FRM 2010 jun

B

Manufacturers reveal the latest & greatest, p. 46 Oklahoma City’s rig refurb, p. 28

June 2010 Read It Today, Use It Tomorrow Connect with us at FireďŹ ghterNation.com

Choose 11 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 12 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010 Volume 28, Issue 6 To subscribe, visit www.fire-rescue.com

46

Apparatus 46 Driving Force

At FDIC, economy proves no match for the apparatus industry

By Bob Vaccaro

56 Firefighters in 3D

M easurements taken in the Firefighter Anthropometry Study will shape the design of apparatus seatbelts, cabs & much more

By Michael Wilbur & Jennifer Whitestone

Fitness 86 Survival of the Fittest

The medicine ball helps develop power & muscle endurance

By Jeff & Martha Ellis

Plus!

How to encourage the development of well-rounded leaders in our department

By Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson

64 Leadership Skills

I t’s the sound of opportunity knocking— will you open the door?

By Chief Marc Revere

66 FRI 2010 Preview Leadership Defined

4

Firerescue Magazine

75

Saving the Scene First-in crews are often the keys to preserving a fire’s area of origin

By Jim Acker

66 2010 Fire-Rescue International Preview

The International Association of Fire Chiefs’ leadership section

62 President’s Letter

Wildland/Urban Interface

56

68 Not So Lonely at the Top

Emerging leaders find educational value in peers who have “been there, done that”

By Chief Mark Lockhart

70 FRI Featured Exhibitors 72 Safety

FRI offers valuable opportunities to learn about changing your department’s safety culture

By Chief Robert Dubé

June 2010

Choose 13 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

40

In This Issue …

12 From the Editor

T he NIST staffing report may seem obvious to us, but we must interpret & apply it at the local level

• Gear Test: The Cool Shirt Aqua Vest Active Firefighter Rehab System cools up to 6 firefighters at once • News: Reputation of fire service threatened by some firefighters’ bad behavior • Announcement: Bruce Evans receives the 2010 James O. Page Achievement Award • LODD: NIOSH reports recently released

By Bob Vaccaro

81 Make the Cut

Simple tips for working at the vehicle extrication scene

By Todd D. Meyer

90 New Deliveries 94 Classifieds 97 Ad Index

28 Apparatus Ideas

R efurbing allowed Oklahoma City to upgrade its ladders at a good price

D on’t treat a commercial/industrial fire like a residential fire

88 New Products

D on’t allow a chief with no training to drag down the entire department

40 Fire Attack

By Mike Kirby & Tom Lakamp

24 Nozzlehead

P rioritizing second-due truck company operations

Exclusively Online!

By Jim McCormack

By Timothy E. Sendelbach

14 ToolsNewsTechniques

34 Truck Company Operations

Visit www.tinyurl.com/FireRescueblog to read these articles:

Fire Prevention

C reative ways to enhance efficiency are welcome, but we can’t take it too far

By Jim Crawford

Quick Drills

Tips for removing doors during extrication incidents

By Homer Robertson

Rural Fire Command

T o deliver effective water flow from a fill site, you may need to join several portable pumps together

By Patrick Pauly

98 Response Time

D oes being the busiest also mean being the best?

By Brian A. Crawford

81

About the Cover At 0219 hrs on March 3, the Onset (Mass.) Fire District responded to a fire at the old Ocean Spray Cranberry Company Freezer Building, built in the early 1900s. Firefighters stretched a 2 ½" Mattydale to Side A and forced entry through an overhead door. They observed heavy fire in the upper floors. Another crew stretched a 300' 2" attack line and entered into the basement, finding no smoke or fire. Companies were then ordered out of the building and defensive operations started; the incident escalated through multiple alarms. The fire was brought under control at 0600 hrs.

TACTICAL TIP: Old buildings present unique hazards, known and unknown. This fire is a classic example of why firefighters must be familiar with the buildings within their respective districts. An old building with multiple tenants and interior modifications leads to increased hazards to firefighters. Always take note of tenant changes because many times they lead to floor modifications (changes in wall configurations, floor plans, etc). Also, consider the potential for holes in floors and walls due to equipment change-outs, which will promote rapid fire spread without warning. Pre-fire plans are a must in all high-hazards buildings. Tactical considerations: Always think pessimistically. Position apparatus for projected fire spread and identify the visual cues that help forecast where and how the fire will spread (smoke, current location of the fire, building construction, contents, etc.).

Photo Rob Reardon

6

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 14 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

m

a

g

a

z

i

n

e

editor-in-chief

Timothy E. Sendelbach - tesendelbach@msn.com dePUtY editor

Shannon Pieper - s.pieper@elsevier.com MAnAGinG editor

Janelle Foskett - j.foskett@elsevier.com senior editor

Cindy Devone-Pacheco - c.devone@elsevier.com editoriAl AssistAnt

Kindra Sclar - k.sclar@elsevier.com online neWs/BloG MAnAGer Bill Carey - bill@goforwardmedia.com editoriAl director

A.J. Heightman - a.j.heightman@elsevier.com editoriAl dePArtMent

Phone 800/266-5367; Fax 619/699-6246 Art director

Jason Pelc - jasonpelc@yahoo.com director of eProdUcts/ProdUction

Tim Francis - t.francis@elsevier.com WeB ProdUction coordinAtor

Neil Johnson - n.johnson2@elsevier.com ProdUction coordinAtor

Pippin Schupbach - p.schupbach@elsevier.com ProdUction AssistAnt

Kevin Root - k.root@elsevier.com AdvertisinG dePArtMent

Phone 800/266-5367; Fax 619/699-6722 AdvertisinG director/Western AccoUnt MAnAGer

Sheri Collins - sheric@nevpacinc.com 520/825-3770

Western eMediA sAles rePresentAtive

Cindi Richardson - cindirichardson@sbcglobal.net 661/297-4027 eAstern sAles rePresentAtive

Joe Skey - joe.rhmedia@verizon.net 856/673-4000 clAssified sAles rePresentAtive

Jim Maloney - j.maloney@elsevier.com 215/239-3157 senior sAles coordinAtor

Elizabeth Zook - e.zook@elsevier.com sAles & AdMinistrAtive coordinAtor

Liz Coyle - l.coyle@elsevier.com eMediA strAteGY

Phone 410/872-9303 MAnAGinG director

Dave Iannone - dave@goforwardmedia.com director of eMediA sAles

Paul Andrews - paul@goforwardmedia.com director of eMediA content

Chris Hebert - chris@goforwardmedia.com director of AUdience develoPMent & sAles sUPPort

Mike Shear - m.shear@elsevier.com

AUdience develoPMent coordinAtor

Jenna Engelstein - j.engelstein@elsevier.com MArketinG director

Debbie Murray - d.l.murray@elsevier.com MArketinG MAnAGer

Melanie Dowd - m.dowd@elsevier.com senior GrAPhic desiGner

Kathy Whitehead - k.whitehead@elsevier.com MArketinG & ProGrAM coordinAtor

Olga Berdial - o.berdial@elsevier.com vice President/PUBlisher

Jeff Berend - j.berend@elsevier.com foUndinG PUBlisher

James O. Page, 1936–2004 Choose 15 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

8

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 16 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

m

a

g

a

z

i

n

e

Editorial Board

iaFC Board & StaFF

To reach any member of our editorial board, e-mail frm.editor@elsevier.com and include the contributor’s name in your subject line.

FireRescue is the official publication of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

TECHNICAL EDITORS AppARATuS Fire Chief Bob Vaccaro (Ret.) Deer Park, N.Y.

EDITORIAL ADvISORS & CONTRIBuTING EDITORS

iaFC Board

Chief Brian Crawford Shreveport (La.) Fire Department

Jeffrey D. Johnson President & Chairman of the Board

Dwight Clark FirstCare, Forsyth, Ga.

John E. “Jack” Parow First Vice President

Chief Scott Cook (Ret.) Granbury (Texas) Fire Department

Al H. Gillespie Second Vice President

Battalion Chief Henry Costo Philadelphia Fire Department

Larry J. Grorud President 2008–2009

Capt. Mike Kirby & District Chief Tom Lakamp Cincinnati Fire Department

Assistant Chief Brian Fennessy San Diego Fire-Rescue Department

William R. Metcalf Treasurer

ExTRICATION Battalion Chief Todd D. Meyer Gig Harbor (Wash.) Fire/Medic One

Deputy Chief William Goldfeder Loveland-Symmes (Ohio) Fire Department

Richard Carrizzo Missouri Valley Division

fIRE pREvENTION Fire Marshal Jim Crawford Vancouver (Wash.) Fire Department

Assistant Chief Todd Harms Phoenix Fire Department

COmpANy OffICER DEvELOpmENT Deputy Chief Ray Gayk Ontario (Calif.) Fire Department fIRE ATTACk Chief Greg Jakubowski Lingohocken (Pa.) Fire Company

fITNESS Division Chief Martha Ellis Salt Lake City Fire Department QuICk DRILLS Capt. Homer Robertson Fort Worth Fire Department RESCuE Capt. Andy Speier Snohomish County (Wash.)

Fire District 1

Fire Chief Ed Hartin Central Whidbey Island (Wash.)

Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Jeff Johnson Tualatin Valley (Ore.) Fire and Rescue Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr Austin (Texas) Fire Department Steve Kidd Delve Productions, Inc. , Orlando, Fla. Chief Tom Kuntz Red Lodge (Mont.) Fire Department

RESCuE REpORT Tom Vines, Rope Rescue Consultant Red Lodge, Mont.

Thomas E. Lubnau II Lubnau Law Office, P.C., Gillette, Wyo.

RuRAL fIRE COmmAND Capt. Keith Klassen Summit (Ariz.) Fire District

Chief Steve Pegram Goshen (Ohio) Township Fire & EMS Department

Resident Instructor Patrick Pauly Pennsylvania State Fire Academy Lewistown, Penn.

TRuCk COmpANy OpS Capt. Michael M. Dugan Fire Department City of New York Capt. Randy Frassetto Surprise (Ariz.) Fire Department Lt. Jim McCormack Indianapolis Fire Department

to SuBSCriBE, viSit www.FirE-rESCuE.Com

Battalion Chief Tom Pendley Peoria (Ariz.) Fire Department District Chief Billy Schmidt Palm Beach County (Fla.) Fire Department Deputy Fire Coordinator Tiger Schmittendorf Erie County Department of Emergency Services, Buffalo, N.Y.

John W. deHooge Canadian Division William Walton Jr. Eastern Division John Sinclair EMS Section Alan W. Perdue Fire & Life Safety Section Kenn Taylor Great Lakes Division Luther L. Fincher Jr. Metro Chiefs Association Roger Bradley New England Division I. David Daniels Safety, Health & Survival Section Jack K. McElfish Southeastern Division Jerry “J.D.” Gardner Southwestern Division Fred C. Windisch VCOS Joseph M. Perry Western Division iaFC StaFF

Deputy Chief John Sullivan Worcester (Mass.) Fire Department

Mark W. Light, CAE Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director

Deputy Chief John Tippett Charleston (S.C.) Fire Department

Ann Davison, CAE Strategic Information Manager

Battalion Chief Matt Tobia Anne Arundel (Md.) County Fire Department

Choose 17 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

10

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 18 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

FromTheediTor

User Intervention Required The NIST staffing report may seem obvious to us, but we must interpret & apply it at the local level

I

By Timothy E. Sendelbach

More Info on the NIST Study • The complete results: http://www.nist.gov/ cgi-bin/view_pub.cgi?pub_ id=904607&division=866 • News article, video and related links: http://www. firefighternation.com/forum/ topics/nist-releases-report-on • “Effect of Deployment of Resources on Cardiovascular Strain on Firefighters”: http://www.iaff.org/tech/PDF/ IAFF_HR_FINAL_Report_ 2010.pdf

12

n the computer world, the phrase “plug and play” is used to describe a device that facilitates the discovery of a hardware component without the need for physical configuration or user intervention. In short, plug it in, and the computer identifies and configures the necessary components to operate effectively—with no additional work required by the end user.

Tanks to the fine folks at Microsoft and Apple, the plug-and-play mindset is becoming the operational norm. Unfortunately, not all things in life are so simple.

Case in point: the recent “Report on Residential Fireground Field Experiments,” published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Te study involved experiments in which two-, three-, four- and five-person crews were timed as they performed 22 standard firefighting/rescue tasks at a typical residential structure fire. Among the highlights: • Four-person crews were able to complete the 22 tasks 30 percent faster than two-person crews and 25 percent faster than three-person crews.

• Four-person crews were able to deliver water 16 percent faster than the two-person crews and 6 percent faster than three-person crews.

• Four-person crews were able to begin search and rescue 30 percent faster than two-person crews and 6 percent faster than three-person crews.

Te NIST findings are of critical importance to the fire service and should not be viewed as anything less, but we cannot and should not print, bind and distribute this document with the plug-and-play mindset.

Tese findings are a tool for each and every one of us to use and apply where appropriate, but “local configuration and user intervention” is required.

On the surface, this report depicts the obvious: Te quicker we get more firefighters on the fireground, the quicker they can initiate the critical tasks of fire attack, search, ventilation, etc., which in turn reduces property loss and increases survivability. However, we must be prepared to apply the results to our communities. We must consider aspects such as: • Te level of risk we choose to take in order to protect life and property.

• What portion of our response area is made up of low-hazard residential structures vs. high-risk commercial occupancies and special hazards.

• Te measured difference between a late and an early arrival time for our respective districts.

Firerescue Magazine

• How the tasks we perform compare with those measured in this study, and if they’re different, how our methods or means of deployment affect the completion times of fire attack and rescue.

With hard facts come hard questions that we all must be prepared to answer with the utmost transparency: What is the perceived and justifiable value of a 6 percent time differential in initiating fire attack and primary search? What’s the difference between a 1-MW fire and a 2-MW fire, and how will it affect the level of survivability of the victims within our community?

What’s the estimated value of 25–30 percent greater proficiency level when it comes to fireground staffing?

I don’t ask these questions to minimize the importance of safe and effective fireground staffing. But I firmly believe the success of this and any future study is directly related to our ability or inability to defend and describe these findings in terms applicable to our local environments. If we can’t explain it in measurable terms that our decision-makers can understand, we’re destined to come up short. We cannot simply plug and play this study, even when the results seem obvious to us. Te question now: Are we prepared to defend it?

We must also consider another component to the study: Are we committed to adjusting our tactics and training to align with the findings? If we’re going to argue that rapid fire development requires a quick response and X number of firefighters, we should also be training our company officers to adjust their tactics and risk-based decision-making to reflect the survivability factors of slow-, medium- and fast-growing fires. Tis same message should be embedded in our public education programs to demonstrate the extreme nature of fire spread and the importance of early detection, smoke detectors, residential sprinklers, etc., as they relate to citizen survivability.

In years past, our most critical decisions were based on anecdotal evidence, not factual research. Now, the pursuit of nonbiased, scientific research related to operations and safety has finally started to take hold.

Our new goal should be to apply the findings defined in this study to quantify our current and future needs.

Tis study is not a stopping point but a launching point for the transition from firefighting as a vocation to a profession defined by research that applies the factual backing for our most critical decisions—those related to operational safety and survivability.

June 2010

Choose 19 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

Tools News Techniques Equipment

How To

Aqua Vest Active Firefighter Rehab System

Pros

+ Easy to use; + Rapid cooling; and + Cools up to 6 firefighters at once.

People

Gear Test

Web & Media

Events

Cool Down— Quickly

The Cool Shirt Aqua Vest Active Firefighter Rehab System cools up to 6 firefighters at once

By Josh Krimston

S

Cons - None.

Shafer Enterprises 170 Andrew Dr. Stockbridge, GA 30281 Tel: 800/345-3176 Fax: 678/289-4325 E-mail: sales@coolshirt.net Web: www.coolshirt.net

cientists and physicians have tracked the perils of heat-related illnesses during military operations for hundreds of years. Although they may not have completely understood the science behind heatstroke (19th-century practices sometimes called for wearing orange underwear and cork helmets to block the sun’s rays from the spinal cord and the brain), it was clearly recognized that soldiers going into battle wearing heavy armor could become overheated and die. Even the Bible has multiple passages related to sunstroke and the effects of heat on military procedures.

Tese findings can clearly be translated to modernday firefighting operations, and have been instrumental in recent changes about how we take care of our personnel during fire suppression and training. Can you say “rehab”?

Photos Courtesy shafer enterPrises

The Aqua Vest covers 30 to 40 percent of the skin’s surface with temperature-controlled water being pumped through more than 50 feet of tubing integrated into the vest.

14

Training

Firerescue Magazine

The cooling unit looks like a typical ice chest, but contains an internal pump that keeps the water flowing through a series of hoses that connect to up to six vests.

I recently had the opportunity to test Shafer Enterprises’ Cool Shirt Aqua Vest Active Firefighter Rehab System, an efficient tool for any rehab scene. Te system can quickly and effectively cool up to six firefighters at once, and it meets NFPA 1584 standards for active cooling and rehab.

Te late Rich Shafer, inventor of the system, first started working with elevated temperatures and occupational environments in the late 1980s. At that time, orthopedic surgeons began wearing Tyvek medical gowns, and discovered that they didn’t breathe well and became unbearably hot. With this in mind, Shafer developed a cooling vest, the Aqua Vest prototype, which surgeons could wear under their gowns to keep themselves comfortable.

Shafer also developed a number of cooling systems for race car drivers.

To date, more than 1,000 hospitals and more than 25,000 racers use the Cool Shirt technology.

June 2010

Josh Krimston is an engineer/paramedic with the Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Protection District in San Diego County. Krimston has been involved in EMS for 20 years and serves as the department’s injury-prevention specialist.

