Train To Your Environment

The aspect of firefighting is hard. There is no way to sugarcoat it and it is obviously not like what we see on TV nowadays. In order to understand our job and to build a callous to difficulty of the job, we need to train and train to our environment. 

What do I mean by train to our environment. This is where we train with a scenario-based mentality to put ourselves in simulated situations as if they were to occur or have occurred on the fireground (ie. The Denver Drill or Pittsburgh Drill). Both of those were developed from line of duty incidents in their respective cities and in turn became part of rapid intervention training. Hence, training to and for our environment.  

The more we cater our training to our environment, the better understanding we have of what we are going in to. Also, it helps us eliminate the fear of what we do not know. It is more difficult to search a room under fire conditions in a real life incident if you haven't been exposed to smoke filled environments since your days in the fire academy and do not get many fires. Therefore we must develop training scenarios to mimic these incidents so we have more confidence when responding to the actually incident.

Here's a few reasons why training to our environment is important 

• Helps gain confidence in your skills and your ability to understand the job at hand

• Helps gain confidence in those your work with

• Increases your situational awareness of the job

Training to our environment not only helps us develop our skills but also develop our teamwork with our crew by building a connection with one another and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each other. Furthermore, it assists in guiding our understanding of what should be done as opposed to what is happening along with helping us identify when things do not look right and forecasting the future of the incident. 

I do agree with practical applications of various tasks such as hoseline deployment in open areas to understand the basic of such work, the weight of hoseline pressures and getting comfortable with each lines maneuverability. This same methodology goes into areas such as forcible entry, rope rescue and motor vehicle extrication. It is always good to train outside of situational based scenarios and go over the mechanics of the work however it is only the beginning.  

The same goes for sports and for this example baseball. No matter how great a hitter or pitcher is. Every hitter throughout their career hits off a tee and every pitcher throws off solid ground before they see live pitching or throws of the mound. So to be successful as an individual firefighter and as a crew, train for the environment but continue to practice the basic mechanics of the job.

Until next time, work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Importance of Active and Passive Recovery for Firefighters

Firefighters are athletes. Taking care of ourselves means not just getting evaluated by our primary care or department physician but truly embracing a healthy lifestyle. Being able understand your body and prepare your body is equally, if not more, important to ensure our personal protective equipment is in check, self-contained breathing apparatus bottles are topped off, and the apparatus is in working order. The rigors and demands of the job place a toll on our physical and mental well-being, and it is vital we prepare our body and mind for the work potentially ahead of us, not just for one shift or call but for an entire career.

Active Recovery

Active recovery is beneficial to the body and may help us recover faster after difficult workouts or strenuous activity. I recommend that this type of recovery be on shift day or the day before or after to allow the body to recuperate from any physical activity performed on off days and to provide your body with some type of active, low-intensity recovery during shift, so your body does not go into complete relaxation mode while on call. Limit active recovery exertion to no more than 75% of your typical workout level. The 75% level is just enough to keep the muscles warm and not enough to induce muscle fatigue.

Before we outline a few methods to perform active recovery, here are some of the benefits it provides.

• Reduction of lactic acid buildup in muscles.

• Elimination of toxins.

• Helps keep muscles flexible.

• Reduction of soreness.

• Increase in blood flow.

• Helps keep an exercise routine.

• Release of endorphins usually associated with regular exercise.

Here are a few methods of active recovery that are simple, yet highly effective:

• Walking

• Swimming

• Cycling

• Stretching

Passive Recovery

Passive recovery is a type of recovery that entails resting for considerable periods of time after strenuous activity. Unlike active recovery, with this type of recovery, your body is allowed total undisturbed rest to repair muscle damage and recuperate.

Proper passive recuperation is necessary for firefighters who are sick, are injured, or need physical and mental relaxation. For firefighters, rest is highly important and needed to perform at an optimal level. Rest has physiological and psychological benefits.

A healthy and optimal life is all about finding the right balance. From a 24-hour shift to 48 hours off in most cases, it is critical to take a day in between every now and then to relax and balance out the body.

By allowing the body to rest and avoid weariness of the muscles, it is allowing the body’s glycogen stores to refill, therefore attributing to the enhancement in muscle recovery. While exercise depletes your body’s energy stores or muscle glycogen, leading to muscular tissue breakdown, adequate rest helps your body correct this problem by restoring muscle glycogen, balancing blood flow, and rebuilding damaged tissue.

 Here are a few methods of passive recovery that are simple, yet highly effective:

•  Sleep

•  Rest

•  Hydration

•  Massage Therapy

•  How to Use Recovery in Your Regimen

Adding active recovery into your training sessions can be done in two methods, and both are greatly beneficial to your recovery. The first is to add it into your current training session as soon as it has been completed, as a cool-down approach. This is where you will allow your body to ease itself out of your workout, allowing your heart rate and breathing to return to their normal states and reducing the amount of lactate in your blood. The lactate in your blood is an organic acid made by tissue and red blood cells in your muscles, which is what causes the muscle burn felt during exercise. This is the same approach as if you were driving your car and approaching a red light. Instead of slamming on the brakes to make the stop, you gently ease on the brakes for a gradual stop at the light. This same method applies to cooling down after a workout with respect to your heart rate and breathing, by going for a light walk or jog or adding in some dynamic and static stretches and yoga poses. The other option for active recovery is to incorporate this as a full active recovery day and implement the methods listed above as active recovery for the day, through swimming, walking, or yoga to name a few.

