Author Archive for Christopher J. Naum, SFPE
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 […]
Provisional 2010 Firefighter LODD Fatality Statistics
Provisional 2010 Firefighter Fatality Statistics The United States Fire Administration (USFA) recently released the Provisional 2010 Firefighter Fatality Statistics. According to the report there were 85 onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2010, a 6 percent decrease from the 90 fatalities reported for 2009. The 85 […]
Taxpayer Fire and Collapse with Mayday in Leslie, Michigan Injures Ten Firefighers
Ten firefighters were among 11 people injured during a blaze that caused part of a building’s roof to collapse in the mid-Michigan community of Leslie. Leslie is about 20 miles southeast of Lansing, Michigan. The fire was reported just before 7 a.m. Saturday at Moo’s Bar & Grille in downtown Leslie, but a “mayday” alert […]
Heavy Fire in 10,000 Square Foot Huntingtown (MD) Mega Mansion Injuring 9 Firefighters
At 2356 hours on Saturday March 19, 2011, the Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department was alerted for the reported Chimney Fire at 3380 Soper Road in Huntingtown. While en-route, firefighters received information that the owner was trying to extinguish the fire and believed it had spread to the attic. Units alerted were: Chief 6A (Montgomery), Chief […]
Chesapeake (VA) Auto Parts Store Roof Collapse Double LODD 1996
OVERVIEW Fifteen years ago, on March 18, 1996, two firefighters were killed in Chesapeake, Virginia when they became trapped by a rapidly spreading fire in an auto parts store and a pre-engineered wood truss roof assembly collapsed on them. The cause of the fire was an electrical short created when a power company truck working […]
Two volunteer firefighters die battling blaze in Southwest Ontario, Canada
Two volunteer firefighters were killed in the line of duty in southwestern Ontario, Canada on Thursday while battling a commercial department-store fire in Listowel, Ont., which is 160 kilometres east of Toronto, Ontario Perth OPP were called at 15:30 hours ET, to help the volunteer fire department deal with the structure fire. Published reports […]
Charleston Sofa Super Store Fire; Final NIST Report Issued
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released its final report on its study of the June 18, 2007, fire at the Sofa Super Store in Charleston, S.C., that trapped and killed nine firefighters, the highest number of firefighter deaths in a single event since 9/11. The final report was strengthened by […]
The Strand Theatre Fire Brockton (MA) 1941; 13 Firefighter LODD
The Strand Theatre Fire Brockton (MA) 1941; 13 Firefighter LODD The Strand Theater, Brockton, MA Strand Theatre Background The Strand Theatre was first erected in 1915 on the site of a previous theatre which was destroyed by fire on April 7, 1915. The Strand Theatre opened in March, 1916 on School Street […]
Stakeholder Comments Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
Stakeholder Comment on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) Progress and Future Direction The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program is seeking stakeholder input on the progress and future directions of the NIOSH FFFIPP to […]
Survivability Profiling: How Long Can Victims Survive in a Fire?
Survivability Profiling: How Long Can Victims Survive in a Fire? BY STEPHEN MARSAR FireEngineering.com July 1, 2010 In 2007, the United States suffered 118 firefighter line-of-duty-deaths (LODDs), 47 of which occurred in structure fires; two civilians were killed in those same fires. In 2008, there were 114 LODDs; 31 occurred in structural fires; three […]
Lightweight Residential Construction: Collaboration Adds to Firefighter Safety
Lightweight Residential Construction: Collaboration Adds to Firefighter Safety From Fireengineering.com Aug 9, 2010 By Sean DeCrane Successful Passage During the recent International Code Council’s (ICC) Final Action Hearings in Dallas, Texas, a code change proposal requiring the protection of lightweight construction was successfully adopted into the International Residential Code (IRC). The code proposal will provide […]
Preplanning New Construction
Preplanning New Construction From Fire Engineering.com February 1, 2011 BY DOUGLAS J. MITCHELL JR. AND DANIEL D. SHAW The recent dip in our economy has slowed down many new construction projects, but “Johnny Appleseed” continues to build residential homes. Who is the “Johnny Appleseed” Construction Company? Well, it operates in almost every town, city, […]
World Trade Center Bombing-1993 Remembered
At 18 minutes after noon on February 26, 1993, a huge bomb went off beneath the two towers of the World Trade Center. This was not a suicide attack. The terrorists parked a truck bomb with a timing device on Level B-2 of the underground garage, then departed. The ensuing explosion opened a hole seven […]
Engineered Floor I-Joists and Firefigher Safety: Basic Insights
The following videos provide some Basic insights on Engineered Floor I-Joists and Firefigher Safety. The first two video reports are a few years old, but provide some good visual and narrative insights into the current building construction trends, operational limitations and fireground tactical safety considerations. Take the time to review these video clips and gain […]
Thousands Honor Fallen LAFD Firefighter Glenn Allen
Firefighters gather to honor fallen colleague, Glenn Allen, HERE Glenn L. Allen was a Firefighter/Paramedic for over 36 years and last served at Fire Station 97. He is the 61st Los Angeles Firefighter to have died while directly involved in emergency operations during the Department’s 125-year history. The cause of the February 16th fire remains […]
