February 2013 issue

What was learned from Superstorm Sandy? FIRE CHIEF's February cover story will unearth how operations truly held up under the path of Sandy. Chief R. Blohm from Hoboken Fire Department and others from the along the East Coast will discuss how radio and data communications systems faired as well as how mutual-aid and the NIMS protocols performed.

Also in this issue, FIRE CHIEF looks at learning lessons from U.K. incident commander acquittals; implementing dispatcher-aided CPR; integrating structural firefighting and decontamination units; choosing scene lighting based on operational objectives; and evolving apparatus technology.

Features

Feb. 15, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

How emergency communications fared in the wake of Sandy 1

When the perfect storm hits and knocks out power, it’s back to the basics....More
Feb. 17, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

What U.K. officer acquittals could mean for future of incident command 3

Three officers were acquitted of manslaughter following firefighter deaths, but the charges still are sending shockwaves through the U.K. fire service — and could have consequences abroad....More
Feb. 13, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

Mesa implements telephone-assisted CPR program

The initiative represents a more tactical approach. The trainers are emergency medical dispatchers responding to acute conditions: A caller has witnessed someone’s sudden collapse and reports that he or she is "snoring," for example....More
Feb. 13, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

Reasons to integrate structural firefighting, hazmat units

Integrating structural firefighting and hazmat units helps reduce toxic exposures and keeps responders contaminate-free....More
Feb. 16, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

How to choose scene lighting based on operational objectives

Use operational objectives to make your scene-lighting choices....More

In Service

Feb. 18, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

Fire apparatus, from war horses to Wi-Fi

Look around your parking lots. You likely will see 40 years of progress and technology parked right next to each other....More

Editorial

Feb. 17, 2013

Commentary

Despite progress, fire service still needs to change firefighter safety culture 2

Occasionally, I like to thumb through old issues of FIRE CHIEF. Doing so reminds me of how much progress has been made in the fire service. Still, each time I do it, I find several topics that linger on like toxins in the soil....More

Volunteer Voice

Dec. 5, 2012

Commentary

How volunteer fire departments can recruit members using SAFER grants 1

As I was driving in the Pacific Northwest along the Washington-Oregon coast, I noticed a recruitment trend among the volunteer fire departments throughout the area....More

Legal Matters

Feb. 15, 2013

Commentary

Fire Chief

What the fire service needs to know about warrantless search

Every day, firefighters respond to calls that require them to enter people’s homes. Occasionally, these entries lead to the discovery of illegal activity. What happens to evidence discovered in this way was the subject of U.S. v. Infante, U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, No. 11-2156 (2012)....More

IAFC Insights

Feb. 13, 2013

Commentary

Fire Chief

Team approach needed in labor-managment relations

Having served as both a fire chief and a union president, I fully understand the importance of an effective labor-management relationship and how much effort it takes to build and maintain it. In this regard, we must be both leader and manager — creating a vision for cooperation and our common success, but also taking a hands-on role in making the vision a reality each day....More

Chief's Clipboard

Feb. 16, 2013

Commentary

Fire Chief

Changes needed in roof-ops thinking 1

Compare going up on the roof of a burning building to a police officer confronting an armed bank robber. Police officers are trained to do everything they possibly can to avoid a gun fight — but they also are trained to survive a gun fight. We need to start shaping that mentality among the fire service as quickly as we possibly can....More

February 2013 issue

Features

How emergency communications fared in the wake of Sandy 1

What U.K. officer acquittals could mean for future of incident command 3

Mesa implements telephone-assisted CPR program

Reasons to integrate structural firefighting, hazmat units

How to choose scene lighting based on operational objectives

In Service

Fire apparatus, from war horses to Wi-Fi

Editorial

Despite progress, fire service still needs to change firefighter safety culture 2

Volunteer Voice

How volunteer fire departments can recruit members using SAFER grants 1

Legal Matters

What the fire service needs to know about warrantless search

IAFC Insights

Team approach needed in labor-managment relations

Chief's Clipboard

Changes needed in roof-ops thinking 1

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