Firerescue201608 DL

®
Devoted to the Interests of Firefighters Worldwide
August 2016 • Connect with us at FirefighterNation.com
1608fr_C1 1 7/26/16 9:26 AM

STARTING AT CUSTOM PUMPER
$289,898 • Intruder2 Chassis, Cummins ISL9 - 330 HP
• Heavy duty extruded aluminum body
• Hale QMAX 1500 GPM side mount pump
• 1000 gallon poly water tank
LEARN MORE ONLINE www.ferrarafire.com/stock

See available stock chassis and prices available for 60-90 quick build
Save money with one of our available purchase contracts
Watch Chief Mace discuss purchasing a quick build from Ferrara
Contact us to answer questions and help you get started
www.ferrarafire.com/stock | 800-443-9006
1608fr_C2 2 7/26/16 9:26 AM

COMMERCIAL PUMPER COMMERCIAL TANKER
Price and details online Price and details online
COMMERCIAL RESCUE HD-77 LADDER

HD-100 PLATFORMS HD-107 LADDER

TRUCKS SHOWN
TRU OWN MAY FEAT
TUURE
RE OPTIO
TIONAL
NAL EQUIP
UIP
UIPMEN
MEN
MENT
firerescue.hotims.com
1608fr_1 1 7/26/16 9:26 AM

®
August 2016
Volume 34, Issue 8
To subscribe, visit
www.firefighternation.com
e a tu r e s
F
32
32 Creating the Illinois Fire Fighter

Peer Support Team
One firefighter’s honest account of his journey toward being not just a better
firefighter but a better father and husband as well as the mistakes that he made
along the way that he wants you to learn from.
By Matt Olson
40 Fighting Fire with Data

When you are asked to do more with less, a strategic planning process can help,
as one Florida department discovered.
By Otto Drozd III
44 Breathing on Borrowed Time 48

It is now clear more than ever that you must be in top physical shape for the
demanding strenuous profession of firefighting, and VO2 max is a big factor
in your overall fitness.
By Ty Wheeler
48 The Windshield Survey

Following a disaster, this initial damage assessment helps you determine the size
and scope of the disaster and the impact on the community.
By Dave Donohue
50 The Evil Twins

Lessons learned from a company that develops hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
metering equipment about the dangers that the “toxic twins”—HCN and carbon
monoxide—pose to operating personnel.
By Griff Mason 50
2 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN.com
1608fr_2 2 7/26/16 9:24 AM

DRAGONHIDEÆ Fabric SUPRALITE FROM GLOBE.
EVEN LIGHTER AND
MORE FLEXIBLE.
CROSSTECHÆ Footwear Fabric
BECAUSE INSIDE OF EVERY
FIREFIGHTER IS AN ATHLETE.
Athletic Footwear Construction
Composite Safety Toe Cap, GLOBE PREDATORô Outsole

Shank and Penetration Insole
These boots come the closest yet to feeling like your favorite sneakers
while providing the protection, support, and slip resistance you depend on.
www.globeturnoutgear.com
For performance unmatched by any CROSSTECH, GORE and designs are trademarks of W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. GLOBE, DRAGONHIDE, SUPRALITE,
other waterproof, breathable barrier. PREDATOR and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of Globe Holding Company, LLC.
1608fr_3 3 7/26/16 9:24 AM

®
a r t me nts
Dep 54
7 From the Editor 8 26 Distant Fires

The six sides of firefighting. Fires of note from August 1916.
By Erich Roden By Paul Hashagen
8 ToolsNewsTechniques 28 From the Chief’s Desk

Instituting an air management policy. Succession and career planning.
By Tim Sandifer By Ronny J. Coleman
14 Nozzlehead 30 Thermal Imaging

Using single-family dwelling tactics on other fires. Using thermal imaging cameras to battle wildfires.
By Billy Goldfeder By Carl Nix
16 Apparatus Ideas 54 Health and Wellness

Medina (OH) Fire Department Smeal TeleSqurt®. Protecting the fire service’s
By Bob Vaccaro most valuable asset—firefighters!
24 Hump Day S.O.S. By Jordan Ponder
20 Wildland Urban Interface Training “these new people
Strategies for applying intelligent aggression. who don’t know anything.” 56 Community Risk Reduction
By Todd McNeal By David Rhodes Managing CRR in Rochester, New York,
yields better ISO rating.
By Jim Crawford
COVER: A Camden (NJ) Fire Department squad company officer dons his face piece regulator to begin 58 New Deliveries
operating in and around a heavily involved private-dwelling fire. On arrival at an advanced private-dwelling fire with 61 New Products
closely spaced exposures, the priority of protecting and searching exposures becomes the third consideration after 62 Classifieds
firefighter safety and defining the hazard zone (fire building and involved/threatened exposures). Protecting exposures 63 Ad Index
includes entering the exposure and conducting a rapid primary search for fire extension and any occupants unaware
of the fire next door. Proceeding to windows threatened by uncontrolled fire in the original fire building and removing 64 The Backstep
drapes, window treatments, and furniture placed underneath will remove available fuel should the fire cause these Risks and benefits of how we deploy firefighters.
windows to fail. Firefighters operating in exposures should also be cognizant of their location in proximity to these By Matthew Tobia
windows adjacent to the fire building in the event that they are placing themselves near or in a potential flow path.
(Photo by Dave Hernandez.)
1608fr_4 4 7/26/16 9:24 AM

1608fr_5 5 7/26/16 9:24 AM

®
M A G A Z I N E
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

Eric Schlett - erics@pennwell.com NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
Ted Billick; tedb@pennwell.com; 801-262-1871
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Bobby Halton - roberth@pennwell.com MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT, WESTERN REGION
Erin Moriarty; emoriarty@pennwell.com; 208-309-2747
EDITOR IN CHIEF MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT, NORTHEAST
Erich Roden - erichr@pennwell.com Anthony Maglionico; anthonym@pennwell.com; 973-251-5073
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT, EAST & MIDWEST
Diane Rothschild - dianer@pennwell.com
Ted Billick; tedb@pennwell.com; 801-262-1871
SENIOR EDITOR
MEDIA SALES CONSULTANT, SOUTHEAST
Kindra Sclar - kindras@pennwell.com
Tim Tolton; ttolton@pennwell.com; 678-974-2472
ONLINE NEWS/BLOG MANAGER
Bill Carey - billc@pennwell.com FOR ASSISTANCE WITH MARKETING STRATEGY
OR AD CREATION, PLEASE CONTACT
EDITORIAL ADVISORS AND CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS PENNWELL MARKETING SOLUTIONS
Les Baker, Jim Crawford, Billy Goldfeder, Vice President Paul Andrews
Todd Harms, Angela Hughes, Greg Jakubowski, (240) 595-2352; pandrews@pennwell.com
Rhoda Mae Kerr, Joseph Knitter, Tom Lakamp,
Stephen Marsar, Jordan Ponder, Forest Reeder, CHAIRMAN
Homer Robertson, Tiger Schmittendorf, Robert F. Biolchini
Peter Silva Jr., Matt Tobia,
Bob Vaccaro, Becki White VICE CHAIRMAN
Frank T. Lauinger
ART DIRECTOR PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Josh Troutman - josht@pennwell.com Mark C. Wilmoth
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
Rae Lynn Cooper - raec@pennwell.com CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY
Jayne A. Gilsinger
VICE PRESIDENT, PENNWELL MARKETING SERVICES
Paul Andrews SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE
marketingservices@pennwell.com; 240-595-2352 AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Brian Conway
AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Brandon Rowland - brandonr@pennwell.com FOUNDING PUBLISHER
James O. Page, 1936–2004
DIRECTOR OF EPRODUCTS
Scott Nelson - scottn@pennwell.com
SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT
DIGITAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR Phone 847-763-9540 / fr@halldata.com
Erin Northrop - erinn@pennwell.com
REPRINTS, EPRINTS & LICENSING
Rae Lynn Cooper
raec@pennwell.com / 918-831-9143
www.pennwell.com
FireRescue
4180 La Jolla Village Dr., Suite 260
La Jolla, CA 92037-9142
Phone 800-266-5367 or 973-251-5077
Fax 858-638-2601
www.firefighternation.com
6 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 F ireFighterNAtioN. com
1608fr_6 6 7/26/16 9:24 AM

From the Editor
The Six-Sided Fire Service Equation

Are your management and tactics
accounting for each side?
t has been a busy summer for many, as this is the temper these ideologies to create better working
I time of year we see seasonal increases in fires and

emergencies. As we look this time of year’s work,
relationships.
Relationships in the fire service also include those
By Erich Roden
don’t forget to be cognizant of complacency on the with our families. This month, we bring you a
fireground and other emergencies as our confidence peer-support story about a firefighter whose career
increases because of incident frequency. This is impacted his family life and how he was able to
caused not just by response but by training and the find the way to become not just a better firefighter
frequent tailboard or kitchen table talks after an inci- but a better husband and father. Never ignore
dent or at the change of tours. We do more of the what’s going on at home, because whether we think
same during the summer and can fall into a myopic so or not, it comes to work with us as we drive into
perspective of our job: We see only the operations the firehouse parking lot.
of our respective company and not the rest of what’s Speaking of driving, we also need to learn how to
going on. In other words, at a fire we need to see and manage the incident scene before we get called to
account for what’s happening on all six sides of the one. This month, Dave Donohue gives us a look
fire building. We don’t always operate on every side through the “windshield” to learn how to size up a
of these structures in our companies, but we tend to large-scale incident’s impact and response demands
ignore the ones we don’t operate at when response on the community as a starting point for response
frequency increases. This leads to their becoming and recovery.
areas in which we get into trouble, and it’s prevent- Todd McNeal also gives us a different view of an
able by keeping everything in perspective, regardless incident by describing the often overlooked “third
of whether or not we have to at a given incident. dimension” at a wildfire that essentially turns the
When we consider our profession, it also has six wildland urban interface fireground into an analo-
sides: training, firehouse, fireground, administra- gous post-flashover fire condition in a room during
tion, health and wellness, and working relation- a structure fire. Wildland fires also have six sides, so
ships. Although all of the above are frequent don’t skip over this great article on managing these
“events,” each can easily be ignored or misman- fire conditions.
aged, with neglect often paling in comparison to Health and wellness is one side of our profession
mismanagement. But we can solve this conun- that we can’t ignore, and we’re doing a much better
drum by realizing that all six of these sides must job of checking this “side” to see how we can improve
be considered in at least some part of the tour to our own. Perhaps the easiest means is by protecting
prevent getting into trouble. Although we try and our most vulnerable physiological system we have:
account for all six of these sides in every issue, we our airways. Although it’s a commonsense action
focus more on them this month to keep us focused to use our self-contained breathing apparatus when
and not complacent with our response, tactics, and needed, we need to become better at managing its
management during our busy season. use. Tim Sandifer describes how his department
Administration has a harder job than we like to wanted to better manage a change in air management
admit because of the juggling of fiscal restraints and culture and how members were able to do it. Finally,
community demands. Jim Crawford shares how the have you ever experienced a sore throat, headache,
Rochester (NY) Fire Department understands this and nausea after a fire? If so, you should know what’s
reality and figured out how to conduct needed com- likely causing it; HCN and CO are likely the culprits,
munity risk reduction programs and initiatives during and Griff Mason gives us a primer on their hazards
tough times. and how he was able to help the fire service better
Connect with Erich!
Controlling fires and budgets is easy compared understand and meter for these hazards. Stay in touch with
Erich Roden
to managing and facilitating relationships. David We at FireRescue wish you a safe and healthy rest
Rhodes’ latest Hump Day S.O.S. brings to light of the summer, and please remember to check all Facebook:
www.facebook.com/
the ideologies between generations, why each holds six sides of the incident and our profession—we
ErichRodenFRM
onto certain ones, and why we need to learn to can’t afford not to.
FireFighterNatioN .com august 2016 F ire r escue M agazine 7
1608fr_7 7 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Tools News Techniques
Equipment How To Training People News Web & Media Events
Air
Management
Pushing to protect fire
service personnel with an
air management policy
By Tim Sandifer
C hange in the fire service is sometimes for the

better—sometimes not. Whether you view a
particular “adjustment” as positive or negative, the
fire service as a whole tends to approach change
with trepidation. This tendency is healthy and natu-
ral. We are a prideful group, steeped in tradition;
these traditions help us continue the legacy created
by our forebearers and keep us safe and happy at
work.
We build our incident actions and tactics using
training, experience, and instinct. Consciously and
subconsciously, we draw from each of these pieces
to create safe and efficient approaches to mitigat-
The crews began breathing air just before ascending the main
ing the incidents that we respond to. Often when ladder to the fourth floor.
we are asked to use a new method, technique, or
approach, the mental pathways that we have created If you have been in the fire service long enough,
require adjustment. Sometimes this adjustment is you have probably had the “Why are we doing
negligible and easy to implement, and other times it this?” moment once or twice. This could pertain
is quite the opposite. to station life, incident management, or training.
Many of us have even brought this question up to
our superiors. Often the question is answered with
valid and tried reasons. We internalize this reason-
ing and move on with a better understanding of
the situation. Other times, however, the reply to
the question is, “I’m not sure; it’s just the way we’ve
always done it.” This answer sometimes provides a
fork in the road, with one path following the status
quo and the other forging a new road.
THE NEED FOR CHANGE

I believe that air management is one of these situ-
ations. We have been taught and trained a certain
Simulated ceiling pull: Notice the instructor keeping track of air way when it comes to how we treat the air on our
quantity and time. (Photos by Jeremy Keith.) backs. Many of these lessons are in our best interest,
8 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 F ireFighterNAtioN. com
1608fr_8 8 7/26/16 9:24 AM

FIND IT @
The Ever Important Truck Committee By Bob Vaccaro

Okay, so your fire department has decided to begin
Photo by JJ Cassetta.
the process of designing and writing specs for a
new apparatus. Hopefully, you have begun the
process well in advance of when your older vehicle
might be near its end of service. To find the next
apparatus for your department, you often have
to form an apparatus committee. Bob Vaccaro
shares advice about who should be incorporated
into the committee and the issues that need to be
addressed prior to bringing the vehicle back to the
station. Check out his tips here:
www.firefighternation.com/author/bob-vaccaro
UL FSRI Launches Positive Pressure

Attack Online Training Program Photo of the Month
The UL Firefighter Safety Research
Institute (FSRI) recently announced the
release of “Study of the Effectiveness of
Fire Service Positive Pressure Ventila-
tion During Fire Attack in Single Family
Homes Incorporating Modern Construction
Practices,” an online course that serves as
a culmination of the cold flow and full-scale experiments performed
by FSRI as part of a research study funded by the Department of
Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Find
out more about the interactive training and access the course here:
www.firefighternation.com/article/news-2/ MyFFN member Mark Fuqua posted a photo of a training
ul-fsri-launches-positive-pressure-attack-online-training-program exercise shot from a drone. New types of technology are
being incorporated into the fire service every year. Do you
have shots of your department using drones or other types
of technology in training exercises or on the fireground?
Remember, FirefighterNation.com is the place to share
your fire service photos and videos with more than
60,000 members!
Featured Blog: Pride and Ownership
Chief (Ret.) Rick Lasky is a 35-year veteran of the fire service
and has served as both a career and volunteer firefighter. Lasky It’s Easy to Share!
believes in the need to live within and support a system with Did you know that all FireRescue
values to be successful in the fire service and in life in general. articles are available online? You
That is why, with his blog Pride and Ownership, he focuses on can access the complete issue
living by a set of values: Pride, Honor, and Integrity. With the each month online. Bookmark your
goal to keep firefighters safe, protect the fire service’s heritage favorite authors, share articles with
and traditions, instill pride and ownership in the job, and make a your firefighters, or enjoy reading on
difference, Lasky shares his experiences and his ideas with this your smartphone or tablet. Scan the QR code to visit the
blog. Check it out: www.prideandownershipblog.com 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
1608fr_9 9 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Above: A simulated ventilation station. Air checks after completion of a task.
Right: Hose hoist: The members

with the most air of the crew classroom and manipulative training fol-
would complete the hose hoist. lowed by the release of the policy.
Our training centered more on the
but some, however, may not be. In the department importance of why we needed to change than what
that I work for, air management meant getting out of the change was. We wanted our firefighters to
the immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH) understand the importance of never, ever breathing
environment after a minute or two into your low-air- smoke. We wanted to show that any of us could
alarm activation. Our standards on wearing self-con- become a statistic. We wanted to show that air
tained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on nuisance fires, management was more than just getting out before
car fires, and dumpster fires were not clearly defined your low-air-alarm activation—we wanted personnel
and were left up to the company officer’s judgment. to internalize the importance of why.
We didn’t incorporate air checks into drills or on inci- At the company officer level, integration of air
dents. False SCBA alert alarms were common, and we management is an ongoing process. As previously
had become desensitized to the sound. mentioned, it really begins with buy-in and a com-
None of this was because of negligence or lack of prehensive working understanding of the policy
understanding. I would put the staff I work with and expectations. The company officer must make
up with the greatest firefighters in our country; it clear that he will not tolerate his firefighters dying
they are a well-trained, well-disciplined group of of work-related cancer stemming from breathing in
hard working and proud firefighters. The reason for carcinogenic smoke. He must convey the impor-
some of our issues was simple: As an organization, tance of the reserve air supply. That reserve air
we hadn’t put the emphasis on air management the supply is only there for your worst day. It belongs
way we should have. After learning more about the to your loved ones. Give the incident your working
philosophy and reasons behind air management supply; the last quarter (soon to be third) is for us.
from the “Seattle Guys,” I felt obligated to push for
change in my agency. CONTINUED TRAINING
Another step to integrating the principles set
NEW POLICY forth in your policy is to continually train on them.
We started the change process by assembling a Air management training should be a piece of every
group of respected firefighters from our agency drill performed if there is an SCBA on your back.
and spreading the message on the importance of When performing vertical ventilation training, ask
air management. This group of “change agents” for air checks at corners or after completing cuts.
then collaborated on the creation of an air manage- Search training incorporating air management
ment policy that spelled out the expectations of the helps in “turn back time” decisions. Haz-mat train-
department. This gave us something to fall back ing, live fire training, and even hose handling offer
on for the more “hard headed” of the group and opportunities to use air management principles.
took away the vagueness of how we were expected Challenge crews to make timely decisions based
to treat our air. The next step was departmentwide on crossing the IDLH with the reserve air intact
1608fr_10 10 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Rugged. Get ready for a whole new experience with your SCBA.
The new Honeywell TITAN™ SCBA combines unique

Comfortable. ergonomic features, high-performance materials and
advanced electronics to provide firefighters the best
Ergonomic. maneuverability, safety and efficiency on the fireground.
Request an on-site demo.

www.HoneywellSafety.com/TitanSCBA
Try on the new TITAN SCBA and learn more

at FRI Booth 14097
© 2016 Honeywell International. All rights reserved.
1608fr_11 11 7/26/16 9:24 AM

while still using their air to the fullest. Challenge With advances in technology, the increasing
the group to prevent any false SCBA alert activa- impact of social media and the Internet, and
tions caused by doffing the breathing apparatus and research being conducted on our tactics and
leaving it without turning it off. If there is a false strategies, more change is coming for us in the fire
activation, even in training, treat it as a real alarm service. Many of these changes help us to provide
to increase your attentiveness to the sound. a better service for the public we serve. We are all
striving to save more lives.
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH Air management helps to accomplish these goals
The final and sometimes most difficult step but, perhaps even more importantly, it helps save
to integrating an air management policy is to the lives of our own. We all know of line-of-duty
hold everyone to it. It is difficult for many of us deaths (LODDs) that involve firefighters running
to hold senior members accountable to some of out of air. We might not know any of these heroes
these ideas. The “It’s just a trash fire, I don’t need personally, but we all know a firefighter who is
a breather” mentality needs to stop. If you are on battling or has passed on from job-related cancer.
a roof ventilating without your mask on because We owe it to those who have gone before us to try
you don’t expect smoke and heat to vent from the to prevent more LODDs in the future. The
hole, why are you cutting the hole in the first place? creation, implementation, and integration of an
As company officers, perhaps our most important air management policy give us a way to do it.
mission is to keep our crews safe. Prove your com-
mitment to them by not allowing them to breathe Author’s note: This article is in memory of
smoke. Hold everyone accountable, even during Firefighter Donovan Eckhardt, Renton (WA) Fire
overhaul. We let our guards down because we are Department, 05/19/78-08/24/15.
tired, because we are annoyed by the face piece, or
because the incident is winding down, but the car- Tim Sandifer is an 18-year veteran of the fire service and a truck
cinogens and toxins are often still at extremely high company captain on the Anaheim (CA) Fire and Rescue’s training
levels. Be their boss and their friend and make them company. He is California state-certified fire control instructor
keep their breathers on; they will thank you for it in and teaches at the local fire academy. Sandifer is a member of a
the long run and will hopefully pay it forward with cadre of firefighters from around California who provide instruc-
the next generation. tion in various suppression-related disciplines.
1608fr_12 12 7/26/16 9:24 AM

SOME CALL TH
THEM
EM HEROES
S WEE CALL
W CALL THEM
M ALUMNI
Le
Less B
Ba ker, CS
ak CSUU Gr
Grad
adua te,,
uate
Fir
ir
irefi
efigh ter, Darliing
ghtte ton
ngto n County Fire Districtct
wne
Ow r,, Spe
ner, peeeed mpl
d Sim plic ityy Bo
icit
ic it B ld n sss, LLC
ldne
ne
TTEXTBOOKS
TE
IIN
INCLUDED
N
Learn more about our online fire degrees, workshops and CEUs.
ColumbiaSouthern.edu/FR or call 877.314.2814
FESHE
RECOGNIZED
Gainful employment information available at ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Disclosure.
SAVE $20 INSTANTLY WITH PURCHASE OF

A SIDE ZIP DUTY BOOT IN 6” OR 8”.
Use promo code FRBOOTS at checkout.

