Saturday, May 17, 2008
Incident Management
After 16 months on the job, Albert Fluman says his biggest success is making NIMS implementation easier to understand and evaluate....
Military, Civilian Emergency Communications Tested
Being tested was the Incident Command System that is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Incident Management System....
The Advantages of Two-Piece Engine Companies
By Chris Cavette, In Service Senior Editor
The concept of two-piece engine companies dates back more than 100 years when horse-drawn hose-wagons ran with steamers. The concept continued after the advent of motorized apparatus, and some departments used it well into the 1970s. Although the idea of running two separate apparatus instead of a single engine may seem odd today, there are several advantages that departments may want to consider....
New Online Course Teaches Basic ICS
The National Wildfire Coordination Group and the U.S. Fire Administration have jointly developed and implemented a new online course that will enable firefighters, incident responders and others to learn and understand the basics of the Incident Command System....
Firefighters Must Respect Constitutional Limits
By Kim Ross Houser
Although a constitutional rights violation may be construed as an innocent act, it could have significant impact on a criminal investigation or on a civil liability claim....
Untapped Resources
By Rodger Sill
You can’t move water in a box, but you can find some creative solutions to meet your supply needs. ...
Train to Play
One of Chicago’s top operations officers talks about accountability, leading by example and learning from mistakes — not repeating them. ...
Safer Safety
By David Ruton
Following NFPA guidelines and creating a safety officer position will provide firefighters the necessary knowledge to train safely. ...
IAFC Seeks NIMS Comments by April 4
According to the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Department of Homeland Security is coordinating a comprehensive review of the National Response Plan and the National Incident Management System to assess their effectiveness and identify improvements. DHS has issued a second national comment period for the NIMS document starting this week through April 6. The IAFC is collecting comments until April 4. ...
IAFC Seeks Input on Digital Radio Problem
The organization has learned of firefighters experiencing unintelligible audio communications while using a digital two-way portable radio when operating in close proximity to the low-pressure alarm of their SCBA. ...
Tested Template
Illinois MABAS has long been an exemplar of large- scale mutual aid, and it’s now a blueprint for federal response. MABAS President Jay Reardon explains why to FIRE CHIEF Editorial Director Janet Wilmoth. ...
Mutual Aid, One State at a Time
By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director
This past week, the Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System coordinated and hosted the charter session of the Mutual Aid Presidents Council. The meeting brought together eight states to discuss the status of mutual aid within and among the Midwestern states. Two of the states — Illinois and Ohio — are considered to be the anchor states, along with Florida and California, of a potential national mutual aid system....
USFA Offers New Web-Based ICS Courses
The U.S. Fire Administration has announced it will be making available online two new Incident Command System review courses through the National Emergency Training Center Virtual Campus. These new scenario-based courses offer a review of fundamental ICS concepts and principles for students preparing to take intermediate- or advanced-level ICS training, or for those simply wishing a refresher in ICS....
NIMS Seeks Comment on Fire, Hazmat Credentials
FEMA’s National Incident Management System’s Integration Center has released initial minimum criteria for fire and hazmat personnel to be deployed using a national credentialing system....
Disaster or Catastrophe?
By Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director
What's the difference between a disaster and a catastrophe? According to Chief Kelvin Cochran of the Shreveport (La.) Fire Department, there is a distinct difference between disaster planning and catastrophe planning...
EPA Publishes Excessive Heat Events Guidebook
A new resource from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Excessive Heat Events Guidebook, is now available to emergency managers, community officials and others who plan for and respond to such events....
Since 9/11
By Janet Wilmoth
Over the past few years, one phrase that has peppered industry conferences, training sessions and the media has been “Since 9/11….” In a recent conversation about the history of the fire service and the ...
Mutual Aid Could Create Mutual Problems
By Philip Stittleburg
In this day of shrinking budgets, municipalities are searching for methods by which they can deliver services more efficiently and cheaply. One of the...
DHS Completes First TOPOFF 4 Exercise
The Department of Homeland Security announced completion of the TOPOFF 4 Command Post Exercise, a congressionally mandated counterterrorism exercise for top officials. The exercise, which took place from June 19–22, is a multifaceted effort to prevent and respond to a simulated terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction...
State of Readiness
By Doug Brandes
Oklahoma takes a collaborative approach to building a state-of-the-art regional emergency response system....
International Studies
By Robert Rielage
The recent U.K./U.S. Fire Service Symposium looks back at the implications of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and the London bombings and ahead to its Vision 2010....
Fast Track
By Bryant Krizik
Multitasking fireground radios deliver more than just communications, replacing the white board for instant personnel accountability....
For the IC, the Job Is Bigger Than the Person
By Ronny J. Coleman
Society is now beginning to blame “the person in charge.” In the good old days, the person who wore the white hat, stood in front of the building and shouted orders was some kind of hero....
Arizona IMT Provides Shelter from the Storm
On Sept. 3, 2005, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano declared a state of emergency in support of Hurricane Katrina and established Operation Good Neighbor....
Management Not Leadership
Mike DeGrosky
I recently heard someone say, line officers need to learn more about leadership, things like budgeting. Here's a news flash: budgeting is not a function...
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Mutual Aid is a blog of news and views from FIRE CHIEF staff and industry experts — a virtual conversation about the issues important to you as a fire service leader. |
In Service provides information on fleet management, apparatus specifying and maintenance. Keep abreast of new trends and changes to emergency vehicle apparatus. |
Station Style focuses on the architectural design and needs of fire and emergency stations today. See the latest in design trends and learn about the Fire Station Design Awards. |
