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SURVIVOR STORIES ● VACANT PROPERTIES ● YOUR HEALTH ● RAPID INTERVENTION

DECEMBER 2010

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TRAINING THE FIRE SERVICE FOR 133 YEARS

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41 TRAPPED BY FLASHOVER: A SURVIVOR’S JOURNEY

Mark vonAppen—An analysis of how a Sacramento fire captain caught in a flashover overcame his emotions and saved his life. The conclusion: Current fire survival training must be supple-mented with training in how to manage emotions in dire situa-tions.

51 NEW FORCIBLE ENTRY CHALLENGE:

VACANT PROPERTY SECURITY SYSTEMS

George Guinan 5th—The presence of these systems, comprised of fortified window and door coverings, is cause for concern for first-arriving firefighters at a fire or an emergency.

59 POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER:

ONE FIREFIGHTER’S STORY

Robert Senn—A 9/11 survivor talks frankly about the need to seek help for emotional pain, be aware of emotional trauma, and embrace your pain regardless of the mechanism that injured you.

67 PREVENTING RIC RADIO CHAOS: THE 3/3 OPTION

Anthony Avillo—What started out as a routine drill to famil-iarize department members with a new firefighter locator tool ended up changing the way they looked at rapid intervention company operations, especially from a command and control standpoint.


DECEMBER 2010

VOLUME 163

NUMBER 12

73 THE HUMAN HEART IS LIKE A FIRE PUMP

Dan Senn—By looking at the similarities between your cardio-vascular system and the equipment you use to fight fires, you will better understand your heart’s response to different exer-cises and the need for appropriate physical conditioning.

79 PHOENIX FIRE DEPARTMENT:

MODEL OF WELLNESS-FITNESS

James L. Fleming and Sharon L. Bollinger—The department conducted a health assessment of its members and discovered they had preventable health issues that could be improved with direct intervention.

85 WILL YOU GET A SECOND CHANCE?

David J. Traiforos—Do you read accounts of health and heart problems and tell yourself it won’t happen to you, that it will happen to the “other” guy? The author tells what happened when he became “that other guy.”

PENNWELL CORP.

21-00 Route 208 SouthFair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602

Tel.: (973) 251-5040www.FireEngineering.com

P.O. Box 1260Tulsa, OK 74101

(918) 835-3161

BROWNSTONE FIRES, P. 18BROWNSTONE FIRES P 18

FORCING SECURITY SYSTEMS, P. 51FORCING SECURITY SYSTEMS P 51

RIC RADIO CHAOS, P. 67RIC RADIO CHAOS P 67

AIR MONITORING AT FIRES, P. 91AIR MONITORING AT FIRES P 91

Features

4 December 2010 FIRE ENGINEERING


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8 EDITOR’S OPINION

“Always Remembered, Always Revered”

14 VOLUNTEERS CORNER

“Be Your Own Apparatus Mechanic”

18 TRAINING NOTEBOOK

“Attacking a Brownstone Fire”

22 WEB WATCH

24 EXTRICATION TACTICS

“HID Lighting: A Bright Idea?”

26 FIRE SERVICE EMS

“The Quality Assurance Process”

32 NEWS IN BRIEF

36 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

38 BRUNO “UNPLUGGED”

“Safety in Numbers”

91 SPEAKING OF SAFETY

“Air Monitoring at Structure Fires”

95 FIRE COMMENTARY

“Don’t Risk Your Life Every Day”

97 TECHNOLOGY TODAY

“The Bigwig Tool”

141 APPARATUS DELIVERIES

142 PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA

144 COMING EVENTS

146 COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS

146 NAMES IN THE NEWS

147 CLASSIFIEDS

152 ON FIRE

“What’d You Do Up There?”

Periodicals Postage Paid at Tulsa, OK 74101 and at additional mailing offices.

THE COVER: The Orlando (FL) Fire Department arrived

to find heavy smoke showing from the roof of this sprin-

klered garden apartment complex. Companies stretched

an attack line to the top floor and proceeded to open up

the ceilings to expose the fire. In this photo, a member

was assisting the advance of a hoseline near the stairwell

when the roof and ceiling collapsed, pinning the firefighter

under burning debris. The nearby RIT/FAST team quickly

extricated and treated the injured firefighter, who has now

returned to full duty. Thankfully, RIT/FAST units are infre-

quently needed at most operations, but they must always

stay alert. Their reaction and deployment may have a huge

impact on individual firefighters and overall fireground

operations. (Photo by J.J. Cassetta.)


DECEMBER 2010

VOLUME 163

NUMBER 12

PENNWELL CORP.

21-00 Route 208 SouthFair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602

Tel.: (973) 251-5040www.FireEngineering.com

P.O. Box 1260Tulsa, OK 74101

(918) 835-3161

Departments

6 December 2010 FIRE ENGINEERING www.FireEngineering.com

DOOR MARKING DEVICE, P. 97


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EDITOR’S OPINION

AMERICANS ARE SAID TO HAVE

short memories. Tragically, very

few remember some horrifi c

events in our history. For example, May 18,

1927, was a day of unspeakable terrorism

when Andrew Kehoe killed 46 people,

including 38 schoolchildren, in Bath,

Michigan, because he opposed school

taxes. However, we can never forget the

chilling words of Timothy McVeigh that

the innocent children killed in The Murrah

Building were “collateral damage.” Some

may have forgotten the innocents slaugh-

tered by Kehoe, but thanks to the beautiful,

reverent, and inspiring memorial built in

Oklahoma City, we will never forget the in-

nocent children and our fellow Americans

murdered on April 19, 1995.

Looking at the empty chairs that face the

refl ecting pool in Oklahoma City, each one

representing a life taken (large chairs for

the adults and small chairs for the chil-

dren), we instantly recognize the enormity

of that horrifi c day. As we journey through

that beautiful memorial, we can see each

one of their faces presented respectfully,

giving us a glimpse into their lives and

crystallizing the tragedy of their murders.

Today, the details of the 9/11 WTC Me-

morial and Museum are starting to emerge.

These details command that fi refi ghters

stand up and be the voice for this entire

nation in demanding that America’s 9/11

Memorial be done correctly, reverently, and

respectfully.

In the memorial plans are tragic mistakes

that must be corrected. For example,

although each one of those lives lost on

9/11 at the Pentagon, at Shanksville, and

in New York will be inscribed on parapets

surrounding two waterfalls and pools rep-

resenting the footprints of the Twin Towers,

the victims’ ages will not be provided.

Also, the names will be randomly placed,

making it very diffi cult to fi nd individual

names. Disturbingly, uniformed person-

nel, including the 343 members of the Fire

Department of New York, will not be listed

with their rank. It will not say Chief of De-

partment Peter Ganci, Father Mychal Judge,

or Deputy Chief Ray Downey; no, it was

decided that this would create a “hierarchy

of death.” This is the epitome of political

correctness run wildly amuck. Meritorious

attainment of a designation such as Dr.,

CEO, Chief, or Reverend does not create

a hierarchy of death but rather recognizes

achievements in lives well lived.

In addition, the 9/11 museum—primarily

underground—plans to present “a river of

faces” in a “memorial exhibition.” Unbeliev-

ably, this consists of small photographs

of the victims, stacked one on the other,

the top row of photos 12 feet above fl oor

level, in a giant mosaic. To get information

on one of the victims, you need to go to a

computer in one of three kiosks. These sto-

len lives are not a “river of faces”; they are

individuals who are entitled to have their

photos and their lives recognized individu-

ally and respectfully, not catalogued in a

kiosk that will be diffi cult to access at best.

Ironically, the terrorists are going to be

given their own corridor, their photos to be

at eye level with their martyrdom quotes, and

artifacts such as one of the terrorists’ visas,

for all to see. This cannot be allowed to hap-

pen while the innocent victims are treated

as some nameless group in “a river of faces.”

Nowhere in this museum’s plans will you

fi nd the individual victims’ artifacts of life on

display, such as a pair of running shoes or a

child’s favorite storybook (photos of these ar-

tifacts are also relegated to the three kiosks).

Decency mandates we put the murderers’

information on a kiosk so that this offensive

garbage does not have to be viewed by those

of us who would rather never have to look

at their horrible images again or be disgusted

by their vile comments.

There are also plans to place nearly

10,000 unidentifi ed human remains behind

a memorial wall inside the lowest level

of the museum with a plaque identifying

the location of the remains. This plan is

considered by international protocols and

museum professionals to be highly unethi-

cal, unorthodox, and improper since the

2,749 affected families were never consulted

about and never consented to this plan.

The nation expects and deserves a dignifi ed

tomb at ground level, accessible to all so that

we can forever pay our respects. It should

be a stand-alone monument similar to the

tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It should be

staffed by an honor guard as we do for our

unknown soldier, as a national symbol of

our loss that day and of the sacrifi ces and

the honor shown by our fallen. The uniden-

tifi ed remains of those lost on 9/11 must

not be a “programmatic element” of the

museum, making the sacred human remains

one of the “exhibits” in the museum.

The fi nal fl aw in these deeply fl awed

plans is that one solitary American fl ag is

to be fl own at the site. We must insist that a

fl ag be fl own for every individual who fell

that day, representing every nation that suf-

fered a loss. One fl ag for each of the fallen—

that is the least we can do. We should ring

this hollowed ground with a wall of fl ags.

Each of us must e-mail a letter immedi-

ately to Mr. Joe Daniels at JDaniels@Sep-

tember11MM.org and Ms. Alice Greenwald

at [email protected]. We

must demand that all uniformed personnel

have their rank appear with their name.

We must demand that everyone be treated

as an individual with their biography and

personal artifacts displayed, that their hu-

manity be respected. We must demand that

an aboveground tomb, a national monu-

ment, be erected to house the humanity

that remains unidentifi ed. We must have

the terrorists’ information moved to a loca-

tion away from those we honor. We must

demand that our fl ag and the fl ag of every

nation who lost a citizen that day fl y over

the site so that we always remember rever-

ently the individuals murdered on 9/11. To

do any less is immoral, cowardly, and disre-

spectful. Simply, any less is un-American.

BY BOBBY HALTON

Always Remembered, Always Revered


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21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602Tel.: (973) 251-5040, Fax: (973) 251-5065

Visit our Web site at: FireEngineering.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

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Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton ([email protected])Diane Feldman ([email protected])Mary Jane Dittmar ([email protected])Robert J. Maloney ([email protected])Derek Rosenfeld ([email protected])Josh Troutman ([email protected])Glenn P. Corbett, P.E. ([email protected])John (Skip) Coleman ([email protected])Mike McEvoy ([email protected])Nate DeMarse ([email protected])Peter J. Prochilo ([email protected])

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EDITORIAL ADVISORS

AND CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

ADVISOR IN MEMORIAM

Anthony Avillo, Alan Brunacini, John M. Buckman, Michael N. Ciampo, Paul T. Dansbach, Frank L. Fire, Richard A. Fritz, William Goldfeder, Bill Gustin, Leigh T. Hollins, Arthur L. Jackson, Steve Kreis, Rick Lasky, John M. Malecky, David McGrail, John W. Mittendorf, Frank C. Montagna, Jack J. Murphy Jr., Mike Nasta, Gerard J. Naylis, Gregory G. Noll, John P. O’Connell, William C. Peters, David Rhodes, Rob Schnepp, William J. Shouldis, Michael A. Terpak, Jerry Tracy, Andrea Zaferes

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PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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BY M I CHAE L P. DA L L E S SANDRO

VOLUNTEERS CORNER

Be Your Own Apparatus Mechanic

ONE OF 2009’S MOST NOTABLE

line-of-duty deaths was the

January 9 death of Boston

Fire Department (BFD) Lieutenant Kevin

Kelley, a 30-year BFD veteran who was

killed when the ladder truck (Ladder 26)

he was riding in careened down a steep

street, crashed into two parked cars,

broke through a fence/barrier wall, and

struck a building. This incident created a

fi restorm of fi nger pointing by the media,

the union, and the politicians regarding

who was responsible. No fi re apparatus

accident in recent memory has shed so

much light on the issue of fi re apparatus

and emergency vehicle preventive main-

tenance and repair as this one.