Free Shipping on all domestic orders!
Excludes Waterproof and Safety Toe styles. US Residents Only. Limit 1 Per Customer. Expires 9.30.16.
1608fr_13 13 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Nozzlehead
Beyond “Normal”
Single-family dwelling tactics
on nonsingle-family dwelling fires
apparatus are helping you along the way.

Dear Nozzlehead,
tus committee at our Now that I have that off my chest, let’s move
By Billy Goldfeder
We have an appara new

we are designing a on. As far as hoselines, I don’t know your fire
fire department, and sio n
items up for dis cus district, but I will bet that what you describe is
pumper. One of the e
hoselines we wil l hav
is the various size a problem lying in wait. Just like the commu-
just
con nec ted. Ma ny of us would like to nity is diverse as far as structure type, height,
pre lines
oot , 1¾ -inc h att ack
have several 200-f cent
risks, hazards, etc., the apparatus needs to be
for supply, as 98 per
and then five-inch (SF D) set up to be able to deal with diverse structures
gle-family dw elli ng
of our fires are sin ive ly on fire. Your description of handlines may
h hos elin es exc lus
fires. We pull 1¾-inc erior work for most of your fires, but what about
are an aggressive int
for all fires, as we
nt. Some of our me m- those others fires? The commercial fire? The
attack fire departme
e old er me mbers—are pushin
g for long lay or stretch? The mid-rise? Poor staff-
bers—som g,
aus e of our sta ffin ing is no excuse for poor apparatus design or
2½-inch lines, but bec
most of us are aga ins t it. setup.
ts, keeping in mind Fire departments must set up their appa-
What are your though
fangled “hit it hard ratus and train based on what they may go
that we are not a new in and
artment but we go
from the yard” dep to and what might be on fire. Show me the
t’s wh at’s exp ect ed?
get the fire, as tha fire, and I’ll show you what your appara-
—Tough in Texas
tus should be capable of doing—with five
people or just two people. It is that simple.
Honestly, you have no “right” to just have several
Dear Tex, 200-foot, 1¾-inch attack lines and then five-inch
I love Texas and Texans, so I was thrilled when for supply. You need 2½-inch and other lines
you wrote. It made me immediately think of my because it is not your fire; it is someone else’s fire,
favorite musical band, a group from Texas called and by paying their taxes, they have a right (and
Asleep at the Wheel. They are by far the best West- somewhat of an agreement with your department)
ern swing band out there; I’ve been following them to have you set up to meet their needs based on
since the early ’70s, and they never disappoint ... best practices, standards, and the risks you protect.
unlike your letter. Your proposal to design and set up your appara-
Apparatus committee? Seriously? Some of the tus for the dwelling fires will force your department
worst and most ineffective apparatus have been to use dwelling fire tactics on the warehouse fire,
built exclusively by a committee. And any excellent the commercial building fire, and the institutional
apparatus that has been designed by a committee (school, hospital, etc.) fire, and the results will be a
was probably by accident, or the committee used an former warehouse or a former commercial building,
apparatus consultant, an independent fire apparatus because it will burn down.
consultant. Now about that aggressive, interior attack issue.
Look, let me make this simple: You are spending You can’t be an aggressive interior fire department
money that isn’t yours (tax dollars) on something without adequate resources—people. You simply
that costs more money than your home. There are cannot have it both ways, whether you have a
few who are qualified to build a home without an staffing problem or you don’t. But if you do, you
architect. You may be qualified to put fires out, will very likely become ... wait for it ... wait for
but you are no more qualified to design and spec it ... a “hit it hard from the yard” (HIHFTY) fire
apparatus than a pilot is to spec an airplane. Have department. WHOA! You have no choice. And,
input? Of course. So, fix that committee issue, and while occasionally HIHFTY may actually be the
make sure that people who understand weight, right tactic, it doesn’t have to be your exclusive
pump design, chassis, and transmissions on fire tactic. But that requires evaluating, thinking, and
1608fr_14 14 7/26/16 9:24 AM

doing what’s best for the community you protect. consider what your fire protection responsibility is.
The community may “expect” certain things, but Are you normally doing SFD fires? Hooray, then
without resources and a department that opens its you should do them well. But also understand and
mind up to what the community actually needs, it know what else in your town may catch fire and
ain’t gonna happen. then plan, drill, and train for those as experts as
When you look at community fire protection, well. By experts I mean being ready with a more
you must look at the following: diverse range of tactics (and hoseline choices!), a
• What do you have to protect? more open mind in apparatus design, and a better
• What do you want to accomplish? understanding of what tactics and what equipment
• What funding/resources do you have to accom- are needed for what kind of fire.
plish that? After all, as I have said before, when the tones go
It’s a really simple model that works; however, we off reporting a fire, it isn’t your fire, it’s someone
often get jammed up between B and C, where we else’s fire, and they dialed 911 with the crazy idea
want to do things but are incapable of doing things that your fire department might actually respond
because of resources. You need to look at that and with the right apparatus and trained firefighters
determine if you really are the “aggressive interior who are fully prepared to quickly fix their prob-
department” you think you are, or things could get lem—just like the experts we told them we are.
really bad with that illusion.
It’s not hard for anyone to search the Internet for Got a fire service question or complaint?
videos, close-call reports, and NIOSH reports to Let Nozzlehead hear all about it.
find fire departments using (or having used) SFD He’ll answer you with 2,000 psi
tactics on non-SFD fires and burning the building of free-flowing opinion.
down. Why? Because SFD is what we normally do: Send your letters to:
Nozzlehead, c/o FireRescue
We “normally” respond to SFD fires. It’s what we PennWell Corp.
are used to. And that may be nice and very conve- 21-00 Route 208 South
nient for us, but it isn’t particularly helpful to those Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
having their nondwelling fire. Attn: Diane Rothschild
(dianer@pennwell.com)
Listen, Tough Guy, open your mind a bit and
You may not consider yourself

a hero. But we do!
USSC Valor First Responder Seating Systems have the most advanced
safety engineering features in the industry, providing you with the best!
• Ergonomically designed with Single Point Release
activating seat belts and unique SCBA holder
• Industry-first, magnetic SCBA shoulder strap support
• Optional built-in accident protection with RollTek®
• Easy-to-reach front toggle controls
• Dual Retractor ABTS Belt System
• Comfort suspension choices
NEW
Crew Seat
EMT Seat
Contact Mark Finley

610-994-5436
www.usscgroup.com
Officer Sea
Seat
at Driver Seat firerescue.hotims.com
Part of the USSC GROUP
1608fr_15 15 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Apparatus Ideas
Multipurpose Apparatus
Medina (OH) invests in a Smeal TeleSqurt®
B
ack in in the beginning of 2014, American three months to work on the specs and to explore
LaFrance closed its doors, and the customers options. It decided to go with a 65-foot TeleSqurt.
By Bob Vaccaro
who had been operating LTI, Snorkel, Squrt, “The fact that Smeal was now going to build and
and TeleSqurt vehicles were left in the lurch; no one service this type of vehicle was paramount to us,”
would be able to service their apparatus with parts Painter says. “Our department liked the fact that
and dealer support on a regular basis. we could have a small wheelbase pumper with a
However, this all changed in June 2014 when
Smeal announced that it acquired the assets of LTI,
Medina Fire District
including LTI ladders, platforms, and tractor-drawn
The Medina (OH) Fire Department and the
aerials; Squrt and TeleSqurt boom ladders; and
City of Medina are located 33 miles south of
Snorkel® articulating aerial platforms. This acquisi-
Cleveland. The Medina Fire Department pro-
tion enhanced Smeal’s product offering to the fire vides fire, rescue, and medical first responder
service. service to the City of Medina and Montville
Around the same time, Chief Bob Painter of the Township. This is provided by a staff of 40
Medina (OH) Fire Department was looking to firefighters and officers. It is a volunteer, paid
improve his department’s fleet. “Over the past six on-call department, with the exception of the
years, we had begun to replace our current fleet. chief, fire marshal, and operations captain,
Even though we try to shoot for a 20-year replace- who are full-time paid. Members respond
out of four stations and staff seven primary
ment program, the maintenance on our previ-
pieces of fire apparatus. Apparatus consists
ous rigs was poor, and we were in the process of
of four engines, two trucks, a heavy rescue,
replacing some of our 12- to 15-year-old apparatus. and several support vehicles.
So we started planning and writing specs on a new The response district covers 32.3 square
apparatus,” says Painter. miles, with a population of approximately
34,000, which swells to 50,000 during the
RETEAMING WITH SMEAL daytime hours. The response area consists of
The department already had a Smeal 105 quint 12 schools, a large industrial area, two major
and a new pumper, and the vehicles had provided hospitals, eight miles of railroads, and several
major thoroughfares.
great operation and service, so working with Smeal
The department responds to roughly 1,000
again and its local dealer Fire Safety Services (FSS)
fire calls per year.
was a no-brainer. The department took about
The Medina (OH) Fire
Department operates this
65-foot TeleSqurt built by
Smeal on a Sirius chassis.
(Photos by Smeal.)
To read more
from Bob Vaccaro,
visit www.firefighternation.
com/author/bob-vaccaro.
1608fr_16 16 7/26/16 9:24 AM

1608fr_17 17 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Top left: The rear of the vehicle with the ladder
extended and a side-mounted extension ladder.
Bottom left: A short stabilizer spread.
rescue ladder as well. We also liked the fact that one

firefighter could operate and set up the ladder from
the rear with a small joystick and short jacks. It also
has a prepiped waterway.”
Personnel eventually made two visits to the Smeal
factory in Nebraska and met extensively with
Smeal’s engineers. They made a few small changes
in some of the drop-down steps and a revised pump
panel so the operator could see the ladder being
bedded.
VEHICLE SPECS
The vehicle is set up with a normal comple-
ment of engine company tools as well as truck
company tools, saws, blowers, and hand tools.
It is also set up with hydraulic rescue tools. The
vehicle carries 1,000 feet of four-inch supply
line, 1,000 feet of 2½-inch line, and 800 feet of
1¾-inch hose with low-pressure nozzles. “We
carry two dead loads of 1¾-inch, two precon-
nected 1¾-inch attack lines, and a blitz nozzle
off the rear,” Painter says.
BIG-10
Rubber Lined Attack Hose
10 Year Warranty
1608fr_18 18 7/26/16 9:25 AM

The rig has two A-frame-style stabilizers in front tive in its design of this vehicle, making it dual
of and behind the axles that lock them into an purpose—carrying engine, truck, and rescue tools. Apparatus
operating position. It also has dual-side mounted It also is able to operate in tighter spaces and has a Ideas
waterways to minimize risk during firefight- small stabilizer footprint as well.
ing operations. “What we also liked was that the Plan accordingly if your department is looking to
vehicle has an 11-foot, nine-inch stabilizer spread replace an older vehicle. As most departments these
that allows us to set up in narrow streets, alleys, and days are doing, build a multipurpose rig to meet the
cul-de-sacs,” Painter adds. budget needs of your department and community.
The rear control station allows the operator to
control the boom and monitor controls, high idle, Bob Vaccaro has more than 40 years of fire service experience.
boom lighting, and pump operations as well. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (NY) Fire Department.
The boom itself can be elevated vertically from Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the
10 degrees below horizontal to 85 degrees above. New York Fire Patrol, and several major commercial insurance
The department selected the V-Mux electrical companies as a senior loss-control consultant. He is a life
system, which is built by Akron Brass. member of the IAFC.
TeleSqurt
Telescoping
Aerial Boom Specs
This new 65-foot TeleSqurt
telescoping aerial boom features a
three-section extruded aluminum box
boom, which provides excellent verti-
cal and horizontal reach with a short
bedded length, short wheelbase,
minimum front overhang, and high
degree of maneuverability. V-Mux,
QL-12 multiplex electrical system,
electric-over-hydraulic joystick con-
trol, and LED lighting were standard.
This TeleSqurt is equipped with a
1,500-gpm Waterous CMXC20 pump
and a 750-gallon water tank and is
capable of flowing 1,000 gpm at the
tip. Fold-down handrails provide for Is he receiving the kind of CPR
a low overall travel height of 11 feet,
nine inches to accommodate low sta-
tion doors, aqueducts, and bridges.
his family deserves?
It features a Smeal™ Sirius® chassis
with a 199-inch wheelbase.
A 55-year-old male has collapsed in

“The local dealer, FSS, located in Hunts- front of his family. Few of your calls are
ville, Ohio, worked with us on the whole cardiac arrest, but you know you have to
project and provided us with great service perform the highest quality CPR to maximize your patients’ chances
during and after the sale,” Painter adds. for survival. With two-minute cycles, even the best rescuer fatigues.
MULTIPURPOSE PLANNING The ZOLL X Series® with Real CPR Help® indicates when it’s
If you are looking for a small wheelbase time to change rescuers so your team can provide the CPR
pumper with aerial capability, this might everyone deserves.
be the way to go for your department—
especially in bedroom communities. With
aerials and platforms sometimes reaching a Insight for informed decisions.
cost of a million-plus dollars, if you don’t www.zoll.com/cardiacarrest
necessarily need a higher reach or want to
supplement a full-size aerial, this is prob-
ably your best bet.
©2015 ZOLL Medical Corporation, Chelmsford, MA, USA. Real CPR Help, X Series, and ZOLL are trademarks
The Medina Fire Department was proac-
or registered trademarks of ZOLL Medical Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. MCN EP 1510 0123
FireFighterNatioN .com firerescue.hotims.com
1608fr_19 19 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Wildland Urban Interface
Fire in the Third Dimension

The time-temperature
curve has without
question been changed
By Todd McNeal
in the structural fire

environment, and it has
done the same thing in
the wildland fire environ-
ment. (Photo by author.)
Strategies for effectively applying intelligent aggression

ith no shortage of press coverage on the but the core foundation to that goal is to rapidly
W historic drought conditions in the West,

most wildland firefighters with potential to
respond know the dire situation. The potential for
and accurately gather raw data or information and
convert it to intelligence in the time-compressed
wildland incident management response.
large fire growth has never been higher and the haz- One of the most critical pieces of this intelligence
ards to personnel never greater. I want every person that becomes part of our situational awareness is
reading this to contemplate and let fully cement the concept of wildland fire in the third dimension.
in their minds that fire suppression personnel are This is not a new concept in the study and practice
stepping off the apparatus into the most dangerous of wildland fire suppression but needs to be reflected
wildland fuel conditions in modern history. on and thoroughly understood now more than ever
Several factors have come together at this point because of the level of potential the modern fire
in our nation’s history to produce the current environment has reached. The challenge of this fact
condition of the fuel bed. It has taken more than for all responders is we have limited options and
a century to accumulate the level of fuels we now minimal positive effect when fire expands into the
see in the wildland, and adding to that dangerous third dimension. Fire in the third dimension can be
mixture our society has built homes and critical succinctly explained as fire leaving the surface fuel
supporting infrastructure in and around this fuel, bed and climbing the ladder fuel bed to involve the
making numerous values at risk. This condition aerial fuel bed, all burning simultaneously.
demands our highest level of critical thinking and There are many inherent risks to firefighters when
appropriate risk management decisions. We have to this third-dimensional fire growth occurs. Three of
continue to be aggressive in our tactics, but it has the most critical to track and keep updated in one’s
to be intelligent aggression—surgical placement of dynamic situational awareness while at a wildland
appropriate action to maximize safe effectiveness. fire incident include the following:
1. Third-dimensional fire produces maximum
INFORMATION TO INTELLIGENCE British thermal unit (BTU) output in all fuel
There are several components that must be models because there is complete fire involve-
diligently followed to apply intelligent aggression, ment throughout the vertical profile.
1608fr_20 20 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Apply now for an FDIC 2017 Scholarship. New
Educa
See. Learn. Change. tio
Oppor nal
tunity
added
Early applications are being accepted. Scholarship :
H.O.T.
recipients will be selected monthly through December. Evolut
ions
• Develop a video. • Review with your Chief.
• Create your application. • Submit it.
Download your application now and learn more about the program here:
http://landing.penngage.com/honeywell-fdic-2017-scholarship/
In Partnership with:
firerescue.hotims.com © 2016 Honeywell International. All rights reserved.
1608fr_21 21 7/26/16 9:25 AM

2. Third-dimensional fire produces logic-defying rates of
Setup, train and break down: spread because of full availability of the fuel profile to
the local and general wind, and that intensity is increased
Now YOU can do it all significantly by the in-draft winds flowing horizontally to
replace the lifting heated air.
3. Third-dimensional fire produces greater spotting distances
because of large column growth and its ability to loft
heavier and larger heat-holding particles landing miles away
in a receptive fuel profile.
RECOGNITION AND AVOIDANCE

