What Are You Learning?

A few months ago a few members of my fire department along with the engine company engineer and the assistant chief approached me about setting up live fire training for the department being I’m an instructor at the local fire school.  I asked them a few questions about what areas they’d like to focus on in the live fire training. They’re response was, “it’s in your hands”. Perfect. Now I have more wiggle room to develop scenarios based on research, our response area and the manpower attending and not have it too generalized.

Shortly thereafter, I went through the proper and legal channels at the school to have the live fire training set up and scheduled at the school and notified my superior officer to let the crews know we have a date set. Once this was set, I started to in a sense “interview” the members that would be attending the training based on the sign-up sheet hanging in firehouse. Little did they know, each week I was analyzing their skills, how they handled the equipment during truck checks, behavior/awareness on calls and little quizzes myself and another firefighter from an urban department near Manhattan, NY would give them. Once I felt this was complete and had enough info, I wrote my lesson plan that would be used for the training and submitted to the school prior to the training date for recordkeeping and legal reasons.

My reason for these “interviews” was this; I wanted to see what they knew so I can strengthen their strengths and expose their weaknesses. I did not want these training evolutions to be basic and routine where the firefighters would be bored and not challenged all the while keeping them and the other instructors’ safe at all times. I want to challenge them not only physically but also mentally because most of what we do is a mental game. It doesn’t matter how physically in shape you are; this job can beat you mentally and break you down quicker than any physical beating can. 

So the lesson plan was set, 3 live burn scenarios based on response areas in our primary response area, the “interviews” with each member attending (8 total firefighters), along with our manpower we usually have on calls (which is usually on the light side) 
For the 8 firefighters who took place in the training, 5 of the 8 were relatively greener firefighters with 5 years or less. Prior to each evolution, the firefighter’s vitals were evaluated by EMS and then the scenario in detail was given to them so there were no tricks or surprises coming their way. Reason being, I wanted them to visualize the scenarios in their heads beforehand and develop their own plan of attack based on their assignments from the incident commander.  

Here’s what I discovered:

1.    In the first evolution, the firefighters used this exercise to loosen up a bit and get the kinks out. Both crews worked well separately but when communicating information to each other they were lacking.

2.    After their “breaking in” evolution, the firefighters were open and honest with us and each other when critiquing their performance. This is key when training. Admitting mistakes and improving on them as you go. No one is perfect 100% all of the time. Mistakes happen and if you can identify them and improve on it, it shows you’re learning.

3.    They challenged themselves to learn and try new techniques they weren’t taught in the fire academy. Although a little hesitant at first and after dry runs and drawings explaining “vent-enter-isolate-search (VEIS), the firefighters each efficiently demonstrated this and admitted it is different yet effective if done properly. In this job, the way things are done are always changing and evolving. Continually education and training is needed to keep yourself safe, your crew safe and also the community you’re protecting safe.

4.    As an instructor, we are too learning while we are evaluating the firefighters in training evolutions. It’s not just about us standing there watching and critiquing them. We too learn from each scenario. What we would do if we were in this situation and how we can improve on this and that. It’s training for instructors as well.

5.    We learn more about each firefighter and what makes this one in a sense special is, it is the guys I ride with. I learn more about them and how they react to things, their strengths and weaknesses in given situations. Also, they learn about me. As an instructor and as a leader. Will they continue to go to me as a way to set up department training or will they look elsewhere? Can they work with me as a firefighter? These are questions that ran through my head as soon as I left the training grounds. 

So my question to all of you in the fire service who are instructors at any level, academy, outside agency or your departments training officer. What do you learn from the training evolutions you set up for outside fire departments as well as your own?
Being a fire service instructor isn’t just about instructing others in fire service training; it’s also about leadership and getting the most out of your students and yourself. Leave your mark on fire service.

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

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 14 years of service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

The Taciboard

When you're a fire service instructor doing a practical exam, you see all kinds of peculiar things. For instance, two students walk to my hazmat skill station. They have all their gear on. They are carrying their tools. But wait. What is that? I've been in the fire service 16 years and have never seen a tool like this. Picture this: A red, wooden, board. It's flat and is about as long as a typical ax or pro bar. One side had a handle carved into. The other side, metal reinforcement attached with screws. Have you ever seen someone coming towards you and said to yourself, "Here comes the funny story!" I waited patiently to hear the "what had happened" start for this odd invention.
 
"It's the Taciboard!"  "The what!?" I say. The student (we'll call him Fred D. Firefighter) goes on to explain that early on in recruit class, he left his tool behind during training. To assist Fred in remembering the importance of carrying his tool, the instructors gave him a board to carry everywhere. It was simply a plank of a dingy, wooden pallet. Fred took it upon himself to do more with it. That's when he came up with this unique, versatile tool. He listed more uses for this thing than I can recite. 
 
When's the last time you owned a mistake you've made? When is the last time you've seen the opportunity in your challenge?  Most people would have seen carrying this board as just an ordinary recruit school punishment. Instead, Fred made an extraordinary new tool based on a new challenge. You don't have to be a teacher to provide a worthwhile lesson. In this case, here's Fred’s lesson for us: Life's challenges give you a chance to find opportunity. Ordinary people do extraordinary things. 

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Engine Company Operations: Perfection in the Attention to Detail

Friends of mine who are members of area truck companies aka ladder companies love to bust my chops being that I am an engine company guy. We get used to hearing the sayings like “You can train a monkey to advance a hose by throwing bananas down the hall” or “If the engine company is blocking the stairs just say (move important truck company coming through)”. 

The job of the engine company seems simple enough, “put the wet stuff on the red stuff”.   It takes a well-trained crew and apparatus to fulfill that saying.  Simplicity of the engine company comes with experience.  Hose kinks, pressure losses, lines not reaching the fire room and lack of supply line are what make engine company member’s head boil. Why is this? 

It may be as simple as another fire service saying “as the first line goes, so does the fire”. 

On the engine company it takes an ounce of prevention and detail to make a ton of difference on the fireground. How often do you stretch your handlines? When was the last time you pulled the 2 ½” handline? When was the last time you flowed your handlines? Pulled a draft? Conducted relay pumping and tender shuttles?  There is never such a thing as stretching and flowing lines too many times. The public doesn’t want to hear excuses when the line doesn’t reach the fire floor or the line wasn’t pulled correctly and the block was lost. 

