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  • September 2012

    • September 2012

    Photo by Jay K. Bradish/IFPA
    Firefighters work at or above their predicted maximum heart rates in environments that can reach 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit for extended periods, moving their bodies into a variety of positions while wearing heavy protective gear and operating in confined spaces. As a result, fire departments have some of the highest workers’ compensation costs of any profession.
    Safety & Health

    Safety & Fitness: Avoiding Strain And Sprains

    Sept. 1, 2012
    Over the past two decades, there has been a large focus on physical fitness as a way to improve firefighter health and reduce injuries. While this approach has had some success...
    Photos by Mike Daley
    Initial-arriving units to a trench collapse have certain responsibilities and must accomplish specific tasks to prepare the scene for the arrivals of the technical rescue team. Specialized equipment, such as vacuum trucks, should be called to respond immediately.
    Trench Rescue

    Tech Rescue: First Due At The Trench Rescue

    Sept. 1, 2012
    Michael Daley outlines what initial responders to a trench collapse need to do to ensure the highest probability for success and survival.
    Photos by Dennis Hook Photography/www.DennisHook.smugmug.com
    Chief 6C arrived on scene and reported moderate, dark smoke with little to no velocity was coming from the eaves of the second floor gable ends in the area of the Side Alpha/Delta corner, but no fire was observed.
    Safety & Health

    Close Calls: Firefighters Burned In Mega-Mansion Fire

    Billy Goldfeder
    Sept. 1, 2012
    For years, fire departments were simply reactive response organizations that went out when “the bell” rang. We took the same amount of equipment and number of people to every ...

    More content from September 2012

    Chiefwilliambrysonportraitfina 10734198
    Apparatus

    FIREHOUSE INTERVIEW: FIRE CHIEF WILLIAM W. BRYSON

    Harvey Eisner
    Sept. 1, 2012
    William "Shorty" Bryson discusses the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) and its challenges.
    Photos courtesy of the author
    These two newer, well-maintained buildings are 'partially vacant' at various times, but present constant life-hazard concerns should a fire or other disaster occur. Firefighters cannot know which spaces are occupied and which are not, creating accountability issues. There is much to consider in developing strategies and tactics and having enough firefighters and other resources on the scene early in the incident to handle fire-control needs and life-safety/accountability issues. These structures are found in many areas.
    Operations & Training

    Chief Concerns: Fires in Vacant Buildings

    Sept. 1, 2012
    Question 1 – What is a vacant building? What criteria do you use to determine that a structure is unoccupied?In the 1970s, some fire departments had separate categories for fires...
    Photos by Tom Shand
    The San Diego, CA, Fire-Rescue Department designs its engine company apparatus to serve in a variety of geographic areas, including the ability to operate in off-road conditions during wildland fires. Note the short front bumper and rear body overhang designed to improve the angle of approach and departure.
    Apparatus

    The Apparatus Architect: Part 56

    Sept. 1, 2012
    After many months of effort, the fire department’s apparatus committee was given the go ahead to prepare specifications to replace Engine 3, a 1985-vintage, 1,250-gpm pumper that...
    Bullard Compact Thermal Imager
    Hoods

    New Products 9/12

    Firehouse Staff
    Sept. 1, 2012
    Compact Thermal ImagerBULLARD has introduced the Eclipse LD, a compact, high-performance thermal imager equipped with a state-of-the-art thermal imaging engine and the latest ...
    AP Photo/Jessica Hill
    Active Shooter Dispatch 10844199
    CAD/Dispatch Systems

    Dispatch Protocols For Active-Shooter Incidents

    Sept. 1, 2012
    Barry Furey explains the critical role that dispatchers and communications centers play during active-shooter events. They play an important role in firefighter safety through...
    Dennis Compton 10756233
    Leadership

    Fire Politics: Taking the Pulse Of Local & State Politics

    Sept. 1, 2012
    It’s easy to find ourselves focused solely on fire service and government issues as we see them from our geographic location in the country. In other words, we assume that what...
    Otjiowa 9 12 Brueggers4 10756306
    Apparatus

    On The Job Iowa: Four-Alarm Fire Destroys Iowa City Historic Building

    Sept. 1, 2012
    On Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, a four-alarm fire destroyed one historic building and severely damaged another in downtown Iowa City, IA.That the fire was controlled and extinguished...