The interactions of fuels, weather, and topography that com-
bine on any given day at any given location are dynamic and
immensely complex. There is no way for any firefighter to stop
the process of fire exploding into the third dimension when fire
environment ingredients are in alignment. The only mitigating
factors that can be employed by firefighters when the fire explodes
into the third dimension are recognition and avoidance of the
path the fire chooses to travel during the event. I purposefully and
intentionally use the word “explode” because that is what is occur-
I want to compel all

firefighters, supervisors, and
B e ready to train in minutes with the I.T.S. Xtreme™ system.
Give everyone the chance to get hands-on experience
those making risk-benefit
using our live-fire extinguisher training system.
Transform your training — BullEx.com
decisions to consider the idea
that conditions in the timber
fuel models have reached
Leading Edge® Tank (patent pending)
a condition that has
never been experienced
The Most Versatile Tank On The Market! by past generations
of wildland firefighters.
AFTER
(narrow tank ring at the wildland fire incidents in current times and evidenced
design) with the fires of the 2015 season.
BEFORE (fully opened) Fires that escape initial attack are exploding into the third
• Folding one side creates a narrow design dimension quicker than in years past because of the prolonged
Husky’s®
and takes only 15 seconds to fold with Leading Edge® Tank record-setting Western drought. In addition to the critically low
two people (patent pending) live and dead fuel moistures in the West, the drought has had
goes from a Standard Folding
• Use the Leading Edge® as a full Frame Tank to a narrow tank a decimating effect on the timber stands. The three years and
capacity tank until you need the narrow design in 15 seconds.
running tree mortality event in California is literally chang-
It gives you the best
tank design of both designs! ing the face of the forests. Trees that haven’t succumbed to the
• Registered, exclusive Exlon® material or vinyl lack of moisture have been killed by the bark beetle population
• Patented Easy Lift Handles (US Patent No. expansion. The numerous forest pests are taking advantage of
8,746,478 & other patents pending)
the weakened forest stands by capitalizing on the trees’ inabil-
• Lifetime warranty on welds & welded seams
ity to defend themselves from attack. The net outcome of this
• Steel or Aluminum ongoing event is the fact that the forest is filled with red needle
Pinch-Free Frames
trees, and all of these are like giant catcher’s mitts for the ember
cast coming off the third-dimensional fire growth.
Folding Frame Tanks • Salvage Covers ACCELERATED GROWTH

Flyers • Portable Tank Racks This tree mortality event has many implications for respond-
ing firefighters. The list is truly too long to completely address
www.HuskyPortable.com
918-333-2000 • 800-260-9950
firerescue.hotims.com FireFighterNatioN .com
1608fr_22 22 7/26/16 9:25 AM

in a single article, so I will elaborate on one of the fuel bed above you! Remember: Fire has the potential
most dangerous. I want to compel all firefighters, to explode into the third dimension quicker, spot Wildland
supervisors, and those making risk-benefit decisions farther, and run faster than ever before. Urban
to consider the idea that conditions in the timber Interface
fuel models have reached a condition that has never Todd McNeal is a 26-year veteran of the fire service and chief of
been experienced by past generations of wildland Twain Harte Fire in Tuolumne County, California. He has a diverse
firefighters. The volume of accumulation, the lack background in wildland and structural fire management and
of moisture, and tree mortality have created a fire suppression and has been serving as a division/group supervisor
environment that has time-compressed wildland on a Federal Type II Incident Management Team for 10 years.
fire progression to a point that few, if any, models McNeal has been an instructor in the fire service for 15 years,
can accurately predict. The potential for third- holds numerous ICS qualifications in wildland operations, is a
dimensional fire growth is very real, and firefighters registered instructor with California State Fire Training and a
need to be fully aware of that potential. I would California fire officer, and has a bachelor’s degree in natural
like all resources, regardless of location, to reflect resource management.
on the fact that the tree mortality has
reduced the time of wildland fire growing
into the third dimension dramatically!
Previous to the drought/infestation
timber mortality event, fires needed to
start in the surface fuels, grow to involve
the ladder fuels, and then finally reach
the aerial fuels, producing an ember
shower that spots out in front of the
main fire by landing on surface fuels and
starting the growth process again. That
takes some time to build, depending on
environmental factors and location. Now,
I would argue that that sequence has been
considerably shortened or even elimi-
nated because of current fuel conditions.
Now the fire starts its growth from surface
to aerial and embers are produced, but they
land in a receptive, expansive fine dead fuel
model of red needles and the tree torches
immediately without even needing the sur-
face/ladder fuels to cure the canopy. Previ-
ously, the embers that would be intercepted
by the canopy were landing in a largely
healthy green canopy, and those embers
rarely had enough heat to cause the tree to
torch alone. Now, however, the embers land
in a dead and dry receptive aerial fuel, fully
unshaded and unsheltered to the sun and
Be SAFER & More EFFICIENT
wind, and the growth is explosive.
The time-temperature curve has without
Drain & Roll ALL HOSE
question been changed in the structural fire Customized for YOUR NEEDS
environment, and it has done the same
thing in the wildland fire environment. I Put a Power Roller on your crew
would like to leave readers with a thought
that I would encourage them to personally
reflect on and share with their crews. As a
wildland firefighter responding to an
incident in the timber fuel models located
in central/southern California forests, when
you step off your apparatus to engage in fire
suppression, you are stepping on top of a
surface fuel model that is receptive, but you
must not forget you also have a receptive 262.363.2030
262 363 2030 email:
il info@rollnrack.com
i f @ ll k
rollnrack.com
1608fr_23 23 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Hump Day S.O.S.
Training a Different Generation

The natural evolution of circumstances in the fire service
T
he fire service continues to see generational with. When we look at the candidate pool for the
differences play havoc on our expectations of fire service, we see that we hire individuals who are
By David Rhodes
the firefighter candidate pool. Some will say more educated than the previous generations; they
that these “new recruits” just don’t get it. This is the have a higher aptitude for using and understanding
same thing our bosses, officers, and senior members technology. Most of our training outlines, lesson
said about us. My thoughts on this have varied over plans, and practical skill drills at the entry level
the past two decades, but what I want to share here were designed for individuals who came to us with
is more complex than just “the new recruits are the a different skill set. Twenty to 30 years ago, most
problem.” everyone we hired came from the trades. We were
mechanical and somewhat adaptable based on our
GENERATIONAL DIVIDE experiences and life skills. We didn’t have to teach
As society evolves because of advances in technol- candidates how to crank a saw, hook up a tank,
ogy, changing priorities, and a supply and demand or change a spark plug because they came (with
of specific skill sets, a natural evolution of circum- the exception of few) with those skills already. We
stances occurs. What was essential and valued in only had to teach and train them how and why the
one generation can easily become less essential, equipment was used in our business.
It is easy to allow the generational differences

to frustrate us to the point of taking a condescending
approach to these “new people who don’t know anything.”
devalued, or extinct in the next. However, we seem When I say change my expectations, this is not
to always place a high value on those things (skills) a lowering of standards or change in what I expect
that were highly valued in our “heyday”—in other as a final outcome. What I am saying here is that
words, when we were the closest to the work (as I had to erase my assumptions about what level
opposed to the management of the work). The of skill and mechanical aptitude these candidates
results of these natural evolutions are the cause brought to the table. Instead of just barking out the
of much of our strife when we look at the “new order to disconnect the high-pressure hose from the
generation.” cylinder valve, I had to start with the basics of how
Several years ago, I noticed a majority of a recruit the various connections work. Threaded couplings,
class struggling with simple mechanical skills in quick connect couplings, twist and lock, I felt as if I
assembling and disassembling, hooking up and dis- was headed toward the Marine Corps methodology
connecting components of the breathing apparatus. of “This is my rifle, there are many like it” and, in
I asked the class of 60-plus recruits, “How many of fact, that is exactly what I had to do.
you have ever started a lawnmower and cut grass?”
Only two recruits raised their hands. So, instead of ADAPT AND CHANGE
considering the candidates “worthless new recruits A changing candidate pool with different life
who can’t do anything,” I had to reassess my expec- experiences requires us to adapt and change our
tations and adapt my training method based on training delivery methods. This could require more
their current skill level and previous life experiences time on a given task or subject, but the payoff will
(or lack thereof ) that I had assumed they had. be tremendous. After a lesson in the various cou-
plings and how they operate, I followed up with a
DIFFERING SKILL SETS simple drill of repetition. “OK, connect your high-
As simple as this sounds, it is a very complex pressure hose to the cylinder.” “Now disconnect
and underemphasized reality that we are all faced your high-pressure hose from the cylinder.” Verify
1608fr_24 24 7/26/16 9:25 AM

that everyone is lining things up cor-
rectly and turning the coupling the right
way. Recruit some instructor monitors
to spread out and supervise and coach
smaller groups. “OK, I want each of you
to connect and disconnect that coupling
10 times.” Once everyone has it, we move
on to connecting the regulator to the
mask, following the same methodology.
COMMUNICATION FRUSTRATION
It is easy to allow the generational
differences to frustrate us to the point of
taking a condescending approach to these
“new people who don’t know anything.”
Understanding that there are automatic
communication barriers is a must.
This generation didn’t grow up watch-
ing “Emergency” and “The Towering
Inferno”; they grew up watching “Rescue
Me” and “Ladder 49.” They didn’t grow
up walking or riding a bike to the ball
field for baseball practice; they were part
of a minivan carpool to soccer practice.
These are all similar but very different
experiences that require an understanding
and adjustment in our approach.
If you’re old school and working to
train the new people, make sure you have
a good assistant who is younger than you firerescue.hotims.com
and has more in common from a life
experience standpoint but who has also

mastered the skills you want the new
generation to acquire. Think of him as
your generational interpreter. This person
can go hang out with the crew on break
Features:
and hear their unfiltered assessments and Custom Build Your 1080 Newton Kwik Dump Valve
questions and might be able to put a new
Own Dump Valve 4036 Extension Chute
and enlightening perspective on some of Stainless steel
the new experiences for those who are the Maximum Flow Rate of set up is 2,777 GPM
future of our service. Fits on most new and existing...
Extends up to...
David Rhodes is a 30-year fire service veteran and
a battalion chief in an urban fire department in
Georgia. He is a chief elder for the Georgia Smoke
Diver Program, a member of the Fire Department
Instructors Conference (FDIC) International 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
Management-Metro Atlanta All Hazards Incident
ISO Certified 9001:2008 Registered
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 assess- !
ment centers. Call for more information
World’s Largest Manufacturer of 10x10 Dump Valves TM
FireFighterNatioN .com
1608fr_25 25 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Distant Fires
August 1916 Fires

A look at fires that made history
I
n this month’s column, I present historic fires or August 19, 1916: Essex Falls, Massachusetts: Sev-
By Paul Hashagen
significant events in the fire service from August eral departments were called to a huge fire involving
1916. A reminder: Readers are encouraged to eight wooden ice houses. A delayed alarm allowed the
share information from their departments. fire to spread dramatically. One hundred firefighters
August 2, 1916: Tonawanda, New York: At 10:30 scrambled to get three streams into operation. Using
p.m., a fire alarm was received for a fire in the business 850 feet of hose with 11⁄8 -inch nozzles, two hand
section of town. On his arrival, Chief C. Grover Rech tubs, and a ladder truck, the battle commenced.
was confronted with an advanced fire condition. Two August 24, 1916: Brockton, Massachusetts: Nine
commercial buildings, a dwelling, and several barns people were injured when a bolt of lightning struck a
were burning briskly. The firefighting force of 60 vat of denatured alcohol inside the E.L. Gowdy Plant.
operated one steam engine, a motor service truck, an The plant consisted of three interconnected wood
aerial ladder, a supply wagon, and five hose wagons. buildings of varied heights. Six people were at work in
They used seven four-inch double hydrants, the steam the vat room when the high-voltage strike occurred. A
pumper, and 7,000 feet of hose to develop 10 hydrant- tremendous explosion followed, blowing out an entire
fed streams and two pumper-fed streams. They were wall. Two men were blown through a window and
able to keep the fire to the original buildings. received serious burns to the face and body. The burn-
August 11, 1916: Athens, Greece: The Greek ing alcohol set fire to the building and quickly caused
steamship Eltheria, bound from Saloniki to Volo and extension to several nearby homes. Under the direction
carrying a cargo of oil owned by an American com- of Chief William Daley, 67 firefighters operated three
pany and 1,200 passengers, mainly disbanded soldiers, steam engines (one tractor drawn), two Westinghouse
caught fire off the island of Skiatho. The captain was gasoline engines, six motorized combination hose and
able to beach the burning ship on Skiatho, one of chemical cars, and three tractor-drawn ladder trucks.
the islands in the Aegean Sea. Sadly, 40 people were Five hydrant and six engine streams were stretched and
reported killed and numerous others seriously injured. used to battle the extending flames. Exhausted fire-
August 12, 1916: Johnstown, Pennsylvania: fighters extinguished the fire and then began combing
Twenty-five people were killed and 63 were injured in the smoldering wreckage for workers reported missing.
a head-on collision of two crowded trolley cars. The August 27, 1916: Chicago, Illinois: A fire of
accident took place on the Southern Cambria Traction unknown origin swept through two old wood and
Company line between Echo and Brookvale, seven brick buildings that were part of the large Swift and
miles outside of Johnstown. Several pieces of motor- Company plant in the Stock Yards. The alarm was
ized fire apparatus, numerous doctors and nurses in received at 8:40 p.m. Arriving companies were faced
automobiles, and motor trucks hastily outfitted as with an advanced fire, spreading from one fully
ambulances responded. Many of the victims were involved 50-year-old building to a similar exposure.
loaded into automobiles and taken to nearby hospitals. In total, 35 engines, four ladder trucks, and a squad
August 14, 1916: Henniker, New Hampshire: An wagon responded. Two hundred firefighters used 15
alarm of fire was received at 1:45 a.m., sending units hydrant and 35 engine streams and worked 24 hours
to a fire in a large 100 × 150 two-story wood building battling the fire.
covered with galvanized iron. The fire was believed to
have ignited because of spontaneous combustion. The Paul Hashagen is a 40-year veteran of the fire service. He retired
building, part of the Henniker Fiber Company plant, from the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) after 25 years of
was filled with leather stock, baled paper, and other service, with 20 of those years in Rescue Company 1. Hashagen
flammables and was fully engulfed on arrival. Under is a former chief of the Freeport (NY) Fire Department and is still
the command of Chief Marshall, 30 firefighters with a member of Truck Company 1. He has written several books and
two hose wagons and a ladder truck went to work. numerous stories on the history of the fire service including Fire
To read more Using two four-inch hydrants located 500 feet apart Department City of New York: The Bravest; An Illustrated History
from Paul Hashagen, and an eight-inch main fed by gravity tanks, firefighters 1865-2002; and One Hundred Years of Valor: Rescue Company
visit www.firefighternation.
com/author/paul-hashagen.
soon had 1,500 feet of hose feeding several attack lines. 1 New York City Fire Department Rescue 1915-2015. Visit his
The battle lasted two hours. Facebook page at Paul Hashagen-author.
1608fr_26 26 7/26/16 9:25 AM

When You Go In,
We Are Right There
With You.
We at Boston Leather support those who serve.
Let us serve you with only the best quality leather products.
RADIO HOLDERS | RADIO STRAPS | ANTI-SWAY STRAPS | BELTS | BADGE CASES

SUSPENDERS | AXE SHEATHS | GLOVE STRAPS | EMT SCISSOR HOLDERS | & MORE

Fine Leather Belts and Accessories
CRAFTED WITH PRIDE

IN THE USA
1608fr_27 27 7/26/16 9:25 AM

From the Chief’s Desk
Move Up or Move Out

Succession and career planning in the fire service
I
n the ’60s, there was a television show that popu- minimized and in large organizations it is maximized.
By Ronny J. Coleman
larized a phrase “round ’em up, move ’em out.” Nonetheless, if there is no career planning going on
In the case of the series, it was a western, and the with personnel, even the largest of organizations can
phrase was in reference to cattle. Today, we might be found wanting when it comes to key positions.
use the same phrase for describing two concepts The tendency in most organizations is to talk about
that have increasing popularity in the fire service: succession planning but fail to encourage career plan-
career planning and succession planning. ning. Both of these processes are often so informal that
promotion, advancement, and career opportunity look
CAREER AND SUCCESSION PLANNING more like a lottery than a plan. A more formal process
Career planning means that a person engages of succession planning encourages a more formal
in a continuous process of thinking about his life, process for career planning, and vice versa.
interests, values, skills, and preferences with the idea Many fire departments have developed career plan-
in mind that his work fits his personal circumstances. ning opportunities by encouraging educational reim-
Here is a tricky question for you: Is it the fire depart- bursement and by advocating training, education, and
ment’s responsibility to develop your career plan, or certification systems to highlight opportunities. Others
is it yours? simply accept what individuals choose based on their
Succession planning is a process for identifying own perceptions of what is a good idea for preparation.
and developing personnel with potential for key
leadership roles. The goal of succession planning is ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
to ensure that there are adequate experienced and Anytime an organization must look externally to
capable employees who are prepared to assume key fulfill a key position, there is room for improvement
roles once they become available. Succession plan- in both career and succession planning in the organi-
ning is carried out by top-level incumbents and is zational environment. Simply stated, if employees are
part of a strategic plan for the survival of the organi- ambitious and desirous of more responsibility and the
zation. Succession planning is not the same thing as organization fails to deliver, then their career plan will
favoritism or handpicking candidates but rather is a direct them to seek promotion externally. Some depart-
systematic set of opportunities. ments that have a very strong career planning ethic
often serve as feeder departments to those that don’t.
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE? There is an old saying, “If you don’t know where you
Now that we have defined these two, we need to are going, any road will take you there.” The concepts
discriminate between who is responsible for each. of career and succession planning are extremely useful
You are personally responsible for your own career in charting the road ahead. In a well-balanced system,
plan. The leadership of your fire agency is responsible there will be competition and spirited activity as part
for succession planning. If one of you does your job of career planning. This will lead to competition and
and the other doesn’t, there is a strong potential for spirited activity for the top jobs.
dysfunctional activity. The individual who sits in a fire station complain-
For example, what if you identify key people in ing about the way things are and fails to develop a
the organization as part of succession planning and career plan may have a job but not a career. A fire
those same people choose to ignore the opportunity department that has to continuously go outside to fill
by failing to have a career plan? What happens if you key positions may look like a fire department but is
have people who have invested a lot in their personal operating from a position of weakness.
development and the department does not provide
ample opportunity for those people to promote? The Ronny J. Coleman is a retired state fire marshal for the State of
solution to both of these processes is balance. California. He has achieved chief officer designation at both the
All organizations, no matter the size, need to have state and national levels. Coleman has a master of arts degree
some form of succession planning. All individuals in vocational education, a bachelor of science degree in political
within that organization need a career plan. Obviously, science, and an associate of arts degree in fire science. He is
in smaller organizations, the number of candidates is president of Fireforceone, a consulting firm in California.
1608fr_28 28 7/26/16 9:25 AM

