Radio @ Firehouse.com » Through The Smoke

Through The Smoke: Firefighter Trapped - A Mayday and a LODD

PMatthews — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:11:15 +0000

Technician (Firefighter) Kyle Wilson of the Prince William County, VA, Department of Fire & Rescue was killed in the line of duty when he heroically gave his life at a single-family dwelling fire on April 16, 2007. In this episode of Through the Smoke, host Billy Goldfeder welcomes Prince William County Chief Kevin McGee and Battalion Chief Jennie Collins to discuss what happened, how it happened, what lessons were learned so far and what we can do at our departments so we don’t repeat history.

Critical Note

Below there are numerous links to the report, the audio, the video and automated recreations. For example, within the audio, you will hear the chilling radio transmissions of Firefighter Wilson advising that he was trapped, with his words:

“Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, Tower 512 bucket (NOTE: “Bucket” is the firefighter who rode the jumpseat), I’m trapped inside, I don’t know where I am, I’m somewhere in the stairwell, I need someone to come get me out!”

Technician Wilson joined the Prince William County Fire and Rescue on January 23, 2006. Tragically, he died in the line of duty on April 16, 2007.

On that day, Technician Wilson was part of the three members staffing Tower 512, which responded to the house fire at 6:03 a.m. The initial dispatch sent: three engines (with three), one truck (with four), one battalion chief (alone), one EMS unit (with two). Additionally, a rescue company (with five) was added to the assignment and a safety officer was added to the prior to the second alarm.

The area was under a high wind advisory as a nor’easter storm moved through the area. Sustained winds of 25 mph with gusts up to 48 mph were prevalent in the area at the time of the fire dispatch.

Initial arriving companies reported heavy fire on the exterior of two sides of the single-family house and crews believed that occupants were still inside the house sleeping because of the early morning hour. A search of the upstairs bedroom (by the officer and firefighter (Wilson) of Tower 512 commenced for the possible victims. While on the second floor searching, a rapid and catastrophic change of fire and smoke conditions occurred in the interior of the house within minutes of Tower 512’s crew entering the structure. Technician Wilson became separated from his officer and was lost and unable to locate an immediate exit. Technician Wilson succumbed to the fire and the cause of death was reported by the medical examiner to be thermal and inhalation injuries.

The major factors in the line of duty death of Technician Wilson were determined to be:

The initial arriving fire suppression force size.
The size up of fire development and spread (see Goldfeder’s comment below)
The impact of high winds on fire development and spread
The large structure size and lightweight construction and materials
The rapid intervention and firefighter rescue efforts
The incident control and management

Chief Goldfeder Comments

It is critical for firefighters and officers - and those who fund fire departments - to understand that it takes firefighters and resources to perform the needed tasks. There will be times when we realistically cannot do all we want to do, based upon fire conditions, size-up and immediate resources. Simply put, you cannot successfully perform all the required, coordinated and simultaneous tasks of, for example, a fire that requires 30 to 40 firefighters, when you only have five to 10 on the scene. Tasks to consider and plan for may include:

Water supply establishment (primary and secondary)
Pump/equipment operations
Stretching/flowing handlines
Forcing entry
Venting
Searching
Rescue/victim removal
Command/control/accountability/communications
Firefighter Rescue
EMS
Safety

These are among all required tasks on the first alarm. This applies to any fire department, anywhere and not specific to this fire. And fire departments must pre-evaluate their ability to perform those tasks based upon their first alarm assignments and staffing.

The weather conditions and construction features resulted in the rapid and catastrophic progression of fire conditions. We dedicate this episode of Through the Smoke in the memory of Firefighter Technician Kyle Wilson.

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Through The Smoke: Young Firefighters -The Gamer Generation

PMatthews — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:24:53 +0000

Are you one of those young “gamer” or “online” generation firefighters? Find it a challenge to communicate with the older firefighters? Why? Just because they don’t answer your text messages? They don’t know what MySpace or a Facebook is? They actually read books versus Googling something?

