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  • September 2021

    • September 2021

    As we mark the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, Firehouse remembers and honors the members of the FDNY who were killed in the attacks on the World Trade Center with a special section that includes photos of the 343 brave firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice that day. More heroes are honored with the announcement of the 2020 Valor & Community Service Awards. The September issue also includes feature articles on drones, firefighter training, school bus extrication and much more.
    Peter Matthews
    Wt012
    Operations & Training

    FDNY: A Reflection on the Past 20 Years

    Thomas Richardson
    Sept. 11, 2021
    The Father's Day Fire, 9/11, Superstorm Sandy and COVID-19 triggered evolutions to the FDNY in ways expected and otherwise.
    Peter Matthews
    Wt014
    Careers & Education

    As Firehouse Sees It: Courage in the Eyes of the World

    Peter Matthews
    Sept. 11, 2021
    Peter Matthews reflects his time riding with FDNY as he remembers those who lost their lives on 9/11 and those who still struggle with the event.
    'Peers' who work in the FDNY's Counseling Service Unit aren't mental health clinicians. They share their experience to help members develop mental resilience.
    Safety & Health

    The FDNY Peer Program & Behavioral Health

    Charles Wagner
    Sept. 11, 2021
    Charlie Wagner, who serves as a "peer" in the FDNY's Counseling Service Unit, tells of how he and others helped members with their mental health in the aftermath of 9/11 through...
    John Salkav3
    Historical Incidents

    The Fire Scene: A Sad Anniversary

    John J. Salka Jr.
    Sept. 11, 2021
    John J. Salka Jr. reminds us that there's much more than the obvious to remember on September 11.
    Photo by Peter Matthews
    The chiefs who were charged with rebuilding the FDNY needed to grasp the leader's intent from the new fire commissioner and chief of department and share that with the rank and file. 'Leader's intent is critical to achieving success,' FDNY Chief of Department Thomas Richardson says. 'It defines the vision for the unit, company or department, and it complements expectations.'
    Leadership

    FDNY Post-9/11: A Leadership Perspective

    Thomas Richardson
    Sept. 11, 2021
    FDNY Chief of Department Thomas Richardson says the principles of leadership were critical to filling the void of experience left in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

    More content from September 2021

    Photo courtesy of the FDNY
    Sep 21 Fdny Operational Changes Pic 5
    Operations & Training

    Operational Readiness in an Evolving Emergency Management Environment

    Richard J. Blatus
    Sept. 11, 2021
    FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations Richard Blatus explains how the department's operational readiness has been evolving ever since 9/11.
    Photo by David A. Coleman
    The author isn’t convinced that the “¼ out for every foot up” rule is the default approach when it comes to climbing angles, particularly when it comes to a circumstance in which a firefighter must perform a ladder bailout.
    Operations & Training

    Make Every Day a Training Day

    James L. "Jay" Jester
    Sept. 8, 2021
    James L. Jester provides tips for how a volunteer department that isn't privy to certain training opportunities that others are still can accomplish hoseline, ladder and search...
    Photos by Jonathan Hall
    The massive size of apartment buildings (an expanse of an entire city block isn’t unusual) can make hose stretches grueling. Also, the buildings might not have standpipes, because their height might not meet the definition of a high-rise as defined by NFPA 1: Fire Code and NFPA 101: Life Safety Code.
    Operations & Training

    Engine Essentials: The Adjacent Apartment Alternative

    Jonathan Hall
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Jonathan Hall's explanation of how to attack a fire in one unit in an apartment building by beginning in a unit that's next to it is both comprehensive and easy-to-digest.
    Photos by Paul Hasenmeier
    When a school bus that’s involved in a crash comes to rest on its side, its roof can be breached quickly to provide access, including to remove victims and to provide a path for sending in equipment.
    Vehicle Extrication

    School Bus Roll-Overs: Class Is in Session

    Paul Hasenmeier
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Paul Hasenmeier breaks down into great detail the process of extricating victims from school buses that were involved in a crash.
    Photos by Tom W. Shand
    The Prince George’s County, MD, Fire/EMS Department has developed a standard engine company design, as shown on this 2021 Pierce Enforcer rig, which features a short wheelbase (with an overall length of 29 feet, 4 inches), an aluminum body, a low rear hosebed and lowered ground ladders on the right side of the body.
    Apparatus

    The Apparatus Architect: Fleet Services Management

    Sept. 8, 2021
    Tom Shand and Mike Wilbur took advantage of their relationships with fire department fleet managers to collect hands-on-useful information that a department can apply to its collection...
    Photos by Ron Moore
    A 1st Responder Cut Label (yellow) for this Chevrolet Bolt EV is visible at upper right along the firewall. The larger label at lower left on the top of the radiator trim piece indicates that there is a 400-volt lithium-ion battery onboard and that the 12-volt battery is in this front compartment, somewhat buried on the lower left side.
    Vehicle Extrication