Both forms of recovery are crucial within your training cycle regimen to allow your body to find its balance repeatedly as you progress in your training. I highly recommend incorporating cool-down recovery, especially after high-intensity workouts and after fireground training sessions, for optimal recovery of the heart and body with at least one recovery day (active and passive) each week for maximum recovery and performance. In the end, listen to your body and what it is telling you. After all, it is the only place we truly have to live.

This article is also posted Importance of Active and Passive Recovery for Firefighters — Africa Fire Mission

Until next time - work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Yoga and Strength Training for Firefighters

It's great to get a good strength training session in while off duty or with the crew during shift if you have access to weight training equipment at your station. Slinging around some iron with the crew is also a fun way to build a stronger bond, collaborate and have some friendly competitions going set for set. Yet with all this strength training, we still need time to work on some mobility training because after all, we're functional athletes and without being mobile how could we hit our peak performance on the fire ground?

I mentioned in past articles and in my book, "The 5-Tool Firefighter" that yoga is a great for active recovery but in this article I want to list out a few reasons as to why yoga is great for firefighters with respect to strength training.

Benefit 1 - Decompression

From the PPE and SCBA on your back to the various tasks of raising ladders, pulling hose and carrying heavy tools, your joints and tissue are under a tremendous amount of pressure. Let us not forget the amount of mental stress our bodies experience as well due to how we interpret and experience traumas on the job. The soft tissues in your body serve as a buffer so the hard tissues such as your bones could stay rigid and support without grinding against each other (think of having no meniscus in your knee).

After the soft tissue in your body has been put under pressure, unlike a stress ball, this tissue will not return to its natural neutral state without an equally decompressive movement is done to pull the tension out. By working on decompressive movements, you are enabling these connective and supportive tissues to remain a healthy essential party of your body. By not doing so, the tension that has built up in the soft tissue will restrict blood flow that is crucial for healing and nutrient delivery. 

Benefit 2 - Alignment

In yoga there is no barbells, no kettlebells, nothing. It is simply your body. Granted many of us love moving heavy weight around because in this job, we need to be able to move heavy things. However, in yoga many of the forms being done all work around the fundamental alignment and engagement that is essential to strength training and operating on the fire ground especially since they require you to engage your core.

By engaging in the fundamental movements of yoga will help lead to a higher sense of awareness of your body structure and efficiency which could be directly translated to operating on the fire ground and the functional movements required to work on the job.  

Benefit 3 - Sweat Equity

We all walk away from an incident a little beat up at times. Heck, even after a live fire or high intensity training sessions on heavy recue training or extrication training (to many a few) will leave you a little sore. All training contains some residual damage to our muscular system especially when we add extra weight to our bodies. But after a few days, this damage hopefully repairs itself. To speed this process up a little bit and help the damaged tissue heal, we need to add fluids into our bodies.

Think about it like this, the more water we drink , the more we pee it out or sweat it out, the faster the fluid flows through the tissues of our body. 

If you've ever been to a yoga studio you've probably noticed it is relatively hotter during a yoga sessions and for a very good reason. Yoga classes encourage sweating. Why?

The heated environment in the studio helps the soft tissues mobilize therefore allowing your body to go deeper into the poses. Remember, an equal opposing force to the tension will begin to release the tension on the tissue.

If you're feeling sore, tight or as though there's been a lot of tension on your joints and muscles, take 30 minutes to an hour and work on some yoga poses to help the body lose and primed. You want to stay ready to you don't have to get ready.

Until next time, work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

The Truck Company Officer

The firefighter in charge of all operations related to the truck company is the truck company officer, whether it be a lieutenant or captain based how your department is set up and operates. This firefighter is the one who paints the picture for the crew and sets the stage for incoming units through the size-up presented over the radio. The message should be clear, concise and simple - (ie., "truck 7 arriving on scene 123 Sesame Street. Two-story wood frame structure, smoke showing from the A/B corner. Truck 7 will be forcible entry and search operations…").

This message from the officer, sets the stage for what's to come next and how incoming units need to prepare for their arrival on scene. 

The truck company officer is also an interior firefighter during this time as well and must remember to bring a few tools with him. However, prior to making entry with the crew, the officer is responsible for performing a 360 degree size-up, if possible. Otherwise a three side size-up will do.