ROOKIE to CHIEF . . . WE MEET ALL YOUR TRAINING NEEDS
FIREFIGHTER FIRE OFFICER FIRE CHIEF

Face-to-Face Traditional Recruit Academy Fire Ofcer I Fire Service Chief Executive Ofcer (FSCEO)
FirefghterAcademy.com (Blended Learning Recruit Academy) Fire Ofcer II Leadership Development Symposium
Fire Instructor I-III Fire Ofcer III
Fire Ofcer IV
Emergency Services Training Institute
Visit www.teex.org/esti or call 866.878.8900 for more information. firerescue.hotims.com

C13.6526.11
1608fr_29 29 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Thermal Imaging
Battling Wildfires Using TICs

ildland firefighters represent a unique group a TIC from a vehicle can assist the driver in navigating
W who battle wildfires without the use of a fire

truck filled with equipment. Fighting these
safely through the thick smoke. Just remember, a TIC
cannot see through glass—in this case, a windshield.
By Carl Nix
fires, which often spread across thousands of acres, If traveling by foot, firefighters can use the TIC to
requires many years of training, practice, and dedica- help identify safer travel routes based on the terrain
tion. It takes a special person to work under such rigid or fire movement. For instance, when searching for
conditions where smoke can be seen for miles and hot spots without the use of a TIC, firefighters have
hiking over rugged terrain is a requirement of the job. to crawl through or stir the brush to find hidden hot
Just a few months ago, a fire started in a trailer park spots, which can be time consuming.
in Fort McMurray, Canada, and spread quickly into TICs also provide an effective means of night vision.
the forest surrounding the city, forcing more than Since the TIC does not register light, its picture is
80,000 people to evacuate their homes. The high consistent regardless of daylight conditions. This can
temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds caused extend firefighting operations and enhance crew safety
this fire to spread quickly to the nearby forest. by improving accountability and providing views of
A friend of mine is a wildland firefighter in Texas surrounding terrain and potential escape routes.
and has battled some of the worst wildland fires Texas With the enhanced visibility that thermal imaging
has seen. When he talks about battling wildfires, he provides, wildland firefighters can be placed in key loca-
talks of fires that have raged for more than a year, tions where control lines must be constructed. Proper
burned 9.3 million acres, destroyed 3,000 homes, placement enhances the ability of firefighters to protect
and displaced 5,000 people. I realize that we live in exposures including structures, threatened habitats, and
completely different worlds as firefighters. critical infrastructure. Equipping ground crews with
As structural firefighters, my crew and I can contain a TICs can give them the ability to monitor fire condi-
fire in a few hours; wildland firefighters cannot. During tions in their immediate area, providing more localized,
the Texas wildfire, my friend was part of the initial advanced warning than might otherwise be possible.
attack crew that battled the fire for 30 hours. After 15 Using the TIC, wildland firefighters involved in
hours of rest, his crew was back on the job. prescribed burns can monitor the direction of the
Let’s take a look at how thermal imaging cameras fire and manage mop-up more effectively. A TIC can
(TICs) might help the wildland firefighter safely navi- effectively track and monitor the direction and volume
gate through thick smoke and poor visibility. of firebrands. During mop-up, crews with TICs can
When traveling by ground, the wildland firefighter’s scan burned areas to ensure that the fire is out.
vision may be obscured by smoke; using a TIC can The use of TICs in wildland firefighting operations
help identify safer travel routes based on terrain or offers firefighters many advantages, but be aware that
fire movement. Ground crews equipped with TICs thermal imaging technology is not a replacement for
can closely monitor fire conditions in their immediate basic firefighting tactics. There may be times in mop-
area and provide more localized, advanced warning up when a TIC cannot detect a hidden heat source,
when necessary. Using a TIC gives wildland firefight- such as when the heat exists deep within a tree trunk.
ers the added reassurance that they are not missing There may also be times when the image on the TIC
hot spots that could prove a threat to residential areas appears inconclusive to the firefighter.
or to themselves. A few years ago when my friend was Wildland firefighter safety and effectiveness can be
working a wildland fire (without the aid of a TIC), greatly enhanced with the use of thermal imaging
homes that appeared to be untouched by the fire were technology, but never abandon basic firefighting skills.
burning a day or two later. A TIC might have found When the TIC is not providing as much information as
these hidden fires, saving the homes. you need, be sure to rely on traditional techniques.
When firefighters travel by ground, either in a vehicle
or on foot, their vision may be obscured by the thick Carl Nix is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and a retired bat-
smoke of the fire. Wildland firefighters have told me talion chief of the Grapevine (TX) Fire Department. He serves as an
that they have no visibility in front of or behind them adjunct instructor for North Central Texas College and a thermal
when traveling in a vehicle. Some have described their imaging instructor for Bullard. Nix has a bachelor of science degree
vehicle as looking as if it was covered by a black sheet. in fire administration and is a guest instructor for Texas A&M Engi-
A TIC might be a huge benefit in this situation. Using neering Extension Service’s (TEEX) annual fire training in Texas.
1608fr_30 30 7/26/16 9:25 AM

1608fr_31 31 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Creating the Illinois
Fire Fighter Peer
Support Team
A peer support story

BY MATT OLSON
1608fr_32 32 7/26/16 9:25 AM

T
he Illinois Fire Fighter Peer Support Team’s mission is to help firefighters
understand and embrace their humanness. We are not superheroes; that is
simply a story made up of ink on paper—it isn’t real. What is real is that
each and every courageous act ever completed by a firefighter was done by
a human being. It means we can be incredibly caring, giving, strong, and capable.
It also means we can be hurt, we can struggle, and we can cry. All of this is the
truth about who we are.
You know that it is stressed through training that we make concerted efforts at
protecting our bodies. We fully encapsulate ourselves for an interior attack. We
The Illinois Fire Fighter Peer protect our respiratory systems by wearing self-contained breathing apparatus
Support Team was created, and sound the floor before walking across. We all understand the dangers that are
developed, and established
ever present physically and talk, train, and even attend. But do we understand the
to help firefighters and their
families and to help to change dangers that are also ever present mentally and emotionally?
the fabric of the fire service and We can if we talk about them by making it safe for me to struggle, making it
culture. (Photo by Tod Sudmeier.) safe for me to tell you that I am human. While every one of us can lift a five-
pound bag, there is a limit. Sooner or later, when the five-pound bag comes that I
cannot lift, allow me to be strong enough to ask for help and make it safe for you
to help me. We can listen to each other; there is power in a conversation. We can
understand each other when we have a shared experience. When we don’t, we can
validate that the struggle that our brother or sister experiences makes sense and is
real. We are not alone.
I want to share with you the impact my career had on me and my family and
what I did about it. I want to share so that you can see the mistakes that I made
as well as the way that, through a willing partner in my wife, I was able to get well
and learn to be not just a good firefighter but a good husband and father.
MY PATH
Forever, I wanted to be a firefighter, as my grandfather was a captain for the
city of Chicago and I spent a lot of time over there as a child. When I grew up
and got married, I was in college to be a respiratory therapist but was going to do
whatever it took to be a firefighter. It worked out for me in 1990.
The job meant everything to me. It was an opportunity for me to be able to
be secure in taking care of a family. More than that, it was an opportunity to do
this in a way that was incredibly gratifying and exciting. My wife was all in—and
happy to be along for the ride. She was happy that I was happy and also relieved
that we would be able to buy our first condo.
Things were great for what seemed like a long time. I worked my 24-hour
shifts, but we were able to spend time together on the days off. We traveled a lot
before we had kids. You could say we dated for 11 years and grew really close. My
wife was my best friend, and I loved her.
But my career began to consume me in many ways. I loved the rush, and I
loved the attention. Everyone loves firefighters. People were always happy to see
us. We were respected wherever we went. I loved that no matter where I went
people were, at a minimum, interested that I was a firefighter.
I also became involved with the union. I was negotiating contracts, arguing
with the administration over how the contract was applied, and settling griev-
ances. In many ways, my position within the union served to connect me more
with the fire department and the political structure here. Simply put, when there
were things that needed to be done, I was asked to help facilitate. Sometimes I
was asked by the fire department members, sometimes by the fire department
administration, sometimes by the mayor. There was no shortage of ways to feed
my ego.
This is about the time in my career when we had kids—two sons. During this
time, I was still able to remain connected to my wife. I didn’t see that there was any
fracture in our relationship. I saw all around me that the fire department was a mar-
riage graveyard but not for me. I was staying close with my wife, I was pretty sure.
1608fr_33 33 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Firefighters: Continue to take care of yourself and your brothers and sisters and make it safe for all of us to be human beings. (Photo by Jon Androwski.)
Our relationship had changed in that with the kids, and with my and spend time with them on my days off. But I didn’t dedicate
work, we had less time for each other. We didn’t share each other’s days to them; I gave them parts of days. I’d carve out an after-
experiences on a day-to-day basis like we had before. I thought this noon or a morning and stuff them full of attention. I wanted to
was okay and that we simply moved to another stage in our lives. fulfill them in a short time, make their time with me the best they
Our foundation was built, and it was time to enjoy the fruits of our have ever had. I was gone a lot, so I wanted to make the most of
labor in building that foundation, and it was okay to need less from the time I had.
each other. Besides, I was more than gratified by the highs I was Essentially, what ended up happening was that I became the
getting from the job on the fire department. parent who was exciting. I wasn’t really aware of this. Most of
what I did was exciting; why shouldn’t my time with my kids be?
OFF COURSE It didn’t occur to me that my wife’s experience was very different.
About this time I really wanted a promotion. I had spent my She was home. She took care of the day to day. She didn’t really
early years just enjoying being a firefighter, and riding backward have an opportunity to fly in and out like I did, giving the kids’
was enough for me; not anymore. I wanted to have my own moments of excitement. She was shopping for what they needed,
company. I wanted to make decisions and see if I had learned. I washing their clothes, taking care of the house, and checking off
wanted to do it better than any of my bosses. I became increas- every box on the checklist of things that needed to be done at
ingly focused on this. My kids were small, they had what they home. The lawn was mowed, there was always driveway chalk,
needed. Mom took care of most things. I was able to come home and when a neighbor wanted to complain about the kids not get-
ting along with his kid, my wife had
to field these complaints. I’d come
home and wonder why everyone
couldn’t just get along. Pretty much
at no time did I look at our new life
from her perspective.
I didn’t care. It isn’t that I wouldn’t
have, or didn’t want to; I just never
opened my eyes enough to see there
was a need to care. Things were
just fine for me; why shouldn’t they
be just fine for my wife and kids?
I didn’t care because I had what I
needed from the job. I had people
who respected me. Did my wife ever
1608fr_34 34 7/26/16 9:25 AM

feel that she had people who respected her? I had people who “file away” incidents. As I thought about her, I spent a lot of time
needed me both on and off the job. Did my wife ever feel like thinking about the people who remained after the tragic events
there was anyone for her outside of the kids? I had adrenaline- we as firefighters deal with: the parents, the children, the friends;
rushing events that I was a part of every third day. Did my wife it became very real and hard for me to separate.
ever have anything exciting happen for her? I worked on busy
companies; there was always something that was going to be TIME FOR A CHANGE
interesting at work, without fail. I took pleasure in the fact that I decided for me that I was finished with the fire department.
people had better lives because of me. People I had never met I couldn’t care anymore because I didn’t have the tools to protect
were better off when I left their home. People had contacted me myself. I was done. Suddenly, there were things that I needed that
when their life was at its worst and when I left things were better, weren’t being fulfilled at work. I began to look toward my wife.
usually much better. There were, of course, times when I couldn’t I realized that there was something wrong. She wasn’t there for
help at work. I was unable to make things better. I was okay with me in the way that I needed. She was, however, there for me in
this too. “I didn’t cause this problem,” I’d say. It certainly isn’t my the way that I was fine with for years. I realized that she didn’t
fault if it doesn’t get better. Did my wife ever feel like anyone was change, I did. When I was chugging along being fulfilled by work
better because of her? I didn’t tell her, even though I was better and attention, my wife had found a way on her own to take care
because of her. I didn’t know I needed to. I
was not paying attention.
LOSING TOUCH
Without ever realizing it, I had lost touch
with my wife. I felt so validated and ful-
filled in life that I didn’t need to reach out
for more. Did my wife feel validated and
fulfilled? Did she need more? Yes, she did,
but I didn’t see this. We did less together.
I thought this made sense. We have kids, I
am busy, and there just isn’t the time in the
day. It’s life. When we dated, my wife was
funny—very funny. I enjoyed every second
being around her. She was the easiest
company I have ever had. I never stopped
to think about that. Why don’t I miss that?
Why doesn’t she do those things anymore?
I was okay, and that was good enough for
me. She’ll speak up if she needs something.
YOU ARE DRIVEN TO
LEAD
I was wrong about that.
About now, my kids were older. By this
time, I had become so driven by my success
on the job I had ignored much about our
relationship. I thought that people stayed
together simply because they loved each
other. I never stopped to consider what
love was. What are her needs? How does
love continue to grow? How do I change
with her as life goes by and we grow into
WE ARE DRIVEN TO HELP YOU GET THERE.
different people than the ones who met 20
years ago? At American Military University, we understand where you’ve been, what you’ve done
I had a particularly difficult year right and what you’d like your team to achieve. Choose from more than 90 career-relevant
about here. I had some devastating losses online degrees—which can help your personnel advance their careers while serving
in my personal life. My family suffered their community. Your team will join 100,000 professionals gaining relevant skills that
through six significant deaths of people can be put into practice the same day. Take the next step, and learn from the leader.
close to us. Beyond these, we had a few
really tragic calls at work that for the first Visit us at www.PublicSafetyatAMU.com/FIRE-RESCUE
time in my career I couldn’t move past;
I was lost. The death of a friend’s child
brought the harsh reality of what I do for
a living to my doorstep. I could no longer
1608fr_35 35 7/26/16 9:25 AM

of her needs that I had left unattended. wife isn’t a feeling. It isn’t something that
She needed much less from me than I just happens to me. It is a choice that I
realized, and it was scary for me. make every day. When I understood it as
I thought at this time that I had two a choice, this love became so much more
choices. One was to live unhappily ever powerful, so much more gratifying than
after, and the other was to leave. I didn’t any other love I thought I had felt. I am
like either choice, and it drove me into a so much more connected to my wife’s
depression. I was afraid of this more than needs, my kids’ needs, and I am willing to
anything else; I had never felt this way. step out of my comfort zone to see that
Work no longer gratified me and home they are taken care of. It is more fulfilling
was not fulfilling. I had two sons who than the job ever could be.
adored me and would give anything of I still struggle with certain incidents at
themselves to please me. I was startled work. I still struggle with loss. I still have
at the level of disinterest I had in them to be cautious to not let the job become
as well. Could I have gotten so wrapped my life. I don’t struggle at home. I am
► Aluminum Construction up in my “second life” that my actual life aware of where I went wrong, and I feel
► Light Weight ( < 7 oz )
could really not matter? like I have the key. I have the answer to
Well, I did just that. I certainly didn’t how to stay in love with the three people
► Replaceable Steel Tips
set out to do it; I wouldn’t have con- who have always been there for me. Work
► Saddle Slot for Lanyard
sciously made that choice. Still, while still happens; I still care about the job. It
► Hitching Loop
I was busy taking care of everyone and isn’t who I am, though. My wife, my kids,
everything, I failed to take care of the that is who I am.
three people who needed me the most. I went through a period where I simply
I had done so much damage to the one coasted through my marriage to be the
thing that really mattered. I was sure that best firefighter I could be. I see now that
there were no options. I was brought into while it is a tremendously difficult profes-
the fire service with the culture being, sion, a tremendously rewarding profes-
“Handle it.” This was particularly terrify- sion, it is a profession that can change
ing because I couldn’t handle it. What us deep within ourselves—sometimes
TALON
™ do I do now? I didn’t understand. I had for the better, sometimes not. I cannot
done everything right; at least that’s what allow life to pass me by. I pay attention. I
I believed. I loved my wife. I never looked realize that life is a series of moments and
UL CERTIFIED to another to replace my wife. I loved there is none more important than this
NFPA ESCAPE ANCHOR my kids and I gave them the time that I one. I make sure that my wife feels each
had. Did I do everything right? I didn’t. moment with me as if she is all that mat-
Fire Innovations’ TALON Hook is I looked at where I was and realized that ters, because she is. I make sure that my
an advanced anchoring option there was much that I didn’t understand kids feel each moment with me as if they
for emergency escape. Precision and didn’t know how to navigate. I also are all that matter, because they are. Then
machined from 7000 series was fortunate in that I realized just how I go to work and do the best I can.
aluminum, and replaceable steel tips, much I had to lose. These are the personal reasons that I
it provides secure remote anchoring
became involved with the Illinois Fire
through the hitching slot, or can be
used as a hook anchor at the sill. SEEKING HELP Fighter Peer Support (ILFFPS) Team. I
I reached out to a professional coun- know now that I am not and never was an
Weighing less than 7 ounces, the selor and asked for help. I was really outlier. There are people in this business
TALON minimizes the weight of the nervous at first because I had never done who see and do what I do each and every
entire escape system. this before. In some ways, I considered day. They are impacted by these things,
myself a failure for doing this. Why was and many came to me to tell me their
When paired with the CORE device
everyone else able to handle their lives story and revealed just how normal mine
and TSAFE Escape Rope, it creates
the most versatile firefighter escape and I wasn’t? What participation was was. No one understands a firefighter like
system available. required by me? How much did I have another firefighter. We can talk with each
to tell? I was scared. What happened was other without needing to explain all of it.
Patent pending. Made in the USA. awesome. I was able to essentially put We understand the firehouse, the meals,
so many things that didn’t make sense the bunk room, the politics, and the entire
Toll Free in their proper place. I was also able to environment. We also know what it feels
866.347.3466 put things that did make sense in their like to see and do these things. I have had
email place too: my wife, my sons, my job, my it described to me as a career that can leave
info@fireinnovations.com life. Today, I realize that my love for my you with a broken body and a head full
Website
fireinnovations.com
Additional Information FireF ighterNatioN .com
1608fr_36 36 7/26/16 9:25 AM