June 2010

News

Losing Moral Ground Reputation of fire service threatened by some firefighters’ bad behavior

By Jane Jerrard

“C

heating Scandal Rocks State Fire Academy”; “3 Years for Pyro Fireman”; “Fire Chief Given Prison Sentence for Embezzlement”; “Firefighters Busted Looking at Porn on County Computers.” Tese are just a few headlines from countless news stories that chronicle bad behaviors in the fire service. Immoral, unethical, inappropriate and criminal behavior among firefighters seems to be on the rise, and it’s tarnishing the reputation of the fire service as a whole.

In March 2010, the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association (CVVFA) released a white paper on this topic in the hopes of starting a national discussion of how to prevent these behaviors, manage them when they occur and regain the nation’s high regard of the fire service. (Download the full white paper at www.cvvfa.org.)

Why the CVVFA? Te CVVFA was established in 1901 as a group of regional fire service leaders, but today it addresses national issues including highway and roadway dangers; it maintains the Web site www.respondersafety.com.

Steve Austin, director and past president on the CVVFA board, spearheaded the group that drafted the white paper “Fire Service Reputation Management.”

He explains, “Te issue of the growing number of problem behaviors was raised in our group almost 3 years ago. An ad hoc group within our association met, and there was some discussion about the erosion of the moral high ground in the fire service.” Because the CVVFA had been successful in raising awareness about highway safety, the group thought it could be successful doing the same for the danger to the fire service’s

s

Utilizing information gleaned from their hospital and racing experience, Shafer and his partners developed a product with the ability to meet the specific needs of the fire service. Te system operates on the premise that when the temperature around you is greater than 95 degrees F (this includes inside the turnout gear), the human body loses the ability to shed heat through radiation, convection and conduction. Tus, the only means the body has to effectively cool itself is through evaporation.

Enter the Cool Shirt Aqua Vest Active Firefighter Rehab System. Te Aqua Vest covers 30 to 40 percent of the skin’s surface with temperature-controlled water (between 45 and 60 degrees F) being pumped through more than 50 feet of tubing integrated into the vest. Tis process, with the help of an evaporative material that wicks moisture from the vest away from the skin, assists in cooling the wearer’s blood through evaporation. According to Shafer Enterprises, studies have proven that cool water will transfer body heat up to 28 times faster than cool air. Te result is a quicker return to normal core body temperature, improving vitals and decreasing rehab time.

Te system is ideal for preplanned training exercises but can be set up in less than 5 minutes for any emergency situation, as long as there’s a power source and available ice and water. Other great uses for the product include cooling down patients in aid stations at large gatherings where heat may be a factor (e.g., Lollapalooza in August) or physical agility tests.

Te cooling unit looks like a typical ice chest, but contains an internal pump that keeps the water flowing through a series of hoses that connect to up to six vests. Te vests are easy to don, and they come in five sizes (M–XXXL). Cooling takes place rather quickly once the water begins circulating through the device, but it’s not an uncomfortable process like, for example, dunking your head into a bucket of ice water.

And, unlike wetting down a shirt or towel, the vests don’t dry out or warm up over time; they stay consistently cool for hours. Te vests are also easy to remove and can be switched from person to person quickly and efficiently. Another nice feature: Te vest’s configuration allows full access to the wearer’s arms for blood pressure monitoring or IV access.

Te Aqua Vest Active Firefighter Rehab System comes in two versions, the Four-Person Rehab Station ($2,295) and the Six-Person Rehab Station ($2,895). Some folks may balk at the initial price tag, but administrators with experience in injury prevention know that just one trip to the hospital for an overheated firefighter could cost a department five times as much. So in my opinion, this is a good investment.

NIOSH Reports Recently Released To read the complete reports, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire F2009-23: Career lieutenant dies following a floor collapse into basement fire and a career firefighter dies attempting to rescue the career lieutenant Date: Aug. 24, 2009 Location: New York

F2008-14: Volunteer fire chief and firefighter killed when a wildland engine plummets from a fire-damaged wooden bridge into a dry creek bed Date: April 15, 2008 Location: Colorado

F2010-01: Lieutenant suffers sudden cardiac death at scene of a brush fire Date: March 14, 2009 Location: Missouri

F2010-02: Firefighter suffers cardiac death following structural fire suppression Date: June 16, 2009 Location: Kansas

Firerescue Magazine

15

reputation. Te end result was the white paper.

“Most of the people involved in the white paper have been personally involved in resolving specific problems within their own departments,” Austin says. “Tey have dealt hands-on with issues that went across the whole list in the white paper; some even had people in jail as they were working on this.”

SeriouS Behavior iSSueS “Fire Service Reputation Management” outlines seven problem areas: 1. Cheating on examinations; 2. Firefighter fire-setting; 3. Teft and misappropriation of fire service funds;

4. Use and misuse of departmental and personal information technology; 5. Misuse of departmental facilities; 6. Alcohol use and other substance abuse; and 7. Harassment and discrimination.

Chief Kelvin Cochran, U.S. Fire Administrator, who added a statement to the white paper, says, “We have some trends and patterns of behavior that are becoming more frequent. Tere are indicators that these patterns could be a growing impact on the reputation of the fire service.”

Part of the problem has been that these behaviors are dealt with locally, with no one looking at the big, national picture. “Heretofore, people usually dealt with [bad behavior] as isolated incidents— each case led to crisis management,” Austin explains. Chief Cochran adds, “Of course, most of these issues start local, but if the patterns transcend the city or county, this could be a big problem.”

When the CVVFA white paper task force started researching recent instances of bad behavior, they found that it is getting more common. “What we found is that this kind of behavior seems to be on the rise,” Austin says. “Our people are not willing to accept the theory that the fire service is a microcosm of society, which [is getting worse]. I don’t think we can accept this.”

an impact on the induStry Even if you believe isolated incidences of firefighter wrongdoing are over-reported, they still have a serious negative impact on the reputation of the department and the industry as a whole.

Chief Jeff Johnson, president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), says, “Tese are individual people who are exhibiting these behaviors—but it takes just a few to tarnish the whole profession.” He continues, “Te fire service is going through a tough time right now. If post-9/11 was a high point for how we’re perceived by the public, then these are really bumpy times.”

Austin points out that negative perceptions can also harm departments’ funding.

“For example, I got a call recently from a chief in Massachusetts who said that some of his funding seems to be tied to bad things reported in the news about another department in the state,” Austin says. “So incidents of bad behavior can affect our funding and support.”

a national code of ethicS?

16

Firerescue Magazine

s

Choose 20 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Te white paper calls for a national Fire Service Code of Ethics “as a guide for June 2010

Choose 21 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

improved ethical decision-making,” which would be included in the training of every firefighter, from basic recruit training to leadership courses. “We’d like to get a national debate started about a code of ethics,” Austin says. “Te CVVFA would like to be part of any discussion, but we certainly don’t have all the answers.”

Various national associations and government agencies may be included in drafting the code. “With the release of this white paper, departments now have the capacity to work the findings into their own rules and procedures, to create their own formal code of ethics and make it enforceable,” Cochran says. “But this also needs to be embraced at the federal level, by organizations like the International Association of Fire Firefighters, the IAFC and the National Volunteer Fire Council. If there is going to be a national ‘standard’ of ethics, for lack of a better word, I believe the U.S. Fire Administration should have a seat at the table.”

Te IAFC already has a code of ethics for its members, along with formal rules of conduct and an enforcement process in place.

But not everyone agrees such a code is needed, and its future remains uncertain. Asked whether such a code might be included in the curriculum at the National Fire Academy, Superintendent Denis Oneial says, “I don’t know that you need to teach a code of ethics. If you need to be trained to be ethical, perhaps you need to seek another line of work.”

Photo JR Adkins/www.fithP.net

Three firefighters were charged with starting this blaze in an abandoned structure in March 2009.

What Company offiCers Can Do

s

Te CVVFA hopes that the information they’ve provided will spur action at the department level. “We have suggestions in the white paper, but we don’t provide answers,” Austin points out. “It’s clearly the role of the company officer to set standards for the department.”

Chief Johnson agrees: “It all boils down to managing our behaviors. For chiefs, that requires that we hold our organizations accountable. Tat means that sometimes people cannot belong to that organization.

As a chief, you’re the watchdog of that organization. So you have to set the standard, and then make sure that standard is enforced.”

Company officers should read the white paper and consider what actions they should take to prevent these types of behavior—and deal with them effectively when they occur.

“I think anybody who looks at this white paper needs to do a self-analysis,” Austin says. “Ask, are we doing things here that would protect our reputation? For example, one of the easiest things to deal with is Choose 22 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

18

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 23 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

Managing the Media & Public Relations

P

ete Piringer, a long-time public information officer (PIO) currently working for District of Columbia Fire & EMS, believes that the media has changed a lot in recent years. “There used to be newspaper, radio and TV, all very different in their needs, interests and deadlines,” he recalls. “Now we’ve got newspapers shooting video and putting stories online, trying to beat TV. Everything is digital and everything is fast. The news cycle is constant and they always need information, they need stories. [They have an increased] ability to break news and spread news easily.” Perhaps just as importantly, Piringer believes the media doesn’t view the fire service as it once did: “We’re not up on a pedestal anymore,” he points out.

And of course, firefighters behaving badly is news. So, if one or more members of your department is caught behaving immorally or illegally and you know it’s likely to hit the Internet (if not the local newspaper’s front page), then Piringer’s professional advice is to control the story from the beginning. “‘Be truthful,” he stresses.

“Get the story right and get it out.” And he says he always keeps the same “news angle” in mind: “The most important thing I do is assure the community that we’re able to respond quickly and respond well.”

the issue of embezzling money. Have your books reviewed by an independent accounting firm. Have checks and balances in place— this is an easy fix.”

Austin says that departments should also review how they select new candidates.

“Tere was a news item a couple of years ago about a firefighter in West Virginia who set a fire,” he recalls. “Another firefighter was injured while putting out that fire, and it made the news. A neighboring fire chief recognized the name of [the arsonist] and checked his files. Tat department had rejected him as a candidate due to a background check. All kinds of problems showed up on that check. It’s not hard to do background checks on all your candidates, including candidates for volunteers.”

Austin emphasizes, “It’s not like we’re breaking new ground here. Policies that address these issues are out there. Fire departments need to take a proactive approach to find those policies, institute them and enforce them. Take swift action and deal with it.”

EvidEncE OnlinE Te CVVFA plans to launch its new Web site, www.firefighterbehavior.com, this spring. It will chronicle inappropriate conduct within the fire service. Modeled after www.responder safety.com, the site uses Internet search technology to compile all reported incidents online. “Tis really shows the magnitude of the problem,” Austin says. “If we start gathering all the information that’s out there, we think people will start to realize how prevalent these problems are.”

Action to rein in these behaviors is critical, both at the department level and nationally. “Te history of this nation’s fire service is rich with the service and sacrifices made by the many men and women who have faced fire since the founding of this nation.

Trough their efforts and behaviors, this nation has come to trust and depend on all firefighters for the safety and protection of their homes,” Cochran says. “It is imperative that all firefighters recognize the actions of a few have the potential to diminish this hardearned trust. We must all work together to discuss, understand and act as firefighters in our behavior as to not only pay respect to those who have served before us, but to continue to be the emergency service all people have come to depend on.”

Jane Jerrard lives in Chicago and writes regularly for FireRescue.

s

Choose 24 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

20

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 25 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

Announcement

Bruce Evans (fourth from right) stands with members of the IAFC’s EMS Section after receiving the 2010 James O. Page EMS Achievement Award at FireRescue Med.

Jim Would Be Proud

Bruce Evans receives the 2010 James O. Page EMS Achievement Award

T

Photo Courtesy IAFC

he International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Emergency Medical Services Section has named Bruce Evans, assistant chief of business and support services at the North Las Vegas Fire Department, as the 2010 recipient of the James O. Page EMS Achievement Award. Te award presentation took place at Fire-Rescue Med, the IAFC’s annual conference for fire servicebased EMS leaders, in Las Vegas in May. Tis award—presented by the IAFC EMS Section and Physio-Control, Inc.—is given annually to an individual who has played a key role in creating and promoting nonclinical innovation and achievements in fire service-based EMS management and leadership that have had a positive impact nationally. Te award is named in honor of the late James O. Page, the founder of FireRescue magazine, who was a visionary and national leader in fire service based-EMS for more than 3 decades.

Recipients of this award are dedicated to creating a positive image for EMS as a whole while being an advocate of the fire and emergency service. Tey’re also committed to strengthening the role and image of fire service-based EMS across the country.

Get Your Tech Fix at FRI The Technology Pavilion at Fire-Rescue International 2010 showcases companies whose products and services illustrate the effective use of technology to provide solutions to the challenges facing the fire service. Companies will demonstrate how their specific technologies are creating solutions and increasing efficiencies in fire departments. Attendees who are responsible for purchasing or implementing new technologies will benefit from this opportunity to speak directly with company representatives and get hands-on with new products. The Pavilion will not only showcase new technologies but also existing products that have had significant improvements made to them when it comes to safety, ease of use, effectiveness and cost.

22

Choose 26 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 27 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

NOZZLEHEAD

The Fire Service Passed Him By Don’t allow a chief with no training to drag down the entire department

D

ear Nozzlehead: When is it time to retire? I’m an active member of a small department. Our problem is our chief. He’s one of those good ol’ boys who appoints himself chief in front of the Board when it’s time to appoint a new chief every year. The problem: He’s not a certified Firefighter I or II, and he only has basic firefighting skills that were self-taught.

He yells at the newbies and younger firefighters at training. He embarrasses the firefighters and gives them false information about how to conduct drills and other fire service stuff. He preaches safety but violates the rules all the time. He’ll show up at scenes in his personal vehicle— wearing shorts and flip-flops! At car wrecks, he’ll maybe wear a coat and a helmet, but rarely bunker gear. His excuse for going straight to the scene is that he has an AED in his truck.

He preaches about looking professional, but he’s very obese (and a diabetic because of it), and during training, he won’t participate in any of the drills or exercises, but then barks about his expertise on the matter.

I can’t believe he’s the chief, as he has no formal training and/or certifications related to NIMS, instructor courses or command training. He’s even made inappropriate and rude comments around one of our female firefighters. Our morale is low because of this guy, and no one wants to respond to calls. No one wants to confront him about these issues because they’re afraid of him and his bullying.

I can’t imagine the legal impact this could cause if someone were to get hurt or injured because he’s too lazy to get certified or go to classes (and there are plenty offered in this area for officers and command personnel).

We have a good Board, but he’s pulled the wool over their eyes.

Maybe a wise Board member or the chief himself will read this and wake up and smell the smoke before someone gets hurt or injured. I know I wouldn’t want him behind me in a fire.

What’s your advice on this situation?

—Frustrated in the Ozarks

24

Firerescue Magazine

s

Dear Frustrated, I like your first question, “When is it time to retire?”

Tis is a GREAT question because I know firefighters,

officers and chiefs who have been retired for years— but continue coming to work. Having them around is like trying to move forward with 200-lb. weights on each leg—it’s impossible. Tey’re standing still in a career that requires us to be constantly moving (i.e., learning).

I’ve been wondering what retiring would mean for me. Although I have a few more years ahead of me, I figure that I’d rather voluntarily retire (slow down) than be forced to retire from a hospital bed or funeral home. Or worse, continue going to runs and being clueless on those runs because the world has passed me by. Or even worse—being responsible for something going really bad simply because I’d become a 200-lb. weight that won’t let the organization move forward.

Assuming that the chief you’re writing about is in a volunteer position, my simple response is that it’s time to retire when the world around you is moving forward and you can’t, or won’t, keep up. Te problem is that some see it and some don’t. And sadly, some of those who don’t see it end their careers in a very sad, unfortunate or even tragic manner.

In your case, Frustrated, it sounds like Chief Boss Hogg runs the department the way he wants to and has your Board completely fooled. As far as certification or training, is it required in the state? If not, he may be perfectly legal as there are several states that don’t require the fire chief, or even the firefighters, to have basic training.

Wouldn’t it be cool if the same laws existed for doctors and the military? “No worries, son; just get in that plane and start flying,” or “Here, pal, just go ahead and start slicin’ with this scalpel.” Spectacular! We all know that if those professions didn’t have required training, someone could get critically injured or killed. Whoa! So someone could get hurt or killed in our profession, too, as a result of not being trained properly.

So then why aren’t firefighters, officers and chiefs required to have minimal training? Because we’re the ones who fight it! Te biggest obstacle to minimal training certifications for firefighters is us! So many firefighters have fought it because they think June 2010

Choose 30 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

NozzleHead

it’s too much work. Tese folks are the 200-lb. leg weights in the fire service. Why don’t they feel the need for basic training? Because nothing too bad has happened—yet. Besides, sometimes bad things happen to good people. We did our best, didn’t we? Or better yet, we fooled another taxpayer into thinking that we actually know what we’re doing. Hell, you can put a bunch of chimps on a fire engine, and if no one looks very close, the public will think it’s a fire department. Silly public.

Your chief yells at all the newbies and younger firefighters at training because, sadly, that’s all he has to offer. His “personal hard drive” holds little training and, therefore, his only option is to dominate through

intimidation. He gives false information on how to do drills because he doesn’t have the facts. He’s pushed into a corner and has no way out. And then there are the flip-flops. Flip-flops? Well I certainly hope they’re reflective and made of Kevlar.

Your fire company morale is predictable, and it’s sad because I’ll bet that “back in the day,” your chief did know what he was doing. But it’s clear that the fire service has passed him by. All his dedication and enthusiasm got stale because they weren’t maintained through learning and training. And no, it’s not easy for volunteer officers these days. Being a volunteer fire chief is among the toughest jobs in the fire service. Times have changed. Te challenges are greater.

But the chief and anyone like him must decide if they’re in or out of the game. And if he stays in the game, he MUST keep up with what’s required (legally or morally) to run that fire department.

I don’t know the chief, and he could very well be a decent guy behind closed doors.

