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®
May 2016
Volume 34, Issue 5
To subscribe, visit
www.firefighternation.com
e a tu r e s
F 38
32
32 High-Rise, Big Water, Part 1
Using tandem pump operations to deliver the required flow
and pressure at a high-rise fire.
By Paul Shapiro
38 Upstream and Downstream Threats

With spring comes the winter thaw and new hazards
for public safety divers.
By Scott Huff
40 Managing Stress
Tips for preventing the stress of the job of firefighter 40
from becoming overpowering.
By Nicola Davies
43 The Road to Resilience, Part 2

What to do immediately after a “critical incident,”
which may be defined differently by different people.
By Naomi L. Baum
2 F ire r escue M agazine May 2016 FireFighterNatioN .coM
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ITíS THE PRODUCT OF BLUE-SKY THINKING AND CLEAN-SLATE DESIGN.
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ITíS THE FUTURE OF TURNOUT GEAR.
ITíS ATHLETIX TM
FROM GLOBE.
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®
a r t me nts
Dep 24
6 From the Editor 28 Hump Day S.O.S.

The imprint firefighters leave at an emergency. Rethinking attack and search in “vacant” buildings.
By Erich Roden By David Rhodes
10 ToolsNewsTechniques 30 Distant Fires

A history of FDNY Rescue 1. Fires of note from May 1916.
By Paul Hashagen
14 Nozzlehead
Tension between a superior and a subordinate. 46 Thermal Imaging
20 Using a camera at aircraft fires.
By Billy Goldfeder
By Carl Nix
17 From the Chief’s Desk 20 Wildland Urban Interface
Evaluating an organization’s culture. Critical command and tactical decisions. 47 In-Depth Extrication
By Ronny J. Coleman By Todd McNeal Time notifications for making timely decisions.
By Les Baker
18 Apparatus Ideas 24 Fire Attack
Replacing an engine after an accident. First due at an auto accident. 50 Community Risk Reduction
By Bob Vaccaro By Greg Jakubowski Improving cardiac arrest survival rates.
By Jim Crawford
52 New Deliveries
53 New Products
COVER: Detroit firefighters set up a tower ladder to begin operating defensively on a fully involved 54 Classifieds
private-dwelling fire. Like commercial fires, defensive fires at private dwellings require the establishment of
a collapse zone. When it comes to commercial buildings, always consider the sidewalk part of the collapse 55 Ad Index
zone. Private dwellings must also subscribe to this truism; however, private dwellings’ collapse zones must also
include gangways between similar dwellings. Private dwellings are also likely to collapse much differently than 56 The Backstep
commercial buildings. Firefighters operating around these dwellings must consider partial collapse of more than An addiction to the job.
By Matthew Tobia
one side of the structure, thereby causing a 360° hazard based on the age and type of construction and the
weight of master stream water being applied that will likely prevent any further interior firefighting. Always err
on the side of caution when it comes to any building during defensive operations, and never dismiss private
dwellings when it comes to collapse. (Photo by John Cetrino.)
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M A G A Z I N E
VICE PRESIDENT/GROUP PUBLISHER ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

Eric Schlett - erics@pennwell.com NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
Ted Billick; tedb@pennwell.com; 801-262-1871
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Erin Herrett; eherrett@pennwell.com; 208-309-2747
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Erich Roden - erichr@pennwell.com Diane Giuffre; dgiuffre@pennwell.com; 908-500-8231
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Les Baker, Dwight Clark, Jim Crawford, Randy Frassetto, Tim Tolton; ttolton@pennwell.com; 678-974-2472
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Greg Jakubowski, Rhoda Mae Kerr, Steve Kidd, FOR ASSISTANCE WITH MARKETING STRATEGY
Mike Kirby, Joseph Knitter, Tom Kuntz, Tom Lakamp, OR AD CREATION, PLEASE CONTACT
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Brian Conway
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raec@pennwell.com / 918-831-9143
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FireRescue
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Phone 800-266-5367 or 973-251-5077
Fax 858-638-2601
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FireFighterNatioN .com may 2016 F ire r escue M agazine 5
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From the Editor
Technical Footprints
The imprint firefighters leave at emergencies
I
had the pleasure of working for a battalion chief in a next lunch’s “after-action” has a happy ending.
battalion adjacent to mine the other day. It’s always As we look into several technical rescues in this issue
By Erich Roden
nice to get away and see what others are up to once of FireRescue, I’d like to use the “footprint” vernacular
in a while—even if it’s just for the day. The battalion as a metaphor for our overall technical rescue capabili-
shares its quarters with a very busy engine company and ties. Those who do decide to pursue special operations
one of the city’s two rescue companies. Like the other opportunities in their fire departments should think
rescue in my town, there’s a line around the block of about the occupational, technical footprint they’re
people hoping to get onto its roster. People who apply bringing and leaving to the rescue (squad). The rescue
and send fruit baskets or mow the captains’ lawns for is not a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none opportunity.
the chance to get a seat on rescues do so for myriad rea- It requires thorough knowledge of tools, equipment,
sons, most paramount of which is a chance to be part of and available resources as well as the ability to think
an elite company whose sole purpose is being there for outside of convention and innovate on the fly.
the worst possible scenarios at emergencies. Anyone in the fire service special operations commu-
As we progressed through the lunchtime meal, the nity will tell you that the world’s foremost and iconic
conversation switched from the usual course of busting rescue company is Fire Department of New York Res-
of chops and passing of “true” department rumors cue 1. The first rescue company in the nation, it still is
to a recent, prolonged extrication incident that the considered the genesis of all things new and innovative
rescue worked at the other night. The incident actually in technical rescue. This month, we review an amazing
occurred in my battalion, so I hung around a bit more book on its history and centennial anniversary written
to take in the conversation. What ended up transpir- by one of its most iconic firefighters and current Fire-
ing was a de facto training session, as every member Rescue columnist Paul Hashagen. Check out his book
of both companies presented ideas as the rescue was and what really makes a rescue company great.
describing what they found, did, and would do in the Speaking of technical rescue and extrication innova-
future from what they learned. The extrication was tions, one innovation we bring you this month from
a car vs. the rear of a school bus that resulted in two Les Baker is actually one we’ve been using at fires
fatalities that proved to be a difficult removal. The for quite some time: time notifications. See how Les
initial focal point of the conversation was the vehicle’s correlates this means of keeping situational awareness
“footprint.” This is rescue vernacular as the footprint and scene safety in check at extrication incidents and
becomes the area of the vehicle that is stabilized to the why they are necessary at these emergencies. Speaking
roadway (ground). The bigger the footprint, the more of time, it becomes a critical part of any technical
stable the vehicle. In other words, stabilizing the vehicle rescue, but even more so at rescue diving incidents.
with shores and cribbing, letting air out of tires, etc., As we thaw out from winter, we often realize that
makes the scene safer and more efficient to work at. it’s time to dust off some policies and procedures of
I listened as the rescue discussed the method in which our “seasonal” emergencies and get back into gear
they stabilized a heavy bus and removed the victims, for what’s sure to come. Scott Huff gives us a hand
the tools used, and why it all worked. I was amazed at with this by reviewing spring hazards for public safety
some of the newer approaches to vehicle extrication that diving. Don’t be surprised by what’s facing us both up
the rescue was incorporating. As I looked at the clock, and downstream after months of downtime. There’s
almost an hour had passed and meal plates were already no hibernation when it comes to technical rescues.
dried up with remnants of another win in the kitchen. As you read the technical rescue offerings and other
The rest of the day went well, and I thoroughly enjoyed contributions to this month’s issue, remember to
my day working with the rescue. consider the footprint you leave at any emergency.
Connect with Erich! Now I don’t mean to dismiss the dedication and What you bring to the table and incident scene, what
Stay in touch with capabilities of the other engines and trucks in my town; you discover and innovate that has the potential to be
Erich Roden rather, I was reminded of the infinite types of problems, the new standard, and how you approach the most
Facebook:
emergencies, and hazards the rescues become the last hazardous aspects of our job have the ability to ensure
www.facebook.com/ line of defense for. This is why every second of their day that everywhere you step leaves a footprint that
ErichRodenFRM evolves into being prepared for these events so that the everyone recognizes as yours.
6 F ire r escue M agazine May 2016 F ireF ighterNatioN .coM
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Tools News Techniques
Equipment How To Training People News Web & Media Events
Book Review addition of Paul Hashagen, one of Rescue 1’s most

prominent and iconic firefighters in its history, to
Reviewing One the monthly pages of FireRescue. Hashagen is the
Hundred Years defacto historian of Rescue Company 1 and one

of its most decorated firefighters. He entered the
of Valor FDNY in 1978 and retired in 2003, with 20 of

those years spent in Rescue 1. In 2015, Rescue 1
A history of FDNY’s Rescue 1 celebrated its centennial anniversary, and Hasha-
By Erich Roden gen dug even deeper into Rescue 1’s early days to
bring us the storied history over the century with
T he Fire Department of New York (FDNY) is

well known as the birthplace of the Ameri-
can rescue company. And for the past 100 years,
his amazing new book: One Hundred Years of Valor:
Rescue Company 1 New York City Fire Department
Rescue 1915-2015.
perhaps nothing is more iconic to the quintessential
image and duties of a rescue company than Man- RESCUE 1
hattan’s Rescue Company 1 (Rescue 1). Rescue 1 Rescue 1 was established in 1915 with 10 fire-
has had an incredible history fighters selected from hundreds of volunteers within
within the FDNY, yet it also the FDNY. These men possessed conventional skill
has a unique history with sets from trades outside of firefighting and worked
the international fire service as iron workers, elevator men, masons, etc., thereby
and its firefighters. This lending these skill sets in establishing a new kind
is because virtually every of firefighter for the FDNY—and eventually, the
firefighter who has been to world.
New York City has made an Building on their knowledge and skills in the
obligatory visit to Rescue trades, these men developed new equipment and
1 as a mandatory tour firefighting techniques to go where no other fire-
stop like the Empire State fighter could at the time. They handled explosives,
Building and the Statue of chemicals, and toxic leaks and were deployed at
Liberty and has developed the most dangerous incidents at the time including
some sort of lasting rela- cellar and subcellar fires, fires in the holds of ships,
tionship with the company. and searching within collapsed buildings. Over the
I have my own his- next 100 years, these firefighters added tools, equip-
tory and memories with ment, and techniques to their capabilities such as
the company, and it has rope rescues, hazardous materials, and dive rescues.
become a very near and But what really makes any company is the firefight-
dear part of my career ers who established, endured, and left legacies for its
and personal life: from future. And Hashagen has done a tremendous job
Book cover. sitting in on one of the roll calls in the late ’90s of putting Rescue 1’s people, history, rescues, and
(Photo courtesy M.T.
Publishing Company.)
and watching the great Terry Hatton himself in his tragedy together in one book.
element to lifelong friendships with some of Rescue
1’s current and former officers and firefighters. I’m ILLUSTRATED HISTORY
also fortunate as my experiences and relationship The first thing you will notice when opening the
with Rescue 1 continue to this very day with the book and flipping through the pages before delving
1605fr_10 10 4/20/16 1:22 PM

FIND IT @
Innovations: Good or Bad?

By Bob Vaccaro
Over the past 15 years, there have been many
new innovations that have been created by the fire
apparatus manufacturers. Some have been basic
and some have had a great deal of engineering
design put into them. Bob Vaccaro looks at some of
the innovations introduced by some of the biggest
manufacturers and leaves it to you to decide if the
innovations are positive or negative.
www.firefighternation.com/author/bob-vaccaro
A Fire Culture Examination:

Book review of “I Can’t Save You But I’ll Die Trying” Photo of the Month
In a collection of essays focus- MyFFN member George
ing on the fire service culture, Dr. Greene posted this photo
Burton Clark, EFO, provokes us in a of firefighters protecting
philosophical way to reconsider the the house next door. Pro-
efforts we place on saving the lives tecting people and prop-
of firefighters and civilians alike by erty extends beyond the
understanding the difference one per- house or citizen directly
son can make so long as he stands up impacted. Doing our job
for what is right. FireRescue’s own Bill means looking beyond
Carey reviews Dr. Clark’s book. Read the immediate danger to
about his thoughts and impressions. address any possible sur-
www.firefighternation.com/ rounding threats. Do you
author/bill-carey. have a shot of department
personnel in action on
the fireground addressing
Featured Blog: Aaron Zamzow’s Blog threats that go beyond the original hazard? Remember,
Are you looking to get fit and healthy so that you can be FirefighterNation.com is the place to share your fire ser-
the best firefighter you can be? Then take a look at Aaron vice photos and videos with more than 60,000 members!
Zamzow’s blog. Zamzow, a fire-
fighter for more than 10 years
and a certified personal trainer
and fitness presenter for more It’s Easy to Share!
than 20 years, uses his fitness Did you know that all FireRescue
and firefighting experience to articles are available online? You
develop fitness workouts and can access the complete issue
provide advice and nutritional each month online. Bookmark your
information for fire rescue. favorite authors, share articles
Focusing on everything from fat with your firefighters, or enjoy
loss and healthy eating to firehouse workouts and cardio chal- reading on your smartphone or
lenges, this blog will help you develop into a mean and lean tablet. Scan the QR code to visit
fire rescue athlete. Check it out at: http://bit.ly/1Mvsw1Z. the FireRescue magazine pages today!
Like us on Facebook: Follow us on Twitter: Get connected: linkedin.com/ Get the latest from our
facebook.com/firefighternation twitter.com/firenation groups?about=&gid=111539 Bloggers: FireEMSBlogs.com
1605fr_11 11 4/20/16 1:22 PM

1605fr_12 12 4/20/16 1:22 PM

in is the complete and vivid use of photos to depict Paul Hashagen directly from M.T. Publishing at
the members, events, and operations of Rescue http://mtpublishing.com.
1 over the century. The book’s publisher, M.T. And don’t forget to check out Hashagen’s
Publishing Company, obviously spared no produc- Distant Fires column each month, only in
tion expense in keeping every photo it could get FireRescue.
into the final product. This was very telling to me,
as I’ve seen countless centennial books over the Erich Roden is the editor in chief of FireRescue. He is a bat-
years that are forced to pick the few photos they talion chief with the Milwaukee (WI) Fire Department, assigned
can’t live without because of page counts, at the to the 5th Battalion. He previously served as a chief in the
expense of the importance of these companies’ Training Division. Roden is an executive advisory board member
visual history. for FDIC and Fire Engineering, is a lead instructor for the FDIC
Hashagen has broken the company’s history Urban Essentials Hands-on Training program, and gave the
down by decade, with corresponding photography 2014 FDIC keynote address. He can be reached at erichr@
of Rescue 1’s equipment, people, and rescues show- pennwell.com.
ing the progression of rescue work and
the tools. Each chapter describes in vivid
detail the accomplishments of Rescue 1
with, at times, blow-by-blow reports of
Low Profile, High Volume, Low Loss
famous rescues, fires, and events, even
describing the time when the company and Only $895.00 Delivered...
had to don surgical gowns in the hospital
to assist doctors with removing part of a
fence from an impaled victim. Until this
book’s publication, most never knew the
lengths these firefighters went to in their
duties over the past 100 years, and this is
discovered in every chapter of the book.
The book also has an excellent appen-
dix dedicated to its company command-
ers, firehouses, awards, unit citations, and
the medals awarded to its members. The
index further provides the reader with
the opportunity to go look for a familiar
name right away, if desired.
IN THE ACTION
One Hundred Years of Valor is every-
thing you need to get caught up with the
...REALLY!
most recognizable company in the world.
Paul Hashagen has done a truly great job
in bringing the reader right into the back
of Rescue 1’s rig with its people over the
past 100 years. ï Compact Lightweight Design Fits Easily Into
I recommend getting your hands on Tight Pump Panel Configurations
this book and stopping in to Rescue 1’s ï 5 Year Warranty Against Corrosion
quarters at 530 W. 43rd Street in Man- ï Individually Serialized for Tracking and
hattan for a visit, as its history is evident Continued Service and Technical Support
the second you walk in. ï Flow Efficient Waterway Has Less Than
As Rescue 1’s legacy begins another 5 psi Loss at the Rated 1250gpm Flow
century, its members enjoy a remarkable ï Highly Visible Valve Position Indicator
history, and their work will evolve in and Slow Close Operation Exceeds All
perpetuity. I hope it is captured as well Standards Requirements
as the first century was as we now have ï Integrated Adjustable Pressure Relief Valve
a template for what its next centennial Provides Fast Reacting High Volume Model
book should look like. Protection from Water Hammers in the Hose lines ABD3ST-NX
You can purchase One Hundred Years of
Valor: Rescue Company 1 New York City Æ
Fire Department Rescue 1915-2015 by facebook.com/taskforcetips www.tft.com

youtube.com/taskforcetips 800 348-2686
FireFighterNatioN .com firerescue.hotims.com
1605fr_13 13 4/20/16 1:22 PM

