Radio @ Firehouse.com

Charleston, NC Sofa Store Fireground Audio

dadler — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:47:29 +0000

Fireground audio from Rockville, MD blaze May 3rd 2008

dadler — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:46:58 +0000

Read Article: Three Firefighters Hurt in Maryland Blaze

Mayday calls begin 9.5 minutes into recording.

Audio provided by DCFireFeed.com.

The Apparatus Architects: New Rig Technology & Tool Mounting

PMatthews — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:59:33 +0000

Hosts Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur talk about their observations from one of the first major trade shows, FDIC. They’ll review some of the latest designs they saw at the Indianapolis event. Hear what they have to say about the placement of a data recorder in a truck.

While 2007 saw a 17 percent decrease in apparatus deliveries across the country, what’s going on now?

Wilbur goes over the rash of crashes and other incidents. Recently, trucks have been stuck in mud and hit by blind drivers. And, firefighters continue to get behind the wheel after throwing down a few drinks.

The Apparatus Architects also will share their thoughts on proposed changes to the NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus that include significant requirements. The show wraps up with a discussion on the importance of mounting tools and equipment inside the cab. Tune in to hear what they suggest.

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

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Campus Firewatch Radio: The College Fire Survival Program

PMatthews — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:06:02 +0000

This month on Campus Firewatch Radio, host Ed Comeau talks about the new campus fire safety training program that was just launched by the People’s Burn Foundation: “To Hell and Back: College Fire Survival.”

This program was developed under a DHS Fire Prevention and Safety Grant and was just launched in April and is going to be shipped, free of charge, to every fire department, college and university in the country starting in mid-May. To Hell and Back: College Fire Survival is a video-based training tool developed by a team of subject matter experts from across the nation to provide campus fire safety educators with a much-needed tool to use in delivering training to students.

Joining host Ed Comeau is a panel of experts that were involved in the development and review of To Hell and Back: College Fire Survival:

Shawn Longerich, director of the People’s Burn Foundation
Kevin Ply, fire chief, Purdue University
Dan Jones, fire chief, Chapel Hill Fire Department
Gail Minger, director, Michael H. Minger Foundation

This program also covers another new program just launched called the Campus Firewatch Media Project. Jointly sponsored by Campus Firewatch, the People’s Burn Foundation and the Michael H. Minger Foundation, this project will provide students with the opportunity to write about campus fire safety and submit their articles for publication in the national newsletter, Campus Firewatch. Each month a new article will be selected by a panel of judges and the student will receive a stipend of $500. More information, including rules and guidelines, can be found on the Campus Firewatch Media Project page.

Related Links

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The Leader’s Toolbox: Dealing with the Chief’s Son & Mandated Training

PMatthews — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:52:05 +0000

This edition of The Leader’s Toolbox starts with a discussion on situational awareness on the fireground. Host and Fire Chief Richard B. Gasaway explores the different levels of awareness that firefighters and fire officers need to have while working to keep the scene safe.

Gasaway offers advice to a career fire officer who has the chief’s son, who appears to be lazy, assigned to his station. The officer does not want to cause any waves with the chief, but wants the new firefighter to get on track. The use of coaching and teaching better work habits are promoted.

He also has advice for a new training officer anxious to keep members up to par when it comes to annual educational sessions. Gasaway offers ideas to insure the necessary levels are met, without causing problems among the members.

Related Links

SA Technologies

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

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NVFC Corner: Bolstering the Ranks with Youth Fire Programs

PMatthews — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:53:45 +0000

Youth programs are critical to the long-term health of the fire and emergency services. They serve as an important recruitment tool by fostering a new generation that may continue their involvement in the emergency services as they enter into adulthood. Junior firefighter programs also create stronger bonds between departments and the communities they serve. This podcast serves as a resource to departments who are thinking of starting or expanding a youth program as well as those who already have a program in place.

Join NVFC Executive Director Heather Schafer as she provides an introduction to the National Junior Firefighter Program and the resources available through the program. Jim Williams, NVFC’s New York Director, then moderates a discussion on key concepts and best practices for establishing and maintaining a local youth program within a department. The panel of experts includes Jeff Cash, NVFC’s North Carolina Director and Fire Chief of the Cherryville Fire Department; Allen Metheny, NVFC’s Alternate Director from Delaware and Past Chief and Past President of the Hartly Volunteer Fire Company; and Mike Barnett of the Elkridge Volunteer Fire Department in Maryland.