When you’re re-racking lines, does your crew second guess how to rerack the lines, or has it become second nature?  The saying “looks pretty, pulls pretty” comes to mind. It may take an extra few minutes to rerack it correctly at zero dark thirty but when the alarm rings for the next job, you are going to want that line to pull nice and smooth each and every time.  Do you have riding positions on your engines, for when each member gets off the apparatus do they know their assignment? This helps keep accountability and cut down on confusion when arriving on scene. 

There is much that can be discussed later about engine company tactics. For the time being we will give in to the truck company guys and keep the engine tactics simple.  Steady is smooth, and smooth is fast. Summer is here, keep stretching and flowing those handlines. Get creative and start timing your company from drop of the supply line to water on the training prop. 

The more you work at it, the smoother your engine company tactics will become. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the lieutenant of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management. 

Fire Fact #2: The 2 1/2" Line: A Mainstay of the American Fire Service

The 2 ½” hose line has been in the fire service for decades. This is especially true for urban fire departments with big fires (large factories, high-rise office buildings and crowded residential neighborhoods) and abundance of manpower. Although some departments had retired the use of the 2 ½” the New York City Fire Department required it for all structural firefighting up until the late 1960s. During the 1960s and 1970s the country was hit with a financial crisis leading departments to abandon the use and also questioned the usefulness of the hose and began downsizing to small hose lines for heavy fire attack. 
Well as we all know the 2 ½” hose line is still alive and kicking today; so let’s learning more about the hose line. Using a 2 ½” Attack Line may be a daunting task and very difficult to maneuver throughout a structure.

Here are some benefits of using a 2 ½” line:
1.    Lower friction loss
2.    High fire flows
3.    Exceptional reach & penetration
4.    Heavy knockdown power

When to use:
1.    Heavy fire conditions regardless of occupancy
2.    Offensive attack isn’t safe or able to be conducted
3.    Large un-compartmentalized structures
4.    Unable to determine location, size or extent of fire
5.    High-rise buildings
6.    Large brush or trash fires

Something to consider: 
50 feet of a charged 2 ½” line weighs 106lbs and 50 feet of a charged 1 ¾” weighs 52lbs. Take into account your manpower as well when deciding your initial attack line. 

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

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Where Are The Instructions?

Everything was gathered in front of us: Eggs. Water. Oil. Cooking spray. A pan. And of course, cake mix. My youngest daughter and I had items ready, as per the standard operation procedures of cupcake making in our home. We are set to begin operation 'ultimate cupcake'. What makes our cupcakes ‘ultimate’? People may not be willing to put 10 lbs of stuff into a 5 lbs bag, but I'm willing to put 24 servings of cupcake batter into a 12 serving pan.  
 
Aside for the last part, I'm pretty good at following instructions. After years in the military, followed by years in the fire service, I have had plenty of practice. Give me instructions to a task I have never done, and I'll probably figure it out. But what do you when there are no instructions? For things like, how to be a dad? Sure there are self-help books jumping off the shelves for parenting. Where is the one for your specific model of kid? 
 
Despite all of the specific instruction I 've had in my two careers, those careers have also helped me figure out how to work without instructions. I use the acronym RPM. (because, after 14 years in the military, and 16 years in the fire service, how could I resist making my own acronym).  I use this regularly for being a dad, but it can be applied to other aspects of life, such as leadership
 
1.    Read
o    No, you can't find all the answers you need in a book. Yes, you can find useful info that can help you. It is a starting point. Reading will not always give you answers, but it can give you ideals. Things change, parenting changes, leadership situations change. You better be changing to keep up. Keeping your reading list current will help with this.
 
2.    Playbook
o    Slide tray. Template. Script. Whatever you want to call it. People who have been in the military and/or fire service know how to take prior experience, and come up with a general-use guide for getting through situations. I say general, because sometimes the play is broken; it doesn't go as planned. But it can still be made to work. And now the play is improved.   
 
3.    Mentor
o    Get a counsel of wise people. In a TED talk video, Bruce Feiler, a dad dying of cancer, found a group of dads to mentor his kids after he passed on from his illness. We all need a group of people wiser than us to prepare us for what is ahead. Having one mentor is not enough. This group needs to be as diverse as you want your life to be. Take their wisdom. See the possibilities.  
 
There are a number of life areas that you will have to make things happen without directions on the box. Whenever you’re operating out of the box, try using RPM for ultimate leadership, or ultimate cupcakes. Life needs more of both.  

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Ordinary People

"You know; this is a bigger deal than you think." That's what I tell my wife as she gets ready for her second interview. For the second time in one day, I've been asked "Are you Veronica Baskerville's husband?" I’ve heard this question many times in our 12 years of marriage, but not from reporters.  

The evening before, my wife went from hearing the piercing sounds of laughter and joy at a baby shower, to the ringing in her ears of gun shots piercing the air. One of those shots landed in the shoulder of a 7-year-old kid. My wife rendered aid to the kid until public safety arrived on the scene to take over. So automatic was her response to give aide, it didn't register for her to even talk about it later that evening. Honestly, with each of us being in the public safety for 16 yrs. each, we each have forgotten most of these stories before getting home. It’s “Just another day at the office.”

On this first day of National EMS week (15-21 May), I'm reminded that of the many ways to group people in the world. I have found yet another paring. There are those people in public safety that have these ordinary days. On duty or not. Career or volunteer.  Full time, part-time, or per call. And will always answer the call to action.

And then there are the people not in public safety. People who see our ordinary day as extraordinary. And appreciate that someone is doing these ordinary things that have an extraordinary impact. I’ve had the privilege of seeing the embodiment of public service for 16 years in my wife. Despite her claims of being an ordinary person, I have always known her extraordinary impact.

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

The Importance of Clean PPE

We all love that fresh smell of smoke on our gear. It lets others know we been in a fire and the charred up shield on our helmets tell our stories of the fires we been in. The soot filled turnout gear and sometimes all over our hands and face; the smokey smell in our hair for days, all of that comes with territory of fighting fire. It’s great isn’t it? It’s almost like a rite of passage into the service.  