Truck Company Officer Tools

• Officers tool or halligan

• Radio (of course)

• Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC)

Once the officer makes entry inside the structure, they are now in charge of and coordinating all things related to their crews operations and relaying those actions to the Incident Commander (IC). Various situations will determine where the officer will be in relation to the crew in the structure.

During a vent-enter-search (VES) operation, the officer is the last firefighter up the ladder. This is so the irons firefighter and the hook & can firefighter can perform their primary search of the room. All the while the officer is utilizing the TIC to scan the room with a six-sided scan (walls, floor and ceiling) to help maintain contact (visual/verbal) with the firefighters inside the room but also help locate the fire. Most importantly, the officer while utilizing the TIC can assist the crew to a possible victim which should be done with the utmost priority when performing a primary search.

This same practice goes into searching bedrooms or offices off a hallway. The fire officer would remain in the hallway monitoring fire conditions of the search rooms while keeping in visual and verbal communication with the firefighters performing the search. In addition to monitoring the search rooms, it is important that the fire officer monitor the fire conditions throughout the hallway keeping in mind the type of structure the they are in, in relation to how fire behaviors in the different types of construction thus being situationally aware of what could go wrong. 

The last thing the truck company officer is responsible for is having trust in himself, his crew and those working in coordination with him inside and outside of the structure. 

Once the incident is complete and the company is back in quarters, one of the best things the truck officer can do is sit down with the crew and discuss the pros and cons of their job on the incident. This will help with building a solid bond with each other and solidifying the trust of working each day together.

Until next time, work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Influencing Organizational Culture

The fire service is loaded with leaders up and down the chain of command and many great leaders are those working on the front lines of the job each day. The senior firefighter, the driver, any one of them has the potential to be a leader but most importantly an impactful leader. Oftentimes, it's easy to mistake rank for leadership and as we know it is not mutually exclusive.

Real, true leaders do not demand orders or push rank but rather motivate and train those around them. In essence, leaders influence organizational culture to excel each member and the department for future success on and off the fire ground.

How does this happen? How does one influence organizational culture?

1. They observe. The old phrase of "listen more and talk less" is one of their best qualities. A hallmark of a true leader. Leaders learn more than just what needs to happen with the fine details of the job but how to influence and encourage their fellow firefighters behavior for success, boost morale and finds way to improve many processes of the company.

2. They take advantage of subcultures within the house. There will be cliques wherever you go and even in a firehouse. Yet exceptional leaders know how to utilize this area for team building. When firefighters train together, a bond is being built and leaders know when and how to build a very important bond in this job.

3. Cross-Train. Every firefighter has their own set of skills they are inherently good at and others that need work. Leaders will cross-train themselves with other firefighters to learn more about their roles and in turn learn more about them. The more we utilize other firefighters skill sets to the advantage of the department, the more successful the department it.

4. Take Ownership. The fire service is built on life lessons and many of these lessons will quickly humble even the most seasoned firefighter. Many departments have an accountability officer and an accountability system built into their SOPs to keep order and accountability of all firefighters working on an incident. Great leaders will take that system a step further and transition it into everything they do and those they work with do by holding each other to a standard of ownership for their mistakes and for their successes. Again, the fire service is a humbling place.

5. Humans. Leaders treat and speak to everyone with respect regardless of their emotions or how they feel about another individual. Showing respect to your fellow firefighter of any rank is a great example of influencing organizational culture in the department. No firefighter is greater than the crew or department.

Here are five ways we could influence organizational culture into the firehouse without overbearing the members of the house. Use these takeaways to subtly adapt the firehouse or crew to a culture of success all around.

Until next time, work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

Burnout: Taking Care of Your Crew

Often perceived as machines or "super-humans," firefighters can always answer the call 24/7. Everyone always expects firefighters to be there but seldom thinks about the toll it may take on the firefighters. Short staffing, hectic schedules, and specific incidents all contribute to burnout. Sometimes as an officer, you must ensure your crew is at its best.

As the fire service leader, it's essential to notice when members of your crew or department are dealing with burnout. 

The typical symptoms of burnout include:

• A negative attitude toward others.

• A lack of engagement within the workplace.

• Exhaustion. 

So what exactly should you be looking for? Poor nutrition, loss of interest in the job, and lack of sleep are some of the most common signs of burnout. Another sign to look for would be the job performance of an individual. Firefighters are generally good at hiding feelings, with the fear of being labeled as not "tough enough" for the job. An example is a firefighter who usually works well as a team but starts freelancing and disobeying direct orders. Burnout affects the firefighter not only physically but mentally. In the mental capacity, it may cause cloudiness to your judgment, which could lead to injury or death for not only the individual but the crew and or civilians. 

You're the officer in charge, and it is your job to ensure your firefighters remain safe both on the scene and in the firehouse. If you notice one of your crew members is going through burnout, there are ways to help. Most importantly, talk to them! As the officer, pull them aside and explain that you’re seeing a change in them. Whether it be on a personal level or on the training ground. It’s also important to  let them know they're human, and feeling burnt out is ok. One downside to this is that crew members may not be receptive to a conversation like this. It can be an uncomfortable conversation to have. During this conversation the person may shut down and almost feel as if they’re being singled out. As mentioned earlier, firefighters rarely speak up for fear of criticism. During this conversation, suggest ways to cope with burnout. Some examples may be:

• Writing.

