Aerial Operations - The Aerial Truck Check, Part 1

Here is a look into how my Aerial truck check goes.

I usually start my Aerial truck check by walking around the Truck and checking for any obvious signs of an issue. Any issue, such as scratches dents, paint chips, doors missing, broken glass, you know the obvious things.

The next thing I do is go to the saw compartment. I take each of the gas- powered saws out of their compartment and start them. I allow them to idle outside is a position that they won’t wander off. If you don’t know what I mean here, just start a saw and place it on the ground in front of you. The saw will slowly wander off as it idles. So, place it in a crack in the ground or up against the wall of the firehouse. (NOTE: Make sure it doesn’t vibrate on anything that may become damaged, like paint on the firehouse wall.) I allow the saws to run the entire time I am checking the Truck. When Im done checking the truck, I fuel the saws, check bar and chain oil, and place them in service. The reason I do this with the saws is to allow them to run and get up to temp. It helps keep a healthy saw. Now there is a lot more to the saws here, but this is where I will stop for now.

Next thing I do is pull the truck out of the bay. I am going to check the engine fluids of the truck. Some trucks you have access points to allow you to do this. I prefer to raise the ladder and then raise the cab of the truck. This allows me to get eyes on the undercarriage. I check the fluids, oil, transmission, window washer, and the DEF. I will check Hydraulic oil and the generator fluids at this time as well.

Continuing under the cab, I check the belts, pulleys and anything bolted on the motor. Especially that alternator. I don’t know why but, these have a habit of losing bolts. In our Aerial class one of the things that we do is a truck check before operating the truck. We have found more than once, a loose or missing bolt and have had to send someone to get a bolt to continue the class.

Once the motor and it’s various parts are in working order I move on the exhaust, brakes, and springs. Making sure all are in tact with no “shiny” metal. This usually means there is something broken. Lets hope whatever is broken, let’s say a spring, that it is shiny and not all rusted, if it is rusty this means it has likely been broken for some time and maybe we missed it on our last truck check.

THE AERIAL TRUCK CHECK

While the cab is still up check the back side of the tires for any deformities low tread, bubbles, chunks missing. Remember these are Emergency Vehicles, not a fleet truck. If there are any issues at all document it and bring it to the attention of the proper person. For me it is an e mail to the maintenance supervisor and the OIC for the day.

As we continue under the cab we grab a creeper, if you have one, and begin to roll under the truck. Now with the Aerial up and the cab in the air it should be obvious to others there is a truck check going on, but to be safe place an Out of Service tag on the vehicle to your department SOG’s. This way you ensure that no one will run the truck while you are under it.

Continue to check for obvious issues, again broken springs and other hardware. Check the hydraulic lines, any coolant lines that may run here. Air brakes and the cans in the rear. It’s a good idea to drain the air tanks while you are here, this will remove the moisture from the air tanks and help prolong your airbrake system.

Look for anything leaking fluid. Investigate it. I know some trucks have their quirks but again these are Emergency Vehicles.

Check the inside tires for any issues, check air pressure on all tires, top off to your truck’s specifications.

Next month we will dive into the compartments of the truck and the aerial. Please remember this is just a way to do something and hopefully give you a few tips along the way. My approach is systematic and works for me. It may not all work for you. As always if you have something that may help, drop me an e mail and Ill put in here! Oh and BTW, the saws are still running, make them ready and put em back on the truck!

Benefits of the Kettlebell Swing

Most of our time today is spent in front of a device - TV, smartphone, tablet, you name it. Sure, we can be utilizing these devices to better ourselves but in that same respect they are doing us harm, especially with our posture. Smartphones cause our chests to cave in and sitting at a laptop or a tablet on a desk allow our hip flexor muscles to shorten. During all of this, our muscles on the back of our body become overstretched and weak and our muscles on the front side become overworked and tight. This then causes a muscle imbalance in our body causing our physical performance to decrease.

This type of muscle imbalance can also impact our breathing capacity and as firefighters, how we breath and our ability to have maximum lung capacity is highly important to us especially when under moments of stress (ie. SCBA in an IDLH atmosphere). Due to this muscle imbalance our lungs compress causing us to take short, shallow breaths rather than deep, long breaths into our belly. This type of breathing - deep, long breaths into our bellies - is what we were naturally born to do yet over time from how we sit, stand and utilize our bodies has altered our natural breathing technique.

As firefighters, it is incredibly important our posture is strong on BOTH SIDE of our bodies -  the anterior (front) and posterior (back). By correcting any imbalances and strengthening both sides of the body, we are developing ourselves into strong, battle ready firefighters. Strength on both chains allow for a better ability to wear an SCBA and perform our tasks with it on. Pulling hoselines, raising and climbing ground ladders more effectively also benefit from a strong anterior and posterior chain. The days of a big chest and biceps are long gone and the days of a fully developed, well-conditioned firefighter is the name of the game.

Here is ONE exercise and yes I said one, that will help strengthen the anterior and posterior chains, keep your conditioned and more athletic overall. This exercise is the kettlebell swing.

Here's 6 tremendous benefits of the kettlebell swing and why I use this exercise every week in some fashion.

1. Better Posture. The swing strengthens all of the major muscles on the back side of the body due to the various movements of the upper and lower back and hips. The stronger our posterior chain is, the better our shoulders and hips stay in better alignment and helps prevent injury.

2. Conditioning. Although this is a "strength training" exercise, with high number of reps the kettlebell swing can kill two bird with one stone - strength and cardio. Seeing how many reps of the swing could be performed in one minute is an example of both strength and conditioning.

3. Core Strength. I cannot say this enough, core strength is what holds everything else together for top optimal performance. The core muscles job is to protect the spine from outside forces that try to bend it out of shape. Think about trying to lift a victim out of a window, our core muscles are working to not only help us lift the victim but also protect the spine from a heavy force pushing down on to it. By performing kettlebell swings, it teaches the body to remain strong while the spine is in motion moving into ranges that could be dangerous to the body if not performed correctly or a lack of core strength. Start light and start slow.

4. Power. Forcing a door with the iron takes explosive hip extensions for solid strikes from the axe to the halligan. Swings in a sense will mimic those movements by slowing down when bringing the kettlebell back through the legs and quickly bursting with power through the hips when swinging the kettlebell back up.

5. Grip. Simply holding on to the kettlebell handle and keeping it locked into your hands while swinging it will increase grip strength. Again, grip strength plays a role in utilizing all tools on the fire ground, from cutting a vent hole with a saw to forcing doors to performing an extrication. All require a solid grip on a heavy object while in motion.

6. Go ANYWHERE. It's one kettlebell of cast iron or of sand if you're using a Brute Force Kettlebell. Swings can be done at home, in a park, at the gym or even on shift at the firehouse. Takes up little room and little time to perform a few swings.