But is it something that’s costing us years of our time in the service and almost shortening our days with our families?

While on the job, we as firefighters come in contact with tons of carcinogens, toxins and diseases found in structure fires, car fires, as well as blood and bodily fluids which can be carried away in our turnout gear causing potential harm through ingestion, inhalation and/or absorption. As members of the emergency services, we are continually trained on those three routes of entry when refreshing ourselves on our yearly blood borne pathogens training each year. Firefighters are not the only ones to be at risk for contracting potential hazards that are left on our uncleaned gear. Anyone who has direct contact with the gear is also at risk.  This goes for the general public as well since we all know children love getting tours of our firehouses, seeing our apparatus and trying to fit into our gear and wear our helmets. By not keeping our gear clean, exposures to others are possible since we are also in direct contact with the general public. 

Turnout gear that has been worn on fire-related calls, and has been in contact with carcinogens without cleaning in between calls will diminish the gears ability to protect the firefighter. The soot and other related products of burning leave a number of material deposits on the surface of gear and in the fibers of the protective layers of the gears causing the surface of the gear to be less heat reflective. In the presence of oils and other flammable materials, the heat absorption on the surface of our gear, should this gear not have been cleaned prior to making contact, could potentially lead to re-ignition or flash over. When considering the less obvious type of soot - carbon based soot – increases conductivity when in contact with live wires, raising potential for electrical shock. 

Long term effects of dirty gear is quite simple, it doesn’t last as long as the manufacturers recommendation. The soot and other particles that were continually absorbed into the gear will begin to break down the shell of our gear and some of those particles and burn bits that are lodged in our gear can become abrasive causing rips and tears in our gear. Regular human movements and the bending and folding of the gear will cause the rips and tears in the gear abs wear out the fibers. Recommended cleaning of the shell of the gear is ever six months at minimum or more depending on how much contact we have with soot and other carcinogens to reduce the amount of abrasive particles picked up in our gear. So remember to wash your gear; keep yourself, your crew, your family and the general public safe. Just like we take pride in keeping our apparatus, our station and our tools clean, we should our turnout gear because it’s another tool to keep us safe. So take pride in looking your best on every run because we are always in the public eye!

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

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 14 years of service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Get Me Down From Here

There is no way I am doing that! That was my initial thought. I was in high school living in the European country of Belgium when we went to a dimly lit roller skating rink. I was there with a group of friends and parents. Skating rinks were nothing new, but this one had something different. This mountain of a ramp. At least one story high. You could slingshot down it and out onto the main floor. Why on earth would I do that? Apparently, my brain did not convey that thought down to the rest of my body in time to stop me from getting up there. I found myself at the top of ‘skate mountain’, looking down. There was no way to go back if I wanted to. My mom looked on, probably with hopes that she spoke enough French to get me to a hospital in case this didn't work out as planned. 
 
Years later, I'm at it again. I shouldn't be surprised. This time it was a hot, summer day at a busy pool in Germany. I'm standing on the diving board a few stories high. The smell of chlorine in the water makes it all the way up to me. I was excited about jumping off...until I got to the top. Have you ever been really excited about jumping into something new, only to find yourself not sure if excitement or fear is what you're feeling? Suddenly, out of nowhere, a kid half my age bumps me out of the way as he makes his jump. Ready or not, I'm about to go over. 
 
Yet again, I managed to find myself in an elevated place. This time, it's walking onto an empty stage. It's the Howard Theater in Washington DC. The stage maybe empty, but the audience is not. Sold out. There were over 100 sets of eyeballs and ears looking and listening. It was the second time I was able to speak at The Moth Storytelling event. An event where people tell stories based on a theme. Personal, true stories. And I began to tell a story that I had never thought I would share with anyone. Five minutes is a long time when you are opening the vault of your thoughts. All the while, hoping your story can inspire at least one person. 
 
At each one of these points in my life, I took on an exciting, new challenge. A challenge that that, once I got there, I was no longer sure I wanted. Have you ever had doubts about the very event you had been longing to do? How did you move yourself forward? Or did you? If you didn't, here is what helped me:
 
o    Get a Supporter
•    Sometimes, you need just one person that has more faith in you to have faith in yourself
•    It doesn't hurt if they also have a plan for fixing you up just in case
o    Get a Kickstarter
•    Sometimes, you need one person who, just when you need it, will nudge (or push unexpectedly) you to get going
o    Get a Big idea
•    Doing things just for you is fine
•    In those moments of paralyzing fear, however, having someone or something more important than yourself may be what you need to get momentum
 
In each case, I went to a high place in my life that set up my potential. I just needed a spark to move from potential to reality. How are you going to release your potential?  

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Fire Fact

According to studies, wood burns at 1,880 degrees Fahrenheit which is one degree hotter than gasoline which burns at 1,879 degrees Fahrenheit yet is much less than methanol also known as “wood alcohol” which burns at 2,190 degrees Fahrenheit; 310 degrees hotter than wood but in a normal atmosphere most materials will burn near the same temperature. (Source: NFPA 921, 2014 ed. Table 5.6.5.1.)

In a controlled setting this will stand true since burn times for each of these are vastly different as well as the heat release rate that is being produce by these as well. Temperatures are good to know but also knowing that the more the products of combustion in the room (their respective temperatures will still be produced) the greater the HRR and the greater fire flow needed.

That’s your fire tip of the week! For more on HRR and fire flow check out our article "Importance of Fire Flow in Today's Fire Service" on why an increased fire flow plays a tremendous part in cooling the products of combustion in today’s rapidly changing society.

Choices, On Duty and Off Duty, Their Consequences, and the Era of the Social Media Jury

In light of recent incidents in which I have read in local and regional news, I felt this article to be very necessary. The news stories hit home, extremely close to home. We live in a society that relies on social media and the headlines from major news outlets. We even seem to rely on the tabloids for our “news”. When a member of the emergency services including police, fire and ems make it into the news, it seems to be more common that its bad news rather than good news. The days of reporting about lives being saved appear to be taking a back seat to articles about who has been arrested and who is being sued. This is not a good sign for all of us as emergency services providers.