Are you an older firefighter? One that “just doesn’t get” the “Gamer Generation” because they want to “check everything out on the World Wide Web? Isn’t what you tell them good enough? Think these “kids” know it all? They just may….

Join Through the Smoke Host Chief Billy Goldfeder along with his guests Division Chief Edward Hadfield from Coronado, CA; Lt. Mike Wilbur of FDNY Ladder 27; Battalion Chief Daryl Cleveland from, Pechanga, CA;, Assistant Chief Pat Dale from Olympia, WA and retired Fire Chief Gerry Kohlmann from Redwood City, CA as they discuss their views and facts on the new generation of firefighters, because they are here to stay!

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Through The Smoke: The Charleston Fire…What’s Changed? - Part 1

PMatthews — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 22:41:10 +0000

In June of this year, nine brave firefighters from the Charleston, SC, Fire Department (CFD) were tragically killed in a commercial building fire. These men, Captain William “Billy” Hutchinson, Captain Mike Benke, Captain Louis Mulkey, Engineer Mark Kelsey, Engineer Bradford “Brad” Baity, Asst. Engineer Michael French; Firefighter James “Earl” Drayton, Firefighter Brandon Thompson and Firefighter Melvin Champaign.

An independent panel hired to study the CFD following the Sofa Super Store tragedy recommended a major overhaul of the department’s practices, procedures and equipment. And following the fire, the report and other information - what has really changed so far? What are the steps of change? What changes will be happening and what the additional phases of the report may recommend following the fire that killed nine firefighters.

Join Chief Billy Goldfeder for a discussion with the panel about the fire and the report and what these noted experts found when they went to Charleston. Joining us on the show will be retired Fire Chief Gordon Routley, fire protection expert; Tim Sendelbach, former chief of training for Savannah, GA, Fire and Emergency Services; Mike Chiramonte, a fire inspector and former fire chief in Lynbrook, NY; and Montgomery County, MD, Fire PIO Pete Piringer.

The guests discuss what they’ve observed and recommended as well as what has changed so far at the CFD, what will change and the important issues related to implementing and affecting “change”. Perhaps, and even more importantly, we will here how Phase 1 of the report can be of value to every fire department.

Note: Panel members Assistant Fire Marshal Kevin Roche from Phoenix and Assistant to the Fire Chief Brian Crawford were at previously scheduled details during this recording.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

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Through The Smoke: First Hand from Command - Multiple Firefighter Deaths

PMatthews — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:19:21 +0000

A firefighter line-of-duty death (LODD) is horrific, as anyone engaged in our business knows. An incident where a numerous firefighters lose their lives goes beyond horrific. The International Association of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire Fighters, the U.S. Fire Administration, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and other organizations are taking an aggressive look at how to minimize LODDs in the fire service, making it the number one leadership priority.

It is critical that we learn from past incidents and don’t let history repeat itself. Join us for this special presentation by chiefs who know this issue from experience; learn from them in an intense discussion about what happened and what has changed, so that their LODD situations don’t get repeated in your department.

Our guests on this edition of Through the Smoke include:
(to download their Power Point from the program, please right click on the link and select “Save As”.)

• Chief Gerry Dio Worcester, MA, Fire Department - Download his PowerPoint here;

• Retired Chief Pete Hayden, New York City Fire Department - Download his PowerPoint here;

• Deputy Chief Colleen Walz, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire - Download her PowerPoint here;

•Commissioner Lloyd Ayers, Philadelphia Fire Department - Download his PowerPoint here;

• Chief Charlie Dickinson, Deputy U.S. Fire Administrator - Download their PowerPoint here;

• Chief Stan Gibson, Coos Bay, OR, Fire and Rescue Service - Download their PowerPoint here;

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

Related Links:

• Booze, Drugs, Us and Them
• Winnepeg Double LODD Report
• Charleston Phase 1 Fire Report
• The International Association of Fire Fighters on Charleston Phase 1 Fire Report
• And The Beat Goes On (Firefighter Safety & Survival DVD) Please Help Support the Ray Downey Scholarship Fund & The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

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Through the Smoke: Meet FDNY’s Chief Sal Cassano

PMatthews — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:33:21 +0000

Hosted by Billy Goldfeder

Leading the FDNY takes a special person, without any question. And, so many outstanding firefighters have lead the FDNY. In years past, the FDNY Chief of Department was a “civil service” position, but now it is an appointed position by the fire commissioner and the mayor. And the first appointed chief of department is the current chief -Chief Sal Cassano.

