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The Fire Engineering Advisory Board is comprised of recognized leaders in the U.S. fire service who help maintain the high editorial standards our magazine is known for. In this blog, our board members share their timely insights on issues, trends, and policies in the fire service. Readers are encouraged to submit comments and help move the discussion forward.

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Hoops team remembers Charleston firefighter

From ESPN:

Last weekend in Charleston, S.C., a bus carried the Summerville High basketball team to the state 4A semifinals. It also carried the memory of a man you've never heard of, a man who meant everything to the boys on that bus. His name was Louis Mulkey, and he was an assistant coach in football and basketball and, everyone says, life.

His day job was as a firefighter for the city of Charleston. He worked on Engine 15. His world revolved around Summerville High and B Shift. Then, on June 18 last summer, he and many of his colleagues responded to a fire at the Super Sofa Store. Some of you know what happened.

Read the whole thing HERE

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posted by Peter Prochilo
2/29/2008 10:35:00 AM

0 Comments:

Open Challenge Goldfeder versus Halton

We are holding the first ever FDIC Courage and Valor Fun Run and we are looking to get as many of us out there as possible to watch me destroy Goldfeder in a head-to-head running of the Clydesdales over 50 and over 200 lbs. It is all for the Courage and Valor Ray Downey Award Foundation. We said that we would never forget, so run Friday.

Listen, if two beat-up old clowns like Billy and I can do it, there is no excuse for the rest of you!

If you say you lead by example, here is your chance to prove it! Run Friday

If you say you care about firefighter wellness, then here is your chance! Run Friday

If you said you would never forget--Run Friday

We are looking for everyone to register and have blast Friday morning the 11th before classes. We start at 0800. Hey, some you of don't even have to go to bed! Sign up online for $15. That includes a beautiful T-shirt and show up, even if you walk--it is a start. We have to put our money where our mouths are. No more excuses. Let's do this together. You will recognize me at the end of the crowd sucking wind!!

The site will list everyone who signs up, so don't let anybody fool ya. As a matter of fact, as a FOOL myself I challenge my brother and sister FOOLS lets run together. All you IAFF members, let's do it. If you are in the NVFC and if you are serious about being heart healthy, let's go! Run Friday

We do have several friends of Courage and Valor (who make cool stuff) that will be awarding valuable prizes to random runners for any and no particular reason.

Follow this link to register now!!!!!

http://www.kenlongassoc.com/fdic08.htm

There are a million reasons to run Friday. I will see you there and just like Santa I will be checking the list!!!! Run Friday

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/26/2008 03:58:00 PM

2 Comments:

tso1509 said...: Ok Bobby, Billy, Timmy, Eddie, I'm in, peer pressure is beating me down!! Game on.....Forest; Wed Feb 27, 08:51:00 PM EST
John said...: I'll bet Billy G wins by a moustache!; Wed Mar 05, 08:52:00 AM EST

Tim Sendelbach and Eddie Buchanan from ISFSI

Here is Tim Sendelbach and Eddie Buchanan talking about the International Society of Fire Services Instructors (ISFSI) / FDIC / The 2008 Courage and Valor Fun Run Challenge and more...

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/21/2008 06:47:00 PM

0 Comments:

Searching Smarter Part 3 - Oriented Search

Hi,

Thanks for the comments on Part 2. I will be addressing the use of Theremal Imagers later.

Here's Part 3.

Skip

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posted by Skip Coleman
2/19/2008 02:50:00 PM

4 Comments:

medic9967 said...: Chief,

I have some thoughts on this I would like you to consider and comment on. I am primarily speaking of single family dwelling searches. We teach our firefighters to stay on all fours and in constant contact with an outside wall. How many people are we going to find on an outside wall? I agree that a person should be left at the door or stay on an outside wall to keep the team oriented. Keep the oriented firefighter at the door. The other member that is going into the room to search should just go from the door to find a bed. Ask yourself, when you get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom do you leave your bed and go straight to the door? Do you find an outside wall to follow to get to the door? You are going to just go to the door aren't you? I beleive that is what occupants will do as well. If we search that path from the door to the bed we will have searched the highest propbable area unless it is a childs room and they go hide. When we find the bed search underneath it with your hand, not a tool. Get on top of the bed, your tank will hit the bottom rail if it is a bunkbed. Then run your hand down the outside wall. It is common to have a nightstand between the bed and the wall. People fall down there and you WILL miss them. The obvious goal is to search the high target hazard areas in the least amount of time.

