FE Volume 164 Issue 10

The Latest

Flood Response: Maximizing Safety and Customer Service

In March and April of LAST year, many communities in New England experienced flooding at historic levels. During this crisis, the Warwick (RI) Fire Department responded to water rescues in addition to regular fire, motor vehicle accident, and emergency medical calls.

Technical Rescue Water Rescue

Basement Fire Strategy and Tactics

Scenario: You are dispatched to a reported structure fire at 12 Bella Court; early radio reports indicate a definite fire with smoke showing on arrival of the deputy chief. You are the officer on the first-due engine company.

Firefighting

USAR Response to Japan Earthquake and Tsunamis, Part 1

On March 10, 2011, the tsunami-prone nation of Japan—arguably the most earthquake- and tsunami-prepared nation in the world—was the setting for an epic tsunami tragedy whose effects are still being felt today and whose reverberations will affect tsunami-prone nations for years to come.

Firefighting

Wildland Urban Interface: Ensuring the “Defensibility” of Defensible Space

Defensible space, the area around a structure in which fuels have been modified to increase the likelihood that the structure will survive a wildland fire front, has evolved through many definition revisions.

Firefighting Wildland Firefighting

More FE Volume 164 Issue 10

The Perils of Rain (Double) Roofs

On arrival, firefighters find a one-story ranch-style home with heavy smoke pushing from the soffit vents under the eaves overhanging the home's exterior walls. The battalion chief in command of the incident suspects a fire that has either originated in or extended to the attic.

Firefighting

Decision Matrix for Engine Company Staffing Levels

When I started this project, my agency was in the enviable position of trying to decide where to place a few extra firefighters every day. We had enough funding to add two or three people per shift. With 22 stations, it was difficult deciding where those extra bodies would do us the most good.

Fire Department Leadership Firefighting

Advice to Young Firefighters, Part 2

Last month we started a discussion about the challenge new firefighters have using education, training, and coaching to somehow overcome their lack of fireground experience. Fires are now burning hotter and faster.

Fire Prevention Fire Safety

(October 2011)

I commend Deputy Chief (Ret.) William F. Crapo on his very informative letter about Thornton's Rule (Letters to the Editor, April 2011). I am always happy to read something that is going to help me understand the fire service better.

Fire Department Leadership Firefighting

FPRF releases workshop proceedings on respirators

"Emergency First Responder Respirator Thermal Characteristics," based on the findings at a July 2011 workshop sponsored by the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF), identifies performance needs and establishes research priorities to address the thermal characteristics of first responder respiratory protective equipment.

Fire Prevention Fire Safety