of bad memories. It can be that, but it the training engaged and allowed himself
doesn’t have to be. to be vulnerable because he himself
wanted to be. Members wanted to be
ILLINOIS FIRE FIGHTER among their peers and connect in a way
PEER SUPPORT TEAM that had been frowned on in the fire
In 2013, the Illinois Fire Fighter Peer service culture for so long. For many, it
Support (ILFFPS) Team was an idea that was liberating and exciting; many walked
began to be worked out in the basement away with a new view on themselves as
of Bolingbrook’s Station 5. With a group well as an inspired vision for how they
of motivated firefighters and a mental wanted to share this message. Others
health professional, we talked, we worked, came to heal themselves through the
and we wrote. We discussed how to be power of conversation and connection.
there for each other and how to make it
► Aluminum Construction
safe for firefighters to ask for help. How ACCESSIBLE SUPPORT
do we make it safe to hurt, to talk to With growing team member counts ► Hands-free exit
another, to listen to someone, and to share and our ability to be more and more ► Intuitive use
our stories? We wanted this to be more accepted, we applied additional struc- ► No mechanical parts
than critical incident stress debriefing; ture to this concept. The structure was ► Deploys over a window sill
we wanted to make a culture change. We important: As firefighters saw there was a ► Effortless payout (<4lbs)
did not know if we would get a chance place where they could talk; listen; and,
to make this out of the basement, but we most importantly, be heard by fellow
knew we had to try. This was too impor- firefighters, we wanted to make sure
tant: Firefighters were hurting with no that actually happened. They now could
outlets that were consistently good or safe; reach out to our team through our Web
the hemorrhaging had to stop. site, our Facebook page, or our toll-free
So we began reaching out to fire depart- number.
ments in Illinois. We created a Facebook We knew that when a firefighter made
page, a training curriculum, and a policies the courageous choice to reach out via
and procedures manual. We asked fire- the toll-free telephone number or the
fighters to allow themselves to be human e-mail link on the Illinois Fire Fighter
CORE
in an effort to make sure that other Peer Support Team’s Web site (www. ™
firefighters could be as well. We shared ilffps.org), we better respond. We have
7.5
our stories. We asked Illinois firefighters made it policy for a member of ILFFPS
to welcome a chance to create a group intake to respond to any inquiry within UL CERTIFIED NFPA
that could and would be available in their 24 hours, and usually much sooner. DESCENT CONTROL DEVICE
times of need. They responded. They also Our intake coordinators gather some
shared, and the stories that were told were background information, listen to the The CORE is an Escape Class Descent
compelling. They made others feel nor- firefighters’ stories, and validate their Control Device as specified by NFPA
mal. They “made it safe” for us to talk to feelings and reassure them that they are 1983-2012. It has been tested and
certified with 7.5mm escape ropes,
each other and to open up conversations safe and not alone! They then send a
such as Sterling Rope’s FireTech,
that had been waiting to be had. message to the entire team of 100-plus EscapeTech and TSAFE.
As we continued to bring the con- trained peer supporters across the Illinois
cept of peer support to firefighters, we with some general information about the Constructed from highest grade
made sure to remind them that this was request to see who can help. aluminum, and intuitive design, this
something that they have been doing As an example, the e-mail may say, descent device is the CORE of any
all along. We weren’t creating anything “We have a 35-year-old male firefighter bailout system.
new; we were just giving it a name. It is in the Champaign County area who has
Its use of advance physics, eliminates
less like we furnished a room with new been on the job 10-plus years dealing
the need for cams, levers, or moving
ideas and more like we just turned on a with a fatal fire. Who can help?” And, parts. Consistent deployments and
light switch in a dark room and what the within a couple of hours, there are safe descents are its genesis.
light exposed was peer support already always 10-15 willing and ready ILFFPS
happening. As we held classes and added Team members who want to help that Patent pending. Made in the USA.
members to the team, we found after firefighter. Why? Because they have been
each time that we were creating some- there and have experienced something Toll Free
thing powerful for the fire service culture similar, and they might have struggled 866.347.3466
and that we were creating a team within through it on their own and they never email
a team. Each member who went through want another firefighter to struggle alone info@fireinnovations.com
Website
fireinnovations.com
FireFighterNatioN .com Additional Information
1608fr_37 37 7/26/16 9:25 AM

again. The requester and the ILFFPS peer supporter are matched is firefighter led with the second half of the second day clini-
with e-mail and telephone numbers to begin a dialogue and cian led. ILFFPS’s curriculum was developed this way to allow
relationship. If, at any time, there is a need for crisis intervention firefighters to bond together without an “outsider” or a clinician
and/or professional counseling, an ILFFPS clinical director and there. ILFFPS’s initial curriculum was completely clinician led,
consultant are a phone call away. They will assist in stabilization, which over time was found to not be as effective as it did not
if needed, and also find and match that requestor with a therapist allow firefighters to connect and work together in the way the
from the developing network of firefighter friendly clinicians training was intended. The new curriculum also stresses how
across Illinois. Any clinician who is matched has been recom- important it is for firefighters to understand that superheroes are
mended to us by a firefighter and understands firefighters, their ink on paper. Firefighters are human beings who are asked on
culture, their job, and the trauma associated with this job. a daily basis to fulfill their calling and perform under the most
difficult and stressful circumstances to make a difference in the
TEAM PREPARATION lives of any and all members of the public who are in need. In
Our current ILFFPS Team members complete a 16-hour initial fulfilling that calling, we do everything in our power to offer
training over two days. The training includes a day and a half that protection and safety to anyone who lives, works, plays, or travels
through the area for which we are respon-
sible. Firefighters rescue, and they do it
knowing that tragedy will unfortunately
find them—sometime, somewhere—and
they will be left to sort out that trauma and
tragedy together, and together we are stron-
ger. Without our ability to make it safe to
be together when we are injured, who do
we turn to when everyone turns to us? We
must be together and make it safe.
Following ILFFPS’s training, supporters
are encouraged to provide outreach/educa-
tion to their departments, fire academies,
mutual-aid box alarm system divisions,
etc.; complete 10-plus hours of continu-
ing education each year; and participate in
quarterly team meetings when scheduled.
The team is currently made up of more
than 100 active peer supporters who are
broken into teams by where they live and
work in the state. The four regional coor-
dinators cover the Northeast/Northwest,
Southwest Suburbs/Cook County, East
Central/West Central, and South Central/
South. Depending on the size of the peer
supporters groups, nine program coordi-
nators are assigned teams of 10-15 peer
supporters. The leadership is made up of
a board of directors, a program director, a
lead program coordinator, a clinical direc-
tor, and a clinical consultant. There are also
specialty programs developed for family/
significant others, faith-based peer sup-
port, retiree peer support, and an ongoing
initiative that provides peer support group
discussions at the Rosecrance Florian Pro-
gram, a one-of-a-kind inpatient program
for firefighters who are dealing with a co-
occurring diagnosis in Rockford, Illinois.
SHARING THE PROGRAM

Because of the overwhelming need to
make it safe for each other and to have our
FireF ighterNatioN .com
1608fr_38 38 7/26/16 9:25 AM

brothers and sisters not feel alone, we have
developed our program into a format that
allows any department that reaches out to JSA-365
us the opportunity to have access to what Plastic Backboard
we have learned, created, and developed so
that firefighters do not have to continue
to suffer in silence. ILFFPS is dedicated
to providing fire departments and those
JSA-365
who reach out with the ability to create,
develop, and implement their own emo-
tional/behavioral health plans/programs
and standard operating procedures or
guidelines based on what we have learned.
We have given our materials to depart-
ments and states all over the nation and Rugged one piece lightweight polyethylene spineboard with twelve large Specifcations
have even been invited to train and teach hand holes for easy handling and built in runners. It has a low profile and Dimensions: 72” L x 16”W
in places like Palm Beach County, Florida, Load Capacity: 400 lbs.
is X-ray translucent. Shipping Weight: 16 lbs.
and Anchorage, Alaska. We have been hon- Color: Bright Yellow
The Model JSA-365-S Plastic Backboard with speed clip pins is also available.
ored and energized by these requests and
continue to work hard for our firefighters
here at home and elsewhere. PROUDLY MANUFACTURED IN THE USA
Thus, the Illinois Fire Fighter Peer

Support Team was created, developed, and
established to help firefighters and their
families and to help to change the fabric of
888-458-6546

the fire service and culture. ILFFPS is S A F E T Y A P P L I A N C E CO M PA N Y
more than a group of firefighters—it’s a www.junkinsafety.com

way of life, a lifestyle. ILFFPS encourages
its members and those who are provided firerescue.hotims.com
and engage in ILFFPS’s outreach to listen,
understand, and validate the feelings of
other firefighters and to allow their
brothers and sisters to feel and be. ILFFPS
UNIT 148
remains committed to providing outreach,
support, and education to both active and
retired members as well as family and
significant others. Firefighters: Continue
to take care of yourself and your brothers THE SENTINEL
360 Pound Capacity
and sisters and make it safe for all of us to
be human beings. . $690
rs ..........
e
Reclin nd
Matt Olson is a 27-year veteran of the fire service and a 1065
Sofas ats ........ $
e
a lieutenant with the Bolingbrook (IL) Fire Department, Loves
where he has been a member since 1994. He is also
the District 4 vice president with the Associated Fire
Fighters of Illinois and the president emeritus for the
Bolingbrook Fire Fighters Association Local 3005. Olson THE XTINGUISHER
has extensive experience in contract negotiations THE SENTRY
and grievance resolution from working with his local
and state organizations. He has seen the benefits of AMERICA
AMERIIC STRONG
CA STRONG
reaching out and talking about the impact his career
can and did have on him and his family, both person- Call Toll Free:
ally and professionally. Professional counseling was
a necessary port in the storm for Olson when his life 888-380-2345
became the hardest; he realized that true strength is Visit Our fifirestationoutfitters.com
firesta
not in continuing to try and carry burdens alone but in Website To See For more information contact dave@firestationoutfitters.com
Our Full Line Of
letting go and reaching out for help. Sofas, Loveseats
& Chairs Furniture for all Firehouse & EMS applications:
recliners, day rooms, administration areas, equipment
1608fr_39 39 7/26/16 9:25 AM

We saw how using and sharing our data with our field personnel
could have a positive impact on our service to our community.
(Photos courtesy of Orange County Fire Rescue Department.)
Using technology and data

to improve operations in the field
BY OTTO DROZD III
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
I
n 2009, after being appointed chief of the Orange County
Fire Rescue Department (OCFRD) in central Florida, I To address these issues and others, we initiated a strategic plan-
found an organization that was experiencing population ning process that would accomplish three things:
growth, higher call volumes, record numbers of tourists, • Provide for a higher level of transparency and accountability,
and heavier traffic congestion. The challenge quickly became with the objective of providing information that would tell
putting into place a process that would constantly evaluate and citizens what they’re getting for their money and the results
leverage existing resources while being able to rationally respond they could expect.
to existing and future service demands. The challenge was made • Develop performance indicators across every service and pro-
more difficult because, like other departments across the nation, gram area to allow employees at every level of the organization
OCFRD was facing financial pressures because of the housing to see how their efforts contribute toward the achievement of
crisis and subsequent recession’s impact on local government our goals and objectives.
budgets. In other words, the department was being asked to do • Enhance the credibility of the organization by clearly setting
more with less. service-level expectations for the community that reflect the
1608fr_40 40 7/26/16 9:25 AM

available resources and investment in the department. TRACKING MEASURES
To truly bring the strategic plan to life, we knew we needed We had always emphasized minimizing call-processing time
a more efficient and effective way of tracking performance in and turn-out time, but until we used our data to show depart-
every area, especially those that directly impacted members of ment members each and every day how they were perform-
the community, such as our emergency dispatch center and field ing, we struggled to improve in a manner that sustained itself
operations. The department knew that if technology could be consistently. Using our data; providing real-time feedback; and
harnessed to make those measures available in real time, without emphasizing improvement, not punishment, made all the differ-
significantly adding to our workload, we could unleash the natu- ence. Shortly after focusing directly on call processing and turn-
ral tendency of public safety employees to reach the highest level out times, we began to see a significant difference. Today, our call
of performance possible. processing time has improved from two minutes 16 seconds to 57
seconds at the 90th percentile. Our 90th percentile turn-out time
CALL PROCESSING AND TURN OUT for EMS incidents has improved from one minute 42 seconds
Early on, we saw how using and sharing our data with our to 60 seconds, and our turn-out time for fire calls has improved
field personnel could have a positive impact on our service to our from one minute 25 seconds to 53 seconds at the 90th percentile.
community. Under pressure to keep response times from increas- Out of 243 performance measures in our strategic business
ing further, we knew we couldn’t drive faster, nor could we just plan, call processing and response time are just two examples of
build more stations or add additional units
without significant investment in terms of
both funds and time. So we looked at those
elements of response time that were within
our control and could be reduced without
additional resources. Within the cascade of
events that occur from the time an emer-
gency begins to the time we arrive on scene,
what are elements of response time that we
can control? The most obvious, and possibly
only, answers were call processing (the time
it takes to answer and process a call and
dispatch units) and turn out (the time from
the alarm sounding to the units leaving the
station).
Both of these times had increased
well above where we wanted them to
be: Call processing 90th percentile time
was approaching two and a half minutes
while turn-out time was approaching two
minutes, a significant portion of the overall
response. We knew these areas presented
a prime opportunity to impact overall
response time.
Focusing on customer service and
performance rather than compliance with
a standard, OCFRD launched a quality
improvement program using FirstWatch
software to measure call processing and
turn-out time performance. Communica-
tors in the dispatch center and firefighters
in all 41 stations could access real-time
gauges and reports that displayed their
performance. In addition, the software
provided supervisors and chief officers with
e-mail and text alerts when times exceeded
the standards. Quickly, we began to see dif- firerescue.hotims.com
ferences in our communications center and
among companies as they began to bench-
mark against each other, looking for ways
to improve their own internal processes to
improve performance.
1608fr_41 41 7/26/16 9:25 AM

ISFI Real-Time Data
2016 While most fire departments measure response times,

some are beginning to use technology to track metrics
that are more closely related to key processes and out-
comes—not just in EMS but also on the fireground. By
September collecting and analyzing real-time data from its computer-

aided dispatch system, the Orange County Fire Rescue
12-14 Department has begun measuring and tracking its times

to perform the following tasks at fires:
• Establish two out.
Scottsdale, AZ • Establish a rapid intervention team.
• Establish a water supply.
• Put water on the fire.
• Contain the fire.
Sponsored By: • Initiate a primary search.
• Complete a primary search.
• Initiate a secondary search.
• Complete a secondary search.
• Establish ventilation.
• Extinguish the fire completely.
Measuring and examining performance in these areas
on a daily basis not only helps the department improve
Don’t miss this biennial event!

operations, provide for firefighter safety, and enhance
service to the community, it also helps Orange County Fire
Meets full CFEI recertification requirements Rescue keep an eye on metrics that are used to determine
the community’s ISO rating and the department’s accredi-
tation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
Join us for the 2016 how we began to use and communicate data that would help
International Symposium us bring our strategic vision to life. We built several opera-
tional performance measures into our strategic plan that go
on Fire Investigation beyond the typical structural measures tracked by fire depart-
Science & Technology. ments. While 911 callers care that we arrive on scene quickly,
they also want us to put the fire out quickly, so we are now
This is a prestigious global forum
tracking how long it takes firefighters to establish a water sup-
where the industry’s top professionals ply, put water on the fire, and initiate primary and secondary
gather to present and discuss the searches.
latest advancements in fire investigation We certainly don’t know if every measure we are look-
ing at today is the exact right one, and we expect that many
science, research and technology.
will change as we continue to refine and improve our pro-
cesses. But as I’ve told my immediate reports in the past, “If
Past conferences have drawn delegates we say it’s important to us, then we should measure it for
from four continents and more than 20 countries. improvement.”
Tracking these measures is critically important to know-
A full schedule of events offers ample opportunities
ing whether we are providing the high level of service that
for learning, socializing and networking at the the public expects and deserves. By putting these measures
beautiful Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch. in the strategic plan and sharing the results with all members
of the department, each firefighter, telecommunicator, and
REGISTER AT NAFI.ORG administrative staff member knows exactly what the mission
is and whether the agency is achieving it. They also under-
stand the importance of accurate data entry and timely report
For more information, completion.
call 877-506-NAFI
1608fr_42 42 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Fire departments that do not take advantage of the troves of data
they have in their hands will find themselves lacking accountabil-
ity, situational awareness, and the ability to improve operations.
areas of the county as development continued and

the population grew.
As a result, county officials allocated $30 million
to construct new stations to help meet demand. In
an era when the public and local governments expect
higher accountability and return on investment,
OCFRD’s use of data and performance measures
likely helped assure county officials that our request
for more resources was based on an analysis of current
resources, demand, and performance.
Using data to create a results-oriented organization
shouldn’t be limited to new tech start-ups or
BEYOND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT manufacturers. Fire departments that do not take advantage of
There are other, less obvious gains from conducting inter- the troves of data they have in their hands will find themselves
nal performance improvement efforts and not being afraid to lacking accountability, situational awareness, and the ability to
share the results internally and externally. By showing that we improve operations.
were capable of shaving time from our response without any
additional resources, we demonstrated an understanding that Otto Drozd III, EFO, CFO, is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and has been chief
budgets are limited and money doesn’t fix every problem. In the of the Orange County (FL) Fire Rescue Department since 2012. He previously served
end, that dedication probably helped us convince local officials as chief in El Paso, Texas, and Hialeah, Florida. Drozd was awarded a fire service
that we weren’t simply asking for more money because it was fellowship to attend Harvard University’s Senior Executives in State and Local
something everyone always did—even with those impressive Government Program in 2010. He has a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic
improvements, our response time still wasn’t adequate to certain University and a master’s degree from St. Thomas University.
FireFighterNatioN .com a ugust 2016 F ire r escue M agazine 43
1608fr_43 43 7/26/16 9:25 AM