Chief Cassano was appointed as a New York City firefighter in November 1969, and worked for several years at engine companies in lower Manhattan. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1977 and worked at Ladder 113 in Brooklyn, where he also served after his promotion to captain in 1984. He continued to rise through the ranks as battalion chief (appointed in 1987), deputy chief (1993), deputy assistant chief (1999) and assistant chief in 2001. He worked in various assignments throughout the city, including the on-duty citywide tour commander. He has been cited five times for bravery during his career.

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, Chief Cassano was named chief of operations, succeeding Chief Daniel Nigro who was appointed chief following the line-of-duty death of Chief Peter Ganci. As chief of operations, he held the second-highest uniformed rank in the department, managing daily fire and EMS operations for the 11,500 firefighters, 2,800 EMTs and paramedics. He oversees the department’s three major uniformed Bureaus — Operations, Training and Fire Prevention.

Chief Cassano has a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He and his wife, Theresa, reside in Staten Island. They have five children.

Join host Billy Goldfeder on Through the Smoke as he speaks candidly and personally with Chief Cassano about his insight on the past, current and future of the FDNY. He will share his thoughts and direction on training, probationary training, the roles of fire officers, 9/11 and so much more.

Note: This interview was recorded prior to the recent FDNY tragedy at the Deutsche Bank building.

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

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Through the Smoke: Fire Officer Education from Those Who Know!

chebert — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:41:29 +0000

Hosted by Billy Goldfeder

Fire officers and those who “wannabe”…what does it take? What are the challenges? After all, if we need staffing, training, leadership, water and tools to attack a fire, what does todays fire officer need to lead that charge? What do we need to know now? What should we be studying for the future? When does the training and education for fire officers end?

And we have a question for all of the Through the Smoke listners, whether volunteer, call or off-duty firefighters: Have you ever sat at the firehouse when a run comes in, waiting for a crew, not knowing who is responding and who is showing up when the tones go off?

We are also going to tell you about a very cool new product that is not sponsoring this show (in other words, this is not an ad and we have no tie-in to these folks) but this is a product that we feel can change the fire service, when firefighters are not in quarters, such as volunteer, call or off-duty career firefighter’s who are recalled in a very positive manner. And when we see something that we think will help firefighters - we tell you about it! We will spend a few minutes talking with Brad Pinsky, firefighter and vice president of www.IamResponding.com about a system that allows you to press button on virtually any phone, and your station and dispatcher will immediately know that you are responding to a call. It’s that simple! The simple and fast information provided by the Emergency Responder Reply System (”ERRS”) saves critical time in responding to emergencies.

In this edition of Through the Smoke, we have a great “live” audience along with our guests Dr. Denis Oniel, retired Washington D.C. Deputy Chief Mike Smith and FDNY Battalion Chief Richard Blatus. These experts will provide the answers to the fire office training and education questions and so much more. This podcast was taped during Firehouse Expo.

Dr. Denis Onieal has been the superintendent of the National Fire Academy (NFA) since 1995. He was the first non-political appointee to the position and was selected after a competitive, nationwide search. In 2006, the NFA trained 78,000 firefighters and officers from all 50 states with a cadre of more than 500 instructors.

Chief Mike Smith served as a Deputy Fire Chief with the District of Columbia Fire Department and performed duties as a City-wide tour Commander, Risk Manager, and Training Director. Chief Smith has over 35 years experience in the fire Service and has recently retired. Chief Smith holds Degrees in Fire Science, Construction Management, and Fire and Public Administration and is the author of “Building Construction-Methods and Material for the Fire Service” available from Brady Publishing.

