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Predictability and Performance Of Buildings and Today's Fireground

Predictability and Performance Of Buildings and Today’s Fireground

  When we look at various buildings and occupancies, past operations (good and bad) give us experience that defines and determines how we assess, react and expect similar structures and occupancies to perform at a given alarm. The “art and science of firefighting” is predicated on a fundamental understanding of how fire affects a building […]

Near-Miss, with RIT Deployment at Structural Collapse: Canada

Near-Miss, with RIT Deployment at Structural Collapse: Canada

A rapid and fast moving early morning fire in downtown Trenton, Ontario Canada resulted in the subsequent collapse of a three story mixed use commerical and apartment occupancy structure. Published media reports indicated the building was over 130 years of age and was in operation as an adult entertainment establishment on the lower level with […]

Engineering Ground Zero

Engineering Ground Zero

To commemorate the anniversary of 9/11, NOVA presented  an epic story of engineering, innovation, and the perseverance of the human spirit. With extraordinary access granted by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, “Engineering Ground Zero” follows the five-year construction of One World Trade Center (1 WTC) and the National September 11 Memorial […]

Baltimore County (MD) Firefighter Falkenhan Line of Duty Death Report Issued

Baltimore County (MD) Firefighter Falkenhan Line of Duty Death Report Issued

Mark Gray Falkenhan had dedicated his life to serving others. He perished in the line of duty on January 19, 2011 while performing search and rescue operations at a multi-alarm apartment fire in Hillendale, Baltimore County (Maryland). He was 43 years old.   On Wednesday, January 19, 2011, a fire occurred in an apartment building […]

Fire Dynamics Simulation of 2011 Baltimore County LODD- 30 Dowling Circle

Fire Dynamics Simulation of 2011 Baltimore County LODD- 30 Dowling Circle

  The Baltimore County (MD) Fire Department published the Line of Duty Death Investgation Report of the 30 Dowling Circle Fire recently. The report was written by a Line of Duty Death Investigation Team comprised of departmental members, including representatives of the local firefighters’ union and the Baltimore County Volunteer Firemen’s Association. An overview and […]

San Francisco FD Berkeley Way Double LODD Report Issued: Routine Fire….

San Francisco FD Berkeley Way Double LODD Report Issued: Routine Fire….

    The Chief of the Department directed the Department Safety Officer to conduct a Safety Investigation of this incident. The primary purpose of the investigation was to identify and analyze the contributing factors that led to the incident as well as to create situational awareness to prevent future occurrences. The main objective of the […]

The New Rules of Combat Fire Engagement: Random Thoughts

The New Rules of Combat Fire Engagement: Random Thoughts

The New Rules of Combat Fire Engagement: How do You Measure Your Effectiveness on the Fireground? What are Your Rules of Engagement Based upon? Are Your Operations SOP Driven? Are they Aggressive or Measured? What is Employed in your Size-up? How is Risk Assessed, Monitored, Adjusted? Do Company Officers Manage Tactical Objectives? Is Tactical Entertainment […]

Wind Driven Fires

Wind Driven Fires

Wind Driven Fires Wind blowing into the broken window of a room on fire can turn a “routine room and contents fire” into a floor-to-ceiling firestorm. Historically, this has led to a significant number of firefighter fatalities and injuries, particularly in high-rise buildings where the fire must be fought from the interior of the structure. […]

Remembering Brackenridge 1991 Floor Collapse and LODD

Remembering Brackenridge 1991 Floor Collapse and LODD

Remembering Brackenridge, Pennsylvania December 20, 1991: Four Firefighters Killed, Trapped by Floor Collapse Four volunteer firefighters died when they were trapped by a partial floor collapse during a structure fire in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania, on the morning of December 20, 1991. All four were members of a mutual aid truck company that had responded to the […]

Buffalo Box 191 North Division & Grosvenor Streets; December 27, 1983

Buffalo Box 191 North Division & Grosvenor Streets; December 27, 1983

Buffalo Box 191 North Division & Grosvenor Streets; December 27, 1983 Buffalo Box 191 As Buffalo (NY) firefighters arrived at the scene of a reported propane leak in a three-story radiator warehouse (Type III Ordinary and Type IV Heavy Timber construction), a massive explosion occurred, killing five firefighters instantly and injuring nine others, three of […]

FDNY Brooklyn Box 4080: 17 Vandalia Avenue 12.18.1998

FDNY Brooklyn Box 4080: 17 Vandalia Avenue 12.18.1998

FDNY Brooklyn Box 4080: 17 Vandalia Avenue 12.18.1998 Take a moment to look back at an incident: On December 18, 1998, Three FDNY Firefighters died in-the line of duty while conducting suppression and rescue operations at  fire on the tenth floor of 10-story high-rise apartment building for the elderly.  At 0454 hours Brooklyn transmitted box 4080 […]

Chicago Fire Department: Everyone Goes Home (official version)

Chicago Fire Department: Everyone Goes Home (official version)

The Chicago Fire Department: Everyone Goes Home NFFF News Release: In an effort to make personal safety a top priority, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and the Chicago Fire Department (CFD) today released a new video, Chicago Fire Department – Everyone Goes Home®. Members of the CFD and families of fallen firefighters share their […]

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 […]

Remembrance: Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire and the Worcester Six

Remembrance: Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse Fire and the Worcester Six

Today December 3, 2011 marks the 12th anniversary of the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire that resulted in the line of duty death of six courages brother firefighters.    For those of you who remember this event, take the time to reflect and honor the sacrifice made this day; to those of you who have not […]

Research Agenda Symposium Report Issued

Research Agenda Symposium Report Issued

A new report identifies seven critical areas where more research is needed to further reduce the number of firefighters killed or injured in the line of duty. These priorities were developed during the Second National Fire Service Research Agenda Symposium sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). Download the 2011 Report: May 20 – […]