Nozzlehead
Chief vs. Firefighter

What is causing tension
between a superior and a subordinate?
out
months later. I found
Fast forward many
my ins tructors called my
Dear Nozzlehead, ntly one of
that appare do
ter on an all-volunt
eer told him that I didn’t
I am a female firefigh chief personally and
By Billy Goldfeder
cer, and a ms in the pro gra m. It

is an offi proble
department. My hus ban d well and that I had
look- e me my certifi-
ause they are always was stated tha t they onl y gav
year ago I joined bec
want you ng peo ple to lt bad” for me.
ing for more help and cate because they “fe rse
e. My husband has
taught
tom line is tha t I did pass the cou
help get the job don figh tin g,
The bot
usi ng on this issue—but
abo ut fire now foc
me a lot over the yea
rs but the chief is
t what
x stuff that no firs back. Please tell me
especially the mo re com ple doing it behind my
tan d. chi ef does this but does not inform the
timer would unders kind of a a chief
fire chief, who is a dequacies? How can
My problem is our firefighter of her ina tha t the y
nce and is bound and ining offi cer so
constant neg ativ e inf lue not even tell the tra
his way. He watches h you on tho se pro blems? I didn’t
it can work wit
determined to have you
e he hates that he
has ” or a “good job.” Do
my eve ry mo ve bec aus even get a “congrats sta ntly praise
He kno ws every- o doesn’ t con
women in his dep art me nt.
es know a fire chief wh
I know when it com his firefighter s?
thing I do wrong, and a problem with me
he wil l use tho se things against I believe my chief has
down to it I am a woman and happen
y hard to be where re bec aus e I am
me. I have fought ver e bac ked
being the
gam e all the time, pull
ter s hav my A
today; all the other
firefigh to show up with than
ching me and taking
me ybe eve do better
n
me at every step, tea my weight, and ma
por t me . oth er new bie s in the department. I
sup some of the
under their wing to who
a regional firefighter rks and problems, but
I recently received t know I have my qui
cer tificate but not withou doesn’t?
course completion e
ing a sm all epi- way I could get som
goi ng thr oug h the pai n of hav
wn I wish there was a him
ing a me ltdo offi cer to talk to
ining) of hav higher-ranking fire
sode (during the tra i-
d and then breaking
down behavior is inappropr
from being overheate because I believe his ment. I don’t
my dep art me nt on sex ual har ass
because I felt like I
had let ate and borders , and
e and had to stop to
take this man right now
down. I felt vulnerabl have ANY respect for
e pro gra m. Thi s wa s in
s a lot of thi ngs that some of the
sid doe
a break from the out I know he itude
t and included PPE
don- ’t like as well. His att
brutal desert-like hea ks. other firefighters don al. He wil l
ted tas y unprof ess ion
fidences, and rela and conduct are ver
ning, operational con tive , enc our- on to my face, but
e ver y sup por g is goi ng
My instructors wer act like nothin
sure I was OK. After
a quick he spreads the gossip
aged me, and made sid e when I am not around
, we wen t bac k out
ssr oom about me .
break in a cold cla ough n respect for him! I
rse with the crawl thr Please help me to gai
and finished the cou c-
ked it up, thr ew on my hot e to be a normal fun
of the building. I suc would love to be abl
and slow ly ma de my way figh ter, and I do not want to quit
turnouts and bottle, up on tioning fire
nce course and turned because of his antics!
through the confide kno wle dge - — Cactus Queen
uns cat hed and mo re
the other side
n bef ore .
able than I had bee
the people inside of those firehouses; it’s

all different. Sure, I know we crawl down halls, save
Dear Cactus Queen, lives, help people, save property, and all that stuff
I am so sorry that the T-shirts and stickers have that we definitely do. But, quite often, while we
let you down. Damn, I was hoping that they would hear sirens and horns, strangely we do not hear this:
Got a fire service work. You know, the stickers and T-shirts that are “Kumbaya, my Lord, Kumbaya.
question or complaint? emblazoned with “I Am My Brother’s Keeper”; O Lord, Kumbaya.”
Let Nozzlehead hear all about it. “Firefighters Take Care of Firefighters”; or, my Simply put, if we wanna hear that song, then
He’ll answer you with 2,000 psi
of free-flowing opinion. personal favorite, “Firefighters! You Go .... We Go.” everyone needs to be on board with a genuine
Send your letters to: I really need to get some stickers with one of my brother/sisterhood supportive attitude based on
Nozzlehead, c/o FireRescue
PennWell Corp. favorite sayings: “Firefighter BMA: Brotherhood performance and attitude. And in your case, you
21-00 Route 208 South My Ass!” have some players who are not onboard—and that
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
Attn: Diane Rothschild If you’ve seen one fire department, you’ve only might even include you.
(dianer@pennwell.com) seen ONE fire department, and that’s the same for OK, now before you go crazy, calm down and
1605fr_14 14 4/20/16 1:22 PM

listen, and we’ll take a look at your specific situation. Keep in A
mind I do not know you, so I can only go on what you wrote,
but that just may be enough.
As a female firefighter in an all-male department, you unfortu-
nately have challenges because of your chief ’s leadership. You are
also challenged because your husband is an officer in the depart-
ment. People may say they can separate the family/spouse in the
firehouse and on fire calls, but I don’t agree. When you are train-
ing, working, responding, and operating with someone you love,
it is a distraction by nature of the relationship. In a volunteer RAPID
department, it isn’t as simple as changing a shift, because there
are none. So, it is incumbent on the couple to distance your-
selves from one another as much as possible. If distancing isn’t
EXTRICATION KIT
possible, then self-discipline is required so that both parties, and
the membership, are not distracted by these two people working
together who are in love.
So now, let’s size this up so far: You are a woman firefighter in
a predominantly male department, your husband is your super-
visor, and your chief doesn’t like you. Jeez. As far as your chief, if
we were playing by 2016 rules he would have an open mind and
do all he can to support you. But this isn’t Fantasy Island. You
should not have to go through this BS, but the reality is that this
is your world ... so how can we make it work better?
Where are the other firefighters? If you have their support, can
some of the others (NOT your husband ... tell him to stay home
that day!) speak to the chief and help him better understand that he
isn’t doing the job and may even be breaking some laws? Is he even
aware of what’s expected of him? I “get” the “good old boys” game,
but the “good old boys” more and more are getting jammed up over
their “personal” opinions vs. doing their job. Your chief may person-
ally not like having women on his fire department, but no one
asked his personal opinion. Does his behavior represent the political
governing body that he reports to? We all report to someone. THE ULTIMATE
About that course you went through, first, congrats! Sounds like
it was tough. I went through a similar “smoke divers” program in SIMPLE, FAST & SAFE
the ’70s, and it about killed me—but didn’t. Someday I’ll have to
write about training programs that “about kill us,” but that’s for VEHICLE RESCUE
another time.
In your case, you did have a problem, you had a meltdown during
SOLUTION
the training, and it was witnessed. You did have to stop; that will not
go away. While I don’t know how the others did, I am assuming, Combining the Speed, Power & Ease
since you didn’t mention it, the others didn’t have similar issues. I of the MULTIFORCE Air Lifting Bag
don’t know if the students were monitored, hydrated, or any of that,
so we can’t cover that. But we can cover the fact that the focus was & the Optimum Stabilization of Our
on you ... on you big time. I hate when that happens.
Someone’s crying, Lord, Kumbaya. Standard Vehicle Stabilization Kit
O Lord, Kumbaya.
You had a breakdown and, in the clearest sense, the ques- Eliminate Manual
tion that is inevitably raised is: What if she did that at a fire?
My answer is: That’s why this is called training. We train for a Cribbing
reason—to minimize that from happening at a fire. An instruc-
tor was gossiping and told your chief that they gave you the
certificate but you didn’t earn it? No problem. LEARN MORE, WATCH VIDEO & REQUEST A DEMO
If you sucked it up and eventually finished the test that day, then I
think you should suck it up again. Now, does it still bother you? Go
through the test again to prove that you can. The BS will diminish.
paratech.com/rek
This isn’t a boy or girl issue. I would suggest the same to anyone
since it’s an issue of making it clear that you are what the certificate (80 0) 43 5-93 58 ï WW W. PA R AT ECH . CO M
M ADE IN T HE U .S . A. AND USE D WO R L DW ID E
1605fr_15 15 4/20/16 1:22 PM

says you are. Then offer a friendly challenge for all While I don’t know what your quirks and
Nozzlehead your members, including the chief, to go through it problems are, you need to do a self-assessment and
too. Put up or shut up. That usually works pretty well. determine honestly if those quirks are part of your
Call me crazy, but have you ever sat down one on problems at the firehouse. What are you doing so
one with the chief and discussed these issues? Some- wrong that the chief is always watching? Who keeps
times, when there is no audience, no husband, and running to him about you?
just two people, things get worked out. Maybe. He I understand you have no respect for the chief,
is obviously not much of a communicator. You asked but be sure you respect the authority of the posi-
me what kind of chief does this? Your chief does, and tion, which is certainly not easy when dealing with
he is hardly alone. The failure to communicate is one someone as you described. You should also have
of the most critical collapsed pillars of leadership. If limited contact with the chief; focus on the other
you can’t communicate, you can’t lead. company officers. That might help.
Praise? Over the years I have learned that praise Since you have mentioned he behaves in a way
is a balance. These days, when every kid in little that upset the other firefighters, it may be time for
league gets a trophy because they had a pulse, praise a group discussion or plan. Where is the assistant
turns to BS. It’s empty. It means nothing. On the chief? The captains? If it is as bad as you describe,
other hand, praise is deserved when someone does it’s time for a group-led change—in behavior or
something out of the ordinary. Certainly passing a leadership.
course is worthy of some public praise. If the chief is being vindictive, harassing, gossipy,
I believe that your chief does have a problem with and a jerk toward you personally, and none of the
your being there. It may be your being a woman. It above helps or works, you may have to consider
also may be other factors such as the husband issue. further measures. If he created this and you have
Or, you’re thinking you are doing so well, better than done all you can to make it work, he gives you no
the other newbies (your words, not mine), which other choice. However, do your personal best by
shouldn’t be your focus. That may be one of the chief’s considering the above and by having your “house”
problems too. Worry about you and help and support in order, so that you are able to eliminate any ques-
the others. Focus on doing more than is expected, giv- tions related to the ownership of these issues.
ing more than is expected, and communicating—and Someone’s praying, Lord, Kumbaya!
avoid contact with your husband at the firehouse. O Lord, Kumbaya.

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1605fr_16 16 4/20/16 1:22 PM

From the Chief’s Desk
Who Do You Believe?

Internal vs. external evaluation
of an organization’s culture
O
ne of the most amazing contradictions in the fire influencing from the top down without some knowl-
service is the fact that firefighters, in general, are edge of the two perspectives.
By Ronny J. Coleman
highly regarded by their communities as heroes In fact, it is the ability to blend the two that often
and simultaneously are often regarded as irksome and determines the overall success of the fire officer in
troublesome to the political leadership of the very maintaining internal pride and external support.
community they protect. Why the dichotomy? Well, Internal pride is often measured by an ethereal concept
perhaps it has a lot to do with peoples’ perspective called morale and external support is sometimes called
about value and benefit from their point of view. respect. Neither come easily in organizations. They
Some see it only from the department’s perspective; have to be cultivated and maintained or the pendulum
others see everything from a community perspective. will tip one way too far and there can be conflict.
It may also be because of the way some see every-
thing from their cultural perspective with a common LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY
special interest group. Lastly, our fire service culture Also consider these two concepts in parallel with
may be giving us a perspective that results in some the previous discussions of training vs. education.
conflict with the very people we protect. Training is a classic location to conduct EMIC
research; it is where the local thought process resides.
ORGANIZATION PERSPECTIVE This is where people learn what is acceptable for
An instructor once told me, “Firefighters talk to each being a member of an organization. ETIC research is
other so often that they believe each other!” Yes, we do where people learn more about general principles and
have a definite internal culture. A city manager told me perspectives that are broader. That is where education
with respect to the leadership of a fire department: “It comes into play by providing observations, explana-
helps to have weakness in the fire chief.” His rationale tions, and interpretations that are more generic.
was that the fire service’s inability to see the big picture Regardless, members of all groups will gravitate to two
much of the time is the reason for much of the conflict. kinds of behaviors. Those that are focused locally will
The reputation we enjoy in our communities is protect that perspective and those that are focused at a
a fragile and vulnerable thing and that we need to higher level will continue to focus on the “big picture.”
maintain a constant vigilance over both the internal Highly trained and well-educated influence leaders will
and external perspectives of who we are and what we keep the two in balance as they proceed in the decision-
stand for. The question for you now is: How do you making process of managing their agencies.
do that without compromising too much? Do you know how we will be able to tell which
departments have learned this lesson? By the fact that
EMIC AND ETIC they will be considered “team players and competent
Do you know what the following acronyms stand leaders” both externally and internally. How does your
for—EMIC and ETIC? Your understanding of these organization stack up? Can you really hear what is
acronyms is an important building block for your going on inside your organization? Can you truly hear
success in dealing with your organization’s reputation.1 what is going on outside in the community?
EMIC and ETIC come from the behavioral sciences
and refer to two different type of research into groups. REFERENCE
One focuses on local perspective and the other from a 1. Kottak, Conrad, Mirror for Humanity: A Concise Introduction to
more general or broader perspective. Cultural Anthropology, McGraw-Hill, 2006.
Let me simplify the two. EMIC is what we think
of ourselves by talking among ourselves and ETIC is Ronny J. Coleman is a retired state fire marshal for the State of
what others may think about us as a group. The latter California. He has achieved chief officer designation at both the
may determine what our reputation is externally. I am state and national levels. Coleman has a master of arts degree
raising the topic as a warning sign that no one who is in vocational education, a bachelor of science degree in political
providing leadership in the fire service can consider science, and an associate of arts degree in fire science. He is
himself effective in leading from the bottom up and president of Fireforceone, a consulting firm in California.
1605fr_17 17 4/20/16 1:22 PM