But nice guy or nut job, someone needs to sit him down and wake him up. Give him the first shot to “catch up.” Odds are that he hired you, so he must have made some good decisions in his career. Someone needs to have a serious “chiefy” chat with him. Show him recent firefighter close-call events. Show him the recent firefighter injuries and, most critically, show him the articles and reports where firefighters were killed because those at the officer or command level didn’t do what they should have done. Tey didn’t do what was “accepted” practice. Tey didn’t do their best—something that begins well before the fire. Show him the incidents that went terribly wrong because of failed command, control and accountability issues.

Even though he likes to threaten you, don’t take threatening action behind his back unless there’s no chance he’ll change. And then, if he doesn’t show immediate interest in changing, get the membership to take it to the Board. You have no other choice!

You’ll be saving firefighters (and citizens) from predictably poor decisions, and you’ll also be saving the chief from himself.

Got a fire service question or complaint?

Let Nozzlehead hear all about it. He’ll answer you with 2,000 psi of free-flowing opinion. Send your letters to: Nozzlehead, c/o FireRescue, 525 B St. Ste. 1800, San Diego, CA 92101-4495 frm.editor@elsevier.com

Choose 29 at www.jems.com/rs

26

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 31 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

apparatusideas

New Life Out of Old Refurbing allowed Oklahoma City to upgrade its ladders at a good price

W

By Bob vaccaro

hen the Oklahoma City Fire Department (OCFD) needed to replace a fleet of aging ladder trucks, there was only one logical choice: refurbishment. Te department had already abolished six heavy-rescue units due to budget cuts. And with aerial apparatus prices soaring to $1 million or more, purchasing new ladders just wasn’t an option.

“New” & Improved In 2007, Deputy Chief Cecil Clay took over the position of managing the Support Services Division and immediately faced the task of making 19-yearold aerial ladders work for the department.

“Since the original ladders had been manufactured

by E-One, it was a logical choice for us to contact the E-One Factory Service Center in Ocala, Fla.,” Clay says. “Initially, we had two 135' rear-mount ladders and two 95' rear-mount platforms to refurb.”

E-One had recently initiated a new program to refurb ladders: It would inspect existing ladders, make repairs and weld any areas that needed work.

Te ladders would then be remounted on new Quest chassis, with new bodies. Te refurbished vehicles would carry the same warranty as a new vehicle.

The Oklahoma City Fire Department’s 135' ladder was refurbed with an E-One Quest chassis.

All photos courtesy oklAhomA city Fire DepArtment

A CheAper SolutIoN OCFD ladders normally serve 20 years in front-line service, but Clay estimates the refurbs will serve about 12 years on the front line. But even with the reduced service time, Clay believes the department will save about $100,000 per apparatus. “Given the current budget constraints, we felt that we really did well with refurbing these seven ladders,” he says.

s

28

Te refurb allowed the OCFD to make a change in the design of the vehicles, too. “Our older ladders were quints, but we really never embraced that concept,” Clay says. “When we did the refurb, we had the pumps removed and added compartment space.”

Tat added space allowed the ladders to cover the gap that was created when the heavy-rescue units were abolished. “Te refurbed ladders respond as rescue ladders,” Clay says, “which means that they carry the extra extrication equipment as well as other tools that the rescues would normally carry. Te extra compartment space allowed us to take on the added tasks. Tese new ladders run on all rescue calls, auto extrications, etc.”

Te OCFD chose the Quest chassis for its additional space. “We went from a four-person cab to a five-person cab,” Clays says. “Te extra-wide doors and interior cab space is a big plus for firefighters riding in the rear. Te visibility is also better up front.”

Other improvements include a radio compartment, a turnout gear compartment for the drivers and an additional second waterway to the ladders.

“Now we can operate two master streams at a fire,” Clay says. “One stream has a straight-bore nozzle and the other operates with a variable pattern or fog nozzle.” Te buckets on the 95' platforms were also reconstructed and made stronger for added use.

“We were really happy with the work E-One did on these units,” Clay says.

“After these four ladders were completed, we had three smaller units with 50' tele-booms refurbed as well.”

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 33 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

apparatusideas The OCFD’s 95' rear-mount platform was refurbed using an E-One Quest cab and chassis.

Te money used to refurb the apparatus came from a municipal bond program called a Use Tax. And because of the cost savings, the OCFD is hoping to refurb additional ladders in the next couple of years.

Clay notes one more aspect of the process that was successful. While the ladders were being refurbed, the department was short ladder companies. “E-One loaned us a 78' quint while the refurbs were taking place,” Clay says. “After the completion, we were able to purchase this unit and put it in front-line service.”

He notes that the vehicles turned out really well.

“If you look at these vehicles, you would never know that they are 19 years old,” he says.

Stretch Your Budget The OCFD’s 95' rearmount platform was refurbed using an E-One Quest cab and chassis.

Oklahoma City Fire Department • 35 stations • 36 engines • 13 ladders • 15 brush units • 1,000 uniformed firefighters • Protected population: 540,321 • Protected area: 621 square miles

s

Fire chiefs across the country are trying to find ways to stretch their budget dollars. Refurbing apparatus is not a new concept; however, the rising costs of apparatus construction, especially in 2010 with the new EPA guidelines for diesel engines, is shedding new light on refurbishment as an option.

If you have a structurally sound piece of apparatus coming due for replacement in your fleet, you might want to look into refurbing. Note: If you do decide to refurb, ensure that your newly refurbished apparatus meets the current NFPA 1901 standards when it’s complete, without cutting corners.

Deputy Chief Clay and the OCFD did it right.

30

F i r e r e s c u eChoose M a g 32 a zat i nwww.firerescuemagazine.com/rs e

June 2010

Choose 35 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

apparatusideas The rear view of Ladder 15, showing the built-in rear steps that lead to the ladder pedestal.

Tey investigated their options and were able to refurb 19-year-old aerials in such a way as to improve the vehicles, adding new compartments and waterways.

Refurbing might not be for every fire department, but it’s something apparatus committees should consider, especially if you have a good maintenance program for older vehicles. Remember: Refurbing can save money, but purchasing an apparatus should never be just about costs. Take all of the variables into account before you make the move.

Bob Vaccaro has more than 30 years of fire service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (N.Y.) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, The New York Fire Patrol and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior loss-control consultant. Vaccaro is a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The refurb of Ladder 15 allowed for the addition of large compartments for added storage.

32

Firerescue Magazine

Choose 37 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Choose 36 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

TRUCKCOMPANYOPERATIONS

Coming in Second …

Prioritizing second-due truck company operations

S

By Jim McCormack

include ventilation, checking for extension and performing overhaul (support of the engine company), laddering, search and support of the first-due truck company. Te priority of these duties, as with firstdue operations, is based on the overall fireground sizeup that the second-due truck performs as well as the progress of the first-due truck company (one of the biggest factors that must be considered).

If you look at second-due truck company operations as a continuation of overall truck company functions on the fireground, then prioritizing what needs to be done immediately is a little bit easier.

Te age-old fireground priorities (life safety, incident stabilization and property conservation) coupled with the truck company acronym (LOVERS_U) can simplify the process of determining what needs to be done at a given point.

Supporting the FirSt-Due truCk CoMpany One of the most important functions of the seconddue truck company is to support the operations of the first-due truck company. Tat’s right—when the first-due truck is overwhelmed from the outset and can’t complete all of its primary jobs, then

s

econd-due truck company operations are only a discussion in many fire departments—they simply don’t have the staffing on the fireground to consider splitting first- and second-due truck work.

In reality, second-due truck work is a continuation of the truck work that the first-due truck (or crew assigned to truck work) must accomplish.

In an ideal world, the fireground is staffed with multiple engines and trucks. With multiple companies, crews can simply fall in and perform the task that’s next on the priority list. Unfortunately, we don’t work in an ideal setting, and the jobs that must be performed are determined based on the fireground size-up and staffing.

In my last column (“First-In Ops,” April, p. 30), we talked about the priority list of jobs that the firstarriving truck company (or crew assigned to truck work) must perform: truck company size-up, forcible entry, search, initial engine company ventilation and laddering. To continue the discussion, let’s look at the jobs normally assigned to the second-due truck company (or the crew assigned to continue the truck work on the fireground).

Te duties of the second-due truck company may

Photo Courtesy tod Parker/www.PhototaC.Com

The second-due truck company is usually assigned the task of ventilation. A solid ventilation size-up should be conducted upon arrival to determine the amount and type of ventilation that’s needed.

34

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 38 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

TruckcompanyoperaTions

the second-due must immediately assist. Some of the initial support functions would include assisting with immediate rescues, assisting with immediate forcibleentry issues, venting for the initial attack line and assisting with initial search operations. Additional support would include throwing additional ladders, providing additional ventilation to support the attack and the search, and providing support to the engine company attacking the fire.

Ventilation

36

Firerescue Magazine

extension & oVerhaul When the initial knockdown takes place, the engine will need help opening up the area, checking for extension and extinguishing any remaining fire. Tis is a high-priority job of the second-due truck company. (Te first-due truck is performing search.) Te engine company will begin initial overhaul of the fire area, but will probably lack the tools that are normally carried by the truck crew. Te advantage of having a second truck crew available: Tere’s minimal delay in checking for extension (around and above) and overhauling the fire area.

As with ventilation, overhaul may be simple or may involve extensive work—it all depends on the size of

s

Te second-due truck company is usually assigned the task of ventilation. A solid ventilation size-up should be conducted upon arrival to determine the amount and type of ventilation that’s needed. Ideally, the first-due truck opens up the immediate fire area (or the fire selfvents on arrival). If not, the second-due truck should ventilate the fire area as soon as possible.

Te ventilation size-up should determine at the outset what type of ventilation is needed: horizontal ventilation only, horizontal and vertical or vertical ventilation only. Horizontal ventilation is all that’s needed in many situations. Consider a contained room-and-contents fire. Besides venting the fire room and the immediate area to remove smoke, there really isn’t much ventilation that’s needed. When the room-and-contents fire has extended (into the walls, ceiling, void spaces, attic), then the ventilation function is much more involved.

When considering vertical ventilation, consider the easiest options first. Although opening the roof may be the final outcome, there are a number of venting options that are easier and quicker. Consider manmade openings as a first priority—skylights, ridge vents, gable vents and even dormer windows. All of these are much easier options than actually opening the roof with a saw or hand tools. When those options don’t get the job done, then open the roof and get down! Tere may be some overhaul work that needs to be done on the roof, but that can usually be done after knockdown.

Remember: Tere’s still a whole bunch of other truck jobs that need to be taken care of.

Choose 42 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Choose 40 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

TruckcompanyoperaTions

the fire and where it traveled. Any time the fire extends beyond the contents and into the structure (and void spaces), the amount of overhaul increases drastically.

For departments that are fortunate enough to have multiple truck companies on the fireground, it’s simply a matter of throwing the ladders!

Laddering

Secondary Search

Tere never seems to be enough ground ladders thrown on the fireground. As we discussed last time, the art and skill of throwing ground ladders begins by carrying them to the fireground when you arrive. For engine-based truck departments, throwing ground ladders is made more difficult because of today’s apparatus design—ground ladders are carried above the hosebed on ladder racks, requiring additional time and effort to get them down.

One job that may be assigned to the second-due truck is secondary search. Although the search skills are the same as those used to conduct the primary search, it’s the use of a different crew that makes this a bit more thorough. Many departments don’t have the staffing to have a different crew perform the secondary search. If that’s the case, try to rotate crewmembers so they aren’t searching the same area.

SaLvage What about salvage? Salvage is another one of those fireground skills that has fallen by the wayside due to quick knockdowns and short staffing. Te typical room-and-contents fire has lulled many departments into not worrying about salvage. Unfortunately, like any other skill, the less you do something, the more it’s forgotten. Even when a more difficult fire comes along—one that could actually use some aggressive salvage work to prevent additional damage—the fact that it’s not practiced as frequently usually results in limited or no salvage.

in Sum As with the duties of the first-due truck company, second-due truck company skills must be prioritized based on the initial sizeup (by the second-due truck) and by the progress of the first-due truck.

Although it’s easier to explain duties as first- and second-due, it’s really a lot more complicated than that. Departments that perform engine-based truck work are already prioritizing these skills (and have been for years). It’s just a matter of looking at the bigger fireground picture. Remember: Putting the fire out usually solves most of the other fireground problems or, in other words, may eliminate the need to perform some of the tasks that are typically required later in an incident.

Planning for truck company operations on every fireground is the easiest way to make sure they are taken care of when you show up.

Jim McCormack has been a firefighter for 19 years and is currently a lieutenant with the Indianapolis (Ind.) Fire Department. McCormack is the founder of the Fire Department Training Network (www.fdtraining.com) and the author of Firefighter Survival and Firefighter Rescue & Rapid Intervention Teams.

Choose 39 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

38

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 43 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 44 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

39

Fireattack

Big Fire = Big Hose Don’t treat a commercial/industrial fire like a residential fire

I

By Mike Kirby & Tom Lakamp

n our last few Fire Attack articles, we discussed hosebed design and the water flow expected from the hoselines carried on an engine. Now that you know how your hose is carried and have a realistic idea of the amount of water it will deliver, we can begin to discuss proper hoseline selection based on structural occupancy. Remember: Te occupancy of a structure—residential, commercial or industrial—refers to how the building is being used; this information helps determine the size and length of hoseline that you should place in service.

ResidenTiaL HeaT ReLease

THe 1 ¾" MisTaKe Unfortunately, we’re creatures of habit. When it comes to advancing a 1 ¾" attack line, we expect the same successful outcome that we get when fighting residential fires as we do when fighting commercial/industrial fires. Tis can be a costly assumption. Te fire load within a commercial or industrial occupancy can be many times greater than a residential structure. Te large open areas commonly found in commercial or industrial occupancies allow the fire load to increase dramatically, which allows the fire to burn unconfined and with an almost limitless supply of oxygen.

Te sheer size of the structure may require longer hoselines to reach the fire, which may be beyond

s

Most residential structures have an ordinary or moderate fire load consisting of natural fibers (wood) and plastic material. Over the last few decades, the use of plastic materials for the production of consumer goods has increased the rate of heat release of many materials found in residential structures. An increase in the heat release rate normally requires us to prepare for rapid fire development; however, residential structures tend to have a compartmentalized design, which controls the size of the fire by limiting the amount of combustibles available as well as the

amount of oxygen available to support combustion.

Te compartmentalization of the building also creates more obstacles for the hose team, which must ensure the attack line is more maneuverable so it can reach the seat of the fire. As a result, the typical residential fire is usually controlled with one or two well-placed 1 ¾" attack lines flowing 175–200 gpm.

We generally have great success with this tactic in residential fires.

PHoto bill tomPkins

The 1 ¾" handline we typically use on residential fires isn’t going to cut it on most commercial structure fires. Instead, we should employ a 2 ½" line, as well as a solid-tip nozzle.

40

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Choose 46 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 47 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

41

fireattack

the reach of most pre-connects. Te increased fire load and high heat release rate will also require you to use additional ammunition during fire attack to prevent fire progression. For these reasons, using a 2 ½" hose should be standard procedure for established fires in commercial occupancies.

Nozzle SelectioN Nozzle selection for fires in commercial or industrial occupancies is also important. When deploying a 2 ½" attack line in commercial occupancies, use a solid-tip nozzle. Tis nozzle will accommodate large water flows and will provide a longer stream reach, which will allow the attack team to attack the fire from a greater distance and will reduce their exposure to heat.

You can also use a broken-stream nozzle (not adjustable), which will provide the same or possibly even greater gpm as the solid-tip nozzle with less nozzle reaction, but it won’t provide the same reach as a solid-tip.

photo courtesy Bill strite, iFpA

the DeaD-loaD

42

Firerescue Magazine

s

The typical residential fire is usually controlled with one or two well-placed 1¾" attack lines flowing 175–200 gpm. We generally have great success with this tactic in residential fires.

If your response area includes commercial/industrial occupancies, you may want to consider designing or reconfiguring your apparatus to support a preconnected or dead-load 2 ½" attack line for rapid deployment. Tree firefighters can deploy and maneuver this hoseline, which is a very versatile weapon as it has the flexibility to accommodate multiple commercial occupancy arrangements and building sizes.

Tat said, the dead-load 2 ½" attack line can be longer and therefore require the operator to break the line and connect it to the engine. Both the

Choose 45 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Choose 51 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 52 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

43

fireattack

high-rise packs to 1 ¾" hose in the 1980s. Unfortunately, the standpipes that supply the water for highrise firefights are designed for 2 ½" hose.

Most standpipe outlets are required to deliver between 65 and 100 psi, depending on when the building was constructed. Based upon flow testing in high-rise structures, using 1 ¾" hose (150 feet) with a 15 ⁄16" tip will flow 112 gpm when supplied with 65 psi standpipe pressure. Te same standpipe pressure will deliver 280 gpm when using 2 ½" hose and a 1 ¼" tip; the stream will have excellent reach and penetration capability.

Why use a 2 ½" line?

Because the fire load within a commercial or industrial occupancy can be many times greater than a residential structure. The sheer size of the structure may also require longer hoselines to reach the fire, which may be beyond the reach of most pre-connects.

Points to RemembeR PHoto bill tomPkins

Always consider occupancy type when deciding which hoseline to advance into a fire building. Avoid using residential tactics on commercial fires. You may get lucky gambling on the 1 ¾" attack line, and you may get away with it a few times. But when you bet wrong, the fire will let you know.

pre-connect and the dead-load will also require repetitive hands-on training to deploy successfully and will require more effort and coordination to advance on the fire.

HigH-Rise FiRes Our department now uses a 2 ½" line when fighting high-rise fires. Many departments changed their

44

Firerescue Magazine

Mike Kirby is a captain with the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD), assigned to Engine Company 3. He is an 18-year veteran of the fire service with experience in paid and volunteer fire departments.

Tom Lakamp is a 21-year veteran of the CFD. Currently serving as a district chief in Fire District 4, he’s an adjunct instructor at the University of Cincinnati Fire Science Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science. Lakamp is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.

