There has been a definite shift toward first responder or medical calls in most areas. No longer can you be a firefighter alone; many departments require you to be a minimum of EMT or have first responder training. Other departments are handling so many medial calls that they staff engines or other apparatus at the advanced life support level with paramedics. While there are still departments that...

What is the biggest honor that you have ever received in the fire service? From a medal of valor to recognition for 20 years of service, the fire service hands out many reminders of good times and good work. Recently I received the biggest reward my career; it wasn't a medal for heroism or a life saved, it was seeing my first protege sworn in as a firefighter.  Sharing a moment in time to...

Life is so busy, so busy, all the time. With three homeschooled children who are into various activities, a house in which I am determined to finish several unfinished projects, and a husband who works a full-time job, a part-time job, is attending online college classes full-time and still spends every second he can with his family, I feel like we are the epitome of busy. We define it this...

Life teaches a great many lessons to those who will pay attention. There was a time when I felt that good things should happen to me just because I was a good guy. My parents taught me to do the right things; to be honest and hardworking. Guess what? Things did not always go my way. It seemed to me that a lot of folks who were not raised like I was were getting all of the good breaks. Do not get...

A few months ago, I received a request from a firefighter researching the possibility of his department converting from 1-1/2-inch to 1-3/4-inch attack lines. I field these requests a few times a year and usually find that an organization is about to commit an enormous amount of funds to replace perfectly serviceable hose in a not-fully-informed effort to increase flow rates on their initial...

How sincerely gratifying to see the results of the IAFC's Fire and Emergency Service Task Force's " Taking Responsibility for a Positive Public Perception " report. This document is an excellent foundation for action. From a public service marketing perspective, the findings are right on target. The underlying premise of the work is the responsibility we share in creating a positive image for...

I was reading a few news stories online when I came across a very interesting and disturbing situation. Without knowing all of the details other than what appeared in the newspaper story, it appears as though the city of Watertown, NY, has ordered their fire department to stop inspecting buildings . I'm not quite sure what administrative or political situation behind the scenes caused this...

Are you searching for a Facebook page with links to informative fire prevention pictures and videos? Look no further than the Minnesota Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Facebook page is administered by its Office of Communications and Deputy State Fire Marshal Becki White. The page was created when Becki started her public education role and it went live during...

I was in the kitchen watching updates from the scene where four firefighters were shot in Webster in Monroe County, NY. During the mid '90s, my father and I served with the Rush Fire Department, in the southern end of Monroe County. As this incident unfolded on Monday, it was a haunting reminder of the incidents over the last few years where firefighters, always known as the good guys and gals...

Welcome everyone to the Firehouse Best Practices blog. First, I want to thank my friends at Firehouse Magazine , Firehouse.com and Cygnus, including Jeff, Harvey, Peter, Elizabeth and Steven; you have each been such great friends and supporters over the years. Firehouse Best Practices will be featured in this blog, as well as in Firehouse Magazine ( see July's article here ) and at Firehouse...

A video clip of a structure fire occurring in a single family residential occupancy shows, in the first few frames a back draft occurring per-arrival of fire services. It’s apparent there is a developing and progressing fire in the Charlie division which may have originated in the, or vicinity of the detached garage (B-C) which had a breezeway connected to the main house. The large volume...

Could playing golf improve your fireground situational awareness? One study seems to suggest so. While playing golf with his son, a neuroscience researcher began to contemplate the nexus between what it takes to achieve success on the golf course and how that might apply to firefighters. After all, the principles of situational awareness should be universal, he hypothesized. What would this look...