In Case You Missed It: June 2016 Fire Engineering Features

Take a look at some of the features we ran on the Fire Engineering site in June 2016, including a new series on survival from D.C. Fire and EMS and extrication videos from Brock Archer.

You’ll find even more firefighter training pieces at http://www.fireengineering.com/features.html.

Throw Back to Basics: Deck Gun Operations

Brian Zaitz offers this training bulletin on the deck gun, which allows for the quick flow of large amounts of water.

Humpday Hangout: Live from the IFSI/NIOSH/UL Research Experiments

Join Steve Kerber of the UL Firefighter Safety Research Institute, FireRescue Editor in Chief Erich Roden, and Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton live from the recent IFSI/NIOSH/UL Research Experiments.

Drills You Won’t Find in the Books: Bridge Jumper Drill

Is your company ready to respond to a bridge jumper emergency? Raul Angulo offers another firefighter training drill on this type of response scenario.

Training Minutes: Lifting a Vehicle

In this Training Minutes video, Joe Alvarez and company demonstrate a tip for effectively lifting a vehicle in a rapid manner.

Extrication Minutes: Dash Relief Cuts

In this video, Brock Archer discusses the importance of making complete relief cuts before attempting to move the dash of a vehicle. 

Construction Concerns: Camouflage

In his new Construction Concerns, Gregory Havel examines how most of today’s buildings, inside and out, can be finished with materials that can mask the building’s actual construction type.  

Mayday Monday: The Hotel Raise

Tony Carroll’s latest “Monday Mayday” tactic is designed to help firefighters on multiple floors escape a fire building with just one ladder.

The Trouble with Leadership

Leadership isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. Sal Scarpa looks at some of the obstacles aspiring leaders may face and how to address them.

Throw Back to Basics: Fireground Decon

Brian Zaitz talks to you about the importance of decontaminating your gear for the sake of its effectiveness and your long- and short-term health.

Fire Photographer Profile: Jeffrey Belschwinder

Jeffrey Belschwinder of Sidewinder Photography took some time from chronicling fire incidents in Upstate New York to tell Fire Engineering about his work and art.

May Their Sacrifices Not Be in Vain: Lancaster (PA) Firefighter Near Miss Review

Joe Pronesti reviews a 2013 firefighter near miss in which Lancaster (PA) Lieutenant Andre Kelley was burned while trying to rescue trapped occupants.

Humpday Hangout: 360-Degree Size-Up and Command and Control

In this week’s Humpday Hangout, host P.J. Norwood talks to Stephen Marsar, Steve Hamilton, Sean Gray, and Bobby Halton about firefighter safety on the fireground, specifically the “360 Degree” size up and command and control. Join us for this interactive Hangout, sponsored by TenCate. 

Training Minutes: The Can

In this new Training Minutes video, Mike Ciampo discusses the many uses of the pressurized water can.

Reducing the Postfire Threat of Cancer

Jim Burneka Jr. breaks down what firefighters can do during their postfire activities that can help reduce one of the fire service’s top killers: cancer.

Extrication Minutes: Slowing Down for Efficient Rescue

In this video, Brock Archer talks about how slowing down and conducting a thorough evaluation of the incident scene can save critical time at extrication incidents.

Mayday Monday: Getting Air to a Firefighter in Distress

Are you prepared to do what it takes to get air to a down firefighter as part of a RIT operation? Check out today’s Mayday Monday from Tony Carroll.

The Professional Volunteer Fire Department: Theft Management

When headlines appear featuring stories about volunteer firefighters embezzling funds from their fire department, it definitely hurts the professional reputation we work so hard to earn. Tom Merrill has some tips on minimizing financial mismanagement.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

When it comes to getting in shape for the job, no one routine is best for everyone. Jordan Ponder on tailoring your physical fitness regimen.

The Fire Officer’s Guide to the Tough Community Questions, Part 8

Mark Wallace discusses the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and paying firefighters a regular hourly rate.

Research Project Examines Firefighter Chemical and Cardiovascular Exposures

On June 27, 2016, Fire Engineering will be on hand to report on a joint study investigating fire service chemical and cardiovascular exposures. Find out more and learn how to register for this live event.

Throw Back to Basics: Building Familiarization

Building familiarization should be a common practice at the company level; getting inside the buildings in your first-due area allows you to see what you are up against when you get the alarm, writes Brian Zaitz.

Size-Up Concerns: Identifying Building Construction

As an incident commander or first-in fire officer, identifying the construction type and age of a building will have a great impact on your tactics and strategy for operating on the fireground. Tom Warren has a review of some helpful features to look for during size-up.

