In Case You Missed It: June 2015 Fire Engineering Features - Fire Engineering: Firefighter Training and Fire Service News, Rescue

This month saw some groundbreaking testing on firefighter physiological states being conducted in Champaign, Illinois, by the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute with its partners. Bobby Halton and Erich Roden traveled there to observe some of the research, and you can see an archive of their visit HERE.

See more more of our Web exclusives at http://emberly.fireengineering.com/features.html.

	Fire Photographer Profile: John Spaulding Fire photographer John Spaulding has been covering firefighting ops in and around Rochester, New York, or some time. John agreed to share his perspective on chronicling fire events in his part of the world in this month’s fire photog profile.
	Training Minutes: Radio Tips Communications are essential on the fireground. In this new Training Minutes video, Nick Martin provides some information and tips on wearing your radio, including the reasons to wear it under your coat, easy ways to identify radio channels in case of a Mayday situation or other emergency, and more.
	Construction Concerns: Fuels and Fire Behavior In his new Construction Concerns, Gregory Havel looks at the different ways and definitions of how temperature is measured and how it applies to fire behavior.
	Fire Blog Roundup: The Long Road, Pulling Ceiling, and Tactical Mastery Read a roundup of this week’s firefighter blogs from Fire Engineering, including an examination of February on-duty firefighter deaths, ladder towers, pulling ceiling, and aggressive firefighting and safety.
	Organizational Empowerment Organizational empowerment is a lofty goal. The process takes time and effort to implement and realize all of the benefits both organizationally and individually.
	Throw Back to Basics: Catching a Hydrant This week’s firefighting basics training bulletin from Brian Zaitz focuses on an activity that may not always be given much thought: catching the hydrant and establishing a water supply.
	Drills: Fire Behavior and Building Construction In this set of firefighter training drills by Forest Reeder, he takes a look at some aspects of building construction and their impacts on fire dynamics and firefighting tactics.
	It’s Fireworks Season: Rules and Regulations Review The Fourth of July season is upon us. Take the time to review the following information for the purpose of becoming familiar with fireworks, public displays, and related operations such as transportation, general precautions, and working with other agencies having jurisdiction
	IFSI Study Underway on Firefighter Health This week, the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), in conjunction with Underwiters Laboratories (UL) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), undertook a study of the physiological effects of structural firefighting.
	Humpday Hangout: Those Left Behind In today’s Humpday Hangout, P.J. Norwood, Frank Ricci, and Jimmy Greene discuss the line-of-duty death fire that occurred on March 4, 2002, the lessons learned tactically, and the psychological impact of those firefighters left behind.
	Training Minutes: Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) Operations Watch a set of Training Minutes videos dealing with the Mayday, down firefighter removal, and the actions of the rapid intervention team (RIT)
	Training Minutes: Ric Jorge on Roof Safety In this firefighter training video, Ric Jorge and company demonstrate a method for securing viable working space when dealing with “steep, slippery, or sketchy” roof areas.
	Fire Service CSI It is imperative that fire service students take advantage of learning opportunities to improve personal and organizational readiness for future incidents, writes Eric G. Bachman.
	Fire Blog Roundup: Fireground Experience, Drones, and Firefighter Morale See what the Fire Engineering bloggers were writing about the past few weeks. Topics include the nature of fireground experience, drones in the fire service, leaving a legacy, and much more.
	Firefighter Training Drill: Extending Ladders? There may be an instance that calls for just a few more feet out of the ladder when you have nothing left. In this firefighter training drill, Scott Kraut shares a technique you can try with your equipment.
	Training Officer’s Toolbox: Air Consumption How well do you know your crew’s air consumption capabilities? In this week’s training bulletin, Brian Ward provides two air consumption drills for you and your firefighters.
	Windfall Elimination Provision Considerations Mark Wallace offers this look at one of the most important parts of any long-term fire service career: retirement and the benefits of Social Security.
	Throw Back to Basics: Down Firefighter Air Supply This week’s firefighter basics training bulletin reviews procedures the rapid intervention crew must take to assist a down firefighter.