A look at firefighter
physical fitness
and VO2 max
BY TY WHEELER
Firefighting is a strenuous profession. It is clear now more

than ever: We need to be in top physical shape to perform
in these harsh conditions. (Photo by Tod Sudmeier.)
1608fr_44 44 7/26/16 9:25 AM

irefighting is a strenuous profession. It demands a great
deal of physical endurance and strength—probably
more so than just about any other occupation. It is clear
now more than ever: We need to be in top physical
shape to perform in these harsh conditions.
We are all aware of the line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) related to
cardiovascular compromise. They account for nearly 50 percent
of all firefighter fatalities annually. When we correlate the United
States Fire Administration’s firefighter fatality statistics with the
Center for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports on cardiac-related LODDs,
we find two standard recommendations: (1) “Expand or imple-
ment periodic medical evaluations per National Fire Protection
Association 1582, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of
Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) ...”; and
(2) “Implement a mandatory wellness/fitness program to reduce
the risk of cardiovascular disease and improve cardiovascular
function.”
In addition to the NIOSH recommendations, research on the VO2 max equipment. (Photo by author at Engineered Per4mance.)
subject of firefighter health and fitness consistently produces the
same conclusions and recommendations. For example, Baur, et.al. Oxygen demands are also influenced by the environment, personal
assert that, “Low CRF (cardiorespiratory fitness) is an important protective equipment, and internal and external stresses. The body
risk factor for the development of obesity, hypertension, and can only use so much oxygen. This is referred to as maximal oxygen
other cardiovascular risk factors as well as coronary heart disease, uptake (VO2 max) and is described as the greatest amount of oxygen
stroke ....”1 Although these issues have been brought to the that can be used at the cellular level for the entire body. (3) To
forefront of the fire service, we still see a lack of commitment and simplify, when performing strenuous work, you will eventually reach
understanding by firefighters on how to improve their physical your VO2 max, at which point you will no longer be able to work
fitness and a general oversight by department heads to implement any harder. This value is considered one of the best assessments of
such programs. cardiorespiratory fitness in the fitness industry.
A study performed by the New England Journal of Medicine
CARDIOVASCULAR FITNESS discusses VO2 max: “Exercise capacity is a more powerful predic-
There are several key measurements that can help predict the tor of mortality among men than other established risk factors for
overall well-being of a firefighter. One of the most important cardiovascular disease.”4 It also has been reported by the Journal of
is cardiovascular fitness. Cardiovascular fitness is an important Obesity that, “Cardiorespiratory fitness declines with aging general
aspect of firefighting because of the stress the body endures dur- population … about 1.6 percent per year … decline in peak VO2
ing firefighting operations. five percent-10 percent per decade.”(1)
Cardiovascular fitness should be a top priority in any firefighter How does this translate to the fire service? Oxygen uptake
fitness program, but it must also be appropriate for the work that is determined by the amount of work being performed. So, if
we do. Whether you’re a CrossFitter or a power lifter, a firefighter we have a limited air supply and reach our VO2 max, we have
or a football player, your fitness regimen must be tailored to reached the greatest effort we can give. If we are stretching line
your work to gain the most benefit. A study published by Dr. into an apartment fire up smoke-filled stairs, we are already using
Shehab Mahmoud Abd El- Kader in the European Journal of our SCBA air supply and increasing our oxygen demand because
General Medicine stated that the “significant increase in VO2 max of the restricted breathing we encounter with the apparatus (usu-
is related to the effect of exercise either aerobic or anaerobic and ally around a 15 percent reduction). When we reach the top of
improves the respiratory function as vital capacity, inspiratory the stairs and start to make the push, we need to be able to con-
reserve volume, and expiratory reserve volume of the lungs, also tinue to perform our job, even as the conditions we enter may get
the stroke volume of the heart increase by regular exercise.”2 worse. At this point, we are already reaching extreme heart rate,
and our VO2 has already significantly increased. Our oxygen is
OXYGEN UPTAKE getting consumed at a higher rate because of the intensity of the
To fully understand this assertion, we must first understand activities being performed. If something occurs during these typi-
oxygen uptake, which, according to the National Strength and cal firefighting tasks that requires even more physical effort (such
Conditioning Association (NSCA), is the amount of oxygen con- as the need for self-rescue or victim removal), are you going to be
sumed by the body’s tissue.3 This value is related to the amount of able to perform, or have you already reached your VO2 max?
work being performed by the body. When the body’s muscles are
working harder, the oxygen demands will be greater; therefore, THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF VO2 MAX
more oxygen will be consumed to be transported to the body’s VO2 max is a scientific assessment completed by a trained
tissue to continue to perform the work. When larger muscles are provider, either a physician or a certified trainer. This test requires
involved in the activity, the amount of oxygen needs increases. a cardio machine, typically a treadmill, but steppers, rowers, or
1608fr_45 45 7/26/16 9:25 AM

BREATHING ON BORROWED TIME
Left: The beginning of the test. Right: The middle of the test.
(Photos by author at Engineered Per4mance.)
a bike can be used. A VO2 max machine (metabolic assessment

machine) will be connected to the participant and to a com-
puter to capture statistics live. To determine aerobic capacity, the
machine will measure oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide as
well as total volume of air exchange. In addition, maximal heart
rate, lactate acid threshold, and anabolic threshold data might be
gathered as well, depending on your evaluator.
The test is completed with a mask over the candidate’s mouth
and nose with a hose to the VO2 machine, and the candidate is
typically hooked up to a heart rate monitor. The test begins with
a slow walk or easy cardio exercise. As the test progresses, the
difficulty of the aerobic exercise will increase in increments until
the candidate reaches the maximal intensity. At this point, the
test will be stopped and results will be produced. Testing your
VO2 max will vary depending on your location. This test is not
available at every hospital or physical therapy facility, but sports
medicine and sport performance facilities are going to be the best
places to start.
THE REGIMEN
Studies have discovered firefighting activities require a VO2 max
of 33.9 to 45mL/kg/min to safely perform the required tasks on
the fireground. Once you have determined your current VO2 max,
you can develop a regimen, as prescribed by your physical fitness
coordinator, strength and conditioning coach, or physician. In
general, a program of high-intensity interval training or metabolic
conditioning tailored to your fitness level should be designed.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The results of implementing a cardiovascular improvement
regimen will vary, but they can range from a five- to a 30-percent
increase in VO2 max over a six- to 12-month period. (3) When
performing these training intervals, it is important to note other
physiological changes also take place. According to the NSCA,
1608fr_46 46 7/26/16 9:25 AM

these changes include increased respiratory Physical Activity and Adiposity,” Journal of Obesity,
capacity, lower blood lactate concentration, 2012, 1-6.
increased mitochondrial and capillary den- 2. Abd El- Kader, Shehab Mahmoud, “Aerobic Exercise
sity, and improved enzyme activity. (3) Training Improves Cardiopulmonary Fitness among
Many great resources are out there to Firefighters,” European Journal of General Medicine,
determine what exercise is best for your December 2010, 352-358.
personal goals; each needs to be tailored to 3. National Strength and Conditioning Association,
your fitness level. When starting a program, Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning,
it is recommended you consult your physi- 2015.
cian and complete a health assessment. 4. Myers, J., Prakash, M., Froelicher, V., Do, D., Par-
tington, S., and Atwood, J. E. “Exercise capacity and
THE FIRST STEP mortality among men referred for exercise testing,”
Firefighting is a physically demanding New England Journal of Medicine, 2002, 346(11),
profession. As previously discussed, VO2 793-801.
max is a big factor in a firefighter’s overall
fitness and is a predictor of overall well- Ty Wheeler is a firefighter/ paramedic with the Grimes
being and ability to perform our duties. (IA) Fire and Rescue Department and has been with the
Determining your VO2 max is a great The computer with results during the test. fire service for nine years. He has an associate’s degree
starting point as you move forward on your (Photo by author at Engineered Per4mance.) in applied science in paramedicine and a bachelor’s
fitness journey. degree of science in fire science administration from
Waldorf University. Wheeler has obtained several fire service certifications at the state
REFERENCES and national level. He is a member of the Iowa Society of Fire Service Instructors and
1. Baur, D. M., Christophi, C. A., Francis Cook, E., and Kales, S. N. “Age-Related the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Wheeler is an instructor with the
Decline in Cardiorespiratory Fitness among Career Firefighters: Modification by Iowa Fire Service Training Bureau and the founder of Firefighter Tactical Fitness.
You protect the people.

We protect the gear.

CABINET DRYERS
TUMBLE DRYERS
WASHER-EXTRACTORS
Gear Guardian® washer-extractors, dryers, and
drying cabinets are made specifically for heavy,

bulky turnout gear. They are pre-programmed
with NFPA 1851 compliant formulas to
make caring for your gear hassle-free.
Contact an authorized Milnor distributor

or call 800-469-8780 to learn more

about Milnor’s Gear Guardian line.
www.milnor.com Pellerin Milnor Corporation © 2016
1608fr_47 47 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Regardless of the cause, the initial response
following a large-scale incident is determin-
ing the size and scope of the impact on the
community. (Photo by Jon Androwski.)
cenario: During the overnight hours, your region was hit by a the community. The windshield survey or initial damage assess-
series of storms and tornadoes, which caused significant ment allows incident commanders (ICs) to determine how much
damage. As dawn approaches, emergency responders are damage has occurred; evaluate immediate needs to ensure the
directed to conduct a windshield survey to gain situational awareness, health, safety, and security of the community; and provide a basis
allowing emergency managers to develop a common operating for near- and long-term needs such as mass-care shelters, food, and
picture, develop incident priorities, and initiate a response and infrastructure restoration.
recovery plan. Your station is ordered to conduct a survey within the Assessment of structures in the damaged area is focused on the
first-due area and report your findings within the next two hours. safety of the building, the ability of the infrastructure to support
Fortunately, large-scale emergencies and disasters that over- sanitation for occupants, and the security of the structure from
whelm resources and communities are a rare occurrence. How- further damage. Generally speaking, structures may be free from
ever, when they do happen, the ability to quickly determine the impact; impacted; or have minor, moderate, or major damage.
extent of the incident and an estimate of the community impact Impacted: Impacted buildings are those buildings that have not
are critical to developing a common operating picture, develop- been damaged, but the disaster makes the ability to access or use
ing a plan to respond to the incident, and initiating community the structure difficult or impossible. For example, a home in a
recovery. Much like patient assessment, size-up, or triage, the flood plain that is lifted off the ground but that has water under
initial damage assessment serves as the starting point for the and surrounding the building is impacted. The structural stability
response and recovery process. is unaffected, but access is diminished.
Minor damage: A building that has received minor damage has
DAMAGE EVALUATION received damage to noncritical components—for example, minor
Regardless of the cause, the initial response following a large- drywall damage with no damage to sewer, sanitation, and water
scale incident is determining the size and scope of the impact on systems. These buildings can be used for habitation with minor
1608fr_48 48 7/26/16 9:25 AM

repair. For example, a building that has received damage to windows or roof coverings
with the roof deck still intact is classified as minor damage. The building is fit for human
habitation and can be made secure with minor repairs, such as boarding the windows or
placing a tarp over roof openings.
Moderate damage: Buildings that have received damage to structurally significant
members or systems but can be repaired are considered to be moderately damaged. An
example of a moderately damaged building would be one where there is significant dam-
age to a nonload-bearing wall. This will require a larger level of temporary repair to make
the structure secure for habitation.
Major damage: Finally, buildings in which the structural members have been sig-
nificantly damaged or destroyed or which have had the sewer, sanitation, or electrical
systems destroyed are considered to have received major damage or are classified as
destroyed since they are no longer fit for human habitation. This also includes total dam-
age to support systems with no damage to the structure itself. For example, floods often
destroy sewer and water systems below raised trailers. This makes the trailer unfit for
habitation until the systems can be replaced or repaired. The structure is sound but unfit
for habitation, so it is classified as either major damage or destroyed.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
In addition to providing an estimate of the overall damage to structures within the
community, the initial damage assessment also provides an estimate on the current and
projected threats to the health of the community. This includes the development of a
current casualty estimate as well as future health threats from recovery operations, water
and food safety, and sanitation needs. Following disasters, there will likely be an increase
in injuries because of recovery and cleanup including soft tissue injuries from saws and
debris, eye injuries, and damage to bones and joints as well as lower back injuries.
As part of the initial damage assessment, responders will want to note the status of
critical infrastructure and key resources. This will include the condition of roadways,
Initial bridges, and tunnels; the ability of critical rail, airport, and marine facilities to function;
and the operational condition of the electrical distribution network, sewer, and sanita-
damage tion systems. The condition of these systems will help determine the speed at which
assistance can be delivered to the impacted area and the life support capabilities for the
assessment community.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
following Once the initial damage assessment is completed, the information is compiled and
integrated with other reports to provide a global, community impact assessment.
a disaster Additional information from nontraditional sources, such as social media, will also be
included in an effort to develop a valid situational assessment of the incident scope and
size. From this initial information, ICs and emergency managers can identify response
BY DAVE and recovery priorities, determine resource needs, and begin the process of developing
DONOHUE and implementing a response and recovery plan. This includes the rapid deployment of
available resources as well as determining resources needed for sustained operations and
support needed for the community and response elements.
Rapid assessment of the condition of a community is critical to establishing incident
priorities, response planning—and a recovery strategy. This assessment is dependent on
Example of damage emergency responders and trained damage assessment teams to identify the condition of
assessment requirements structures within the community and the ability to maintain community infrastructure
for water damage and support. Emergency responders should be familiar with the damage assessment
• Estimating the depth of water requirements of emergency operations centers during and following large-scale incidents
• 2½ inches per course of bricks to improve short- and long-term operations and rapid community recovery.
• 4 or 8 inches per course of siding
• 7 inches per stair riser Dave Donohue, MA, CEM, EMT-P, MEP, has been active in the emergency services field for more than 35 years. He
is a member of the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway (MD) and is a member of the South Central (PA) Incident
• 8 inches per course of cinder block
Management Team. Donohue has more than 12 years serving as a safety officer for federal incident management
• 36 inches to the doorknob
and response teams. He is the owner of Mid-Atlantic Emergency and Safety Consultants, LLC. He can be reached
• 6 feet, 7 inches for a standard door at dave@mid-atlanticemergency.biz.
1608fr_49 49 7/26/16 9:25 AM

Knowledge is your basic defense. Learn more, make sure your SCBA
and PPE equipment is intact and up to date, and check into metering
devices to protect yourself and your team. (Photo by Scott LaPrade.)
The Evil Twins

HCN and CO in firefighting and EMS
BY GRIFF MASON
S
moke and gases generated in today’s fires are more need to understand about HCN and its “evil twin,” carbon
dangerous than they’ve ever been. Thankfully, more monoxide (CO). I’ll also be sharing sources for more informa-
knowledge and better equipment can help us deal tion, training, and sample HCN standard operating guide-
with that increased danger. lines (SOGs) as I go.
Have you or members of your team experienced a headache,
sore throat, or nausea after a fire? My guess is your answer is THE DANGER OF HCN
yes and, if so, you have been warned there’s more you need to Why is HCN so dangerous? The answer begins with the
know. The reality is that in, near, or after today’s fires, with so fact it is very likely to be in and around every fire today. It’s
many forms of burning plastics even minor symptoms can be also easily assimilated by inhalation, ingestion, and absorption
an indication that harm has been done. Those small symptoms through the skin, eyes, etc. Small amounts do create harm,
can even lead to significant long-term damage. We must be and it’s even more harmful when combined with carbon mon-
proactive. We can no longer afford to assume that minor symp- oxide. Damage has been shown to be cumulative, so every
toms are not important or that EMS teams, command teams, exposure matters. Actionable levels for CO are 30 parts per
pump operators, firefighters near an active fire, those cleaning million (ppm)—it’s 4.7 ppm for HCN. HCN causes harm
up after the fire, or even those investigating later are safe. by killing organs either immediately or over time. Factor
My intention is to share with you some of what I’ve in that often CO is depriving those same organs of oxygen,
learned from my customers and multiple other sources as my frequently at the same time, and you can see how the impact
company has investigated and developed hydrogen cyanide becomes even more sinister.
(HCN) metering equipment. It’s obviously a complex topic, “Exposure to smaller concentrations can initially cause respi-
so I’ll attempt to address the more important things we all ratory activation (manifested by rapid breathing and tachycar-
1608fr_50 50 7/26/16 9:25 AM

dia) in an attempt to compensate for lack of oxygen. Early manifestations
include headache, anxiety, blurry vision, and loss of judgment. As cyanide
accumulates further, signs and symptoms of poisoning reflect the effects of
oxygen deprivation on the heart and brain. These include cardiac dysrhyth-
mias, seizure, coma, and death. The time between exposure and incapacita- Finally, Carbon Monoxide
tion or death is typically minutes but varies depending on the concentration and Gas Detectors
you can afford to own!
of cyanide and other toxicants.” 1
“Not all HCN and CO related fatalities are caused by asphyxiation.
Five Year Warranty No Calibration
Many cardiac related fatalities that we’re experiencing may very well be
Continuously
related to CO and HCN exposures over time.” 2 Self-Checks
“Another underappreciated effect of exposure is the death of individual
cells. Even if the entire organism is not killed by a given exposure, such No Routine
Bump Testing
exposures can kill individual cells in an organism. The cells most suscep-
tible to this effect are those in the heart and brain. As time goes on, the Automated
cumulative effects of such cell death at repeated exposures can result in Performance
chronic heart and nervous system disease.” 3 EMS
Emergency
HCN STUDIES Response
Is HCN really that prevalent? Natural sources are burning grass clip-
pings, green wood, green weeds, tobacco, cotton, paper, wool, silk, even CO Alarm
Calls
animal carcasses, but significantly higher levels come from combustion of NOW
manmade plastics and resins. Nylon, polyurethane, melamine, and acry- Post Fire
HCN
lonitrile are present everywhere in our world today, especially in buildings Detectors
Too!
and vehicles. Foam insulation, furniture, carpet, drapes, appliances, most
plastics, and even most clothing all produce HCN when burning. Finally, itís affordable
A burn study by the Fire Smoke Coalition found significant levels of for everyone to be safe.
HCN were evident in open air sampling of an outdoor burn. The highest
levels were recorded at the incipient start of fire and smoke production and 888 654 5126 www.airspaceinc.com
during the smoldering period as the fire wound down but were evident firerescue.hotims.com
in harmful amounts throughout the burn and after. HCN was also found
present in areas where there was no smoke.4
An eight-month study in which monitoring for CO and HCN at fire
calls responded to by the Columbia (SC) Fire Department was conducted
HII GAS
in 2008. It resulted in air monitoring measurements from approximately BOOSTERS
.
S
S Y l, Inc
EM
40 structure fires. It found “staggeringly high HCN levels at almost every will increase
A I R tiona
ST
scene.” The worst offenders for HCN production in that study were “pot NUMBER OF REFILLS
I N G Interna
on a stove/cooking fires (average small kitchen fire produced 75 ppm of up to 50%.