I have been to many departments

where the apparatus fl oor is covered

with shiny, modern, well-maintained ve-

hicles. I have also been to departments

where a rusted rig with missing parts

and equipment sits in the bay atop pud-

dles of vital fl uids in sheet metal pans

with a garden hose continuously fl owing

water into its leaking water tank to keep

the tank full in anticipation of the next

run. When I see uncared for apparatus, I

put most of the blame on the politicians

and the government for the condition of

the apparatus that serves and protects

the citizens and fi refi ghters. However,

sometimes I also fault fi re department

internal politics and weak leadership for

this predicament. After all, when was

the last time you saw 15-year-old police

vehicles or school buses driving around

your neighborhood? Probably not as

often as you see 15-plus-year-old fi re

apparatus.

Boston media sources have reported

many key points about the BFD accident,

but they also have printed reports alleg-

ing possible lack of driver knowledge

about the vehicle’s mechanical safety and

possible lack of departmentwide driver

training for handling critical vehicle com-

ponent or system failures. This article will

focus on a recommended basic knowl-

edge for a fi re apparatus driver of his

vehicle’s general mechanical safety and

road readiness.

I do not expect fi re apparatus drivers

to be mechanics, but there is often a fi ne

line between knowing and not knowing

the basic mechanics and systems of the

vehicle you are charged with operating

safely. In most fi re departments, drivers

have a tremendous amount of experience

with operating large commercial vehicles

and their mechanics. Many fi refi ght-

ers have served in the military and may

have had experience with these types of

vehicles prior to their fi re department

service. Also, many volunteer members

make their living as truck drivers or

mechanics, or they work for local public

schools, highway departments, and water

or sewer departments and have some ex-

posure to dump trucks, tractor backhoes,

or school buses. Most career fi refi ghters

had civilian jobs prior to joining the fi re

department driving trucks or twisting

wrenches, but what about the apparatus

drivers who have never had this big rig,

mechanical exposure? What should they

know when they climb behind the wheel

of their department’s pumper, tanker, or

aerial device?

CAREER AND VOLUNTEERIn most cases, the items that you

should check prior to driving a rig can

be reviewed in fi ve to 10 minutes. When

examining apparatus, the only differ-

ence between being a career or volunteer

fi refi ghter is when to check these safety/

mechanical items. In a career depart-

ment, where fi refi ghters work in house

for shifts, the most logical time for the

driver to examine the rig is when the

shift changes. This way, the night driver

and the day driver can compare notes.

The volunteer system poses a bit more

of a challenge for this routine because

often people are not regularly scheduled

to be in the fi rehouse. If they are, then do

the same as the career members. When a

volunteer enters the fi rehouse for a call

and gets into the driver’s seat, it is not

reasonable, based on the emergency at

hand, that he complete a fi ve- to 10-min-

ute vehicle safety check, possibly delay-

ing vital community services.

Put a system in place where truck

house offi cers check apparatus weekly.

However, this does not absolve the driver

from having some responsibility for the

basic knowledge of the vehicle’s critical

systems and their condition prior to driv-

ing the rig. In many volunteer systems,

fi refi ghters respond from home; the rig

often sits on the ramp awaiting a mini-

mum crew to show up before it can roll.

This wait time can provide a reasonably

short window for a driver to complete

a critical systems check, even if he is

pressed for time, because of the nature

of the business. So where does the line

between driver and mechanic end?

THE “EYEBALL”One of the most basic and important

tasks the driver can complete is a general

“eyeball” of the rig’s overall general con-

dition. Now, some readers may be think-

ing, “When I walk up to my rig, I look

it over and say to myself, ‘What a piece

of junk.’” But even in departments with

poor maintenance or low apparatus re-

placement budgets, drivers must “eyeball”

the rig prior to driving it. You must recog-

nize glaring safety defects or mechanical

issues that stand out at fi rst glance and

which may result in an accident or in-

complete response because of mechanical

breakdown. The “eyeball” can recognize

a fl at or very soft tire, open or partially

open compartment doors, broken glass,

or vital fl uids pooling under the rig. A

driver should be able to recognize if a

fl uid under a rig is coolant, hose water,

diesel fuel, or window washer fl uid.

Also, make sure that equipment

mounted on the rig’s exterior and the

hose in the hosebeds or crosslays are

properly secured and stowed. In the State

of Pennsylvania in April 2004, a hose and

nozzle hanging from a rig fatally struck a

10-year-old girl as the truck passed her.


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VOLUNTEERS CORNER

Although the quick “eyeball” prior to or

after a response may not always catch

all the issues, drivers should get into the

habit of checking the rig to prevent ac-

cidents and incidents.

LIGHTING, SIRENS, AND HORNSI cannot stress enough how important

it is for emergency vehicle drivers to com-

municate their presence and intended

actions to other motorists. The only way

to do this is visually through lighting or

hand signals or audibly by horn or siren.

To take your rig out on the road, you

MUST have working headlamps, turn

signals, four-way hazards, backup lights,

and tail/stop/turn lights. These basic

lights are required on most vehicles by

most states’ Department of Motor Ve-

hicles and Department of Transportation.

If these items are not operational, repair

them prior to driving the rig. Motorists,

who may not use the lights themselves

when they drive, will say that they didn’t

see your brake lights or turn signals—if,

in fact, they were not operational—and

these nonworking lights contributed to

an accident.

Obviously, it is important for an emer-

gency response vehicle to have working

National Fire Protection Association-compli-

ant sirens, emergency lighting, and horns.

However, if one bulb is out on a light bar,

your vehicle is probably not going to be

rendered out of service or at critical risk for

an accident, but you must repair it as soon

as possible. Lighting and audible devices

on the rigs should always work.

MIRRORSLarge fi re apparatus and other emergen-

cy vehicles have many more blind spots

than do cars, trucks, and SUVs. For that

reason, mirrors mounted on the rig are

not optional. The mirrors should be intact;

mounted properly so they do not change

position while driving; and clean, free

from cracks and cloudiness, and properly

adjusted. Mirrors are not one-size-fi ts-all

when it comes to their adjustment. Differ-

ent drivers may have to adjust the mirrors

to their visibility needs to ensure a good

fi eld of view and the rig’s overall safety.

TIRES AND WHEELSThe tires MUST be properly infl ated.

Poor tire infl ation can lead to hydroplan-

ing, loss of apparatus control, and a

potential rollover. Also, periodically check

tread to ensure safety. Front steer tires, in

most cases, should have no less than 1⁄8

inch of tread depth, and the rear “duals”

should have no less than 1⁄16-inch depth.

Check for nails, screws, and other items

that may be stuck in the tire and for side-

wall damage or bulges that could fl atten

a tire under stress of operation.

Another key point to remember about

fi re apparatus tires is that quite often

departments that do not log many runs

are housing 15-year-old rigs with only

10,000 miles and the original set of tires

on them. Tires can begin to break down

around their fi fth or sixth year of service,

so even if you have great tread depth and

low miles, the tires are aging and may

need to be replaced even though they

do not meet the normal criteria of being

worn.

Also, drivers need to check all of the

rig’s lug nuts to make sure they are all

present and show no signs of rust or

paint chafe underneath them; that is a

clear sign that the lug nuts may be com-

ing loose. Every now and then, tighten

the lug nuts to make sure they are tight

and seated correctly.

INSIDE THE RIGEvery seating surface should have an

operational seat belt; some rigs are so

old they may not have seat belts. Again,

budgets may hamper you from obtain-

ing a shiny new rig, so make do with

what you have, but if your rig’s seat belts

do not work, it is because of a lack of

maintenance and derelict behavior, not

budget. Get working belts in older rigs by

replacing or retrofi tting them. If people

are not properly belted, the rig should

not be rolling. Also make sure that

heaters, defrosters, wipers, and interior

lighting are operational. Even if it is not

raining when you respond to a call, the

weather can change or another vehicle

can hit a puddle and unexpectedly kick

up all kinds of mud or slush onto your

windshield.

HIT THE BRAKESThe braking system is the most im-

portant system that needs to be free of

defects and defi ciencies; it is also the

system that requires actual mechani-

cal knowledge, experience, and tools to

maintain properly. However, a driver who

has limited mechanical knowledge can

still recognize potential brake problems.

The driver should never just roll the

apparatus out of the fi rehouse and onto

the roadway without testing the brakes.

Make sure the brakes have a minimum

of 90 pounds or more of building air, let

the rig roll a few feet, and fi rmly depress

the brake pedal. The rig should come to a

complete stop and should not pull to one

side, have leaking tires, or have grinding

brake components. During downtime,

routinely crank the wheels to both the

left and right, inspect the wheel well with

a fl ashlight, and check critical suspension

and steering and braking components.

Shocks should be free from leaks and

connected to the vehicle on each end;

springs should be in place and held

together with properly bolted shackles

(bolts should have nuts on the other

ends); and vehicles with air bag suspen-

sion should have bags that are not torn,

punctured, or cracked. For air brakes,

the air feed hose should be connected

on both ends, and the push rod should

be connected to the slack adjuster with

a pin and cotter key. A qualifi ed techni-

cian should complete any adjustments or

service on brakes or slack adjusters.

Although this may seem like a great

deal of knowledge to have or too much

for a driver to check prior to a response,

once you become familiar with these

items, you will only need a few minutes

to check your rig. The most important

parts of an apparatus maintenance pro-

gram are regular preventive maintenance

and timely repairs from QUALIFIED tech-

nicians and regularly replacing old rigs. If

your rig is poorly maintained and there is

an accident involving signifi cant property

damage, injury, or death, the buck is go-

ing to stop with somebody. ●

● MICHAEL P. DALLESSANDRO is

a 25-year volunteer fi refi ghter and

chairman of the Grand Island (NY)

Fire Company board of directors.

He has instructed at FDIC and is a

trainer for the fi re service, the public

transportation industry, and certifi ed

commercial vehicle drivers. Dalles-

sandro also operates the Web site

www.respondsmart.com.


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BY M I CHAE L M . DUGAN

TRAINING NOTEBOOK

Attacking a Brownstone Fire

SCENARIO: ON YOUR ARRIVAL, A

large volume of fi re is showing

on the second fl oor of a brown-

stone building. The engine company

needs water—and fast. The stretch is

short because of the distance between

the engine and the available hydrant

(photo 1). This may indicate the need

for the engine offi cer to call the en-

gine company chauffeur for tank water,

which would allow for a quick knock-

down of the visible fi re. It may take

longer to hook up to a hydrant than to

stretch a line and have it ready to fl ow

water. Most offi cers would call for the

chauffeur to “drop the tank.”

All fi reground members should be

aware of the water supply’s status. The

engine company’s chauffeur or pump

operator announcing “We have hydrant

water” over the fi reground radio once

a positive water supply is established

is one of the most important messages

that he can communicate. This tells all

members that they have a positive water

supply and can now adjust their tactics

accordingly.

The second line will be stretched

to the parlor fl oor to back up the fi rst

handline. Once the fi rst hoseline is in

position and operating on the fi re, the

backup line will be advanced to the

fl oor above the fi re. Members will then

be in position to operate on fi re that

extended to the fl oor above.

The truck company or member as-

signed the interior search should keep

the front steps clear for the engine to

stretch the line and fl ake it out for a

quick advancement on the fi re. The

search team’s offi cer or team leader

going to the fl oor above the fi re must

know the status of the water supply

and must communicate with the units

operating on the fi re fl oor to ensure

they know which teams are moving

above. Working physically close with

an offi cer or a member on the fi re fl oor

ensures the safety of the team on the

fl oor above. If a problem arises, the fi re

fl oor offi cers should make contact with

the unit above and advise them of the

situation. Someone has to be assigned

to the fl oor below the fi re and other

utilities to ensure that the fi re does not

start below operating forces.

One truck company or vent-enter-

search member should go to the rear of

1

2

Photos by Rich Doucet.


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FIRE ENGINEERING December 2010 19www.FireEngineering.com

TRAINING NOTEBOOK

the building to check for fi re, smoke,

and victims. If he does not encounter

problems, make entry from the rear.

Members are still mandated to radio

to Command and their officer, “The

rear is clear and making entry from

the exterior to the second floor rear.”

This tells the incident commander (IC)

and the officer the searching mem-

ber’s location and which task he is

presently doing.

