Fire stations vary in the number of fire firefighters sent out on runs. How effective are different size crews at extinguishing residential fires? To better answer this question, a landmark study has been conducted by a consortium of fire researchers led by the national fire institute of standards technology. This study takes an in-depth look at the effects of engine arrival times, the spacing between subsequent engines and the different fire growth rates among two, three, four and five person crews. Each crew was timed performing 22 standard tasks in responding to a fire.
Click the video below to see first hand results of this study that could help communities better determine the number of fire stations and fire fighters they should have ready to respond.
There is a difference between aggressive attacks and reckless attacks on fire; an aggressive attack is not a reckless one. Too often these days, firefighters are confusing the two. An aggressive attack is trained for. It’s thought out in advance and well planned. Many videos online seem to give a bad name to aggressive fire attack by showing firefighters quickly entering a large fire with equipment that often doesn’t match the job. An aggressive attack is emphasized by size-up, full PPE, proper hose line handling, and an attack that is compatible with the pace of the fire.
Check out the full article – Aggressive is not reckless – to learn how to aggressively attack fire without being reckless and to watch the embedded videos showcasing the different ways to fight fires.
Crime scene photography is a demanding field. Photographers can be called into court as their photographs can be used as evidence. Photographs must be clear and focused, reflecting the photographer’s ability and knowledge on what equipment and procedures are needed to get the job done. Check out these highlights from this article.
Photographers must ask themselves several questions before taking any photographs: What am I looking for? What is this scene showing me? What am I trying to record for others to see? What do I want them to know about this scene? How much of this do I need to show? How clear does it need to be? How much detail do I need to show? After these questions are answered, move on to equipment. The following are general guidelines to help you make decisions about what equipment is best for you.
Since the NFPA 1851, 2008 edition was published, testing moisture barriers and moisture barrier failures have been hot topics. Many fire departments are concerned that they will be subject to large moisture barrier replacement costs if their moisture barriers are regularly tested and fail. However, I wonder if the test and the reported test results have gotten a bad rep due to the fast and loose use of the word “failure”. Does a single water droplet produced by a pinhole leak mean that the moisture barrier has failed? In my opinion, a single water droplet doesn’t mean the moisture barrier has failed, but it needs to be repaired.
I don’t want to minimize the importance of moisture barriers within the composite construction of turnout gear. Each composite – outer shell, thermal liner and moisture barrier – plays a vital role in the protection of fire fighters. In fact, it is the combination of characteristics provided by each composite layer that provides the protection required by NFPA 1971. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. But I do wonder why we say moisture barriers fail when they leak, but a rip or tear in an outer shell, which protects the liner system, isn’t perceived as an outer shell failure.
In truth, I believe there are at least three factors that have caused us to look at any leakage as constituting “failure” in a moisture barrier:
First is the Pass/Fail rating used on most inspection forms to judge moisture barrier performance in the Water Penetration Barrier Evaluation. No water passing through earns a Pass. Water passing through gets a Fail. There is no scale to differentiate between a water droplet squeezed through a pinhole under pressure and deterioration that allows water to pass through the membrane. The rating system is particularly misleading because it gives no indication between repairable and non repairable damage.
Lion’s MT94 garment was used by the Philadelphia Fire Department in response to the Independence Mall “balloon scare” on Thursday May 20.
Authorities feared that the 3-4 oz of white powder found inside the balloon could be anthrax and evacuated the mall and closed nearby streets as a precaution. Even though the substance turned out to be a non-threatening wheat-based flour, this type of scenario is what these special response teams train for, and why Lion provides the type of first-responder protection that we do. Lion’s MT94 is certified to NFPA 1992 and 1994, Class 2. This multi-threat CBRN ensemble is designed for hot entry use to protect against some of the world’s worst chemical and biological threats.
Face cloth….what layer is that? It’s the part of your turnout liner that is next to your body. Some face cloths have the advantage of being slippery or having high lubricity. So what is lubricity? The definition of lubricity is having a slippery or smooth quality. How lubricious something is may be measured by its ability to reduce friction. The less effort it takes to slide across a surface, the higher the lubricity.
In your turnouts, liner systems using high-lubricity face cloths can reduce the strain of moving around (by reducing binding and bunching in the turnout gear) and have been proven to be effective in reducing stress. Donning and doffing is also made easier since the high lubricity filament yarns slide across the skin with less effort. Not all shiny liners have high lubricity though, so be sure to look for liners using a face cloth with a low coefficient of friction (high lubricity) not just merely a shiny surface!
“These new kids, they’re smart all right,” the senior firefighter said. “But you know what drives me crazy about them? They’re always asking questions, always asking, ‘Why?’ It would be so much better if they could just do what they’re told without all the back talk.”
This is a common thought amongst older firefighters who grew up with the idea that you take your orders and keep your mouth shut. To them, asking why is considered back talk – inappropriate, disrespectful, and insubordinate. This article explains why this is not always the case with today’s newer firefighters.
The tragic events of April 17, 2007 at Virginia Tech, where 32 students and faculty were killed and others wounded by a lone gunman, forced police departments, EMS personnel and university security teams to reevaluate their emergency response procedures. The governor of Virginia requested a review panel assemble a report on the mass shooting incident to discover what first responders and support personnel could have done to better manage the situation as it unfolded and what lessons could be learned for other campuses across the country.
There were dozens of stories of heroic, commendable action taken that day by the faculty, students, law enforcement and EMS, but there are a number of key recommendations made by the review panel that could help prevent the loss of life in future crisis situations. The document is a compelling read in itself and has likely already been extensively reviewed by campus first responder departments, but here are some key suggestions that the review panel found:
Fire boots are an important PPE element, as they protect a critical part of your body – your feet. Water is a key factor in firefighting. It’s inevitable that your boots will get wet during runs. How do you know your boots won’t leak?
We’ve partnered with a leading North American fire boot manufacturer, the Shoe Technology Company (STC), to bring you our brand new line of structural leather firefighting boots, Lion Technical Footwear.
We want to give you an inside look at the manufacturing facility and show you how liquid penetration resistance for the moisture barrier systems are tested before these boots go out the door and onto your feet.
Check out this short video illustrating this test.
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of videos taken at STC, giving you a quick insight into the quality construction behind their firefighting boots.
Following National Police Week, National EMS Week began May 16 and continues through May 22, with Wednesday, May 19 set aside as Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Day. Get more information along with the weekly planner at their website.
The National EMS Week Memorial Bike Ride began on May 15 and continues through May 22. It’s too late to register for this year’s ride, but visit their site for information regarding next year’s registration.
The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, Inc. honors Emergency Medical Services personnel by organizing and implementing long distance cycling events that memorialize and celebrate the lives of those who serve everyday, those who have become sick or injured while performing their duties, and those who have died in the line of duty.
This year’s ride features three starting points: Bennington, Vermont, Portland, Maine and Paintsville, Kentucky and one ending point —Washington, DC.
National Emergency Medical Services Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s “front line.” Do you feel that EMS responders get the attention they deserve? How do you think departments can better raise awareness of the services EMS personnel offer to their communities?
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