Go Ahead…Make My Day

When we ignore predictable risks, the outcome will rarely end positively. Billy Goldfeder addresses CAD/fire dispatch delays.

Humpday Hangout: What’s Your Culture?

In this week’s Humpday Hangout, join Terry McGrath and his guests Chief Scott Thompson with The Colony (TX) Fire Department and Marc Pate, Deputy Chief of Operations at City of Plano (TX) Fire Department, as they discuss culture in the fire industry.

Engine Company EMS: Protecting Patients from the Dirty Work of Firefighting

Firefighting is a dirty job. Ensure the best chance for your patients by keeping your vital EMS tools in a separate, dedicated compartment, writes Michael Morse.

Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Offers Training Video on Elevators

Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue recently released an online training video on the proper procedures to put an elevator in firefighter service.

Extrication Minutes: Dash Tie Downs

In this video, Brock Archer discusses the importance of cutting the dash tie downs when extra room is needed for your dash displacement evolution.

Training Minutes: The Importance of Bailout Training

In this Training Minutes video on firefighter self-rescue situations, Frank Lipski talks to Mario Montero about the incident that made the latter so passionate about self-rescue systems and consistent firefighter bailout training.

Construction Concerns: Engineering for “Normal” Conditions

Even if every part of a building is properly designed and constructed and not overloaded, the structure can still surprise us by collapsing under or on to us if an unanticipated condition or event is present, writes Gregory Havel.

Human Reliability Quantification in Severe Nuclear Accidents

Hossam Shalabi of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories discusses whether we can quantify human reliability in severe nuclear accidents because of internal fires.

Throw Back to Basics: Throw Ropes

Brian Zaitz looks at throw ropes, an essential tool for firefighters trying to make an easy and safe water rescue.

Training Minutes Throwback: David Rhodes on Tech Rescue

Check out Training Minutes with David Rhodes at the Guardian Centers in Georgia. In these videos, Rhodes, accompanied by accomplished instructors, reviews details on a variety of technical rescue situations, from USAR to floodwater rescue.

Humpday Hangout: Use of Wyes to Supply Two Hoselines

This hangout will consist of an in-depth discussion on the use of wyes to supply two hoselines from either a 2 ½ or 3 in. “trunk line” or a standpipe outlet. Join Bill Gustin, Mike Dugan, Clark Lamping, Dan Shaw, and Daryl Liggins as they discuss their experiences and opinions on this topic.

Communications Broke Down: An Excuse for a Serious Problem

Roger Lunt has 20 suggestions on how to prevent communications from breaking down on the fireground.

Training Minutes: Victim Removal for Flood Rescue Scenarios

Drawing on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, David Rhodes and company demonstrate two potential rescue scenarios from flood situations.

Extrication Minutes: Air Bag Module and Stored Energy

In this extrication tip video, Brock Archer examines the potential for stored energy to cause air bag deployment during vehicle rescue operations.

Old Buildings, New Challenges

It is as important to identify new facilities in the community as it is to reevaluate “completed” facility preplans, writes Eric G. Bachman.

Is Your Organizational Compass Still Pointing North?

A values-based organization gives us the ability to think and act beyond policies and procedures. Brian Gettemeier on how to ensure you’re living up to your agency’s mission and vision statements.

New Haven (CT) Firefighters Issue Safety Warning on Column Hazard

New Haven (CT) firefighters issued a safety bulletin after a sudden column collapse on the fireground last December, according to a release from New Haven Fire Fighters Local 825.

The Battalion TV: The FDIC Experience – The Value of Experience

The Battalion TV followed Snyder (NY) firefighters as they attended FDIC International 2016.

Throw Back to Basics: 60-Second Drill

Brian Zaitz reviews a simple drill that is performed frequently in firefighter recruit school but may have dropped off the radar as a regular component of our company training.

Trusted Voices: Alan Brunacini

Fire Engineering recently debuted a new online video series, “Trusted Voices,” in which Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton speaks with one of the top thinkers and instructors in firefighting today.

Humpday Hangout: Focus on Training

In this week’s Humpday Hangout, Aaron Heller, Larry Conley, Brad French, and their guests discuss the recently released PPA/PPV studies.

In Case You Missed It: January 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: February 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: March 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: April 2016 Fire Engineering Features

In Case You Missed It: May 2016 Fire Engineering Features

Paul Dansbach and Glenn Corbett

Buildings That Front on Two Streets

Paul Dansbach and Glenn Corbett consider buildings that front on two streets, share basements, or might otherwise challenge firefighters.

Fire Burns Through PA Aerospace Supplier

A large fire broke out Monday night at SPS Technologies, an aerospace supplier in Abington Township.