I couldn't agree more on the rope search. Our department introduced it a few years ago and it hasn't been used since.

I certainly would not want anyone holding onto a part of me. Get off of my boot or outside leg. Keep one member on a wall to keep someone oriented and let the other person search as long as you stay in voice communication I see no problem on getting off of a wall to search the common paths of travel.

Thank you for your blogs. I look forward to more information on a wide variety of topics.

Respectfully,

Springfield, Illinois; Wed Feb 20, 10:59:00 PM EST
Skip Coleman said...: Medic 9967,
I am in Virginia Beach teaching at the Chiefs Conference. I'll be back Sunday and answer in detail then.
Thanks
Skip; Thu Feb 21, 05:02:00 PM EST
Group 1 Dep said...: Chief:
Can you comment on the lack of tools being used in your video? I know there are two schools of thought about the use of tools during a search, but I am of the opinion that you should have a tool with you even if you're not sweeping with it. Thanks.
Group 1 Dep; Sat Mar 08, 02:58:00 PM EST
Skip Coleman said...: I will get into this in more detail later in Searching Smarter but the quick answer is that "seachers" should not use a tool. It only slows them down. The officer or Oriented man deffinately should have a tool of some sort.; Mon Mar 10, 03:41:00 PM EDT

C&V; series visits The Public Safety Academy of Northeast Indiana

The Public Safety Academy of Northeast Indiana invited us to speak at the Grand Opening of the academy along, with Michael Israel the painter http://www.michaelisrael.com/. Michael was kind enough to do his hero painting. He is a great guy and will be performing on the floor at FDIC courtesy of Pierce.

Captain Travis Hostler of Ft. Wayne Fire Dept. Training Academy explains the academy layout.

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/11/2008 09:38:00 PM

1 Comments:

Jon said...: The Public Safety Academy was indeed a pleasure to design! The city was great to work with, especially Brent Johnson. My goal all along was to bring together the complexity of the building's function and merge it with cutting edge design...all on a tight budget. Glad you liked the building!

Jon Hofmann
Project Designer; Wed Mar 12, 12:55:00 AM EDT

Courage and Valor Tour in Clay, Indiana

The Courage and Valor Speaking Series was in Clay, Indiana, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Missouri Fire School Winter. This first video is the class in Clay, which backs up South Bend and the University of Notre Dame.

Clay Fire Territory Fire Chief Timm Schabbel explains the Clay Territory Command Training Center and the purpose of the FDIC Command Training Center Roundtable on Thursday 530 in Room 123 and 124.

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/11/2008 08:52:00 PM

0 Comments:

Searching Smarter Part 2 - Types of Search

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posted by Skip Coleman
2/09/2008 04:15:00 PM