E A aulics
HCN), car fires, dumpster fires, and overhaul operations.” That study
resulted in writing an SOG to address the problem, which details the Available for pressures
TH
dr
from 300-psi to 10,000-psi

Hy
use of personal protective equipment (PPE), self-contained breathing

BR
apparatus (SCBA), and metering in every fire response. That SOG is being • SCBA Bottles • Halon bottles for
shared and is available by online search. fire extinguisher
• Oxygen Bottles
• Halon & CO2
• CO2 bottles for Recovery
AFTER THE SMOKE fire extinguisher
There’s more than HCN in fire smoke, and proper SOGs can protect you
from those other dangerous gases as well. Modern fire smoke contains things 2G SERIES - Electric Driven
• 4,500-10,000 PSIG rated
like vinyl chlorides, formaldehyde, oxides of nitrogen, phosgene (some- • 15 SCFM discharge rate
times used as a chemical warfare agent), hydrogen sulphide, chlorine, and • Quite, only 60 dba
• No belts or pulleys
ammonia as well as carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Our • 2-Stage and double
acting configurations
understanding of HCN is maturing, and as it does the danger from that gas
stands out. We’ve known CO was responsible for many fire deaths and early 5G SERIES - Air Driven
retirements, and now we’re discovering when combined with HCN they • 4,500-10,000 PSIG rated
• 52 SCFM discharge rate
become “toxic twins”—together even more dangerous than either of them • Portable
is alone. The good news is, protecting ourselves from those other dangerous • Double acting and 2-stage
configurations
gases is a side benefit of using PPE, SCBA, and metering to protect from the
CO and HCN. Made in the USA
9201 Independence Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311 USA

(Phone) 818.407.3400 | (Fax) 818.407.3428
www.hiigroup.com HYD-4228
1608fr_51 51 7/26/16 9:25 AM

We can’t afford to relax when the smoke is gone. The same dangerous gases
can still be a factor—and now we can’t see them—so here’s where knowledge
and training really count. Both gases are long lived and not easy to break
up, so they tend to be present in dangerous amounts for some time after the
active fire has been eliminated and the smoke is gone. That creates the need
to keep PPE and SCBA equipment intact until metering can show neither
HCN nor CO are present—even after the smoke is gone! It’s important to
note studies have shown that while frequently found in the same places, the
presence of CO or HCN doesn’t necessarily predict the presence of the other.
The soot and particulate matter we get covered with also present a danger.
Lightly hosing off your outer gear should be a standard practice, especially
before going into a rehab or other “clean” environment. Be aware that a per-
son being rescued from a fire or to whom you are providing medical services
may be off gassing an unacceptable amount of HCN that has been absorbed
into the soot and particulate matter covering them, even from their skin. Use
a meter to be safe, or don PPE and SCBA proactively. Showering after every
fire is very important. Thoroughly wash gear as soon as possible.
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

How long after a fire do we need to be concerned? Only monitoring can tell
you. A firefighter recently shared he found only CO in an apartment building
after the fire was out but found HCN in the next four adjacent apartments.
HCN is very stable; while its evil twin CO breaks down eventually to become
CO2, HCN needs to be washed or blown away—it doesn’t break down. It’s
also readily absorbed by many materials, including our skin, from which it
continues to off gas for some time after the fire and smoke are gone.
How much is too much? The numbers for acceptable exposure keep com-
ing down as we gain more knowledge about HCN, and we have to consider
that when combined with CO, both gases are more dangerous. The short-term
exposure limit recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health is 4.7 ppm and is also the ceiling of exposure limit recommended
by the American Conference of Industrial Hygienists. The Occupational Safety
and Health Administration still uses 10 ppm as its short-term exposure limit, but
the Environmental Protection Agency lists 10 ppm as creating possible adverse
medical impacts in as little as 30 minutes. HCN is estimated to be 26 to 35
times more toxic than CO.
CIVILIAN SAFE PRACTICES

There is a significant perimeter around an active fire that is not safe. We have
many crews that carry our portable CO monitors as passive screening and per-
sonal protection devices so they are with them all the time. Those users have
reported sensing CO in command and rehab centers that were set up near
active fires but were not being continually monitored. CO and HCN are often
in the same locations. The only way to know you are outside the perimeter
of danger from those gases is to use a meter that can tell you the air is clear.
Live air sampling is the only safe way to pick a spot to set up command, EMS,
rehab, etc. Continuous monitoring is the only way to know it continues to be
safe. Note that the CO monitor that is wall mounted in many EMS and rehab
trailers is going to report a time weighted average; it won’t alarm in smaller (20
to 60 ppm) amounts of CO for some time. One firefighter reported his CO
monitor showing 40 ppm in a trailer being used for rehab several hours after
setup while the wall-mounted device had not responded.
We need to address this increased risk! Metering and using SCBA and PPE
that limits the exposure of eyes and skin should be considered a minimum
while working in and around any active fire. Atmospheric monitoring to
determine when the air is safe for all-clear SCBA removal should include
52 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireF ighterNAtioN.com
1608fr_52 52 7/26/16 9:25 AM

HCN. Air monitoring should be used to be sure areas set up for rehab, com-
mand, and other operations are—and stay—out of the perimeter of danger
for those gases at any active fire. Only metering can confirm pump operators
and others near an active fire are safe. We need to be aware that off gassing
from gear worn or people rescued from an active fire may put you in danger.
The bottom line: Your safety, and that of your team, requires that constant
air monitoring be conducted any time you are out of SCBA and PPE at any MULTI-CUT Fire Rescue Chainsaw
active fire scene and on into overhaul, cleanup, and investigation. with Carbide-Tipped Bullet Chain
It will help to remove toxicants any time you are out of an active fire with
a light spray of water. Wash face, hands, and any other area that might have
been exposed in the fire as soon as you are out, and shower as soon as practi-
cal. Thorough washing of PPE should also be done as soon as practical, and
never allow PPE to remain in living or sleeping areas.
DEPARTMENT IMPROVEMENT
Promote protocols (SOGs) for your department if it doesn’t already address
the toxic twins. One resource is an organization called the Fire Smoke Coali-
tion. It offers Web-based education, training programs, even an “ask the
expert” service. About the management of dangerous gases including HCN,
the Fire Smoke Coalition states, “In the end, implementation is up to depart-
ment leaders. Many leaders have attended Know Your Smoke, became believ-
ers, and ultimately made wide-sweeping departmental changes in standard
operating procedures for the sole purpose of saving firefighter lives. If your
department is struggling through the process of implementing new SOGs to
prevent firefighter exposure to fire smoke, and, just as important, changes in
treatment for exposure, the Coalition maintains a database of departments and
contacts who have gone through the process who are willing to share informa-
tion.”5 They are available at www.FireSmoke.org.
There are also some new technologies available in meters. There are several
brands of HCN detectors as standalone devices or in combination with other
gases that can be considered. This knowledge regarding HCN is relatively
new, but it is compelling, and ignoring the inherent danger it presents has the
potential to shorten our lives. Knowledge is your basic defense. Learn more at
conferences and through the Fire Smoke Coalition, the National Fire
Protection Association, and others. Make sure your SCBA and PPE equip-
ment is intact and up to date. Check into metering devices to protect yourself
and your team. Your successful and long life may depend on it!
REFERENCES
1. Obrien, Daniel, and Donald Walsh, Cyanide and Smoke Inhalation, 2010.
2. Shoebridge, Todd, “Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Cyanide Make Today’s Fires More Danger-
ous, Firefighter Nation, February 14, 2012.
3. McMahon, Jean Marie McMahon, “Smoke Cyanide and Carbon Monoxide: The Toxic Twins of
Smoke Inhalation,” Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition, 2009.
4. Walsh, Donald, Jason Krusen, “Combustible Household and Store Material Fire Smoke Chemical
Air Monitoring,” Fire Smoke Coalition, 2012.
5. Fire Smoke Coalition, “Cyanide in Fire Smoke: 35 Years of Data & Research,” www.firesmoke.
org/2012/09/06/cyanide-in-fire-smoke-35-years-of-data-research. es Rotary Rescue Saw
H2 Series
With Blackk Diamond Blade
RESOURCE or BULLETBLADE
ADE
Walsh, Donald, Jason Krusen, “Combustible Household and Store Material Fire Smoke Chemical
Air Monitoring,” Fire Smoke Coalition, 2012.
Griff Mason is president of Airspace Monitoring Systems, Inc., which specializes in metering devices
Toll Free: 1-800-433-3716
using state technology that is long lasting and does not require calibration. He works with fire International: 1+ 541-524-9999
departments and those providing services to them throughout the country. Contact Mason for infor- Fax: (1)541-524-9996
mation on HCN and CO or additional questions at griff.mason@airspaceinc.com or 888-654-5126. Email: info@cuttersedge.com
cuttersedge.com
1608fr_53 53 7/26/16 9:26 AM

Health and Wellness
Protecting the Fire Service’s

Most Valuable Asset–You!
An integrated health program reduces injuries
By Jordan Ponder
You are the most valuable asset

to the fire service. You handle
emergencies, address crises,
and execute the oath you took
to protect the life and property
of those in your municipality.
(Photos by Tina Bazala.)
T
here are so many important elements to the ysis we use. “Risking a lot to save a lot, risking little
fire service, but which is the greatest asset? to save little, and risking nothing for what is already
Is it the rig? If you get into an accident, you lost” is the mindset that all of our decisions come
could get suspended, demoted, fired, or worse. A from. However, it is easy to lose sight of this, because
traumatic accident could cause injury or death. Is our entire profession is about solving external issues.
it your policies and procedures? So much time and That’s why we rightfully spend countless hours
energy is spent on developing policies so they can working on confined space, scene size-up, rescuing
be followed. They provide the framework to make victims, and much more. But during the spontaneity
tactical decisions in an emergency. Is it the patients of a traumatic emergency event, it is instinctive for
and victims? When someone is trapped inside a firefighters to divert their attention to their own.
fire, our entire plan changes to assist them—not to You may recall a video where firefighters are
mention that during emergency medical services performing extrication with a patient trapped in the
runs it is critical that we provide the proper care driver seat. There are firefighters standing around
given the signs and symptoms of the patient. It the car and one firefighter is reaching across the
has to be them, right? They direct the most critical passenger seat, presumably maintaining the cervical
decisions we make during an emergency! While spine immobilization of the patient. Suddenly, the
all of these assets are important, they are not the air bag is deployed, striking the firefighter reaching
most valuable asset to the fire service. You are the across the passenger side and knocking him back
most valuable asset to the fire service. You handle and out of the car. What is the reaction of every
emergencies, address crises, and execute the oath firefighter on the scene? They turn toward the
you took to protect the life and property of those in injured firefighter to tend to his needs, softening
your municipality. Removing you from any aspect their focus on the patient. Firefighters take care of
of the fire service negates the mission of the fire firefighters. It’s ingrained in you! In that light, what
service because there is no you to fulfill it. is the current state of firefighters?
TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER ELEVATED DANGER

The firefighter being the most valuable asset to the The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
fire department is evident in the risk-vs.-benefit anal- began conducting statistical analysis on firefighter
1608fr_54 54 7/26/16 9:26 AM

injuries in 1981. These data have been diligently
collected to see if there are trends within this
category. What has been uncovered is staggering.
Firefighters are 1,450 percent more likely to get
injured than an employee in the general public. You
are 14.5 times more likely to get hurt than your
nonfirefighting friends and family simply because
of your profession.
This makes sense though, right? You work in a
dangerous job where injuries are bound to happen.
After all, you must concern yourself with air bags
deploying unexpectedly during extrications like
the video described above. Traumatic injuries can
happen at any time, and while they do occur and
deserve respect, the NFPA uncovered that one
leading cause of injuries to firefighters is strains and
sprains occurring on the fireground. Along with
slips and falls, these injury types account for more
than half the injuries that occur to firefighters.
While this may come as a surprise to you, that isn’t
the most surprising summary.
Firefighter injuries
The NFPA has specifically stated that, since it
continue to be dominated
began collecting data, the injuries per 1,000 fires by elements for which we
have yet to change over the past 35 years. While can control and train.
the number of injuries has gone down, this runs
parallel with the reduction of fires, not because develop your firefighters and develop your pro-
firefighters are safer. Now think about this: How gram to be sustainable and save your department
has the fire service changed over the past 35 years? money while improving the lives of you and your
You have better gear, policies, rigs, and the list goes personnel.
on. All of these changes are important; however, Addressing movement restrictions comes by
they have not reduced the number of injuries per identifying them through a movement screening
1,000 fires. The changes that the fire service has and generating a simple and easy program you can
experienced focus on changing the world around follow. For that I am dedicating myself to all of you
the firefighter—not the firefighter. While the fire personally to conduct a movement screening virtu-
service is better because of these changes, you need ally as you request. If you are interested in reducing
to change the firefighter intrinsically to change this your personal risk of strains and sprains, reach out
injury trend. to me at jponder@fd-pt.com for simple instruc-
Firefighter injuries continue to be dominated tions, free of charge.
by elements for which we can control and train. A Is your department taking action against this
huge contributor to these factors is poor move- 35-year trend of firefighter injuries by implement-
ment ability. Unknowingly, firefighters are using ing NFPA 1582? Are you active or passive in
poor movements even without wearing their gear. creating a health program for your staff? What are
But when they put on their gear, their restrictions you doing to change the firefighter and not just the
become exaggerated exponentially. This, along with world around the firefighter? At the end of the day,
the fact that they are moving in a chaotic envi- you need a departmentwide integrated health
ronment possibly performing unfamiliar actions, program. Why? Because the firefighter is the
explains why these data continue to be unchanged. greatest asset to the fire service!
So, what can you do?
Jordan Ponder is a captain with the Milwaukee (WI) Fire Depart-
REDUCING INJURIES ment, assigned to Engine 30. As an NASM-CPT, he is the lead peer
The NFPA clearly states that to reduce injuries, fitness trainer for the Milwaukee Fire Department and has several
departments need to provide an integrated health functional fitness certifications. Along with being a professional
program. This is the reason it created NFPA 1583, bodybuilder for the World National Bodybuilding Federation, Ponder
Standard On Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire is also the head of Firefighter Dynamic Performance Training
Department Members. This standard outlines the (www.FD-PT.com), the firefighter safety campaign that focuses on
specifics of how your department can take action training health and improving safety by replicating the needs of the
against firefighter injuries. From there, there is an fireground away from the emergency. Connect with Jordan Ponder
entire network of individuals ready to help you via firefighternation.com or jponder@fd-pt.com.
1608fr_55 55 7/26/16 9:26 AM

Community Risk Reduction
ICRR
Rochester (NY) incorporates
multiple tools to manage CRR
I
t is challenging to pick out one part of an inte- our ICRR planning, including deployment models
By Jim Crawford
grated approach to community risk reduction for emergency response, as well as prevention/mitiga-
(CRR) that sums up what it represents for any tion efforts that combine to manage community risks.
given community. That is true because it is a situ- The process steps are well documented in other
ational application of a process, not a specified prod- articles; my purpose here is to provide enough
uct. As in past articles, I tend to emphasize home background to highlight how ICRR works in the real
safety visits because they produce measureable results. world. Recently, I ran into Chief John Schreiber of
But I often fear that people misconstrue the meaning the Rochester (NY) Fire Department, and we had
of CRR to be limited to one thing, such as home a chance to discuss how ICRR is unfolding there.
safety visits, or as just another name for prevention. Schreiber’s story is like some others in the fire service,
If integrating community risk reduction (ICRR) where he started as a firefighter and rose through
is using all of our “E”s, then emergency response the ranks to become fire chief. But his commitment
is the backbone of our ICRR efforts in any given to finding solutions to neighborhood problems
community. The other “E”s, engineering, enforce- began early in his career where, as a truck captain, he
ment, education, and economic incentive, are often worked with third graders in Rochester on a novel
the most efficient way of managing any commu- idea. He and his team worked to teach children how
nity’s respective safety risks. But they are not usually to use computers and did so by having them locate
why a fire department is formed. People do so fire safety sites on the Internet and then discussing
because they want someone to help them during an the topics found with the children.
emergency. So in the end, it is enlightened leader- It didn’t stop there, of course. The number of pro-
ship that recognizes we have more than one tool in grams that Schreiber has promoted for his department
our kit to help manage community safety risks. evolved out of his commonsense view that emergency
response is what people want and need, but it repre-
REAL-WORLD APPLICATION sents an “after the fact” approach that can very often
The process begins with a community risk assess- be minimized through sound prevention or mitiga-
ment so that we know what type of problems we are tion strategies. When he became fire marshal in 2013,
facing: what type of calls; where are they; how many he began refining the code enforcement programs
of them are there; and, equally important, to whom because of some changes in state and local laws. Food
they are happening. Only after we know a good deal trucks were going to be allowed for the first time in
about these things can we begin taking a fresh look at his community, creating the need for new rules to deal
with them effectively. Having learned some valuable
lessons about ICRR planning, Schreiber involved the
food vendors themselves in developing the new rules,
in an effort to gain their perspective but also to help
minimize complaints about new regulations.
ICRR EXPANSION
When Schreiber became fire chief in 2014, he
began expanding the concepts of ICRR throughout
the department. In addition to managing the day-
to-day affairs of a fairly large fire department, he was
able to work with his staff to expand ICRR concepts
in a number of ways, including the following:
• Rochester was able to train firefighters as build-
ing safety inspectors, some 200 of them, to
Rochester Fire Department CERT training. (Photo by the Rochester Fire Department.) make them more effective and efficient in their
1608fr_56 56 7/26/16 9:26 AM

respective response areas. It allowed the depart- And in doing so, ISO confirmed that their efforts at
ment to begin integrating emergency response ICRR played a significant role in that achievement.
and prevention/mitigation strategies at the sta- So, when fire departments out there begin thinking
tion level and represents a beginning in creating about their own efforts in ICRR, and who will
organizational cultural change of a firefighter’s manage them, designated staff will be important for
job description to be more than just one thing. sure. But in the end, the ICRR officer for the
• The department added eight new code enforce- department is the fire chief. Who else will have a view
ment officers (CEOs), bringing the number to of how all the Es must fit together to deal with the
24. They are training all of their CEOs to act myriad of risks any given community will face?
as crowd managers and began a new building
Jim Crawford, FIFireE, is project manager for Vision 20/20 and a
retired fire marshal and deputy chief of the Vancouver (WA) Fire
The combination Department. He is a member of the NFPA technical committee on
professional qualifications for fire marshals, a former member
of all of their efforts of the Standards Council for the NFPA, a fellow of the Institution
has helped them of Fire Engineers, a life member of the IAFC, and past president
of the International Fire Marshal’s Association. Crawford is the
achieve an Insurance author of Fire Prevention Organization and Management and is
an editorial board member of FireRescue. He has received the R.
Services Office (ISO) Wayne Powell Excellence in Fire Prevention Award, the Dr. Anne
Phillips award for leadership in fire and life safety education from
rating of one. the Congressional Fire Services Institute and the International Fire
Service Training Association, the “Fire Protection Person of the
safety crowd management program to meet the Year” from the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, and the Percy
demands of new fire code requirements. Bugby Award from the International Fire Marshal’s Association.
• The department began changing its prevention
signage to include “Fire is Everyone’s Fight™” To read more from Jim Crawford, visit www.firefighterna-
(FIEF) to engage the public’s awareness of their tion.com/author/jim-crawford.
respective role in making the com-
munity more fire safe. This included
purchasing and using a new mascot
for the department with a FIEF logo First Floor ACCESS
and message on the back.
• Personnel focus extra effort on their
Community Emergency Response
PWL-06 with safety shoes
Teams and training.
• Members use geographic information
Fits in the same space as a
systems software to locate and triage
backboard.
vacant buildings, streamlining their
placarding system and their dispatch Perfect size for accessing
protocols relative to vacant building first floor windows.
hazards for emergency responders. They Shoes on one end and butt
also use it for fire hydrant inspections spurs on the other so you
and the creation of an “adopt a hydrant” would always have the
program. correct footing.
Ideal for vent, enter and
ALL HANDS ON DECK search techniques.
There are more things going on in Roch-
ester than I can list here, but hopefully
readers will get the point: ICRR is more
than one thing. It integrates the emergency
response and prevention capabilities into a
more effective community safety strategy, Supplied by
which can be measured, and Rochester is For more information, call
in the process of doing so in some creative 1.800.948.7750
ways. The combination of all of their or visit
efforts has helped them achieve an Insur-
www.FireLadder.com
ance Services Office (ISO) rating of one.
1608fr_57 57 7/26/16 9:26 AM

New Deliveries
By John M. Malecky
The West Nipissing Fire Service in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, has The Friendship Fire Company in South Lebanon Township,
in service this Scorpion Aerial Platform built by HME on an Pennsylvania, has in service this KME rescue with walk-in
HME Spectr 8 × 4 chassis with MFDxl six-seat cab. Powered by aluminum body. Powered by a 500-hp Cummins ISX 12L diesel
a 500-hp Cummins ISM diesel engine, it has a tandem steer dual engine, it has a 100-inch S2D Severe Service cab with 16-inch
drive front axle and a 208-inch overall wheelbase. It has a Water- bumper extension, a Harrison 20-kW generator, a Will Burt light
ous CXVC20F 1,500-gpm pump and 500-gallon water tank. tower, an air cascade system, a 4½-ton portable winch, a Girard
The platform is 104 feet and has an Elkhart Scorpion monitor. armless awning, and an Amkus power unit.
HME Fire Apparatus KME Fire Apparatus