Related Links
• NVFC National Junior Firefighter Program

• iTunes - Subscribe to Podcast FREE Here

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The Apparatus Architects: Protecting Your Assets

PMatthews — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:51:35 +0000

This edition of the Apparatus Architects opens with an update on the fire apparatus industry. The hosts will explore ways that can help you avoid major losses if your equipment order is not completed.

Hosts Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur review the latest news on American LaFrance and other apparatus builders. Michael Wilbur offers an update on recent apparatus crashes and his headline of the month.

The hosts talk about the importance of paperwork that protects your departments purchase. Tune in to hear what they have to say about the issue. In light of recent industry changes, it’s a presentation you can’t afford to skip.

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

Related Links
• Emergency Vehicle Response

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Fire Marshal’s Corner: Photoelectric or Ionization Smoke Alarms – Part 2

PMatthews — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:48:27 +0000

This month’s edition of Fire Marshal’s Corner takes us back to the issue of photoelectric versus ionization smoke alarms. Since last month’s show, quite a bit has happened and we need to bring people up-to-date.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reissued its 2004 report on the effectiveness of smoke alarms. In this revision they had to make deletions to the tables that contained information about the operation of the dual-sensor smoke alarms. It turns out that they were not co-located with the other smoke alarms but were placed further away from the source of the fire, causing them to alarm later than the single-sensor smoke alarms.

Also, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a task group report on this subject as well. In addition to the group’s findings there were several dissenting opinions included in the report. Links to both of these reports can be found below on this podcast player page.

One of the dissenting opinions was written by Dr. Don Russell, a Regents professor at Texas A&M, who joins host Ed Comeau to discuss some of the controversial portions of the report and provide us with his thoughts based on his extensive testing of smoke alarms over the past decade.

Dr. William Grosshandler, deputy director of the Building and Fire Research Laboratory at NIST, reviews the testing that was done in 2004 and the methodology that went into putting the experiments together that resulted in the 2004 report.

Wrapping up will be Rodger Reiswig, director of industry relations for SimplexGrinnell. Rodger is going to cover the technology that is involved in the design of photoelectric and ionization smoke alarms so we can have a better understanding of how these devices work.

Related Links
• Special reprint of an article on this subject that is appearing in the February issue of Campus Firewatch
• NFPA Task Force Report including dissenting opinions
• NIST Smoke Alarm Study along with revision history and FAQs
• IAFC Fire and Life Safety Section Position Paper

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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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The Assistance to Firefighters Grant 2008 Program - Part 2: Success Stories

PMatthews — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 01:46:35 +0000

Since 2001, the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program has helped hundreds of U.S. fire departments upgrade or replace their tools and equipment. In this podcast, Firehouse.com Grants contributor Brian Vickers talks with three departments that have used this federal program for major upgrades. The AFG monies even helped one department purchase their first new apparatus.

Joining Firehouse.com on this podcast Daniel Bernardy, of the Inver Grove Heights, MN, Fire Department; Chief Melissa Eigenbrodt, of the Red Rock, NY, Volunteer Fire Company and John Moradito of the Border City, NY, Fire Department. These three departments have been awarded over $500,000 in the last few years.

The guests talk not only about their equipment, but their experience with the grant process. From writing the grants on their own time, to using a grant writer, these departments have improved their safety and efficiency by participating in the AFG program. The guests will offer their advice on completing the applications and the background research that’s won them the grant award.

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The Leader’s Toolbox: Dwindling Volunteers & a New Safety Officer

PMatthews — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 22:58:09 +0000

This month’s edition of The Leader’s Toolbox looks at issues facing both volunteer and career fire departments. Host and Fire Chief Richard B. Gasaway offer sound advice in both situations - do your homework and have background data to backup your plans.

The first half of the podcast looks at a chief of a volunteer fire department whose rolls are dwindling while the number of alarms is increasing. Gasaway proposes various ideas to help increase the number of volunteer members while looking exploring the chief’s idea on the feasibility of a combination department.

The chief of mid-sized departments is looking to raise the level safety in his department by implementing a safety officer 24 hours a day. During daytime hours, several staff chiefs respond to incidents to assist in various roles. Once the office closes, the cities three district chiefs are all that’s left. Gasaway explores the chiefs options, including the opening a new position and the safety company or command support company concept.