Choose 81 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Choose 54 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 55 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

45

At FDIC, economy proves no match for the apparatus industry Story & Photos Bob Vaccaro

T

he theme of this year’s Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), held in April, was “Imagine the Impact.” Te “impact” most of the fire service felt this past year was undoubtedly in their ongoing budget restrictions, but as in years past, the apparatus industry at this year’s show appeared to be thriving. Tere wasn’t a vacant spot left in either the convention center or the Lucas Oil Stadium. Te only major player

missing was American LaFrance, which decided to forego this year’s show to continue to reorganize.

Judging by the number of announcements of large apparatus orders made by just about every apparatus manufacturer, as well as the number of new unveilings on the exhibit floor, the industry is continuing to do well.

Let’s take a look at some of the offerings displayed at the show.

Crimson

46

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Fort GArry

Alexis Alexis displayed three vehicles: a Freightliner M2 four-door pumper for Bluegrass, Iowa; a custom midship-mounted pumper built on a Spartan Metrostar chassis for Eldridge, Iowa; and a 3,500-gallon tanker on a Peterbilt chassis for the Mad River Township Fire Department and the Green Township Fire Department, both in Ohio.

Crimson Crimson made a big announcement this year, introducing its new Transformer pumper. Te vehicle features an extruded aluminum body with a rescue pumper configuration. Other features include a Darley 1,250–1,500-gpm pump, a 750-gallon water tank, a 10-gallon foam tank and hydraulically controlled valves, which can be located anywhere on the vehicle.

Also on display was a pumper for Dallas, built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis, a Legend Series pumper on an International 7400 chassis, a 75' Star Series quint and a “first response all calls” (FRAC) unit, which was built on a Spartan Furion chassis.

DAnko Danko showcased a quick-attack unit built on a Ford F-550 4 x 4 chassis for Hamlin Township, Ohio. Features include a 150-gpm Waterous pump and a 250-gallon poly tank. Also on display was a mobile hose and pump test unit, as well as a demo Westside tanker with a 750-gpm PTO pump and an 1,800-gallon tank.

eJ metAls EJ Metals showcased a Ford F-350 four-door mini pumper for Townsend, Del. EJ Metals is a fairly new player in the fire apparatus manufacturing business, but its line of mini firefighting vehicles caters to the industrial, military and municipal markets.

FerrArA Ferrara made full use of its large exhibit space in the Lucas Oil Stadium. On display was an multi-vocational pumper (MVP) for New Paltz, N.Y.; a sky-blue Inferno pumper and a 107' rearmounted quint, both for the Bayou Blue Volunteer Fire Department in Houma, La.; a 100' rear-mounted platform quint for Buffalo Grove, Ill.; an Ignitor custom pumper for Indianapolis; and demos of both a 100' mid-mount platform quint and a 77' rear-mounted quint.

Fort GArry Fort Garry, a Canadian fire apparatus manufacturer, displayed its new Terminator vehicle, a large rear-mounted pumper built on a four-door, 4 x 4 Freightliner M2 chassis. Te vehicle comes equipped with a 1,250-gpm, rear-mounted Darley PTO pump, a 1,200-gallon poly tank, a 30-gallon foam tank, internal ladder and suction hose storage, and high side compartments on both sides of the vehicle.

DAnko

DArley Darley was well represented at the show this year, displaying its full line of pumps as well as “Te Fire Truck,” a lime-green demo unit built on a Spartan chassis with a PolyBilt body.

e-one E-One displayed a large complement of apparatus this year.

Vehicles included a 100' rear-mounted platform quint built on a Quest chassis for Carol Stream, Ill.; a Cyclone II custom rescue pumper for Sachse, Texas; a 78' demo quint with a 2010 Cummins ISP engine; a Typhoon Tradition rescue pumper for Newberry, S.C.; a Freightliner M2 ES rescue pumper demo, and a 100' rear-mounted quint for St. Paul, Minn.

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

47

Driving Force

Pierce

Pierce

KMe

Pierce didn’t disappoint this year with its large-scale unveiling of its parent company’s new Oshkosh Striker ARFF vehicle, which is 2,000 lbs. lighter than its predecessor, has easy access to its rear 700-hp Deutz engine and features Pulse technology that provides quicker agent dispersal.

It also has a better turning radius, TAK-4 suspension and updated interior joysticks for bumper- and roof-mounted turrets.

Also displayed was an aluminum, rearmounted Arrow XT platform for Oswego, Ill.; the first Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) Impel pumper/tanker for Winfield, Ill.; a top-mounted custom Contender PUC demo; a 75' aluminum Arrow XT quint for Schererville, Ind.; and a 2010 EPA engine-compliant Velocity pumper demo.

Lastly, the U.S. Navy displayed its nonwalk-in Velocity heavy-rescue unit, which is stationed at one of its bases in the San Diego area.

As usual, KME had a large array of apparatus on display. Besides showing the newly styled grill for its Predator line, KME also showcased a 100', rear-mounted Predator quint, a 2010 Predator pumper, a Severe service pumper, a rear-mounted rescue pumper for Coldenham, N.Y., and a Predator rescue pumper for Mt. Washington, Penn.

A new product on display was the Ridgerunner Interface pumper built on a Navistar 7400 4 x 4 crew cab. Available options include a 1,500-gpm Hale pump, a Hale 2/1 class A foam system and an 800-gallon tank. Not only does it meet NFPA 1901 requirements as a class A pumper, but it also has the full off-road performance of a Type 3 wildland engine with pump-and-roll capabilities.

KMe

Choose 48 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

48

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

HME’s new compressed natural gas (CNG)powered emergency response vehicle features a Cummins Westport engine, which produces 320 horsepower, & a three-way catalyst exhaust system that meets EPA requirements.

HME

HME HME unveiled its new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered emergency response vehicle. Built on an HME 1871 custom short-wheelbase chassis, the rig features a 750-gpm, PTO-driven pump, a 500-gallon tank and a CNG-driven generator and foam system. Additional features include a Cummins Westport engine, which produces 320 horsepower, and a three-way catalyst exhaust system that meets EPA requirements. Tere were also several demos on display built on HME’s rapid attack truck (RAT) Ahrens Fox chassis.

HacknEy Hackney showcased its new Commander Series of heavy-rescue vehicles, which can be built on a Spartan Custom, Freightliner, International or Kenworth single- or tandem-axle configuration.

Te unit comes equipped with a remountable aluminum body and a safe ascent/descent staircase, as well as fold-down auxiliary steps for a safe climb from the ground to the upper walkway.

Marion Marion had two demos on display: an RPM pumper on a Spartan Gladiator chassis and a midi-pumper built on an International chassis with a 1,250-gpm pump and a 500-gallon tank.

Choose 49 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

49

Driving Force

RosenbaueR RosenbaueR Rosenbauer displayed its Tech Drive demo apparatus, as well as a new product called the Maverick, a short-wheelbase pumper built on a Freightliner M2 chassis. Features include a PTO-driven, 1,250-gpm pump and a 2,000-gallon water tank. If used as a tanker, the rig also comes equipped with a swivel-style dump extension, high ground clearance and pump-and-roll capabilities.

Also on display was a Green Star pumper built on a Spartan Furion chassis for Tempe, Ariz., and a Metz ladder on a Spartan chassis.

seagRave

s

Seagrave showcased its big tractor-drawn aerial for the City of Orange, Calif., a 1,500-gpm Marauder II pumper for the Sugar Creek Township Fire Department in New Palestine, Ind., and a 2,250-gallon Marauder II rescue pumper for Owings Mills, Md. Seagrave also displayed a new product: a 3,000-gallon tanker for the Bethesda Fire Department in York County, S.C. Te rig was built on an International 7400 cab and chassis, and features a poly body, a 500-gpm Gorman-Rupp pump and pump-and-roll capabilities.

seagRave

Choose 50 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

50

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Real-woRld scenarios that inform and educate.

PRactical articles to keep you safe. content from fire-rescue professionals in the field.

And so much more to guide you through your fire-rescue career.

FireRescue Magazine is real-world firefighting. It’s informative, reliable and proven to be a valuable educational resource for fire-rescue professionals. We’re here to help you do your job safely and effectively, via content that is written by active fire-rescue professionals who know the challenges you face.

Each monthly issue covers: • Safe & Effective Fire Attack Strategies • Rescue & Extrication Training • Advice for New and Developing Company Officers • Wildland/Urban Interface Tactics • New Products, Apparatus Innovations & Technology Subscribe online at: www.FirefighterNation.com or call: (888) 456-5367.

Discount group subscriptions available.

SubScribe Now:

FirefighterNation.com

Subscribe to the Digital Edition of FireRescue!

Choose 65 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 66 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

52

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Driving Force Smeal Smeal topped out its showcase with a mid-mounted quint for Grand Junction, Colo., a rear-mounted ladder for Yonkers, N.Y., a top-mounted rescue pumper for Keener Township in DeMotte, Ind., and a custom series pumper built on a Kenworth T370 chassis for the Richland Area Fire Department in Athens, Ohio.

Spartan Spartan had its complete line of chassis on display, but it also debuted its new non-emergency ambulance transport (NEAT) vehicle. Based on a Ford Transit Connect chassis, the rig features a module that contains an attendant seat, a gurney locking system, O2 bottle storage, a suction system, a Sharps container, dual overhead lighting, a medical glove storage area and more, all geared toward the medical/handicap/transport/taxi market.

Summit

Summit In the past several years, Summit has consistently built a lot of large apparatus, and this year was no exception. Te company displayed a large rescue-style pumper built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis for Sharonville, Ohio. Features include a 200-gpm Hale Q-Max pump, a 500-gallon tank, a 30-kW hydraulic generator, a roof-mounted light tower and front-mounted hydraulic lines.

Also showcased was a large hazmat trailer for Hamilton County, Ohio. Te unit consists of a 36'7" trailer pulled by a Freightliner M2 cab with a Wilburt light mast, a 25-kW generator and a command area.

Other apparatus on display included a rescue pumper for Butler Township, Ohio, and a heavy-rescue unit for Alexandria, Ky.

Sutphen

s

Sutphen showcased a 1,500-gpm Shield Series S3 pumper for the City of Woodru, S.C., a 100' aerial platform quint for Bowmansville, N.Y., and a 70' aerial platform sold to Augusta, Kan. Te company also displayed several demos, including a 75' aerial quint, a 100' aerial quint and a Guardian pumper.

June 2010

Choose 53 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs Firerescue Magazine

53

Webcasts: Learn about hot topics in fire-rescue!

Check out the archived webcasts today—go to FirefighterNation.com/webcasts • Detecting Biothreats in the Field • Vision 20/20: Model Evaluation Measures for Prevention Programs • Live Fire Training: Conducting Safe & Effective Burns • A 3-Step Approach for Effective Thermal Imager Use • Identifying & Securing Hybrid Vehicles • Influenza: Is This an Emergency?

• Preventing & Responding to SCBA Emergencies • So You Want to Be a Company Officer?

FireEMSBlogs.com Find out what the BEST Industry Bloggers are talking about NOW, visit FireEMSBlogs.com today!

• FireCritic

• FireGeezer

• STATter911

... and more!

Sponsored Fan Groups give you an opportunity to ask vendors questions and find out more about their products. Visit the Black Helmet, Tempest and PBI Performance Products sponsored fan groups on FirefighterNation.com

Get involved in the conversation!

Join FirefighterNation.com today—it’s FREE!

Driving Force

With the advancement of pump technology, we’re seeing larger pumps & bigger tank sizes with lightweight poly tanks.

SVI SVI showcased an impressive heavy-rescue unit built on a Spartan Evolution tandem axle chassis for Zionsville, Ind. Features include a large, extended front bumper that contained numerous hydraulic lines, a roof-mounted command light, large compartments and electric and hydraulic reels.

Toyne Toyne had two units on display. Te first was a top-mounted Spartan Metro Star rescue pumper equipped with a 2,000-gpm Waterous pump, a 600-gallon UPF tank, a 15-kW hydraulic generator and a 2002 class A/B Foam Pro foam system. Te second was a top-mounted pumper for Pleasant Hill, Mo. Features include a 1,500-gpm Waterous pump, a 1,000-gallon UPF tank, an 8-kW generator and a class A Foam Pro 1600 foam system.

oTher offerIngS Many other impressive offerings were on display from manufacturers such as Rocket Fire Manufacturing, Fouts Brothers, U.S. Tanker, Custom Fire, Midwest Fire, Plastisol, Firematic, Crash Rescue, Quiroga, HMA, Rescue 1, Maintainer, Precision and a host of others.

Choose 56 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

new TrendS One thing I took particular notice of this year at FDIC was that there seemed to be a bigger emphasis on commercial vehicles.

Several new models on display from the major players are built on commercial chassis.

With the advancement of pump technology, we’re also seeing larger pumps and bigger tank sizes with lightweight poly tanks.

And we’re beginning to see more departments speccing CAFS systems and class A & B foam systems as well.

It’s rare to see a ladder truck built without a pump, except maybe for the larger East Coast cities. “Doing more with less” will probably be an understatement in the future.

ConCluSIon

Remember: If you’re looking to purchase an apparatus or add tools and equipment to an existing vehicle, you can really gain a lot of insight by checking out the numerous vehicles on display at trade shows like FDIC and Fire-Rescue International.

Bob Vaccaro has more than 30 years of fire service experience. He is a former chief of the Deer Park (N.Y.) Fire Department. Vaccaro has also worked for the Insurance Services Office, the New York Fire Patrol and several major commercial insurance companies as a senior losscontrol consultant. Vaccaro is a life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Choose 57 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

55

Photo Glen ellman

56

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

For years now, the fire service has struggled with how to increase the compliance rate for firefighters wearing seatbelts in fire apparatus. Many approaches have been attempted, including the National Fire Service and EMS Seatbelt Pledge. But these approaches have largely focused on the issue of compliance—getting firefighters to wear their belts—without necessarily getting at the heart of why firefighters don’t wear their seatbelts.

Certainly there are cultural issues associated with the failure to buckle up, but if you ask most firefighters (at least those who will admit to it) why they don’t wear seatbelts, they’ll tell you it’s because the belts don’t fit. A few years ago, several organizations partnered to explore the validity of this claim. In this article, we’ll update you on the results of Phase 3 of the Firefighter Anthropometry Study—the largest firefighter safety initiative ever undertaken within the fire service.

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

57

A LittLe Bit of History

Choose 58 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Our journey started 5 years ago, with little more than a strong desire to improve seatbelts and firefighter safety. Experts from the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Safety Task Force of the NFPA 1901 Fire Apparatus Standards Committee, and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association first identified that fire apparatus seatbelts are problematic—that is, firefighters wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) often can’t reach and fasten their seatbelts, a problem that’s further complicated by SCBA. In addition, these experts theorized that seatbelts and cab sizes have failed to adjust to changes in firefighter body types and advances/additions in PPE. Te experts on our team determined that the best way to solve the problem was to conduct an anthropometric study, which involves measuring firefighters to determine how much room is actually needed to safely accommodate a firefighter wearing bunker gear in a seatbelt inside an apparatus. Te project is funded by NIOSH’s Protective Equipment Branch.

Phase 1 consisted of traditional measurements of more than 700 firefighters from across the country, with a majority of those firefighters coming from Montgomery County (Md.) Fire and Rescue, which has been a significant supporter of this project, from the chief to the line firefighters. After the completion of Phase 1, we determined that the measurements obtained weren’t as accurate as was required for a project of this scope and magnitude.

Terefore, we embarked on Phase 2, which was a pilot study of full-body 3D scans on 120 firefighters, both with and without bunker gear. Te study revealed two facts: 1) Te seating and space allowed for firefighters in fire apparatus were inadequate; and 2) the seatbelts in some apparatus were inadequate.

As the data became available, the issue became a Pandora’s Box. It became readily apparent that this was now more than a seatbelt initiative—it also affects bunker gear, gloves, helmets, ladder rung spacing, apparatus handrails and many other aspects of PPE and apparatus specifications.

Phase 4, which is tentatively scheduled to start in 2013, will address some of these new issues. But for now, we’re in the middle of Phase 3, which involves 3D scanning of firefighters around the country. Here’s an update for this specific piece of the puzzle.

Choose 59 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

58

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

photo courtesy Jennifer Whitestone

in Figure 1 (this table reflects that we were able to measure more firefighters than our original goal of 219). Firefighters were scheduled one per hour, for a total of eight firefighters per day.

Te measurements we took in Phoenix worked much the same way. Te Phoenix Fire Department By measuring firefighters in their PPE and without it, using both traditional and 3D Health Center provided firefighter/paramedic/ measurements, researchers hope to determine whether seatbelts and apparatus cab sizes are appropriate for today’s firefighter equipped in today’s gear. program manager Mike Gaffney to serve as a coordinator. Te Health Center Let the MeasureMents Begin To date, a total of 474 firefighters from houses databases of the Phoenix firefighters, Rockville, Md., and Phoenix have partici- including demographics and stations, and pated in the study. For each participant, we regularly schedules firefighters for health and wellness appointments. Researchers used took the following: Internet connections to upload the firefighter • Traditional body dimensions with and anthropometry data immediately, preventing without their turnout gear; any data loss. Te equipment was set up in • Flat-bed scan of the right hand with much the same way as it was in Rockville and and without a glove; once again we exceeded our target, as detailed • 3D scan of the foot with and without in Figure 2. a boot; • 3D scan of the head 1) wearing no helmet, 2) with facepiece and 3) with What’s to CoMe helmet; and Te next measurements are taking place in • 3D coordinate data of body dimenPhiladelphia this month. Battalion Chief sions with and without gear.