Apparatus Ideas
Goshen FD Replacement Engine

Making a positive out of a loss with E-ONE
T
he Goshen Fire Department (GFD), located
in south central Ohio, is not unlike other fire GFD Specs
By Bob Vaccaro
departments across the country; it has budget • Body model: E-ONE rescue pumper.
problems but still has to provide a service to its • Body material: Heavy-duty extruded
communities. The department was not in line to aluminum.
replace any apparatus in the past year, but an unfor- • Cab make/model: Typhoon.
tunate accident with one of its pumpers changed all • Number of cab seats: 5.
that in the bat of an eye. • Engine brand/model/horsepower:
450-hp Cummins ISL.
According to Chief Steve Pegram, one of the
• Transmission brand/model: Allison
engines was returning to the fire station from an
3000EVS.
alarm. It was reported that the truck’s rear tire went • Water pump brand/model: Hale Q-Max.
off the road into a deep ditch and, as the driver • Pump capacity: 2,000 gpm.
attempted to correct, the front end struck a drainage • Water tank capacity: 780 gallons.
culvert. The truck then shot across the road, flipped, • Generator make/capacity: Smartpower
rolled, and ended up on its side. 15-kW hydraulic.
All three firefighters on board exited the vehicle • 12-volt LED scene lights all around.
through the windshield and called for assistance. They • Whelen lighting package.
were transported to a local hospital as a precaution, and • Streamlight lighting tripods.
all three were released with only bumps and bruises.
The crew was wearing seat belts, which saved their lives
and prevented serious injury. Everything loose in the LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT
cab was ejected through the windshield. The engine In May 2014, the department started looking at
was a total loss, but Pegram said that they had full replacing the engine. The older vehicle was spec’d
insurance coverage on the vehicle and were able to use a to do just about everything, so the department
backup engine until the new vehicle was delivered. wanted the new engine to do the same but with some
Many fire departments around the country do not improvements in certain areas.
have a full replacement cost for their apparatus and are “We also did something that hadn’t been done
underinsured. It is an area of concern that fire chiefs before,” Pegram says. “We hired a fire apparatus con-
should look into in the case of an unfortunate inci- sultant to help our committee go through the process.
dent like the GFD experienced. “Luckily we had this We hired Emergency Vehicle Response (EVR), and
engine insured for $600,000, which greatly helped us they helped us a great deal in the design and spec writ-
to replace the vehicle,” Pegram says. ing process.”
The main GFD E-ONE Typhoon
rescue pumper. (Photos by
Goshen Fire Department.)
To read more
from Bob Vaccaro,
visit www.firefighternation.
com/author/bob-vaccaro.
1605fr_18 18 4/20/16 1:22 PM

Committee members were asked the top 10 must
haves that they wanted on the new engine. One of the
areas of concern with the older engine was that it had a
high hosebed and crosslays. This was the one thing the
committee wanted to change but it also did not want
to give up the desired tank size that comes with a lower
hosebed. The committee also wanted to reconfigure the
body so there was more compartment space. “From a
chief’s standpoint, we wanted added safety features such
as air bags all around, stability control, and better up-to-
date seat belts with extenders,” Pegram adds. The extended front
After this process was completed, the department sent bumper with a gated
a request for proposal out to five different manufacturers. wye and LDH hookup.
Ohio has state term pricing, which means you can chose
any manufacturer on the state contract list. “We decided
to go with E-ONE because they met our specs and were
receptive to our ideas,” Pegram says. “Our committee met
with them several times and looked at several new deliver-
ies in the local area.”
A great deal of insight was established after looking at
what would and would not work for the department.
The vehicle would serve as a structural engine as well as
a rescue engine carrying a great deal of extra equipment.
The extra compartments would come in handy for all
types of responses. The rear hosebed and
rescue tool compartment.
APPARATUS SPECS four mobile fleet repair vehicles. An out-of-service

The committee also designed the vehicle to be vehicle is a priority to them. They also service our
response area specific to Goshen in some ways. The other vehicles in our fleet as well.”
community has many trailer parks in the area, so
the vehicle was designed with a 28-inch extended PREPLANNING FOR DISASTER
front bumper with a gated 2½-inch wye. “We have The GFD members planned well for this emergency
a 150-foot length and a 100-foot length of 1¾-inch purchase. They thought proactively by making sure
attack line connected to the wye for quick access since that all of their apparatus is well insured in case of an
we operate in some tight areas,” Pegram says. Also accident. They hired a consultant to help with the
included in the design were a lower hosebed and lower purchase, which in some cases is not cost effective in all
crosslays for a better ergonomic fit. The rear hosebed budgets but nonetheless helped them out a great deal.
enables the department to carry 2,000 feet of five-inch The vehicle was well thought out. They had planned
large-diameter hose (LDH). some of the design based on their response district and
The new vehicle also has a shorter wheelbase, mov- improved the new vehicle with safety and ergonom-
ing from 230 inches to 198 inches, and still allowed ics in mind. Their firefighters learned firsthand what
the department to gain a little compartment space wearing seat belts responding to and returning from an
with a bigger 780-gallon water tank as well. The alarm can mean for safety.
engine has six-inch suction inlets on all four sides, Sometimes we have to think outside the box. How
three primers, a 15-kW hydraulic generator, a light many of us think to check insurance policies for total
mast, and an electric-powered ladder rack. Also carried replacement cost? Most fire districts have commission-
in addition to the usual nozzles, fittings, and engine ers or trustees who take care of this type of concern, but
company tools are cutters, spreaders, saws, and other a fire chief making a request for them to check their
forcible entry tools. There is also an emergency medi- policies might save them money in the future.
cal services compartment in the cab that is accessible In any case, the GFD turned this tragic event into a
on both sides and a transverse tool compartment. positive for their department with this apparatus
“So, in reality, we were able to have all of our wishes purchase.
designed into the vehicle, which made the process go a
lot smoother,” Pegram says. Bob Vaccaro has more than 40 years of fire service experience. He
“E- ONE was great to deal with, from concept is a former chief of the Deer Park (NY) Fire Department. Vaccaro
through the build process,” Pegram shares. “In addi- has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the New York Fire
tion, their local dealer, Vogelpohl, is only 20 minutes Patrol, and several major commercial insurance companies as a
away from our response district and they also have senior loss-control consultant. He is a life member of the IAFC.
1605fr_19 19 4/20/16 1:22 PM

Wildland Urban Interface
Improved Situational
Preparedness
All in command positions

need to have a plan they
can implement to react to Critical command and
the change in the incident.
(Photos by author.) tactical decisions at a WUI incident
ver the past three decades, large destructive thermal unit outputs will continue to be elevated
O wildland fires in communities across our

nation have risen to a level of intensity and
frequency never before experienced by the fire ser-
from loading and drought. Simultaneously occurring
and compounding the risk is more development and
housing density in the wildland. Firefighters operat-
vice. Every fire season, the media broadcasts images ing in interface/intermix are faced with increased
of large fires raging in the wildland urban interface/ wildland fuels and structure density that individually
intermix (WUI) with no regard for civilian or and collectively exhibit greater intensity when burn-
By Todd McNeal
firefighter lives, property losses, or jurisdictional ing. The increasing structure fire intensity is largely
boundaries. While there are many factors that con- because of modern construction materials and inte-
tribute to this fact and the related implications, one rior contents. Never forget that structures are a fuel
undeniable and worrisome outcome is the increased model and that fuel is deadly; that fact was proven
risk to firefighters suppressing these fires. yet again during the 2015 fire season with multiple
fatalities and thousands of structures lost.
ELEVATED THREAT
WUI fires are moving faster, spotting farther, and DECISION MAKING ASSISTANCE
demonstrating fire behavior more extreme than fires Collectively, as a fire service, we need to focus on
in the past. This translates into much higher com- improving the preparedness of current and future
plexity, increased risks, and elevated potential loss commanding officers and set the imperative goal of
for first-arriving chief and company officers. In the ensuring a fluent understanding of the complexity
past decade, I have witnessed a considerable time and risk exposure when operating in the WUI.
compression in wildland fire incident management. Officers who respond to incidents in the WUI
To state this clearly: First-arriving resources have far will be confronted with great challenges and many
less time to accurately size up the expanding inci- critical tasks simultaneously. There are numerous
dent, implement strategic objectives, and direct tac- tasks and a compression of time for decision mak-
tical actions that result in a positive outcome. What ing that increase the chances of critical incident-
I see unfolding each season is a deadly combination driven variables being missed and situational
of increased pressure on suppression personnel in a awareness (SA) compromised. In an effort to
time-compressed, task-saturated environment with combat this inevitable reality faced by suppression
a threat to all life greater than ever before. personnel in the WUI, I suggest all officers develop
One of the challenges today’s firefighters experience a list of critical tasks to be completed on arrival.
is an exorbitant liberation of energy that has accumu- There are numerous acronyms in circulation to
lated in wildland fuels over the past century. British assist in decision making. Some are very specific to
1605fr_20 20 4/20/16 1:22 PM

One undeniable and worrisome
outcome is the increased risk
to firefighters suppressing
these fires. MULTI-CUT Fire Rescue Chainsaw
with Carbide-Tipped Bullet Chain
a region and, in contrast, some are broad begun while responding to the incident.
and transportable. The bottom line is to Safety zones come in a variety of forms
ask the relevant questions to your response and are specific to the number of resources
area and find the answers prior to the present and the unique combination of fuels,
alarm sounding for a WUI fire. As a gen- weather, and topography at any given spot
eral suggestion to help prioritize decisions on any given day. Regardless of the variable,
when at a WUI incident, I suggest using the first-arriving command must be cogni-
the acronym S.T.A.R. zant, locate safety zones quickly, and inform
• S: situational awareness/safety zone/ all personnel. First-arriving command at a
strategy. WUI fire may have to rely on the more fluid
• T: tactics/tactical decision points/triage. style of firefighter safety locations commonly
• A: augment/articulate/alternatives. referred to as a temporary refuge area. Occur-
• R: recognize/react/reevaluate. ring almost simultaneously with this process
I realize this acronym is similar to many is the need to develop a strategy based on
that previously exist and by no means how the fire is presenting. There is an initial
consider it to be all inclusive of every con- choice that has to be made by first-arriving
sideration an officer must face but instead command on whether to attack offensively
suggest that this is a condensed flow of the or implement a defensive strategy. Once that
most critical. decision has been made, the decision flow
should then turn to the next grouping of
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS/ three priorities.
SAFETY ZONE/STRATEGY
It cannot be overstated that accurate, TACTICS/TACTICAL DECISION
timely, and current situational awareness POINTS/TRIAGE
is the foundation from which we build an Strategy choices drive tactics, and tactics
appropriate, safe, and effective response to need to be accompanied by tactical deci-
any escalating incident. There is no possible sion points that add a further level of
way that decisions that are both safe and safety to the operation. The first-arriving
H2 Series
es Rotary Rescue Saw
effective can be made without the initial command may not have a lot of time or
With Blackk Diamond Blade
development and constant updating of SA resources to implement complex tactics; or BULLETBLADE
ADE
while operating on any incident. in fact, the simpler and clearer the better.
Once SA has been updated with current Tactical assignments must be consistent
and site-specific information, a determina- with the initial strategy and must be
tion of safety zones and appropriate strat- appropriate for the assigned resources. Toll Free: 1-800-433-3716
egy can be identified and implemented. At One pitfall first command can experience International: 1+ 541-524-9999
the minimum, the search for and identifi- is employing tactics that current resources
Fax: (1)541-524-9996
cation of safety zones must occur imme- are either undertrained or underequipped
diately on arrival but ideally would have to complete and then the incident tends to Email: info@cuttersedge.com
cuttersedge.com
FireFighterNatioN .com
1605fr_21 21 4/20/16 1:22 PM

For a multitude of reasons, fire
conditions during WUI incidents
have intensified, especially in
the past decade.
deteriorate even further. AUGMENT/ARTICULATE/ALTERNATIVES

Intimately tied to tactics is the necessary I cannot stress enough that all of these
establishment of tactical decision points. suggested critical thoughts and decisions
These objective points serve the purpose of are happening virtually simultaneously
reminding all resources to take a moment to and constantly. With that in mind, the
perform an update to their safety, SA, and first-arriving command must quickly
effectiveness in the current action. These process the incident-driven variables and
come in the form of fire environment based, resources at the scene or responding.
operationally based, or the time stamp. Regardless of the amount of resources
CUSTOMER APPRECIATION One important reminder for suppres- on the initial dispatch, never hesitate to
sion resources is to never ignore a decision augment the response early. Fire behav-
PROMO CODE point once it has been reached. Take what
might be only a few seconds or minutes to
ior has increased, time has compressed,
and one of the only ways to combat the
Customers get 10% OFF complete the loop of evaluating your safety, rapid expansion of a WUI fire is to hit
ALL Rock-N-Rescue Hardware effectiveness, and position in relation to the it hard with sufficient resources. Air,
fire and its forecasted forward progress. ground, wheeled, and tracked suppression
online orders with PROMO CODE Tied back to the strategic choices and resources all play a vital role in the success
PWhardware16 tactical assignments is the indispensable
and critical process of triage. Structure
of initial attack. The goal is to ensure that
these resources are in sufficient numbers
until January 1, 2017. triage is a complex task and that requires a and are well coordinated by first-arriving
practiced discipline to achieve consistently command. The bottom line: If you think
www.rocknrescue.com and objectively while working at a WUI
incident. There are numerous factors to
you might have the need, order it.
Once the concise augment of type and
consider, and the resources assigned must numbers of resources has been made, offi-
be adept at the entirety and nimble enough cers must be prepared to articulate the plan
to perform timely. I encourage all officers to these resources. A face-to-face briefing
ORDER NOW AND SAVE to develop a system that works for them should always be the goal of any officer, but
and their primary response areas and prac- I know that isn’t always possible. The sec-
tice constantly. I use the top down method ond best option is a complete articulation
that I have explained in detail in another of all of the information over the radio, and
article. The thorough process works for me that demands the commanding officer have
and is now a trusted habit. a clear vision and excellent communication
firerescue.hotims.com FireF ighterNatioN .com
1605fr_22 22 4/20/16 1:22 PM