Related Links
• VCOS Red Ribbon Report
• VCOS Blue Ribbon Report

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The Assistance to Firefighters Grant 2008 Program - Part 1

PMatthews — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:16:14 +0000

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program application period opened March 3, but are you prepared to help your department? From true interoperability to training, Firehouse.com grants contributor Brian Vickers offers an update on the important changes to the 2008 AFG program. Through his company, Firegraphics.org, Brian has helped departments win well over $57 million in grant awards.

Some of the changes in the 2008 rules include the reporting of properly-training firefighters, interoperability issues and proving the need for funds to purchase apparatus and equipment.

He answers the most common questions he’s received while presenting grant workshops and working with local department to secure federal funding. This year, the regional application process has changed. Make sure you get the inside scoop.

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Firehouse Magazine Insider: March 2008

PMatthews — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:12:31 +0000

Firehouse.com talks with Dennis Smith, whose “First Responder Finance” column has been revived with the March issue of Firehouse Magazine. Dennis, the founder of Firehouse Magazine and First Responders Financial, looks to keep all first responders on the financial straight track.

The first column looks at the current hot topic of credit problems, which is affecting households across the country. Dennis offers advice to help firefighters and first responders make sure that they are doing the right things to keep their credit on the good side. Dennis also previews upcoming columns and offers simple financial advice for firefighters.

Related Links
• First Responders Financial
• Click here to subscribe to Firehouse Magazine

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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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Fire Marshal’s Corner: Photoelectric or Ionization Smoke Alarms – Which is the Right One?

PMatthews — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:39:58 +0000

Smoke alarms have an unquestioned role in reducing the loss of life and injuries from fire. However, recent information is coming to light about how the two predominant types of smoke alarms, photoelectric and ionization, react to different fire scenarios. Television stations across the country are conducting demonstration burns to measure the response time of the different smoke alarms with some troubling results. The National Institute of Standards and Technology recently published a report that clearly indicates photoelectric react quicker to smoldering fires and ionization smoke alarms react faster to flaming fires.

Joining us is Firefighter Matthew Cetin from the Barre City, VT, Fire Department. A tragic fire claimed five lives, but what troubled the fire department was the fact that there were working smoke alarms that did not sound during the fire. As a result, they started looking into the issues of the different types of smoke alarms with some interesting results. Following him is Underwriters Laboratories Manager of Consumer Affairs John Drengenberg discussing the role that UL has and their position on the issue. Chris Dubay, vice president of Codes and Standards from the National Fire Protection Association talked with us about the efforts that NFPA has underway to look into the controversy. Finishing up is New Hampshire Fire Marshal Bill Degnan talking about the concerns that he and his peers have about this issue and what they are doing in response.

After this show was taped, NIST informed me that based on the inquiries I made regarding the reported poor performance of the dual-sensor smoke alarms in comparison to the stand-alone smoke alarms, that data was being removed from the report. It turns out that the dual-sensor smoke alarms were not co-located with the single-sensor smoke alarms which is the reason for dramatically different results.

Related links
• Special reprint of an article on this subject that is appearing in the February issue of Campus Firewatch
• NFPA Task Force Report
• NIST Smoke Alarm Study
• IAFC Fire and Life Safety Section Position Paper
• National Fire Protection Association
• Underwriters Laboratories
• The Fire That Changed Everything - And What is Being Done by Matthew Cetin and Russell Ashe

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The Apparatus Architects: NFPA 1901 Changes & Pumper Purchasing

PMatthews — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:54:11 +0000

This month’s edition of the Apparatus Architects looks at some of the changes being proposed in the NFPA 1901 Standards for Fire Apparatus.The proposed changes include the placement of a black box-like device to record vehicle data, tool mounting policies and more. Hosts Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur also will discuss recent fire engine crashes in which firefighters were saved by seat belts.

If your department is considering the purchase of a new vehicle, the architects offer advice on cost-saving methods to insure your department gets the right one.

The show wraps up with a continuation of the discussion on the state of the apparatus industry. The hosts give an update on the American LaFrance Chapter 11 filing, and the issues that other apparatus manufacturers are facing.

Related Links
• Emergency Vehicle Response
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NVFC Corner: Retention & Recruitment - Part 1

PMatthews — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:15:26 +0000

Retention and recruitment are two of the biggest challenges facing the volunteer fire service. Over the last three decades, the ranks of the volunteer fire service have declined by seven percent, yet volunteers comprise 72 percent of firefighters in the U.S.

