Page 30, Fire News, September 2021
FireNews.com
FIREHOUSE EXPO PREVIEW
Why Columbus?
Columbus was selected as the new home for Firehouse Expo after taking many points into consideration. We sought an area that has strong, progressive fire departments to support us. Like the pricing for the conference, we wanted a city that provides affordable travel and lodging and a location that offers plenty of activities in the days before and after Firehouse Expo and in the evenings during the event. Columbus offers all of that and much more. We are excited to work with the strong and progressive Columbus Division of Fire, with fire departments in Franklin County and with the Ohio State Fire Academy. It’s easy to fly into Columbus through John Glenn Airport (CMH), with more than 40 nonstop flights daily. The drive time from the New York City area is less than nine hours; points including Nashville, Chicago and Upper Michigan are less than six hours on the road.
Firehouse Expo’s Opening Ceremony
You won’t want to miss Brian Brush’s keynote, “Mission, Metrics and Vision.” Brush, the chief of training in Midwest City, OK, and founder of the Firefighter Rescue Survey, will look at metrics of fires compared to 50 years ago when the America Burning report was first published. While the number of fires is down, the threat of complacency is real when it comes to a fire service that is prepared to battle the next blaze and rescue victims, preventing a tragedy. Brush’s keynote will share how the fire service can recalibrate its mission and support the vision of vigilance that the firefighters and citizens expect of today’s firefighters. Firehouse will honor the Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor recipient, George O. Mueller and induct four longtime Firehouse contributors into the Firehouse Hall of Fame: Steve Austin and Curt Varone from the Class of 2020 and Ron Moore and Tom Shand from the Class of 2021.
Learning from Incidents
During the 37th annual Firehouse Expo, several presenters share what they learned at incidents that captured national headlines: Nashville’s Christmas Day Bombing-Capt. Scott Burgess, who was the initial incident commander for the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device that detonated in downtown Nashville on Dec. 25, 2020, will look at how EMS, suppression, hazmat and USAR crews operated at the blast. Burgess will share how work with local, state and federal authorities was key to bringing the incident under control. LODDs, Close Call Incident Save Ohio Firefighters-Chief Allen Walls will share the lessons learned in Colerain Township, OH, following the death of two firefighters as well as a close call, which were put to use years later to save the lives of several firefighters. “Tribulation, Tragedy and Triumph: A Close Call, a Double LODD and the Lessons Learned” is an in-depth look at these incidents and how you can apply the elements of them to prevent firefighter injuries or deaths. Ohio Middle School Shooting-Deputy Chief Kai Rieger will explain how the tragic self-inflicted shooting of a teenager activated several agencies for a possible mass shooting at the Jackson Memorial Middle School in Jackson Township, OH. Rieger will share the outlines as the event went from a suicide to a large-scale operation and look at each layer of the response.
Chicago Water Reclamation Plant Explosion-Join Tim Walsh, who was chief of special operations for the 2018 explosion, as he details the incident, including rescue operations to remove several trapped workers and the command structure that was needed to handle the incident.
Exhibit Floor Demonstrations & Roundtables
Between classroom sessions, visit the exhibit hall to meet with manufacturers. In addition to spending time with our sponsors, check the schedule for the various daily roundtables and product demonstrations and roundtables. We also partnered with the Illinois Fire Service Institute, All Hazards (A University of Findlay Training Center) and Insight Training to host various demonstrations in their respective booths each day. Demonstrations include rapid intervention and search techniques, thermal imaging skills and railroad tank car tactics.
Social Activities
First Annual FireFest Friday, Sept. 17, 1730-1930. We’re excited to host FireFest, which is a new annual social event that features food, drinks, and networking with firefighters and exhibitors from across the country, at Columbus Fire Fighters Local 67 union hall, Station 67. The renovated train station is packed with CFD history and provides a great view of downtown Columbus, where the free event will allow you to reconnect with or meet new brothers and sisters. Madison Township Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 2507 9/11 Charity Event Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1800-2200. Madison Township Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 2507 will host a special 9/11 Charity Event to help Motts Military Museum raise funds for its facility, which includes FDNY Tower Ladder 18, which was crushed by the collapsing buildings at the World Trade Center. The museum is home to the second-largest collection of 9/11 artifacts in the United States. This event is exclusive to Firehouse Expo attendees and includes a visit to the museum as well as to the local BrewDog brewery. Limited tickets are available. Exhibit Floor Networking Reception Thursday, Sept. 16, 1500-1600. Kick off the opening of the Firehouse Expo exhibit floor at the Welcome Reception with food, drinks, and access to all of the vendors, suppliers and manufacturers who will showcase the latest products and services. Firehouse Expo 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Friday, Sept. 17, 0730-1030. Firehouse and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) have partnered to host a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Huntington Park, which is home to the Columbus Clippers Triple-A baseball team. The fundraiser, which mimics the 110 flights of stairs that firefighters faced inside of the World Trade Center’s North and South Towers on 9/11, allows climbers to reflect on the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks with each step that they take.
