We all know the importance of getting out in our district, preplanning, etc. New buildings are popping up everyday and we know the dangers of new construction, and how in conjunction with low mass synthetic housing material, and high heart release rates make the environment in which we do business more dynamic and possibly more dangerous.
Even knowing this it is still important to go out and see these buildings while under construction so we can see the possible dangers.
This is a roof system I found at a construction site. As you can see there is some damage to the wood, and the gusset plate is loose. These systems are built-in mass production and usually sit out in the elements for weeks, then when delivered to construction sites are dumped off of a truck and left to sit again until being put into place.
Do not assume every building is on the up and up, and to make sure someone is assessing building stability at every fire.
As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!
Editors Note: This is a post from my brother Danny who serves as an Urban firefighter in the Capital City of Virginia. He has an extensive experience in working in career, combination, and volunteer fire departments. He is assigned to a Rescue Company and is a member of the Central Virginia Technical Rescue Team, along with being a medic. Simply put he gets it!
What do you get when you put 7 stranger firefighters from different areas of the country and different types of departments in one station during a busy fire season???? You get the new hit reality TV show “The Fire Service Real World. Now of course this is totally fake and not ever going to happen due to liability issues but think of what TV gold that would be!!!! You could take some of the greatest minds in the fire service old and young and make them rotate positions every shift I.E. driving 1 day, the next day you’re in charge, day after that you’re the nozzle guy. Throw in an ambulance (80% of what we do), some everyday fire department living and some good fires and only then could we really see how different or how alike our fire service is.
This idea came to me after seeing all the discussion over the past week about Urban vs. Suburban vs. Rural departments and how the tactics all differ. I myself am a mix of all 3. Where I work is all urban, where I volunteer is both suburban and rural within a few miles of each other. I would love to be able to just take what I learned from the suburban environment where I started and take it into the city but it just isn’t going to work. When all I did was volunteer we went from having 2-6 people on a first out engine. At work we have 4 all day everyday. In my first few years at my urban department I had to adjust, adapt to “their” way and come up with my new ideals on how I was going to do things.
I was always taught RECEO VS not as a list of tactics but as a strategy, they are the priority of things that should get done at every fire. I was taught LOVERS U for Truck Company and Specialty Company TACTICS. I can’t recollect ever being taught an acronym for engine operations, was just always told “Right Line, Right Location, Right GPM” puts out fire every time. Now we have SLICERS and as of today we have DICERS, could this be the new way to do engine company operations it’s very possible. Will it work in every situation? Only time will tell. I disagree with the fact that any of these should be marketed as a “blanket solution” to today’s fire problem. This is a disservice to all of us thinking firemen. You have to have some flexibility built-in to any policy especially for today’s dynamic fire ground.
All of these ideas are “Tools for YOUR toolbox”. Take what you like and what your departments do and implement them into your companies operations. DO the research, DO the right reading, if you’re from Small Ville, USA you’re probably not going to learn much tactic based stuff from Big City Firefighters and vice versa, if you’re from Big City FD there’s not much sense in my opinion being that proficient in Rural Water supply. Now I will say the basics are the basics no matter where you’re from but you should focus on mastering the skills that will make you the best you can be in your environment. Make yourself what I like to call “Knowledgeably Aggressive”. There is a big difference between being “aggressive” and knowing when and where is the right time to be aggressive; only your department, your crew, and your ability can determine that.
Bottom line is we shouldn’t be bashing each others opinions; this is a brotherhood that has always thrived in learning and listening to everyone’s opinions from the new rookie to the 30 year veteran to the retiree. Actually we are all already living the “Fire Service Real World” reality series so let’s make this season the best yet!!! Do your part and partake in the conversation, and stand up for your beliefs, share your opinion but in a respectable manner.
A lot of engine companies out there utilize the “triple layer load”. It is a great hose load for low man power as 1 firefighter can deploy the entire cross lay in about 65 feet, and have the working coupling right beside them.
I never liked the fact that it was difficult to pack, or that it was difficult to deploy in small areas (minimal set back, interstate). At FDIC 2012 I took Kurt Isaacson’s class and was exposed to his website www.countyfiretactics.com and say a video called the triple split. I was unable to get that video but have found a video just as good below (the first part is an instructional video on the triple layer, and how to pack it, the later part is the triple split)
This technique will allow you to deploy your triple layer cross lay in a space where you do not have the ability to stretch out from the truck. It just adds to what I thought was once a one trick pony hose load to a more useful, and versatile hose load.
If you’re utilizing this hose load go out and give this a try, I do not think you will be disappointed. If you are not the beginning portion of the video will give you some instruction on pulling and packing so you can see if it is right for you and your district.
As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!
Even as recently as my child hood (Which was not THAT long ago) I can never remember someone who got hired in the fire service leaving for other professions. Sure I know people who left departments to go to different departments, or even other fire service agencies (I left one career department for another), but never did you hear about people getting hired and leaving the fire service all together.
I feel now though we are in the midst of the fire service becoming a “stepping stone” or “transitional” job. Sure we have the professional landscapers, contractors, etc. who basically utilize the fire service to run their side business, but they at least put in 25-30 years.
Now we are seeing people who get hired and use this experience to achieve their ultimate goal which usually is not the fire service. Now we see people leave the fire department to become, nurses, doctors, county managers, or other professions. Some may say this is not a big deal if they do not want to be here then good riddance, and on some level I agree, but the issue is deeper.
These people took someone else’s job, who actually wanted to be a firefighter. Someone like me who has no other career aspirations but to be a firefighter could be left out for some future nurse! What about if the leadership in your fire departments goals are outside the fire department? How can you be sure they are really putting all the effort for you, and your brothers? How many people have you seen get their other careers started, by going to college on the fire department dime, and then leaving?
Again I do agree with those of you that say if they do not want to be here then let them go, however the above issues just crack the surface on what could grow to be a major issue. Most seriously, how do we know someone who is only doing this to spring-board to another job will do the work needed, train, put their life on the line, for their brothers, sisters, and citizens?
Our profession needs dedicated members who WANT to be firefighters! We need leaders who want to lead fire departments! We need people who will stop at nothing to get this job, and then will not take it for granted once they have it.
We need to all remember the immortal words of Chief Edward F. Croker FDNY
“I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a fireman. The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the fireman has to do believe that his is a noble calling. There is an adage which says that, “Nothing can be destroyed except by fire.” We strive to preserve from destruction the wealth of the world which is the product of the industry of men, necessary for the comfort of both the rich and the poor. We are defenders from fires of the art which has beautified the world, the product of the genius of men and the means of refinement of mankind. But, above all; our proudest endeavor is to save lives of men-the work of God Himself. Under the impulse of such thoughts, the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring, even at the supreme sacrifice. Such considerations may not strike the average mind, but they are sufficient to fill to the limit our ambition in life and to make us serve the general purpose of human society.” -Edward F. Croker, Chief of Department, F.D.N.Y. 1899-1911
This job is still a noble calling, the work we do is rewarding, even if sometimes are services are abused. We need people who know that, and want to be a part of it for a full career. Let’s stop our career from becoming a stopping off point, and back to a destination.
Simply put we need more people like this kid!!!!
As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!
Average Jake Firefighter Blog 
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