Firefighting Articles and News

Jamie Vaughan, | 01/11/2012

On January 01, 2012, at 13:47 hours, Rocky Mount NC Fire units were dispatched to a residential structure fire at 1201 Eastern Avenue. When the first due companies arrived on-scene they found a large two-story residential structure with gray smoke exiting the second story gable vents. Read More...

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Ken Farmer | 01/11/2012

It is said we all must face death and taxes. Neither are fun and here lately about the only way to escape more taxes seems to be death! Even then you don’t get away as your family is left behind to write those big estate tax checks. Read More...

Relevant Tags: Barnyard Management, family, funeral, sunday meeting, barnyard management

By Glenn Clapp | 01/11/2012

The question of “What in the heck is that?” will almost invariably arise regarding the new title of this section — “Sixty-One Delta One.” Sixty-One Delta One was selected as the title due to the fact that in the standardized Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) protocols being adopted in many locations throughout the nation, 61-D-1 is the dispatch code corresponding to a hazardous materials incident that is uncontained or moving, which is basically the worst-case scenario of the hazmat dispatch series. The title also represents an attempt at tongue-in-cheek hazmat humor, to which I know most readers will answer “Is there such a thing as hazmat humo... Read More...

Relevant Tags: SIXTY ONE DELTA ONE, hazmat, tube, equipment, carbon dioxide, delta one, hazardous materials, back basics, oxygen deficient, colorimetric tube, hazmat responders

By Willie Wimmer | 01/11/2012

Well brothers and sisters, let’s get started, this is the first of a four part series on how to spec a new piece of apparatus. These articles will give you insight and give you a few more things to think about other than what brand and what color. Each article will cover a different aspect of your process. I wanted to write this series because of some recent experiences I have had while in the field regarding some apparatus and items. These are things that should have been caught at the beginning of the spec process. Read More...

Relevant Tags: All About Trucks, apparatus, trucks, big boys

By Daniel J. Cimini | 01/11/2012

Is your department doing the checks needed to make sure your apparatus is ready to respond to a call? Most fire departments do not have a full time maintenance shop — most fire apparatus repairs are sent to a third-party fire apparatus repair facility. In these economic times we are facing financial challenges in our budgets, but there are several things that firefighters (career and or volunteer) can do on a regular basis in the fire station to head off issues early on and that will help to prevent the need for costly repairs. Read More...

Relevant Tags: All About Trucks, fire, apparatus, maintenance, pump, tank, department, inspection, fire apparatus, fire department, ready respond

By Brad Maness | 01/11/2012

In an earlier column we discussed the organization of your rapid intervention team (RIT) and how to overcome several roadblocks early on. Having a well trained, equipped team of firefighters ready to deploy for a fireground emergency should be a necessity. Even though most of us understand the extreme importance of staffing this team, not many firefighters jump at the thought of filling the RIT assignment. For those that don’t usually have a positive outlook regarding this assignment, you are inherently placing yourself and other firefighters at risk. Read More...

Relevant Tags: rit, equipment, officer, rit officer, rapid intervention, incident commander, intervention team, radio traffic

By Doug Ross | 01/11/2012

The following is a subject discussed in an article I wrote in the Carolina Fire Rescue EMS Journal in January 2010. Have you ever wondered if suspected arson fires were committed by organized gangs? Crime trends continually change. The use of fire as a criminal tool of retribution is one of the trends law enforcement and the fire service are noting with regularity over the past decade. Read More...

Relevant Tags: gang, fire, arson, carolina, ems, law, rescue, gang activity, gang members, south carolina, law enforcement, use arson

By Dave Murphy | 01/11/2012

Unless you live in a cave, you have probably noticed these are pretty tough economic times. Your last raise in pay is probably a distant memory while most everything else has gone up in price. Conversely, emergency services resources are most likely not as plentiful as they were a few years back. As a result, current firehouse conversations most likely expound on what you don’t have, as opposed to what you do have. While this is normally construed as a natural reaction to an adverse situation, it is ultimately one’s words and our subsequent actions that distinguish who and what we are. Read More...

Relevant Tags: fire, positive, fire department, fire service, emergency services, positive thinking, dave murphy

Molly Thomas | 01/11/2012

When my children were very young, our family was on vacation at the beach with friends. My friend’s youngest child Luke was busy at the water’s edge, happily jumping waves and chasing a beach ball. In no time at all, Luke was not within our sight. We scurried to find him, spotting him in the distance where he had obviously lost himself in play. When he realized that he could not see us, a visibly upset Luke came running up the beach, and exclaimed to his mother, “Where were you? I lost myself!” Read More...

Relevant Tags: identity, theft, fire, credit, information, security, identity theft, social security, theft protection, security number, credit card, personal information, theft prevent

By Carter H. Jones | 01/11/2012

As part of my job duties I am required to travel across South Carolina and visit fire departments, EMS and rescue organizations — from the mountains to the sea —from the largest departments having all career personnel to the smallest volunteer agencies serving crossroad communities. On occasion, as I drive away from some of these agencies, I am gripped with a feeling of apprehension, or maybe a strange foreboding that “things ain’t right.” Read More...

Relevant Tags: fire, training, emergency, documentation, insurance company, emergency service, management safeguards, fire apparatus, ems rescue, being sued, loss control, service organization, fire departments

By Ron Cheves | 01/11/2012

It seems to me we are hearing a lot about the career fire departments that are dealing with budget cuts and having to deal with less. However, not a lot of publicity about the volunteer fire departments that are being affected by the budget cuts that are taken place across the country in just about every city and town. My town and fire department did receive an increase this budget year which tells me our elected officials are listening to us and they get it. According to the ICMA (International City/County Managers Association) too many are doing with less. Most budgets for emergency services around the country are being affected and the ele... Read More...

Relevant Tags: The Volunteer Department, fire, departments, volunteer, fire departments, volunteer fire, fire service, budget cuts, volunteer department, elected officials

By Mark Reese | 01/11/2012

Communications in this modern age is something that we take for granted. Imagine what life was like when your grandparents relied on wind-up telephones and the telegraph to talk to family and friends, or to report a problem. Read More...

Relevant Tags: fire, emergency, safety, communications, interoperability, public, agencies, management, public safety, first responders, deficit reduction, emergency management

By Shane Gibbs | 01/11/2012

As I write this column I sit at my desk wondering what technology will exist in the next 10, 20 or even 30 years? Over the last two decades the world has seen a tremendous change in the way we live our day-to-day lives because of advancements in technology. Read More...

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By David Greene | 01/11/2012

“Incident Management Systems don’t work.” The words still rang in my ears as I felt my face become flushed and emotion begin to build in my chest. While attending a recent class, one of my classmates hit all of us with the statement above. I quickly thought of every fire and every motor vehicle collision to which I have responded in my career. Yes, some didn’t run like a Swiss clock but for the most part the Incident Management System (IMS) had run calls effectively and efficiently. Read More...

Relevant Tags: ims, command, incident, management, incidents, weakest link, integrated communications, department organization, common terminology, incident management, management system, unified command

| 01/11/2012

This year the Raleigh Fire Department celebrates a milestone: their 100th anniversary as a career fire department. Special events are planned including a downtown birthday party on June 9, 2012. North Carolina’s Capitol City is protected by the second largest fire department in the state, but it started very small. Let’s turn the clock back 99 years. In 1912, five volunteer fire companies and some 120 firemen protected Raleigh’s four square miles and nearly 20,000 residents. They operated five pieces of horse-drawn fire equipment: three hose wagons, one steam engine, and one service ladder truck. Fires were fought using hydrant pressure, tho... Read More...

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