

Name: Fred McKay.

Residence:Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, Canada.

Department:Toronto Fire Services.

Title/rank: Captain.

Years of public service:23.

Agency structure: Paid fire department.

Top issues in your department: Seniority-based promotional system, complacency.

Professional qualifications: Graduate of Ontario Fire College; lead instructor of the Ontario Fire College high-rise program.

Topics you provide training for: High-rise, IMS, RIT.

Bio:fire officer in a large urban department; dedicated to enabling firefighters to achieve safe and efficient fireground operations through training, commitment, and attention to detail.