Henry Costo, the department safety offiWe measured 264 firefighters at the Mont- cer and a FireRescue board member, is curgomery County Training Academy, detailed rently remodeling a trailer to use for the

s

Figure 1: Montgomery County, Md. Male White

FeMale

Black

ToTal

Hispanic

age

18-32

33-44

45-65

18-32

33-44

45-65

18-32

33-44

45-65

18-32

33-44

45-65

Measured

63

63

63

9

9

9

8

8

6

8

10

8

264

TargeT

53

53

53

8

8

8

5

5

5

7

7

7

219

addiTions

10

10

10

1

1

1

3

3

1

1

3

1

45

264 male and female firefighters of various ethnicities and ages were measured in Rockville, Md.

Figure 2: Phoenix Male White

Female

Black

Total

Hispanic

age

18-32

33-44

45-65

18-32

33-44

45-65

18-32

33-44

45-65

18-32

33-44

45-65

Measured

46

45

45

3

3

3

13

16

14

7

7

8

210

TargeT

45

45

45

3

3

3

13

13

13

7

7

7

204

addiTions

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

1

0

0

1

6

210 male and female firefighters of varying ethnicities and ages were measured in Phoenix.

Figure 3: Philadelphia Male White age TargeT ToTal

18-32 33-44 45-65 52

52 156

FeMale

Black 52

ToTal

Hispanic

18-32

33-44

45-65

18-32

6

6

6

3

18

33-44 45-65 18-32 33-44 45-65 3 9

3

7

7 21

7

204 204

We hope to measure at least 204 firefighters in Philadelphia.

Choose 60 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

59

photos courtesy Jennifer Whitestone

Choose 61 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

JSA-400

Aluminum Break-Apart Stretcher Measurements of the ďŹ reďŹ ghters’ heads were taken, without any gear, wearing just the facepiece and wearing a helmet.

JSA-400

Designed to gently maneuver stretcher under patient without rolling or lifting.

The center of the Junkin Aluminum Break-Apart Stretcher can be opened to allow the patient to be X-rayed while secured on the stretcher. Features sturdy, lightweight aluminum construction with an adjustable length and three patient restraint straps. Folds for easy storing and separates in half during application and removal.

Specifications

Dimensions: Folded Length: Folded Depth: Adjustable to: Load Capacity: Shipping Weight:

66 Âź" L x 17 ½" W x 2 ď™Śâˆ•ď™?" H 49 ½" 3 ½" 80" 400 lbs.

21 ½ lbs.

PROUDLY MANUFACTURED IN THE USA

888-458-6546

.JMMFST -BOF t -PVJTWJMMF ,: 5FM t 'BY

S A F E T Y A P P L I A N C E CO M PA N Y

www.junkinsafety.com

measurement facility. Chief Costo has supplied the demographics of more than 2,000 Philadelphia ďŹ reďŹ ghters, from which we’ve compiled the targeting sample detailed in Figure 3 (p. 59).

Following Philadelphia, we’ll be collecting measurements in Texas. Captain Homer Robertson of the Fort Worth Fire Department (also a FireRescue board member) and Chief Brook Hildreth of the San Antonio Fire Department observed the data collection in Phoenix to help them prepare. Robertson is facilitating data collection at Fort Worth and is making a concerted eort to include as many volunteer ďŹ reďŹ ghters as possible; data collection is scheduled to begin in September. Hildreth is an oďŹƒcer in the International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services and is actively

Choose 62 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

60

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

involved in working toward new specifications that include accommodations for women in the fire service.

Te data from all four measurement sites should be available by the end of 2010.

Although the data will be widely available so manufacturers can work with it right away, the most likely changes will come through the NFPA standards process. Information will be given to the committees responsible for writing revisions to standards, such as NFPA 1901, and the committees will decide what recommendations to make.

For example, in preliminary measurements it was revealed that the average firefighter in full gear has a hip width of 27 inches, but the average fire apparatus seat is designed at 18 inches wide. By putting that data in the hands of NFPA committees, we expect to see changes made to the standards that address apparatus and PPE. In addition, we’ll continue with our data collection efforts, with a second wave of data expected to be released at the end of 2011.

Stay tuned As you can see, what started as a few people talking, with no money to spend on research, has grown into a multi-year, multi-phase project involving some of the most influential organizations in the fire service. Although at this point we are simply collecting data, we firmly believe the work we’re doing will eventually have a significant impact on firefighter safety.

With apparatus accidents continuing to rank as a leading cause of firefighter line-ofduty deaths, we can’t afford not to address the problems inherent in fire apparatus and seatbelt design. Mandating and enforcing compliance will always be part of the equation, but if this project succeeds, it will make wearing the seatbelt so much easier.

Choose 63 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Michael Wilbur is a lieutenant with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), assigned to Ladder Company 27 in the Bronx, and has served on FDNY’s Apparatus Purchasing Committee. His leadership and advocacy on the seatbelt issue was a key factor in getting the Firefighter Anthropometry Study off the ground. Wilbur consults on a variety of apparatusrelated issues around the county. For more information, visit www.emergencyvehicleresponse.com.

Jennifer Whitestone is biomedical engineer and president of Total Contact, Inc., a company that specializes in 3D anthropometry for improving protective equipment and generating solutions in burn care. Whitestone’s work in hospital burn units led to her involvement on the Firefighter Anthropometry Study.

Choose 64 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

61

president’s letter

Cultivating Leaders How to encourage the development of well-rounded leaders in our department

“L

By Chief Jeffrey D. Johnson, EFO, CFO, MIFireE

eadership development” has to be one of the three most common topics on any fire service conference program. Although that’s appropriate, I wonder if our leadership programs back home are intentional and integrated into the daily work of our organizations?

As chief officers, one of our most important tasks is preparing the next generation of leaders. It’s a part of our job that’s getting more important—and more difficult—all the time. Te Baby-Boomer retirement wave is turning into a tsunami, and those next in line to lead face an assortment of challenges.

Te incident response leadership skills of a talented company officer will always be respected, but they do not translate smoothly to the challenges of managing our organizations. So what steps can we take to encourage the development of well-rounded leaders in our department?

Create a Utility infielder Every department needs leaders who understand all aspects of the business. Smaller organizations have an advantage here out of necessity, but everyone’s goal should be the same: Expose our most talented people to as many core functions as we can (operations, human resources, finance, planning, fleet management, etc.).

Te assignment should last long enough for them to learn and apply real skills and gain an appreciation for how that function impacts the rest of the organization.

trUst them Tere’s a great paradox in the fire service: We trust our officers to make life and death decisions on scene, but we often don’t have faith in their ability to manage their own station budget or even a department credit card. I’m a fan of trust and verify. If you want to know whether individuals can learn (and be trusted) to manage a multi-million dollar budget, expect them to handle something much smaller first.

make the link My home department, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, is a regional special district that serves nine cities in three counties. Te captains in each of those cities understand that they are the most critical link between that community and our organization. Tey need to stay current

62

Firerescue Magazine

with—and in front of—their city council and other community-based organizations and civic groups.

expose them to other leaders Te fire service is a great institution, but we can definitely learn from leaders in other sectors. Exposing personnel to other community executives (elected officials, business and community leaders, the media, etc.) and vice-versa in a meaningful way offers a different perspective on leadership and local issues, and creates an informal group that’s highly knowledgeable about what we do and a great source of ideas and support. For example, my department invites local executives to participate in a 27-hour firefighter immersion program. It’s a definite win-win.

ValUe formal edUCation As previously stated, the incident response skills of company officers will only carry them so far when they move into the chief officer role. While an associate’s degree in fire science may be enough formal education for the company officer role, I expect all of my chief officers to have an undergraduate degree, either upon promotion or within an agreed upon timeline and educational development plan.

final thoUghts Unfortunately, there’s no single class or workshop that prepares us to mentor the next generation of leaders.

Te good news is that the fire service is structured in such a way that young men and women are regularly afforded opportunities to demonstrate a desire and aptitude for leadership. Our responsibility is to help them build on that foundation through an intentional focus that cultivates the judgment, analytical skills, people and political abilities, and the integrity and values that collectively define 21st century leadership.

Chief Jeff Johnson has served as chief of Tualatin Valley (Ore.) Fire & Rescue since 1995. He is past president of the IAFC Western Division and Oregon Fire Chiefs Association. He is a member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association and has been active in many IAFC sections, including Fire & Life Safety, Volunteer & Combination Officers, EMS, and Safety, Health and Survival. Chief Johnson is a National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer graduate and has received his Chief Fire Officer (CFO) Designation.

June 2010

Simple Advice is a compilation of Jim’s writings on the fire service from the last 10 years.

“The lessons in Simple Advice are short and sweet, fun to read and profound because they are classic Page: clear, non-pretentious, demumbo-jumboized and thought provoking.”

—Alan Brunacini

Get Your Copy Today at: www.shopjems.com Choose 34 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

63

LeaDership skiLLs

That Noise You Hear…

It’s the sound of opportunity knocking— will you open the door?

T

here’s a fable about a lumberjack who was purported to be the best in the land and had won numerous competitions. Te edge of his axe blade was honed to perfection; the tried and true methods he used were passed down from his father and his father before him. He was in the prime of his life and his strength, but he never changed his techniques or invested in new technology.

One day, a lanky youngster challenged him to a treeBy Chief Marc felling competition. Te lumberjack laughed and took Revere the bet. Tey squared off, facing their respective stand of trees, and the starter yelled, “Ready, set, go!” at which point the kid drop-started his chainsaw. Te lumberjack dropped his axe and with a look of bewilderment on his face, exclaimed, “What’s that noise?!”

Are there people in your organization who are like that lumberjack—professionally limited by their resistance to change, confined to their comfort zone? Such people don’t appreciate the benefits of lifelong learning. Tey fail special Fri preview to understand the concept of “accept, adapt and accelerate— or atrophy.” Like the lumberjack, they fail to even realize that atrophy has already set in.

As we look ahead to the IAFC’s Fire-Rescue International (FRI) conference in August, we should keep in mind two fundamental rules of success: Attitude and curiosity trump résumé, and tenacity in the pursuit of learning and achievement will always eclipse intelligence.

Doors Begin to open It has been said that if one door closes behind you, two doors will open in front of you. Te more doors you open and close, the more choices you have. FRI is one of the best paths to opening new doors.

Several years ago, when the IAFC’s Professional Development Committee was developing the Officer Development Handbook, the committee agreed on a definition of professional development: the planned, progressive, career-long process of education, training, self-development and experience. (Note: If you haven’t already done so, download the Officer Development Handbook from the IAFC Web site. It may just open another door.)

64

Firerescue Magazine

“Career-long” in this definition means just that—it starts when your career starts, and it doesn’t stop until you retire. Some people wait to attend FRI until they’re chiefs. I made the same mistake, and I kicked myself for not attending sooner. As I walked from one class to another, I bumped into peers and colleagues from the National Fire Academy, committees I had participated in, training I had taken and alarms I’d been on. Tey in turn introduced me to more fire service professionals (more doors opening), who in turn did the same.

My Rolodex and my idea list expanded rapidly. In essence, I had more ideas and contacts than I could fully utilize. However, when I did need assistance, that network proved invaluable. Te bottom line: You can’t do it alone, and the network you’ll build at FRI will mean you’ll never have to.

training is an investment Many of us are facing unprecedented economic upheaval; most of us have been asked to cut our training budgets.

However, we must remember economic downturns are not new and are cyclical in nature. When I’ve worked for cities where I’ve been asked to cut our training budget, my response is always that I will find other ways to make cuts; training is the last account I’ll cut. As long as we have one member working in high-risk operations, we must train.

Training is not discretionary in the fire service; it’s mandatory! As fire chief or training officer, if there’s one battle worth fighting, training is it. We know our firefighters will give us their last full measure of devotion; we owe it to them to advocate for their needs with the same tenacity.

Te reason for this conviction is that technology is transforming at such a rate (research, skills development, education) that it demands we grow with it. Maintaining the status quo for a while, waiting for the economy to get better so you can fund your training programs or send a member to a conference, only means you’re losing ground—and potential lives, including our own.

Let’s look at the investment of attending FRI. Say, for example, your cost for travel, registration and lodging is $1,000. Tis equates to $2.79 dollars per day out of your agency’s annual budget—less than a cup of coffee a day.

Now let’s look at the return on investment. What if you June 2010

attended a rapid intervention team (RIT) class that exposed your agency’s limitations in rescue breathing, given your current generation of SCBA? Ten immediately after the class, you walk over to an SCBA vendor (in the same building) to discuss enhancements to your current equipment, or to research alternates.

In military terms, your attendance becomes a “force multiplier” that has a direct impact on firefighter safety and community risk reduction and, I would venture to say, is in perfect alignment with your mission statement.

Te benefits of attending FRI expand beyond that which we can immediately see and comprehend, but your agency, the citizens you serve and your members are better off as a result.

each of us personifies the motto of the fire service: Semper Vigilance—always vigilant.

See you at FRI! Marc Revere is the fire chief of the Novato Fire Protection District, an Internationally Accredited Agency in Marin County, Calif. Chief Revere’s 33-year fire service career includes more than 17 years as a chief and fire officer. He has completed executive education at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Redlands. Chief Revere is a certified Chief Fire Officer and an Executive Fire Officer graduate and serves as one of 12 members representing the Professional Development Committee for the IAFC.

What’s that Noise?

My background is not unlike the lumberjack’s, and it might not be that different from yours. My son is a firefighter, his uncle and I are firefighters and his grandfather (now many years retired) was a firefighter.

We have more than a century of service within those three generations. During this time, the mission has never really changed— protect life and property—but technology and tactics have. Unlike the lumberjack, professional development has allowed the generations within my family to keep pace with the demands of our changing roles— thus allowing us to come home safely each night to our families.

Now back to our lumberjack’s question: What’s that noise? From my perspective, it’s the future. It’s technology. It’s a lesson learned or an “ah-ha” moment. It’s an idea or concept that can save a life—like the concept and institutionalization of residential sprinklers, which are saving lives where most lives are lost due to fire, developed in 1979 by Ron Coleman. Or the creation of a new industry—EMS, developed by the late James O. Page—that fundamentally changed the fire service.

Both men taught at FRI. Tis year will be no different; there will be men and women at FRI who have and will have a profound impact on the future of our industry.

Wouldn’t you like to know them?

Te “noise” at FRI is an orchestration of professional development from vendors, lecturers and leaders, and people like you and me. Tat noise means opportunities and knowledge that benefit not only you personally, but your agency and the American fire service. By attending and learning, June 2010

Choose 67 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Firerescue Magazine

65

Aug. 24–28 Chicago’s McCormick Place Exhibits: Aug. 27–28

Leadership Defined T

housands of fire service leaders are making arrangements to attend FireRescue International 2010 in Chicago. Are you one of them? If not, consider this: FRI brings together the most chief officers from across the United States and around the world to exchange ideas, learn from experts and see the latest equipment, products and services for emergency responders. You’ll find a wealth of educational sessions, a robust exhibit hall with more than 600 exhibitors and numerous networking opportunities. Plus, did we mention it’s in Chicago?!

FRI HIgHlIgHts Attention Chief Officers! As it does every year, FRI spices things up by offering its attendees new and exciting programs and learning opportunities. One engaging program that’s new to FRI 2010 is the Chief Officer Leadership Symposium. Tis program is the perfect place to learn from those who have successfully made the transition to battalion chief. You’ll also learn how to handle the dual roles associated with the position—being an incident commander on the fireground and dealing with interpersonal dynamics back at the station.

Like the Company Officer Leadership Symposium, this program will grow into a three-level course for those in various stages of their career. Tis year, the IAFC is introducing Level 1 for recent graduates of the COLS program and those looking for education specifically geared toward battalion chiefs.

Executive Edge: Boot Camp for Fire & EMS Leaders: Executive Edge is a unique opportunity to maximize your time with industry experts in a small-class format. Utilizing case studies and real-life experiences, veteran leaders share their knowledge with new chiefs. Executive Edge was first held in conjunction with FRI 2009 and, since then, the program has been selling out in locations around the country.

Other Highlights: Tursday’s General Session will feature Dr. Tony Kern, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.). His leadership presentation will focus on selfimprovement, discipline, teamwork and decision-making during a crisis— all important issues addressed in his book “Airmanship.” Tese topics, which are based on his vast experience in the U.S. Air Force, can also be applied to fire service leaders everywhere.

Also on Tursday, attendees will be part of an exhilarating event as they witness a timed, live broadcast of a mutual-aid exercise. Watch as the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) of Illinois demonstrates the dispatch, mobilization and deployment of hundreds of emergency vehicles and staff.

Tis exercise is unique to FRI!

Photo Courtesy City of ChiCago

Coaching at FRI 2010: Te Chicago Coaches Federation will be providing complimentary 25-minute coaching sessions for fire and EMS executives.

Professionally certified coaches will be on hand to give you a taste of how practical, constructive and beneficial coaching can be to your personal and professional development. We encourage you to take this opportunity to experience what so many Fortune 500 leaders already know: Coaching works!

66

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

dOn’t-miSS SeSSiOnS!

More than 200 information-packed sessions

Photo Courtesy IAFC

FRI offers more than 200 information-packed sessions taught by industry leaders. Following are a few can’t-miss offerings.

• International Medical Operations in Haiti: Working off the Grid, presented by Jeffrey Stern and John Delaney • Te Firefighter’s “Interior List,” presented by William Godfrey • Social Media: Before, During and After the “Snowpocalypse” of 2010, presented by Adam Tiel and William Delaney Jr. • “But Tey’re My Friends”: Transitioning from Company Officer to Chief Officer, presented by Phil Davis • Greening and its Impact on Fire Department Operations, presented by Ed Comeau, Publisher, Campus Firewatch • Fired Up: Engaging Your Volunteers, presented by Tim Holman, Fire Chief, German Township Fire & EMS, Clark County, Ohio

One-StOp ShOp! Te FRI expo floor features more than 600 companies and 200,000-plus square feet of exhibit space. Tis is your one-stop shop for department essentials, from helmets and PPE to rescue tools and equipment, communications tools and apparatus, and so much more.