We must take a look into the mirror each morning and ask ourselves “are we truly able to handle the trust that the public has for us?” When we are engaging in activities both on and off duty, are we thinking about the consequences of what we are doing? If not, I urge you to ask yourself, can you responsibly handle the public’s trust and respect? When emergency services providers end up in trouble, the headline is not just “Joe Somebody arrested for theft” its “Joe Somebody, chief of XYZ department arrested for theft”. When you sign up to join the emergency services field, you take an oath of office or a commitment to serving others. In doing so, you also take on the weight that what you do will reflect not only on yourself,  but also on your family, your department, your community and your respective service as a whole. If you think going through the United States legal system is stressful, the fallout on the social media which seems to follow situations as such, is just as stressful and never truly goes away, even when proven innocent in a court of law.  The court of law is not the same as the “court of social media.”

As a judge would say, “The Court of Social Media is in session”. It appears from many comments online for some of these situations that people are quick to rush judgment on situations before the legal process has made its official determination. We seem to lose sight of “Innocent until proven guilty” or “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”  Did we not learn as children, the saying of “those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones?” It’s easy to denounce someone else on social media for their mistake or situation. How would you respond to being in a similar situation if it was yourself, your best friend, your family member or your own department? Many of these situations can be prevented with just a little bit of thinking before doing. When a member gets caught up in a situation where they didn’t think and caused trouble for themselves and everyone around them, the court of social media will be in full swing and the prosecution never seems to relent. The legal system may actually be more forgiving than that of the social media court and its jury.

The era of instant gratification and instant blame has pushed its way into emergency services. This push of instant public comment has exacerbated situations as quickly as turning on a light bulb.   We as the emergency services community have not seemed to learn from these situations and mistakes that members have made. If we don’t learn from the mistakes and situations, we will never get ahead of that public relations nightmare light bulb turning on and we will continue to see the court of social media in full session.

When you’re on duty or off duty and making a decision, ask yourself, “will this decision end up on an internet search? Will this follow you for the rest of your life? Will it cause distrust of you, your family, your department and your community?” When you are reading the news online and see that a fellow emergency services member has been caught up in some trouble, are you going take part in the “court of social media” acting as a prosecutor, judge and juror? Or are you going to pass over doing that and spare someone the added grief and stress in the situation that they are dealing with?

The choices are yours, the consequences that follow an action are more than just yours to face. The way to begin to regain the public’s trust and restore integrity to our emergency services is to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, wash your face and ask yourself “are we truly able to handle the public’s trust today?” “Are we going to do the right thing, not just today, but every day?” That oath, that commitment you made, are you going to uphold it? That comment box below an online article about a fellow provider, ask yourself, “Are we going to comment, or are we going to move along and keep our thoughts to ourselves?” These life choices are yours, choose wisely, for your future, your family’s future and the future of the emergency services community depends on it.      

About the Author

NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the lieutenant of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management.

The Drive to Develop Leadership

Have you ever thought of owning your dream car? Think of that for a moment. The perfect year, make, model, color, and whatever else is a must have for you. For me, it would be a 1969 Pontiac Trans AM. Chrome wheels, immaculate paint, and in pristine condition. Problem is, if I found that car today, in that condition, I couldn't afford it.   

Instead, I would be looking for a car in need of repair. I would put in the needed work to bring out all of the best qualities of it. It would take time and hard work, but at the end of it, my dream would be a reality. That's what it is like to build up leadership in a person. It doesn't matter if that is yourself or someone else. No one starts off completed. We all have our various flaws. But with hard work and a time investment, we can maximize the leadership potential inside of us and the people around us. Are you ready to get you leadership skills to show room condition?

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Friendship, From the Radio to the Street

For many of us in the emergency services fields, we get an opportunity to know our dispatchers. Our dispatchers or 911 operators are the lifeline on the other side of the radio. This lifeline, watches our “6” when we are alone, keeps the callers calm and directs us with precision to where help is needed.

I was fortunate to have worked on the other side of the mic from fellow contributor and dispatcher Sean Walsh. It was Sean who helped me get my start at The Firehouse Tribune. Over the past few years I developed a strong bond with Sean and the members of the night shift at Morris County Communications Center. It was truly helpful to know that Sean would always be on the same wavelength as me. 

Many a time Sean could figure out what I was about to say before I said it over the air to him.  He was able to do this just by picking up our tendencies in field communications over the years.  Sean was there to help me run the largest attended county parade in the course of 10+ years. It was his help during the night shift when things got busy that ensured the quick responses of ambulances. That day, in the course of 14 hours, we had 44+ emergency medical services calls.

Sean, operator 180, was there when I became a new company officer in the fire department. Even at 2am, he was able to go above and beyond for us. He was able to get call back numbers, do phone patches, cover the radio, and manage to calm residents down who were thousands of miles away and inform them that the fire department was at their house and needed access.

As Captain of a very busy local ambulance squad, I regularly volunteered on our Saturday night shift. It was considered to be one of the busiest days of the week for the squad due to the many bars and restaurants in town. Sean was on the dispatch desk for many of those Saturday nights. Sean was always ready to help us at 2am when the bars would close and the call volume would spike within a 20 to 30 minute period. He was truly always on his “A” game helping us manage the influx of calls.

It’s a great feeling when you know you’re on the same wave length as your dispatcher and you can relate to one another. I have been fortunate over the past few years to have worked the radio with fellow contributor Sean Walsh. We will certainly miss him as he chases new endeavors, guiding the world’s air travel. We thank him for his service.  To operator 180, thank you for your service, best of luck my friend, we will miss you.

About the Author

NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the lieutenant of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management.

The Final Shift

After many thousands of emergency and non-emergency calls for service answered and 4 and a half years on the desk (8 years total with non-public safety dispatching) I am hanging up my headset tonight. I cannot even begin to describe what I am feeling right now. I knew this would be an interesting job and experience; I could never have imagined how absolutely correct I would be. It has been a whirlwind from crazy October Snow Storms that cancel Halloween, to a tragic Plane Crash, to dealing with Super-Storm Sandy, to all the other everyday craziness; I could not have asked to spend the time with a better group of people who are the epitome of professionals.