• Cooking.

• Prioritizing sleep. 

• Creating a fitness schedule. 

Among the easiest ways is to take advantage of their time off. Take a vacation, turn their phone off, and shut down from the fire service world for a few days. Doing this will allow the firefighter to reset. After all, how can we expect our firefighters to always bring their A-game if they're not in the right frame of mind?

In the United States, 88.2% of the fire service are male. You're probably saying, "Everyone knows that" It's evident if you look at any firehouse in America. However, what's not known is that approximately 84 men a week will take their own life. 75% of all suicides are male. These statistics include more than just firefighters or first responders. However, according to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the number of firefighter suicides falls between 100 & 200 annually. This proves that the "macho man" mentality of firefighters and men increases due to males not usually reaching out for assistance. Regardless, having a crew member speak up about needing help will always be challenging. 

This doesn't mean you can't help in other ways. Most firehouses I've visited have bulletin boards typically filled with information for training and upcoming events. Someone may be more inclined to utilize the info if the rest of the firehouse won't know. Training boards can be a great place in the firehouse to post different foundations and hotline numbers for firefighters seeking help. 

With hectic schedules, budget cuts that reduce staffing, and the overall amount of incidents firefighters are responding to, it's more than likely as an officer; you will encounter a firefighter going through burnout. So as you move up the ranks, make sure you're looking out for yourself and your crew. Below are a few links to different organizations where you can find help or gather more information regarding burnout. 

Work Hard - Stay Safe - Live Inspired

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/ig-051922.html

https://www.nextrung.org/

https://www.codegreencampaign.org/resources/

https://www.5-alarmtaskforcecorp.org/

https://paulcombsart.com

Remembering the West Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion

It was a typical spring evening with temperature s around 80 degrees on the evening of April 17, 2013 in central Texas. Humidity that evening was low with scattered clouds and 20 mile per hour winds blowing in from the south south east (SSE).

At around 7:30 that evening in the City of West, an explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Company plant. An explosion so powered it registered as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake and felt over 80 miles away damaging many homes and school throughout the area. 

At this time, dispatched received a 911 call reporting smoke coming from the West Fertilizer Company plant and at 7:34 PM, the West Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the scene with two engines, a brush trick and tender responding to the scene along with two more firefighters arriving in their personal vehicles. The first arriving unit on scene was at approximately 7:39 PM confirming a structure fire at the plant and deployed an initial attack line (1 1/2 attack line) to extinguish any and all visible fire and to establish a water supply using a 4-inch diameter supply line. Please note, the nearest fire hydrant was more than a quarter mile away from the scene. An initial mutual aid alarm was struck with included an aerial ladder truck and four more firefighters which responded in their personal vehicles.  

Within 12 minutes of the initial arriving unit on scene and 22 minutes from the initial 911 dispatch, an explosion occurred at the plant leaving multiple firefighters down.

Ten first responders were killed in this explosion due to an estimated 40 to 60 tons of ammonium nitrate exploding just outside the city limits.

Five firefighters from the West Volunteer Fire Department were killed in the explosion along with four firefighters from 3 neighboring departments along with one off-duty career fire captain and two civilians who offered assistance to the fire department on scene. 

Factors of the incident

The department did not recognize the hazards associated with the ammonium nitrate

• There was limited pre-planning of the facility

• Rapid fire spread in wood construction commercial structure with no sprinkler system

Post incident recommendations as per NIOSH

Fire departments should conduct pre-incident planning of buildings within their jurisdiction to facilitate the development of safe fireground strategies and tactics especially in high hazard high risk structures

• Fire departments should have a written management plan, use risk management principles at all structure fires and especially at incidents with high risk hazards

• Fire departments should implement and enforce the Incident Management System (IMS) at all emergency operations

• Fire departments should ensure all firefighters wear personal protective equipment appropriate for the assigned tasks

• Fire departments should ensure all firefighters are training to the standards that meet or exceed NFPA 1001 Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications

 We remember:

Firefighter Morris Bridges

Firefighter Cody Dragoo

Firefighter Joseph Pustejovsky

Firefighter Douglas Snokhous

Firefighter Robert Snokhous

Firefighter Jerry Dane Chapman

Firefighter Cyrus Reed

Firefighter Kevin Saunders

Fire Captain Harris Kenneth

Firefighter Perry Calvin

Forcing Trident Security Doors

Higher capacity security doors are becoming more and more prevalent in all commercial and now residential homes for maximum break-in protection. The Trident Multi-Point lock provides a multipoint deadbolt locking mechanism with maximum resistance to break-ins. Here's the breakdown of the Trident system. 