skills. A thorough and concise briefing is a skill that CRITICAL THINKING
takes practice and effort. It is the foundation of the I cannot overemphasize the need to have all Wildland
common operating picture that all command officers officers in command engaged in critical thinking. Urban
should be striving to establish and maintain for the For the safety of the public and incident person- Interface
duration of the incident with all resources under nel, command must always strive to be mentally
their command. ahead of the fire’s next move. This will be achieved
As a part of the initial and ongoing incident if those currently or aspiring to be in a command
management, the first-commanding officer should position during a WUI incident are knowledgeable
develop alternatives to the current plan should about the wildland fire environment and the factors
adjustment be needed or conditions and effectiveness that influence fire behavior.
change. There are many reasons a plan must change, It is our responsibility as officers to lead by
and there is no failure in that. The only failure is not example and demonstrate a safety culture through
planning for viable alternatives at the beginning. I our command decisions. We need to show the next
encourage all officers to remember primary, alternate, generation of fire personnel what it means to
contingency, emergency (PACE). PACE is a great perform effective risk management and be ethically
reminder of the layers of planning and communica- engaged.
tions all those in command should strive for to always
have coordinated response to changing conditions. Todd McNeal is a 24-year veteran of the fire service and chief
of Twain Harte Fire in Tuolumne County, California. He has a
RECOGNIZE/REACT/REEVALUATE diverse background in wildland and structural fire management
For a multitude of reasons, fire conditions during and suppression and has been serving as a division/group
WUI incidents have intensified, especially in the past supervisor on a Federal Type II Incident Management Team for
decade. Our wildland fuels and encroachment of 10 years. McNeal has been an instructor in the fire service for
development into the wildland have reached a criti- 15 years, holds numerous ICS qualifications in wildland opera-
cal mass and are releasing massive amounts of energy tions, is a registered instructor with California State Fire Train-
when burning. The window of opportunity to safely ing and a California fire officer, and has a bachelor’s degree in
and effectively implement action has narrowed, and natural resource management.
the first-arriving command needs to take this into
consideration. All personnel need to be able
to recognize changing conditions with a
positive safety margin and have a reliable
exit path should it be required. The fire
environment has fundamentally changed
with the deadly combination of increased
fuel loading, prolonged drought, and con-
tinued development in the WUI. The prob-
lems for fire personnel associated with the
facts of new fire environment are numerous
but are not ones we can change. The only
mitigating factor to this increased hazard is
recognition. If all officers who are in com-
mand of a WUI incident take the time and
effort to develop solid SA and maintain it
with current and incident relevant informa-
tion, the likelihood of missing a critical
change in fire activity is reduced.
All in command positions need to have
a plan they can implement to react to
the change in the incident. Officers must
develop the habit of constant processing of
the status, safety, and effectiveness of the
tactics and always reevaluate. Now more
than ever, WUI incident are exploding and
forcing command to be more tactically
flexible. Officers must see the conditions
change, react appropriately with predeter-
mined responses, and reevaluate the safety
and effectiveness of all assigned personnel.
1605fr_23 23 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Fire Attack
First-Due Response
to Auto Accidents
By Greg Jakubowski
Protecting victims,
At a vehicle accident scene,
fellow responders, and yourself
the initial-arriving fire com-
pany has a number of tasks
that must be completed.
(Photos by author.)
he National Highway Traffic Safety Admin- structural damage/intrusion into buildings, natural
T istration reports that in 2014 there were 6.1

million police-reported accidents. Although 72
percent of these crashes involved property damage
gas/propane leaks, spills of gasoline or other flam-
mable liquid leaks, and other potential hazardous
materials situations. A typical dispatch for an auto
only, 2.3 million people were injured and 32,675 accident will likely include emergency medical
people were killed in the remaining crashes.1 Of services (EMS) units and perhaps a squad/rescue
the 1.7 million crashes involving injuries or fatali- or ladder company. The ladder company may be
ties, it is fair to say that firefighters responded to a assigned for traffic blocking if operating on a mul-
significant number of them. Auto accident response tilane highway or may be assigned as the extrication
is common in the United States, as well as in other company. If there is a report of one or more victims
countries. Canada reports more than 120,000 acci- trapped or pinned in the accident, the dispatch is
dents involving injuries or fatalities in 2013.2 likely to add the squad/rescue units or other appa-
Accidents can be severe on high-speed, limited- ratus. Firefighters may not be thoroughly trained in
access highways but also on two-lane country roads vehicle extrication procedures; however, they will
that may have lower speed limits and less room for play a vital role in ensuring that accident scenes are
error with a much higher chance of head-on and properly managed and extrications are successfully
intersection accidents. Firefighters are likely to be completed.
more frequently presented with the opportunity to At a vehicle accident scene, the initial-arriving
save lives during response to auto accidents than the fire company has a number of tasks that must be
average firefighter has the opportunity to directly completed. Personnel must be prepared to address
save a life at a structure fire response. Firefighters any hazards found and provide standby fire protec-
must be prepared to respond to and be well-trained tion as needed. When individuals are trapped, these
to take quick and effective action at accident scenes tasks become more critical and require a higher
to quickly and efficiently protect and extricate vic- level of attention. If a fire were to break out, crews
tims while at the same time protecting themselves must be prepared to protect the trapped victims.
from injury. An extinguisher (I suggest 15 pounds or greater dry
chemical, clean agent, or carbon dioxide) should
PREPARED FOR ANYTHING be the minimum protection, but a 1½-inch or
An auto accident scene can also result in many 1¾-inch handline may be more appropriate, partic-
other hazards, including electrical/arcing wires, ularly if a fuel spill is present. To be more effective,
1605fr_24 24 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Each crew member on the
initial-arriving apparatus
should be designated partic-
ular functions to successfully
mitigate the incident.
the tasks of personnel arriving first at an accident scene, including a safe response and a safe arrival
can best be broken down by the function, or riding watching for victims, onlookers, and other arriv-
position, of the personnel on the apparatus. This ing emergency vehicles that may not anticipate
will be discussed assuming that the first-arriving arriving at the same time. Whenever possible, the
unit is an engine company, but the tasks can be engine should be located in an uphill, upwind
similar regardless of which apparatus arrives first. position from the accident scene. This may be
difficult depending on the direction the appa-
ENGINE DRIVER RESPONSIBILITIES ratus approaches the scene from, but the officer
The driver of the first-arriving company has and driver should consider this before and during
a number of important tasks to accomplish. He the response. It is best to position the apparatus
must ensure that the apparatus arrives safely at the approximately with some space from the scene,
1605fr_25 25 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Fire Attack
An auto accident scene

can also result in many
other hazards.
providing a safety cushion and allowing maximum present. There are gloves on the market that provide
access for EMS and rescue units. The vehicle protection against both, or firefighters may choose
position should protect rescuers where possible by to “double glove,” wearing a pair of both types of
shielding traffic lanes and allow safe egress from the gloves. The crew should wear body protection that
apparatus for personnel to the accident scene. will also protect them against both types of hazards.
The driver should also consider the need for a Under certain conditions, engine company person-
water supply: Will one be needed, and where can nel may choose to don self-contained breathing
I get it from? What is the best way to achieve a apparatus (SCBA) with the mask on standby if there
supply if the incident escalates: a line to a hydrant is a significant probability that one or more vehicle
or tanker/tender supply? If necessary, prepare for may catch fire during the incident (fuel spill, etc.). In
the application of foam, particularly if flammable that situation, the crew would have to react quickly
liquids are spilled. The driver needs to keep in to extinguish the fire and remove the victims from
mind that to avoid overheating (or freezing in cold harm’s way, and SCBA would be needed to accom-
weather), water will need to be recirculated through plish this.
the tank during operations when hoselines are One of the engine crew’s primary functions should
charged but not flowing water. be to stabilize the vehicle to prevent further move-
ment and allow EMS personnel to gain safe access
ENGINE OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES to the victims. Engine crews should be familiar
The engine company officer also has numer- with basic cribbing techniques and know where to
ous responsibilities. He needs to identify all of the access the equipment needed to accomplish this. If
hazards present, including vehicle fuel and electrical flammable liquids are leaking, consideration should
systems, utility lines/systems that may have been be given to placing a foam line in service. Attempt
impacted by the accident, traffic hazards, distraught to control any hazardous runoff and prevent it from
accident victims and families, and any hazardous entering sewer systems or waterways. Use absorbent
materials that may be involved in the incident. The materials where available to attempt to reduce the
officer needs to make appropriate notifications and flammable hazard. Even dirt or sand could be used
requests for assistance regarding these items and set to control runoff if nothing else is available.
up or pass command as needed. The officer also The vehicle battery may need to be disconnected,
needs to provide normal supervision of his crew but crew members should understand that if they
during any other tasks they are accomplishing. do so, it will shut down electricity to the entire
vehicle. Before disconnected the battery, crews
ENGINE CREW RESPONSIBILITIES may want to consider moving power seats back if
The engine company crew needs to don appropri- this will assist in extricating the victim. Various
ate personal protective equipment, particularly to smartphone apps are available that assist in locat-
protect eyes and hands. Safety glasses or a higher ing the battery and other safety features of various
level of eye protection is crucial. Hands should be vehicles. If the vehicle has struck a utility pole or
protected with a minimum of bloodborne pathogen other electrical distribution device, it will be vital
gloves, along with gloves that will protect hands to verify that the vehicle and area are not charged
against sharp metal and glass edges that will likely be with electricity. Look for wires down or wires that
1605fr_26 26 4/20/16 1:23 PM

enter the ground from the pole. If a utility pole assigned to handle auto accidents and extrications
is involved, ensure that the power company that and should be accomplished with a minimum four-
serves the area has an emergency crew en route. If person crew, although six would be better.
natural gas or liquefied propane lines have been Take the time now to be sure your firefighters
compromised, secure the gas feed to the area. Crews know what is expected of them at an accident scene
may need to check nearby structures for electrical and can carry out those expectations effectively and
shorts, surges, or gas leaking into the buildings if quickly.
significant damage has been done to utility lines.
The crew may also need to assist EMS or the rescue ENDNOTES
company as directed with accessing the victim, 1. National Center for Statistics and Analysis. 2014 Crash Data
patient stabilization, hand tools, providing lighting Key Findings (Traffic Safety Facts Crash•Stats.) Report No.
for the scene, or other support functions. DOT HS 812 219). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, November 2015, www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.
DESIGNATED FUNCTIONS gov/Pubs/812219.pdf.
Auto accident? There is a very good chance 2. Transport Canada, Canadian Motor Vehicle Traffic Collision
your fire department is and will be dispatched to Statistics 2013, www.tc.gc.ca/media/documents/roadsafety/
them. There are many different tasks that need to cmvtcs2013_eng.pdf.
be accomplished at an accident scene. Each crew
member on the initial-arriving apparatus should Greg Jakubowski, a fire protection engineer and certified safety
be designated particular functions to successfully professional, started his fire service career in 1978. He is a
mitigate the incident. Pennsylvania state fire instructor and a former chief of the
These functions can become blurred when one Lingohocken (PA) Fire Company. Jakubowski is also a member of
unit is expected to perform multiple tasks with the IAFC and a principal in Fire Planning Associates, a company
minimal staffing. This can be particularly true dedicated to helping fire departments, municipalities, and busi-
with recent popularity of multifunction vehicles nesses with preemergency planning.
equipped with rescue tools and fire suppression
capabilities. The functions identified here are just To read more from Greg Jakubowski, visit www.
the primary functions of first-arriving companies firefighternation.com/author/greg-jakubowski.
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1605fr_27 27 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Hump Day S.O.S.
Does This Plywood

Make Me Look Vacant?
The need for a smart, aggressive fire attack
and search in “vacant” buildings
hat if structures could talk? Would they by someone for part of the day or night even if
W
By David Rhodes
ask rhetorical questions like, “Does this they are not supposed to be there. In many cases,
plywood make me look vacant?” knowing these structures are likely to have fires and trapped
all along that there are people inside? In the urban individuals. These structures typically have no
environment, it is not wise to assume that boarded- power or gas (unless it’s being stolen), so you have
up or “secured” structures are vacant. These types of to ask, “How did the fire start?” The answer is
structures may be houses in a neighborhood, stores that someone was conducting secret experiments
that have been closed, or manufacturing plants that in there and concocted a procedure of combining
are no longer operational. Many city codes require heat, fuel, and oxygen that spurred a chain reaction
that the property owners to “secure” the property. that began causing rapid oxidation. If there was
Owners do what they have to do knowing that no one in the structure and there is no lightning
there is no perfect system. storm, then it could be possible that other pyrolytic
A house may have plywood or oriented strand conditions are present. It could be that magical
board nailed over the windows and doors. A store forces were at work. If you discover this is the case,
or industrial building might have commercially I do not recommend attacking the fire. More often
available systems that cover the windows and doors. than not, someone in the structure was engaged in
This exterior camouflage is exactly what poten- highly technical activities like staying warm, cook-
tial occupants are looking for. I have never seen a ing drugs, retaliating against others, or just screwing
“secured” property that someone with the will and around with fire.
enough time couldn’t get into. All too often, there is
a way into the structure that may not be obvious to NEGATIVE VACANCY
us while driving by. I propose banning the use of “vacant structure”
The word vacant in the fire service has taken on a from fire service terminology prior to a primary
life of its own. As it relates to a structure, it means and secondary search by the fire department. I
that the structure is unoccupied by human inhabit- am in favor of identifying buildings that may be
ants. Many departments have generalized the term structurally unsound as “high risk or structurally
vacant. I have even seen research papers on vacant unsound” but not “vacant.” Flag them in your
structures and the correlation to firefighter injuries. computer-aided design system, put big signs on
Unfortunately, this has added to the developing the exterior, or use code enforcement to get them
risk-aversion culture that tends to generalize most torn down, but don’t label them vacant. It is our
everything. I have been guilty of misusing the term job to determine if a structure is or is not occupied
because of a normalization of deviance. It’s easy to when there is a fire. The fire department does
just say “we have a vacant structure.” not make rescue decisions based on the economic
status of the individual. A life is a life. The deter-
DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS mination of when to “go or not go” should not
“Vacant” for the fire service now has several dif- be based on a self-imposed classification of the
ferent meanings. It describes the appearance of the structure as “vacant.” If the structural integrity is
structure to some, it means that no one is currently compromised beyond your risk-management level
paying rent or a house payment to others, and in of acceptance in a pretty house, you should not
some areas it means an old dilapidated structure go. If the structural integrity is not compromised
that has weeds growing out of the siding. beyond your risk-management level in an ugly,
In many urban areas, an unoccupied structure boarded up structure, GO!
is extremely rare. Most structures are occupied The overall victim survivability and structural
1605fr_28 28 4/20/16 1:23 PM

risk profile is the determining factor for “go or no go” once on
scene. Front loading a perception of “vacant” has a harmful
side effect of creating a nonchalant, slow, not a big deal, “just
another vacant structure” mentality. All the while, someone
may be dying inside.
One of my crews rescued a 60-something-year-old man
from a structure that the initial crews took for “vacant”
based on assumptions—not evaluations. These initial crews
operated in the exterior defensive mode for more than 25
minutes because of our overemphasis on the term “vacant.”
This perception was further reinforced as it was dispatched as
a “vacant structure on fire.” When we arrived, we could see
areas of the structure that we determined could be and needed
to be searched. Just two rooms were survivable but the house,
despite some heavy fire in three rooms and the attic, was not
falling in or rotting.
I asked command to change from defensive to offensive based
on our assessment and, sure enough, a victim was rescued and
he lived. In fact, he only spent one night in the hospital and
was released. Had we continued with the exterior fire streams,
the attic would have eventually burned off, causing a ceiling
collapse that, along with the long-term carbon monoxide poi-
soning, would have undoubtedly killed the individual.
THE VALUE OF ALL LIFE

A few departments have taken the “vacant” terminology so
far that no one is allowed in this type of department-classified
occupancy even for a small, incipient fire. Again, if you have
a process that identifies dilapidated, structurally unsound firerescue.hotims.com
buildings that are not safe to be in, whether they are on fire
or not, that is commendable and very valuable information
that should be considered in the decision-making process.
However, it should not be an automatic write-off of some-
one inside. Please train your members and command staff to
recognize risks and to continue to risk a lot when there is a
life in danger and to take calculated risks in determining the
possibility of occupants.
In many cases, these types of structures are well involved
and the risk management profile is such that only one or two ᣝᣞᣟᣠᣡᣢᣣᣤᣠᣥᣦᣟᣧᣠᣤᣨ
rooms are survivable. This is a perfect vent-enter-search
opportunity or, at a minimum, at least a time to take the
window and look inside with your thermal imaging camera.