Join Dr. William Jenaway as he moderates a discussion into the key findings of a new U.S. Fire Administration/National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) retention and recruitment study, solutions to some of the retention and recruitment obstacles, and the overriding concept of leadership.

Guests include Philip C. Stittleburg, Chairman of the NVFC and Wisconsin Director; Jack Carriger, Second Vice Chairman of the NVFC and Oregon Director; and E. James Monihan, past Chairman of the NVFC and current Delaware Director. They will discuss some of the best practices they are seeing in their states to address the retention and recruitment challenges as well as how leadership plays an important factor in the solution.

Stay tuned to Radio@Firehouse and the NVFC’s websites for future NVFC Corner podcasts. Firehouse.com and the National Volunteer Fire Council have teamed up for a series of podcasts that are directed at the members of the volunteer fire service.

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

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Preview of the The Charleston Fire Department Memorial Safety & Survival Seminar

PMatthews — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 14:46:17 +0000

Firehouse.com talks with some of the key players who have organized The Charleston Fire Department Memorial Safety & Survival Seminar slated for April 26-27, 2008

Deputy Chief Robert Cobb from Jersey City, NJ, Fire Department tells us how this seminar was created. FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka and retired Washington D.C. Deputy Chief Mike Smith will preview their classes which will focus on firefighter safety and survival. During the closing keynote address, Firehouse Magazine Editor-in-Chief Harvey Eisner will look at things he’s learned while covering the fire service over the past 25 years. Worcester Capt. Kevin Maloney tells what a similar seminar did for his department after six years.

To register for the seminar, visit www.firefighterssafetysymposium.com

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

Related Links
• www.firefighterssafetysymposium.com

The Leader’s Toolbox: The Debate of Leadership Styles

PMatthews — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:00:17 +0000

In this edition of The Leader’s Toolbox, host and Fire Chief Richard B. Gasaway looks at communication skills and leadership styles. Chief Gasaway will take a look at management styles. One chief believes a participative approach is best, while another prefers the autocratic method. Chief Gasaway will use his 18-plus years as a chief to help determine which is better for your department.

Chief Gasaway also helps another chief whose e-mails are often misinterpreted, and send the wrong message. Tune in to learn some valuable electronic and verbal communications skills. Good communication is essential to every task, from the office to the fireground.

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

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Firehouse Magazine Insider: February 2008

PMatthews — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:04:30 +0000

In the first edition of the Firehouse Insider, we talk with Battalion Chief Mark Emery about his new series titled “The Fire Station Pyramid of Success,” that is printed in the February issue of Firehouse Magazine.

Mark explains the original Pyramid of Success, which was developed by UCLA basketball coach John R. Wooden. Wooden began developing the foundation for the Pyramid in 1934 and was considered a complete success 14 years later. Emery says, “What’s amazing about the guy is that everybody in the country that knows sports… knows that he is the greatest basketball coach of all time. His records include four perfect seasons and 12 championships in 10 years.

Mark details the four parts of his Fire Station Pyramid of Success series and explains what success really means. “Success in the fire station really comes down to you and what John Wooden calls his foundation of success. If it’s not in place in an organization or in an individual, it will never reach it’s greatest potential”, says Emery.

Mark also reviews his very popular series “The Ten Command-ments of Intelligent & Safe Fireground Operations.”, The 10-part series concluded in the January edition of Firehouse Magazine and Chief Emery tells listeners how he developed the unique incident command tactics.

Mark Emery, a fourth-generation career firefighter, is a Battalion Chief in Woodinville in King County, WA. He is a partner in Fire Command Incorporated (FCI) in Seattle, that has been incident management solutions to fire and life safety organizations since 1986. Chief Emery is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer Program, is a National Fire Academy Instructor Specialist, and earned a Baccalaureate Degree in Education from California State University at Long Beach.

Click here to read Mark’s complete biography and access his archived Firehouse Magazine articles.

Related Links
• Podcast: Command Competency Clinic with Mark Emery at Firehouse World
• Podcast:
target=”new”>Mark Emery on Through the Smoke

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The Apparatus Architects: A Bad Start for 2008 & Accident Prevention

PMatthews — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 17:14:36 +0000

It hasn’t been a good start for the new year. There have been a rash of collisions involving both personal vehicles and apparatus. A firefighter in his personal vehicle was killed en route to a house fire. Several other major wrecks are highlighted in the news portion of the podcast, which features the new “headline of the month.”