Suppliers from around the world showcase the tools and services that help bring content to life. Experience the excitement through interactive exhibits, on-floor education, live demonstrations and technology-focused pavilions. See the latest technologies side-by-side, get hands-on with the newest products and talk directly with the experts involved in their development. Visit www.iafc.org/fri to create your personalized Expo Plan.

Before rolling into the Windy City, be sure to map out some hot spots for fire buffs. Here are some ideas to get you started: • Fire Museum of Greater Chicago: Te museum, located in a 1916 vintage firehouse, contains a collection of firefighting memorabilia and equipment. Find it at: 5218 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL. For more information, contact Museum President Bill Kugelman at 773/267-5839. Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. (Hours subject to change; please call ahead). Web: www.firemuseumofgreaterchicago.org; E-mail: info@firemuseum ofgreaterchicago.org.

• Holy Family Church: Tis church not only survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but it now houses a memorial shrine for the Our Lady of the Angels Fire, which took the lives of 92 children and three nuns on Dec. 1, 1958. Find it at: 1080 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL 60608; 312/492-8442; www.holyfamilychicago.org.

expo Floor

Stay infOrmed!

Fire Museum of greater Chicago Photo Courtesy FIre MuseuM oF GreAter ChICAGo

Stay current on the latest FRI news through the FRI blog,Twitter and Facebook: • FRI Blog: Visit http://fri.iafc.org for session previews, speaker interviews, city highlights and more.

• Twitter: Get up-to-the-minute updates at http://twitter.com/FRI2010.

• Facebook: Become a fan of the IAFC on Facebook, and then click on Events and FRI 2010 to RSVP and let others know you’ll be attending. Tis allows you to see who else will be there to chat ahead of time and make plans to meet up on site.

RegisteR Now! Online: Visit www.iafc.org/fri Questions: Call 703/449-6418 or 800/934-1957 E-mail: iafcregistration@jspargo.com

June 2010

Photo Courtesy IAFC

hOt SpOtS fOr fire BuffS

Firerescue Magazine

67

Emerging leaders find educational value in peers who have “been there, done that”

By Mark Lockhart, NREMT-P

Not So Lonely at the Top F

ire and emergency service officers at all levels face an increasing number of challenges every day. And as they advance through the ranks, these challenges increase, both in number and complexity. But emerging leaders don’t have to face these challenges alone. Now more than ever, there are opportunities to connect with peers and reach out to those who have already navigated the same waters.

LeveL by LeveL Today’s company officers face a very dynamic work environment filled with myriad pressures from those they supervise as well as from their own bosses, and an expanding scope of responsibilities that now includes fire suppression and prevention, EMS, technical rescue, hazmat and terrorism prevention and response, just to name a few. Tese forces often combine to distract the company officer from their primary responsibility: maintaining crew discipline and preparedness.

Company officers making the move up the promotional ladder to the chief officer rank must handle daily operations, staffing issues, employee performance reviews, disciplinary action and policy issues. Tey’re not only confronted with a new set of professional challenges, but they often face the personal and political challenges of now supervising friends and former co-workers.

Executive chief officers oversee each of these operations and encounter additional political issues. Plus, they deal with financial matters, labor/ management relations, reports to city councils and elected oversight boards, and a meeting schedule that can rival that of any Fortune 500 CEO. Company officer, chief officer or executive

chief officer: At whatever leadership level you find yourself now or aspire to in the future, your success depends on your decision-making ability and the information (education, training, the counsel of a network of peers or mentors, etc.) you bring to the job. Fortunately, Fire-Rescue International (FRI) allows us to better understand our challenges through professional and leadership education in the classroom and to broaden our ability to share our experiences and, therefore, learn from a greater network of peers who have “been there, done that.”

GLobaL forum for Leadership Recognizing the challenges faced by company officers transitioning to chief officer and chief officers to executive chief officer, the IAFC began development of the Global Forum for Leadership. Tis program has three divisions: Te Company Officer Leadership Symposium, the Chief Officer Leadership Symposium and the Executive Chief Officer Leadership Symposium. Each of these symposia have three components that follow NFPA 1021— Fire Officer I and II (Company Officer), NFPA 1021—Fire Officer III and IV (Chief Officer) and identified competencies for Executive Chief Officer. Te third year of the Company Officer and Chief Officer symposia are viewed as the beginning of the transitional process to the next level.

FRI is the Global Forum for Leadership, providing its attendees with the technical skills and leadership tools to tackle the tough challenges faced at any rank. Te IAFC Program Planning Committee has been reviewing job performance elements and requirements to continue to enhance

all three levels of training in the Company Officer Leadership Symposium that has grown in popularity since its inception in 2007. Te committee then began to formulate specific objectives and identified competencies for the new Chief Officer Leadership Symposium, which begins this year in Chicago. Te Executive Chief Officer program is currently in development.

Tese exciting programs run Aug. 24 through Aug. 26. Attendees will also have access to all of the educational workshops offered at FRI as well as the exhibit floor, a great, one-stop shopping opportunity, especially for those navigating their new recommendation and/or purchasing responsibilities.

finaL ThouGhTs Today’s limited training dollars go further at FRI. Te Global Forum for Leadership provides a wealth of education, networking, product demonstrations and special events in just 3 days. If you’re an emerging leader, now is the time to make an investment in your future. If you’re a seasoned chief, make an investment in your team by bringing at least one company officer and one chief officer with you to the show.

FRI is the only place where your entire leadership team can get the education, training and networking you want and need in one place.

See you in Chicago!

Mark Lockhart, NREMT-P, has more than 25 years of fire and EMS experience, including 15 years as a chief officer. He serves as vice-chairman of the Officer Development Program Task Force. He can be reached at doclock07@yahoo.com.

don’t miss these near-miss sessions Near-Miss Reporting: 5 Years & Growing

Near-Miss Reporting Case Studies for Chief Officers

Aug. 24, 7 a.m.–4.p.m.

Aug. 27, 7 a.m.–8:30 a.m.

This presentation will include 1) a program update that includes current statistics, case-study analysis and suggested uses of the program as well as 2) an implementation guide that includes information on how to apply the program in your department. Attendees will receive an implementation kit that includes train-the-trainer presentations, sample memos and policies, and examples of other departments’ implementation processes.

Learn how to analyze near-miss reports using two analysis tools: Crew Resource Management and Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. The reports selected will be beneficial to chief officers, and the analysis can be replicated with other reports for use in training drills or company officer development.

68

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

FRI will feature more than 600 exhibitors.

Following are a few must-see exhibitors.

2010

Fire-Rescue International Featured Exhibitors COMPANY 1-800-BOARDUP 5.11 Tactical American Fire Training Systems AT&T Blauer Manufacturing Boston Leather BullEx Digital Safety C.E.T. Fire Pumps Danko Emergency Equipment Draeger Safety DuPont Protection Technologies Eagle Compressors E-ONE Extendo Bed Company Farmers Insurance FEMSA Ferrara Fire Apparatus FirehouseDecalsAndMore.com FIREHOUSE Software/ACS First Alert First Line Technology FoamPro/Pentair Water Fol-Da-Tank Gamber-Johnson GearGrid Globe Manufacturing Holmatro Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition IAFC Member Services Intelagard KME Fire Apparatus

BOOTH # 3430 1462 842 2815 5020 5120 4307 4009 2242 4433 2516 3354 3549 1630 1858; 1507 5263 4253; 4855 5060 1849 5034 3571 2049 2975 3318 5243 3275 4030 1250 1237 5266 4166

COMPANY

BOOTH #

Knox Company Kussmaul Electronics Liberty Art Works Motorola 3218; MSA OnStar by GM Paratech Philips Physio-Control Pierce Manufacturing/Medtec Ambulance Plant CML PlymoVent Corp.

Priority Dispatch Corp.

Rescue 42 RollNRack Smeal Fire Apparatus Spartan Chassis Sprint Summit Fire Apparatus Surrey Fire Safety House Sutphen Corporation 3666; Team Equipment TEEX Emergency Services Training Institute True North VFIS Waterous Company Ward Diesel Filter Systems/RES-Q-JACK Warn Industries WHP Trainingtowers W.L. Gore & Associates W.S. Darley & Company

5134 1845 5160 4430 5030 2004 1430 1914 4751 4336 3011 3862 1030 2876 3053 2842 3423 4462 5066 3804 3055 1226 3432 5025 1862 4061 3139 3876 4126 3466 3662

IAFC Gem Partners are listed in RED IAFC sponsors feature a

FireRescue June advertisors also exhibiting at FRI are listed in black

70

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

safety

Get the Safety Ball Rollin’ FRI offers valuable opportunities to learn about changing your department’s safety culture

By Chief Robert Dubé

K

eeping fire service personnel safe has always been a key focus for the IAFC. And within the last decade in particular, thanks largely to the leadership and member support of its Safety, Health and Survival Section, the IAFC has emerged as one of the leading organizations to embrace the integration of safety into its culture.

One of the places you can see this shift toward a culture of safety is Fire-Rescue International. FRI offers a wide variety of classes, lectures and workshops featuring important information related to keeping your personnel’s health, safety and survival at the forefront of your organization’s mission. After all, as a chief, you have the responsibility to your department’s personnel and their families to make their work environment as safe as possible.

departments. Changing culture, specifically related to health and wellness in the emergency services arena, is one of the most difficult challenges you will undertake.

Te critical part of this culture change is the company officer; this person will have the greatest impact on your change effort. Getting buy-in and support is an important first step. Ten draw on your company officers’ support and experience to lead your charge.

An important part of the IAFF/IAFC Wellness-Fitness Initiative is providing annual NFPA 1582-compliant physicals to all of your personnel. Learn valuable tips on how to implement these physicals, and be sure to stop by the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section’s Health & Wellness Pavilion on the display floor at FRI.

Where to Begin

find resourCes

As we all know from our study of emergency management, preparation and/or mitigation is a proven method for providing a safe working environment. Year after year, the primary cause of line-of-duty deaths and injuries is related to health and wellness issues. With that in mind, preparing your department should start with NFPA 1500: Standard on Fire Departspecial fri preview ment Occupational Safety and Health Program. Use the standard’s self-evaluation to determine where your department stands in relation to key health and wellness issues. Additionally, implement the IAFF/IAFC Wellness/Fitness Initiative (www.iaff.org/ hs/well/index.htm) in your department.

Unsure how you can afford this? Stop by some of the lectures and workshops related to NFPA 1500 and listen to first-hand success stories of wellness-fitness programs.

It’s a proven fact, backed by quantifiable data, that implementing such a program will reduce your department’s workers’ compensation claims and reduce your on-the-job injuries. Tis is real cost savings that any city or county manager would like to hear about.

Company offiCer Buy-in Many leaders are concerned, or perhaps skeptical, about establishing a culture of health and wellness in their

72

Firerescue Magazine

Information to assist your training efforts is available not only at FRI, but also through the vast, rapidly growing catalog of Web sites related to firefighter safety, health and survival. Tese Web sites provide reports, training outlines, case studies, sample standard operating procedures, photos, videos and more. Take the time (and yes, you do have some time) to look around the Web. When the budget axe strikes your prevention and education resources (including department training), use these resources to assist you.

final thoughts In these times of rapidly accelerating budget cuts and reductions in staffing and service levels throughout our country, our tactics must change in order to remain safe.

Tere will be times when we will have to take a stand by not committing our personnel to situations where we don’t have the safe staffing levels to operate. Tis is as tough a call as you will make, but tough times call for tough leaders. Adopting a culture of safety in your organization starts with you, and there’s plenty of help available for you and your department at FRI. See you in the Windy City!

Robert Dubé is a 34-year veteran of the fire service, currently serving as the fire chief in Louisa County, Va. He worked for 28 years with the Fairfax County (Va.) Fire Department, and then served 4 years as the deputy chief in Clearwater, Fla. Dubé serves on the board of directors for the IAFC Safety, Health & Survival section.

June 2010

Choose 87 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 68 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

Saving the Scene First-in crews are often the keys to a successful fire investigation

By Jim Acker

I

June 2010

compare WUI/wildland vs. structural fire investigation, and discuss how to preserve the area of origin in a WUI/wildland fire.

Reading Smoke Reading smoke is the first step toward discovering what caused a fire or where it started. When approaching a structure fire, the smoke tells us the difference between a lazy fire and a quickly growing fire.

Te size and shape of a smoke column during a WUI/wildland fire suggest how long the fire has been burning and how rapidly it started.

A fire with a fast start that builds quickly can produce a very definitive top to the smoke column, while a long, smoldering fire often clouds the area with less-definitive drift smoke.

aRRiving on Scene In WUI/wildland fire investigation, noticing a few crucial details early on—such as where the fire is burning, what has already burned and what direction it’s moving—can save you time and effort later. If you create a good mental snapshot of the initial fire, when the time comes to back-track and look for an origin, you’ll most likely be able to narrow your search to a smaller area, making the search much easier.

If you arrive on scene and observe multiple fires, that obviously raises a red flag. Although there are several valid reasons for multiple fire origins, such as downed electrical wires, equipment failures, lightning, etc., multiple

s

t’s that time of year again when we start preparing for the wildland fire season, and for many of us that means more wildland/ urban interface (WUI) fires.

Te 2009 fire season left us with memories of record-breaking fires (such as the Jesusita Fire in Santa Barbara), firefighter and civilian deaths, and extensive property losses. Investigators are still chasing leads and trying to find those responsible for some of last year’s fires.

Although most firefighters concentrate on extinguishing the fire rather than investigating it, once the fire’s out, the investigation takes priority. However, information available at the beginning of the fire can quickly disappear, leaving the investigator with few leads to follow. Te point: First-in fire crews often make the difference between a fire investigation that’s never completed and one that is.

As we consider the upcoming WUI/wildland fire season, one item to include in our “mental toolbox” is the duty of the first-in company as it relates to fire investigation. First-in units have the luxury of seeing the fire when it’s still new, while the head might still be near the origin and before multiple smaller fires combine into one large one.

Simply put, first-in units see things that the fire investigator never gets to see. As a result, first-in crews may later be asked to help determine how the fire started. As the WUI expands, many structural firefighters are also tasked with wildland firefighting duties; therefore, a structural firefighter may need to assist with the investigation of a WUI/wildland fire. To put this topic into perspective, in this article, I’ll

Photo Craig allyn rose

First-in firefighters often make the difference between a fire investigation that’s never completed and one that is, because they have the luxury of seeing the fire when it’s new, while the head might still be near the origin and before multiple smaller fires combine into one large one.

Firerescue Magazine

75

origins can also be caused by arson.

When you find multiple origins burning, try to note the location of each one upon your arrival so it’s easier to trace them back once they all burn together. Use any landmark possible (trees, roadways, etc.) to help you remember their initial locations.

Ready, Set, Go! IAFC rolls out new wildland fire preparedness program

Choose 69 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

76

Firerescue Magazine

Once the firefighting begins, the differences between structural fire investigation and WUI/wildland fire investigation get a bit blurry. In structural firefighting, hoselines are advanced, and the fire is attacked with more thought to fighting the fire than protecting the origin, which is completely reasonable since the firefighting often takes place in the same room as the origin.

In a WUI/wildland fire situation, however, the fireline is usually a considerable distance from the origin by the time the first water is applied. Tis gives the investigator a big advantage if crews can fight the fire without tromping through the area of origin.

In both structural and WUI/wildland situations, having a keen eye for the origin and what may have caused the fire is everyone’s responsibility, not just the investigator’s. If the fire was caused by a downed wire that’s now shrouded in smoke, the first-in officer’s quick initial assessment may make note of that detail and could possibly save lives. If the situation allows, the officer should also mark the area of origin with flagging, traffic cones, etc.

DiFFerent environments In structural firefighting, doors are forced, lines are advanced and crews fight to get to the fire as quickly as possible. Structural firefighters typically enter through the most appropriate door to attack the fire. Te area

s

Last April, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) launched “Ready, Set, Go!,” a new wildland fire preparedness initiative, at their annual Wildland/Urban Interface (WUI) conference in Reno. The program teaches residents of the WUI how to prepare their homes and families for the threat of a wildland fire. The program also stresses the importance of evacuating early. “Most homes destroyed by wildland fires aren’t being lost to the fire itself, but to embers being blown far ahead of the advancing fire,” says Chief Jeff Johnson, IAFC president and chairman of the board. “‘Ready, Set, Go!’ teaches property owners how to protect their property in that dangerous ember environment.”

This year, the IAFC has identified eight departments from across the country to run the program in their communities. These departments, located in Arizona, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, Montana, Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, range from small volunteer departments to large municipal or county departments, but all face similar WUI-related challenges. If all goes well, the IAFC expects to roll out a national version of the program.

For more information on the Ready, Set, Go! Program, visit www.iafc.org/ ReadySetGo.

Fire AttAck

Choose 70 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Choose 71 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 72 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

77

of origin is seldom a concern at this time.

Te WUI/wildland firefighter operates within a completely different environment. Tey can attempt to set the terms of the firefight by drawing firelines where they will be most advantageous to fire crews, which can then be directed along those lines. In terms of the fire investigation, this is a great help because it provides direction to crews that otherwise might unknowingly walk over and destroy critical evidence in the area of origin.

The Challenges of The Job Fire investigators often have to dig to find the needle of evidence in a haystack of debris. In a structure fire, the desired item can be an appliance, an electrical cord or a candle. Even in the worst cases, those items can survive the firefight and can still be identified by the investigator.

In a WUI/wildland fire, the source can be a tiny piece of hot exhaust carbon, a drop of molten metal from an arced utility line or even a charred matchstick. Tese items are difficult to find even in an untouched area of origin, so imagine trying to find any one of them after firefighters have dragged hoselines through the area and mixed whatever was left over into the soil.

To know where to look for the evidence, fire investigators learn to “read” burned debris and can follow specific indicators to a small area that surrounds the location where the fire began. Boots, hose and tools can destroy

Choose 73 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

78

Firerescue Magazine

these discrete indicators, making it much harder, if not impossible, to determine even a general area of origin.