The photos show two aerials posi-

tioned to give members quick access to

the roof for ventilation. Members going

to the roof should remove the skylight

or scuttle cover over the interior stairs

immediately to relieve the building of

smoke and products of combustion.

The aerial in photo 2 is positioned

away from the fi re and smoke, allowing

members on the roof a safer egress if

needed.

This fi re indicated the need for a coor-

dinated, controlled fi re attack. Members

should be aware of what is happening

and how the overall fi re attack is pro-

gressing. The status of the water supply

is vital information; all members should

know this. Once you have a positive

water supply, you can be more confi dent

as you search.

Members must communicate vital

information consistently and with the

correct terminology to the offi cers

and the IC. This means that you must

know how to identify the fl oors in the

building. In this scenario, the parlor

fl oor—or second fl oor—is the fi re

fl oor. If a member on the third fl oor

radios the IC that fi re is visible on the

second fl oor, the IC and operating

offi cers might not worry about that.

However, if the member radioed that

the fi re had progressed to the third

fl oor, the IC might have transmitted

an additional alarm or asked for more

resources. This type of miscommunica-

tion may endanger the working crews.

A standardized communication and ter-

minology are necessary to help avoid

confusion.

Remember, the stairs will be used to

stretch the handline. All members should

assist in getting the fi rst line into opera-

tion and keeping the area clear for the

fi rst engine to move on the fi re.

This fi re occurred during the day; the

volume of fi re indicated that it may be

arson. All members should be aware of

any indication of arson and advise the

IC if it is found. ●

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● MICHAEL M. DUGAN is a 36-year fi re service veteran and a 25-year

veteran of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). He is a captain of Lad-

der Company 123 in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Dugan received the James

Gordon Bennett medal in 1992 and the Harry M. Archer Medal in 1993, the

FDNY’s highest award for bravery. He was also a volunteer fi refi ghter for

the Halesite (NY) Fire Department. He is a nationally recognized instructor

and FDIC lecturer on truck company operations, building construction, and

size-up.


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BY JOHN “SK I P” COL EMAN , T E CHN I CA L ED I TOR

WEB WATCH

AS WE ARE ALL AWARE, IT TAKES

a certain kind of individual to

become a fi refi ghter. The factors

that make someone a good or great fi re-

fi ghter are even more complex. If you have

a few years under your belt, I’m sure you

can think of fi refi ghters who are quintes-

sential fi refi ghters, and I am equally sure

you can think of individuals on the job

who beg the question, “How did they ever

get on the job?”

How fi refi ghters are hired—the actual

selection process—has changed, at least

in the Toledo (OH) Department of Fire

& Rescue, since the time I came on the

job in 1975. The testing process and the

physical requirements have certainly

evolved. When I came on, it was a ques-

tion of how many sit-ups and chin-ups

you could do. Today, Toledo has a certi-

fi ed job-based physical agility test that

all new hires must successfully complete.

Written tests are also job-related and

validated by a panel of experts, but to

my knowledge Toledo does not give any

psychological screening to candidates.

This month’s Roundtable question is,

Does your department conduct psycho-

logical screening for new candidates? Go

to http://www.fi reengineering.com/index/

roundtable.html and click on this month’s

question to add your comments.

FIRE LIFE LAUNCHESFirefi ghting entails a complicated life

choice. We pride ourselves on our humility.

We do heroic, selfl ess acts and then usually

go great lengths to avoid the spotlight. We

see the ugliest sides of life (and death) and

then hurry home to hug the family and do

whatever is mentally possible to shield the

family from “the job.”

Fire Life (www.fi relife.com) is a new

Web site designed for the whole family that

provides a holistic look at what it means

to be a fi refi ghter and a family member of

a fi refi ghter. It looks at the other side of

being a fi refi ghter—the off duty, physical

“self” and family side. If you are a 24/48

shift fi refi ghter, this site is geared to the

“48” of the equation, including the family. If

you volunteer, it’s about the time when you

are not at the station or on a run.

In the video column “Off Duty with

Kevin Shea,” you can go along with retired

FDNY Captain Kevin Shea on hunting

and fi shing trips. Videos

include a recent bear

hunt and fl y fi shing. Shea

is also organizing a pig

hunt in Texas in February 2011 for 15

lucky fi refi ghter-hunters.

In “What Every Firefi ghter’s Spouse

Should Know,” Anne Gagliano, who has

been married to Captain Mike Gagliano

of the Seattle (WA) Fire Department for

24 years, writes about topics of interest to

fi refi ghters’ spouses/signifi cant others. She

provides thoughtful insight into what it takes

to “successfully” live with a fi refi ghter. In her

column “Re-Entry Time,” she discusses how

to help a fi refi ghter who has come home

after one of those “ugly” days on the job.

One of my fi rst tastes of cooking was as a

fi refi ghter. Great recipes at the station were

copied and taken home for the family to

enjoy. This is the fl avor of the column “Fire

Station Cooking.” Most fi refi ghters have a

“specialty” they cook when the regular station

cook is off. Expand your menu with these

recipes from fi re stations around the country.

FEATURED ARTICLESIn “Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in

Firefi ghters,” Michael G. Hamrock, M.D., a

marathoner and former Boston fi refi ghter,

reviews recent injuries in the Boston Fire

Department. He fi nds that a Boston fi re-

fi ghter suffers an ACS every three weeks

and that, if trends persist, in eight years

nearly 10 percent of active fi refi ghters

will experience an acute coronary event.

Hamrock discusses athletic response to this

preventable situation.

Ever have the chief or mayor call you

into the offi ce and tell you that you are

now in charge of a special event in your

department? Brian Stoothoff, a 28-year

veteran of Ocala (FL) Fire Rescue, tells

you what you need to do, using fi re de-

partment anniversaries as an example of

a special event.

Paul Shapiro writes

on dual pumping

for fi res that require

more than one

pumper to extin-

guish and the meth-

ods used to supply

these pumpers, such

as the use of mul-

tiple supply lines or

having one pumper

bring in the supply and pumping smaller

supply lines to additional units.

Kevin Roy Nunn, a structural fi refi ghter

for the Pigeon Forge (TN) Fire Depart-

ment, writes on how to present a wild-

land interface training program for your

department using a National Fire Academy

online course.

David DeStefano, a lieutenant in the

North Providence (RI) Fire Department,

writes on responding to outside fi res such

as trash, vehicle, and dumpster fi res. He

cautions fi refi ghters about developing a

laid-back attitude toward these types of

incidents and discusses how to apply size-

up skills to seemingly routine incidents to

ensure safe outcomes.

COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE MONTHName: Fred McKay.

Residence: Horseshoe Val-

ley, Ontario, Canada.

Department: Toronto Fire

Services.

Title/rank: Captain.

Years of public service: 23.

Agency structure: Paid fi re department.

Top issues in your department: Seniority-

based promotional system, complacency.

Professional qualifi cations: Graduate of

Ontario Fire College; lead instructor of the

Ontario Fire College high-rise program.

Topics you provide training for: High-

rise, IMS, RIT.

Bio: fi re offi cer in a large urban depart-

ment; dedicated to enabling fi refi ghters

to achieve safe and effi cient fi reground

operations through training, commit-

ment, and attention to detail.

(fi reengineering.com)

Send us your fi re photos

for use on the Web. E-

mail them in jpeg format

to [email protected].

(Photo by Jason Frattini.)


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BY MAT T S TROUD AND PAUL B INDON

EXTRICATION TACTICS

HID Lighting: A Bright Idea?

AS YOU ARE DRIVING ONE

evening, you round a corner,

and all of a sudden you are

blinded by bluish-white beams piercing

the dark. Have you come face to face

with a UFO? A 747’s landing lights? The

entrance to the Pearly Gates? No, you

have just witnessed high intensity dis-

charge (HID) lighting at its fi nest.

Today, HID lighting seems to be in-

stalled in all kinds of vehicle makes and

models. It used to be only in high-end

BMW or Lexus models, but now it is

in that multicolored 1985 Honda Civic,

truck accessory lighting, and motorcy-

cles. You might even have it installed on

your fi re apparatus as fl oodlights.

HOW HID LIGHTING WORKSThe use of HID lighting began in the

early 1990s in higher-end European car

models. The U.S. and Japanese car man-

ufacturers adopted the HID system in

the mid-1990s. Lincoln, Acura, and Lexus

were just a few of the companies using

this technology. Since then, almost all

manufacturers have offered models with

the HID headlight system as standard or

optional equipment.

How do the HID systems work? To

better understand this new technology,

you must fi rst have a good idea of how

conventional headlight systems func-

tion. Conventional systems use a bulb

containing a fi lament that produces

light when voltage is applied; just like

a standard lightbulb you use in your

home, these bulbs have a short life span

and are fragile. The light produced has

a yellowish hue and is rated in watts.

Most conventional headlight systems

are Department of Transportation-rated

at 55 watts, and the voltage they use to

produce their light is 12 volts.

HID headlight systems work different-

ly. Rather than using a fi lament, the HID

bulb is comprised of a quartz capsule

that contains xenon gas, mercury (2004

and earlier HID bulbs), and metal halide

salts with tungsten metal electrodes at

each end. A high-voltage current pro-

duced by the HID control unit in each

headlight assembly forms an arc in the

capsule. This control unit draws 12 volts

from the vehicle and steps it up to as

much as 25,000 volts.

Think of it as a controlled lightning

strike in a small bottle. The light emit-

ted from this process is rated about

4,000 Kelvin (K). A Kelvin rating is a

method used to describe theoretical

temperature of color. To put this in

perspective, a conventional headlight

bulb is rated about 2,800 K, which

produces a yellow- or amber-colored

light. A halogen headlight bulb is rated

about 3,200 K. These bulbs produce a

much whiter color of light. HID bulbs

produce a bluish-white color of light,

rated about 5,000 K, which is closest

to natural sunlight at midday. Emitting

this color of light from the front of a ve-

hicle at night allows the operator to see

and react faster and more accurately to

obstacles in the road.

CRASH HAZARDSThis is normal operation in a vehicle

driving down the road. What happens

when the vehicle crashes? As emergency

fi rst responders, you know that nearly

99 percent of vehicles in accidents

sustain some sort of damage to the front

end. The headlights are probably bro-

ken. What about that nice bluish-white,

light-emitting, 25,000-volt headlight

system?

The HID system does not care that

the car has been damaged; the system

is still trying to function. The controlled

lightning strike we mentioned still needs

a place to go. This can create a serious

hazard for fi rst responders who could

come in contact with this extremely high

voltage. To put this in context, if you

have ever been shocked by a spark plug

wire on a lawnmower or vehicle, you

probably remember how that felt. The

HID system voltage is a constant 25,000

volts and works more like a Taser® or

stun gun. It has a higher refresh rate and

therefore a much higher shock danger

and can also pose a greater risk of ignit-

ing a fi re.

When responding to a motor vehicle

accident, you commonly need access to

the engine compartment for fi re sup-

pression or to disable the 12-volt battery.

When you attempt to open the hood, if

your hands (or other body parts) come

in contact with the rogue high-voltage

arc, involuntary convulsive reactions can

cause personal injury, and you will likely

be thrown from the vehicle. However, if

the HID system has been damaged, the

vehicle body itself will not be charged

with high voltage—your body must

come in contact with the arc. Since the

HID output is a low-amperage system,

Figure 1. Operation of an HID System


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EXTRICATION TACTICS

the risk of death by electrocution from

this system is very low.

Now that you know the facts, you

must take care when approaching the

front of any vehicle with an HID light-

ing system. It is important to know that

simply turning the ignition off will not

turn off the headlights on most vehicles.

They will remain operational until you

turn them off at the switch or disconnect

the 12-volt battery. You must discon-

nect the 12-volt battery to disable the

supplemental restraint system (SRS) air

bags, and this will also disable the HID

system.

Note: The 12-volt battery may not be

under the vehicle hood. Alternate loca-

tions for battery placement are becom-

ing more common, especially on hybrid

vehicles.

As you can see, vehicle technology

has advanced to the point where fi rst

responders’ jobs have become more

complicated and potentially hazardous.

Hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles, SRS air

bags, and complex body structures are

just some of the technologies that can

present complications and hazards when

you are performing a rescue or an extri-

cation. Up-to-date training has become

one of the most critical tools when deal-

ing with all of these technologies. ●

Enter 112 at fireeng.hotims.com Enter 113 at fireeng.hotims.com

● MATT STROUD is a 23-year veteran of Toyota Motor Corporation; he is a

Toyota certifi ed master diagnostic technician and an ASE certifi ed master di-

agnostic technician, with 10 years certifi ed in hybrid technology. He founded

MGS TECH in 2007 with the goal to teach fi refi ghters/EMS personnel how to

safely manage hybrid and new technology vehicle incidents.

● PAUL BINDON is an ASE master certifi ed auto technician with more than

23 years of experience in the automotive fi eld. He has been employed with

Lexus Dealerships for the past 16 years, receiving master diagnostic specialist

and hybrid certifi cation through factory training in the latest automotive tech-

nologies. He joined MGS Tech in 2008 as a research specialist and an on-site

trainer and has completed extrication training at the Corona-X seminar.


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BY M I CHAE L D . SM I TH

The Quality Assurance Process

SCENARIO: AT ROLL CALL, THE

captain asks you to review the

quality assurance (QA) process

with a new EMT/fi refi ghter with limited

EMS experience. Sitting at the train-

ing computer, you explain

to him the QA process for

a peer review of EMS runs.

Each shift reviews the previ-

ous shift’s runs for adherence

to protocols, standard operat-

ing procedures, and quality of

documentation.

He asks how it is possible

to second-guess what hap-

pened on a run without hav-

ing been there. You recognize

that this is a common QA

process question that focuses

on the fi rst step in any good

QA process—quality documen-

tation.

As quality EMS providers,

we all strive to produce the

best documentation of our

patient care. Patient care re-

ports (PCRs) (Figures 1-3) are

not only permanent medical

records but also legal docu-

ments that form the basis of

legal proceedings. Depending

on your department policies

and procedures, a PCR may

serve as the sole accounting of

the entire patient contact.

With decent documentation,

a person not present on the

run should be able to con-

struct a complete picture of

exactly what happened during

the patient contact, includ-

ing the dispatch, response,

patient condition, assessments,

treatments, and responses to

those treatments. Well-written

documentation often prevents

the department from having

to defend its care in a court

of law.

DOCUMENTATIONMultiple methods are used to docu-

ment patient contacts including electron-

ic patient care records (ePCRs); hand-

written, scanned forms; and dictated

reports. Handwritten reports have been

the mainstay of EMS documentation

since its inception. As EMS evolved,

patient documentation developed from

handwritten to ePCRs to, in some cases,

dictated run reports. ePCRs

have many advantages over

handwritten reports. They can

auto-fi ll patient demographic

information from frequently

encountered patients, auto-

matically acquire dispatch

information from interfaces

with computer-aided dispatch

systems, remind users of pro-

tocols and pertinent assess-

ments, and spell-check free

text to provide a more profes-

sional appearance. ePCRs also

make every report legible,

whereas handwritten reports

tend to be at the mercy of the

author’s spelling and penman-

ship abilities.

ePCRs are expensive and

can be cost prohibitive to

some departments. Start-up

costs tend to be the biggest

capital expense, which can

include computers, ePCRs,

security software, printers,

modems, and infrastructure

to back up or maintain secure

patient records. Require-

ments of the Health Insurance

Portability and Privacy Act

increase substantially with

ePCR systems, requiring care-

ful security oversight. Depend-

ing on your department’s

size and the ePCR system

you select, training costs can

also constitute a signifi cant

start-up expense. Once the

system start-up and provider

education costs are taken care

of, ePCR costs drop dramati-

cally. Some departments have

implemented dictated run

Figure 1. Performance Improvement Review, Chest Pain


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reports much like the system’s physi-

cians and other health care providers

used to document patient visits. The

EMS provider speaks his run report into

a recording device, which uses speech

recognition software to immediately

display, transcribe, or transmit the report

to a transcriptionist for conversion to

a document that the provider can later

proofread and transmit to the receiving

facility and department server.

Like documentation systems, there

are multiple documentation methods

including SOAP, CHART (Figure 2), and

the story narrative. These methods and

others all have their

pros and cons.

SOAP stands for the following:

• Subjective. Includes information

gained from the patient, chief com-

plaint, or signs and symptoms. This

is a very popular documentation

method.

• Objective. Represents observations

and other data collected such as

saturation of peripheral oxygen

(SpO2), blood glucose, and electro-

cardiogram (ECG).

• Assessment. Clinical assessment in-

formation such as vital signs, breath

sounds, skin conditions, and shock

status.

• Plan. Your treatment plan—IVs, O2,

medications, and treatment facility.

The CHART method is preferred in

many areas of the country and stands for

the following:

• Complaint or chief complaint. Why

did the patient call EMS?

• History. Patient’s past medical histo-

ry and history of the present illness.

Includes using SAMPLE as a guide.

• Assessment. Your assessment fi nd-

Figure 2. Performance Improvement Review, Intubation

Figure 3. Performance Improvement Review, Syncope/Altered Mental Status


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ings—vital signs, breath sounds,

SpO2, ECG, and any other pertinent

clinical fi ndings.

• Rx. The treatment. What have you

done for the patient and the out-

comes?

• Transport. Where did you transport

the patient; were there any changes

to patient status or condition; and

what, if any, were Medical Control’s

orders?

The story narrative documentation

format involves writing the entire patient

contact in paragraphs and follows the

subjective, objective, treatment, and

outcomes format. Many EMS provid-

ers prefer the story narrative; they feel

they can quote patient statements and

describe more freely what transpired

on a run rather than use other formats.

The counter argument against this is

that story narrative reports may end up

being incomplete; they fail to prompt

the writer to include important fi ndings

and treatment details that the writer may

inadvertently leave off his narrative.

QUALITY ASSURANCEMost state EMS rules or regulations

require departments to implement a

comprehensive QA. Actual implementa-

tion is often left up to the individual EMS

service. The National Highway Transporta-

tion Safety Administration has produced a

document, “A Leadership Guide to Quality

Improvement for Emergency Medical Ser-

vices,” that serves as a template for design-

ing and managing a quality improvement

program. In concert with the EMS Agenda

for the Future, this guide is a valuable re-

source for implementing and maintaining

a quality improvement program.

A successful QA program requires that

all those involved understand a need for

continuous improvement. Whether you

use better documentation, improved as-

sessment, or critical thinking skills, the

opportunities to improve will always exist.

Field providers being reviewed in the QA

process must remember to design those

processes in ways to keep the emotion out

of the reviews. If members receive feed-

back from the QA process, it highlights

something important about their docu-

mentation or patient care. Peer review QA

programs employ evaluation by cowork-

ers; these require thorough knowledge of

protocols. If a reviewer is unable to form

a picture of what occurred on a run, there

is room for improvement. Peer review QA

programs also keep members up-to-date

on protocols and operational guidelines

or procedures, and they also help improve

the reviewer’s documentation abilities.

Open minds should prevail when it comes

to peer run reviews.

GETTING STARTEDThe four considerations necessary to

implement a good QA program follow.

Leadership. Decide who is going to

champion the QA process such as a su-

pervisor, an offi cer, or another member

empowered to make changes in process

and procedure as the need arises. The

QA process will often identify operation-

al, system, and administrative concerns

that require action by chief offi cers or

department leaders.

Information. Department administra-

tion must decide the type and quan-

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tity of information to be collected and

what will be done with the data. Often,

administrations will be challenged to

maintain an open mind when interpret-

ing data. Previously held perceptions

may be challenged because of incom-

plete information, incorrect analysis, or

close examination revealing previously

unseen opportunities for improvement.

Recognize that information generated

from a good QA program frequently

calls for changes.

Long-term goals/objectives. The

administration should set short- and long-

term QA goals. A well-run QA process is

cyclical; changes made need to be evalu-

ated and tweaked, often repeatedly. Buy-in

from administration is important for over-

coming resistance to change. Long-term

goals should address how the QA program

will test the effectiveness of changes.

Process management. No provider or

department should operate in a vacuum.

Benchmarking is a hallmark of a good

QA program. Members and their depart-

ments should know how they compare

with others. Any new procedures or

protocols should be widely dissemi-

nated, compared with other services,

and closely monitored during and after

implementation. It may be useful to

conduct trials in a single station or bat-

talion before launching departmentwide.

Best practices evolve from deliberate

and thorough consideration involving

management and fi eld providers.

REPORTINGAs your new EMT/fi refi ghter begins to

understand the QA program, he tells you, “I

was concerned that reviewing other mem-

bers’ runs would be tantamount to tattling

on them if they did something wrong. I

understand now that QA is for the patients’

well being in the long run.” Ultimately,

this “It is not about you! It is about the

patients” mindset must prevail in all EMS

providers. None of us are perfect; there is

always room for improvement. A good QA

program facilitates quality care to the citi-

zens we protect. Many states require EMS

services to report QA fi ndings, so design

your program accordingly. ●

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● MICHAEL D. SMITH, NREMT-P,

CCEMT-P, is a fi refi ghter/paramedic

with the Grandview Heights (OH)

Division of Fire, a fl ight paramedic for

MedFlight of Ohio, and a coordinator

for the EMS Education Program at

Ohio University—Lancaster. He has

been involved in EMS since 1986 and

is an outreach critical care educator

for Grant Medical Center’s LifeLink.

Well-written documentation

often prevents the department

from having to defend

its care in a court of law.


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NEWS IN BRIEF

USFA: 90 fi refi ghter

LODDs in 2009

T he United States Fire Administra-

tion’s (USFA) Firefi ghter Fatalities

in the United States in 2009 reports that

there were 90 fi refi ghter line-of-duty

deaths (LODDs) from 33 states in 2009.

The following states suffered the highest

number of casualties: Pennsylvania (8),

New York (7), North Carolina (6), Louisi-

ana (5), and Texas (5).

Following is a breakdown of the 2009

fi refi ghter LODDs:

• There were 47 volunteer, 36 career, and

seven wildland agency fi refi ghter deaths.

• Six incidents had two or more fatali-

ties, for a total of 13 lives.

• Thirty-nine deaths were caused by

heart attacks.

• Wildland fi re duties claimed the lives

of 16 fi refi ghters, compared with 26

fatalities in 2008.

• Emergency incident activities were

related to 57 deaths.

• Thirty fi refi ghters died while perform-

ing activities at the emergency incident.

• Fifteen fi refi ghters died while return-

ing to or responding from emergency

incidents, down from 24 in 2008.

• Ten deaths were associated with train-

ing activities.

• Fourteen fi refi ghters died at the con-

clusion of on-duty activity. ●

CPR guidelines advocate

chest compressions only

The October 2010 issue of the Har-

vard Health Letter (www.health.

harvard.edu/) reports that cardiopulmo-

nary resuscitation (CPR) for people who

suddenly collapse and have no pulse or

heartbeat need consist of chest compres-

sions only. Under these conditions, “the

American Heart Association (AHA) says

to forgo airway clearing, breaths, and

pulse checks and just concentrate on

pushing on the chest—a procedure called

‘hands only’ CPR,” explains the Letter.

The AHA recommends that the

bystander call 911 before starting the

compressions. The compressions should

be hard and fast on the person’s breast-

bone—100 times a minute—and continue

until emergency medical technicians

or paramedics arrive. If possible, it is

recommended that an automated external

defi brillator be used to try to shock the

heart back into a normal rhythm.

Data from a statewide study conducted

in Arizona, published in the October 6,

2010, issue of the Journal of the Ameri-

can Medical Association, show that chest-

compression-only CPR by lay individuals

is associated with better survival rates

for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac

arrest compared with CPR that calls

for chest compressions interrupted by

mouth-to-mouth “rescue breaths,” ac-

cording to a University of Arizona press

release. The study found that the overall

survival rate for patients with out-of-hos-

pital cardiac arrest was 7.8 percent when

bystanders did conventional CPR with

rescue breaths and 13.3 percent for those

receiving chest-compression-only CPR.

Traditional CPR may still benefi t patients

with “noncardiac” arrest (patients who

had problems breathing before the heart

rhythm became irregular) and for children

and victims of drowning, trauma, airway

obstruction, and acute respiratory disease.