The focus of this show is crash prevention. Hosts Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur will discuss the ramifications of collisions. What happens when the apparatus is placed out of service?

The hosts also offer tips for safe operations and driving. It’s essential not to put the lives of your crew or the public at risk. If you operate an emergency vehicle or drive your vehicle to alarms, you don’t want to miss this presentation. Your life may depend on it.

Be Apart of this Podcast at Firehouse World!
Join hosts Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur during a live taping of The Apparatus Architects at Firehouse World in San Diego. The show will begin at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6 in Room 24A. If you’re buying a new rig soon or have questions regarding apparatus, bring them to this informative session.

Related Links
• Emergency Vehicle Response
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Fire Marshal’s Corner: Catastrophic, Multiple-Fatality Fires

PMatthews — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:08:36 +0000

This month’s show focuses on a particularly troubling issue: catastrophic, multiple-fatality fires, where three or more people are killed per incident. By tracking these fires through several sources, for 2007 there were 113 incidents killing 431, 54 percent of them children. While these are occurring across the nation, there are definitely more of them in the eastern half of the country with a heavy concentration in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. You can see the distribution in an online map and spreadsheet.

A panel of experts joins host Ed Comeau to take a closer look at the problem. Senior Planning and Research Analyst Richard Taylor with the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office who provides a detailed, analytical look at the information that has been gathered for 2007. Unfortunately, a number of these incidents have occurred in Maryland, and particularly in Montgomery County, so giving us a state fire marshal’s perspective is Maryland State Fire Marshal Bill Barnard and Montgomery County Fire Marshal Mike Love talks about it from the local level. We wrap up the show with some ideas about resources from Branch Chief Ken Farmer of the Leadership and Prevention Branch of the U.S. Fire Administration.

As we move into 2008, it appears that this problem is going to continue as there have been at least four incidents as of this posting. We’re going to continue to monitor this situation and hopefully we can all come up with some strategies to combat catastrophic, multiple-fatality fires.

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

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VCOS Radio: Understanding Junior Firefighter & Exploring Programs

PMatthews — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:47:28 +0000

This podcast looks at one of the best recruitment tools available to fire departments around the country - the junior firefighter and fire explorer programs. Tim Wall, of the IAFC’s Volunteer and Combination Officers Section, will discuss the programs.

Former IAFC Director Garry Briese discusses the Learning For Life Fire Explorer program. Gene Coleman, a battalion chief with the Center Point Fire District in Alabama talks about the issues his department faced while sponsoring this program. James Watson, Chief of the New Castle, DE, Fire Departments talks about his start in the fire service as a junior firefighter. More than 25 years later, he is the chief of department and his daughter is a junior firefighter.

The panel looks at the legal issues of hosting the youth fire programs, including liability, insurance and labor laws.

Whether your department currently operates or is looking into starting a youth program, this podcast is packed with vital information. Make sure to tune in - the future of your department may depend on it.

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

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Preview of Firehouse World 2008

PMatthews — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 20:59:41 +0000

Firehouse.com talks with Firehouse World 2008 program director Harvey Eisner and Show Manager Mary Velline about the upcoming West Coast conference. Harvey Eisner discusses the top-notch training that’s offered over five day, including both hands-on and classroom sessions. Several keynotes look at timely issues, including the The Charleston Sofa Superstore Fire and the recent rash of major wildland fires that tore through California.

Firehouse World will bring together over 7,000 fire, rescue and EMS professionals and Mary Velline fills us in on the well-known networking events, including the second annual chili cook-off and night at the fire museum. She will also give us a sneak-peak of the offerings found on the ever-growing exhibit floor.

Firehouse World takes place in San Diego from Feb. 3 – 7 at the San Diego Convention Center.

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

Related Links
• Firehouse World

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The Leader’s Toolbox: Alcohol in the Fire Service & Leadership Lessons with Chief John Buckman

PMatthews — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:50:26 +0000

In this month’s episode of The Leader’s Toolbox, Chief Richard B. Gasaway looks at the current hot-topic of alcohol in the fire service. Recent headlines tie alcohol to on-duty deaths, serious emergency vehicle accidents and policies that allow alcohol in the station. Chief Gasaway will offer insight into this issue, whether on-duty of off-duty.

In the second part of the podcast, Chief Gasaway talks about leadership with John Buckman, Chief of the German Township, IN, Volunteer Fire Department and past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Chief Buckman shares his lessons after serving 30 years as a fire chief.

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

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