September 2020

Because passenger vehicles are lighter in weight than commercial vehicles and can end up underneath them in the event of a traffic accident, moving or displacing the commercial vehicle might be necessary to remove a victim in a passenger vehicle. This vehicle was stabilized using cribbing, struts and cables in conjunction with heavy-duty wreckers, lifting the load as crews stabilized from the ground up.

Sept. 1, 2020

Michael Daley provides in exacting detail why accidents that involve commercial vehicles require different extrication and rescue procedures than those that are applicable to ...

Jeffrey Braun (left), who is a firefighter/EMT-B for the Lyons, IL, Fire Department (LFD), with LFD Fire Chief Gordon Nord, Jr., who is holding one of two airport rescue firefighting vehicles (AARF) that Braun built from Lego blocks. Braun is holding the replica that he built of the Alsip, IL, Fire Department’s Engine 2063, which he made for that department’s chief.

Off-duty

Let's Roll: The Lego Fleet

Rich Dzierwa

Sept. 1, 2020

Firehouse Magazine Managing Editor Rich Dzierwa found a firefighter in Illinois whose side hustle deepens his love of the fire service and expands his network of firefighting ...

In conjunction with the Fire Safe South Carolina program, which has turned around South Carolina’s fire fatalities situation, members of South Carolina State Fire, local fire departments and members of communities go directly to the homes of citizens to correctly locate and install smoke alarms that are appropriate for the circumstance. At the same time, the opportunity is taken to provide fire and life-safety information.

Community Risk Reduction

Putting “Community” in Community Risk Reduction

Jonathan C. Jones

Sept. 1, 2020

Jonathan C. Jones explains how his state's new Fire Safe South Carolina program, which targets fire prevention, is off to a great start.

Leadership

The Company Officer: Mentoring, Motivating and Molding New-Gen Firefighters

Dr. Brett Ellis

Sept. 1, 2020

Dr. Brett Ellis urges company officers to pass along pieces of themselves to others to influence, to inspire, to transform.

The mitigation of an incident can’t begin until the product, family of chemicals or hazard class is identified. Familiarizing oneself with street chemistry, which narrows the massive realm of chemistry into a manageable, hands-on-useful hazmat toolbox item, expedites that identification process.

Hazardous Materials

Hazmatology: Street Chemistry, Street Physics

Robert Burke

Sept. 1, 2020

Robert Burke explains why a focus on a swath of chemistry takes precedence over the whole of chemistry for the hazmat incident responder.

Figure 1. This running, or traveling, snatch block, which is attached directly to the load via a chain, is being used in a 2:1 mechanical advantage system. The pulling effort from the winch comes in on one side, makes a U-turn on the sheave/pulley of the snatch block and returns back to the winch vehicle—hence, two lines to the load.

Vehicle Extrication

University of Extrication: Snatch Block Operations

Ron Moore

Sept. 1, 2020

Ron Moore instructs on how to ensure that the working load limit on a snatch block rigging isn't exceeded.

Health & Fitness

Health & Wellness: Exercise to Defeat Stress, Anxiety & Depression

Aaron Zamzow

Sept. 1, 2020

Aaron Zamzow explains what escapes many: Exercise has a substantial effect on mental health.

Joplin Fire Department’s Rescue 4, which was assigned to the roof of the abandoned hotel to investigate HVAC units and to set up for possible vertical ventilation, heard the mayday via the shouts of the endangered firefighter directly below them—as well as over the radio. The endangered firefighter concluded that, because his radio went into the water, a radioed mayday wouldn’t transmit.

Operations & Training

Close Calls: Diving into a S-TIC-ky Situation

Billy Goldfeder

Sept. 1, 2020

Billy Goldfeder's examination of a close call that involved an abandoned pool reveals the challenges of such an incident that crews should recognize.

Aerial devices that are equipped with waterways and prepiped monitors should be reviewed to confirm horizontal and vertical movements and the rated gpm flow at all angles of operation., Aerial operation, including waterway testing, should be conducted during final inspection to confirm performance requirements.

Apparatus

The Apparatus Architect: New Apparatus Purchasing—Five Mistakes to Avoid

Tom Shand

Sept. 1, 2020

Tom Shand and Michael Wilbur explain why the "preferred vendor" concept accompanies four other missteps in the specification of a new vehicle.

Operations & Training

The Fire Scene: Public Expectations

John J. Salka Jr.

Sept. 1, 2020

John J. Salka, Jr., stresses the importance of the three elements fire service performance that citizens consider absolute.

Safety & Health

EMS: Is EMS Looting Your Back, Shoulders and Knees?

Bruce Evans

Sept. 1, 2020

Bruce Evans urges first responders not to overlook the susceptibility of injury to their back, shoulders and knees.

Keith Muratori 7 13 20 Waterbury, Ct Three Story Apt Bldg Pic 1

Operations & Training

Hot Shots 9/20

Firehouse Staff

Sept. 1, 2020

September Hot Shots includes the Waterbury, CT, Fire Department battling a working fire at a three-story apartment building that housed 12 units as well as a grocery store on ...

Just as subjecting PPE that’s under consideration for purchase to realistic heat and function evolution is important, so is getting people who wear and use the gear involved in research and selection.

PPE

Spec and Purchase the Proper PPE for Your Department

Jim Reidy

Sept. 1, 2020

Jim Reidy stresses the importance of including firefighters in the selection and evaluation of pants, coats, hoods, helmets, boots and gloves.

Technology

2020 Product Showcase

Firehouse Staff

Sept. 1, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread and firefighter conferences were canceled, Firehouse worked with manufacturers to ensure that you see products and services that were introduced...

Leadership

Fire Law: Workplace Allegations and Credibility Determinations

Curt Varone

Sept. 1, 2020

Curt Varone's latest foray into the fire service and the law is particularly useful for officers when lawsuits in the realm of misconduct and harassment arise.