5 Comments:

apathy1967 said...: Nice topic Chief! It looks like you are using a powerpoint in the video's. Is there anyway I could get a copy so I can deliver this to the crews? I am looking forward to next week, thanks again.; Wed Feb 13, 05:01:00 PM EST
Andrew said...: Been doing the oriented search since I started in FS. I think problems with other 2 methods is too much "safety paranoi" of not being in "contact" with your partner. WE have got to get back to some common sense and being smart. Not depending so much on "gadget" to get our job done.; Thu Feb 14, 09:32:00 PM EST
woody said...: Could we consider the TIC as the future to search. Wouldn't an image on the screen be as strong accountability as physically touching or a rope. I know then we are relying on the camera functioning and proficiency in its use but a well planned and focused search could be preformed in open or enclosed area by searching not only what we see but what we can't. Yes a TIC has disadvantages but as you said so does a rope.These are great tools and are not being utilized because we are not using them to there potential.; Fri Feb 15, 10:31:00 AM EST
Pete said...: One problem I've seen over and over is people forming a congo line while conducting a left wall/right wall search. By using a piece of webbing, two people can increase the search area. If using an anchored rope while searching, it is just as critical that one person remains in contact with a wall and stays oriented. Again, a piece of webbing will increase the search area. And once a victim is located, one person can report to the I.C. while the other rescurer packages the patient and pulls all the slack out of the rope, creating a straight line to a known egress. At the same time, this allows another crew a straight line to your position so that they can assist with the rescue. One word of caution about relying to heavily on the TIC; always keep one person in contact with a wall who remains oriented. Otherwise, if your TIC fails, your entire search team could quickly become lost.; Fri Feb 15, 04:49:00 PM EST
Frank Ricci said...: Why do we keep seeing firefighters conduct the Pete Rose dive for life out onto a ladder or bailing out on a rope? Because we fail to control the building. This is the problem with the normal search there is no firefighter in control of the door. Most Instructors fail even when teaching oriented search to stress keeping the door closed. What benifit is it to leave the door open and try to keep your attention on the search and the conditions? By keeping the door open as soon as you vent the window you violate the first rule of venting for life, controling the building. If the control firefighter shuts the door and gudies the searcher with the TIC the search will be quicker and safer. When the firefighter vents the window, CO and HCN will drop significantly improving visability and having no impact on the fire. We are venting for life here. Now that the room is searched open the door, if conditions have improved and water is on the fire chock the door open to aid in ventalation.

More on this at FDIC: Tatical Considerations of Search

Be Safe,
Frank Ricci
New Haven Fire
Director of Fire Services
ConnectiCOSH; Sun Feb 17, 04:32:00 PM EST

Exposure Protection

I was traveling a few weeks ago and while watching a local news cast, I saw story of a fire in the local community. There were live shots of the fire with crews operating.
It brought back memories of some fires I've been to in my past.
Many fire officers make two drastic mistakes when it comes to exposure protection. First they allow their crew to pull the wrong size line. In most cases, where a significant exposure problem exists (as in the picture below) a 2 1/2" line should be pulled as a mimimum for the outside protection. Think about it! Once the line is positioned (it should be positioned at an angle - generallly with the line in front of the source building so as to cover the exposure. If the line is in front of the exposed building, it's hard to flow water on the side of the exposed building.) there is no need to move it and one firefighter should be able to hold a 2 1/2" line with a smooth bore nozzle flowing 250 gpm by him or herself.
The second mistake is allowing too much water to be played on the source fire and not enough on the exposure. (Moth to flame syndrome). The purpose of the stream is to keep the exposed wall surface below it's ignition temperature by allowing water from the stream to flow down the face of the exposure. It's not as dramatic as hitting the source fire but it is serving a very distinct purpose.
The last mistake is not getting into the exposed building and assureing fire has not entered through windows and other openings (glass only stops 15% of radient heat). Once inside, I expect a radio report to Command concerning Conditions - Actions and Needs (CAN report) and unless told differently by Command I expect the officer and his crew to stay in the exposure and make sure the building remains protected.
Give me your thoughts.

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posted by Skip Coleman
2/06/2008 05:09:00 PM

3 Comments:

Lee Sulecki, Capt. said...: I whole heartily agree. It is the basics; Life Safety, Property preservation, and then fire suppression. Everyone wants to be in the heat, but all functions on the fire-ground are equally important.; Wed Feb 13, 02:44:00 PM EST
Andy Krajewski said...: The tactics you describe could not be more precise and accurate. The problem as I see it is in an age of see less true structural fires, mainly room and contents fires, the basics do tend to be forgotten. First engine arrives and sees fire ripping out of the second floor the first thoughts are- oooh boy, theres fire (having not seen fire in a while) and the second thought is OH BOY!! THERE'S FIRE!! (having not seen fire in a while). The officer NEEDS to take that deep breath and clear his head because he has some quick decisions to make.; Fri Feb 15, 10:55:00 AM EST
footyfd said...: My name is Mark Condrich, and I am a firefighter with the Cleveland Fire Dept. in Ohio. My partner and I started three websites dedicated to our men and women in firefighting, law enforcement and the military. You can visit our parent site at WWW.FOOTYSITES.COM
From there you can access FOOTYFD.COM featuring full length,uncut fireground footage, FOOTYPD.COM featuring full length unedited police video and FOOTYGI loaded with uncut footage submitted by our troops.
Our mission is to make our men and women in uniform LOOK GOOD! We screen all videos uploaded to the site to assure that it contains only positive content. We want the public to see how incredibly difficult it is for our personnel as they do their jobs. By watching us in action, they will hopefully appreciate the great job our public servants do on a daily basis. I encourage you to visit our three sites and upload any videos or pictures that you believe would help us to convey the positive image we are trying to portray. Thanks so much, and stay safe!
Mark Condrich
[email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.; Thu Feb 28, 11:25:00 AM EST