More information on the Arizona state

research and this topic is at fi relife.com,

http://www.fi relife.com/index/display/

article-display/5498407196/articles/

fi re-life/Health/2010/10/cardio-disease.

html/,where you will also have access to

a visual showing the administering of a

chest compression. ●

NVFC offers assistance in grant

applications and other tasks

Fire departments that would like assis-

tance in handling a line-of-duty death,

writing a federal grant application, adopt-

ing environmentally friendly practices, and

working with elected offi cials to promote

legislation that benefi ts the fi re service will

fi nd it in the latest resources the National

Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has made

available at its Web site, www.nvfc.org/.

The guides are free.

• The “Funeral Procedures for Firefi ght-

Line-of-Duty DeathsSeptember 16. Firefi ghter/Paramedic James M. Owen, 56, Orange County (CA) Fire Authority: cause unknown.September 20. Deputy Chief Mark Johnson, 55, Hinsdale (IL) Fire Department: cause unknown.September 24. Firefi ghter William Harold “Hal” Clark, 54, Atlantic (VA) Volunteer Fire & Res-cue Company: possible heat-related injuries incurred while fi ghting a fast-moving wildfi re.September 24. Firefi ghter Ryan Neil Seitz, 26, McArthur (OH) Fire Department: injuries sustained when a pressurized water tank exploded while he was fi ghting an outdoor fi re.September 25. Firefi ghter Ronald W. Stephan, 61, Lynn (IN) Volunteer Fire Department: apparent heart attack.September 26. Firefi ghter Edward Mosely, 65, Steele Creek Acres (TX) Volunteer Fire De-partment: injuries sustained on September 14 when he fell from the roof of a fi re station while assisting with repairs.September 27. Firefi ghter Robert Hall, 57, Lynchburg Area (OH) Joint Fire & Ambulance District: cardiac arrest.October 3. Assistant Chief Thomas Innes, 61, Hindsboro Community (IL) Fire Protection District: cause under investigation.October 7. Firefi ghter Jim Saunders, 52, Sacramento (CA) Metropolitan Fire District: cardiac arrest suffered on October 3 while operating at a structure fi re. October 19. Fire Police Captain William Akin Jr., 52, Ghent (NY) Volunteer Fire Company: cause under investigation.October 23. Firefi ghter Daniel C. Wilson, 58, Jerusalem Township (OH) Fire Department: heart attack.October 24. Firefi ghter Randall Scott Davenport, 37, Marshall (MO) Fire Department: cause to be determined.

Source: USFA Firefi ghters Memorial Database

FOR MORE NEWS, VISITWWW.FIREENGINEERING.COM


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http://www.nvfc.org/

http://www.health.harvard.edu/

http://www.firelife.com/index/display/article-display/5498407196/articles/fire-life/Health/2010/10/cardio-disease.html/

htp://www.firelife.com








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NEWS IN BRIEF

ers, Second Edition,” is available at

www.nvfc.org/lodd/.

• The “Fire and Emergency Services Grant-

Writing Guide” and other grant-writing

resources are at www.nvfc.org/grants.

• The “Guide for Going Green in the

Fire Service” looks at a range of earth-

friendly steps departments can take,

from recycling and energy conserva-

tion to green construction. Profi les of

several green departments from across

the country are spotlighted. This and

other resources are at www.nvfc.org/

page/1187/Going_Green.htm/.

• The “Guide to Communicating with

Elected Offi cials” provides information

and advice on how to engage public

policy makers to acquaint them with

the needs of the volunteer fi re and

emergency services. The guide contains

tips and tools for making advocacy less

daunting. It is available in the Volunteer

Fire Service Advocacy Center at www.

nvfc.org/page/650/Capitol_Hill_Con-

nection.htm/. ●

NIOSH releases Fire Fighter

Fatality Investigation report

F2010-10 “One career fi re fi ghter/

paramedic dies and a part-time fi re

fi ghter/paramedic is injured when caught

in a residential structure fl ashover—Illi-

nois” is at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fi re/

reports/face201010.html/. The report is

the latest release in the National Institute

for Occupational Safety and Health series

of investigations of incidents at which a

fi refi ghter dies in the line of duty. ●

USFA: smoking-related fi res

in residential buildings

An estimated 9,000 smoking-related

fi res in residential buildings occur

annually in the United States, resulting

in an estimated average of 450 deaths,

1,025 injuries, and $303 million in prop-

erty loss, according to the Federal Emer-

gency Management Agency’s (FEMA)

United States Fire Administration (USFA)

Smoking-Related Fires in Residential

Buildings report, released in September.

Developed by USFA’s National Fire Data

Center as part of the Topical Fire Report

series, the document examines the

characteristics of smoking-related fi res in

residential buildings based on data from

2006 to 2008 from the National Fire Inci-

dent Reporting System (NFIRS).

According to the report, smoking-

related fi res account for two percent of

all residential building fi res but cause 17

percent of fi re deaths in residential build-

ings. Cigarettes are involved in 87 percent

of these fi res. The complete report is at

www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/reports/. ●

NFA testing delivery of student

manuals on compact disk

Students attending the National Fire

Academy (NFA) in November will be

the fi rst students to have the opportunity to

obtain their student manuals on compact

disk. The NFA initiated a pilot program to

evaluate the change.

NFA Superintendent Dr. Denis Onieal

explains that after the pilot program

has been assessed, more presentation

information may become available on

line. The change, he adds, “has the

potential to reduce paper usage and

save the NFA up to $128,000 per year

in production costs.” Onieal noted also

that added advantages to this “Green

Initiative” are that students will not

have to pay excess baggage fees to

carry their paper-based manuals home

and the NFA will be able to keep stu-

dent manuals more current in response

to emerging trends and issues.

Students may use their laptop comput-

ers in the classroom to record instructor

comments and other pertinent informa-

tion. Traditional paper-based student

manuals will be available in the class-

room; they will be reused for future

classes. ●

NFPA: need to improve smoke

alarm maintenance

Homeowners who participated in an

interactive telephone survey conducted

by Harris Interactive for the National Fire

Protection Association (NFPA) revealed that

although they have smoke alarms in their

homes, they still have questions about how

many they should have and how often they

should be tested and replaced.

Of the 1,004 adults polled, 96 per-

cent said they have some alarms in their

homes; 42 percent reported having two

or three. Some 40 percent of smoke alarm

owners said they test their smoke alarms

at least every few months, a quarter (24

percent) test them only twice a year, and

11 percent rarely or never check them.

Almost half of the respondents said they

have one alarm in each bedroom.

The NFPA recommends at least one

smoke alarm on every level of the home,

including the basement, and one outside

each sleeping area and inside each bed-

room. Larger homes may need additional

smoke alarms.

“Over the past 30-plus years, we have

seen a signifi cant increase in the number

of homes that have at least one smoke

alarm, which represents a big step toward

increased home fi re safety,” says Lorraine

Carli, NFPA’s vice president of communi-

cations. “But with those gains, this survey

demonstrates that confusion about smoke

alarm placement, maintenance, and test-

ing persists, which ultimately put the

public at continued risk to home fi res.” ●

NFPA: 2008 fi re deaths from

smoking materials

“A total of 114,800 smoking-material

fi res resulted in an estimated 680

deaths, 1,520 injuries, and $737 billion in

direct property damage in 2008,” according

to a report by the National Fire Protection

Association (NFPA). The number of fatali-

ties is the second lowest level since 1980.

Although the decrease can be attributed to

several factors, the NFPA says a signifi cant

factor has been the new fi re-safe cigarette

legislation. (Smoking materials are defi ned

as lighted tobacco products but do not

include matches or lighters.)

The report cites a 66 percent drop in

smoking-material fi res from 1980 to 2008,

which it attributes to fewer people smok-

ing and standards and regulations that now

require mattresses and upholstered furniture

be made with materials that are more resis-

tant to cigarette ignition. However, the NFPA

stresses that the decrease also refl ects the

benefi ts of the passing of “fi re-safe” cigarette

legislation, “which mandates that cigarettes

be produced with reduced ignition strength

and carry a lower propensity for burning

when left unattended.”

The Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes,

launched by the NFPA in 2006, was instru-

mental in having fi re-safe cigarette legisla-

tion passed in all 50 states since February;

the laws are now in effect in 47 states. The

laws will become fully effective in late 2012,

according to Lorraine Carli, the NFPA’s vice

president of communication. ●


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_______________________

________

________________


http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201010.html/

http://www.nvfc.org/page/650/Capitol_Hill_Connection.htm/

http://www.nvfc.org/page/1187/Going_Green.htm/

http://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/reports/

http://www.nvfc.org/grants

http://www.nvfc.org/lodd/





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VOLUNTEERS CORNERLETTERS TO THE EDITOR

(December 2010)

“Flyboys and Fire Trucks”

I liked “Flyboys and Fire Trucks” (Editor’s

Opinion, September 2010). There are

60 stations in my fi re coordination district,

and half of them have banged-up door

openings, either from backing up without

a spotter (probably the most common

cause), snagging a mirror, or failing to

close apparatus compartment doors. That’s

the reason I recommend roll-up doors

for the new apparatus when I am asked

to help spec the new apparatus. This will

keep them from hitting the bay doors, but

I’m still thinking about how to keep the

stuff in the compartment from falling out

if they forget to roll the door down.

Charlie Enlow

Rural Fire Defense Coordinator

OK Economic Development Authority

Beaver, Oklahoma

I just read “Flyboys and Fire Trucks.”

Regarding the use of checklists as in the

aviation industry, I have had a similar

idea. I don’t know why we don’t use

“prerun” checklists in the fi re service. I

fl y a 737 on a simulator for “fun” and always

complete my checklists prior to fl ight. Why

don’t we do this in the fi re service?

Lee Sagert

Lethbridge Fire & Emergency Services

Alberta, Canada

The use of checklists to avoid “stupid”

mistakes, proposed in September’s Editor’s

Opinion, is a great idea. I say mistakes be-

cause it is no accident when these things

happen. All damage caused in this manner

is preventable, as are many other types

of situations we get ourselves into every

day. The aviation community long ago

adopted Crew Resource Management, or

CRM. This approach uses all of the crew to

avoid serious or potentially fatal mistakes.

Bobby Halton’s checklist is a start in us-

ing this concept, which has been used in

small measure by our industrial sector. It

is time we apply the principles of CRM to

all hazardous situations we encounter, not

just driving the engine or truck. If it works

for fl yboys, it will work for us.

Clayton Thomas

Engineer

Penn Valley Fire District, California

FE articles, “wow!”

The Fire Engineering team is making

real changes with the magazine. Recent

articles with action-oriented exercises are

thought provoking and timely. School is

never out for fi refi ghting. After 40-plus years,

it’s great to see authors challenge skills de-

velopment, tasks, and decision making and

putting all that we know in context.

Keep up the great work. Fire Engi-

neering is saving lives out there.

Tom Schwartz

Melfa, Virginia


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BY A LAN BRUNAC IN I

BRUNO “UNPLUGGED”

Safety in Numbers

LAST MONTH, WE INTRODUCED

a very simple risk management

model that connected the typical

hazards we encounter on the fi reground

with the pieces and parts of the basic

safety system we use to protect fi refi ght-

ers from those hazards. Along with the

model, we also discussed how in a battle

between two opposing forces the most

powerful force would win. This “law of

opposing superiority” really describes

in very practical terms how we

attempt to use more forceful

fi refi ghting operations (water/sup-

port) to control/remove the dan-

gerous, damaging force created by

deadly (products of combustion)

fi re conditions.

The two sides of the safety/

hazard model are located on

either end of a balance bar above

the incident commander (IC).

The IC must maintain a continual

situational awareness of what

is and what will be going on in each

box. The items listed in each box have

their own special set of capabilities and

limitations—as an example, the fi re can

tolerate the application of only so much

water before it goes out; the fi refi ghters

can tolerate only so much thermal and

toxic insult before they “go out.” There-

fore, the status of the capabilities and

limitations of the two boxes becomes the

basis of the initial and ongoing size-up

that must continually go on within the

task/tactical/strategic levels of the com-

mand and operational team.