 From birthdays to Christmas and funerals to weddings I have experienced it all from behind the desk. There have been amazing times and bad times and through it all we have grown together as a family. It is fitting that this week is National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. Not only do I get to express my deepest gratitude to everyone for the work that we do every day but everyone in the country also gets a glimpse into our world. This job is certainly not for everyone, but those who can do it have a passion like I have never seen before. I wish that everyone was able to experience this job just to have a better understanding of what we as Dispatchers go through on a daily basis, our normal day is usually the public’s worst day. We live with that even on our days off. I will never forget what I have learned doing this job, and never forget the people that I have interacted with.

Tonight, on my last night, I am so touched by all of the outpouring of support and well wishes. From my coworkers throwing me a party with some of the most delicious food I have ever had (Thanks Guys!!) to the endless e-mails, text messages, Facebook posts/messages, phone calls, and over the radio messages. I am simply blown away and this just solidifies what I have known all along, I have the best second family anywhere.

I have met some the most dedicated, professional and wonderful people from both sides of the radio while working. I am so eternally grateful to each and every one of them for making my time so amazing. I want to thank them all for everything and I look forward to the next chapter of my life as well as all of theirs.

This is not the end for me by a long shot. I am moving over from public safety dispatching to hopefully a just as prosperous career as an Air Traffic Controller. For the next 17 weeks I will be in training classes at the FAA academy in Oklahoma City. I look forward to this amazing opportunity and know that my experiences with this career will carry over into my new career.

 With that being said, I say thank you again. I look forward to keeping in touch with everyone.

Sean Walsh

Operator 180, Signing Off

What I Know Now About Leadership

"That's how you plan to handle that? That is the response I got from the drill instructor when he asked me how I was going to handle a problem that just happened in the dorm. It was somewhere around the fall/winter of 1992. I was all of 17 years old. And within a few months of being in basic training for the Air Force, I choose to lead about 50 recruits as the dorm chief. The other guy didn't fare so well. For the life of me, I have no idea why I decided to take the leadership plunge.

I take that back; I know why I did. No one else would. Life had already taught me that one way to make sure to stay around for a while is to do the jobs no one else will. I didn't know it then, but that was a pivotal moment in my training to be a leader.

The question the drill Instructor asked me dealt with how am I going to fix a particular problem if I couldn't get people to listen to me. My answer was to tell him the problem so he could handle it. The tone of his voice clued me into the notion that was not the response he was looking for. What I didn't understand at the time was he was looking for me handle it. But I had no ideal by how.

I've heard that experience comes from how you have had to work through trails and/or fix your mistakes. In the following weeks, I gained a lot of experience. Here's what I now know about leadership:

1.      Leadership is figure-outable

I didn't have the right leadership answer for the drill Instructor that day, but I have learned a better answer over time thanks to experience. It's amazing what you can find in you when forced to look.

2.      Everyone has potential to be a leader

Not everyone knows it. Not everyone has the same level of leader capabilities. It's a process of self-discovery.

3.      Getting to really know people is one way to be a better leader for them

Connect people's values to the direction you need to go. if you don't know the people well enough, you will struggle with this.

4.      Finally, leadership is a transferable credit

I took those lessons in leadership from the military, and have put them to use in the fire service to help move individuals, and hopefully organizations forward.

 Now, how do you plan to handle your next leadership question?

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

How Are You Training?

We have all heard the saying “I’ve seen one fire; I’ve seen them all”. Well the saying really goes “I’ve seen one fire…I’ve seen one fire”. No two fires are the same but in this article we aren’t here to talk about fire behavior and fire science, we are here to talk about training. 

Each one of us knows a firefighter or two on their department that speaks like they know a whole lot about everything but in actuality the individual knows a whole lot about nothing. They seem to think after they get their minimum requirements by their respective state and meet departmental requirements they don’t need to do much more to better themselves on the job. Believe me, this isn’t all firefighters but there’s always an outlier in the group.

I know what you’re thinking. Why am I saying this?

I’m saying this because continual education is one of the most important aspects to the longevity of job.

In New Jersey, the state requires firefighters who enter the fire academy to fulfill 192 of initial training in the “Firefighter 1” Program before they can sit for the State Firefighter Exam along with an additional 120 hours of training in the “Firefighter 2” Program. Most departments in the state also require personnel to be EMT certified which requires a minimum of 210 hours of training. This consists of classroom, hands on training and ER (emergency room) time. 
In addition to this, most departments do require their personnel to have other types of training that is required by their respective department. Some of these courses include but are not limited to pump operations, incident management, officer training, technical rescue and any other specialized training that is specific to the work of their department.

EMTs in NJ who need to renew their certification are required to complete 24 hours of an EMT Refresher consisting of 3 modules over a 3-year period. Each module is a total of 8 hours of training; where each module contains a specific area that has to be covered. Module A contains airways, module B covers medical emergencies and module C covers trauma. 
Most departments require firefighters to have an annual refresher each year covering bloodborne pathogens, hazmat, ICS, SCBA refresher and your Right to Know annual refresher. 
Is this enough training for firefighters to keep fresh and up to date with changes and updates in the fire service? Why isn’t there a mandated requirement like EMTs have by covering certain areas in the same way the EMT Refresher does? 

As we know, departments are consistently doing refresher training on a variety of skills to keep their firefighters fresh and up to date on new standards and skills. Which, in my opinion is a very resourceful way to keep skills sharp while adding new ones. But here’s the next question, outside of required department training, what else are firefighters doing to better themselves on the job?  

I noted 3 areas of training that I live by in order to achieve my goals, with the 3 in my opinion being the most important, to do what I can to advance my firefighter career.
1.    Classroom training
2.    Hands on training
3.    Self-education

Education is a key to success but hard work and dedication opens the door to the advancement of your career. This is why I say self-education is the most important of the 3 areas of training. We all can go to our required training but can we all pick ourselves up and read a few books, watch a webinar, listen to a podcast or read articles in magazines or on websites that pertain to our job all during our valued and much needed time off? 
Let’s challenge ourselves to add at least one of these self-education areas into our personal toolbox and go above and beyond what is asked of us.

