Firefighter training drill by Forest Reeder
Answer the basic questions about the tools that you take to the fireground. Each tool must be “battle ready” and you must know what tools to take when a particular fireground assignment is given to your company. Review the maintenance and inspection procedures for your department or provided by the manufacturer for each category of tools in this drill.
- Truck Company Tools Across the Country
- Primary Tools for Primary Search
- Tools: What’s in Your Pockets, and Why?
Bonus drill idea: Have a company member select a fireground duty (example: ventilation) and have the company members assemble all of the tool categories needed to complete that task.
Download this week’s firefighter training drill as a PDF HERE.
MAD Training and Response Solutions
Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as fire chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety, and officer development and earned his Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and co-author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices, now in its 3rd edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety, and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation.