If you want to strengthen your entire body, develop explosive power and help reduce the risk of injury implement kettlebell swings into your regimen. Start off slow with a light kettlebell and increase the weight as you develop comfortability in the exercise. Don't forget to get creative as you grow and add in alternating or one-handed swings for unilateral training as well.

Here's a quick video on how to perform the proper kettlebell swing: Mastering the Kettlebell Swing | John Wolf - YouTube

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

Remembering Firefighter Mark Langvardt

On September 28, 1992 Denver Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire in a two story commercial occupancy at 0207 hours. Heavy smoke was billowing from the structure with no visible fire showing. As firefighter made entry, they were hit with high heat and extreme smoke with multiple fires in remote rooms across the structure. Engineer Mark Langvardt of Truck 16 was performing truck operations on the second floor when he became separated from his partner. Due to a partial floor collapse of the second floor, Langvardt found himself in a 6' x 11' room filled with filing cabinets and other office equipment with an aisle only 28 inches wide. The room had only one window that was 2o inches wide and a sill height of 42 inches off the ground and covered by a security grate. Engineer Langvardt was trapped and low on air. His ability to break a small hole in the window alerted the incident commander a firefighter was in trouble on the second floor. 

Shortly thereafter, a second alarm was transmitted and a rescue operation was initiated. While firefighters attempted to remove Engineer Langvardt from the window, a second crew was working to breach an interior wall in hopes to remove Mark. Due to the narrow space, height of the sill and weight of Mark in full bunker gear, firefighters were unable to remove Mark through the window. After a 55 minute operation, firefighters were able to gain access through the interior wall and remove Mark from the structure. Engineer Langvardt died from his injuries due to smoke inhalation.

Many lessons were learned from this tragic death and from this was the "Denver Drill" which is now taught around the country for rapid intervention and firefighter rescues. The fire was said to be arson and the arsonist was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

May Engineer Mark Langvardt, Truck 16 of the Denver Fire Department rest in peace.

The Front Bumper Line

An important line but at times overlooked is the front bumper line. This line has many advantages on the fire ground and allows for firefighters to operate for versatility. Each department has its own set of procedures on how to operate at an incident and thus having an option for the front bumper line will greatly increase each departments versatility on an incident.

Here are some advantages to the front bumper line.

Deployed from either side of the apparatus.

By having the advantage of being deployed from either side of the apparatus, it will allow firefighters better operability in stretching lines in various directions.

Nosed in Positioning

Sometimes the engine may need to be nosed in rather than having the ability to pull passed the structure such as operating at the end of a cul-de-sac. In having a fully equipped front bumper line of 1.75" diameter hose of 100 feet or greater, will allow the versatility in some instances on an incident where apparatus positioning is not ideal or limited.

Vehicle Fires and Motor Vehicle Accidents

The front bumper line allows for a quick deployment for vehicle fires since numerous lengths of hose are oftentimes not needed and also provides an ideal protection line when operating at an extrication incident. With extrication and stabilization teams working diligently to extricate a patient from a vehicle, a shorter hose length is ideal for safety and maneuverability on the scene.

Trash Fires

The front bumper provides a quick deployment for trash and dumpster fires rather than deploying a 200 foot cross lay option. For this type of incident, positioning the apparatus head on to the fire will provide the best tactical advantage and quickest means of hose deployment.

Department Preference

Each department has their preferred way of packing the bumper line and many utilize it for a different reason. No matter how it's packed or its initial use, the front bumper line provides another option when determining the weapon to attack the fire. To become proficient at the front bumper line, adequate training on the purpose of the line and scenario based training will help firefighters become comfortable to make this line an option if need be.

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

Peaked Roof Ventilation

The Cuts

There are many types of cuts, and we will discuss a few. But the main objective is to release the heat, smoke, and toxic gasses. To do this your hole size needs to be big enough to make a difference. Unfortunately, the day of the 4x4 hole is over. This size just doesn’t release the amount of heat needed to be effective. With all the synthetics and plastics in today’s homes, and the rate of heat release these products produce, it just makes sense to make the hole larger. You may not find this in many books, but from my experience and the experience of other like-minded Firefighters I network with; we agree that at least a 4’x6’ hole is the new minimum.

There are many ways to accomplish this size and larger hole. I am a big fan of two cuts. The Louver cut and The Milwaukee cut. Each has their place. Now there are many more to consider but these are the two I am going to talk about.

THE LOUVER CUT

A two panel louvered cut on a residential roof will provide an opening that is about 4x8 foot. Starting at a high point, near the ridge and working your way across the top. Start your cut by plunging your saw into the roof, slide the saw to the left until the resistance is greater. This means you have hit the roof rafter. Now slide the saw in the same kerf cut to the right until that heavy resistance is meet again, now roll the rafter. To roll the rafter, you lift the saw out of the roof material and cut just the sheeting not the rafter. Then as you have gone over the rafter plunge the saw again until the next rafter. Continue this for process. Cut, roll the rafter, cut, roll the rafter, and cut to the rafter. This will give you about six feet in length. Now cut downward toward the soffit, about four feet. If you’re unsure how far four feet is, count rows of shingles. Each row is about six inches. That’s a foot for every two rows. Cut down eight rows. Now work your way back. Same cut and roll method. This time after you roll the rafter, stop. Reach up to the top cut, make a cut from your top cut to the bottom cut. This should be half way between the rafters. Continue working your way back to your roof ladder. Make the last vertical cut and now wait for the word to open up. Punch through with your six-foot hook, the roof material will “louver” on the rafter.

After the cut is made do not forget to punch through the ceiling material to allow for proper ventilation. As soon as the cut has been made, firefighters should evacuate the roof as quickly and as safely as possible.

THE MILWAUKEE CUT

The Milwaukee cut is a great cut that catches all aspects of your roof. It runs from the peak to the soffits. It is usually around four feet wide. To start the cut is just like the start of your louver cut. The only thing I would add is an inspection cut at the top left and right. This becomes important when you are ready to pull the material from the cut. As this allows you to get the hook into the material and pull. I should add that it can be done with a rotary saw as well as a chain saw.

This cut is labor intensive. It can be done with two Firefighters but 3 is optimal. You will need two roof ladders, one on each side of your cut. How you accomplish this cut is up to you. Meaning that you can run two saws or one. But I like the old adage that two is better than one.

Either way, after making your cut across the top and then making your inspection hole, continue the vertical cut all the way to the soffit on both sides.

Climb back to the peak and begin pulling the material from the cut. Again punch through the ceiling material.

The advantage to this cut is in a lot of New England homes there are many voids in the roof area. Especially in Cape Cod style homes. With the attic space above and the knee walls all open this allows you to properly vent the whole structure

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

Pitched roof ventilation can be one of the most hazards operations on the fireground, yet it is one of the most important assignments.

There are numerous things to consider when working on a roof. Number 1 the fire is under you! Sounding the roof is a must, know and understand the sound of a solid and a spongy roof. Know that in older homes the ridge and valleys are usually the strongest, but still sounding is a must.

Use a roof ladder whenever you can. Yes you can walk a pitch of 6/12 or less but err on the side of caution. If you cannot see, meaning heavy smoke conditions, then get on your knees. When you have an SCBA on you have balance issues, add a pitched roof and low to no visibility, this could be a bad combination. Always try to work your way back to your roof ladder. This may not be able to be done 100% of the time but do it as much as you can. Know the signs of a bad roof. Bubbling shingles, smoke slithering from under shingles or through metal roofing. Any sags in the roof or in between the rafters. Understand building construction, especially roof construction. Understand what types of roofing material is on the roof, how many layers of shingles and sheeting material. If you are unaware of the construction type, then cut inspection holes. This may save you some time and may even save your life.

Mother nature is always messing with us. From snow to sleet to freezing rain. Be aware of these conditions and take appropriate actions. Use of a roof ladder even on a low pitch is a good start. Some type of striking tool, should already be in your tool selection, to break away the ice, maybe add a shovel as well.

Get out in your community and see what’s out there! Because you don’t know what you don’t know!

For more, check out Ryan Johnston and MAINE-IAC Training. www.maineiactraining.org

Follow Ryan on Instagram @maineiactraining

Importance of Proper Apparatus Positioning

As the old saying goes, "so goes the first line…so goes the rest of the fire"! With that being said, firefighters must remember this. How we position our apparatus is just as important as how we attack the fire, if not more important. It is imperative the engine company chauffeur and officer know the hose lengths on both the preconnects and static lays. The positioning of the engine is the first tactic done for a proper and strong initial fire attack. Same goes with the truck positioning. Proper positioning of the structure puts the truck at the best advantage for maximum scrub of the aerial for roof operations.

 Positioning an apparatus sounds simple but isn't as cookie cutter as one may think and oftentimes this small step could be misapplied on the fire ground. A miscalculation in the positioning of the apparatus may seem like a minor error in judgement but is also one that is almost impossible to fix and can make or break a scene. How we position our apparatus of any kind, is to do one thing - provide us with the BEST tactical advantage for fire ground operations.

When do we determine or decide where apparatus are positioned on the fire ground?

In short and for starters, during our pre-plan phase or as we could say, the pre-incident size-up. Yes, during this time we look at building construction, potential hazards, understanding interior space, stairwell locations and fire department connections but it is also the best time to consider apparatus placement or at least have an idea of where they will go based on the many factors of the structure.

Here's a few tips to keep in mind when determining apparatus positioning on the fire ground.

• Apparatus positioning should be set up for your best tactical advantage on every call, not just fire.

• Know the area you are responding to.

• Listen to how other apparatus are responding in (direction to the scene) to avoid confusion when arriving.

• Know your apparatus inside and out.

• If you are the truck company, know the engine company role and their best position for the initial stretch

• If you are the engine company, know the truck company role for their best position for aerial setup and maximum scrub. The FRONT of the build is ideal.  

• Train on positioning parallel with your strategies and tactics training.

Keep these tips in mind and train on positioning the apparatus at every scene. Do not park them at the scene.

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

Remembering the Deutsche Bank Fire

On August 18, 2007 a fire broke out at the former Deutsche Bank which was directly across the street from FDNY Engine 10 and Ladder 10 Firehouse. Otherwise known as the Ten House around 3:40 in the afternoon. The fire began on the 17th floor of the New York City building and soon thereafter became a seven alarm fire, was currently under demolition as it is at the site of the World Trade Center.

The building which originally stood at 41 stories was reduced to 26 stories after demolition crews removed the upper floors. At the time the fire broke out, the crews working on the demolition were in the process of removing asbestos. The fire was caused by a workers careless smoking which is in violation of the building's safety rules. The fire spread throughout the floor and affected ten floors of the remaining structure. Due to the work taking place in the building, protective polyethylene sheets which are made to prevent the spread of asbestos was draped throughout the floors, causing the floors to become a make shift maze for firefighters. The other danger these sheets present to firefighters is the buildup of smoke being trapped within these sheets. Further, since this building was under demolition, there was no functioning standpipe system for fire suppression crews to work off. This forced firefighters to raise hand lines from the street to combat the fire.

The building was not inspected since March of 2007 and was required to be inspected every 15 days. The seven alarm fire burned into the evening hours before being extinguished. There was an estimated 45 engine companies, 30 ladder companies, 3 rescue companies, 19 battalion chiefs, 4 deputy chiefs and numerous staff on scene.

115 firefighters were injured with 46 needing required medical attention. Two firefighters lost their lives this day on the 14th floor from smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.

May we always remember,

Firefighter Joseph Graffagnino - FDNY Ladder 5

Firefighter Robert Beddia - FDNY Engine 24 

May they rest in peace.

Remembering the Waldbaum’s Supermarket Fire

The incident

At 8:39 a.m. on August 2, 1978 four FDNY companies and 1 battalion chief was dispatched to the Waldbaum's Supermarket on 2892 Ocean Avenue and Avenue Y in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn for a reported fire. Engine 254 entered through the front door and began advancing hose to the mezzanine section of store while additional firefighters were sent to the roof to for ventilation.  At this time, only light smoke was in the building. Within 10 minutes at 8:49 a.m. an "all hands" signal was sent out as Engine 276 arrived and reported fire in the walls of the second-story extension that was still under construction. The initial engine on scene (E254), began fire suppression in the mezzanine ceiling where they reported high heat and little smoke.

Shortly thereafter, a second alarm was sent out and three ladder companies (169, 153 and 156) were on the roof making cuts through the bowed rain roof which sat near the center of the building. These companies found very little smoke and did not realize the fire was under the main roof of the structure. Ladder companies 169, 153 and 156 then began to make cuts near the edges of the building which was found to  vent great deals of smoke. Interior firefighters at this time were working to pull the drop ceiling to gain access for the roof firefighters to put water onto the fire they could see from the roof.

At 9:16 a.m. a loud noise from inside the structure rang out and a wooden roof strut had collapsed. With 24 firefighters on the roof, it was reported the roof collapsed without a sound. Six of the firefighters fell onto the tin ceiling and managed to escape the structure. All of the firefighters survived although some with serious injuries.

With more smoke inside and outside of the structure, a third alarm was sent out. Firefighters were still working on the roof, rushed to the edges of the building for safety. As conditions began to worsen inside, firefighters were now searching for survivors of the roof collapse and by this point Chief James O'Malley had ordered all firefighters to evacuate the structure. A few moments later, the entire roof collapsed. Two firefighters were found on the floor of the structure and four others trapped under the roof.  

The Building

The Waldbaum's Supermarket was a 15,000 square foot facility that appears to be a one-story building from the exterior. Inside there was a mezzanine used for offices. The building itself was constructed of masonry bearing walls and a wood-truss roof system. An additional one-story structure was being built as part of the renovation project. The ceiling was a complex structure all to itself of several layers with an interior drop ceiling installed to conceal the original tin ceiling followed by a flat roof supported by timber trusses and an exterior 'rain roof" to assist with drainage and water runoff.

Let us remember

Lt. James E. Cutillo of Battalion 33

Firefighter Charles S. Bouton of Ladder 156

Firefighter Harold F. Hastings of Battalion 42

Firefighter James P. McManus of Ladder 153

Firefighter William O’Connor of Ladder 156

Firefighter George S. Rice of Ladder 153

Remembering Firefighter John Nance

10:10 pm, the Columbus Division of Fire was dispatched to North High Street for a report of

smoke coming from the 1st floor of the Mithoff Building. At 10:12 pm, Engine 1 arrived on the scene

immediately, followed by Engine 9 and Engine 3. Firefighter John Nance was acting Lieutenant on Engine

3.

The Division of Fire used a “battle plan” consisting of two task forces to fight downtown fires.

Acting Lieutenant Nance was with Taskforce two and was staged at the rear of the building. His crew

noticed smoke hanging low to the sidewalk, indicating a basement fire. Nance and his crew from Engine

3 entered the building, joined by teams from Ladder 2 and Engine 2 shortly after. The smoke was so

dense the crews were forced to crawl while advancing the charged hose line.

Approximately 30 minutes into the incident, a second alarm was transmitted. While there was

still no visible fire, the smoke was increasing. Met with a significant amount of smoke and heat, Nance

and his crew continued to search for access to the basement. Unable to access the basement and

quickly exhausted, Nance and his crew vacated the building to cool down and switch out air bottles.

Now, after numerous research attempts, it seems no one knows what happened to Firefighter

John Nance other than he fell through the floor into the basement. A hole was found where he fell

through, leaving firefighters and officials to believe he was cutting a hole to the basement. Firefighters

were attempting to rescue FF Nance utilizing ropes and hose lines. As the fire began to show, Nance had

run out of air. The Assistant Chief started to remove people from the fire. Using a “search rope” type

technique, firefighters once again entered the building in a final attempt to save FF Nance. Firefighters

were again pulled from the building; last attempts were made to gain access to firefighter Nance, but all

turned empty.

Eventually reaching the 4th alarm, the fire was placed under control around 5 am.

Unfortunately, FF Nance did not make it out of the fire, and his body was recovered on the afternoon of

July 26th. According to reports, the building was intentionally set on fire, making this line of duty death a

murder.

As always, a line of duty death results in training tactics for firefighters. This LODD brought us

the “John Nance Drill” or “Hole in the floor.” The drill removes firefighters from a basement should stairs

or easier access not be available. I have attached a link to watch it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umzJmtMHrdA this incident also shows the importance of using a

search rope or tag line. Although firefighters had a hose line to follow in this incident, a search rope still

provides an additional tool to help guide a firefighter out and to assist firefighters in to assist a downed

firefighter should anything happen.

I must admit, when looking for my LODD topic this month, I was unaware of John Nance. As I

researched it and found multiple articles and stories, I became a bit obsessed with always looking for

more information. To my knowledge and what I have seen, the murder has yet to be solved, officials and

investigators have found why the building was set on fire but have yet to find out who started it. I found

a story written by Michael Norman on FFprovinggrounds.com. Mr. Norman, a writer for Columbus

Monthly, provides detail on the incident in his write-up. I encourage anyone unfamiliar with this to do

an internet search and read up on it.

**Video link provided by FFprovinggrounds YouTube page**

Food Trucks and Firefighting Concerns

For decades food trucks and food carts have been service food to people on street corners, carnivals and events all around the world. In today's world, food trucks and food carts are popping up everywhere. From birthday parties to school and work functions you name it and a food truck is probably there serving food. These carts or trucks are known as Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles or MFPV for short. Some are trucks designed to house a kitchen setup and others are trailers pulled by a truck or SUV. Either way both serve the same purpose, preparing food for customers.

These trucks provide a unique set of challenges for firefighters and provide a few hazards that commonly scene when fighting vehicle fires.

We are very well aware that cooking is the leading cause of accidental fires in the United States with respect to residential fires. With respect to commercial occupancies, these structures are more well equipped to handle the potential of an accidental mishap in the kitchen. Commercial kitchens mitigate the risk through hood suppression systems over their cooking appliances such as ovens, burners and grills. The same goes for MFPVs…but not exactly.

The newly designed, custom-built food trucks will be equipped with hood suppressions systems however the older retro-converted trucks may not be as equipped. Making the workers not as fortunate should an accidental kitchen fire breakout. In all cases, all MFPVs will be equipped with portable fire extinguishers to suppress kitchen fires from grease, fat and cooking oils.

 Propane Tanks

The most significant risk of fires to MFPVs are propane tanks. According to the NFPA, 68% of food truck fires are related to leaks or failures in the propane tanks themselves. Propane is used in various ways with respect to food trucks. For one, they're used as fuel for cooking and possibly refrigeration.

While propane is generally safe to cook with, a small 20-pound cylinder on a backyard grill has the explosive equivalent to 170 sticks of dynamite. MFPVs can carry around 100-pounds of propane cylinders at a time in order to be efficient and produce food services to customers. One hundred pounds of propane is capable of producing more than 2.6 million BTUs (British Thermal Units). One food truck carrying that amount of propane can generate 6 times more energy from an exploding propane tank than a backyard grill using a 20-pound propane tank.

Since these trucks are constantly moving from place to place, the risk of a propane failure can increase. This is due to the trucks driving on bumpy terrain or hitting potholes. Both of which can loosen the connections and fittings or cause structural damage to the tank. With respect to air, propane is heavier. In fact, propane is 1.55 times heavier than air which causes it to sink. Thus, causing a pooling effect near the floor should a tank leak. Because of this, a single spark from the cooking appliances has the potential to ignite the gas.

Many trucks carry spare tanks or have their current tank fitted to the outside of their MFPV which decreases the risk of leaks inside the unit. The risk this does carry is tank explosions from minor collisions on the roadway or single vehicle accidents.

 Generators

Older MFPVs are more likely to pose a risk with the use of portable generators. These are used to run electricity to the truck. Older MFPV's or converted ones could possibly lack the proper ventilation of the off gases from the generators which raise the risk of carbon monoxide emergencies in the mobile unit. 

 Past Incident

On July 1, 2014, in the Feltonville neighborhood of Philadelphia, a leaking propane tank ignited and exploded. The truck operator and her daughter were severely burned and died three weeks later. An additional 10 others were injured as a result of the blast.

Since then, the NFPA has made changes to NFPA 1 and NFPA 96. The leaders at the NFPA concluded that an easily adopted national standard would go a long way in increasing the number of communities with comprehensive food truck safety regulations.

These standards and changes can be found at the links below:

https://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/publications-and-media/blogs-landing-page/nfpa-today/blog-posts/2018/11/21/nfpa-1-requirements-for-commercial-cooking-equipment-and-updates-from-nfpa-96-firecodefridays-wednesday-edition

https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=96

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

Remembering the Hackensack Ford Fire

On July 1, 1988, when firefighters of the Hackensack Fire Department arrived on scene of the Ford dealership on River Street in Hackensack, NJ around 3pm, they did not know how deceptive the fire would prove to be. They did not know that five of their fellow firefighters would not be coming home. On the initial alarm, Hackensack firefighters on two engines, one ladder and chief car responded to a reported fire at the Hackensack Ford auto dealership. During fire operations, fire was discovered to be burning above in the truss over the service area and was vented by the truck company on scene. Fire suppression was attempted by both engine companies through two ceiling hatches above the service area. Shortly thereafter, an evacuation order was transmitted over the radio of which were not acknowledged by any of the units working on scene.

Otherwise known as the Hackensack Ford Fire, this fire claimed the lives of five firefighters battling a fire in a bowstring-truss building when the roof suddenly collapsed. Three of the five firefighters lost their lives in the middle of the service area of the dealership. The other two firefighters became trapped in the rear storage room and were unable to be rescued. After approximately 1 hour into the operation, these five firefighter lost their lives and were the first line of duty deaths in the department's 117 year history to that point.

Remember & Honor

Capt. Richard L. Williams (Engine Co. No. 304)

Lt. Richard R. Reinhagen (Engine Co. No. 302)

Firefighter William Krejsa (Engine Co. No. 301)

Firefighter Leonard Radumski (Engine Co. No. 302)

Firefighter Stephen Ennis (Engine Co. No. 308).

34 years later this fire has had significant impact on today's fire service. This fire is one of the most analyzed LODD events in the history of the fire service. Numerous issues were noted from the incident including a breakdown in communications. The findings and observations of this fire are still valid today.

The lessons of this fire has resonated deeply within the fire service across the country. The Hackensack Ford Fire caused the fire service to begin looking at building construction on a more serious level especially when operation in and around truss construction and having the ability to identify construction types and truss. It also highlighted a weak command structure, insufficient and ineffective radio communications along with a lack of portable radios for firefighters and a lack of manpower. These lesson stay true to this day.

In an article published the day after the tragedy, Fire Chief Anthony Aiellos said, “There are only 100 of us in this department, and this is just a small place. In a town like this, these are your friends. These were good men.”

Remembering the Charleston 9

On the evening of June 18, 2007 the City of Charleston, South Carolina experienced the deadliest firefighter disaster in the US since the attacks on September 11, 2001 - The Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire. On this tragic day 9 firefighters perished in the line of duty. 

The incident

The fire occurred at the Sofa Super Store, a 42,000 sq. ft. single-story steel truss showroom with a 17,000 sq. ft. warehouse located behind the retail space, located at 1807 Savannah Highway in Charleston, SC. At the time of the incident, the business was in operation and employees were present on the scene. Within minutes of the alarm, firefighters were arriving on scene from Charleston Fire Department and neighboring departments shortly thereafter.

The initial attack focused on fire suppression in the loading dock area with efforts to prevent fire spread to the showroom and warehouse. Despite the efforts of the firefighters on scene, the fire spread into and above the main showroom, the right showroom addition and the warehouse. The burning furniture quickly generated large amounts of toxic and highly flammable gasses and products of incomplete combustion that added to the fuel load inside the structure.  As heat intensified, interior firefighters began to radio for assistance leaving one firefighter to activate his emergency button on his radio. The front showroom windows were knocked out as firefighters were sent in to search for the missing firefighters. Shortly after, the mixture of combustible by-products ignited, rapidly advancing fire to the main showroom. The Sofa Super Store had no sprinkler system. Flames weakened the structure, causing a collapse and trapping nine firefighters inside.

The land that once housed the Sofa Super Store was purchased by the City of Charleston and is now a park that houses memorial plaques in remembrance of the nine firefighters who lost their lives on that site on June 18, 2007.

The nine firefighters who lost their lives on June 18, 2007.

Captain Louis Mulkey - Engine 15

Captain Mike Benke - Engine 16

Firefighter Melvin Champaign - Engine 16

Captain William "Billy" Hutchinson - Engine 19

Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity - Engine 19

Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton - Engine 19

Engineer Mark Kelsey - Tower 5

Engineer Michael French - Tower 5

Firefighter Brandon Thompson - Tower 5 

The lessons that day has changed the fire service as a whole for the better. My recommendation to everyone on this is simple. Read the reports of line of duty incidents. Learn from the actions taken that day, a long with the findings and recommendations put forth after the investigations are complete.

Here are a few initial changes recommended from the Sofa Super Store fire. The full list of recommended changes can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200718.html

• Develop, implement and enforce a written SOPs for an occupational safety and health program in accordance with NFPA 5000

• Develop, implement and enforce a written Incident Management System (IMS) to be followed at all emergency operations

• Ensure that the Incident Commander conducts an initial size-up and risk assessment of the incident scene before beginning interior firefighting operations

• Train fire fighters to communicate interior conditions to the Incident Commander as soon as possible and to provide regular updates

• Ensure that a rapid intervention crew (RIC) / rapid intervention team (RIT) is established and available to immediately respond to emergency rescue incidents

• Ensure that Mayday transmissions are received and prioritized by the Incident Commander

• Train fire fighters on actions to take if they become trapped or disoriented inside a burning structure

• Ensure that all fire fighters and line officers receive fundamental and annual refresher training according to NFPA 1001 and NFPA 1021

We can post pictures saying "never forget" and "always remembered", however that isn't enough for these firefighters or any firefighter who loses their life in the line of duty. Each man and woman leaves behind a family, friends and those they cared for and those who cared for them. Simply saying we never forget truly isn't enough. Honoring them each and every day is how we show them the respect and honor for what they've done. Wake up each day honoring and remembering these firefighters through your action. Continue improving, learning and paying it forward to those around you. Take the lessons they left you from that day and learn from it. Pass these lessons on to future generations of firefighters and keep their memory alive in all you do. 

To the family, friends and surviving members of the Charleston Fire Department and the City of Charleston, may these men never be forgotten and may they always rest in peace.

Remembering the Fathers Day Fire

On June 17th, 2001, FDNY units were dispatched to a reported fire at 15-22 Astoria Blvd. Crews arrived on the scene and found an active fire in the basement of the Long Island General Supply Store. For approximately 30 minutes, firefighters were operating with no issues until witnesses described a "small explosion" followed by a blast. Firefighters were venting the building on the #1 side during the blast; the wall came down, trapping them. The Chief on scene transmitted additional alarms for extra manpower to assist with operations and digging through the rubble. During that time, firefighter Brian Fahey had a radio transmission, reporting he was trapped in the basement under debris from the collapse. Firefighters were able to free firefighters Harry Ford and John Downing, who were transported to the hospital but unfortunately succumbed to their injuries. Crews continued an extensive operation to get to firefighter Brian Fahey; unfortunately, he too had passed. The fire was being fueled by flammables in the basement, including an illegally stored propane tank, which caused the blast. Due to 9/11 happening in the same year, the father's day fire is often referred to as the "forgotten fire," but to the companies and families affected, it is undoubtedly remembered.

We must not forget how important these fires are to the fire service. Each fire that ends in tragedy can often provide tips for the future of the fire service. It's not to say incident commanders or firefighters were making bad decisions at present; we just learned how operations could run better and prevent future tragedies. Here are some points to remember from this fire and all fires.

Communication – This is one of the easiest ways to make operations more manageable, and it's often overlooked and not done enough. Whether it's engine and truck companies coordinating their tasks or a firefighter breaking away from his crew to search an area, communications should happen.

Preplans – Preplans should not only be created for your first due area but should often be updated. A preplan is a great way to keep an organized command system on scenes, almost as if you're following a script. Preplans don't have to stop with operations. They can also consist of hazards of certain buildings. Often, if you reach out to the building manager, they'll provide you with the info needed and be willing to assist in making operations more manageable.

Building Codes – Municipalities or departments that handle building and fire codes should keep up to date on structures in their area to ensure laws are being followed. Often firefighter injuries or LODDs occur due to occupancies or commercial facilities not following proper codes.

There will never be a way to prevent tragedies from happening; however, if we read, study, and learn from past incidents, it can help the cause.

The Firehouse Tribune remembers fallen FDNY firefighters.

John Downing of Ladder Co. 163

Brian Fahey of Rescue Co. 4

Harry Ford of Rescue Co. 4

Quick Ways to Attack Wrought Iron Security Doors

Normally these security doors open outward. In this instance due to it being below grade it opens inward due to the stairs. Either way, entry needs to be made. Here’s a few ways and all are based on the incident.

Minimum damage to the door

1. Pry the lock mechanism away from the jamb.

2. Cut out the problem - the lock

3. Last resort should it not work - get the rotary saw and cut the hinges away. Remember to cut the bottom hinge first.

Pry the Lock

1. Insert the fork side (facing away) between the frame and the jamb.

2. Use a striking tool to obtain the proper mechanical advantage of the halligan (5 inch mark - crotch of the fork). This will result in a load to fulcrum length of 2 inches.

3. Once the halligan is set, force the halligan and push in on the gate.

Pie Cut

1. Using a rotary saw, identify the locking mechanism and make a 45 degree cut from above the lock and through the door frame.

2. Just like venting a roof, make the cut starting where the first 45 degree cut ended and begin the second 45 degree cut going back and under the lock. Ensure the start of the second 45 degree cut begins by overlapping the original cut.

3. Open the door

Security Plate - Latch Protection

1. Using a saw, cut the lock protector between the door and frame straight through the locking mechanisms.

2. Open the door.

Anytime you come across security doors, don’t let them deter or delay you from making entry. Size-up the situation and identify the best possible way to remove the problem between you and where you need to go. Keep it simple and keep it smart.

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

Sandbags and the Functional Firefighter

Over the past decade the term "functional" training has gained a ton of momentum to point it's considered its own fitness category and one of the leading trends in the fitness world. What is functional fitness and why it is so important to the fire service?

 Functional fitness at its core is a type of exercise that supports everyday life. Functional fitness includes walking, pushing, pulling, squatting, bending, lunging and core. In essence, this type of training is rooted within us with the intention of having all of our muscles work together in harmony to support each other to accomplish certain movements. This type of training is blend of traditional and unconventional training methods by utilizing different equipment and movements to prepare us to perform any physical activity related to our job and everyday life. 

As first responders this is 100 percent the way of how we "functionally operate" on and off an incident. If we think of anything we do as responders, we can see the key areas of functional fitness in them.

Walking = with and without PPE & SCBA

Pushing  = forcible entry

Pulling = ladder raises 

Squatting = patient removal

Bending = picking up tools

Lunging =  hose advancement

Core = everything

Benefits of Functional Fitness 

• Improves everyday life 

• Greater muscle memory of movement is increased as the brain's memory is boosting from the regular training of functional fitness workouts.

• Increased mobility comes from the balance, coordination, flexibility, strength and agility performed in the components of training.

• Improves posture and balance by training the muscles to manage weight properly therefore reducing stress on the body. Further, improving posture.

• Reduces risk of injury by mimicking the movements done in everyday life. 

A great way to become more versatile with your workouts and ways to encompass more functional style workouts is by using sandbags.  I've been using sandbags for years now and found them to be not only functional for all the styles of workouts I do but affordable, versatile, built tough and are truly great for overall stability due to shifting of the sand throughout the bag. 

To help improve your body's stability, sandbags do a great job at providing a dynamic resistance - also known as unstable or uneven load training - which is similar to moving a patient or downed firefighter across terrain without the use of a stretcher. The dynamic resistance the sandbag provides (sand shifting throughout your movement) our ability to stabilize and hold an odd object in place throughout movement. Lifting and carrying is a great way to strengthen the hips and torso. In strengthening these areas, it will allow for our bodies to facilitate greater force transfer in movements in other exercises or our work.

The benefits of functional fitness especially with the use of a sandbag of any size is greatly impactful to our bodies as first responders and as functioning humans. Get a sandbag and open the doors to conventional and unconventional styles of training for all.

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

Gut Health Impacts Mental Health

Mental health begins in our gut. In order to regulate our mental health, it is important we regulate and control our gut health. The maintenance of our gut health is done through maintaining our gut microbiome. This is the trillions of bacteria cells that live in our colon, forming an environment to thrive in known as gut microbiome. An imbalance in our gut microbiome plays into the function of our overall health and the pathogens of many diseases. Further, this area has a major impact on our moods, our thoughts and our brain. 

The bacteria that lives within our gut work in patterns of day and night and because of this our eating habits (good or bad) along with our sleep pattern can disrupt our circadian rhythm. A disruption to our circadian rhythm can do many things to our bodies and minds especially with respect to mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.

 As first responders, it is especially important we are able to balance our mental health and our gut health for optimal performance in our overall lives. Since our gut health plays into our mental health, here are a few ways we can optimize our overall well-being for a long, prosperous, healthy career. 

• Eat a wide range of foods such as vegetables, legumes and fruit. Good fiber intake is key to a healthy gut and clear mind.

  Vegetables: artichokes, broccoli, beets and carrots

Fruits: raspberries, apples and bananas

Legumes: chickpeas, lentils, peas and beans

• Eat fermented foods such as yogurt (plain or unsweetened) is recommended, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha. These foods are rich in lactobacilli, a bacteria found to benefit your health.

• Eat prebiotic foods to promote growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut. These are mostly fiber and complex carbohydrates that our cells cannot digest but instead the bacteria in the gut break them down and use these foods for fuel.

  Foods containing prebiotic fiber are legumes, oats, bananas, berries, garlic and dandelion greens

• Exercise. Regular exercise is great for both our mental and overall health in general. To go even further, it is great for our gut and this isn’t just for strong abdominals and obliques but for our mental and gut health. Exercise, especially done on a regular basis can enhance the microflora diversity (type of bacteria and organisms inside our intestines) and therefore impacting our mood.

• Increase your intake of a regular probiotic supplements if needed and recommended by your primary care provider.

There you have it, our mental health and gut health have a special relationship and overall have an impact on our overall life and how we perform. Take care of yourselves inside and out.

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

reference: Dr. Amy Shah

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.

Cold Water Therapy for Firefighters

As the old saying goes, "too much of anything isn't a good thing". In the fire service, we know this is especially true. On any given day we are busy running calls, training with the crew and working around the station, almost nonstop putting our bodies and minds through the gauntlet.

Sometimes this affects how we recover both mentality and physically. 

 Over recent months, I've been studying and partaking in cold water therapy as a part of my recovery process. Why would I want to use ice water as a therapy for my recovery especially being a firefighter? 

Let’s start here. 

Everything from our PPE to the added weight of our SCBA and any tools we carry with us add strains and stress to our bodies. Now add in the physical and mental duties we need to perform while in this equipment and we’re primed to have a few bumps and bruises along the way. In addition to our firefighting duties is exercise. Exercise is tremendous for your overall well-being however, overtraining and routine training will put a strain on your body hence the reason recovery variables are needed to assist in overall wellness.

According to the report released in December 2021 by the NFPA "United States Firefighter Injuries in 2020", there was an estimated 64,875 firefighter injuries in the line of duty of 2020. The majority of these being overexertion and sprains (31%). As we talk cold water therapy, you’ll see how this statistic plays into it.

We are aware that firefighting is an inherently dangerous job and requires us to put our bodies on the line at any moment and because of this we need to treat our bodies as a machine. A well-oiled, battle tested, battle ready machine prepared for the marathon of work on and off the job.                                                                 

To further this statistic, nearly half of so of firefighters are likely to experience burnout and health problems associated with burnoutaccording to the Journal of Sleep Research. 

Burnout is generally defined as the bodies psychological response to chronic work stress through three major areas - exhaustion, disengagement and unsympathetic attitude. This type of response affects the body and mind in many ways such as causing firefighters to be disinterested in their job or to perform work duties at unsafe levels increasing their chances of injury or worse.

As firefighters or as I like to say, functional athletes we need to take care of ourselves physically and mentality for the stressors of the job - both on and off.

So back to cold water therapy. Why is this a good idea for us?

To begin, cold water therapy is an immersion process of which you allow your body to spend time in cold water below 58 degrees Fahrenheit for short periods of time. By doing so, it activates the body's natural healing abilities assisting in the relief of various medical conditions such as inflammation, as it reduces muscle soreness and provides faster recovery. 

Here are a few benefits of cold water therapy.

1. Improve the Lymphatic System. This system of the body is composed of vessels that run throughout the body which help flush away bacteria, microbes and wastes at the cellular level. In essence, this is a way to cleanse the body.

2. Improved Blood Circulation. By participating cold water immersions, the temperature of the water will stimulate the body’s blood flow into your vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and spleen, and allowing your heart to pump efficiently. The results of this is better blood supply in your system and providing the nutrients and oxygen it needs.

3. Reduced Muscle Inflammation. High-intensity workouts, training in the firehouse and the training academy and tough durations of work in PPE under strenuous conditions put a toll on your body. Even simply wearing your SCBA carrying tools in a structure during a fire alarm activation puts strain on your body. All of these areas may cause muscle soreness and inflammation which can sometimes be painful and uncomfortable. By utilizing cold water therapy as a recovery tool, swelling, cramping and arthritis can be relieved through the temperature of the water. 

4. Aids in Symptoms of Depression. While cold water therapy is NOT a CURE for any mental health conditions, studies have suggested it has helped alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety. It has been said that immersing in cold water has boosted dopamine levels and increases the release of endorphins. Many mental health disorders have been linked to low levels of dopamine. 

5. Immunity Booster. Studies have shown that cold water can improve the body’s ability to fight off illnesses by speeding up the body’s production of white blood cells also known as the sickness fighting leukocytes of the body.

I am not a doctor and don’t pretend to be. I am sharing a tool that has been helping me recover from training and the daily tasks of life and firefighting. The benefits of ice water therapy will vary from person to person but it is a tool that can be used to help achieve optimal performance as a functional athlete.

As firefighters, functional athletes, servant leaders of our communities it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves both physically and mentality. Train accordingly and recover just as accordingly. Recovery is vital to our overall well-being and performance. Make it count.

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

Vacant Building Proposal: Good or Bad?

On February 22, 2022, the Baltimore Sun released an article regarding a city Councilwomen who wants to issue rules for entering vacant homes and firefighters to wear body cameras. Last month the city of Baltimore saw one of the deadliest fires to firefighters in the city's history. The fire at 205 S. Stricker Street claimed the lives of three firefighters when the building collapsed. In the wake of that incident, the proposal from the councilwomen came to life.

Firefighter social media had plenty of conversations regarding this, and I'm here to give my opinion on it. First, what is the actual proposal? The bill will prohibit city firefighters from entering any "vacant" building if the fire has consumed 25% of the building. It also states firefighters could only enter the "vacant" building if the department confirms a victim is inside and a safe entry can be made. Firefighters are prohibited from entering a collapsed structure unless someone's life is in immediate danger. Lastly, it mentions a requirement for firefighters to wear an audio/video recording device to be used at the scene of fires.

So, there is a lot to take away from this proposal, and I'll break it down using my opinion, starting with the 25% rule. My first question here is, who calculates the 25%? Is it the first arriving unit? In that case, I feel it's relatively simple always to say, "fire has consumed 20%" if we're going merely off a size up, who is going to stop you? 25% of a building is not a lot, which means ¾ of the building does not have visible fire and could easily be accessed for an interior operation. It mentions that firefighters may enter if there is confirmation of a victim and it's safe to enter. Victims aren't always at the windows saying they need help; to find all victims, you have to search; to do that, you have to enter the building. Buildings should be considered occupied until proven otherwise, especially when it comes to vacant buildings in an area such as Baltimore.

I'm torn when it comes to firefighters' audio/video devices. I feel it can easily benefit firefighters for training purposes. It can also help with investigations; god forbid something goes wrong. However, the public trusts the fire department, and they may not want firefighters recording inside their homes. Two things to take away from that, 1) the bill says it will be for fires only, so maybe that does not include your familiar smells and bells where you would get a good visual of the interior of someone's home. 2) Many firefighters already tend to have cameras on their helmets or turnout gear, so would this make a difference? It all comes down to how it is written in the proposal. If lawmakers can convince the community that they won't be using the footage for anything else rather than fires, you may not get any negative feedback.

Firefighters take an oath to protect life and property. Although I honestly feel or at least hope this proposal comes with the best intentions to protect firefighters, it contradicts the job these men and women were hired to do. This article is my opinion only, and I'm not here to bash anyone or say what's wrong or right. I like this to start good conversations. Conversations are great for the fire service. If you'd like to discuss it feel free to contact me, I love hearing from readers and fellow firefighters! My contact info is below. 

Instagram @firemantom193

Twitter @MarchianoTom

Probie Projects: Things You Can Do

I’m a brand new firefighter. In my volunteer station at the rural edge of a mid-sized city in Ontario, Canada, our crew is about 19 strong. When I first started, I was brought into the station by my captain to have a look around and at my first practice, a good handful of people were really welcoming. Very specifically, I have a feeling of gratitude toward my station and department for taking a chance on me and I’ve used that feeling to measure against the things I’m doing to help out or ‘put back’ into the station what they’re investing into me.

I believe that’s the right way to think about this, too. The department, the station and the crew you’re assigned to is owed your attention and effort. Past the social graces that you should already be plenty aware of, I’d like to make specific mention of the work you should be focusing on as a new firefighter. 

And how dare I. 

Afterall, I just passed the first year of service to my station. That’s an important note because it means the following ideas are based solely on my experience. You may need to round out some of the talking points here to fit into your particular experience. Still, approaching your new position with the mindset that you are ‘in-service’ to the fire service itself is the right way to act.

That might be a bit bold. A strong statement - especially from the new guy. But from my stance in the back of the truck, these seats are worn in from generations of firefighters that built a foundation that I have the privilege of standing upon. That lineage depends on us to carry it forward. Further than forward, it requires us to build. 

Taking responsibility

My argument is predicated on the idea that you should actively take responsibility for your involvement in the fire service. During our recruit training, I was exposed to a keynote speech from Mike Dugan at FDIC. His word rung through me and continue to help urge me toward the best possible output I can put forward. 

“Are you making a difference? If not, why not?”

Mike Dugan

You are responsible for improving the fire service. That responsibility adds weight to the metaphorical bar, and that’s okay. We should ask for opportunities to add to our sacred craft. 

Assuming the role of a firefighter who is invested in the trade will put you into an uncommon position. Where most people share little concern about their job, firefighters stand apart. We are not most people. 

Accepting the responsibility for making things better will mean there is more work to be done. It will place you into a category of people that ask for more even when the load is heavy to begin with. To accept that burden, a stalwart mindset must match the ability to take on more - make sure you’re prepared to work. 

Build something to learn

Using the word ‘something’ in this context is wildly open. I was lucky enough to be pinned into a station that allowed me to attend the hall to train whenever I wanted. That enabled me to get out there once my family had retired for the night and train things like SCBA donning, knots, medical rehearsal and most importantly learning the trucks. 

When I attended a station practice that would have us stretching a couple lines, I was mightily confused by putting the triple-layer load into real-world practice. Or, specifically, I had a hard time repacking it. I had a good idea behind the principle, but getting all that hose back on the bed gave me a real mental hiccup in the field. I recognized this and knew I had to act.

I had a few boxes kicking around, but I needed something to emulate a hose. A local craft store had rolls of 2 inch webbing and I figured that would be good enough. I cut a long length into two pieces. After taping one end into the ‘bed’ I rigged up inside the box, I tied a water knot with the other end to connect the two lengths together. In one way, this let me drill the water knot, in another it stood in place as a coupling in my miniature hose so I could practice staging it correctly when packing the hose. 

Attending the station with my staple tea and IFSTA manual, I used this little prop to pack a variety of loads with no stress in a comfortable environment. That process allowed me to really understand the different loads not only from my course manual but from the trucks in our bay. Even as I write this, it would probably be a good idea to mock this up again - just to stay sharp.

Learn the trucks

Perhaps your most valuable skill on the first few nights you’re called out will be a rich understanding of your trucks. These rolling tool boxes have all kinds of compartments to tuck in the gear we need to do the job. Though you might not be called upon to operate those devices, you can make yourself an expert in their procurement on the scene. 

For one month, I set about documenting every single compartment - from the glove box to the back step auto-ex gear - on our pumper. It began as a chicken-scratch chart in my station drills notebook.

You have a station drills notebook, don’t you?

Over a few evenings, I had a detailed list of every nook on that truck. Through the course of that activity, I found a few things I’d had no idea were tucked in behind gas cans or flare boxes. A truly valuable exercise in discipline and attention to detail, memorizing your trucks can be a time-saving skill during a call.  

To take this project one step further, you could formalize this process for recruits that follow in your footsteps. To build on the foundation set under your own feet by the firefighters that packed these compartments when the truck first rolled into its spot in the bay. 

Take your handwritten note and type it into a document. Take pictures and label them to make the document easier to follow than a simple list. Print that out and store it in your locker or - if you’re lucky and the station leadership permits - with the rest of the inventory documentation. You can take the digital copy and archive it into a repository, too - because this won’t be the last thing you type up for the station and a digital backup of your hard copy is a great thing to append to an email if a recruit in the future has questions about the truck.

When you accept the call, you are different from the person you were. There are things that need done now - not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because you owe that to the people who set the stage for your career. There is a standard to meet and with it, a weight of responsibility most people can not attend to. You were invited into this uniform because you volunteered. Showing up isn’t enough.

About the Author

Bill Dungey is a probationary volunteer firefighter in Brant, Ontario, Canada. He is focused on fitness, mindset development and finding training opportunities to help the fire service make things better.

The Wedge can be downloaded from https://timeandeffort.ca