Chief Richard Blatus is a 24-year veteran of the fire service currently assigned to Battalion 15 in the Bronx. A strong proponent of training, Chief Blatus has served as both a regional and national instructor/lecturer for many of the fire service trade publications and is currently enrolled in the Naval Post

Please send any suggestions, questions or comments, to: podcast@firehouse.com.

Related links:
• National Fire Academy
• I Am Responding System
• Chief Mike Smith’s Book: Building Construction: Methods and Materials for the Fire Service
• And the Beat Goes On (a Firefighter Safety & Survival DVD)

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Through the Smoke: Interview with D.C. Chief Dennis Rubin

chebert — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:39:39 +0000

Well-known fire instructor and writer Dennis Rubin will share insight about things to come as he leads Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS. His leadership style is expected to take the department in a new direction.

As the Nation’s Capital chief, he is now responsible for the supervision of more than 2,000 employees, and an annual operating budget of more than $170 million. The resident population of Washington D.C is approximately 600,000, but on an average day the influx of workers and tourists can send that figure to a staggering 1.5 million.

Prior to landing back to his beloved Washington, he headed the Atlanta Fire Department.

Join us this week on Through the Smoke as Rubin discusses the latest hot topics from Washington. They include the EMS controversy, emergency communications and special operations. He also shares thoughts on the recent line-of-duty death of Firefighter James McCrae III, and the politics behind the PSOB issue.

This is one show you don’t want to miss !!! Tune in !

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

LINKS FOR THIS ISSUE OF THROUGH THE SMOKE:
• IAFC Calls on Congress to Investigate PSOB Program
• Fire chiefs urge action on firefighter deaths

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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Through the Smoke: Sprinkler Selfishness and the New U.S. Fire Administration Chief

sosmer — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:52:12 +0000

Hosted by Billy Goldfeder

Unless you just got back from a home builders meeting, you know that the fire service fought a tough battle in May. Who were we fighting? The folks who don’t support residential sprinklers. Who are they? Well, you would be surprised to know that some were so-called fire officials! But luckily, very few were. Most were builders and folks related either by blood, profession or financially. Why would they fight sprinklers? Three Experts join host Billy Goldfeder to talk about it.

The new U.S. Fire Administrator, Chief Greg Cade, has been confirmed and starts in Washington soon. I have always felt that the US Fire Administrator position is really what the fire service, the FEMA Director and the person in the position wants it to be. Well then, in this case, since the FEMA Director (Chief Dave Paulison) is a Fire Chief, and given Chief Cades background, we anticipate some excellent, hi-visibility fire service stature, involvement, progress and representation on behalf of all firefighters. Additionally, our sincere thanks to Chief Charlie Dickinson for the great work he has done while in the interim position.

Joining us on this installment of Through the Smoke is Georgia State Fire Marshal Chief Alan Shuman, U.S. Fire Administration Chief Greg Cade and Captain Sean DeCrane of the Cleveland, OH, Fire Department who currently represents the International Association of Fire Fighters in the 2007 Edition of the International Code Council for some lively discussion.

We’ll find out about Chief Cades background and what his plans are as our New Chief in Washington as well as the sprinkler issue - which is worth getting involved with. After all, since the National Association of Home Builders lead their major opposition campaign against sprinklers, they clearly took a stand against firefighters and our ability to survive as well. And then there is the issue of those living in the burning home. Some will say “firefighters don’t have to go in” and that solves the problem. Wake up! Sometimes we do have to go in and residential fire sprinklers can solve all parts of that problem.

Related Links:
• And The Beat Goes On Firefighter Survival Video (To benefit the CHIEF RAY DOWNEY Scholarship and the NFFF Survivor Families)
• Homebuilder Oppose Residential Fire Sprinklers

Other podcasts related to the home sprinkler cause:
• Fire Marshal’s Corner hosted by Ed Comeau
• On The Road with Bobby Halton: Jack Murphy and Dominick Kasmauskas
• NFPA’s Fire Sprinkler Facts for Firefighter and the Public
• 2007 Firefighter Stand Down: IAFC Stand Down Page
• Firehouse.com Sample SOGs/SOPs
• Firehouse.com Stand Down Page
• International Association of Fire Chiefs Safety, Health & Survival Section

Firehouse Expo
Be Apart of this Podcast at Firehouse Expo!
Join host Billy Goldfeder and a panel of fire service veterans during a live taping of Through the Smoke at Firehouse Expo in Baltimore. The show will begin at 2 p.m. on Thursday July 26 in Room 308. Bring your thoughts and questions for this open-air forum.