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

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 14 years of service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

The Ever-Changing Fire Service and its debate over Fire Suppression Strategy and Technology

For many departments and fire service leaders, the fire service has a saying “100+ years of tradition unimpeded by progress”. For others, this same saying is “100+ years of progress unimpeded by tradition”. This issue may certainly take root in the debate over a drinking glass, and which way you look at it.  Is the glass half empty, or is it half full?  The perspective issue at hand is our own fire service’s strategy and integration of technology in fire suppression. We have come to learn terms such as RECEOVS or SLICERS.  RECEOVS stands for Rescue, Exposures, Contain, Extinguish, Overhaul, Ventilation, Salvage. SLICERS stands for Size-up, Locate the fire, Identify flow path, Cool the space, Extinguish, Rescue, Salvage. Isn’t the first priority of all incidents life safety? Why would we start changing our tactics? Some of this change can be focused on the fact that the materials which are burning in today’s structure fires greatly differs from those of the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and into the 90’s. Those days of firefighting saw most of the combustibles being made up of wood, cotton, paper and a few plastics or oil based products. Today’s fires are burning much hotter due to the majority of combustibles being of plastic and oil based products. Today’s lightweight construction has not helped; this construction makes surface areas easier to burn and causes a failure of the structure much more rapidly.

These changes have led to some possibly make drastic changes in the strategy and tactics.   One major decision factor which needs to be utilized is what we use to put fires out. Since the start of the early fire service, we have relied on water to put out fires. For many departments, we continue to put out fires with water and only water.  Water takes out only one area of the fire tetrahedron, it cools the surface. The new combustibles which are in everyday residences, commercial buildings and industrial facilities are multi-faceted and require eliminating multiple sides of the fire tetrahedron for successful rapid extinguishment.

We are faced with the exponentially growing use of oil and plastic based products in those burning materials. Some of members have changed their strategy and tactics rather than consider changing what is used to put out the fire. Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This certainly applies to our current fire service. We continue to put out fires with water and only water when our environment, the composition of the burning material, is rapidly changing around us each and every day. This is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.

One such area for our fire service should look at is using alternative agents for extinguishing fires. These alternative extinguishing agents include foam concentrate, dry chemical powder, clean agents and water misting. These systems and their fire suppression products are becoming more widely used across the private sector for industrial and commercial fire suppression applications. The possibility may be there for a transition of use in some aspects of suppression in municipal firefighting. For most of us in the fire service, we think of using foam on liquid fuels or stubborn industrial fires. Most don’t see us using it in private dwelling fires or main street America type occupancies. When we think about it, how many of us still have a majority of items in our homes or businesses from the 1940’s through the 1990’s? Not many. Yet we still use the same tactic of only using water.                   

In 2014, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) provided an analysis of changing residential fire dynamics. Areas of the report cited that larger homes, open home geometries, increased fuel loads and new construction materials have led to faster fire propagation, shorter times to flashover, rapid changes in fire dynamics and shorter times to collapse. Experiments that were done by UL showed that flashovers are occurring at 5 minute time frame when it used to be 30 minutes or more to reach flashover conditions. Another area of the report showed that temperatures of fires in modern or legacy construction are much hotter than that of the tradition construction.  The National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) has also conducted studies as well in analyzing the changes we are facing in the fire service. Their study revealed that little has been done in the way of researching the effectiveness of manual hose lines. As more research is done we can begin to see how the big picture relating to fire suppression strategy and tactics is going to unfold and how best we can improvise, adapt and overcome challenges in this ever changing landscape.

The truth in the matter is that, the fire we see today is made up of these highly combustible products. Rather than just adopting new tactics in how we fight fire and suppress fire, maybe we need to consider options of learning from the private sector fire protection companies and teaming up with manufacturers to come up with new technological solutions to growing problems.  Our fire service is ever changing, fires burning hotter, lightweight construction collapsing quicker, response times increasing, staffing decreasing but we continue to stay the course while our environment continues to change.  Are we, as a fire service still willing to be “100+ years of tradition unimpeded by progress” or “100 years of progress unimpeded by tradition” the glass is yours, is it half full or half empty?  

About the Author

NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the lieutenant of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management. 

Production Company Hoping to Launch Brand New Fire Service Drama Series

Recently, we became friends with Steve Greene, owner of a company called Dalmatian Productions, Inc. who has been working on a project they have been developing in hopes of getting it picked up by TV networks, productions companies and now, Amazon Studios. Before we talk about their project, I want to share with all of you the story of The Dalmatian Productions, Inc.

About Dalmatian Productions, Inc.

Dalmatian Productions, Inc., was originally formed in the mid-1990’s by Steve Greene and Richard Bay who met in 1977 while becoming members of a combo fire department in Greensboro, NC. As time went on, Rich moved to Washington D.C. and became a Metro Police Officer and Steve moved to Syracuse, NY and also joined the combo fire department while in Syracuse.  

As life would have it Steve relocated to Florida in 1990 and settled with his family. A few years later, Rich came down to Florida as well to work for the Lake Worth Police Department. The two families spent lots of time together and during their times together they would talk about TV programs and at the time the “reality” TV shows such as, “COPS”, “Rescue 9-11” and “On Scene: Emergency Response,” were becoming big hits with viewers, yet none involved their mutual passion, the fire service. As they talked about it, they felt a show about the volunteer fire service should work well and at the time there were over one million firefighters of all types in the U.S. with the majority being volunteer or on-call. It was at this time that Steve and Rich were joined by their two additional partners, Tom Mitten of Wilmington DE, who also was a firefighter and PIO for his department and Jesse Escochea, a former first responder and video producer from Los. Angeles.

Their first show came out in 2000, “America’s Heroes: The Men & Women of Fire/Rescue.® Unfortunately it only sold overseas in Europe and Asia. After years of developing the ideas for a number of shows that all involved the fire-rescue service and tons of experimenting, “Cause & Origin©” was born. Although this was not to be a reality show but a limited series one-hour television drama.

The Series: “Cause & Origin – CSI in the Fire Service”

In the summer of 2015, Dalmatian Productions brought the script for this show to the Philadelphia Office of TV and Film and the Philadelphia Fire Department and both parties are very interested in working with them on this project.

