Tuesday, October 14, 2008
First Class
By Philip Schaenman
A recent study says that the most comprehensive, intensive fire prevention program with the best sustained bottom line is that of the U.S. Navy....
It's About Time
By Azarang “Ozzie” Mirkhah
The high-rise safety needs of first responders are often overwhelmed by builders' financial constraints. Now is the time to make a difference....
Get Distracted, Impede Command
I. David Daniels, MHRM, MIFireE
Though the actions of any other single person rarely determines the outcome of an emergency incident, the actions of the incident commander have greatest potential to affect that outcome. A tremendous amount is riding on every decision that the incident commander makes, including the very survival of both customers and responders. ...
Positive Reinforcement
By Kriss Garcia & Reinhard Kauffmann
Though they’ve been around for 50 years, departments still have questions about the use of ventilation fans in firefighting operations. This primer may help....
2005 Hit List
The year is almost over, and for many not soon enough. It’s been a year of incredible disasters and bad news, but it’s also been a year of change and inspiration. I’d like to give out some little gold stars for some of the good things in 2005...
It Needs to be Written
I. David Daniels, MHRM, MIFireE
Serious Talk Amid Holiday Fun
Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director
Rooftop Ops Need More Than Fiddling
By Ronny J. Coleman
What can be more dangerous than being on the roof above a fire? A whole bunch of people on a roof above a fire. ...
Fireground Succession
Bill Sager
As longtime incident commanders retire, institutional knowledge becomes hard to come by for officers making their way up the ranks....
Utah Burn Provides Sustainable Lessons, Plans
The Halls Fork Prescribed Burn was conducted Oct. 14-16, 2004, at the Uinta National Forest in Utah. Daily after action reviews were conducted at the...
Share the Wealth
By Janet Wilmoth
A statewide assistance agreement helps California even the cost load and speed up the reimbursement process....
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul
Dick Mangan
The tragic results of Hurricane Katrina continue to be felt in the Gulf States and now threaten to be felt throughout the federal wildland fire forces...
Command Presence
I. David Daniels
In the world of performance art, top performers are said to have “stage presence," that certain something that distinguishes those who can captivate the attention of an audience from those who put the audience to sleep. Similarly, “command presence” is an important quality for an effective incident commander, in that it inspires confidence in those that work with the commander, while providing the high level of strategic effectiveness. ...
Non-Linear Incident Management
I. David Daniels, MHRM, MIFireE
There have been many news stories about the confusion surrounding all levels of the response to Hurricane Katrina. Much has focused on how the response phase of the incident was managed. One new perspective in the National Incident Management Systems is the concept that an incident management is more than just an incident-specific system. Effective incident management is a multi-phased approach that doesn’t necessarily begin or end with the incident itself....
Fresh Set of Eyes
By Eric Buzard
When fire broke out at a grain storage facility, this Texas firefighter decided to test out the department's thermal imaging camera. Now he won't leave the truck without it....
The Power of Positive Pressure
By Kriss Garcia & Reinhard Kauffmann
Despite numerous successful tests of blowers' effectiveness during initial attack, many fire departments use them only for post-knockdown operations....
When a Federal Case is Made Out of Deaths
[ Philip Stittleburg ]
Claims arising from fireground injuries or deaths are often based in tort law, involve workers compensation issues or both. However, in the case of Phillips...
More Heavy Helos, Air Tankers Available
Federal agencies have beefed up the number of large air tankers and heavy helicopters available for fighting the 2005 wildfire season in the United States,...
Governor Expands State Firefighting Efforts
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order in July that will provide additional staffing and resources to protect local wildland...
WHEN TO PRESCRIBE
By Carol Miller
Prescribed fire can be the most practical and affordable way to reduce dangerous accumulations of combustible fuels. At the same time, prescribed fire...
Where Is Your Command Post?
I. David Daniels, MHRM, MIFireE
Where you locate your Command Post has an important role in the effectiveness of command. ...
Spray & Watch
By Darren Hutchinson
Water has always been man's best friend for battling fire. We went from bucket brigades to horse-drawn wagons to steam-driven pumpers, and now we have...
California Crash Renews Air Tanker Concerns
Still waiting to learn the cause of a large air tanker crash that killed three pilots on a training mission in April, U.S. Forest Service officials in...
Rapid Results
By Jeffrey Pindelski & Michael Mason
The need for rapid intervention teams on the fireground is here is to stay. Their deployment has led to the successful rescue of numerous firefighters....
‘Base’ is for Basics: How to Use it at Routine Incidents
I. David Daniels
Welcome to "Command Course," a new monthly column by Chief I. David Daniels on incident command, with special attention on integrating principles of the new National Incident Management System. ...
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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. |