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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Through The Smoke LIVE at FDIC – Firefighters Burned!

amarks — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 23:17:20 +0000

Thousands of firefighters are injured in the line of duty each year and how they are handled and treated following the injury varies depending upon where you are from. Additionally, what can we learn from firefighters who have been burned? The term “burned” can have two different meanings

Burned: As in physical burns while operating at a fire and,
Burned: As in we were not taken care of very well when we thought we would be.

In some places, when hurt in the line of duty, you and your family need to only focus on you getting better because the coverage and support is there. But, in many other places, you are essentially on your own. How will you and your family be treated if you are seriously injured in the line of duty? Our first guest this week is Wendy Norris, a firefighter from Texas. A truss roof collapsed on her, causing a severe head injury and respiratory and facial burns when a falling beam knocked off her facemask. While that itself would be a nightmare for any firefighter, the lack of actions and incredible events following her injury are a part of our focus on this weeks Through the Smoke.

Also in this episode, we have some firefighters who have been there. These firefighters, like Wendy, were also very seriously burned and their lessons are critical.
Some of you have seen the award winning To Hell and Back video burn program. Well hold on, just wait until you see the new To Hell and Back II – Firefighters Burned Program that will soon be sent to department in the country. This DVD is packed with training information along with interviews, video and simulations so that you and your members learn how to not go through firefighter hell.

To Hell and Back II is a no BS “in their own words” portrayal of severe burn injuries and the life-long impact to firefighters. Joining us are the firefighters from the People’s Burn Foundation who will share with you, first hand, how each of their lives have been dramatically changed following their response, to a structural fire that went horribly wrong. Joining us are New York firefighter Bryan Winzer, Michigan firefighter Rob Kokko and Indiana FF Brian Alkire - all of whom suffered life altering burn injuries. Along with them are Shawn Grass, a training chief from Indiana, Andy “Sippy” Biron, a firefighter and instructor from New Hampshire and Foundation Executive Director Shawn Longerich.

And finally this week, we will learn how firefighter body scanning will help us in the very near future. Billy will be speaking with Jennifer Whitestone and Jenniffer Manning of Total Contact Inc., who have been has been contracted by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to conduct a study of firefighters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Through body measurements and whole body 3D scanning, they will provide new guidelines to improve the fit and performance of all safety equipment for firefighters. The firefighter body scanning project will change the way we do business! The data will become publicly available for unrestricted use.

Related Links:
• And the Best Goes On (Firefighter Safety & Survival DVD)
• LODD: Sign the memorial book for Prince William, VA, Firefighter Klye Wilson
• The Phoenix Project for Injured Firefighters
• To Hell and Back II
• Total Contact (Firefighter Seat Belt Project)

Hometown Heroes Ignored! Are you fed-up with how the federal government is handling heart-related LODD’s? Click here to write your rep today!

• Virginia Tech Rescue Squad
• Blacksburg Rescue
• Blacksburg Fire

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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Through the Smoke: Do They Get What We Do?!?

sosmer — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:28:57 +0000

Do you know people who just don’t get what we do? You probably know a lot who don’t. My world is full of em’. Sometimes it is nearly impossible to get politicians, city hall dwellers and others to understand. Sometimes, it’s those closest to us such as our families and friends….who may not “get it.”

While firefighters are so busy these days, every once in a while we have a chance to read a good book. Now listen, this ain’t Oprah, so we are only talking about FIRE books, but not just technical books. Books you will absolutely enjoy and books - two books specifically this month - that can help those who don’t get it…maybe Get it.