The IC uses this very dynamic “teeter-

totter” approach as the basic foundation

for developing and revising the overall

incident strategy. Simply, whichever side

has the most force wins. If the safety

system is heavier than the hazards, the

fi refi ghters are adequately protected, so

the strategy can be offensive. If the haz-

ards outperform the safety system, the

strategy is defensive. If the bar is level

(when conditions are active and dynam-

ic, this stage can be very dangerous), the

IC must either quickly add more force to

the safety side or must order the troops

out of the hazard zone.

Let’s look at what is on the safety side

of the teeter-totter. We start describing

the safety list with the fi rst item: an

adequate number of capable fi refi ght-

ers. This is the most critical part of both

our operational and our safety systems

because we solve or don’t solve the inci-

dent problems to a major extent unless

we can produce enough workers (i.e.,

concentration of force) to physically do

the manual labor that is delivered within

an effective operational period “window

of opportunity.”

Our organizational capability and

strength are really very special and

straightforward. We are uniquely struc-

tured and managed to deliver teams of

fi refi ghters, located in decentralized fi re

stations, throughout the community.

These fi refi ghters are equipped, trained,

and highly persuaded to quickly go into

a hazard zone and do highly skilled,

very coordinated task-level labor. This

labor is directed toward converting

conditions that are out of control to

conditions that are under control (order

out of chaos).

These teams are connected to the cus-

tomer by three pushes on their phone

and are connected to each other by a

well-practiced, very refi ned command,

control, and communications system. It’s

pretty tough to imagine highly integrated

teams of plumbers or washing machine

repairmen coming down the street

with lights blinking and sirens blaring,

arriving within a four- to fi ve-minute

response time because your washer just

became your gusher. No other public/

private organization can do the amount

of highly skillful and very coordinated

work we do as quickly as we do it.

Virtually everything we do on the

fi reground is done “by hand.” The only

thing automated is the transmissions

in the fi re trucks. Our staffi ng level

becomes the most important part of how

we play our part in the gallons-

per-minute (gpm) vs. British-ther-

mal-units (Btus) battle of opposing

superiority. Our basic overpower-

ing operational approach to that

law is to do “mob fi refi ghting.”

This involves our ganging up on

the red devil by automatically

assembling an adequate number

of teams of fi refi ghters who are

faster, more powerful, and better

placed than the force of the fi re.

The very savvy Battalion Chief

John Salka of the Fire Department

of New York says it best: “Everything

gets better when the fi re goes out.”

Overwhelming force is the best way to

achieve the substance of his comment.

Sending teams of fi refi ghters into the

hazard zone to save Mrs. Smith and her

stuff is our greatest community capabili-

ty, but it also creates the critical need for

us to effectively protect those fi refi ght-

ers. If we really study that safety focus

(the items in the safety box), we must

realize that we do the most important

part of our job by going into a hazard

zone where the hazards intend to kill us.

These deadly conditions are listed within

the hazard side of the model, operat-

ing up close to those conditions is not a

game of tiddleywinks.

The playing fi eld for the opposing

force game is a fi re area where the score

is very unforgiving—either we win or

the fi re wins. We must get away from

anyplace where the fi re is or is about

to win (more thermal force than water

force), or the fi re will murder us. Having

the IC and the operational team continu-

Figure 1. Safety/Hazard ModelIncident Risks

• Collapse

• Collision

• Getting lost

• Getting trapped

• Thermal insult

• Toxic insult

Safety System

• Adequate number

of capable fi refi ghters

• Hardware

• Safety SOPs

• PPE

• Incident command

IC


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BRUNO “UNPLUGGED”

ally doing the offensive/defensive math

in the opposing force model becomes

a major part of the initial and ongoing

size-up process.

A major part of the IC’s situation eval-

uation function is to continually evaluate

and balance the connection between

the workers and the work. We can do

only what we can do, and the “dynamics

of doing” are directly connected to the

number and response time of the work-

ers (fi re companies). The IC will typical-

ly have more tactical needs than workers

in the front end of the incident, so initial

assignments must be prioritized in their

order of importance (rescue/fi re control/

property conservation).

Being able to safely and realisti-

cally connect the work to the workers

requires a great deal of organizational

discipline. Staffi ng is the most expensive

and critical operational component, and

in the current nutty economic times, our

staffi ng levels sadly are being reduced

in many places. These reductions impact

the most important place: where and

when we must perform tactically on the

fi reground.

These current staff reductions are

causing some incident “coaches” (ICs) to

now “play baseball” with seven players.

This unfortunate reality requires bosses

operating with reduced resources to

develop a different set of plays, moves,

and formations that actually match the

number and response times of the avail-

able players. This is very diffi cult to do,

because when we get used to a tradi-

tional operational level, anything less is

very disruptive to us.

In 1958, I was assigned to Engine 1

in downtown Phoenix (E-1’s restored

rig is on the April 2009 Fire Engineer-

ing cover). We had a crew of six beefy

fi refi ghters who all barely fi t on the tail-

board. That experience cemented in my

brain what normal fi re company staffi ng

should be (to me). I have spent the next

52 years trying to somehow make sense

of whatever current/crazy adjustment is

going on, compared to my very obsolete

initial six-person (!) company socializa-

tion.

I have been involved in a minor way

with the development of a national career

deployment standard, National Fire Pro-

tection Association 1710, Standard for the

Organization and Deployment of Fire Sup-

pression Operations, Emergency Medical

Operations, and Special Operations to the

Public by Career Fire Departments, since

its inception. A major objective of the stan-

dard is to assist local government bosses

in making smart/safe decisions regarding

local fi re company staffi ng levels. The

development and implementation of this

standard (because staffi ng is so expensive)

has been a very painful and controversial

process to say the least. NFPA 1710 states

for the fi rst time in a national standard

that four-person staffi ng is the minimum

level for every fi re company.

We have pretty much agreed inside our

service with the four-person fi re compa-

ny level as the national standard. The cur-

rent recession is making maintaining four

fi refi ghters per company very diffi cult

in many places. Most fi re administrators

would rather “brownout” companies on a

rotating basis than go below four.

These personnel reductions require us

to adjust our fi reground work routines.

We must require our ICs to evaluate the

manual labor capability of the fi re-

fi ghters who are on the scene and not

overmatch those humans to do a level of

work that is unsafe.

I will ask you now to take a deep

breath before digesting the next sen-

tence: In some cases where there is not

an adequate staffi ng level present to

accomplish former levels of performance,

the IC must write off burning property

and move on to protecting uninvolved

property that is presently savable. As has

already been said, the IC must balance

the work with the workers. Engaging in

the nostalgic memories of your boyhood

fi re company “manning” level (antique

reference) may be fun, but it is currently

a waste of time. We must operate today

with today’s level of resources that is less

than what we had in the past.

Although we have made huge improve-

ments in hardware, training, and technol-

ogy, we still deliver gpm to combat Btus

with real live fi refi ghters, and that is the

reason they are our most valuable asset

and the fi rst item in the safety box. ●

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● Retired Chief ALAN BRUNACINI

is a fi re service author and speaker.

He and his sons own the fi re service

Web site bshifter.com.


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http://www.bshifter.com








tive program; and

• will have served as a positive model for other fire instructors

and firefighters throughout the country.

The George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award marks individual

accomplishment. Therefore, while members of an instructional team or

ad hoc training group, for example, will be considered, nominations in

the name of a fire department or training academy are not eligible.

Nominations must be received by December 31, 2010. Send them

to Diane Feldman, George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award, Fire

Engineering, 21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602.

You can also download this form at www.FireEngineering.com.

2011 GEORGE D. POST INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINATION FORMDate:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nominated by:___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nominator’s Mailing Address:______________________________________________________________________________________

Nominee:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Nominee’s Mailing Address:________________________________________________________________________________________

Nominee’s Phone/Fax/E-Mail:______________________________________________________________________________________

Describe the training achievement of the individual:_____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How can other departments benefit from the training?____________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What makes the program unique, innovative, resourceful?_________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Please send in any supplemental information such as diagrams, photos, and written materials (no testimonials) to illustrate the program.

Use additional pages if you need more room to write.

Nominations Now Being Accepted

TO BE PRESENTED AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTORS CONFERENCE, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, MARCH 21-26, 2011

The Fire Engineering/ISFSI George D. Post Instructor of

the Year Award recognizes individuals for extraordinary

accomplishments in fire service training. The winner of

the George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award

• will have displayed a deep commitment to furthering the cause

of the fire service through training;

• will have advanced the cause of firefighter operational effective-

ness and safety;

• will have gone above and beyond the call of duty in training;

• will have brought creativity and innovation to fire training pro-

grams, or will have shown great persistence in pursuing an innova-

George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award®

YE

AR

20

11


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BY MARK V O N APPEN

THE HARROWING STORY OF FOUR SACRAMENTO,

California, fi refi ghters who were trapped by fl ashover

in a two-story residential structure is one in which a

number of seemingly trivial events added up and almost cost

the lives of a captain and three fi refi ghters. The accounts of

this fi re and the circumstances surrounding it have been well

documented. To the credit of all involved, the story of Stilt

Court was an open book as soon as all the facts were as-

sembled. The Sacramento City (CA) Fire Department (SFD) has

approached the incident from the standpoint of sharing the

lessons learned so that others may live. Moreover, this incident

shows that the present fi re survival training of our fi refi ghters

needs to be supplemented with training in how to overcome

and manage emotions when in circumstances that pose seri-

ous injury or death. In this article, the behavior and actions

of Captain Jeff Helvin, who was caught in a fl ashover, are

analyzed from the perspective of how he overcame his emo-

tions and saved his life, using a process that is similar to that

of working through grief. [For a personal account, see “Sacra-

mento Near Miss of Four Firefi ghters” by Jeff Helvin (What We

Learned, April 2010, 199-202).]

THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONThe following information is taken from the offi cial inves-

tigation of the Stilt Court residential fi re. Some language has

been added for clarity.

On October 7, 2008, Sacramento Regional Fire Emergency

Communications Center (SRFECC) received multiple 911 calls

for a building fi re at 17 Stilt Court. The callers stated smoke

was coming from the second fl oor of the house.

At 0929 hours, SRFECC dispatched a residential structure

fi re assignment. The SFD dispatched three engines, two ladder

trucks, two battalion chiefs, and one paramedic unit (Engines

15, 18, and 30; Trucks 2 and 5; Battalion Chiefs 3 and 4; and

Medic 30).

Engine 15 (E15) arrived fi rst on scene, within 6 minutes

and 7 seconds of the initial dispatch, and reported heavy dark

smoke from the second fl oor. E15 was to initiate fi re attack

and requested the second-due engine (E18) take command,

establish a water supply, and pull a backup hoseline to assist

E15 with fi re attack. The E15 crew—consisting of the captain,

the nozzle fi refi ghter, and a backup fi refi ghter—stretched a

1¾-inch hoseline through the front door and proceeded to the

second fl oor to search for fi re.

E18 arrived 35 seconds after E15 with only three crew

members—a fi refi ghter who was working for a few hours

as an acting captain while his captain was at a meeting, the

nozzle fi refi ghter, and the engineer. E18’s acting captain estab-

lished “Stilt Command” and directed his nozzle fi refi ghter to

pull a backup hoseline. It should be noted that SFD typically

staffs equipment with four fi refi ghters and at the time of this

incident did not have standard operating procedures (SOPs)

for emergency responses when companies are at decreased

strength.

Command (E18’s acting captain) was able to perform a 360°

lap of the building to get a look at all four sides of the house.

During the walk-around, he opened a sliding glass door on

the Bravo side [Alpha (A) = address side, Bravo (B) = left side,

Charlie (C) = back side, Delta (D) = right side] and noticed

two windows opened on the B side on the second fl oor. Com-

mand went back to the A side of the building and noticed

the E18 nozzle fi refi ghter assisting with the advance of the

initial hoseline from E15 through the front door. Command

ordered E18’s nozzle fi refi ghter to assist E15 with advancing

the hoseline upstairs. Command did not advise E15’s captain

that an additional fi refi ghter had been assigned to E15. Com-

mand then advised the third-arriving engine (E30) to staff the

hoseline that had been pulled to the front door to back up fi re

attack. A water supply was established; E18 was connected to

the hydrant feeding water to E15.

