Jerry Knapp, training officer at the Rockland County Fire Training Center and longtime Fire Engineering contributor, will be presenting “House Fires: Modern Strategies and Tactics for Aggressive Operations” at FDIC 2014.
Residential fires are responsible for 75 percent of working fires for most departments in the United States and three-quarters of all fire deaths. Private dwelling fires are our most important and often our most dangerous alarms. This class offers a comprehensive examination of critical tasks that must be successfully executed at every house fire. The focus is on modernization of strategy and tactics for new hazards presented by house fires, including exterior fire envelopment caused by extremely flammable siding, insulation and sheathing materials, overcrowding (occupants and possessions), and illegal building modifications (gopher houses). The deadly consequences and hazards of modern construction and converted private dwellings are discussed. Detection through size-up will be covered in interactive scenarios. Alternate strategies for modern house fires will be presented.
JERRY KNAPP is a 37-year veteran firefighter/EMT with the West Haverstraw (NY) Fire Department and a training officer at the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Pomona, NY. He is a battalion chief and a member of the Rockland County Hazmat Task Force. He is the author of the Fire Attack chapter in Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II. He retired from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, as the plans and operations specialist, Directorate of Emergency Services.
MORE JERRY KNAPP
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- Firefighter Training: Lessons Learned at FDIC 2013
- New House Fire Hazard: Exploding Attic Stairs
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- Realistic Firefighter Training: “Do It” Drills
