Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tactics
The Argument for European, North American Unification
By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)
The European fire service is well-schooled in the theories of fire dynamics, while the North American fire service is expert on fireground tactics, said John Chubb, a battalion chief for the Dublin Fire Brigade....
USDA, DOI Release Phase I Wildland Fire–Management Reports
By Mary Rose Roberts (maryrose.roberts@penton.com)
“A National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy (Cohesive Strategy)” and “The Federal Land Assistance, Management and Enhancement Act of 2009– Report to Congress,” address the wildfire challenges faced by fire and natural-resource managers. ...
The Windy City
By Tim Hatch
Ventilation conceptually is the same for both low-volume and very-high-volume facilities. But as Fort Worth has shown, ventilating large structures is significantly more involved. ...
IBHS Tests Ember Storms’ Impact on WUI
By Mary Rose Roberts (maryrose.roberts@penton.com)
The study’s findings will be used to develop best practices for prevention and tactics within the wildland-urban interface, including what homeowners can do to better protect their homes from the threat of wildfire, said Dr. Tim Reinhold, IBHS' senior vice president of research and chief engineer....
A Real-Life Scenario
By Leonard Matarese
Last year, I had a chance to see, first hand, the impact that CAFS can have on real-life outcomes....
House of Horrors
By Mary Rose Roberts (maryrose.roberts@penton.com)
Firefighters assume that the air is safe to breathe during overhaul, but the toxic chemicals emitted by furnishings and building materials may be killing them....
NFPA Pilot Focuses on Firefighting Approach to Electrical Vehicles
By Mary Rose Roberts
The pilot program was developed to address firefighters’ misconceptions regarding emergency situations involving hybrid or electric vehicles. ...
Abandoned-Warehouse Fire in New Orleans Kills 8
By Mary Rose Roberts
The New Orleans Fire Department reports that since Katrina, 35% of its calls are to vacant buildings....
Up on the Rooftop, New Dangers Lurk
By Ronny J. Coleman
The roof is Santa Claus's domain, the place where he prances about, according to the legend, to deliver presents to children on Christmas Eve. But, rooftops always have been a danger zone for firefighters....
WUI Firefighting Starts at the Grassroots
By Glenn Bischoff (glenn.bischoff@penton.com)
Fire departments can work with community stakeholders to develop a fire-mitigation plan that will reduce risks and better position departments to respond should a wildland-urban interface fire occur....
University Experiments May Change Wildfire-Spread Modeling
By Mary Rose Roberts
Initial findings show a leaf can burn even with up to 50% of its moisture present -- a previously unknown fact that has serious ramifications for existing fire-spread models....
Company Claims Alternative Plywood Treatment Slows Fires
By Mary Rose Roberts
Pyrotite is a coating that is painted onto structural wood panels that offers a special barrier that comes between fire and the underlying wood....
Silo Firefighting, Step by Step
By Ted Halpin
View this step-by-step guide to silo firefighting....
A Different Animal
By Ted Halpin
Agricultural silo fires present unique challenges and dangers to firefighters....
Fire Inspector Says Weak Economy Means More Unmaintained, Vacant Buildings and Greater Loss of Life
By Mary Rose Roberts
Las Vegas inspector Sherri Wilcox said many cash-strapped building owners are unable to sell empty properties, and they inevitably let fire prevention slip....
Shipboard Firefighting is a Different Animal
By Robert R. Rielage
The first rule to remember is that for every gallon of water used on a shipboard fire, a gallon of water also has to be pumped off. Failure to do so may subsequently sink the ship....
The Invisible Flame
By James McLean & Dryver Huston
Hydrogen fires create new — and hard to detect — hazards for responders. But a new take on thermal imaging can help....
Suppression Ratings See Unscheduled Maintenance
By Janet Wilmoth (janet@firechief.com)
Mike Waters, vice president of risk-decision services, discusses the process for the proposed changes to ISO's Fire Suppression Rating Schedule....
Strong with the Wind
By Dr. Ed Brotak
In extreme weather conditions, fire control is difficult — if not impossible....
USFA Releases University-Housing Fires Topical Report
University-housing fires peak in September and October and are most frequent between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., when students prepare snacks or cook meals. ...
NIST Takes Snapshot of Station Fire
By Mary Rose Roberts
The National Institute of Standards and Technology sent two staffers to Los Angeles County to conduct a post-fire evaluation of the Station Fire....
Forest Service to Investigate Station Fire Tactics
By Mary Rose Roberts
The U.S. Forest Service will conduct an interagency review of suppression efforts used during the massive Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California...
In Working Fires, Bigger Often is Better
By Robert R. Rielage
While a pre-connected 2˝-inch line may take a bit longer to deploy, it puts a higher volume of water on the fire to overcome the BTUs of a modern apartment or single-family dwelling....
Indirect Supervision
By David C. Comstock Jr.
Acts or omissions by a fire officer at an incident that ultimately cause injuries may violate firefighter civil rights....
In the Middle of Nowhere
By Craig Encinas
Creative thinking and partnerships are the key to solving rural water-supply challenges....
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