You would do the same at a house or building without

plywood on the windows ... at least I hope so for the sake and
future of our fire service. Please get rid of the term “vacant”
on the front end of any incident and use the term “all clear”

after you have completed your search.
David Rhodes is a 30-year fire service veteran and a battalion chief in an urban
᣹ᣡᣥ
fire department in Georgia. He is a chief elder for the Georgia Smoke Diver Pro-
gram, a member of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) Executive
Advisory Board, a hands-on training coordinator for FDIC, an editorial advisor
for Fire Engineering and the UL Fire Safety Research Institute, and an adjunct
instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy. He is a Type III incident commander
for the Georgia Emergency Managements-Metro Atlanta All Hazards Incident
Management Team and is a task force leader for the Georgia Search and Rescue

Team. He is president of Rhodes Consultants, Inc., which provides public safety
training, consulting, and promotional assessment centers.
1605fr_29 29 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Distant Fires
May 1916 Fires

A look at fires that made history
I
n this month’s column, I present historic fires or
By Paul Hashagen
significant events in the fire service from May

1916. A reminder: Readers are encouraged to
share information from their departments.
May 2, 1916: Yardville, New Jersey: A large
chemical plant three miles outside of Trenton was
the site of a massive explosion and fire that leveled
the plant and also demolished the three-story brick
building across the street. The Chandler Oilcloth
Works had a large stock of chemicals and stored
gasoline when 25 workers began the night shift.
As the crew hurried to finish a rush order, a thin
spiral of smoke was seen curling from the floor
near the gasoline storage. Seconds later, a deafen-
ing explosion tore through the plant, ripping the
entire front of the building away. The force of
the blast was directed across the street, where it
lifted the three-story brick dry-goods building off
its foundation and scattered the building pieces
across a vacant lot. Inside the oilcloth plant,
sheets of flames rolled across the rubble. The
Trenton Fire Department rushed to the scene with Photo courtesy of the
Paul Hashagen colle
nearly its entire force as the fire continued spread- ction.
ing to other exposed buildings. It took two hours
to control the flames. The blast and fire left three topped by a cupola and
workers dead and three others in critical condition. long wings on either side, the structure’s outline
May 10, 1916: Wallaceton, Virginia: As a large resembled the Capital Building in Washington, D.C.
group of women and children watched moving The hotel was only 35 minutes from downtown
pictures, a gasoline tank supplying fuel to a genera- Manhattan by steamboat and was regarded as a
tor inside a frame building exploded. The devastat- fashionable watering stop for the rich and famous.
ing blast ignited a fire that burned out of control, At 1:00 p.m., most of the guests were enjoying a
trapping many inside. One man and at least 22 luncheon when a neighbor ran across the large lawn
women and children were burned to death, as the to the hotel’s office advising the proprietor, Charles
flaming roof collapsed. Scores of others were burned Worman, that the cupola was on fire. Worman
by the flames or injured by the frantic stampede of closed and locked the safe and gathered some valu-
people trying to escape. The only doctor available able papers and books when flames burst through
was rushed to the scene but quickly exhausted his the walls on all five floors in that portion of the
medical supplies. Private automobiles rushed many structure.
of the injured to the nearest hospital in Portsmouth, Worman was barely able to escape the flames. He
12 miles away. quickly notified the guests in the dining room and
May 10, 1916: Bayonne, New Jersey: The majestic called the fire department. Several guests ventured
300-foot-wide Hotel La Tourette sprawled among a back into the hotel to retrieve valuables. One man,
grove of stately trees and boxwoods, fronting on the whose room was above the office on the third floor,
waters of the Kill Van Kull opposite Port Richmond, got cut off by flames and narrowly escaped from the
Staten Island. Portions of the hotel dated back to second floor.
the Revolutionary War era. With a central building Flames poured from the roof and cupola, sending
1605fr_30 30 4/20/16 1:23 PM

a shower of flaming embers on the breeze. Some Paul Hashagen is a 40-year veteran of the fire service. He retired
embers found their way to a hotel extension a half- from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) after 25 years of
block away, igniting this section. With a resounding service, with 20 of those years in Rescue Company 1. Hashagen
crash, the cupola collapsed into the blazing room is a former chief of the Freeport (NY) Fire Department and is still
before the fire department arrived. a member of Truck Company 1. He has written several books and
First in was Chief Davis, who immediately struck numerous stories on the history of the fire service including Fire
a third alarm on his arrival. This brought the entire Department City of New York: The Bravest; An Illustrated History
department to the scene. Firefighters stretched lines 1865-2002; and One Hundred Years of Valor: Rescue Company
and laddered the blazing wood building as guests 1 New York City Fire Department Rescue 1915-2015. Visit his
and employees carried furniture and valuables from Facebook page at Paul Hashagen-author.
other sections of the huge building. For three long
hours, the firefighters battled the fire. Their effective To read more from Paul Hashagen, visit www.firefighter-
work held the flames to the central section of the nation.com/author/paul-hashagen.
hotel. Later that evening, guests ate their
dinner by candlelight in the undamaged
restaurant. It was believed defective wiring
caused the fire.
May 18, 1916: Cadillac, Michigan: On
the southeast shore of Lake Cadillac, the
Cadillac Chemical Company Plant was
busy manufacturing chemicals used to
make explosives that were being shipped
to Europe to be used in World War I. The
large facility was located in the Cobbs and
Mitchell complex. The fire broke out in
the company’s yard and was spread quickly
by gale force winds. Within minutes, the
retort house, a 10-year-old, 1½-story brick
and wood building, was ablaze. The fire
department received the alarm at 11:50
a.m. and arrived to see the yard and build-
ing aflame in the 70 mph winds. Under
the command of Chief J.T. Maxwell, the
firefighters began their attack. Despite
the advanced flames and high winds, they
sprang into action. Lines were laid to
protect stored lumber only 200 feet from
the main body of fire. These 15,000 cords
of wood were adjacent to a lumberyard and
several other severely threatened exposures.
Twenty-five firefighters pulled 5,500 feet Be SAFER & More EFFICIENT
of hose from hose wagons. Then utiliz-
ing a direct pumping system that fed yard Drain & Roll ALL HOSE
hydrants, they soon had 10 streams in
operation. After five hours, the persistent Customized for YOUR NEEDS
efforts of firefighters paid off as the last of
the flames were extinguished.
Put a Power Roller on your crew
Although it was never proven, German
agents may have ignited this fire. A rash of
similar fires occurred in war supply establish-
ments across the United States and Canada.
There were working at this time teams of
German spies known as “Destroying
Agents”—agents trained to disrupt, damage,
or destroy American warships, supply ships,
munitions warehouses, and any and all
materials and supplies heading to Europe.
262.363.2030 email: info@rollnrack.com
They apparently were quite successful. rollnrack.com
1605fr_31 31 4/20/16 1:23 PM

PART 1
Water delivery operations

for fires in a high-rise structure
BY PAUL SHAPIRO
his article is the first in a two-part series on high-flow that have been scrutinized are the diameter of the hose and the
tandem pump operations for high-rise fire protection nozzle pressure. Both the diameter of the hose and the nozzle
systems. In Part 1, I am going to discuss the basics on pressure must be able to reduce pressure requirements needed
tandem pump operations with regard to delivering the because of the low standpipe residual pressures. For the most part,
required flow and pressure in a high-rise structure fire operation. the firefighters have been able to overcome this problem as much
as possible with 2½-inch hose and 50 psi nozzles. However, for
HIGH-RISE CHALLENGES maximum flow based on a large volume of fire, there are issues
There are many unique challenges to fighting a high-rise fire that still need to be dealt with.
that require firefighters to develop and deploy unique strate- This article is based on being proactive with all things included
gies and tactics. Probably the most important issue for high-rise with a high-rise pump operation. With regard to high-rise fire-
firefighting is obtaining the required flow. The pressure restrict- fighting, if there is a confirmed fire, the water supply portion of
ing problems in a fire protection system have caused firefighters the pump operation needs to be set up for a worst-case scenario,
to come up with new tactics for creating the required stream. which would be a high-flow water demand. On a normal fire, the
For the most part, this has been done by developing high-rise fireground is a little more forgiving when it comes to not main-
handlines to operate under low pressure. The two main issues taining the proper water supply volume. But when it comes to
1605fr_32 32 4/20/16 1:23 PM

There are many unique challenges to fighting a high-rise • Buildings with a single pump as well as express standpipes for
fire that require unique strategies and tactics. Probably multiple zone pumps can exceed 350 psi to meet the stan-
the most important issue for high-rise firefighting is dards on tall buildings.
obtaining the required flow. (Photo courtesy of Clark There are two basic sets of NFPA standards that affect water
County Fire Department; remainder of photos by author.)
delivery. The first standard was in place until 1993 and the
second standard, which is still in place, was put in place in 1993.
Please note that structures with the pre-1993 standards were not
required to upgrade to the post-1993 standards.
Pre 1993: The minimum requirement for water delivery is 500
gpm at 65-psi standpipe residual pressure from two outlets at the
highest standpipe in the system. The pressure regulating device has
a maximum pressure setting at the standpipe outlet of 100 psi.
Post 1993: The current code requires the same 500-gpm flow,
but the minimum residual pressure is increased to 100 psi and the
pressure regulating device now has a maximum setting of 175 psi.
The authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) can improve standards
for their cities that supersede the NFPA. For example, Clark
County, in Las Vegas, Nevada, requires a standpipe residual pres-
sure of 125 psi.
HIGH-RISE SYSTEM WITH A BUILDING PUMP

Now let’s review the basic tandem pump operation and why it
is needed. Should a combination sprinkler and standpipe system
(with a building fire pump) in a high-rise building be overtaxed
by fire or fail for whatever reason, fire departments must have the
ability to take over the pumping of the system with fire depart-
ment engines to adequately supply sprinklers and handlines.
Supplying an adequate amount of water to the fire floor in
a high-rise building by fire department engines can be divided
into two phases. The first phase involves all operations that are
required to move the water from the city water mains to the
engine or engines that will be supplying the system. The second
phase involves all operations required to get the water from the
fire department engine or engines into the fire department con-
nection (FDC) of the fire building.
NO MATTER WHICH FLOOR

The fire department needs to pump the system pressure no
fighting a fire in a high-rise building, you basically get one chance matter what floor the fire is on. If the fire department needs to
to get it right simply because the fire department connections are pump the system in a high-rise building, it will have to match the
the only way to get water into the standpipe. If a high-rise opera- building pump pressure and possibly exceed it.
tion is not producing the required flow because it was set up for a There are one-way check valves located where the FDC enters
standard high-rise operation, it could in some cases require units into the system and after the building pump on the discharge
shutting down to obtain more water. pipe, both on the discharge side of the building pump. Because of
these one-way check valves, if the pump is running but not doing
CODES AND STANDARDS the job (producing the pressure or gpm), the only way the fire
To help you understand the techniques on pumping large vol- department can enter into the system to take over is to exceed the
umes of water to a high-rise system, I’d like you to take a look at building pump pressure. Either the building system pressure does
the building codes for fire protection systems and how they work the job or the fire department engine does. As a rule, they do not
as well as look at the standard tandem pump operation. National work together. If the building pump is not running, there will
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 14, Standard for the Installa- still be system pressure up against the check valve that will have to
tion of Standpipe and Hose Systems, outlines pressure limitations be overcome by the engine companies.
for building fire protection systems that have a direct effect on If the building pump should fail to provide the required pres-
how the fire department delivers water within the structure. sure for whatever reason, the fire department engine will still
• System hydrostatically tested at no less than 200 psi. have to pump the system as though the fire problem is on the
• For a system pressure of 150 psi or higher, the hydrostatic test roof. Yes, at the highest pressure. The reason for this is simple: A
will be no less than 50 psi higher than the system pressure. building fire pump does not have the capability of controlling its
• The maximum allowed system pressure is no higher than 350 psi. engine pressure over a wide pressure range as would be needed
1605fr_33 33 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Fire Protection System
Pressure Chart
A statistic chart can be developed to show all building
system pressures. This chart should be placed on all engine
companies that respond to high-rise districts.
STARTING
SYSTEM ENGINE HYDROSTATIC
BUILDING PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE
Allure Condos 330 psi 280 psi 380 psi
Atrium Building 135 psi 85 psi 200 psi
be spotted in such a position to accommodate the following

objectives:
This engine is equipped with high-pressure 2½-inch hose on the left capable of a. A minimum of two discharge lines shall be used to make the
a 600-psi operating pressure. It is only used for high-rise operations. connection from the discharges of the engine to the FDC.
b. The engine shall be spotted with the pump panel away
to provide the proper pressure to all the floors in a multistory from the fire building to help protect the engineer from
building. Therefore, the building pump is designed to pump to falling debris.
the highest point in the building. Because of the potential of high c. The discharge lines supplying the FDC and other engines
pump pressures in the system, there needs to be a way to reduce in the operation shall be connected to the discharges oppo-
the pressure at the lower floors to provide the proper pressure to site from the pump panel, allowing the engineer to stay
the handlines. This is done through different types of pressure clear of the lines in the event of hose failure. If the pump
regulating devices. These devices are designed to reduce the build- panel is top mounted, there still needs to be a safe side
ing pressure to the proper pressure on the floor it is in service on. clear of hose for the operator and anyone else who needs to
have access to the unit.
TANDEM PUMP OPERATION 3. After all lines are connected, the system pressure should be
A tandem pump operation is nothing more than a relay pump determined and the engine pressure of the engine supplying
operation, which involves one engine pumping water to another. the system should be set at 50 psi below the system pressure.
The reason for a relay is to move water from a water supply to Setting the engine pump discharge pressure 50 psi below the
an engine through hose when the water supply does not have building system pressure will allow the building pump to
enough pressure to do it on its own. These operations are usually stay running and do the job as long as it can. A pressure drop
done over a long distance. in the system of more than 50 psi is a good indication of a
In a tandem pump operation, the purpose for its use is to develop substantial amount of water flowing, which in turn is a good
more pressure than a single engine is capable of doing, or at least indication of a drop in residual pressure that could affect the
doing efficiently. These engines are placed close together with the flow to the handlines. It might also be an indication of pump
goal of only using 50-foot sections of hose between them. failure. It’s at this point the fire department engines should
take over the building system.
PROCEDURES FOR HIGH-RISE PUMP OPERATIONS 4. Once the fire department engine is set up and pumping its
The following procedures shall be accomplished when given the required engine pressure, it should be determined whether or
order to pump the system of a high-rise building. not the engine is flowing water into the system. At any time,
1. A water supply shall be established. the engine should start flowing water whether it is initially
2. The engine or engines that will be supplying the FDC shall after the engine goes into operation or at any time during the
Intake valves have maximum allowed operating pressures.
1605fr_34 34 4/20/16 1:23 PM