WhaT Can You Do? At all fires, pay attention to what you see and remember it because you may be the only person to see it. Mark the area of origin to protect it, but don’t step inside of it.

Steer clear of the area if it’s already marked. If the area is on fire, hit it with a light mist of water, but don’t blast the area with a heavy fire stream. Lastly, let others know the location of the area so that they can also stay clear.

ConClusion Whether we’re talking structure fires or WUI/wildland fires, we’re in the business of extinguishing fires to save lives and property. And as part of that common objective, we must always keep in mind that learning how today’s fire began can help keep tomorrow’s fires from starting.

Te first-in officer and crew are many times the keys to making this happen.

Jim Acker is a 29-year veteran of the San Jose (Calif.) Fire Department, where he currently serves as a fire captain. He has more than 10 years of experience as an arson investigator and is certified as a Fire Investigator II in California and a Level III wildland fire investigator by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. Previously, Acker worked as a firefighter and engineer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. He teaches and lectures on various fire investigation topics and can be reached at jimfire@jps.net.

Choose 74 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Choose 75 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 76 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

79

Choose 78 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

CHECK OUT OUR FREE ARCHIVED WEBCASTS TODAY!

t Detecting Biothreats in the Field t Vision 20/20: Model Evaluation Measures for Prevention Programs t Live Fire Training: Conducting Safe & Effective Burns t Identifying & Securing Hybrid Vehicles … and many more topics!

Go to: FirefighterNation.com/webcasts Choose 77 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

80

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

MAKETHECUT

The Cut Zone Tips for working at the vehicle extrication scene

I

’m not an expert (run the other way when anyone claims they are) in extrication techniques. I’m just a firefighter who likes cars; I’ve cut up a few in my career, and even though I’ve promoted and they took the cutting tool out of my hands, I still got game.

(Well, maybe.)

I also still read, listen and seek knowledge from others, because regardless of who you are, the day you stop learning is the day you should retire.

Te following are some simple tips I’ve learned over the years—mostly by trial and error—that can improve and enhance the safety and efficiency of your extrication operations.

laminaTeD siDe WinDoWs Side-laminated safety windows are becoming more common; we even see them in economy cars now. Tip: To identify a safety window, look for labeling, such as “LAMISAFE,” on the glass.

I cut a side window from a 2007 Lexus LS460 and found that the LAMISAFE glass reacted like a thin windshield. It cracked easily but stayed intact. Tools that are successful with windshields are usually options with LAMISAFE glass. A Whizzer saw with a diamond cut-off wheel (40/50 grit) worked well. Te reciprocating saw with a Milwaukee torch 10-tpi blade was also effective; however, I had to make a starter hole because the glass was slippery.

story & Photos by Todd D. meyer

Time, DisTance & shielDing Te concepts of time, distance and shielding aren’t reserved for hazmat incidents; they should also be incorporated into extrication ops, particularly when dealing with supplemental restraint systems.

Specifically, give yourself enough time to shut down the electrical system, allowing the capacitors to drain down. Create space, or distance, between you, your patient and the hazard. And wear the proper PPE to protect or shield yourself and the patient, if appropriate.

Taking Tires

s

Depending on the severity of the wreck and your department’s standard operating guidelines, you can deflate a vehicle’s tires to lessen the movement of its suspension and therefore complement your stabilization efforts.

Tip: Keep in mind that you have several different options—air chucks, core pullers, pliers/cutters, Halligans and knives—when it comes to tire deflation.

Te damage each can cause ranges in severity from no damage to complete tire destruction.

sTabilizaTion If you have limited amounts of cribbing, prioritize your stabilization around the patient. Are you lifting the car and shoving step-chocks underneath it? If so, stop!

Why take extra hits on your back and knees? Instead, insert step-chocks and deflate the tires. Done.

If you use a large tool, strike in the corner of the window where your follow-through is limited, and swing for contact, not a home run.

Taking glass Several tools are available for taking glass, such as the Res-Q-Me tool and spring-loaded punches. Tip: If you use a large tool, strike in the corner of the window where your follow-through is limited, and swing for contact, not a home run.

Also remember to stand off to the side, and warn people around you that you’re about to break glass so they’re prepared. Remember to warn the internal personnel and the patient(s) so they can be prepared and protected. Depending on the circumstances, respiratory protection may be appropriate.

Once you’ve broken the glass, use a tool—not your gloved hand—to clear it from the area.

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

81

Make TheCUT When it comes to tire deflation, keep in mind that you have several different options: air chucks, core pullers, pliers/cutters, Halligans and knives.

Pulling Trim Remove interior coverings to expose hazards and vehicle construction. Ask yourself: Where are the inflators? Te seatbelt anchors? Why cut through four layers of material or obstructions when you can bypass all this? We can no longer make blind cuts in today’s vehicles.

Some say you should make a V-cut where the B-post meets the roof when taking a roof, but this cut could be right in line with the side curtain inflator.

Te message: Pull trim, pull trim, pull trim.

The Side-door BlowouT Remove interior coverings to expose hazards and vehicle construction.

Choose 83 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

82

Firerescue Magazine

Tis maneuver is also known as the Rip & Blitz, MaxiDoor and the Jackson Swing. When performing this maneuver, keep in mind that some vehicles have their B-post spot welded to the rocker panel while others have the whole side stamped in one piece. With the stamped one-piece construction, you have a greater potential of ripping the rocker panel. Tip: If possible, don’t rip the rocker panel. In unibody-constructed vehicles, ripping the rocker panel may compromise the integrity of the vehicle, especially if the doors, the roof and the B-posts are being removed.

Depending on vehicle construction, tools and talent, the side-door blowout maneuver may take a while, and responders may feel that they’re in over their heads and not able to figure out how to overcome the oddities of

Choose 84 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Some say you should make a V-cut where the B-post meets the roof when taking a roof, but this cut could be right in line with the side curtain inflator. The message: Pull trim, pull trim, pull trim.

this maneuver. Tis is why it’s important to master the basics and become proficient at taking doors off one at a time before you start taking shortcuts. Remember: Te side-door blowout doesn’t work all the time.

Beware the SaleSmen Lately, I’ve seen a trend I don’t like. A lot of people are prematurely cutting hinges and other fixtures because some salesmen convinced them they needed a new cutter. As a result, firefighters are prematurely using their cutters on objects that we could possibly soften first or go around (i.e., cutting through a hardened door impact beam—things that are usually anchored in soft metals).

Tip: If possible, use your spreader to weaken items before you cut. If you don’t, you’ll have a new respect for the limitation of your cutters after you’ve had a couple break on you while trying to use them.

the 360-Degree Scan After extricating the patient(s), take your time. Do an additional 360-degree scan of the scene, evaluating it for additional hazards and victims. If the car rolled three times, where did the wreck start?

Also, check the trunk for meth labs and additional patients, use your thermal imager, and stay until the wrecker has removed the rolled car from the ditch to ensure there are no victims trapped underneath.

Choose 79 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

a Final note As I said at the beginning, I’ve never claimed to be an extrication expert, but I’ve been around long enough to collect the tips discussed in this article, and to know that you should never think you know enough.

Tere’s always something more to learn.

Remember: You don’t have to be an expert, but you must be effective and know the basics. Otherwise, your actions and ineffectiveness could cause more harm.

Todd Meyer is a battalion chief with the Gig Harbor (Wash.) Fire & Medic One. He has 16 years of fire service experience. Meyer holds a bachelor of science degree in economics from Central Washington University, as well as IFSAC Fire Fighter I and II, IFSAC Fire Officer I & II and Strike Team Leader qualifications. He’s a Pierce County Type III team member and instructs extrication classes on the West Coast. He is the co-founder of “Crunch Time,” a hands-on vehicle extrication class hosted by Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One.

This broken blade reminds us that we must understand the limitations of our tools.

Choose 80 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Firerescue Magazine

83

SurvivalofthefitteSt

For What Ails Your Workout The medicine ball helps develop power & muscle endurance

T

By Jeff & martha ellis

he exercises you choose to perform during a workout can be a very personal thing, so much so that over time, it becomes difficult to deviate from your routine. Granted, if you’re working out at all, you’re light-years ahead of many, but if you’re stuck in a routine, you need to spice things up. Te funny thing is, adding a little variety to your workout will also increase the effectiveness and value of the time you spend on personal fitness.

Incorporating a medicine ball into your workout is an inexpensive way to broaden the scope of regular calisthenics. Strength development, either on targeted areas or through whole-body movements, will be enhanced by the extra weight and versatility of a medicine ball.

Te medicine ball is not new to fitness. According to Wikipedia, some of the earliest references to medicine-ball-type apparatus date back 3,000 years to Persian wrestlers who worked out with sand-filled bladders. Fortunately, more modern versions of the medicine ball are available commercially in weights typically ranging from 2 to 25 lbs.

All photos courtesy l.p. cAflisch

When performing the squat plyo, it’s critical to transition quickly out of the squat position.

86

Firerescue Magazine

Power DeveloPment You can use a medicine ball to develop power or muscle endurance. Power development comes from performing explosive exercises, such as throwing the ball rhythmically while moving through an exercise.

You can also incorporate the ball into plyometric exercises, which you can perform with a partner or alone by bouncing the ball off a wall.

Te ball also provides the opportunity to strengthen muscles we use while performing everyday tasks, particularly twisting and ground-to-overhead lifting.

While reinforcing the proper form through repetitive practice, holding the ball will add a little extra weight to these movements and therefore strengthen muscles that we might neglect in the gym.

Examples of power-building exercises include the squat plyometric with a vertical ball toss, sit-ups with a horizontal ball toss and the chest pass-toss with a friend.

Te Squat Plyo Te squat plyo with the vertical toss will require some coordination. Holding the ball at your chest, drop into a comfortable squat, trying not to let your knees extend past your toes. Explode out of the squat while you toss the ball into the air or up against a wall. Ten catch the ball and drop back down into the squat and repeat. When you reach the top of your extension, you can do an actual jump or just stay on the ground if you’re more comfortable with that. Tis exercise can also be performed with a partner.

Sit-Ups Begin your sit-ups on your back with your knees bent and the ball at your chest. Note: It helps if you have a partner for this exercise because they can stand on your toes to keep you anchored.

As you sit up, throw the ball to your partner (or against a wall if no one is around to help.) Catch the ball as it comes off the wall or is thrown back to you (this can be challenging), and lower your upper body down to the start position. Repeat.

Chest Pass Rapid chest passes between partners is a great way to develop explosive strength in the chest and arms.

June 2010

and either keep the ball at your chest or raise it up, directly over your head.

If you take the ball overhead, focus on keeping your chest up and drawing back with your shoulder blades.

Tis will incorporate a good upper back strengthening component to the exercise. Step back, lower the ball and repeat.

The PaTh of More resisTance As you can see, by adding the medicine ball to basic exercises, you add a level of resistance that can enhance your normal workout routine. Remember: Tere’s always some way to include the ball in an exercise so you can take your workout to the next level.

Use your imagination, good form and common sense and you’ll see how useful this little tool can be.

When tossing the ball during sit-ups, try to keep moving. Throw the ball to your partner as you sit up and have them toss it back to you as you lower into the start position.

Standing about 5–8 feet apart, rapidly pass the ball from the chest back and forth until one or both of you is worn out.

Muscle endurance For muscle endurance development, you can take some of your favorite calisthenics—leg raises, torso rotation and lunges, to name a few—and add the medicine ball for extra resistance.

Leg Raises For leg raises, hold the ball between bent knees while lying on your back. Brace your body with your arms by putting them either out to your side or under your butt. Focus on squeezing the ball while you roll your legs up and over your chest. Remember to keep your lower back on the floor as you lower your legs back down to the start position.

Division Chief Martha Ellis has been a firefighter with the Salt Lake City Fire Department (SLCFD) for more than 15 years, serving as a firefighter, an engineer, a media technician, an ARFF training officer, an airport fire marshal and currently the fire marshal for Salt Lake City. She has won the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge Women’s Division five times, and held the world record for 8 consecutive years. She also works as a certified fitness coordinator for the SLCFD. Captain Jeff Ellis of the Murray (Utah) Fire Department (MFD) has served for more than 25 years as a firefighter, an engineer, a hazmat technician and a shift training captain. He’s been a certified fitness coordinator for the department since 1996. As a competitor in the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, he has won two overall world championships, three Over 40 world championships and helped MFD take the team trophy. He has been active in teaching all aspects of firefighting, including swiftwater rescue and fitness and nutrition in the fire service.

E-mail your fitness-related questions or comments to Jeff and Martha at fit2serve@gmail.com.

To perform torso rotations, or twists, each person turns toward the other, and the ball is handed off in a tight rotation.

Torso Rotations Torso rotations are another great partner exercise. Start by standing back to back with your partner while one of you holds the ball. Each person rotates toward the other, and the ball is handed off in a tight rotation. Te recipient rotates around to the other side with the ball, as does their partner without the ball. As they meet on the opposite side, the ball is exchanged again, and so on.

Lunges Tere are multiple variations of lunges. To incorporate the medicine ball into a basic lunge, stand with the ball at your chest, feet together. Step forward, but make sure that when you lunge over your front foot, your knee doesn’t extend past the toes of that foot.

Drop down to a position that’s comfortable for you June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

87

NEWProducts Shelter from the Storm CrewBoss’ rehab compliance equipment kits provide turn-key packages for fire departments needing to comply with NFPA 1584 and OSHA rehabilitation standards.

Each kit includes a 16' diameter CrewBoss Rehab Shelter to provide immediate protection from the weather and create a clean environment, and offers a multitude of service functions such as command center, media control, privacy tent or temporary medical triage.

CrewBoss 800/971-7201 http://crewboss.westernshelter.com Choose 200 at www.firerescue magazine.com/rs

88

Firerescue Magazine

One Smooth Ride Legend Air Suspensions’ fire/rescue ATV kits—for models including Polaris, Arctic Cat and Kawasaki—provide better handling for increased loads associated with patient transport and specialty units that are mounted on the ATV. Legend’s Kevlar air spring technology provides one-touch suspension adjustment to accommodate additional equipment and personnel, making it possible to handle various situations and terrain with less risk of injury or tipping. Better shock performance can also reduce time in service, wear on personnel and impact on patients.

Legend Air Suspensions 605/720-4202; www.legendoffroad.com Choose 201 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Fantastic Foam ULTRAGUARD C135 from Chemguard is a high-performance, 1–3 percent alcohol-resistant aqueous film-forming foam (AR-AFFF) concentrate. Characterized by a low viscosity, ULTRAGUARD C135 can improve performance in all types of foam proportioning equipment, including in-line eductors, balanced-pressure systems and built-in foam systems on fire apparatus. It’s effective with blended gasoline additives and contains no PFOS or PFOA ingredients.

Chemguard 800/222-3710; www.chemguard.com Choose 202 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Get the Glow GlowZone’s photoluminescent (PL) technology, also known as glow in the dark, is now being used to increase firefighter safety. PL fire safety products include striping for fire suits, handles for axes and other hand tools, sleeves for breathing tanks, caps for emergency breathing hoses, company identification and hose couplings so that firefighters can easily identify which direction leads them to safety.

GlowZone 714/256-2202; www.glowzoneinc.com Choose 203 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Instant Access The Hydrant Snorkel from Automatic Fire Protection Systems raises hydrant access above the snow level to allow for quick water solutions. The 4' tall Hydrant Snorkel is fastened to a hydrant prior to significant snowfall and mimics street hydrants. Specifically, the extended wrench comes straight off the hydrant nut and turns the same way. The Storz fitting attaches directly to the supply line. Plus, the unit features a quick connect feature on the top in case you need to extend its height. The compact units are constructed of aluminum and steel and come in two versions: 2 ½ or 4 inches in diameter. The 2 ½" version weighs 12 lbs. and the 4" version weighs 26 lbs.

Automatic Fire Protection Systems 503/622-3090; www.hydrantsnorkel.com.

Choose 204 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

Easy Listening Phonak Communications’ primero DPC, an in-ear radio headset with built-in intelligent hearing protection, allows professional teams to communicate in noise of up to 115dB. It uses a tiny microphone (situated within the earJack) and an innovative signal-processing algorithm to pick up the user’s voice from inside the ear canal.

This design ensures that primero is compatible with all helmets and masks.

Phonak Communications AG 41/26/672-9672 www.phonak-communications.com Choose 205 at www.firerescue magazine.com/rs

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE GO TO: FirefighterNation.com B

B

tability ry accoun p. 48 What eve e, st provid system mu te ate accura How to cre eets, p. 56 ksh wor tactical

Water res cue drills, dos & don ’ts, p. 40 Reinforce your hurric preparatio ane ns, p. 48

Fbki

FBKI

PPE Post-injury p. 76 analysis,

April 2010

with us at rrow Connect y, Use It Tomo Read It Toda

n.com FirefighterNatio

May 2010

Read It Toda y, Use It Tomo rrow Connect with us at

A refresher on fire she lter deployme nt, p. 71 FirefighterNati on.com

Subscribe to FireRescue online— Just log on!

Choose 82 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

89

NEWdElivEriEs The Bureau of Land Management has taken delivery of nine wildland fire engines from BrandFX Fire Apparatus. Built on Chevrolet Kodiak Series 5500 chassis, with 21,500-lb. GVWR, the vehicles feature multiplex electrical systems with all LED lighting packages, advanced fiber composite bodies with composite shelving tracks, manufacturer-authorized tire and suspension upgrading, 350-gallon APR water tanks, 15-gallon APR foam tanks, FoamPro and Aquis Foam systems, diesel-powered Darley pumps, stainless-steel plumbing with Akron valves and dual Hannay hose reels.

Reward your personnel with a subscription to FireRescue.

FireRescue magazine makes a great appreciation gift, retention tool or incentive.

Take advantage of discounts on multiple subscriptions.

A one-year subscription to FireRescue consists of twelve issues including the Buyer’s Guide, Resource Guide and Hot Products issues.