1. Instant self-locking deadbolt protection on each close or manual locking

2. 4-point locking system

3. Anti-pry protection

4. Maximum door reinforcement kits - door strengthening bars and lower module reinforcement kit

As firefighters sometimes our jobs are going through the door in order to perform our interior fire operations and it is imperative we have an understanding on how to force this type of door should we have no other option or this is our best option for a quick knock on the fire or a rescue effort.

Let’s force the door 

All hand tools approach - IRONS - Method 1 

1. Starting on the hinge side, using the Adz end of the halligan, gap/crush the door to gain access to the backside of the door by placing the Adz behind the door and begin prying the standalone pin away. By getting the standalone pin out of the way early on will help with the conventional door pop.

2. Now, attack the lock side of the door starting with the top pin followed by the bottom pin and pry them away.

3. From here, once the three pins have been pried away, force the center of the door conventionally.

Please note, this will be time consuming and energy depleting. Have a K-12 or spreaders on hand if need be.

All hand tools approach - IRONS - Method 2

1. Attack the lock side of the door by gaping and crushing the door and start by prying away top pin followed by the bottom pin.

2. From here, once the two pins have been pried away, force the center of the door conventionally.

3. The door should go and entry can be made.

From my experience, these doors have been found mostly on rear pharmacy doors and other businesses with highly valuable goods. The best way to approach these doors is to study their makeup and understand their strong and weak links in order to force them in less time and reduce the amount of strain on the crew forcing the door.

Keep your eyes open and stay diligent out there. 

Until next time, work hard, stay safe and live inspired.

Ground Ladders

ROOF HOPS

What is a roof hop you ask? Take a look at the photo to the left. Don’t worry about the aerial. There are two ground ladders in use and a third on the way to being in use.

At times when your goal is to get to the roof and there is an overhang/porch in the way and you just cant get the right angle with one ladder . By placing a ladder, usually a straight/roof ladder, on the porch roof to help you reach the roof above.

When doing this skill you need to place your first ground ladder in a position that will allow you to bring up two more ladders with ease and not have to move said first ladder. Now climb that first ladder bringing the second one with you. You will also need some type of tool of destruction. Place your second ladder in a position close to where you will be climbing it. Sound your roof and then place a couple of holes even with the foot of this ladder. Place the feet of the ladder in these holes. Now you do not need huge holes here, just enough to fit the foot end of your ladder in. Maybe even straddle a roof rafter. Stand on or give the ladder a good little kick to “set” the feet. While doing this, the third ladder, along with the rest of your tools of destruction, including a chain saw, should be on the way up. Climb the second ladder and place your third, the roof ladder, in a position to work off from. Congratulations, you just completed a roof hop.

GROUND LADDER TRAINING

Training Drills you can do to become better for THEM!

Before we climb our ladder we need it to be in the right position. Now that is an extremely vague statement. The right position “in the real world” is job or task dependent. If you are going to the roof or maybe to a window on the second floor it is pretty basic. The ladder even has a little picture on the side to show you the proper climbing angle. That angle is 75 degrees. Most Firefighters prefer an angle closer to 70 degrees. The grey area comes into play when your objective is a window not quite the “normal” second floor height and you have to decide do I want to make this ladder steep or shallow. This is a topic for another time. Today we will discuss the basic proper climbing angle.

As I said above the ladder comes with a sticker to show you the proper angle. So in training set the ladder in accordance with this sticker. When set to this angle your base will be about 1⁄4 of the working height of the ladder, roughly 6 feet.

Now look at where the ladder is on the building. Going back to your FF I& II days stand at the foot and place your hands straight out. Do you hit the rungs with your hands? Yes good, no oops. Either way, make a mental note of your position. Now climb the ladder. Is this a comfortable angle? Is this ladder in an optimal position to work from? If so, GREAT! If not, why? Step back take a look and see why. Reset the ladder and do it again. Do this until you find the angle tht best fits your task. This angle may be different for different tasks.

Start climbing. Always try to have three points of contact with the ladder. Practice climbing up and down. Do this in gear, FULL GEAR. This makes all the difference in the world. Your gear is heavy and cumbersome, and you have to be used to it in order to be effective.

Once you are comfortable climbing then add transferring on and off the roof or entering and exiting a window. Again, in full gear. Your balance is very different in full gear and an SCBA. Once this becomes comfortable add tools to the mix. Start small with an axe and then add a hook and then add the saw.. Again, practicing transferring to and from the roof and windows. The next tool is another ladder, the roof ladder.

All the above training should be done with at least one other firefighter. Now get out there and train!

http://www.maineiactraining.org/

We Remember: Black Sunday FDNY

January 23rd, 2005.  One of the darkest days in FDNY history. A day the department lost multiple firefighters in two different incidents. Known to first responders worldwide as "Black Sunday."