A six-inch steamer intake
pressure dump valve.
when the discharge is gated down. It should be noted that a

minimum flow from the engine may not show as a residual
pressure with the shutdown of one discharge. Therefore, when
doing this check, all discharges should be gated down one at a
time to determine if the engine is flowing into the system.
6. If there is an actual fire, additional engines can be requested to
duplicate the original pump operation using a separate FDC
bank if available. This will provide reliability for supplying the
system as well as additional gpm if needed. The clappers in the
inlets of the FDC that are not being used can leak under pres-
sure, which will cause pressure buildup in the inlet if the cap is
left on. This can be a problem for firefighters who are trying to
incident. Or, if the firefighters inside request more pressure, remove additional caps to add more lines to the FDC. For this
immediately pump the system pressure. Command should be reason, all caps should be removed from the FDC before the
notified after the initial hookup, whether or not the engine initial pump operation is set up.
is flowing water, and at any time during the incident if water 7. A minimum of two discharge lines shall be used to make the
should start flowing. connection from the discharges of the engine to the FDC.
5. One method for determining whether or not water is flowing a. Another method for providing reliability to the pump
from the fire department engine into the FDC is to gate down operation is to add an extra engine in the primary pump
the discharges being used. If the lines are static (water not operation. If a single engine is all that is needed to create
flowing), the pressure on the discharge gauge will not change. the system pressure, add a second engine in tandem for
On the other hand, if there is water flowing from the engine backup. If a tandem operation is initially set up, add an
into the FDC, the pressure on the discharge gauge will change additional engine, again for back up.
1605fr_35 35 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Tandem pumping with 2½-inch high-pressure hose.
8. Pumps need to circulate water to keep from overheating. If under normal operating pressures, but this may not hold true for
the engine is throttled up but is not flowing water into the a high-pressure operation found in high-rise pump operations.
FDC, open an unused discharge and its corresponding drain
valve. This should flow enough water to keep the pump cool. INTAKE AND PRESSURE DUMP VALVES
If the incoming pressure to the intake pressure dump valve
THE REQUIRED HOSE exceeds its maximum setting, a significant amount of pressure
The high system pressures created by the taller buildings can above that point will be expelled through the pressure dump valve
require pressures higher than what the standard hose is rated instead of contributing to the required engine pressure. Addition-
for. Most of the 2½- and three-inch hose in service today have ally, there is a chance the maximum pressure limitations to the
an annual service test pressure of 400 psi. The rule states that
the maximum allowed operating pressure for hose should be 10
percent less than the annual service test pressure. So what does
this mean? The 400 psi test pressure hose can be operated at 360
psi. Always consult with the manufacturer to determine what is
safe for their products. For system pressures higher than what
the standard hose can be operated at, special high-pressure hose
should be used. It is not uncommon to have system pressures
more than 350 psi. Several hose manufacturers make high-pres-
sure hose capable of pressures up to 600 psi.
It is essential that the hose used for high-rise pump operations
not be used for normal operations. The reason for this is simple:
Hose can get slight cuts, abrasions, and burns that may not burst
Tandem pumping with low-diameter hose. This is possible because of low system
pressure. Illustration 1: This illustration shows a tandem pump operation.
1605fr_36 36 4/20/16 1:23 PM

valve body itself will be exceeded, creating an unsafe situation. developed into a large-scale fire operation demanding large flows
Consult with the manufacturer of your valve for pressure limita- for extinguishment. Part 2 of this series will discuss operations for
tions. This doesn’t mean they can’t be used. For example, if units achieving maximum flows if that unexpected fire does happen.
with a 300-psi intake valve and pressure dump valve ratings are
involved with a 500-psi operation, it doesn’t mean that the valve Paul Shapiro has been involved with the fire service since 1981 and served as an
will have the full 500 psi going through it. The pressure needs engineer with the Las Vegas (NV) Fire & Rescue for 28 years until his retirement. He
to be divided between the engines so that the pressures do not is a certified fire instructor III for Nevada and has served on the faculty of many fire
exceed the valve capabilities. academies throughout the United States. Shapiro authored Layin’ The Big Lines, a
For example, a tandem pump operation is being set up to pro- book on large-flow water delivery. He specializes in the research, development, and
vide a 500-psi system pressure using three engines. These engines training on large-flow water delivery systems and fire stream management. His
are equipped with a 300-psi rated intake valve both for the valve extensive research on large-diameter hose, both as supply and discharge lines, has
body and the pressure dump valve attached to it. The first engine been published frequently in fire service trade magazines.
pumps 150 psi to the second engine. The
second engine pumps 300 psi to the third
engine, and the third engine pumps the
required 500 psi to the system. At no
time does the pressure at any of the intake
valves exceed the maximum allowed 300
psi. It is important to max out the adjust-
ment of the pressure dump valve to keep
from losing discharge pressure. Some
pressure dump valves are capable of being
turned off.
Most engines also have built-in pressure
dump valves on the steamer intake pipe,
which need to be dealt with if overpressur-
ized. The easiest way to do this is to cap off
the dump port with a 2½-inch cap. The
dump port will have a label on it that says
“DO NOT CAP.” If the port is capped, the
dump valve will not work. That is exactly
why we are capping it. Capping it will not
damage the dump valve. It will, however,
eliminate water hammer safety at that
point, again because it will not activate.
This should only be done if there is no
other way to create the required pump
discharge pressure.
WATER DELIVERY
As you can see, tandem pumping for a
high-rise fire protection system is rather
technical. It also goes against the grain
with regard to the fireground hydraulics
we are taught for calculating, for lack of
better words, ground-level water delivery
hose evolutions. Fortunately, the statistics
are on our side with regard to a high-rise
fire being a low-flow operation, which
more than likely will be handled by the
building fire protection system without
fire department intervention or no more
than a basic tandem pump operation, as
discussed in this article.
However, high-rise fires can and have
1605fr_37 37 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Upstream and
Downstream Threats
Spring hazards for public safety diving
BY SCOTT HUFF
s winter wears off, we all look forward to Spring skill sets. In this case, pool sessions can be just as valuable
A warming things up. However, it also comes with the

price of the thawing and potential flooding, provid-
ing a dangerous time for some public safety dive teams
as open-water training to prepare your divers in a controlled
environment to work on entanglement drills, obstacle
courses, and skill sets. I cannot stress enough that not all
that have experienced three to four months of downtime dive equipment is made for cold or current diving use.
with very little exposure to open water operations. Winter Check with your dive gear manufacturer and manual to
months are the perfect time to reevaluate your team’s opera- ensure proper application and its uses.
tional needs and improvements as well as focus on equip-
ment standardization, gear maintenance programs, diver DIVING IN CURRENT
“lifesaving skills” evaluations, and annual swim testing to With the Spring thaw comes the potential flooding of areas
be ready for the busy season ahead. As we all say in special not commonly associated with our bread-and-butter div-
operations, “If you don’t use it, you lose it!” ing operations. These areas can be a challenge with seen and
unseen hazards both up and downstream. Remember, your
TRAINING REVIEW diver is tethered on a line in current, which is a very dangerous
Continuing education during the winter months can be thing if done incorrectly.
challenging and should consist of both in-water pool ses- Teams are strongly encouraged to educate divers through
sions and current diving classroom reviews and hands-on an accredited certifying agency that teaches current diving
1605fr_38 38 4/20/16 1:23 PM

prior to any in-water operations. Studies
have shown that a well-conditioned diver
can make very little headway in a one knot
current (one knot =1.150779 mph). Any-
thing over one knot impedes the diver’s
Laminar Flow
forward progress and discontinues a thor-
ough search pattern. Diving with the use
of movable control points can be an option
if done correctly. However, current poses a
Helical Flow great danger for entanglement issues, and
Chart 2: The Laminar flow and the Helical flow. the forces of the water can dislodge dive
(Image by Dive Rescue International.) gear. Risk vs. benefit and ongoing assess-
ments should be a priority in every situa-
tion pertaining to current diving.
Fastest
CALCULATING CURRENT
Fast
It is important that your team can properly
Slow evaluate water speed prior to starting diving
Slowest operations. Use Chart 1 to evaluate water
speed in a 100-foot area by throwing a float-
ing object in the center and timing it to the
Chart 3: Water speed impacted by banks. 100-foot mark. Anything over the one knot
(Image by Dive Rescue International.)
mark may not be suitable for diving.
WATER DYNAMICS
Knowing the basics of water dynamics plays a large part in current diving. Water dynam-
ics consist of the Laminar flow or layers of moving water that are slower on the bottom
and along the banks because of increased friction with faster water toward the top center,
midstream, and on the outside of bends. This is important for the divers to understand as
they make their ascent/descent because the forces of the water could change drastically.
The second is Helical flow or the circular flow of water along the banks caused by
friction of the current, debris, and materials along the bank. This can be a problem area
for divers exiting the water as it tends to wash up debris and can force the diver back into
midstream.
Your divers are most vulnerable in moving water situations because velocity and force
play a very important role. For example: The velocity of water at three miles per hour
will have the force of 16.80 lbf. on your legs, 33.60 lbf. on your body, and 168.00 lbf. on
a swamped boat. As the velocity doubles, the forces quadruple, making it impossible to
stand or swim. Pay attention to the rise or fall of the water, as the force and velocity can
^^^ The best way to prepare your team to be
change quickly during flooding and you may have to change your operational approach.
successful for any dive operation is through To better understand these key elements for safer diving, enroll your team in an accred-
risk/benefit analysis and continuing education ited and certified course taught by a public safety diving agency.
taught by an accredited public safety agency.
(Photo by Eric Strohacker.) SAFE DIVING
The ultimate goal for any dive operation is to remain safe and go home at the end of
each shift. The best way to prepare your team to be successful for any dive operation is
Chart 1: Water speed evaluation.
through risk/benefit analysis and continuing education taught by an accredited public
Current Speed
safety agency.
Seconds ft. per sec. MPH Knots
5 20 13.6 12 Scott Huff is a 16-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant with the Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department
10 10 6.8 6 assigned to Special Operations Tactical Team Engine 7. He has been with the Indianapolis Fire Department his
15 6.7 4.56 4 entire career and was the dive commander from 2009 to 2015. Huff is an active public safety SCUBA diver and is
20 5 3.4 3 certified through Dive Rescue International as a Public Safety Diver, Public Safety Scuba Instructor, Diver Rescue
Specialist Trainer, Ice Dive Trainer, Swift Water Trainer, Dry Suit Trainer, and Interspiro Repair Tech. He dives
25 4 3.4 3
PADI, NAUI, SSI, ESI, DRI, and HSA (Handicap Scuba Association) as an instructor. Huff is actively involved with
50 2 1.36 1.2
the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists, is a graduate of Halls Dive Academy, and travels the
100 1 0.68 0.6 country teaching specialty classes and seminars on public safety diving as a corporate trainer for Dive Rescue
(Chart by Dive Rescue International.) International.
1605fr_39 39 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Hines: “We tend to bond a lot, and we look out for each
other. If we notice any changes in attitude or behavior,
we either ask each other about it or we approach our
colleague’s family. We are all attuned to each other and
include our families in everything to further increase our
bonding.” (Photo by Cary Ulrich.)
MANAGING
Strategies to prevent stress

from becoming overpowering
BY NICOLA DAVIES
irefighting has been rated as the most stressful job of probability of a firefighter dying from a stress-related incident is
2015, according to a survey carried out by CareerCast, three times greater than the probability of dying in a vehicular
a premier careers-based Web site. It is physically accident. The constant pressure of the job, continual exposure to
dangerous and psychologically taxing, with consistently traumatic experiences, and exposure to suffering and death of fire
changing conditions. Fortunately, however, there are a number of victims all make firefighters susceptible to the emotional sequelae
stress management techniques that firefighters can use to keep of line-of-duty incidents.
stress from overwhelming them. Job conditions often compound the problem of stress: Fire sta-
tions are short staffed and firefighting teams overworked. Lieuten-
STRESS IN FIREFIGHTERS ant Tom Hines from Hutto (TX) Fire Rescue shares, “We work in
Firefighters routinely experience stress on the job, and while some 24- or 48-hour shifts. It is usually 48 hours, and we don’t get to
amount of stress actuates peak performance, especially in life- sleep well. Although there are facilities at the fire station, we get
threatening situations, too much stress for extended periods of time calls in the middle of the night. Bigger cities have eight-hour or
adversely impacts the body and mind. Indeed, prolonged stress is 12-hour shifts, but smaller places have longer shifts to deal with the
one of the leading causes of health problems among firefighters. If staff shortage.”
not identified and managed in a timely manner, excessive stress can
manifest as symptoms of depression and anxiety, headaches, diges- RECOGNIZING AND ACCEPTING STRESS
tive problems, hypertension, and even heart attacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among fire-
The United States Fire Administration’s records show that the fighters. The American Psychiatric Association asserts that PTSD
1605fr_40 40 4/20/16 1:23 PM

affects as much as 73 percent of firefighters and only 3.6 percent Signs of Stress
of the civilian population. Many firefighters suffer from PTSD • Heavy chest, anxiety, nausea.
without realizing it. • Increased heart rate or blood pressure.
The first step in dealing with stress is recognizing its signs. • Increased muscle tone: locked jaws, tension in muscles.
While every person reacts differently to stressful events, dealing • Digestive complaints: ulcers, heartburn.
with it begins with acceptance of the fact that stress is indeed • Inability to sleep well: nightmares, insomnia,
waking up tired.
being experienced and that it impedes functioning on the job.
• Loss of interest in activities that were of interest.
The persistence of stress is often unacknowledged. Many
• Loss of self-confidence, feelings of helplessness.
firefighters refuse to admit that they are experiencing emotional • Headaches.
disturbance in reaction to the traumatic events they face on the • Increased irritability.
job. Hines says, “Firefighters are typically Type-A personalities. • Suicidal or homicidal thoughts.
They don’t want to admit they have a problem.”
Type A personalities are risk takers and unlikely to acknowl-
edge experiencing emotional disturbance because of unmitigated
Type-A Personality Traits
stress. Disclosing emotional turmoil is looked on as weakness. • High risk takers.
• Aggressive.
Thus, to ease emotional turmoil, some engage in alcohol or drug
• Feel a need to be in control.
abuse as a form of self-medication to dull emotional pain. Oth-
• Show a strong desire to be needed by others.
ers, who don’t self-medicate with drugs or alcohol, may become • Set high personal goals and the need to meet high
moody, withdrawn, or emotionally volatile. The risk-taking expectations from themselves constantly.
trait, which impels them to take on the high-risk job of firefight- • Dedicated and meticulous in their approach to work
ing and makes them successful firefighters, is the very trait that and family.
renders them vulnerable to stress.
Since stress experienced by firefighters is cumulative, with
repeated episodes of dangerous and disturbing situations intensi- STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
fying the emotional turmoil, denying its existence only intensi- One of the most effective ways of managing stress is by talking
fies it. Therefore, on recognizing and admitting signs of stress, about it. This is why Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)
the next step is to tackle it with stress management techniques. interventions among firefighters are effective. Firefighters sup-
1605fr_41 41 4/20/16 1:23 PM

