(fireengineering.com)

By John F. “Skip” Coleman, Technical Editor

I realize that a lot has changed in the fire service since I left in the beginning of 2008-including several technological advancements in communications, dispatching, and personal safety along with results of the fire behavior studies. In EMS, there are new findings about c-spine immobilization and back boarding as well as other advancements.

However, I am not sure much has changed in the way of officer development. Yes, there are many online offerings for training opportunities that were not available five or 10 years ago. One weakness I have always been concerned with, though, was a lack of preparation or development for promotion. At least in my department and throughout my career, you studied, took a test, and then one day you had “bling” on your collar and a few more bucks in the paycheck, and you were expected to be able to act and function as an officer.

Roundtable question: What preparation for promotion does your department formally provide once the testing is complete and the list is established?

To post your comments, go to fireengineering.com/roundtable.html.

WEBCASTS

On July 10, Division Chief Edward Hadfield, Firetown Training Specialist (CA), will present “Firefighter Fitness and Conditioning: Impacts on Fireground Decision Making.” On July 17, Lieutenant Steven Hamilton, Fort Jackson (SC) Fire Department, will present “Responding to and Preparing for Acts of Violence.” Webcasts are free, but you must register. If you miss these or any other Webcasts, they are archived on www.fireengineering.com for six months.

FDIC

Full coverage of the Fire Department Instructors Conference, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 7-12, 2014, can be found at http://www.fireengineering.com/fdic.html. See hands-on training videos and photos, keynote addresses, and award presentations. The 2015 Call for Presentations period is now closed. Speakers will be notified in September.

FIRE LIFE

In her column What Every Firefighter’s Spouse Should Know, Anne Gagliano writes in “Why Women Leave”: “It is very easy for the firefighter couple to become as ‘ships that pass in the night.’ Firefighters are doers, and they tend to overcommit, but no amount of money or achievement is worth the loss of intimacy. If your wife ends up divorcing you because of neglect, both your heart and your income will be broken in half. You will have been working all of that overtime for nothing.” Read the entire article at www.firelife.com.

PHOTO OF THE DAY: A fire consumed the upper floor of a two-story U.S. Post Office in Carlstadt, New Jersey. Firefighters began an interior attack, but as the fire consumed the roof and dropped to the top floor, conditions began to rapidly deteriorate, and operating personnel were ordered out of the structure. A defensive attack was established, which included tower ladders and a deck gun. (Photo by Ron Jeffers.) See more photos at http://bit.ly/1jTxHxL. Send your Photo of the Day submissions to Peter Prochilo (peterp@pennwell.com).

FEATURED ARTICLES

Eric G. Bachman writes in “Responsibility and Response Ability, Part 2”: “Fire officers must compare the challenges a venue presents against the fire department’s profile. This will reveal the preparedness level of an organization to mitigate situations as its responsibilities-in other words, to determine the department’s response ability.” (http://bit.ly/PTBFKM)

Greg Brody writes in “Response Lessons Learned from a Small-Town Police Officer Line-of-Duty Death”: “Suddenly, the special bond that emergency personnel share was extended across the imaginary line of police and fire. First names were memorized, Facebook friend requests were sent and accepted, and social events were now planned for both types of responders.” (http://bit.ly/1gbo1Kl)

John M. Buckman III writes in “Professional Development for the Firefighter in 2014 and Beyond, Part 2”: “A firefighter who can’t control his emotions during an emergency is not exhibiting good firefighter behavior. True firefighting requires physical, mental, and emotional competence.” (http://bit.ly/1iKToQo)

Kevin A. Gallagher writes in “Modular Issues: Crane Lifting Access Points”: “Prefabricated or modular construction results in a wood-frame residential structure being built in a factory, shipped as modules over the road, and assembled on site. An ample inventory of material, no lost time because of weather concerns, and an assembly line method cut down on the overall time needed to get the modules out the door and on their way to Anytown, USA.” (http://bit.ly/1hurd42)

Jeremy Jones writes in “Ambushed!”: “If you are the intended first target of an ambush attack, there is generally one thing-and one thing only-that will save you: luck! But, a little luck on your side, good situational awareness, and preplanning will play an essential role in your survival.” (http://bit.ly/RIhCkf)

COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE MONTH
Name: Wade Stevens. Department: Orange Beach (AL) Fire Rescue. Rank: battalion chief. Years of public service: 13. Agency structure: combination department.