“Cause & Origin” follows Tim Fitzpatrick a 3rd generation Philadelphia firefighter transferred to the Arson Investigation Unit after being seriously burned in a fire that killed his lifelong friend. Tim's reluctance to accept the transfer is pitted against his desire to know more about the fire that killed his firefighter father some 20 years before. Along his journey, Tim encounters an arsonist with a history deeply intertwined with his life and family.

The entire script and plot has been submitted to Amazon Studios in hopes of getting picked up for filming and production and here’s how all of you can help support fellow firefighters get their story out to the world in just 5 easy steps:

1.    Go to http://studios.amazon.com

2.    If you have any kind of Amazon account, sign in. If not, you can register right from this page, for free. (An amazon account is only required to leave comments and rate the item).

3.    Click on the magnifying glass in the top right corner, which opens the search box, and type, “Cause & Origin.” It will appear as “Cause & Origin” – Steven’s Project. Select it!

4.    This will take you to our profile page when you can read about the show and our company. If you scroll down, you will see, “PDF.” This allows the visitor to either download our PDF script or read it online.

5.    Once you’ve finished looking around, please leave comments and rate the show from 1 – to – 5 stars.

About the Author

The Firehouse Tribune Staff

All About Truss, Part 3

In the first 2 parts of this series, we spoke about what truss is and explained different type of roof truss systems. In this part we will discuss the dangers of truss construction on the fire ground and how it affects firefighters today a long with ways it has harmed us over the years.

In order to understand the dangers behind these systems, let’s first look at how these systems have affected the fire service. Over the last 40 some years the fire service has seen multiple tragic truss collapses that has forever changed the fire service and how it looks a not just building construction but its advancements in understanding truss construction. 

The first incident of truss construction that claimed the lives of firefighters was in 1968 at the Yingling Chevrolet in Wichita, KS. Within six minutes of arrival on scene the bowstring truss roof failed taking the lives of 5 firefighters.

The second incident occurred at a bowling alley fire in Cliffside Park, NJ in 1968. This was where five firefighters loss their lives when the truss roof collapsed, causing an exterior wall to be pushed out and trap the firefighters under the debris. 

The third incident occurred at the Hackensack Ford Dealership in Hackensack, NJ in 1988. This was where the bowstring truss roof collapsed and the resulting debris buried and killed five firefighters.

Since this incident, the State of New Jersey Uniform Code developed a system of adding 12” x 6” reflective truss shaped plaque on the street side of all truss built structures (commercial and planned residential developments). On the signs will appear if the floor and/or roof contains truss construction. An “F” would identify floor, an “R” would identify roof and an “R/F” would identify both roof and floor. 

The most recent incidents were the Sofa Super Store fire in Charleston, SC in 2007 that claimed the lives of 9 firefighters operating inside the structure and the 2012 theater fire in Abbotsford, WI that claimed the life of one firefighter operating inside the structure when the bowstring truss roof collapsed.

So where were the warning signs of these tragic truss roof collapses?? 

Well, there weren’t any and let us now discuss the dangers of truss construction on the fire ground.

Truss systems of any design have the same characteristics. They all use the least amount of material in order to achieve the greatest strength for long spans. They have smaller cross-sections and use considerably less mass than a solid beam of wood of the same strength which results in less inherent fire resistance and can cause early failure in fires. Should truss fail at any single connection, it can cause the failure of the entire system and should either the top or bottom chord fail, the entire system has the potential to fail. 

Loose gusset plates or metal tooth plate connectors (MPC) on the bottom chord can lead to tensile forces (tensile strength is a measurement of the force required to pull something such as rope, wire, or a structural beam to the point where it breaks) that will pull the truss apart. A plate that is loose or is lost from the top chord will cause any attached web members to the top chord to pull away. Both of these situations will greatly reduce the load capacity of the truss and may even cause the system to collapse. 

Any alterations to an individual truss or the building itself can alter the load capacity and integrity of the system. Trusses are often at times cut or altered to accommodate plumbing, wiring, vent ducts and other fixtures added to the building. Truss systems are designed to support the roof above. By added weight to the system this can drastically compromise the load-carrying capacity of the truss system. Sometimes buildings add suspended ceilings to their areas to cover up the exposed truss thus overstressing the truss. Other ways the truss can be overstressed is by adding air conditioning units, ventilation systems or any other loads within or above the roof that the system was not designed to bear.

Things to consider when working on truss construction.

1.    Pre-incident planning during the construction phases. This is your initial size up.
2.    Note the type of truss system that is being built, type of building construction and materials used.
3.    Ensure there is an initial size up (360 degrees of structure) and risk assessment of the incident before any and all interior and roof operations begin.
4.    Use a thermal imaging camera as part of the size up operation to assist in locating fires in concealed spaces. If done outside, do a 360 degree walk around the structure or use multiple firefighters to assist.
5.    Continually size up the structure during the incident paying close attention to the structure and the roof conditions until the fire is under control and all manpower is accounted for. 
6.    ALWAYS have Rapid Intervention ready should an emergency occur to a firefighter(s) inside.
7.    If trusses are exposed due to fire conditions, all firefighters working under or above should be evacuated and should go to defensive attack mode and expect for an imminent collapse.
8.    The IC should establish a collapse zone outside the structure. Truss collapses can push out on the walls and cause secondary exterior wall collapses. A collapse zone should be equal to 1 ½ times the full height of the structure, although can be greater based on the situation at hand and allowance for scattering debris.
9.    If at all possible, avoid cutting the truss chords when cutting holes for ventilation.
10.    Avoid roofs areas containing added dead loads.
11.    Have multiple means of egress at all times when inside the structure or working on the roof.
12.    During fire operations, immediately open ceilings and other concealed spaces when fire is suspected in truss systems. Be aware of a possible flashover or backdraft when doing so and make sure to have a charged hoseline ready for protection.
There you have it. Types of truss construction and their components, how it has affected the fire service, its dangers and how to stay safe while working on the fire ground with truss construction.

