Incident Command

Jun. 19, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

How city, regional preplans improved emergency response to Boston Marathon bombing

Planning for the worst while hoping for the best saved lives at the Boston Marathon bombing, when city and regional preplans helped first responders quickly transport victims to area hospitals....More
Jun. 10, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

How communications fared at the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings

Preplanning communication operations and having a dedicated EMS radio channel written down in an ICS 205 communications plan helped Massachusetts’ first responders save lives at the 2013 Boston Marathon....More
Jun. 5, 2013

News

Fire Chief

Boston fire chief resigns following bombing-command criticisms 2

Steve Abraira has resigned as chief of the Boston Fire Department. His resignation is effective Friday....More
May 23, 2013

Commentary

Did self-deployed responders hurt operations following Oklahoma’s EF-5 tornado? 8

Whenever someone is hurt, our nation’s first responders are compelled to rush in to help. I love that about this industry. However, self-deployed first responders also put themselves and the operation at risk unknowingly....More
May 22, 2013

Video

Fire Chief

TEEX helps agencies prepare for incidents during sporting, special events

The course provides participants the skills necessary to effectively manage an incident by applying and implementing a multi-disciplinary management team approach as described in the National Incident Management System....More
Apr. 17, 2013

Article

Fire Chief

Flashover research could change the future of firefighting tactics

NIST researchers recently conducted a series of tests to study the effects of various firefighting techniques to prevent flashover -- and the results could alter the future of fireground tactics....More
Apr. 17, 2013

gallery

NIST's Spartanburg flashover tests

Firefighters in Spartanburg, S.C., battle a test burn of an abandoned house in an experiment to demonstrate new techniques for combating flashover. Researchers from NIST, the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, and state and local fire and safety officials participated in the tests.
Apr. 10, 2013

News

Fire Chief

Landmark study changes NFPA 1710, high-rise tactics 1

A consortium of public-safety organizations unveiled a study that uses field and computer-modeling data to determine the minimum high-rise fire crew size....More
Feb. 21, 2013

Commentary

Determining fire behavior with modern construction, furnishings (with related video) 2

By Vicki Schmidt -- Firefighters must understand at all times where they are located relative to alpha, bravo, charlie and delta. Knowing the sides of the box — especially when that box is a residential home — is paramount to situational awareness....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