We have two great authors joining us on Through the Smoke this week to talk about their work. And while both books are true and factual stories about firefighters, there is alot we all can learn from the stories they tell. Join Through the Smoke host Chief Billy Goldfeder with his guests Charles Kenny, the author of Rescue Men, who comes from a family of firefighters in Boston as well as Chicago Battalion Chief Steve Chikerotis, the author of Firefighters From The Heart: True Stories And Lessons Learned as they discuss the good, and the bad, related to those they write about.

About Rescue Men

In Rescue Men, former Boston Globe journalist Charles Kenney tells the story of three generations of firefighters in his family and the fires, events and politics that changed their lives. Rescue Men is about the culture of firefighting - confronting the dangers and the intensely close bonds among members who rely upon one another for their safety and often their lives.

About Firefighters From The Heart: True Stories And Lessons Learned

Firefighters From The Heart is a book of 46 short stories that shaped and molded Chicago Battalion Chief Steve Chikerotis’ career, as well as stories written through interviews of firefighters such as retired Boston Fire Commissioner Leo Stapleton, Retired FDNY Captain John Vigiano, Former Chicago Fire Commissioner Ray Orozco Sr. and current Fire Commissioner Ray Orozco Jr. All of the firefighters bared their souls and shared career-altering experiences so that others could learn. Each story is written to make you feel that you are there and each is followed by a summary of the important lessons learned and questions for discussion amongst firefighters.

Purchase the books:
• Rescue Men
• Firefighters From The Heart: True Stories And Lessons Learned

You can find the above books and other fire books at:
• Firefighters Bookstore
• FSP Books & Video

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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Through the Smoke - Live from San Diego at Firehouse World

sosmer — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 19:42:14 +0000

Fire Recruit Death, Civilian Fatalities and Firefighters Body Scanning

There are numerous extremely “hot” issues going on in our fire service right now. First and foremost, the tragic and shocking Line of Duty Death of a Fire Recruit in Baltimore City that is on everyone’s mind. Along with that, there are the on going apparatus safety issues (and major changes in the horizon) to the very significant numbers of civilian fire death…and of course, the recent firefighter LODD’s.

The fire service plate is VERY full right now……..

Join Through The Smoke Host Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder with his guests, Philadelphia, PA Deputy Chief Bill Shouldis, Battalion Chief Mark Emery, Woodinville (WA) Fire & Life Safety and joining us once again, FDNY’s Captain Mike Dugan and Lt. Mike Wilbur with their great perspective “live” from FIREHOUSE WORLD in San Diego (recorded on 2-28-07) for discussions on these issues….and a few more……

LINKS FOR THIS WEEKS EPISODE
• BALTIMORE CITY PRELIMINARY REPORT RECRUIT FF LINE OF DUTY DEATH (PDF)
• FIREFIGHTERS NEEDED FOR BODY SCAN STUDY
• 2005 PHILADELPHIA CIVILIAN FATALITY STUDY (PDF)
• PHILADELPHIA FIREFIGHTERS FIRE PREVENTION MUSIC VIDEO: “TAKE IT OUTSIDE”

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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100,000 FIREFIGHTERS ARE NOT WRONG.

admin — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 16:30:13 +0000

FIREFIGHTING, SMOKE & OUR CANCERS (Part 2)

As firefighters, the discussions on the previous THROUGH THE SMOKE Show could not have made our hair stand up any more than it did! That “Firefighter Cancer Study”, done by University of Cincinnati (UC) environmental health researchers blew us away…sort of. It’s not as if we DIDN’T know about the problems-we just didn’t really WORRY ABOUT IT. But maybe now, it seems, we are….well, maybe. The UC-led team analyzed information on 110,000 firefighters from 32 previously published scientific studies to determine the comprehensive health effects and correlating cancer risks of our profession. Sheesh.

SO WHY NOW? We always knew to WEAR OUR SCBA…but we don’t always listen. In some towns, we RARELY listen. We KNOW wearing SCBA made sense…but we didn’t really worry about it when there was just some smoke. We also never thought that a little soot on our face or hands was a problem. We never really thought about those outside-such as the chiefs, the pump operators, the safety folks, the sector bosses, the EMS personnel and even the fire photographers and others who were actually IN the smoke…even though it would clear “in just a little while”. SO NOW WHAT?