    University of Extrication: Low-Voltage Vehicle Batteries

    Ron Moore
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Ron Moore instructs rescuers on how to ascertain whether an automobile has more than one 12-volt battery, which is critical to protecting responders from electrocution.
    Photos courtesy of Spokane, WA, Fire Department Media Services
    Sep 21 Diversity & Inclusivity Pic 1
    Leadership

    Engaging on the DEI Platform

    Brian Schaeffer
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Brian Schaeffer builds the case for his challenge to everyone who reads his article about diversity, equity and inclusion to immediately begin the conversations that will launch...
    Photos courtesy of the city of Westerville, OH
    A way to give residents of a community a better chance to survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is through a fire department effort to educate citizens regarding the importance of chest compressions and to empower them to action.
    Community Risk Reduction

    See Something, Do Something

    Mindy Gabriel
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Mindy Gabriel makes the case for why departments should trigger efforts to connect with their municipality's citizens to teach them basic lifesaving skills, if CPR training isn...
    Sep 21 Volunteer View Author Pic 60eee72f4b192
    Leadership

    Volunteer View: Leadership Mindsets that a Volunteer Officer Needs

    Corey Smith
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Corey Smith's suggestions to volunteer fire department officers regarding how to improve hinge on trust and knowledge--and popularity.
    Brandon Heggie 5e8ab5e96e282
    EMS

    EMS: Airway Aggressiveness

    Brandon Heggie
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Brandon Heggie reminds EMS providers that noninvasive measures for respiratory distress must be considered on equal ground with intubation.
    New Brett Ellis Headshot 5e482915565f3
    Leadership

    The Company Officer: How to Lead Beyond Systemic Status Quo-ness

    Dr. Brett Ellis
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Dr. Brett Ellis explains how comfort zones in firehouses, fire departments and organizations are detriments to members and internal and external customers.
    Photos courtesy of the Richmond, IN, Fire Department
    This photograph of a rail car was captured by a drone from one-half mile away. Such capability permits identification of products in rail cars and highway transportation vehicles without putting personnel in harm’s way.
    Drones

    Rise of a Drone Program

    Robert Burke
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Robert Burke's research into a recently launched drone program sheds light on what can work in such a process and what can hinder it.
    The IFD partners with the city's police department, including sharing of resources within and outside of the city.
    Leadership

    Chief's Corner: Improvement of Self and Others

    Firehouse Staff
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Irving, TX, Fire Chief Victor Conley says that firefighters embracing self-improvement will ultimately be meaningful to their department as a whole.
    Photo by Zackery Newton
    When training on deploying hose, locations that present a variety of obstacles should be utilized, rather than practicing only direct shots to the front door.
    Operations & Training

    No Drill Ground? Creative Ways to Train

    Devon Wells
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Devon Wells speaks to how ingenuity, community relations and perseverance set the table for a training program that could be better than one that's carried out at a training facility...
    Sep 21 Fhe Takeaways Pic 1 (moran & Lewis Edgewater 099 1 21 15)
    Firehouse Expo

    Firehouse Expo 2021: Back and Better than Ever

    Firehouse Staff
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Firehouse Expo shines once again, as exemplified by four sessions that are spotlighted below.
    Grant Yardley
    Careers & Education

    For the Record 9/21

    Firehouse Staff
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Oklahoma State University student Grant Yardley is the recipient of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association 2021 Phillip L. Turner Fire Protection Scholarship.
    Kevin Tighe and Randy Mantooth
    PPE

    Scuttlebutt 9/21

    Firehouse Staff
    Sept. 8, 2021
    The Midland, PA, Volunteer Fire Department and Springville, TN, Volunteer Fire Department are the latest recipients of MSA’s and DuPont’s Globe Gear Giveaway.
    Ken Morris
    National Run Survey Test Try 60d206a08ffd2 60d33f425263e 60ff0b5d67a75
    Careers & Education

    2020 National Run Survey—Part 4

    Sept. 8, 2021
    Part 4 of the National Run Survey looks at Pay Scales & Staffing.
    Keith Addie
    CARTERET, NJ, JULY 23, 2021
    Operations & Training

    Hot Shots 9/21

    Sept. 8, 2021
    Hot Shots include members of the Carteret, NJ, Fire Department responding to a large, four-story, 48-unit apartment building for a reported fire.
    When a large metal barn collapsed, the FFD deployed its drone to monitor structural defects of the structure while firefighters worked inside.
    Drones

    Fire and Rescue Drones: At Work in Middle Tennessee

    Glenn Johnson
    Sept. 8, 2021
    Glenn Johnson points to a handful of operations that prove the worth of his department's launch of a drone fleet.
    FDNY
    The top honor in the 2020 Michael O. McNamee Award of Valor went to George O. Mueller of the FDNY.
    Valor Awards

    2020 Valor & Community Service Awards

    Sept. 8, 2021
    Firehouse is pleased to announce the honorees in the 2020 Firehouse Magazine Valor Awards.
    911 Headshots Page 2
    Historical Incidents

    The 343

    Sept. 8, 2021
    Firehouse Magazine remembers the 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on Sept. 11, 2001.