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

About the Author

View fullsize

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 14 years of service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Volunteer EMS in the 21st Century & The Tough Conversation About Staffing

In recent weeks I have seen an uptick in the number of articles throughout local newspapers and websites about the staffing shortages facing volunteer first aid & ambulance squads in New Jersey and across the country. Having been the captain of a squad that faced the same shortage of volunteers that others are facing, I know first-hand what those squad officers and members are feeling. The shortage of volunteers for many agencies gets worse, morale issues begin to set in, those members who were the most dedicated begin to burn out, mutual aid squads begin to cover more calls, residents or local leaders begin to complain. It seems as if it becomes a down-ward spiral. In an article from EMS1.com from September of this year it was stated that some New York counties were facing shortages of volunteer EMT’s and launched a study to figure out why it was happening and how it could be fixed. This issue isn’t just confined to those New York counties, but is visible across the country. Its great to see those New York counties stepping up and finding out how to fix this on-going problem for their communities. Reasons for the decline in EMS volunteers as stated in the study were changes in demographics resulting from instability in the economy where as many more people now have to work 2 jobs to provide for themselves or their family. Other changes were noted including the increased call volume from the aging population where many agencies were running fewer calls just 5 and 10 years ago as compared to today. 

In addition to the increased call volume came the increase in the amount of training hours for initial and continuing education.  New Jersey went from having a 120 hour basic course to a 200+ hour basic course just a few years ago. These changes can affect volunteer ambulance squads overnight. The current changes in the field of volunteer emergency services are similar to a domino effect, each domino is effected somewhere along the line, each squad, each member is effected somewhere along that line.  It is up to leaders of squads and government agencies including elected officials to try and fix this situation before it gets worse. That will take a team effort on everyone’s part including local EMT’s asking their local officials for support and to think outside the box when it comes to providing the best possible care for the citizens of the community. If we look a little further to the north in Connecticut, a different type of service has come about in the last 10-15 years which can reverse that down-ward spiral. EMS staffing companies have begun to surface. These companies supply per diem EMTs for volunteer agencies to supplement their staffing when they are faced with man-power shortages. They don't just cover the calls, they do patient care reports, stock and check ambulances, clean living quarters etc. One such company from CT, called Emergency Resource Management is working to come to aid New Jersey's volunteer first aid and ambulance squads. Solutions to the shortages are there, it’s not just any one given solution to fix everyone’s problems, it will take each agency and municipality to have a conversation about it’s staffing and abilities. Those squads will need to develop their own course of actions for their community and lay the ground work to start to reverse this volunteer EMT shortage. Support will be needed from the elected officials and state governments. Sometimes the toughest conversation for squad officers, members and community leaders is the best conversation for the benefit of the citizens and ultimately enable providers to provide the best care they can.

About the Author

View fullsize

NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the lieutenant of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management. 

The Forgotten First Responder

As I sit here at work, behind the radio with an unusual amount of moody/attitude filled units working, I am inspired to write something on the unseen people of Emergency Services. The calm voices in the night have many different names. Radio Operator, Dispatcher, Public Safety Telecommunicator, Call Taker, or whatever your local agencies uses. In reality, they are people doing a job that is definitely not for everyone. They are the first, First Responders who are always heard but most of the time never seen.

For starters, let me tell you about myself. My name is Sean, I have been in EMS for about 9 years working as an EMT, and rising to the rank of Lieutenant and eventually Captain. I have worked both as a Paid EMT as well as a Volunteer EMT. I have also worked Security for a major Theme park in New Jersey where I began my dispatching Career. I have been dispatching for a total of 8 years, 4 years with my current County based Center in New Jersey. In my current position, I am tasked with my primary job of answering calls for service, and dispatching units to those calls as well as many other tasks such as training new employees, assisting with updating training tools, and running the shift operations when necessary. I am a dispatcher, a leader, a trainer, a friend, and a resource.

How many of you have ever thought about the voice on the other end of your radio or pager? You all know the voices, you all hear them, but how many of you have actually taken the time to get to know the person behind the voice? As someone who works behind the radio, I can tell you that getting to know the people you are talking to makes a huge difference. Even more so than knowing your dispatchers, has anyone taken the time to get to know the job? Most people think all we do is answer a phone and push a few buttons. I am here to say that couldn't be further from the truth. 

Imagine sitting by yourself looking at a multitude of computer screens (anywhere from 2 to 4 to 6 to my 8) having to answer anywhere from 1 to 10 radio channels, 5 administrative phone calls, 1 to 2 emergency 9-1-1 calls, simultaneously gathering information, entering it into the computer, dispatching police, fire, EMS and making notification to Medics.  Now, imagine doing this for 8, 10, 12 or 16 hours a day. Sometimes with no break, eating at your desk taking bites between radio traffic or phone calls. Clearly this job is not easy, and not for all.
 Try being on the phone with a frantic mother who lost their child at a park, or talking to a child who can’t wake up their father who just fell on the ground. Imagine trying to give CPR instructions over the phone to a hysterical caller who is trying to save their loved ones life. Try feeling completely helpless as you are miles away from the person in distress and they are turning to you for help. This is just a few of the things that dispatchers have to deal with every day, every shift, every time they answer the phone.

Now imagine you out on the road dealing with your call. We know what you are doing, we understand that you are working and need whatever resources you are requesting. We hear you, we are working diligently to fulfill your request. You may very well not be the only radio channel we are working with, we may be on 3 or 4 different phone calls, so please give us a break. Give us a chance to answer you, give us more than 30 seconds before you start getting frustrated with us and start with the calling every 10 seconds and the attitude in the voice. Depending on the center, there may only be 1 person responsible for doing everything and during a major incident they are getting bombarded with information, requests and trying to make the notifications required. Please give them time to do their job. Remember they are working toward the same goal that you are, helping the public that need it.

In short, before you start bad mouthing, trash talking, or giving attitude to your dispatchers please take a minute to think about what they might be dealing with, who else they might be talking to, how many phones are ringing in the background. They might be dealing with 10 other situations on top of yours.

It is not always possible for us to get out the door to see you all, however I can almost guarantee you that it would be really nice if you all took the time to get to know us. Come see us, call up after a big call and see how we are doing, for those able, stop in and say hi, coffee and food are always a way to our hearts. We have to remember, no matter what is going on we are all part of the same team and are all working toward the same goal.

About the Author

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SEAN WALSH is an EMT with North Stelton Fire Company EMS Division in Piscataway NJ for the last 9 years. He is also a Public Safety Telecommunicator with a county based agency in NJ for the last 4 years. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at Thomas Edison State College (NJ) in 2013.