CBT Techniques Treatment provided by a psychologist for PTSD is varied and
• Exposure therapy: helps in disassociating smells, sound, adapted according to the needs of the individual but generally
or other reminders of a traumatic event from the event. involves the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
• Stress-Inoculation Training (SIT): You are taught certain
skills that will help you overcome reminders of the trau- STRESS RELEASE MECHANISMS
matic event, including deep breathing and/or muscle In addition to finding professional support, firefighters are
relaxation techniques.
encouraged to self-manage their individual stress levels by incor-
• Cognitive-processing: involves encouraging you to write
porating activities such as exercise, meditation, and hobbies into
about your experiences.
their routine.
Exercise: Exercise is a superb way of relieving stress. During
porting other firefighters increase emotional resilience. Hines exercise, neurotransmitters known as endorphins are released in
shares, “We tend to bond a lot, and we look out for each other. If the brain. These neurotransmitters cause the “feel good” factor
we notice any changes in attitude or behavior, we either ask each and increase feelings of well-being. During competitive sports,
other about it or we approach our colleague’s family. We are all the mind is focused on the game, distracting the mind and shift-
attuned to each other and include our families in everything to ing awareness from stressful events. Regular exercise clears the
further increase our bonding.” mind and makes it less susceptible to cumulative stress.
A CISD team typically comprises a mental health practitioner Hobby: Taking time to pursue a hobby is a good way of easing
and a firefighter who provide support soon after a traumatic tension. Painting, writing, music, bird watching, or any activity
event and when the normal methods of coping are insufficient that brings happiness and requires focus should be followed
to meet the person’s needs. CISD is akin to first aid for stress regularly. It is important to keep connected with yourself, and
and emotional trauma and therefore doesn’t replace therapy. practicing a hobby is a great way to achieve this.
The team responds within 12 to 24 hours after counseling is Time with family and friends: Those close to us can often help
requested. It is a seven-phase program where personnel can to lighten the burdens of stressful jobs and traumatic experi-
begin to come to terms with a critical incident and initiate a ences, either through talking or just from knowing that there are
dialogue with a psychologist or other trained health profession- people who care. Children are natural psychologists; they can
als for private therapy sessions. drain the pain away just by their presence.
The seven phases are made up of the following: Deep breathing: Although this is often taught in therapy sessions,
• Phase one involves introduction of the team to the group of it is good to take some time out from a busy schedule and just
people participating in the program. The program is volun- breathe. Deep breathing relaxes the body and fills it with oxygen.
tary, and none of the firefighters are forced to sit in. This helps flush out toxins and replenish the body with oxygen,
• Phase two engages the group into giving concise statements giving a face lift to the cells in the body. It also has a calming effect.
regarding the facts of the event. At this stage, emotional details
are avoided as short statements of facts provide the opportu- TAKING CONTROL
nity to unload and pave the way for future discussions. The key to dealing with any stressful job or event is to be
• Phase three requires the participants to acknowledge their honest about the emotional impact of those critical experiences.
thoughts. Conceding how they think and feel in reaction to Firefighters’ work is exceptionally valuable but they can only
an incident is decidedly easier than speaking of the event itself. fulfill this role when they are physically and emotionally healthy.
• Phase four calls for participants to reveal their reaction to the This means taking care of themselves and doing what is neces-
situation and divulge their personal feelings about the incident. sary to keep mentally, emotionally, and physically fit.
• Phase five entails a discussion to define which symptoms the Stress and trauma will always be part of firefighting, which is
participants have noticed in themselves since the traumatic event. why stress management must be integral in a firefighter’s every-
• Phase six involves coaching by the CISD team members day routine. While support systems are available for firefighters,
where they provide explanations for the symptoms and feel- much more needs to be done. Instruction in the prevention,
ings that participants have been experiencing. treatment, and management of stress should be implicit within
• Phase seven summarizes the discussions of the program and firefighter training. Awareness of the possible trauma they will
encourages members to ask any questions. Handouts are also encounter in the field and of the corresponding emotional
provided for extra reading. impact is the most important first step in managing stress.
If a CISD team agrees that a particular member requires further PTSD can strike anyone—but especially firefighters. It is
counseling, one-to-one sessions are then arranged. The CISD silently debilitating, emotionally devastating, and even life-
program isn’t intensive or comprehensive enough to ensure full threatening. Take your life into your own hands, and don’t let
recovery, but it does allow firefighters to feel comfortable enough stress get the better of you. Stress management is a life-long
to share their feelings. Several studies suggest that firefighters par- process, so if you don’t already have stress-management tools at
ticipating in CISD programs have significantly less stress-related the ready, now is the time to start.
symptoms than those who don’t take part in such programs.
Further sessions with a trained psychologist are recommended, Dr. Nicola Davies is a psychologist and freelance writer with expertise in occupa-
and although the healing may have begun, one-to-one therapy tional psychology and well-being. You can follow her on Twitter (@healthpsychuk)
is often needed before a firefighter feels completely rejuvenated. or sign up for her free blog (http://healthpsychologyconsultancy.wordpress.com/).
1605fr_42 42 4/20/16 1:23 PM

The
to
Road Part 2
Resilience
After a critical incident
BY NAOMI L. BAUM
There is nobody like a fellow firefighter

to understand exactly what you have
experienced and how you are feeling
now. (Photo by Fireground360°.)
T
he fire is out. The engines are hosed down, equipment is
cleaned and put away, and the firefighters are sitting around
the table relaxing after a particularly difficult incident. What
happens next? Typically, there is a technical debriefing that
focuses on what occurred, how it happened, and what could have been done
differently to improve the end result. Feelings are checked at the door of this
debriefing, and the tone is businesslike and focused.
Once that is completed, there is the informal, off-the-record discussion of the
firefighters as they wind down and rest up for the next call. Often these discus-
sions consist of cynical sarcasm or dark humor. Feelings are either ignored or
squashed down. Jokes fill the air. Is this a good thing? Is there another way?
Firefighters are respected for being tough, keeping their cool under crisis,
and mobilizing effective responses in split-second decisions of life and death.
Sometimes, however, things do not turn out as expected. Lives are lost and
people are severely injured, creating what we call potentially traumatizing
events (PTE) or critical incidents.
1605fr_43 43 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Road to Resilience
In part 1 of this article, I focused on how firefighters can take sitting together as a group and having each person talk about his
care of themselves day in and day out and keep themselves in thoughts and feelings after a critical incident. While the motiva-
peak condition not only physically but also mentally. Part 2 tion for these groups has been to help firefighters cope better
focuses on what to do immediately after a critical incident or with difficult and potentially traumatizing events and reduce the
PTE. A critical incident relates to an event that carries with it amount of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the outcomes
exposure to loss of life, physical injury, and threat to one’s own have been mixed at best. As a result, many companies have modi-
life. While for many people the events that firefighters deal with fied their debriefing protocols or disbanded them entirely.
are all critical incidents, there is no doubt that you can identify So the questions remains, what would be helpful? Do firefight-
for yourself a fire that was a “critical incident” for you. ers need to talk after a PTE? With whom? Is there something
else that should be happening in the station house after a difficult
COPING IN THE AFTERMATH event? What might that be?
Studies that document what leads to the best outcome for Critical incidents can affect us on many levels. First, there is the
firefighters after critical incidents are hard to find. The research physical level. After the huge output of adrenaline during the event,
that has been done on debriefing, particularly critical incident it usually takes some time to wind down before the fatigue sets in.
stress debriefing (CISD), calls into question the effectiveness of Some firefighters have trouble letting go and may feel wired for
hours or days. Others may find it difficult to
concentrate or to fall asleep, and some may
feel on edge or short tempered. There is a
wide range of individual responses. What
can you do to help yourself in the physical
process of winding down? Self-medicating
with alcohol or drugs, while easy, can be
dangerous. Having one beer or a glass of
wine can be okay, but the problem with
using alcohol is that too often it is hard to
stop at one drink.
FINDING A PHYSICAL OUTLET

Acknowledging that you have this excess
energy is of course the first step to finding
a solution. So, what can you do aside from
drinking? What about a run or a workout
at the gym? Discharging extra energy in this
way will not only help you on the short term
but will keep you in shape for the long term.
Is there something else that suits you better?
Perhaps going out dancing, on a hike in
the woods, taking a long soak in the tub, or
some other physical activity is more to your
liking. Whatever it is, identify the activity
for yourself now, and have it ready and avail-
able to you when you need to wind down
after a particularly tough incident.
FINDING SUPPORT AT HOME

In addition to the physical impact, a crit-
ical incident affects your thoughts and feel-
ings as well. Sharing your day with loved
ones who are able to hear what you have to
say, show that they care, and support you
can be most helpful. Firefighters often like
to keep their professional and personal lives
separate and may try to build walls around
what they have experienced at work. I have
heard from firefighters who say that they
are afraid of sharing their experiences with
their spouses. This can easily lead to a sense
1605fr_44 44 4/20/16 1:23 PM

of isolation and loneliness and effectively cuts off an important volunteering in the community, meditating, tai chi, or working in a
resource and source of support for the firefighter. So how about homeless shelter, can often help with existential questions that have
turning to your spouse and sharing a bit of your day? Try it before no easy answers. For some, this is an active reaffirmation of life.
you reach a critical incident so that when you do have that tough For others, it is the connection to a Supreme Being. Each person is
day you are both ready. You may be surprised at the response. unique, and thus each person’s response will be different.
FINDING SUPPORT AT WORK TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

An alternative source of support that has been effectively used In the hours and days after a critical incident, check in with
in several first responder agencies is a peer support network. Peers yourself and see how you are doing. Ask yourself how you are on
who have volunteered and undergone in-depth training can pro- all levels: physically, emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually. If
vide a wonderful first tier of support and help for units or indi- you find that you are having trouble winding down, or you feel
viduals who have experienced critical incidents or PTEs. There is particularly unsupported or unhappy, this is the time to make
nobody like a fellow firefighter to understand exactly what you some active changes in how you are taking care of yourself.
have experienced and how you are feeling now. It may be difficult Remember: There are many things you can do to make your
to talk about thoughts and feelings in the larger group, but one situation better. You cannot undo the past, nor can you change
on one is a good place to start. If your agency does not have a the outcome of whatever happened at work. The only thing you
peer support service, you might look into starting one. have control over now is you. Make the most of it!
FINDING MEANING Naomi L. Baum, Ph.D., is a psychologist who internationally consults in the field of
Critical incidents that involve children often hit us hardest trauma and resilience. She is the former director of the Resilience Unit at the Israel
and make us feel particularly vulnerable. “Why” questions can Center for the Treatment of Psychotrauma where she created the Building Resilience
frequently prey on our minds. There are no easy answers to these Intervention (BRI), a program she has implemented extensively in both Israel and
questions. How can we find meaning in the tragedy that we have internationally in post-disaster and post-trauma environments. Baum directs the
seen unfolding in front of us? How can we maintain a sense of International Summer Course-Trauma and Resilience from the Israeli Perspective,
optimistic hopefulness after seeing such destruction, loss, and pain? a course offered in conjunction with the Hebrew University. She is the author of two
These are difficult questions, and there is no one right answer. Each books, Life Unexpected: A Trauma Psychologist Journeys through Breast Cancer, and
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1605fr_45 45 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Thermal Imaging
Not Just for Fighting Structure Fires

T
hermal imaging cameras (TICs) are powerful openings in the fuselage from a crash, firefighters can
tools during structure fires, but what about evaluate these as potential entry points as well.
By Carl Nix
using TICs to help fight fires onboard aircraft Once inside the aircraft, the firefighters encoun-
and ships? The advantages and uses of a TIC at a tered challenges. Think of the tight narrow aisles of
structure fire are similar to those when using a TIC an aircraft, row after row of seats, and low ceilings
to evaluate an aircraft or shipboard fire. Just the made for storing carry-on luggage. Simply put, an
very nature of the fires and the construction of an aircraft has a number of obstacles including seats,
aircraft or a ship results in the TIC encountering doors, carts, and storage bins not normally seen in a
different challenges not commonly found when structure fire. Maneuvering past these obstacles can
fighting a structure fire. If you have the proper make a quick search difficult because the TIC can-
training, however, a TIC can be an effective tool not see through these obstacles. Firefighters engaged
when fighting a fire in these challenging environ- in a search inside an aircraft need to remember the
ments. Let’s look at the challenges facing firefighters limitations of their TIC and ensure that they per-
when using a TIC in these unique situations. form an appropriate search that includes thoroughly
scanning all realistic areas in an appropriate amount
AIRCRAFT FIRES of time.
Fortunately, aircraft fires are not common, but Inside the aircraft, we instructed the firefighters to
airport rescue and firefighting (ARFF) departments identify the location and direction of the fire as well
must be prepared for the possibility of an aircraft fire as any crash victims requiring rescue. An obvious
every day. With the proper response techniques and challenge of aircraft fires is that an aircraft is loaded
TIC training, these firefighting crews are prepared for with hydrocarbon fuels. Once a fire starts aggres-
any incident. They can use the TIC to assist in the sively burning, all of the foams, plastics, and jet
size-up of an aircraft incident, fire attack, search and fuel will generate tremendous amounts of heat and
rescue, and investigations just like in a structure fire. black smoke. This can cause problems for the TIC,
There are, however, challenges firefighters need to be especially if moisture and soot build up on the lens.
aware of when using a TIC in an aircraft incident. We reminded the firefighters to wipe the lens of the
The construction of an aircraft is primarily alumi- TIC with a gloved finger when they began to see
num, which has a relatively low emissivity. This low the thermal image start to deteriorate.
emissivity doesn’t send its true temperature to the During our training, the firefighters were becom-
TIC, so on the TIC’s display the metal can appear ing more comfortable recognizing the rapidly
black or gray, even though it may be extremely hot. deteriorating conditions inside the aircraft. This
Reading a TIC display of unpainted aluminum is critical to firefighter safety—to recognize these
could be deceiving to the firefighter. Since alumi- conditions and not overextend or misinterpret a
num is highly reflective of radiation, firefighters dangerous situation as just a poor thermal image.
need to be aware of how a scene may be altered by The training was extremely successful and provided
reflections of fire, doors, victims, and so on. the firefighters with valuable hands-on experience
I recently took part in a controlled burn with a and knowledge.
crew of young firefighters aboard an aircraft fire The majority of us will never fight a fire on an
simulator. The firefighters were training with a TIC aircraft, but for that one time when your company
and quickly realized that this type of fire was like no might be called on to help, a TIC offers many
other they had ever experienced. We took the crew benefits. In next month’s column, I will explore the
through several training scenarios beginning with advantages of using a TIC in a shipboard fire.
the approach. Using a TIC to approach the burning
aircraft, the firefighters needed to identify a safe pas- Carl Nix is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and a retired bat-
sage through the dense smoke while avoiding large talion chief of the Grapevine (TX) Fire Department. He serves as an
volumes of fire or dangerous debris from the crash. adjunct instructor for North Central Texas College and a thermal
We also instructed the firefighters to identify the imaging instructor for Bullard. Nix has a bachelor of science degree
exact locations of doors and windows to help them in fire administration and is a guest instructor for Texas A&M Engi-
determine the appropriate entry points. If there are neering Extension Service’s (TEEX) annual fire training in Texas.
1605fr_46 46 4/20/16 1:23 PM

In-Depth Extrication
Time Notifications
An asset in tracking the effectiveness of extrication
operations and making timely decisions
D
uring my career, I participated in several Tippett described the importance of time notifica-
lengthy extrication incidents and have wit- tions as follows, “Time is an elusive commodity on
By Les Baker
nessed or heard of countless extended extrica- the incident scene. Incident commanders and crews
tion times. In many cases, once personnel evaluate at fires can become so engrossed in operations that
the incident, they realize the amount of work is not they lose track of how long a victim may have been
reflective of the amount of time spent on scene. exposed to deadly heat and smoke, how long the
Questions may arise including: Why weren’t other fire has been burning, how long the building’s struc-
tactics utilized, where did all the time go, and why tural members have been under assault, or all three.
didn’t we recognize those things? Regardless of the The results can be disastrous. The use of predeter-
level of training and experience, resources such as mined ‘time on-scene’ notifications (10 minutes,
command sheets, time notifications, and check- 20 minutes, etc.) has proven to be an indispensable
lists provide even the most proficient personnel tool. The notifications keep fireground command-
with assistance in highly stressful and dynamic ers aware of how time is advancing as they evalu-
conditions. ate the effectiveness of the attack plan vs. the fire’s
Several years ago, the Charleston (SC) Fire progress.”
Department instituted time notifications on This process begins once the first unit checks in on
the belief they could enhance scene safety at all scene and continues in 10-minute intervals until the
confirmed structure fires and any other emergency incident commander terminates the notifications.
scene based on incident needs. Deputy Chief John Although promoted at more regular intervals, per-
Because any emergency scene is constantly changing, it may become necessary to adjust the strategy and tactics to meet any new
demands recognized during the evolution of the incident. (Photo by Jon Androwski.)
1605fr_47 47 4/20/16 1:23 PM