BrandFX Fire Apparatus 877/347-3011; www.brandfxfire.com Choose 206 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs The U.S. Navy has taken delivery of three Renegade CAV-2400 aircraft firefighting vehicles from Crash Rescue Equipment Service. Built on Ford F-550 4 x 4 chassis, they’re powered by diesel engines and automatic transmissions. Features include custom PolyBilt bodies, 250-gpm Darley 2 ½ AGE Deutz pumps, 400-gallon water tanks, 50gallon foam reservoirs, remote-controlled bumper turrets, stored-air compressed air foam systems and Hydro-Chem technology.

Crash Rescue Equipment Service 972/243-3307; www.crashrescue.com Choose 207 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

JWa[ j^[ B[WZ

I Identifying future leaders, p. 42 Top training resources, p. 36

The Prestonburg (Ky.) Fire Department has taken delivery of an aerial from Rosenbauer. Built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis and powered by a Caterpillar engine and an Allison 3000 EVP transmission, it features a 400-gallon tank, a 1,500-gpm pump, Code 3 LED warning lights and an 8-kW SmartPower generator.

Fbki

“Smart” PPE, p. 46

January 2010 Read It Today, Use It Tomorrow

For Gift Subscriptions Call: (888) 456-5367 For Group Discounts Call: (800) 266-5367 x6832

or visit www.FirefighterNation.com 90

Firerescue Magazine

Rosenbauer 651/462-1000; www.rosenbaueramerica.com Choose 208 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs

J

u n e

2010

Pierce County (Wash.) Fire Department #18 has taken delivery of a 2008 Ford E450 North Star Medic Unit built by Braun. It features a 6-liter turbo diesel engine, SCBA brackets, inside/outside access, an IV warmer, a 110-volt Cadet heater, a locking “meds” cabinet, Whelen emergency lighting and an electric door lock with combination touch pad and key fob entry.

Braun Northwest 800/245-6303; www.braunnorthwest.com Choose 209 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs The North Freedom (Wis.) Fire Department has taken delivery of a 17' combination rescue unit from Marion. Built on a Spartan Metro Star chassis, it’s powered by a 330-hp Cummins ISC engine and an Allison automatic transmission. Features include Amdor roll-up doors, storage for 15 SCBA bottles, a cab-to-body walkthrough, an interior command center with a map desk and interior storage cabinets, a rear-vision camera, a Whelen LED warninglight package, a 20-kW PTO-driven Onan generator and a Space Saver fill station with four-bottle cascade system.

Marion Body Works 715/754-5261; www.marionbody.com Choose 210 at www.firerescuemagazine.com/rs Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. has taken delivery of one heavy-duty rescue, one 85' aerial platform and 10 industrial pumpers from Pierce, all built on Arrow XT chassis. Each is equipped with a 515-hp engine, TAK-4 independent front suspension and side-roll protection systems. The pumpers feature 2,000–3,000-gpm single-stage pumps and Husky 300 industrial foam systems. The rescue is equipped with slide-out and tilt-down adjustable trays and custom tool boxes.

The industry’s BEST MAGAZINE AND LARGEST PROFESSIONAL NETWORK are working together to bring you the latest in training, news, products and more!

JOIN NOW AT

Pierce 920/832-3000; www.piercemfg.com

J

u n e

2010

FirefighterNation.com Firerescue Magazine

91

ACS Firehouse Software Today’s First Responders need a powerful records management system to manage critical information.

Every second counts, and ACS FIREHOUSE Software can help you manage the information you need to provide critical decisions.

With valuable, versatile, and fully integrated solutions, ACS FIREHOUSE Software dedicated to helping agencies like yours manage business, day-to-day operations & planning, field operations & decision support, and technical challenges.

Forestry Suppliers, Inc. Since 1949, Forestry Suppliers, Inc. has been in business serving firefighting professionals. We offer only the top quality brands that you know and trust, backed by 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, and provide comprehensive technical support — before and after the sale. Find our complete selection of tools, gear and equipment in our current catalog or visit our website at www.forestry-suppliers.com to learn more, or call us at (800) 360-7788 to request a free catalog,

Darley PuriFire ™ 3S3P Portable Water Purification System The PuriFire ™ 3S3P is a three-stage portable water purification unit that can purify surface water up to 3,600 gallons per day and effectively kill bacteria, virus, Cryptosporidium and Giardia cysts. Please visit www. purifiresystems.com to learn more.

NEW CROSSTECH® BLACK MOISTURE BARRIER CROSSTECH® black moisture barrier combines the high level of breathability in the original CROSSTECH® moisture barrier with more durable NFPA 1851 performance as demonstrated in recent field trials. With improved durability, combined with a full 3.5 year warranty, departments can more easily comply with NFPA 1851. For information, visit www.crosstech.com.

Hot Shield

Liberty Artworks

Hot Shield USA has created the most protective helmet shroud available to date. The Ultra Shroud Extreme has a double layer of inherently nonflammable & lightweight CarbonX® mesh to allow easy breathing. Kit supplied will allow custom fit to nearly any wildland helmet in existence. Designed by firefighters for firefighters.

Firefighter Bronze Bell Monument Unveiled !!

Standing 35 inches tall this 19” bell is mounted on a 24 inch diameter maltese base. Cast solid bronze this monument weighs just under 300 pounds and is finished with a fired on rich brown patina. Available with standard fire design and engraved ribbons or custom with your department logo.

A one of a kind, Proudly Made in the USA

92

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

RollNRack Prevent injuries while expanding your manpower with the RollNRack Hose Management System.

Streamline hose operations with our innovative, firefighter designed tools. Get back in-service quicker and experience hose testing like you’ve only dreamed of. Our Efficiency Package pricing saves you money.

RollNRack Tools are proudly MADE IN THE USA.

June 2010

SKED-EVAC ALUMINUM SIDE RELEASE BUCKLE CONVERSION KIT Description: Skedco now has the side release buckles that are dependable and strong enough to meet the needs of securing a patient into a Sked® stretcher without the danger of breakage. Rated at 3,000 lbs, they’re durable and easy to use. Accidental release is not an issue when the buckle is under tension.

Summit Fire Apparatus

Revs-Q-Jack

Innumerable on and off road applications. Pulled by an RTV. Transport 6 team members into hot zone. Fold up seats and use on-board Stokes Baskets to transport injured. Aluminum, 7’ long 3’ high, run-flat tires, suspension axles, foldup hitch, shadow lighting.

Call Joe (859) 331-0360 to customize your unit.

Res-Q-Jack® XStrut is your next Strut. X-Strut is a plastic-free aluminum strut body with no-twist telescopic square tubing. With X-Strut we have incorporated our proven multi-purpose strut head with an on-board retractable ratchet strap and quick connect base links. X-Strut also has our no-nonsense add-on jack technology transforming from a shoring strut to a lifting strut in seconds. Compact design and mid-strut mount make for a lean, mean, lifting machine.

Wildfire Environmental USA

Keiser University

Wildfire has made several improvements to the design of the rotary seal (12-28NS).

This rotary seal is used in the majority of our pumps, including the Mark-3 and BB-4. The new external pressurized seal design allows lower weeping rates, increased durability under partial dry running and improved overall reliability.

The drive bushing is now also fully integrated in this all-new design. This increases the robustness of the seal and removes a component out of the pump assembly. This seal will be a standard issue on all genuine Wildfire pump ends starting April 2010.

Keiser University offers the Associate of Science degree in Fire Science.

The program provides instruction in: fire prevention, fire detection systems, fire codes, fire investigation, tactics and much more.

Keiser offers financial aid for those who qualify, 100% online programming, and job placement assistance for Keiser graduates.

Firerescue Magazine

93

For

information

on

placing

classified ads, please contact Jim Maloney at (215) 239-3157 or J.Maloney@Elsevier.com.

communicAtions

Motorola Pager Repair $24.00 Flat Rate Labor – Retone & Recrystal. New & Used Pagers.

Gifts

EquipmEnt

Ship to: Midland Telecom 3239 W. 2nd St. P.O. Box 2151 Grand Island, NE 68803 or call 888-669-1931

AccountAbility

94

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

equipment

FireRescue Multiple Copy Subscription Offer Provides Continuing Education for Your Team.

Generators

Take advantage of FireRescue Magazines’s multiple copy subscription offer. FireRescue provides you and your personnel with crucial information: 

Safe & Effective Fire Attack Strategies



Rescue & Extrication Training



Advice for New and Developing Company Officers



Wildland/Urban Interface Tactics



New Products, Apparatus Innovations & Technology

Use stories to enhance recruitment & retention, p. 26 5 strategies to stem the volunteer exodus, p. 34

March 2010 Read It Today, Use It Tomorrow Connect with us at FirefighterNation.com

CALL TODAY ABOUT OUR SPECIAL RATES ON MULTIPLE COPY SUBSCRIPTIONS:

(888) 456-5367 June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

95

“I Teach My Students to Save Lives.

FireRescue Makes Me a Better Instructor.”

FireRescue Magazine arms you with vital information to help guide your students’ careers and help them stay safe.

Each monthly issue includes:  Safe & Effective Fire Attack Strategies  Rescue & Extrication Training

Kf 7]W_dij

j^[

8?= ED;

Big fire photos with tactical tips, p. 44

Fbki New NFPA 1407 RIT standard, p. 84 CAFS & the wildland/ urban interface, p. 105

 Advice for New and Developing

Company Officers  Wildland/Urban Interface Tactics  New Products, Apparatus Innovations

& Technology

February 2010 Read It Today, Use It Tomorrow Connect with us at FirefighterNation.com

IF YOU’RE AN INSTRUCTOR, CALL TO ENROLL IN OUR STUDENT SUBSCRIPTION PROGRAM.

(800) 266-5367 ext. 6832 or FirefighterNation.com

96

Firerescue Magazine

June 2010

Ad Direct

YOUR SOURCE FOR IMMEDIATE INFORMATION ON ADVERTISERS’ PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Advertiser

RS#

Page

Advertiser

RS#

Page

5.11 Tactical Series

11

2

Junkin Safety Appliance Co.

62

60

A.H. Stock Manufacturing Corporation

58

58

Keiser University - Sarasota

81

44

ACS Firehouse Software

21

17

Knox Co.

43

39

All A Board

60

59

Kussmaul Electronics

84

82

American Fire Training Systems

59

58

Lake Assault

44

39

Amkus Rescue

30

25

Liberty Artworks

57

55

AWG Fittings

34

63

Mattracks

77

80

Blanchat Mfg., Inc.

64

61

MOSBY

Blauer Manufacturing Co. Inc.

14

7

National Association of Fire Investigators (NAFI)

53

53

Boise Mobile Equipment Inc.

68

74

National Fire Fighter Corp.

76

79

Boston Leather

48

48

Paratech Incorporated

40

37

Bradford Exchange

23

19, insert

Petzl America

85

99

Bullex

73

20, 39

16, 38

Priority Dispatch (NAED)

15

8

CET Fire Pump Mfg.

86

100

Rescue 42 Inc.

24

20

Circle D Lights

54

45

RKO Enterprises

45

42

Coaxsher

69

76

Roco Rescue

17

10

Code 3 Collectibles

83

82

RollNRack LLC

33

29

Coxreels

74

78

Salsbury Industries

82

89

Danko Emergency Equipment Co.

26

22

Sensible Products

47

41

Darley

38

35

Simulaids

61

60

Eagle Compressors

32

30

Skedco Inc.

49

49

Emergency Response Maps

72

77

Smeal Fire Apparatus

25

21

ESI/Junkyard Dog Industries

51

43

Sprint Nextel

16

9

Extendo Bed Co. Inc.

63

61

Streamlight Inc.

50

50

FEMSA

88

Summit Fire

29

26

Firefighter Combat Challenge

69

Surrey Fire Safety House

80

83

Team Equipment Inc.

22

18

FireRescue

51, 54, 63, 80, 89, 90, 91, 96

Firovac

37

32

TenCate Protective Fabrics

19

13

FoamPro/Hypro Corp.

67

65

Texas Engineering Extension

66

52

Fol-Da-Tank

75

79

TGO Technologies

73

78

Gear Grid

18

11

The Supply Cache Inc.

56, 71

55, 77

Globe Manufacturing

13

5

TheFireStore.com

42

36

HME Ahrens-Fox

35

31

Unruh Fire

46

41

Holmatro Inc.

12

3

W.L. Gore & Associates

36

33

Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition

31

27

Ward Diesel Filter Systems Inc.

52

43

Hot Shield USA

55

45

Warn Instustries

65

52

Hot Stick

79

83

Weightvest.com

70

76

Wildfire Environmental USA

78

80

IAFC (International Association of Fire Chiefs Inc.) Intelagard

71, 84-85 27

23

Firerescue Magazine, ISSN 1094-0529, including Wildland Firefighter, is published monthly by Elsevier Public Safety, 525 B St., Ste. 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495; 619/687-3272 (fed. ID #13-1958712). Periodicals postage paid at San Diego, CA., and at additional mailing offices.

Subscription information: Send $39.95 for one year (12 issues) or $69.95 for two years (24 issues) to P.O. Box 17049, North Hollywood, CA 91615-9247. Or call 888/456-5367. Canada—please add $20 per year for postage. All other foreign subscriptions, please add $30 per year for surface and $70 per year for airmail postage. For new orders only, call toll-free 888/456-5367. Single copy: $10.00.

Advertising information: Rates are available at www.fire-rescue.com or at 525 B St., Ste. 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495; 619/687-3272.

Editorial information: Direct manuscripts and queries to FireRescue Editor, 525 B St., Ste. 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495. For editorial and photography guidelines, visit www.fire-rescue.com. For information on FireRescue reprints or permissions, visit www.fire-rescue.com.

Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Inc. No material may be reproduced or uploaded on computer network services without the expressed permission of the publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to FireRescue Magazine, P.O. Box 17049, North Hollywood, CA 91615-9247. Claims of nonreceipt or damaged issues must be filed within three months of cover date. Canada Post International Mail Product (Canadian Distribution) Sales Agreement No. 1247921.

Firerescue Magazine is printed in the United States.RIDE ALONG ENCLOSED

June 2010

Firerescue Magazine

97

ResponseTime

The Numbers Game Does being the busiest also mean being the best?

W

By Brian A. Crawford

hen I tell people where I am from, mostly what they hear is “Louisiana,” and they invariably ask, “How close are you to New Orleans?” Shreveport is about as far from New Orleans as you can get and still be in the same state, but I don’t mind the question. Most people seem to believe that New Orleans is not just the only city in Louisiana, but the only thing whatsoever in the Bayou State.

Te fact is, Louisiana has three metropolitan cities and three metro fire departments. New Orleans, still struggling to repopulate following Hurricane Katrina, has a population of 350,000. Te state capital of Baton Rouge sits at 250,000. Shreveport is third at 204,000.

Shreveport may be the smallest of the three metro cities, but our department holds the bragging rights of being the state’s busiest fire department—largely because, of the three, we’re the only one to provide EMS-ALS transport. Last year, Shreveport responded to more than 37,000 calls, and had the busiest firehouse in Louisiana (9,000 calls) as well as the busiest engine (more than 3,500 incidents). So take that New Orleans!

We’re the busiest! We’re the best!

Wait a minute. Does being the busiest really have anything to do with being the best?

Competitive Roots Most departments that participate in a run survey can’t wait to see where they stand in relation to other departments, particularly those in the same state. In my department, the anticipation around the release of the Annual Report is almost mouthwatering. Tis report is largely meant for external stakeholders (citizens and elected and appointed officials) to detail the accomplishments of the organization and show them exactly where their money is going. But the firefighters are primarily interested in one thing: the year’s response statistics and who will have bragging rights about being the busiest.

For a long time, the fire service has tended to regard the busiest as the best. A lot of people in our industry use FDNY as the gold standard simply because of its sheer size and number of calls. “Running” companies and the firefighters who staff them are still held in high esteem, as they were when I was a line firefighter.

Tis begs the question: Do top firefighters and officers gravitate to busy companies or do busy companies produce top firefighters and officers? Te answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

98

Firerescue Magazine

time in the stReet Te more education and training an individual receives, coupled with practical and real-world experience, the better they will perform at any job.

In that regard, the theory that the busiest is the best is partially correct. Firefighters in busy companies have continuous opportunities to test and reinforce their training at numerous emergency situations, as well as to critique and improve their performance. Compare that with someone who spends most of their 24 hours in the station; even if they’re studying, training and drilling constantly, they’re still missing out.

For officers, command skills greatly improve with increased exposure. Officers who routinely respond to emergencies have the tendency to be calmer in the chaos.

Tey exhibit a “been there, done that” mentality, which teaches their subordinates the importance of maintaining composure, particularly in a crisis.

It’s critical that the formal training you receive in the academy be reinforced through practical street experience. “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” is particularly true in our business. Additionally, no two emergency scenes are the same. Te more you come in contact with the variety of different call types, the more incidents your memory stores—what went right, what went wrong, close calls, how I/we can improve next time. Tese experiences assist in your decision-making and ability to reason the best outcome, either through conscious thought processes or subconscious intuition or instinct.

Get Busy Shreveport can boast about being the busiest in Louisiana, but whether that fact also makes us the best is arguable (as in, I’ll argue with anyone who says otherwise!).

However, at an individual level, particularly for firefighters and up-and-coming officers, there’s no mistaking the unmatched advantages, experiences and opportunities in becoming the very best, than by spending time on a running company. If you’re looking for one, they’re probably out on a call.

Brian A. Crawford is the fire chief for and a 25-year veteran of the Shreveport (La.) Fire Department. He is a National Fire Academy (NFA) resident instructor, an NFA Executive Fire Officer Program (EFO) graduate and an IAEM Certified Emergency Manager and Commissioner. He also holds the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation and is a member of the Institute of Fire Engineers. Crawford serves as chair for the Program Planning Committee of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He holds a master’s degree in industrial psychology.

June 2010

Choose 85 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs

Choose 86 at www.ďŹ rerescuemagazine.com/rs