Bronx: While performing a search during a three-alarm fire, Lieutenant John Bellew of Ladder 27, firefighter Joseph DiBernardo of Rescue 3, and  Lieutenant Curtis Meyran of Battalion 26 became trapped on the fourth floor of a four-story apartment. Due to the increased heat and fire, all three firefighters were forced to jump from the window to the ground. The apartment building was an older building from the late 1920s. The apartments involved were made into single-room occupancies (SRO). Each shares a common bathroom and kitchen. According to the NIOSH report, each SRO had a padlock on the bedroom doors. There was also limited access at the rear fire escape due to a partition with wood framing and sheetrock. In addition, there were no permits issued for construction in the building, and there were also no automatic sprinklers making the construction project a violation of local building codes. In addition to the three firefighters mentioned earlier, Brendan Cawley, Jeff Cool, and Gene Stolowski were severely injured in the jump. Later that day, Lieutenants John Bellew and Curtis Meyran succumbed to their injuries. Firefighter DiBernardo was promoted to Lieutenant in the spring of 2005. Unfortunately, Lt. DiBernardo passed away in 2011 due to complications with injuries sustained on January 23rd, 2005.

Brooklyn: Sometime just before 2 pm that same day, FDNY units were dispatched to a basement fire in a private dwelling. One of the first arriving units was Ladder Company 103. Part of the crew was firefighter Richard Sclafani who was assigned to search the basement. Due to fire conditions changing, firefighter Sclafani became separated from his company during the search. Minutes after being separated, Sclafani was located unconscious and in respiratory arrest. The NIOSH report stated firefighters worked on removing him from the building for 20 minutes. Firefighter Sclafani succumbed to his injuries, and the official cause of death was smoke inhalation and burns. January 23rd, 2005 marked the first time since 1918 that the FDNY lost firefighters in separate incidents.

Following the incident, the FDNY completed its internal investigation, and personal escape systems were purchased for all firefighters. Had the systems been available to the firefighters on Black Sunday, it would have saved the lives of Lieutenants Bellew, DiBernardo, and Meyran and prevented injuries to firefighters Cawley, Cool, and Stolowski. Black Sunday is a day that will be remembered forever in fire history. There is plenty of material on multiple sites providing information. I encourage new and veteran firefighters to remain educated on this day and learn from it.

In 2013, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, also known as the Joey D Foundation, was started to help train and equip firefighters in need. I have personally attended the yearly seminar they hold on Long Island. The training weekend is filled with two days of hands-on training followed by a day of great lectures. World-class instructors and firefighters teach all classes and lessons. The foundation raises money to provide fire departments with funding for personal escape systems, helping ensure an incident such as "Black Sunday" doesn't happen again.

NIOSH report for the Bronx fire

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200503.html

NIOSH report for the Brooklyn fire

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200504.html

Photos from firerescue1.com

Cloud Ceilings

Cloud ceilings are not new and have been around for a while. They are, however, becoming more common and more complex. I’ve noticed a trend over the last few years where clouds have increasingly become a regular part of the interior design and the architectural ceilings in spaces where aesthetics are important or it's a "community" space where occupants will gather on a regular basis. These ceilings are also taking many different shapes and sizes and come in a variety of materials. I have, on multiple occasions, had to design sprinkler protection around floating panels of ceiling tiles, sheet rock, open grid ceilings, fabric panels, wood slats, and geodesic patterns. Designing around these ceilings has always been a challenge but the NFPA is providing guidance with the last few versions of Chapter 13.

Historically, the issue was whether or not you had to sprinkler above and below the cloud ceiling. The ceiling was considered an obstruction and guidance was found in the code sections dealing with obstructions that were either less than or greater than 18" from the face of the deflector. Some instances may have required applying the open grid ceiling section as well. In 2016, the NFPA began to address cloud ceilings in Chapter 13 and then again made further, more beneficial, updates in 2019. Cloud ceilings became defined and the rules for determining when the space above the cloud can be considered a concealed space were provided. These sections determine when sprinklers are only required at the cloud ceiling level, and not above the cloud. Basically, the code provides guidance to determine whether or not the cloud is a sufficient heat collector to initiate sprinkler head operation. This decision is based on the size of the cloud, the size of the gaps around adjacent clouds, and the height of the ceiling. There are additional factors such as sprinkler types and construction materials that play into the decision matrix. The NFPA has even provided some suggestions with respect to seismic concerns. Depending on how the cloud is supported and secured to the structure above, you may need to provide some flexibility in your piping system by utilizing elements such as flexible sprinkler drops in order to accommodate the shifting of the clouds in a seismic event.

A sprinkler designer has many challenges and factors to consider when designing around cloud ceilings. The bottom line is that the design must be code compliant to ensure optimum life safety for the building arguments. There are other factors that must be considered such as aesthetics, constructability, and cost. A designer can't just design a system with sprinklers above and below the cloud ceiling instead of doing the work to interpret the code. It's not the correct design and it drives up the cost for the owner. Working with the architect can also be a struggle. They spend time developing a unique design element of the building and the fire protection designer wants to put an ugly sprinkler head right in the middle of it! Both sides have to work together to find a resolution that not only works but is aesthetically pleasing as well. Although this isn't a fire protection designer's priority, it's providing a quality design that keeps clients coming back.