	The Prison Escape, The Firefighters, and Mutual Aid Billy Goldfeder on how a recent high-profile prison escape in New York has impacted a local fire department’s fundraising capabilities.
	Fire Guts Warehouse: ‘Not Enough Water’ On June 21, 1982, fire severely damaged a 1.2-million-square-foot warehouse, less than a month after the local fire chief warned about inadequate fire protection. See the August 1982 Fire Engineering article on the fire and Technical Editor Glenn Corbett’s comments on its significance.
	Just Washing Your Gear Is Not The Answer Properly wearing face masks and frequent exercise should be performed in conjunction with regular turnout gear cleaning to reduce the risk of contracting cancer, writes Robert Fling.
	Humpday Hangout: Education and Training On today’s Humpday Hangout, hosts Bobby Halton and Rick Lasky talk to guests Billy Hayes, Ron Dennis, and Keith Padgett, about discuss education, training, and other contemporary issues in the fire service.
	What Would You Do? Car Accident, Wires Down This firefighter training simulation from Skip Coleman involves a multi-car accident that causes a power line to fall on top of another vehicle.
	Training Minutes: Broken Sprinkler Head How do you deal with a broken sprinkler head without using the sprinkler valve to shut off the water supply? In this firefighter training video, Walt Lewis and Jacob O’Connell demonstrate a method for dealing with a damaged sprinkler head that is flowing water.
	Construction Concerns: Blocked Emergency Exits In his new Construction Concerns, Gregory Havel looks at the codes regarding the dangers of obstructed emergency exits at buildings under construction.
	Four Fundamentals of Firefighter Functional Fitness Dan Kerrigan and Jim Moss write that improving personal fitness will play a large role in reducing firefighter deaths, specifically those caused by medical and cardiac issues.
	The 12 Saw Positions Drill Columbia (SC) Fire DepartmentBattalion Chief Nick Martin offers this new drill that focuses on building comfort and familiarity with “uncomfortable” saw positions through practice.
	The Effects of Staffing Levels on Critical Decision Making Keeping the officer in a role that allows him to function as a leader and not be focused on tasks will result in better situational awareness, communications, and critical decision making, writes David Rhodes.
	Throw Back to Basics: Forcible Entry for the Lone Firefighter This training bulletin focuses on the one-firefighter force of an inward swinging door, commonly found on the front of most single-family residential structures as well as the unit doors of multifamily dwellings.
	Focus on the Fireground: Ventilation-Controlled Fires To what extent has your department embraced the research on fire dynamics conducted by NIST, UL, and the ATF? In this week’s Humpday Hangout, Bill Gustin, Mike Dugan, and their guests discuss fire science findings.
	Thirty Minutes for Life Most companies should be able to create a 30-minute time slot into which ideas and policies critical to firefighter safety and survival may be discussed or practiced,writes David DeStefano.
	Drill: Butting Ladders Kyle Stephens offers this new drill that aids firefighters in positioning ground ladders for entering/exiting upper floors.
	The Rescue Lab: Anchor Point Mike Donahue’s second The Rescue Lab feature offers this example of how to visualize and understand how an anchor point “feels” the load.
	Throw Back to Basics: Buddy Breathing This simple drill from Brian Zaitz will ensure that if your firefighters face a low-emergency they are trained and proficient in how to handle it.
	I Need a Driver! Joint training with emergency medical services, whether part of or separate from your department, can make the difference when the bell tips and seconds truly count, writes Michael Morse.
	Drills You Won’t Find in the Books: Elevator and Stairwell identification Drill In the first of his new drill series, Raul Angulo has a firefighter training drill on stairwell and elevator identification, including instructions for the company officer on setting and leading the evolution.
	Humpday Hangout: Instructor Credibility: Who is Teaching Your Firefighters? In this week’s Humpday Hangout, hosts Aaron Heller and Steve Pegram talk to FireRescue Editor in Chief Erich Roden and other guests about firefighter training.
	What Would You Do? Rail Tanker Car Fire This fire involves a fire in a railroad yard in tanker cars. Check out a new simulation from Skip Coleman.
	Training Officer’s Toolbox: Influence As an officer, of any rank, there are several ways you influence your team members. Discuss this week’s topic with your team and see where your team members land on their strengths and weaknesses.

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