Fire Blog Roundup: Checking the Resume, the Ego-Driven Firefighter, and the Warrior Mentality

In a blog this week, Columbia (SC) Battalion Chief Nick Martin brings up a salient point: how do you know whether the information you’re reading on the Internet is being written by someone with credibility and experience in the field? This is especially important in the fire service, where “content” and viral ideas can impact tactics. It’s not just a question of scholarship when lives are at stake.

Fire Engineering magazine has a long history of its articles being reviewed by our technical board, which is comprised of expert firefighters from around the nation. Martin urges the reader to be keenly aware of where the information their reading is coming from.

Read Nick’s blog and other commentaries from members of our blogging community below.

Have a reply to any of these bloggers, or want to share some of your firefighting photos or videos? Just sign up for the community site at http://community.fireengineering.com/.

With Training…Don’t Be An Inbred! You can gain lifesaving knowledge by keeping an open mind and searching for another way, says Isaac Frazier.

Check for Yourself Mark Cotter on going directly to the source for fire dynamics research info.

Hiring Disabled Vets The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may have major legal implications for your department, John K. Murphy writes.

Truck Ops According to Vinnie Art Goodrich returns with another episode of his firefighter fiction series, “The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie.”

Check the Resume There is no experienced technical editorial panel for the Internet, so let the reader beware, Nick Martin writes.

Firefighters Are Never Really on Vacation Joseph Kitchen on his recent visit to Washington, D.C.

The Ego-Driven Firefighter Ego and arrogance has to be left at the firehouse, in your gear or locker at the end of the shift, Aaron Heller writes.

The Mini Big Box Store Do you have these buildings in your area? A new fireground sim from Joe Pronesti.

Success or Failure? Dan Shaw asks: Do you have a plan for water supply on every fire-related call you run?

Keyboard Experts How much experience is enough to comment? Mike Alt offers some thoughts.

Firefighting 101 Paul M. Rank writes on the importance of the basics.

Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Warrior Mentality David Rhodes has the Hump Day SOS.

The Large Victorian and Pocket Doors The sliding pocket door was a common addition to legacy homes and can be a contributor to vertical fire spread. A new fireground simulation from Joe Pronesti.

Structural Firefighting for Dummies Mark Cotter offers his take on the firefighting acronym SLICE-RS.

Are You Committed? Committed people follow through on what they say they are going to do long after the mood they were in when they said it has passed, says Frank Viscuso.

Sizing Up the Situation The first-arriving officer can set the tone of the incident quickly, writes Jonah Smith.

What Does ‘Unlimited Passion’ Mean to You? Being a passionate firefighter is a common theme, but what does it really mean? Joseph Kitchen has more.

Hitler Takes A Position on Tactical Debate Frank Ricci on freedom of expression, taste, and history.

MORE FIREFIGHTER BLOGS

• Fire Blog Roundup: The Long Road, Pulling Ceiling, and Tactical Mastery
• Fire Blog Roundup: Fireground Experience, Drones, and Firefighter Morale
• Fire Blog Roundup: Motivation, Hinges in Extrication, and Conduct Unbecoming
• Fire Blog Roundup: Memorial Day, Quint Crews, and the Case for Fire Sprinklers