E15’s captain advised Command that they were not able

to locate the fi re on the second fl oor and that they needed

positive-pressure ventilation (PPV). (PPV is performed by

placing a gas-powered fan at the front door to remove smoke

and fi re gases through an exhaust opening in a building. The

exhaust point is created by breaking windows or by cutting a

hole in the roof. PPV is typically assigned to truck companies.)

Command advised the E15 captain that there was no truck

company at the scene to perform PPV. Command advised

E15’s captain that a sliding door had been opened on the fi rst

fl oor to try to clear out some of the smoke. At about the same

time, E15 captain had opened three windows on the second

fl oor—one window at the top of the stairs and two windows

in the master bedroom.

Trapped by Flashover:

A Survivor’s Journey


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E30 and Medic 30 (M30) arrived on scene 3 minutes and 42

seconds after E15. E30’s nozzle and backup fi refi ghters began

donning their self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on

the front lawn, preparing to staff the backup hoseline. E30’s

engineer placed a 24-foot extension ladder to the B/A corner

of the building, and M30’s fi refi ghter placed a 14-foot roof lad-

der to the A side of the building.

The M30 fi refi ghter went to the D side of the building and

noticed fi re coming out of a window. He used a 2 × 4 to clear

the window of glass in an effort to remove smoke from the

building. Prior to breaking the window glass, he noted that

the window was cracked; he then broke out the sliding glass

door and removed the screen on the C side. He did not an-

nounce his intent to break out windows on the fi rst fl oor prior

to taking action.

After the M30 fi refi ghter evaluated the B side of the build-

ing, he went back to the A side and advised the E30 captain

that the fi re was on the fi rst fl oor in the C/D corner. The dis-

covery of fi re on the fi rst fl oor was not communicated to the

E15 captain, who was searching for fi re with his crew on the

second fl oor. The E30 engineer had opened up the main door

on the D side and the roll-up garage door on the A side. When

the E30 engineer opened the interior door to the kitchen and

discovered heavy fi re conditions, the E30 engineer closed the

door. The E30 engineer immediately advised the E30 captain

that the fi rst fl oor was fully involved with fi re. The detection

of fi re in the kitchen by E30’s engineer was not communicated

to Command or E15’s captain. It is at this point that fl ashover

occurred on the fi rst fl oor.

Conditions quickly deteriorated on the second fl oor, fol-

lowed by the hoseline’s going fl at. All crew members immedi-

ately realized that they needed to exit the building. The E18

nozzle fi refi ghter and E15 backup fi refi ghter escaped down

the stairway, exiting through the A side by the front door. The

E15 nozzle fi refi ghter descended the stairs halfway and then

exited a window at the top of the stairs and onto the roof of

the garage. E15’s captain retreated to the master bedroom,

searching for the windows he had opened earlier. Unable to

locate the windows, the captain decided to follow the hoseline

down the staircase.

As fi refi ghters from E15 and E18 were exiting the building,

Stilt Command discovered that the E15 captain was unaccounted

for and initiated a Mayday. Shortly after the Mayday, the E15

captain was in the backyard on the C side of the building. By

his own account, he came down the stairs, dived over the rail-

ing, and crawled out a sliding glass door on the B side.

Truck 2 (T2), with four fi refi ghters, and Truck 5 (T5), with

four fi refi ghters, arrived simultaneously approximately 4

minutes and 23 seconds after E15. T2 began exterior opera-

tions by setting up the truck-mounted 100-foot aerial ladder

and ground ladders on the A side as T5 prepared to enter the

building for a search of the house’s interior.

Battalion Chief (BC) 4 arrived 9 minutes and 18 seconds af-

ter E15. He requested a transfer of Command and asked for a

report on conditions, including the status of the Mayday. BC4

assumed Command and acknowledged the priority radio traf-

fi c. Command ordered all personnel to vacate the building and

attempted to account for all members from E15. Command

assigned medic units to prepare to treat and transport injured

fi refi ghters from the scene. He then conducted a personnel

accountability report (PAR) to gain control of the resources at

the scene. T2’s captain, advising Command that a medic unit

was also needed at the C side of the building for an injured

fi refi ghter, broadcast “Emergency traffi c.”

BC3 proceeded to the C side of the building and was as-

signed as the safety offi cer. Safety assisted Command with a

PAR of crews operating on scene. All members from E15 and

E18 were accounted for and were placed into paramedic units.

M30 transported the captain from E15, who was the most

severely burned, to University of California—Davis (UCD)

Medical Center. The three fi refi ghters were moved into M17

and also were transported to UCD.

INJURIES/DAMAGESE15’s captain suffered serious second-degree burns on the

hands, neck, and left ear. E15’s nozzle fi refi ghter and backup

fi refi ghter suffered moderate second-degree burns to the ears

and hands. E18’s nozzle fi refi ghter suffered second-degree

burns to the ears, neck, hands, and leg.

SAFETY ISSUES The following safety issues were reviewed in connection

with this incident:

• There is a need for secondary hoselines to protect the stair-

well and fl oors in multiple-story buildings.

• Incoming companies must have appropriate staffi ng levels

to perform the necessary fi re operations. Prioritize needs for

the fi re scene.

• Ventilation techniques must be performed in coordination

with fi re attack.

• Specifi c actions or conditions (the location of the fi re, ven-

tilation activities performed, and so on) must be radioed to

crews.

• All members operating on the fi re scene must wear proper

personal protective equipment.

• All members must comply with the SFD fi refi ghter account-

ability tracking system.

SKILL TRAINING NOT ENOUGH There is much more to the story of Stilt Court than can

be explained in an offi cial investigative document. The stark

account of what transpired contained within the SFD report

does not reveal the personal struggle of a man who nearly

died while attempting to protect life and property. Offi cial re-

ports are not intended to convey emotion but to simply report

the facts. The report is accurate and detailed; more than 300

hours went into researching the sequence of events.

Many attempts have been made over the years to engrain

procedure into the consciousness of fi refi ghters in an effort to

improve performance in survival situations. The National Fire

Academy (NFA) program “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday” is based

on military fi ghter jet training and is heavily reliant on recog-

nition prime decision making (RPD). Much research went into

creating the NFA Mayday program; it is the underpinning of

● TRAPPED BY FLASHOVER


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many fi refi ghter survival programs nationwide. Mayday train-

ing gives fi refi ghters a process for calling for help when they

encounter immediately life-threatening situations. So, why do

our training practices in the fi re service sometimes fall short?

The answer lies in our subconscious. Frequently overlooked in

the fi re service is the power of emotion and how it can infl u-

ence our actions when our lives are in jeopardy.

THE POWER OF EMOTIONSThe fl ashover at Stilt Court is a harbinger of what can hap-

pen if our culture and training practices do not evolve with

the changing fi res we face in this modern era. E15’s captain

is not a nameless, faceless character in a close-call report.

He has had more than two decades of experience in the fi re

service and 18 months of experience as a captain. He has seen

his share of fi re over the years. His name is Jeff Helvin, and

he has a wife and two children. His story is not just one of an

offi cer trapped inside a fi re structure, facing what he was sure

would be his own death and the deaths of three others in his

charge. His is a tale of survival when faced with truly over-

whelming circumstances.

Helvin’s experience while trapped above a fi re and the

torment he endured, physically and emotionally, produced a

range of emotional responses that almost all who survive ex-

traordinary circumstances say they experienced. Emotions can

produce overwhelming physical reactions. Those who survive

make the correct decisions by overcoming their emotional

response to their environment.

SURVIVOR RESPONSES SIMILAR TO STAGES OF GRIEF

The range of emotional responses Helvin and other

survivors experienced can be likened to the stages of grief

described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. The stages of grief are as

follows:

1. Denial: This is not happening to me.

2. Anger: How can this happen to me?

3. Bargaining: Just let me live to see my children again.

4. Depression: I’m going to die. What’s the point?

5. Acceptance: It’s going to happen; I might as well not fi ght it.

In his book Deep Survival, Laurence Gonzales describes a

survivor’s journey as he works through the survival process.

Survivors, he explains, undergo the following stages:

1. Look, see, believe.

2. Stay calm; use fear to focus.

3. Think, analyze, and plan.

4. Take correct, decisive action.

5. Celebrate successes.

6. Count my blessings (survivors often think of families

when fi nding strength).

7. Play (keep your mind active).

8. See the beauty; survival is a vision quest.

9. Believe. Convince yourself that you will survive.

10. Surrender. Give up the fear of dying. Put away the pain.

11. Do whatever is necessary.

12. Never give up.

The stages of grief or survival do not always occur in a

specifi c order, and some may not occur at all. When Helvin

presents his account of what transpired on that day, he

talks about denying his situation, fear, accepting that he

was about to meet his fate, thoughts of his family, and fi -

nally anger. All of these emotional responses were happen-

ing within just a few minutes. Anger compelled him to take

action, ultimately leading him to safety outside the burning

structure. Although burned, he survived, as did the other

two members of his crew and a third fi refi ghter who had

been assigned to Helvin’s crew without Helvin’s knowledge.

Gonzales notes that survivors are not immune to fear: “Sur-

vivors know exactly what is going on around them, and it

scares the (hell) out of them,” he explains. “It is all a ques-

tion of what they do next.”

During the search for fi re on the second fl oor, things simply

were not adding up. E15’s crew was searching calmly for the

seat of the fi re in zero visibility, without success. The second

fl oor was being searched systematically, room by room, but

the fi re was nowhere to be found. There was no discernable

increase in heat as E15 moved between rooms, and the ther-

mal imaging camera (TIC) was of little assistance in locating

a source of heat. The fi rst fl oor had appeared clear; Helvin

had perfect visibility from the front door, through the house,

to the backyard. He recalls being able to see patio furniture

in the backyard; there was nothing to indicate there was any

threat to the crew’s safety on the fi rst fl oor. He had seen heavy

smoke from three windows on the second fl oor and reported

it in his size-up. E15’s response route gave Helvin a view of

the three sides of the house. He developed a plan and decided

on a course of action based on his prior experiences and his

observations.

The fi re had to be upstairs—22 years of fi refi ghting experi-

ence made Helvin sure of it. In his mind, he had been to this

fi re before. His RPD experience had led him to the quick

decision that the fi re was in a bedroom on the second fl oor.

“I’ve got this,” Helvin thought confi dently. His experience

of successful fi re operations throughout his career that had

presented in a manner similar to this fi re all but set him up.

A major problem with RPD training is that it is prone to seri-

ous and often devastating failure in unusual or misidentifi ed

circumstances. Gonzales writes, “Successful training practices

can work against us, giving us an emotional certainty that it

will work. We’ve felt it work before, the body knows. Uncon-

sciously, we ask ourselves, ‘How have I done this before?’ The

model under which we operate, unlike the real environment,

is stable.”

Helvin had established an emotional bookmark based on

successful actions under similar circumstances. For a bedroom

fi re on the second fl oor of a single-family residence, the plan

was straightforward. One hoseline would be suffi cient—a

simple hose stretch up the stairway to the fi re room, a quick

and easy knockdown, no problem. He had taken comparable

action at fi res just like this one, and everything had gone ac-

cording to plan. The fi re was extinguished, no one got hurt,

and they were back in quarters by lunchtime. “The annoying

thing about plans is how rare it is for everything to go just

right,” Gonzales says. Problems arise when reality does not



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match the plan. The picture of this fi re was incomplete; Helvin

had seen only three sides of the house as he approached,

a misstep that almost cost him dearly. The fi re was actually

beneath them, in the kitchen, and was smoldering angrily,

waiting for a breath of air.

In an attempt to create better visibility upstairs, Helvin

opened windows on the second fl oor. As E15 made it to the

master bedroom, at the rear of the house (C side), the search

for fi re and life continued with no indication that there was

anything out of the routine. Soon after, a fi refi ghter walking

the perimeter of the house opened an unlocked sliding door

on the fi rst fl oor, B side. Another fi refi ghter began breaking

windows and a sliding door with a 2 × 4 as he walked around

the outside of the house on the D and C sides. The smolder-

ing kitchen fi re on the fi rst fl oor exploded back to life as it

received the oxygen it needed. Flashover occurred, sending

a violent fl ame front throughout the entire fi rst fl oor, causing

the fi refi ghters’ hoseline to burn through.