Join Through The Smoke Host Chief Billy Goldfeder with both his guests, Dr. Grace LeMasters, PhD, and for his first time joining us, Dr. James Lockey, MD from the Univ. of Cincinnati, the leaders in this FIREFIGHTER study for PART 2 with more frank and NO NON-SENSE discussion of these concerns in protecting firefighters. Listen….if we don’t pay attention to these EXPERTS…odd’s are, some of us will never pay attention and the results are predictable-and now, PROVEN.

LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS WEEKS SHOW:
• University of Cincinnati Cancer Study Press Info
• U.C FF Cancer Article
• IAFF’s Project Hero PPE Program
• Smoke Inhalation Poisoning Study
• Smoke Inhalation Treatment
• Smoke Perceptions, Myths and Understandings
• Firefighter Cancer Support Network
• FirefighterCancer.org
• http://www.firegrantsupport.com

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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FIREFIGHTING CANCER

admin — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 21:25:02 +0000

“Taking in” a little smoke??

As a firefighter, the outcome of the recent study done by University of Cincinnati (UC) environmental health researchers will BLOW YOU AWAY. Their work-which directly impacts you, has determined that firefighters are significantly much more likely to develop four different types of cancer than workers in other fields.

Surprised? Their findings suggest that the protective equipment such as SCBA’s, masks, turnout clothing etc firefighters have used in the past does not do a good job in protecting us against cancer-causing agents. I mean, did you ever think a little soot on your face or hands is a problem? Is the issue as simple as us using what we have…properly? Wait and listen… Join Through The Smoke Host Chief Billy Goldfeder with his guest, Dr. Grace LeMasters, PhD, from the Univ. of Cincinnati, a leader in this study for a first hand, frank and NO NON-SENSE discussion of these concerns, the past, the present and the future in protecting firefighters….which starts with, but is NOT as simple as all of us WEARNG all of the equipment we are issued…and FIRE OFFICERS enforcing that.

LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS WEEKS SHOW:
• University of Cincinnati Cancer Study Press Info
• U.C FF Cancer Article
• IAFF’s Project Hero PPE Program
• Smoke Inhalation Poisoning Study
• Smoke Inhalation Treatment
• Smoke Perceptions, Myths and Understandings
• Fire Smoke & Cyanide
• Firefighter Cancer Support Network
• Firefighter Cancer.org
• Alabama FF’s Dies During Overhaul
• FDNY 3 FF LODD Fire Report
• KEOKUK 3 FF LODD Fire Report
• FDNY (FF BRICK) Fire Report

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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FIREFIGHTER ESCAPE! - Part I

admin — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:06:49 +0000

In this episode of THRU THE SMOKE, Chief Goldfeder and his returning guest Captain Mike Gagliano from Seattle will further discuss the firefighter air management program and YOUR survival….the issues of MANAGING YOUR AIR!

But first, our very special guest is FDNY Firefighter Jeff Cool who will be discussing the critical need for firefighters to have “built in” fire escape bail systems. Jeff knows the issue first hand as he is one of four firefighters who survived “BLACK SUNDAY” in the Bronx when 2 other FDNY members tragically lost their lives…by having to jump out of a multi story building.

LINKS FOR THIS WEEKS SHOW:
• FDNY Black Sunday Three Firefighters Dead, Four Critical in Bronx, Brooklyn Blazes
• Deaths of Two Firefighters Raise Issue of Safety Ropes
• FDNY ‘Black Sunday’ Survivors To Speak

SEMINARS (These are the Andy Fredericks Fund Raisers as discussed in this episode)
• BLACK SUNDAY PROGRAM: - Rockland County, N.Y.
• FIREFIGHTERS SCARED STRAIGHT PROGRAM - Westchester County, NY
• BLACK SUNDAY SURVIVORS SPEAK AT FIREHOUSE WORLD

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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FIREFIGHTER ESCAPE! - Part II

admin — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:41:34 +0000

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