As firefighters, we need to pay attention when we find ceilings like these. We all know the importance of air movement in an active fire and recognizing the flow path is critical to firefighter tactics and safety. These ceilings may mask heat or smoke and delay the identification of the flow path resulting in us working below heated air or smoke (unburned fuel). It is important to know how the clouds are suspended. Are the clouds hung from rods/cables or are they secured to a rigid structure attached to the deck above? The clouds could move around when hit with a hose stream making your attack difficult or could possibly become a hazard if they fall. They could carry significant weight or become an obstacle when advancing the hose line. The clouds may even be an illusion. For example, in the picture on the right, is that a cloud ceiling or are the doors attached to a sheetrock ceiling that has been painted black?

The bottom line is that success starts early. We need to get into buildings and find out what's in them. When we find an atypical element like a cloud ceiling, we have to investigate to find out why it's there, and how it can impact our tactics and safety. Then we must share this info with our crews. Keep your eyes open, ask questions, and talk. Don’t wait until you're involved in a fire event to figure this out.

Be Smart - Stay Safe!

Building Firefighter Development (buildingfirefighters.com)

About the Author
E.J. Henninger has been designing building systems for more than 20 years. He is currently a Senior Engineering Operations Manager working with a team to deliver plumbing and fire protection designs for a wide range of projects. He has also been a volunteer firefighter for more than 10 years and is currently the captain at a rural Fire & Rescue Company with an active role in the training program. E.J. actively supports the fight against cancer through the International Association of Fire Chiefs and his annual Firefighter Relay Challenge. He is happily married to his beautiful wife of 25 years and has three wonderful sons.

Be Adaptable

When you wake up each day are you prepared to handle what life throws at you? Are you ready to roll with the punches and adjust your thinking and your actions to accomplish your goals? Or are you anxious and uneasy about the possibility of encountering unexpected events?

Each day on and off the fire ground, in and out of the firehouse, we experience things we do not expect to occur or be part of the days plan. Part of growth and advancement is the ability to adapt to the changes of the environment around us. Yes, I said it. CHANGE. The two things firefighters do not like - change and the status quo. Kind of ironic isn't it? To go even deeper than that, us as humans in general do not like the word "change". We don't like the word so much that it's wired in our brains to become protective over our belongs when we hear the word "change". Where does that come from? It comes from the hardwiring in our brains which then causes the amygdala to release the "fight or flight" hormones as our response to "change"  as a way to protect our bodies from it.

 As firefighters and first responders we need to be receptive to change and to adapt to the current conditions around us. By doing so we are able to make wiser and often times safer decisions to the task at hand. If we are continually doing the same thoughtless type of decision-making and constantly repeating steps and decisions we've made in the past because "that's how we always did it" then we are not growing, advancing or thinking at all. We are staying in the sedentary state unable to keep up with the world and the advancements around us. As firefighters, we need to allow ourselves to adapt to the changes around us, which will then allow us to better efficiently utilize the resources around us and in turn display leadership. In the end, the fire service needs firefighters to step up and lead. As we know, leadership is contagious.

 Take a minute a think about the changes in your organization. Think about the small changes your organization has made over the years and how you were impacted by them and how you adjusted your mindset to adapt to them. In order to grow, it is imperative we look at the small changes taking place in our organizations and our lives and consciously develop ways in ourselves to adapt to them. When thinking of change, we need to take it in small steps. As we know too much of it or too much all at once, is too much for humans and society to digest. The "fight or flight" will kick in and where are we? Back at square one. Growing roots. Not advancing and not optimizing our lives to the best version of ourselves we could possibly be.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe & live inspired.

The Importance of Fire Behavior

It has been said time and time again, "You can never train too much for a job that can kill you." As we are aware, firefighting has many aspects to it. Many of these are common to every fire department, no matter their location, size, or status (career or volunteer). Other aspects are specialized areas that not all departments focus on or specialize in, such as medical, hazardous materials or technical rescue. In any case, having a sound basis in the area of “firematics” is a steppingstone to success for yourself and for your crew. We will briefly touch on key areas every firefighter should have a sound understanding and strong knowledge of. Many of these areas are touched on briefly in probationary/training school and then oftentimes, pushed aside once graduated. However, these areas are the core foundation for everything we do as firefighters and lay the groundwork for everything else we do on the fire ground. The skills of understanding these concepts, terminology and definitions is in fact, simple in theory. The difficult area is understanding the strategies and tactics behind them in order to implement those them. All good leaders and firefighters must understand these core areas of which everything else it built from. 

The areas I would like to briefly touch upon are building construction, fire behavior, reading smoke and size-up.

