By Marcus Haynes, Buckeye (AZ) Fire Department – for Lion Connects
On Oct. 14, 2009, I almost lost my life. I was involved in a flashover that day while responding to a trailer fire in a mobile home park. There are two things I credit for saving me that fall day: training and my personal protective equipment (PPE).
My engine company and I responded to a report of a working fire at a mobile home park on this morning. Upon arrival, we found active fire in the rear of the trailer. As I went in for a search and rescue and fire attack, I encountered dark black smoke at about 2 to 3 feet from the ceiling level, with medium heat and good visibility.
I noticed that the refrigerator was on fire and that all of the material within this trailer was beginning to smoke due to the radiant heat. I noticed some plastics melting and the carpet of the floor heating up. I immediately went to the sleeping quarters of the trailer to do a rapid primary search of the bedroom and bathroom.
Firefighting is a dirty, gritty job. Turnout gear that is exposed to fire ground contaminants, as well as bio-hazards (blood-borne pathogens), can be a danger to firefighters’ health. Also, burnt, torn and damaged gear can be a safety risk. Proper care and maintenance helps keep the protective performance of your gear intact. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has designated a standard to help keep turnout gear safer, longer.
NFPA 1851, 2008 Ed. Standard on Selection, Care and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
Whether it is a meth lab, HAZMAT incident or act of terrorism, today’s law enforcement officers need to be prepared to respond to incidents that involve chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
Existing National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards address CBRN protection for many first responders, such as firefighters, HAZMAT teams, EMS, etc. But, unlike other first responding agencies, no formal standard exists solely to address the tactical, job-specific protection requirements of the law enforcement agencies that are oftentimes the ones responding to these incidents. (more…)
Yes, NFPA 1851 recommends that turnout gear undergo an advanced inspection every 12 months, at a minimum, or whenever a potential problem is spotted. And it only makes sense, doesn’t it? After all, your turnout stands between you and extreme heat, chemicals and bodily fluids that can do you harm.
This series of LION videos will provide you with the training you need on advanced turnout gear inspection. So, grab your turnout gear and helmet, an inspection form, a length of new reflective trim identical to that on your turnout, a focused-beam flashlight, a bucket, measuring cup, isopropyl alcohol and a fluorescent job light — then take it all to a clean, well-lit work area. You’ll gather the knowledge you need to implement an in-house inspection program in your department.
The State of New York Department of Labor is now issuing citations to fire departments that are in violation of the state’s 2008 “Rope Law”. The statute: 12 NYCRR Section 800.7 requires all interior firefighters serving populations of less than one million in the state of New York working on a building’s second story or higher to be trained and furnished with self-rescue equipment (specifically rope and components). The intent of the law is to provide safe emergency egress in the event that a firefighter must escape from the upper stories of a building through an opening that is not designated as an exit. Equipment must meet NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services, 2006 edition.
The Rope Law came about after situations where firefighters were forced with a life-or-death decision to jump or risk severe injury in an above-grade scenario. The most notable is the 2005 “Black Sunday” incident where two Bronx firefighters were killed and four were critically injured when they leaped from a fourth-story window to escape from being severely burned.
What does it take to lead a tactical team? Hint: It’s more than good management skills. Take a look at this insightful piece from PoliceOne.com written by Sgt. Kyle E. Lamb (retired), who served more than 15 years with the U.S. Army Special Operations.
The days of public safety being spared cuts during difficult financial times appear to be over – and fire and police departments all over the United States are starting to feel the pinch. As tax revenues for municipalities decline, cities are tightening the belt on police, fire and emergency medical services.
Read about some specific examples in this Wall Street Journal article and let us know what you think. Will cuts like these affect your department’s performance? Post a comment below and tell us what you think the impact will be to the general public if cities and municipalities continue to tighten the belt on first responders.
“Based on an in-depth analysis of situations and circumstances surrounding assaults on police officers, the risk of sustaining a fatal injury for officers who do not routinely wear body armor is 14 times greater than for officers who do.”
Body armor is effective in protecting police officers from a variety of threats. Of the documented saves, nearly half involve threats other than ballistic. Two cases illustrate this point.
Did you know you could produce up to four pounds of sweat during an hour of normal firefighting operations? That can be a problem because the water adds extra weight to your turnout. It also can contribute to burn injuries because it can compromise the reliability of your thermal layer.Your thermal barrier is like the insulation in your house — it traps air in millions of tiny pockets, creating a barrier to your environment. If those pockets fill with moisture, they can’t function as designed. You get hotter and sweatier, and your protection levels diminish. The best thermal liner is one that both wicks away sweat (the fibers draw moisture in and pass it along) and sheds moisture (the fibers don’t absorb water and the water drops instead). The ideal turnout gear incorporate a moisture management system specifically designed to keep you dry. The outer shell sheds water coming at you from hose water and rain. The moisture barrier keeps liquid out while allowing your body heat to escape. The thermal barrier resists moisture and keeps sweat and moisture from replacing the air cells. Finally, the layer closest to your body — the face cloth — wicks away sweat.
Go one step further and evaluate your turnout gear — does it dry within 30 minutes after a run?
Don’t ask for the impossible — if you don’t take care of your PPE, it won’t take care of you. Here are the top five mistakes firefighters make in caring for their gear.
Mistake 1. Cleaning your firefighter turnout in your home washing machine with commercial laundry detergent.
First, your turnout is exposed to a lot of bad on-the-job elements that have no place in your home. Second, a home-style washing machine is too harsh on the materials and can’t effectively clean all of the bulky gear. Third, laundry detergents can compromise the fabrics — so can bleach and softeners.
Instead, hose down the gear at the scene. Then read the turnout manufacturers cleaning instructions and follow them. Use the station machine and the cleaning agents recommended by the manufacturer, or seek out a verified cleaning and repair center that specializes in maintaining turnout gear. And do not use a clothes dryer — air drying is best.
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Whether it is a meth lab, HAZMAT incident or act of terrorism, today’s law enforcement officers need to be prepared to respond to incidents that involve chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. 
The State of New York Department of Labor is now issuing citations to fire departments that are in violation of the state’s 2008 “Rope Law”. The statute: 
LION Connects
