These buildings are complex and require solid preplanning and above all, fires at these structures aren't "bread & -butter" fires—they require their own set of tactics.

Pre-conference workshops continued into the afternoon on the first day of FDIC 2013 with one of the more consistently popular classes offered by FDIC.

At the “Intelligent Firefighting” workshop Monday morning at FDIC 2013, Captain Bill Gustin emphasized size-up is ongoing process, not just performed when we first arrive on a fire.

RAE Systems will demonstrate its new wireless area and personal gas and radiation detection monitor data in a ProRAE Guardian browser-based “connected threat detection” environment at FDIC 2013.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) announced today that its annual premier fundraiser, Stop, Drop, Rock 'n' Roll, will be broadcast live from the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis on Thursday, April 25, 2013.

Nowadays, we may take for granted the value of firefighters exchanging ideas and opinions at training workshops and conventions like this week's Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). But it may not have always been so obvious.

At his Monday morning workshop, "Medical Mayday," Robert Owens pointed out that a disconnect often occurs in our training programs in that firefighter rescue training typically focuses on removing the down member from the fire building and not continuing medical treatment after the removal.

Kentland (MD) Volunteers Fire Department Chief Tony Kelleher and Clearwater (FL) Fire Department Chief Richard Riley offered FDIC attendees this interactive, multimedia based presentation focused on fire service complacency.

At the FDIC workshop "Firefighting in Disposable Structures," Gary Bowker discussed how these new buildings can complicate firefighting operations and endanger firefighters.