Small Solution to a Super-Sized Problem

Here is a link to a great video showing how the Glendale (AZ) FD found creative ways to some of the issues surrounding the Super Bowl. On a side note, it was one great game, and being from New York I want to say the New England Patriots are a great team and Boston fans are some of the best fans in world. When the world's two best teams come together, it makes for one great game!!

Here's how Glendale FD stepped up and answered the call:

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5662052&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/05/2008 03:13:00 PM

0 Comments:

Baby Dropped Four Stories from Fire in Germany

The Effects of Extreme Heat...Extreme Actions

These photos are just amazing and vividly demonstrate just how desperate folks will get when fire is threatening to take their lives and the lives of their children. Nine people died in this fire. This CNN link has these photos which show the four-year-old being dropped to a policeman below. The child survives the fall.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/baby-survives-drop-from-apartment-fire/20080205074709990002?ncid=NWS00010000000001

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/05/2008 12:31:00 PM

0 Comments:

What Makes Boston FD Great

Great departments don't just happen--they are built and maintained by great firefighters. Listen to Deputy Chief J. Fleming and read how he is not just concerned about Boston, but the every single fire victim. Here is an example of his intellect and passion:

http://vermonttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/BT/20080201/NEWS01/802010453

Here is Jim Smith, Captain Rick Connelly and I visiting Chief Fleming and Rescue 2 in Boston:

Chief Fleming discusses primary searches and risk; very smart guy!

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/03/2008 06:23:00 PM

0 Comments:

Buffing in Boston

I spent a week along with my good friend Jim Smith from Philly learning from the Jakes in Boston last week. Chief MacCurtain was kind enough to allow us to hang around and buff with the BFD, who displayed incredibly consistant tactical excellence at every job.

I wish I could have videoed the fire I caught with Captain Brian Toohy and Engine 21; combined with the rest of that first alarm from Battalion 2, it was outstanding. The tactical integration of the arrival activities based on well-drilled, predetermined fireground responsibilities, combined with the most refined command pressence, was evident from size-up to picking up. If you want to see professionals at work, go buff in Beantown. You won't be disappointed.

I want to thank all the officers and firefighters of Boston for their kindness, hospitality, and generosity to a displaced and lifelong Giant fan who found himself their guest last week. The great citizens of City of Boston should be very proud to have such humble and dedicated servants standing watch over them. On behalf of Fire Engineering and the Courage and Valor Foundation Ray Downey Medal Tour, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/03/2008 04:19:00 PM

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A MUST-DO Fort Wayne Training Center and Dr. Onieal

If you are in Indiana this Saturday, Superintendant Dr. Denis Onieal will be speaking at the dedication of the new training center described in the article:

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/LOCAL/802030366/-1/LOCAL07

Here is a flyer about the details, and we will get you some video on the Doc's talk. As all of you know, he is simply the very best there is, no argument. CLICK HERE for the flyer (PDF).

Hope to see you in Fort Wayne. Be careful out there.

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posted by Bobby Halton
2/03/2008 02:09:00 PM

0 Comments:

Searching Smarter Part 1

I am starting a re-occuring Blog that will discuss Search. These 5 to 15 minute sessions will discuss all aspects of search - specifically in our Bread and butter fires. As I go along, don't hesitate to comment and pass along your thoughts.

Be safe and Careful

Skip

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posted by Skip Coleman
2/01/2008 02:41:00 PM

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