In-Depth
Extrication
This 18-wheeler overturned and the cab crushed down, trapping the driver. Because of the level of entrapment, the incident became
fairly lengthy. Communication became limited between members and safety issues were ignored. There were some secondary plans
initiated after the primary plan was completely exhausted. (Photo by author.)
sonnel should use time notifications as a minimum • Additional hazards such as hazardous materials.
time frame to check their self-contained breathing • Pressurized cylinders, pretensioners, etc., from
apparatus air level. Departments should consider the safety systems.
use of time notifications at extrication incidents. • Unique vehicle construction features.
• Advanced steels.
STRATEGY FLEXIBILITY • Secondary patient entrapment.
Establishing command, sizing up the incident, • Unanticipated reactions from vehicle damage.
and formulating a plan based on good strategies are • Change in patient condition.
necessary to proficiently and safely mitigate a motor • Equipment failure.
vehicle crash and remain constant regardless of the Although these extenuating circumstances can
severity of the entrapment and patient condition. seriously affect the operational flow of an incident,
During this period, the overall tempo and com- they also have an indirect impact on the responders
mand mode are determined by the initial-arriving specifically. As operations take unexpected turns
company officer. and the initial excitement of the situation dimin-
Command must have an established relationship ishes, many times responders show signs of frustra-
to entrust his group supervisors for viable input and tion and lack of motivation. Responders may show
making tactical decisions to accomplish the strate- an unwillingness to consider recommendations and
gies. The disentanglement supervisor must be pro- potentially change tactics. This attitude typically
active in his development of initial and secondary results in decreased communication at the strategic
disentanglement tactics to accomplish the strategies and tactical level, lack of situational awareness, poor
and provide constant feedback. decision making, and reduced teamwork. In addi-
Because any emergency scene is constantly chang- tion to these significant safety concerns, the patient
ing, it may become necessary to adjust the strategy has to endure extended extrication times and the
and tactics to meet any new demands recognized associated mental stress and possible worsening
during the evolution of the incident. As described medical condition.
in a previous article covering tactical decision mak-
ing, there are numerous factors that may prohibit, TIME NOTIFICATION ADVANTAGES
or at least hinder the completion of, the primary The extrication process provides a framework
plan and determine the need to switch to a second- for the incident strategies and lays out an incident
ary plan. Although it seems possible to determine action plan that can be applied to every incident.
these factors during size-up or the initial stages of Following this plan helps ensure that we approach
tactics, many times responders have already com- each incident in a logical manner and use the
mitted to the primary plan before discovering issues appropriate tactics. Time notifications can provide
including the following: an additional means to monitor incident prog-
1605fr_48 48 4/20/16 1:23 PM

ress. By the first time notification, at 10 minutes, • Ensuring the primary plan is progressing and
responders should be able to establish command, secondary plans are considered.
carefully survey the scene, initiate patient contact, • Contacting medical personnel on the status of
request additional resources as necessary, control the patient.
hazards, stabilize the vehicle in the position found, • Not becoming task focused and assisting where
and begin disentanglement procedures. and when appropriate.
By the second notification, at 20 minutes, an
appropriate path of egress should be established. TRACKING EFFECTIVENESS
This timeline is presented as a minimum stan- Time notifications have been used for various
dard and, depending on the incident conditions emergency incidents, especially those that have a high
and needs, may not always be applicable. That is risk or a unique set of needs. They have proven to be
something that the incident commander and dis- a valuable asset to incident commanders in tracking
entanglement supervisor can evaluate at each time the effectiveness of operations and making timely
notification. decisions. The no-cost initiative should be integrated
In addition to evaluating overall operations, into extrication incidents given the potential life
command personnel and supervisors should use hazard and responder safety concerns.
the time notifications, much like checking air
consumption rates, to ensure they are properly Les Baker, a 15-year veteran of the fire service, is an engineer
managing the situation. They should consider the with the Charleston (SC) Fire Department. He has a bachelor of
following: science degree in fire science from Columbia Southern University.
• Rotating personnel as necessary and monitoring Baker is an adjunct instructor with the South Carolina Fire Acad-
for safe work practices. emy and a member of the Darlington County Extrication Team,
• Maintaining tempo and providing encourage- and he speaks and instructs throughout the country. Baker is the
ment when needed. creator of Speed Simplicity Boldness (www.speedsimplicitybold-
• Making decisions in a timely and efficient ness.com), which provides high-energy training to responders.
manner.
• Positioning to monitor the major work area and To read more from Les Baker, visit www.firefighternation.
personnel. com/author/les-baker.
1605fr_49 49 4/20/16 1:23 PM

Community Risk Reduction
The Pit Crew

SVFD team effort improves
cardiac arrest survival rates
T
he Spokane Valley Fire Department (SVFD) is in tandem to improve cardiac survival rates. And the
By Jim Crawford
located in east-central Washington State, outside SVFD has specific criteria by which it measures suc-
of Spokane. It serves the cities of Spokane Valley, cess. Under the conditions of its evaluation, it stipu-
Liberty Lake, Millwood, and some unincorporated lates the conditions of measurement as the following:
areas. It protects about 125,000 people across 75 • The collapse is witnessed.
square miles with 10 stations providing emergency • The collapse has a cardiac origin.
fire, medical, and prevention services. The SVFD • A bystander intervenes with CPR and/or auto-
responds to more than 15,000 calls a year, with about mated external defibrillator (AED).
85 percent of them for emergency medical incidents. •The patient is in a shockable rhythm.
In this regard, the SVFD is like many other fire The SVFD employs several strategies to engage
departments across the United States—with the the general public in CRR related to cardiac arrest,
exception of its growing emphasis on community risk offering free CPR training classes to the general
reduction (CRR). It recently hired a friend of mine as public and in area high schools. It also offers the
its fire marshal with a goal of instituting CRR concepts free PulsePoint” mobile device app. PulsePoint
more fully throughout the department. Like many fire allows the fire department to quickly connect a
departments, it is already doing CRR but perhaps not CPR trained member of the community with
as deliberately as it might. When my friend started someone experiencing cardiac arrest. The 911 dis-
looking for a CRR coordinator, he started analyzing patch center alerts the app user when someone near
what he needed for a skill set to carry it out. his location and in a public place is experiencing
cardiac arrest. The app user can start CPR in the
VARIED RESPONSIBILITIES critical lifesaving minutes before EMS teams arrive.
If CRR begins with a risk assessment and then The PulsePoint app also identifies the closest AED
evolves into an integrated approach of coordinat- to the incident.
ing prevention and mitigation strategies to reduce
community risks, then what one person could PIT CREW
manage the CRR process for his department? The SVFD also promotes what it calls a “pit
This job involves data collection and analysis. It crew” approach to its department’s CPR training.
involves the coordination of emergency operations Like the NASCAR terminology it is loosely mod-
and prevention efforts into the most efficient set of eled after, this pit crew approach to cardiac arrest
strategies that reduce risks and losses in any given incidents defines the roles and responsibilities for a
community. It involves managing call volumes and planned use of SVFD personnel on scene. In doing
incidents so that our resources are deployed effec- so, they provide the highest ratio of compressions
tively and efficiently. And it involves community throughout the arrest to work in conjunction with
partnerships that can solve problems for themselves other advanced life support procedures.
or help us in CRR efforts in a variety of ways. Medical Services Chief Brian Foster-Dow says,
“The (pit crew) approach provides structure to
IMPROVED SURVIVAL RATES ensure a compression rate of 100 per minute ....
While the SVFD is considering these tasks, I was This ensures blood continues to reach the brain,
informed of a program it has in place that matches which gives the victim of cardiac arrest the best
my definition of CRR. It integrates emergency possible chance of surviving.” This approach, which
response and other mitigation strategies to achieve members learned from another department, also
a measurable public safety outcome: increased relies on timely data gathered from their LIFEPAK®
To read more survival of heart attacks. monitors to improve performance on scene.
from Jim Crawford, The SVFD has instituted a special combination The best part: Members have achieved a 66.7 percent
visit www.firefighternation. of emergency response and public cardiopulmonary cardiac survival rate in 2015. And over a period of five
com/author/jim-crawford.
resuscitation (CPR) training that is designed to work years, the agency has achieved more than 50 percent
1605fr_50 50 4/20/16 1:23 PM

cardiac survival rates compared to national The SVFD should be commended for
survival rates ranging from 7.7 to 39.9 per- its vision and the positive examples it
cent, according to the National Academies achieves, which can be documented for
of Sciences. others to review and emulate.
EFFECTIVE CRR Those who wish to learn more can reach out
Everything about this highlights to Melanie Rose: rosem@spokanevalleyfire.com.
particular aspects of CRR. It employs the
effective response of trained professionals; Jim Crawford, FIFireE, is project manager for
it involves community partners and the Vision 20/20 and a retired fire marshal and dep-
general public in solving a problem that uty chief of the Vancouver (WA) Fire Department.
was identified in a risk analysis of their He is a member of the NFPA technical committee
incident data; and it produces measurable on professional qualifications for fire marshals, a
outcomes that demonstrate results that former member of the Standards Council for the
document reductions in community risk. NFPA, a fellow of the Institution of Fire Engineers,
It is a wonderful way to illustrate the a life member of the IAFC, and past president
process of CRR in one aspect of a fire of the International Fire Marshal’s Associa-
department’s function. So it begs the question. Crawford is the author of Fire Prevention
tion: How can this concept be applied to Organization and Management and serves as an
other fire department services? And, who editorial board member of FireRescue. He has
is ultimately responsible for that? The fire received the R. Wayne Powell Excellence in Fire
chief, of course. Prevention Award, the Dr. Anne Phillips award for
There may be someone who helps coor- leadership in fire and life safety education from
dinates various parts of a CRR plan, and the Congressional Fire Services Institute and the
the chief may delegate a great many func- International Fire Service Training Association,
tions, but even though they may employ a the “Fire Protection Person of the Year” from
CRR coordinator to help with the varied the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and the
staff roles, in the end it’s a team effort that Percy Bugby Award from the International Fire
can only be managed from the top. Marshal’s Association.
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New Deliveries
By John M. Malecky
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this MXV model pumper built by Fort Garry Fire Trucks. It ER quint. It has a Gladiator EMFD chassis, a 500-hp Cummins
has a Spartan Metro Star chassis with a 380-hp Cummins ISL ISX diesel engine, a Waterous 2,000-gpm pump, a Pro Poly
diesel engine. Specs include a Darley PSP 1,050-igpm pump, 500-gallon water tank, a 75-foot greaseless aerial ladder, FRC
a Pro Poly 1,000 IG water and 10 IG foam tanks with a Foam scene lights, and an Advanced Protection System.
Pro 2001 system, an Elkhart Cobra EXM monitor, a Zico ladder
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Rescue. It has a Seagrave Attacker HD chassis with a 500-hp and a raised roof. It has a 330-hp Cummins ISL engine. Specs
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pumper built by Ferrara Fire Apparatus. It has an Inferno 4 x 4 23-foot walk-in/nonwalk-in body with a command center slide
chassis with a 600-hp Cummins ISX 15 diesel engine, a Hale out section. Other features include a 450-hp Cummins ISL 9 die-
Qmax 2,000-gpm pump, 1,000-gallon poly water and 25-gallon sel engine, a six-seat cab, an Onan 12-kW diesel generator, Whelen
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FireRescue® (ISSN 1094-0529, USPS 858-060). FireRescue is published 12 times per year, monthly, by PennWell® Corporation, 1421 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74112. Periodicals post-
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1605fr_55 55 4/20/16 1:23 PM

The Backstep
A Dangerous Mistress
Helping people can become addictive
I
have to admit that the fire service nearly cost me that drug addictions do. If work life is bad, go to the
By Matthew Tobia
my college degree. I had been on a trajectory firehouse. If home life is bad, go to the firehouse.
to become an attorney since about age six with While an argument can be made that having an affair
frequent assertions of becoming a Supreme Court with the firehouse is better than having a real affair,
justice. I started out at a small private liberal arts college the results are equally damaging. Look around. How
and by the middle of my junior year I had completed many firefighters and paramedics have been married
all of required courses for my major and … well … I more than once? Twice? Three times?
got bored. So I did what any intelligent young person All of us have known brothers and sisters within our
would do halfway through his junior year of college—I own fire service family who are suffering the conse-
quit school, got my EMT certification, and took a job quences of this self-inflicted destiny. Their full-time job
on a 911 EMS unit. I was unbelievably happy to have is also their part-time job. They work a full-time job as a
finally found something that ignited a passion within. firefighter (averaging 42-48 hours per week), then they
Not surprisingly, my parents were less than excited. work a part-time job or routinely pick up two to three
I knew I needed to finish my degree, but I also shifts of overtime every pay period. Then they teach on
knew I wanted to be a firefighter and a paramedic. top of that and also volunteer in their own communi-
Enter the University of Maryland, Baltimore County ties. They carry several organizational uniforms in their
and the Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company. vehicles and more than once have been caught walking
This was perfect. Finish college, become a paramedic, into an assignment wearing the wrong blue shirt. One
and live-in at the fire station. It was a busy house hundred hours per week of direct engagement or more
with tons of calls and plenty of opportunity to learn are not uncommon. They are always busy—always.
how to be both a firefighter and get into some fairly
interesting EMS stuff. I did not realize it at the time, HIDDEN DANGER
but I was being lured in by a dangerous mistress—an The fire service is a dangerous mistress. She will pull
addiction that lasts to this day. you in and seduce you. She will wrap her arms around
you and tell you that she loves you. She will make you
LIFESAVING RUSH feel the way nothing else can make you feel. There is
There is nothing as satisfying in this life as being nothing so direct and concretely sustaining as saving
called to the scene of an emergency where someone a life. She will cause other people to admire you and
is having the worst day of his life and making a direct heap compliments on you. She will cause you to lose
and positive impact on the outcome of the tragedy. all perspective and put her ahead of everything else in
In the most selfish, ego-driven way, helping people is your life, all while surrounding you with Sirens who
the ultimate life-affirming and value-endorsing activ- will whisper in your ear that what you are doing is
ity that a person can do. Rarely, civilians are thrust noble and right.
into the opportunity to help a stranger and perhaps I am the last person in the world who should be
even risk their lives in some way. When that happens, writing this story. But if I have learned anything at all, I
they get to feel, if only for a single moment in their have learned that the fire service was here long before I
life, what firefighters and paramedics experience on showed up, and it will be here long after I am dead and
a daily basis. It is what drives at least some members gone. The work will never stop coming. There will
of the fire service to join in the first place. There are always be more to do. It’s perfectly OK to allow the fire
also those who join because at some point they were service to be your mistress, but do not let it become
confronted with tragedy and had to bear witness to your spouse. The concept of balance is critical. Try to
it but were unprepared and untrained to intervene. recall your life before cellphones and unplug … at least
Such pain can be a powerful catalyst. for a little while. Your real family will appreciate it.
The feeling of satisfaction that comes from helping
To read more someone else is a powerful, habit-forming elixir. If it Matthew Tobia is an assistant chief with the Loudoun County (VA)
from Matt Tobia, could be bottled and sold, it would be more sought- Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management and is
visit www.firefighternation. after than heroin. All too often within the fire service, a 27-year veteran of emergency services. He can be reached at
com/author/matthew-tobia.
it is. Tragically, it manifests itself in the same ways matthew.tobia@loudoun.gov.
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