616-534-1463; www.hmetruck.com 800-235-3928; www.kovatch.com
firerescue.hotims.com firerescue.hotims.com
San Carlos (CA) operates this Seagrave Marauder II stainless-steel Serving Howe (IN) is this Midwest Fire Apparatus pumper/
pumper, which has a 181.5-inch wheelbase and a 141-inch, six- tanker. Mounted on a Freightliner M2 106 chassis with a 350-hp
seat cab. Powered by a 500-hp Cummins ISX 12 diesel engine, it Cummins ISL diesel engine, it has a Hale Qflo 1,250-gpm pump;
has a Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump, a Foam Pro system, and a 3,500-gallon poly tank; two side and one rear 10-inch Newton
a 500-gallon water and 20-gallon Class “A” foam tank. It features stainless steel dump valves with 36-inch telescoping chutes; a five-
an Intelex Plus multiplex system. inch Storz direct fill; and a carrier for a 3,500-gallon portable tank.
Seagrave Fire Apparatus Midwest Fire Apparatus

800-823-2141; www.seagrave.com 800-344-2059; www.midwestfire.com
The Upper Saucon (PA) Fire Department responds with this The Blackhawk Fire Protection District in Milan, Illinois, operates
Rescue 1 heavy-duty rescue featuring a Spartan Gladiator chas- this Alexis pumper/tanker built on a Spartan Metro Star chassis.
sis and 20-foot nonwalk-in body with hydraulic rear folding Specs include a 450-hp Cummins ISL 9 diesel engine; a Waterous
staircase. Features include a 28-inch extended bumper with CXS 1,500-gpm pump; an Advantus foam system; APR 2,500-gal-
utility box, a 9,000-pound portable winch, a Harrison 30-kW lon water and 20-gallon foam tanks; a 10-inch Newton dump valve
generator, an 18-foot recessed electric awning, and an air cascade with extension; three cartridge preconnects at the front of the body;
system with a Sierra booster. The truck is powered by a 450-hp an Akron Mercury monitor; and a Zico folding tank rack.
Cummins ISX diesel engine and has ROM doors.
Alexis Fire Apparatus

Rescue 1 Manufacturing 800-322-2284; www.alexisfire.com
732-223-1411; www.rescue1mfg.com firerescue.hotims.com
1608fr_58 58 7/26/16 9:26 AM

1608fr_59 59 7/26/16 9:26 AM

FEBRUARY 23 – 25, 2017
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
SALT PALACE CONVENTION CENTER
LEARN EXCEL NETWORK
SAVE THE DATE OWNED &

PRODUCED BY
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
OF EMS TODAY www.EMSToday.com
1608fr_60 60 7/26/16 9:26 AM

New Products
FLIR identiFINDER® R200 Stealth Power Idle Reduction Technology

FLIR’s identiFINDER R200 is a rugged, pager- Emergency vehicles need electric
sized spectroscopic personal radiation detector power to operate onboard equipment
(SPRD). The R200 provides full ANSI N42.32 and provide a controlled environment
personal radiation detector (PRD) compliance and for life-saving medicines and patient
features next-generation solid state detector read- care, but the exhaust from idling
out technology that delivers ANSI N42.48 SPRD emergency vehicles poses a health risk.
compliance with nuclide identification. The clear Stealth Power’s idle-reduction technology enables full operation
user interface and simple data presentation common of onboard electrical systems—including air, heat, lights, camera,
to all identiFINDER products allow it to quickly integrate with laptops, radio, refrigerator, chargers, and power-load stretchers—
existing operational protocols and reduce the training burden. for hours without engaging the engine.
FLIR; 877-692-2120; www.flir.com Stealth Power; 512-306-0088; www.idlereduction.com
Scott Sight Larson Electronics LM-25-3S-4X400W-LED

The Scott Safety Scott Sight is an in-mask ther- The LM-25-3S-4X400W-LED produced by Larson Elec-
mal imaging capability that provides everyone tronics features a rotating boom that allows for 360 degrees
on site with the real-time intelligence while of rotation, a removable mast head affixed with four 400-
leaving hands free for other critical opera- watt LED light fixtures, and an easy fold-over assembly.
tions. It features 160 × 120 resolution, wire- This three-stage light boom can be extended to a height of
less connection, an Infinity lens, a minimum 25 feet for effective coverage and collapsed to 12 feet. The
two-hour battery life, software upgradeable features, auto-dim, 360-degree rotation is provided by a single T-Handle.
and a max temp indicator and is DVR capable. Larson Electronics; 800-369-6671
Scott Safety; 800-247-7257; www.scottsafetynation.com www.larsonelectronics.com
Akron Brass Revel Scout

The Revel Scout tactical scene light is an
LED scene light designed to increase the
safety of both firefighters and emergency
responders. It has versatile mounting
options (set, hang, strap, spike) and a
removable, rechargeable battery. The
Revel Scout combines a spot and flood light
The Extra Hand in Extrication!
AIR HAMMER RESCUE KITS
pattern of 14,000 lumens in a 12-pound package, and the LED
tactical scene light can be used to evenly light both entire exterior
and scenes and interior spaces.
Akron Brass Company; 800-228-1161; www.akronbrass.com
Bauer Compressors UNICUS III®

The UNICUS III® by Bauer Compressors
is a cylinder recharging station for refilling
high- or low-pressure SCBA or SCUBA cyl-
inders. The integrated system design com-
bines a BAUER high-pressure compressor, Model #
911-RKM
a BAUER breathing air purification system,
an air storage system, a cascade fill panel,
and a containment fill station into one user-friendly worksta- Pneumatic Tools for:
Automobile, Bus & Big Rig Extrication, Forcible Entry,
tion. With the BAUER Breathing Air Purification System with
Structural Collapse, Confned Space Rescue
SECURUS, it is independently tested for safety and has a UL®
listed electrical assembly.
Bauer Compressors; 714-223-9300; www.bauercomp.com
firerescue.hotims.com www.ajaxrescuetools.com / Ph. 800-323-9129 / info@ajaxtools.com
1608fr_61 61 7/26/16 9:26 AM

FeB&V
SAFETY AND
SURVIVAL ON THE
FIREGROUND
2ND EDITION // VINCENT DUNN
AppArel
456 Pages/Hardcover
August 2015
$79.00
ISBN: 978-1-59370-349-3
The Non-Destructive
W-Tool Chief Dunn—the recipient of
One Person: Total Control FDNY’s Lifetime Achievement
Hydraulic Breaching Tool and
Award—has updated his classic
Battering Ram book on how to identify and
survive hazards on the fireground.
Multiple Quick-Change Heads
Built-In LED Light NEW TO THIS EDITION:
• Examination of “aggressive
FORCIBLE ENTRY
interior firefighting attack” and
equipment
“nonaggressive attack”
• Discussion of risk intensity and
risk frequency at the fireground
The Whacker Tool • Updated statistics, graphs,
One Person: Multiple Jobs and charts
Works on Doors, Windows, Padlocks,
Vehicle Extrication and More
4.5 LB. Solid Bronze Slide Hammer
Compact Design easily fits all Fire, www.FireEngineeringBooks.com
Rescue and EMS vehicles
1.800.752.9764 | 1.918.831.9421
American MadeóLifetime Warranty
877.799.8665
Proudly Made
sales@weddletoolco.com
in the USA
www.weddletoolco.com
FIND US!
62 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN. com
1608fr_62 62 7/26/16 9:26 AM

CommuniCations
For information
on placing
classifieds ads,
please contact No Equipment Charge
No Dispatch Involvement
Ted Billick: Works With All Style Phones
(801) 262-1871,
Free 30 Day Trial
tedb@pennwell.com Never Miss A Call!
Ad Direct
YOUR SOURCE FOR IMMEDIATE INFORMATION ON ADVERTISERSÕ PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Advertiser Page Advertiser Page
A.H. Stock Manufacturing Corp. 25 Honeywell First Responder 11, 21

Airspace Monitoring Systems, Inc. 51 Hot Shield USA 31
Ajax Tool Works 61 Husky Portable Containment 22
Alsea Geospatial, Inc. 34 Hydraulics International, Inc. 51
American Fire Training Systems, Inc. 43 Junkin Safety 39
American Military University 35 Key Fire Hose Corp. 18
Blanchat Mfg., Inc. 25 Kussmaul Electronics Co., Inc. 43
Boston Leather, Inc. 27 NAFI 42
Bullard C3 OHD Occupational Health Dynamics 31
BullEx 22 Pellerin Milnor Corp. 47
Columbia Southern University 13 PPG Commerical Coatings 17
Cruise Master Engraving 47 Rescue Air Systems, Inc. 46
Cutters Edge 53 RolllNRack 23
E-ONE, Inc. C4 Sam Carbis Solutions Group, LLC 57
EMS Today 2017 60 Savatech Corp. 29
Ferrara Fire Apparatus C2-1 Sensible Products 41
FIERO 59 Skedco 52
Fire Innovations 36-37 Tempest Technology 38
Fire Station Outfitters 39 Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service 29
First Tactical 13 Tyco-Scott Safety 5
Fol-Da-Tank 27 USSC Group 15
Globe Manufacturing 3 Zoll Medical 19
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-
age paid at Tulsa, OK 74112 and at additional mailing offices. SUBSCRIPTION PRICES: Send $24 for one year (12 issues) or $44 for two years (24 issues) to FireRescue, P.O. Box 3425,
Northbrook, IL 60065-9912, or call 888-456-5367. Canada: please add $25 per year for postage. All other foreign subscriptions: please add $35 per year for surface and $75 per year for
airmail postage. Send $20 for one year (12 issues) or $35 for two years (24 issues) of digital edition. Single copy: $10.00. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to FireRescue, P.O. Box
3425, Northbrook, IL 60065-9912. FireRescue is a registered trademark. © PennWell Corporation 2016. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohib-
ited. Permission, however, is granted for employees of corporations licensed under the Annual Authorization Service offered by the Copyright Clearance Center Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood
Drive, Danvers, Mass. 01923, or by calling CCC’s Customer Relations Department at 978-750-8400 prior to copying. We make portions of our subscriber list available to carefully screened
companies that offer products and services that may be important for your work. If you do not want to receive those offers and/or information via direct mail, please let us know by contacting
us at List Services FireRescue, 1421 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74112. Printed in the USA. GST No. 1268113153.
1608fr_63 63 7/26/16 9:26 AM

The Backstep
“Saving Lives”
A look at the risks and benefits
of how we are deploying our firefighters
T
he answer comes in response to the question aerial apparatus practices in initial training and then
By Matthew Tobia
“What are you doing?” posited to the young as quickly as possible placed into positions of tremen-
firefighter mopping the floor in the fire station. dous responsibility without the context of experience
Clearly, the floor is being mopped. The firefighter’s to buttress their decision-making skills.
mind is focused on the mission. In effect, the fire- There are also organizations where firefighters
fighter’s answer is accurate: As soon as the tones drop, complete probationary training and are catapulted
the mop will be abandoned, shoes will fly, doors will from the classroom to the right front seat of the
open, and brave men and women will rush out to “save apparatus and asked to function as a company officer;
a life.” Frequently, the emergency is not a life-or-death they are called on to give accurate and complete initial
circumstance, although there are plenty of instances reports as well as identify rural water supply sites and
when lives genuinely hang in the balance. The question make decisions about where to place the first line. As
is … is being well-trained and mission-focused enough dangerous as this sounds, it is occurring today. From
to ensure success on the emergency incident scene? a budgetary perspective, this may be acceptable and
statistically, if the fire company does not respond to
A RUSH TO GROW UP many alarms, it may not have any immediate negative
There was a time in the fire service where young consequences. From a commonsense perspective, how-
members would be tied to the coattails of their com- ever, this is setting the organization and the member
pany officers—literally in the pocket of the officer for up for catastrophic failure.
several years. This made it possible for the company
officers to guide and direct the actions of their new RUNNING ON EMPTY
charges and harness/control the unbridled desire of The circumstances described point to the need for
their firefighters to “prove themselves.” hard discussions. If organizations find themselves in
There is a moment in the film Backdraft that high- the circumstance of having to rely on probationary
lights the concept of keeping your rookie close to you: members to meet minimum staffing requirements or,
While operating in a high-rise, the company officer even more dangerously, place new members in the
asks the young firefighter if he checked a door for heat position of functioning as a company officer, it’s time
just as the probie “takes the door.” If you have seen the for change. In an all-volunteer organization, this may
movie, you know what happens next. Keeping probies mean asking for assistance from local government in
in your pocket exists for good reason. The newer a fire- the form of paid staffing to supplement the dedicated
fighter is, the more likely he is to operate in an offensive members of the company. In a career organization,
mode without regard for his own safety. This is not it may signal the need to reclassify positions from
borne out of a desire to commit suicide; rather, it is tied firefighter grade to officer grade. Neither of these
deeply and subconsciously to the expectation that to conversations is easy, but accepting the status quo as
earn the trust and respect of fellow firefighters, proba- entrenched only perpetuates the problem, functionally
tionary members are prone to take extraordinary risks “kicking the can” down the road.
without the benefit of understanding the consequences. Mopping floors is not a dangerous activity, but saving
The bigger issue in today’s fire service is the rush to lives can be. We cannot hope to safeguard the lives of
release members to function, either because minimum our members if we are not willing to educate and
staffing requires it (in career departments) or staffing inform our decision makers about the risks and benefits
shortages threaten to prevent a volunteer company of how we are deploying our firefighters. Self-determina-
from meeting its commitment to its community. tion is important but not more important than the
There was a time in the not-too-distant past when it interests of the citizens we are sworn to protect.
was not uncommon for a member to be required to
To read more have five or even 10 years of experience within the Matthew Tobia is an assistant chief with the Loudoun County (VA)
from Matt Tobia, company before consideration was given to allow- Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management and is
visit www.firefighternation. ing him to enter the driver training program. Today, a 27-year veteran of emergency services. He can be reached at
com/author/matthew-tobia.
probationary members are being taught pumps and matthew.tobia@loudoun.gov.
1608fr_64 64 7/26/16 9:26 AM

T3 X T4 X
Ecl ip se ® LD X
YOU WANT THE BEST. WE’VE GOT THE BEST.

X Factor offers the most flexibility and versatility for your budget and preference.
Upgrade: Upgrade your Bullard to any X Factor for $3,999
Trade-In: Get credit for trading in your old TI
Warranty: Industry-leading, five-year warranty
Demo our X Factor Thermal Imagers at S EE THE C LA RI T Y.
FRI Booth #19097

LY M
UD A
O
PR
DE
IN
THE US
Learn more at www.bullard.com/xfactorti THER MAL IM A G ERS
1608fr_C3 3 7/26/16 9:26 AM

825 LB TIP LOAD RATING
The HP 78 Ladder holds 750 lbs of

WIDE LADDER SECTIONS

Clean, wide ladder sections
with tall handrails for safe
and secure climbing.
2.5 TO 1 STRUCTURAL SAFETY FACTOR

Exceeds NFPA requirements,
contributing to E-ONEís proven
safety record for over 30 years.
ADVANCED AERIAL CONTROL SYSTEM

Provides smooth ladder operation. Also
available with direct hydraulic controls.
STRONGEST CAB IN THE INDUSTRY
Keep your crew safe with the cab that
withstands over 5x the static roof load
and over twice the frontal impact
required by NFPA and SAE.
BUMPER EXTENSIONS PROTECH MORE STORAGE SPACE SINGLE SET OF JACKS

Severe duty front bumper extensions Enhanced safety features Center hose bed or SideStackerÆ WITH A 16í SPREAD
available with options such as hydraulic such as ESC, OnGuard

tools and low pre-connected handlines collision mitigation, 360∞ 172 cubic feet of storage. ground is tight, optional
to meet department requirements. camera systems, front and short jacking allows
side air bag options. the HP 78 to set up in

INSTEAD OF BUILDING STANDARD AERIALS,

WE BUILD REVOLUTIONARY ONES.
Our DNA is made up of revolutionary advancements. Take the E-ONE HP 78, the
most popular of our aerial family. Featuring an 825-pound tip load for increased
rescue capability, the HP 78 gets a crew and its gear where it needs to go.
The ToughTrussô ladder design features extruded aluminum construction with
a 2.5 to 1 structural safety factor, cementing E-ONEís legendary commitment to
safety. With the combination of generous compartmentation, ground ladder storage,
hose bed and tank size, the HP 78, like every aerial we make, is revolutionary. e-one-aerials.com
1608fr_C4 4 7/26/16 9:26 AM

Firerescue201608 DL

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Firerescue201608 DL

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

®

Devoted to the Interests of Firefighters Worldwide

August 2016 • Connect with us at FirefighterNation.com

1608fr_C1 1 7/26/16 9:26 AM

LEARN MORE ONLINE www.ferrarafire.com/stock

1608fr_C2 2 7/26/16 9:26 AM

COMMERCIAL RESCUE HD-77 LADDER

HD-100 PLATFORMS HD-107 LADDER

1608fr_1 1 7/26/16 9:26 AM

32 Creating the Illinois Fire Fighter

40 Fighting Fire with Data

44 Breathing on Borrowed Time 48

48 The Windshield Survey

50 The Evil Twins

2 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN.com

1608fr_2 2 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Athletic Footwear Construction

Composite Safety Toe Cap, GLOBE PREDATORô Outsole

1608fr_3 3 7/26/16 9:24 AM

7 From the Editor 8 26 Distant Fires

8 ToolsNewsTechniques 28 From the Chief’s Desk

14 Nozzlehead 30 Thermal Imaging

16 Apparatus Ideas 54 Health and Wellness

4 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN.com

1608fr_4 4 7/26/16 9:24 AM

1608fr_5 5 7/26/16 9:24 AM

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/GROUP PUBLISHING DIRECTOR ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

6 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 F ireFighterNAtioN. com

1608fr_6 6 7/26/16 9:24 AM

The Six-Sided Fire Service Equation

I time of year we see seasonal increases in fires and

FireFighterNatioN .com august 2016 F ire r escue M agazine 7

1608fr_7 7 7/26/16 9:24 AM

C hange in the fire service is sometimes for the

THE NEED FOR CHANGE

8 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 F ireFighterNAtioN. com

1608fr_8 8 7/26/16 9:24 AM

The Ever Important Truck Committee By Bob Vaccaro

UL FSRI Launches Positive Pressure

FireFighterNatioN .com august 2016 F ire r escue M agazine 9

1608fr_9 9 7/26/16 9:24 AM

Right: Hose hoist: The members

10 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN.com

1608fr_10 10 7/26/16 9:24 AM

The new Honeywell TITAN™ SCBA combines unique

Request an on-site demo.

Try on the new TITAN SCBA and learn more

1608fr_11 11 7/26/16 9:24 AM

12 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN.com

1608fr_12 12 7/26/16 9:24 AM

SAVE $20 INSTANTLY WITH PURCHASE OF

Use promo code FRBOOTS at checkout.

1608fr_13 13 7/26/16 9:24 AM

apparatus are helping you along the way.

We have an appara new

14 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN.com

1608fr_14 14 7/26/16 9:24 AM

You may not consider yourself

Contact Mark Finley

Part of the USSC GROUP

1608fr_15 15 7/26/16 9:24 AM

16 F ire r escue M agazine August 2016 FireFighterNAtioN.com

1608fr_16 16 7/26/16 9:24 AM