Building Construction

In the American Fire Service, there are five and oftentimes six different types of building construction however this may be different in various parts of the world based on the materials used to build structures. As firefighters, it is imperative that we know our enemy and know everything we can about it. Without having at least an understanding of our enemy, it becomes difficult to defeat it. In most every one of our cases, the enemy is the building structure. In order to be a successful firefighter in any capacity, on any apparatus, in any area, understanding and having a solid foundation of building construction knowledge is vital. Just as a world-class fighter study their opponent in the months leading up to a fight, us as firefighter MUST study our buildings in our areas, so we too are prepared to fight…and WIN. 

The most vital piece of information I can provide here is simple. It makes a difference in knowing the different type of structures and how to identify the differences however, what make it even more important is the ability to identify the types and how thewy will react under fire conditions while in the moment! This leads us to fire behavior. 

Fire Behavior

Fire behavior is the foundation on which all firefighter knowledge is built upon. Moreover it is our understanding of fire behavior from which we can gain an understanding of fire and how to suppress it properly. The lack of fire behavior knowledge creates an even greater risk for serious injury or death. Understanding fire behavior is truly being able to operate as a firefighter. The understanding of fire behavior is the basis for understanding fire suppression and the understanding how to properly perform other tactics such as ventilation, forcible entry on some occasions and overhaul.

As society changes or in many cases evolves, so does fire behavior. The reasoning behind this is simple - the introduction and presence of synthetic materials (also known as plastics). These materials in their solid form are petroleum- based products, therefore producing an increase in the output of thermal energy. This reasoning alone is a cause for a more rapidly spreading fire regardless of the type of structure it is in. More so than not, it is causing our enemy (the building) to have more fuel to hurt us. To understand fire behavior, it is important to understand the phases that come a long with it and it’sattributes – ignition, growth, full developed (flashover is present) and decay (back draft is likely). To understand these areas takes years of studying and training to become proficient but have the basic concepts down is a great start to proficiency in fire behavior for firefighters of all levels and experience.

With fire comes smoke. 

Reading Smoke 

An important aspect on the fireground for many reasons is understanding smoke and smoke behavior. Many clues from the smoke alone can help identify the location and status of the fire. Command and company officers, as well as firefighters, need to be able to read and interpret all of the clues while conducting their size-up upon arrival and throughout the incident.  

Here are some clues to take into consideration: potential fuel, density, color, velocity, and volume. 

Smoke is fuel. In today's world and the modern-day fire service, the products of combustion are highly toxic, flammable and potentially explosive. The smoke’s chemical composition is different at each fire due to the different fuel sources yet, one thing remains the same; smoke contains high levels of carbon monoxide.

Density identifies the thickness of the smoke, it’s level of energy and if there is a potential for a flashover or for fire spread. 

Color tells you how flammable the smoke is and what is burning.

Velocity tells us how fast or slow the smoke is moving and by doing so helps determine the location and its flow path. 

Volume on the other hand doesn’t speak to firefighters about smoke or fire but it does give firefighters the amount of fuel that is burning. By knowing how much fuel is burning, provides insight to the size and intensity of the incident.

Understanding smoke provides the fundamentals for reading and identifying changes in fire and smoke conditions in the interior or exterior of a structure, along with identifying and possibly preventing flashover or fire spread. 

Size-Up

The size-up is for all intents and purposes, our game plan or battle plan, if you will, against the structure we are working at. The size-up is where firefighters and fire officers gather information in order to make safe, efficient, and effective fireground decisions. Fireground decision making, as we know, is meant to be quick, but with an emphasis on safety and ensuring the tactics are done efficiently and effectively. This is done in three phases; the pre-incident size-up, the on-scene size-up and the after action review. All three of these have their purposes.

Pre-incident size-up allows firefighters to gather as much information as we can about the structure and in contents inside and helps guide our on-scene strategies and tactics. 

On-scene size-up is where firefighters utilize our pre-incident size-up and put it to work. This size-up is where more information is provided specific to the incident and can now confirm our findings from the pre-incident size-up. Further, this is where company operations are assigned and take place.

 After-action-review is the final stage in the pre-planning process. This is the time for firefighters and officers to discuss and share the information obtained and to discuss the success and failures experienced at the incident. It is also a time to ask a few key questions. 

• What did we expect to happen?

• What actually occurred?

• What went well and why?

• What can we improve upon and how?

The benefit of asking these questions allow for strengths to be easily identifiable and make it easier to uncover areas of weakness. By uncovering areas of weakness, you can develop ways to improve them! 

In closing, I’d like to leave you with this piece of advice. If we think of firematics as an orchestra and each piece getting broken down into sections, we can identify each area as its own unique piece yet, an integral piece to the orchestra as a whole. With practice, each section sounds in harmony and sync with one another, but without practice or even a section missing, the harmony and synchronization doesn’t happen. This is the same for firematics, you cannot have one without the others.

For further information on these topics, you can refer to my book, “The 5-Tool Firefighter” where these concepts are laid out in greater detail along with other areas of interest to guide all firefighters on their journey to success.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired.