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Fireman's Memorial: Worcester Cold Storage Tragedy

Fireman’s Memorial: Worcester Cold Storage Tragedy

Fireman’s Memorial Worcester Cold Storage Tragedy On December 3, 1999, a five-alarm fire at the Worcester Cold Storage & Warehouse Co. building claimed the lives of six brave firefighters who responded to the call. These six heros, The Worcester 6, sacrificed their lives to try and rescue two individuals who were believed to be trapped […]

Leadership, Purpose, Service and Reason

Leadership, Purpose, Service and Reason

Leadership, Purpose, Service and Reason Here are two powerful videos that share important messages that apply to each and every firefighter, company officer and commander: coming from very different perspectives and areas-But directly applicable, IF you listen to the messages, the themes and relate them to what we do each and every day. The names […]

Hal Bruno: The best friend a firefighter and the fire service could have

Hal Bruno: The best friend a firefighter and the fire service could have

  “Hal Bruno is one of the most important figures in the history of this country’s fire service. Hal died last night (November 8, 2011) at age 83. I imagine that many of the younger firefighters and a few older ones who read this site aren’t familiar with the name Hal Bruno. Hal wasn’t a […]

The Argument for European, North American Unification

The Argument for European, North American Unification

While doing some research on UK and US Strategic Leadership and Operational issues, I came across an article published on FireChief .com on April 28, 2011 and written by By Glenn Bischoff titled: The Argument for European, North American Unification. After reading through the piece, I thought this had some interesting connotations worthy of reposting […]

Required Reading: Impact of Ventilation on Fire Behavior in Legacy and Contemporary Residential Construction

Required Reading: Impact of Ventilation on Fire Behavior in Legacy and Contemporary Residential Construction

Another must read for all Company and Command Officers: Impact of ventilation on fire behavior in legacy and contemporary residential construction, by Steve Kerber (2011) UL Report. Take some time to increase your proficiencies and compentencies. Executive Summary Under the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistance to FirefighterGrant Program, Underwriters Laboratories examined fire […]

Building Knowledge = Fire Fighter Safety....where do you fit into this equation?

Building Knowledge = Fire Fighter Safety….where do you fit into this equation?

Modern incident demands on the fireground are unlike those of the recent past requiring incident commanders and commanding officers to have increased technical knowledge of building construction with a heightened sensitivity to fire behavior, a focus on operational structural stability and considerations related to occupancy risk versus the occupancy type. Strategies and tactics must be […]

The Challenges We Face: Issues Confronting Today’s Fire Service

The Challenges We Face: Issues Confronting Today’s Fire Service

Captain Bill Gustin, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue Department, provided a stellar key presention during the FDIC 2011General Session on “The Challenges We Face: Issues Confronting Today’s Fire Service” about the whole FDIC “experience.” We have put too little attention on basic engine company operations!” This was perhaps the message that most resonated from Captain Bill […]

The ISFSI, George D. Post Fire Instructor of the Year Award 2011

The ISFSI, George D. Post Fire Instructor of the Year Award 2011

       ISFSI – The Voice: Live from FDIC 2011: Brian Kazmierzak, Fire Instructor of the Year  Brian Kazmierzak, ISFSI/Fire Engineering George D Post Instructor of the Year, talks about local training as well as his involvement in firefighterclosecalls.com. HERE Brian P. Kazmierzak, EFO – has been a member of the fire service since […]

Why We Search:Chicago, Two Fires With Rescues

Why We Search:Chicago, Two Fires With Rescues

Squatters rescued from one fire, tenants from a second. From Bill Carey’s Backstepfirefighter.com web site January 2, 2011, a must read and link to…. On Friday, 31 December, Chicago firefighters rescued two squatters during the still-and-box alarm at 4322 West Jackson Boulevard. Firefighters found the two on the second floor of the vacant building and […]

Nothing Ordinary About It: 11 years ago, 3 firefighters perished in a seemingly routine residential structure fire

Nothing Ordinary About It: 11 years ago, 3 firefighters perished in a seemingly routine residential structure fire

Nothing Ordinary About It: 11 years ago, 3 firefighters perished in a seemingly routine residential structure fire Posted by Fire Rescue Magazine on December 22, 2010 on Firefighternation.com Nothing Ordinary About It 11 years ago, 3 firefighters perished in a seemingly routine residential structure fire On Dec. 22, 1999, Dave McNally, Nathan Tuck and Jason […]

A Breed Apart

A Breed Apart

Firefighters line Western Avenue on Tuesday after the funeral of Edward Stringer. (E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune / December 29, 2010) Originally Posted by Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune December 29, 2010 Whatever the date on the birth certificate, in psychological years a firefighter never gets beyond adolescence. Like Edward Stringer, who was buried Tuesday, and […]

16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives

16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives

Recognizing the need to do more to prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation has launched a national initiative to bring prevention to the forefront. In March 2004, the Firefighter Life Safety Summit was held in Tampa, Florida to address the need for change within the fire and emergency services. Through this […]

Twenty Eleven; Transitioning into Tomorrow

Twenty Eleven; Transitioning into Tomorrow

As we transition into a new year, and as plans begin to take place that frame and outline the year’s activities, foremost in this planning, preparation, scheduling and outlook should be those activities and commitments that training, education and skill development can be implemented and enhanced. Take the initiative to recognize and identify training and […]