The fi rst indication that something was wrong was the

hoseline’s going fl at. Helvin was met with a tidal wave of heat

at the entrance to the master bedroom, then chaos. The fi re

crew upstairs was caught in a chimney without the protection

of water or an immediately available safe exit. Helvin heard

shouting, as the other fi refi ghters were scrambling down the

hallway toward him in an attempt to escape the instantaneous

onslaught of heat. Helvin did as he was trained to do when

he perceived that he and his crew were in a situation that was

rapidly turning lethal: He immediately gathered and pointed

them toward the direction of the staircase, their only known

means of escape.

All four fi refi ghters were stacked one on top of the other

at the crest of the stairs as they attempted to make their

way out. E15’s backup fi refi ghter and E18’s nozzle fi refi ghter

fumbled blindly down the stairs and into the teeth of the

fi re, eventually escaping through the front door. E15’s nozzle

fi refi ghter was driven back up the stairs by extreme heat

and was forced to dive out of a window at the top of the

stairs. When it came time for Helvin, who was last in line,

to descend the staircase, the heat was so intense, the insult

to his senses so severe, that he was forced to retreat deeper

into the structure. Confusion and fear began to overwhelm

him. He was unsure of what had become of his crew, and the

shape of his environment had become intolerable.

Denial

Helvin thought he had failed his crew by placing them in

danger and then sending them down the stairs into the fi ery

tempest beneath them, possibly to their deaths. Early in his

entrapment, Helvin tells of being incredulous that he was

unable to fi nd his way out of a bedroom in a single-family

residence. He also recalls being angry at his own arrogance.

He was confi dent as he read articles about fi refi ghters being

trapped and killed in residential fi res that it could never hap-

pen to him. Yet, there he was, staring death in the face in a

seemingly nonthreatening structure.

Firefi ghters have trouble perceiving that a fi re in a single-

family home is a threat to their safety. As fi refi ghters, we have

experienced environments that seem much more intimidating

than a fi re contained to a suburban dwelling. Homes are as-

sociated with family, shelter, and security. To the fi refi ghter’s

subconscious, the residential fi re is a benign event. House

fi res are supposedly bread-and-butter operations—easy fi res.

“This is it. I am going to die in a residential fi re. This can’t be

happening.” The fact of the matter is that more fi refi ghters are

killed in residential structure fi res than any other type of fi re.

It makes sense; residential fi res are the most common type of

fi re fi refi ghters encounter in the United States.

His mind began to sort through the possibilities: Escape

by the hallway to the stairs? It’s too hot, not an option. Find

a window and jump out. He had, after all, opened windows

in that very room. Can’t fi nd the windows. Now what? The

fear and painful stimulus began to eat into Helvin’s ability

to think clearly. Fear can lead us to do things we know are

wrong. Helvin’s nozzle fi refi ghter dived head fi rst out of a

second-story window. Helvin was prepared to do the same.

“I was prepared to be a quadriplegic. I didn’t care what

happened at that point. I was getting out. It was that bad in

there,” he said of his experience. Helvin’s thoughts went from

articles he had read the previous morning on fi refi ghters dy-

ing under these same circumstances and then to his family—

his wife, their young son and daughter. Helvin knew what he

was supposed to do: call a Mayday, turn on his personal alert

safety system (PASS) device and fl ashlight, seek safe egress,

or seek refuge and await rescue. He was intelligent and was

well-trained. He had received training on Mayday procedures.

Why had the training not provided the correct response im-

mediately?

The problem is that our training practices cannot simulate

the high energy levels that exist on the fi reground when the

environment is extremely hostile and dynamic. Training sce-

narios are safe and predictable, not chaotic. Our experiences

in training are at low-energy levels, and there are no con-

sequences for making the wrong move. “Fire destroys that

which feeds it.” (Simone Weil). The environment in which

we must operate, and survive, is a high-energy environment

that is unyielding and indifferent to our plight. When you

add to the equation emotion, which has priority over rational

thought, it is almost impossible to sort through it all. Our

emotional response will overrule our ability to think in a ra-

tional manner. Cognition, the ability to think things through,

is at once cast aside in favor of an emotional response.

Knowing what we are supposed to do is no match for the

power of our emotions.

Count Your Blessings

Survivors often report fi nding the resolve to carry on by

making their survival about someone else. Thoughts of loved

ones give the mind a place to go that is separate from the

pain being encountered at the time. In Helvin’s case, many

thoughts fl ashed through his mind during his fi ght for sur-

vival, but he ultimately settled on thoughts of his family. Even

as he felt as though the skin on his neck, ears, and hands was

melting from his body, his mind for the moment had taken

him somewhere else. His thoughts were of his growing old

TRAPPED BY FLASHOVER ●


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together with his wife, his son’s playing baseball, and walk-

ing his daughter down the aisle some day. The thought of not

being present for these events began to stir another powerful

emotional response. Helvin’s fear turned to anger, anger at his

predicament and how it was going to affect his ability to be

with those most important to him. Helvin took this anger and

used it to bring the correct action into focus.

Acceptance

Acceptance is one of the pivotal stages of the survival

process. At one point, Helvin was in so much pain, and his

situation was so dire, that he considered what his options

would be if his air ran out. Acceptance is the point at which

survivors begin to turn the corner. No longer victims, they

accept their environment and their circumstances and begin

to formulate a plan. He made up his mind that when his air

ran out, he would remove his mask and take a deep breath of

superheated gases. Doing so would surely kill him instantly,

as the superheated air would sear his lungs, causing sudden

pulmonary edema; at that hopeless moment, this seemed a

better alternative to him than being burned alive. “If I was still

trapped and my air ran out, I was going to take my mask off

and take a deep breath. I wasn’t going to hang around and

burn to death. Taking my mask off would be the last option,”

Helvin said. Norman Maclean, author of Young Men in Fire,

describes dying in a fi re as dying multiple deaths: “First the

failure of your legs as you run, then the searing of your lungs,

and fi nally the burning of your body.”

Helvin had accepted his situation, given up his fear of dy-

ing, and faced the reality that his fate might be to die in a

structure fi re. This illustrates the power of emotion. He knew

that the only things keeping him alive were his SCBA and his

bunker gear (structural fi refi ghting clothing), yet he had to

struggle with the unreasonable impulse to remove the one

thing that was protecting his airway. He was beginning to take

control by choosing to go out on his own terms; he was going

to choose how to die that day. The environment would not

dictate the conditions of his demise.

Others, when placed in similar situations, were later found

dead with their masks removed. SCUBA divers have removed

their regulators while underwater because of claustrophobia.

Even though the SCUBA divers knew it was the wrong thing

to do, their emotional response sealed their fate. Helvin was

able to seize control of his emotions and use his ability to

reason and get him past his illogical urge. The worst-case

scenario had been addressed. Next, he made the decision to

make another attempt at escaping by the hallway, the only

true way he knew to get out. Helvin said, “I knew I was go-

ing to take a hit.” At best, he would get burned; at worst, he

would die. Regardless of the outcome, Helvin was determined

to take action.

Anger

“Survivors aren’t fearless. They use fear. They turn it into

anger and focus,” Gonzales points out. He explains: “Only

10 percent to 20 percent of people can stay calm and think

in the midst of a survival emergency. They are the ones who

can perceive their situation clearly. They can plan and take

correct action, which are key elements of survival. Confronted

with a changing environment, they rapidly adapt.” Helvin

was scared to death; he will freely admit to that, but he

channeled that fear into anger. As Helvin sorted through his

emotions—fear; denial; bargaining; acceptance; and, fi nally,

anger—he, like other survivors, was able to take his fear and

harness it.

He used anger to fi nd the strength within himself to take

action and formulate a plan. Helvin summoned the fortitude to

pick himself up and fi ght his way down the hallway—now an

uncontrolled inferno—to the stairs, tumbling down the stairs

and over the banister and fi nally landing in a heap on the fi rst

fl oor. A fl ash of daylight through the vortex of fl ame helped

fi lter his disorientation. The plan was immediately clear: Move

quickly toward daylight and safety.

Helvin experienced many of the critical steps in the survival

process. He was conscious of his environment, accepting of

it, and turned fear into anger and focus. He formulated a plan

and acted on it, taking correct action. He did what was neces-

sary and never gave up. Helvin crawled through the fl ames

and out the B side of the structure, turned, and ran along the

B side to the C side, not stopping until he crashed through the

neighbor’s fence, where crews operating in the backyard dis-

covered him. Jeff Helvin is a survivor in the truest sense. He

was able to rein in his emotions, remain calm, think clearly,

and act decisively.

FOCUSWe can learn many things from Helvin’s and other survivors’

experiences. First, we must always gather as much information

as possible about the situation into which we are stepping.

The importance of the 360° lap cannot be overemphasized.

“Every time you step into the river, it is a different river,” Gon-

zales notes. There is no such thing as a routine structure fi re;

every incident to which we respond has its own exclusive and

vexing set of circumstances. Complacency is the foundation

of disaster. Time is certainly of the essence on the fi reground,

but not at the expense of safety. Critical elements of size-up

were not carried out at Stilt Court, and the results were nearly

catastrophic. Prior positive experiences, and even our own

eyes, can deceive us, giving us a false sense of confi dence

that our actions will be correct, that everything will work out

according to plan. Fire departments must begin the process of

slowing down the culture in an effort to achieve safer opera-

tions by forcing crews to perform better fi re reconnaissance

prior to committing to a course of action.

We should understand that we will respond emotionally,

powerfully so, when our lives are threatened. Emotions will

drive us toward action, sometimes seemingly irrational action.

Knowing this, we must be able to sort though our emotional

responses and fi nd the ability to think clearly and stay calm.

“Sometimes (bad things) just happen,” cautions Gonzales.

“There are things that happen that are simply out of your

control; so you had better know how you are going to react

to them. If we have had the right experiences, it will instantly

direct correct action.” Taking pause, if it is possible, to collect



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yourself before lurching into action may aid you in making the

correct choice. The approach Gonzales recommends is as fol-

lows: “Recognize that an emotional response is taking place.

Read reality and perceive circumstances correctly. Override or

modulate the automatic reaction if it is an inappropriate one.

Select the correct course of action.”

The fi re service should commit to continuing realistic

scenario-based training. The military has known for years that

survival has its roots in sound policy and training procedures.

That is the reason the military trains in basic skills to the point

of exhaustion. In military aviation, when presented with an

in-fl ight emergency, pilots are instructed to maintain control,

analyze the situation, take proper action, and land as soon as

conditions permit. When trainees are pushed to the limits of

their abilities, they can sort through the stresses to which they

are exposed and act in a manner that helps them to complete

their assignment safely and to survive the perils of the system

in which they are expected to function. Intense training

practices are intended to develop emotional attachments to

the situations encountered. These are known as secondary

emotions. Primary emotions are those with which we are

born, such as the drive for food. Secondary emotions are emo-

tional responses attached to an event or developed through

experience. Secondary emotional attachments, once they are

established, can be just as powerful in infl uencing behavior as

primary emotions.

We must be able to adapt. Procedure, training, and plan-

ning are certainly important, but a rigid adherence to a plan

that is not befi tting the changing conditions can be suicidal.

Those who survive in high-octane environments are those

who can anticipate changes in the environment and adapt

accordingly. Controlling our emotions, staying calm, and

being able to plan and adapt are extremely important in the

survival process. Equally important is believing that you are

going to get out alive and have the courage to never give up.

Fire Order 6 of the Standard Fire Orders states: “Be alert, stay

calm, think clearly, act decisively.” That sums up the survival

process succinctly.

Finally, we ought to recognize the need for a shift in our

approach to safety and the haste and audacity with which the

fi re service often launches its members into action. Many posi-

tive parallels can be drawn between military and fi re service

traditions, but there is a dark side to some of our training

practices and traditional values, an attitude that has infected

the cultures of the military and the fi re service. These senti-

ments are those that convey that somehow it is acceptable,

even glorious, to die in the service of others and that a call

for help is a sign of weakness. “Emotional bookmarks that

have been established label rescue as bad and self-suffi ciency,

and even pain, as good,” Gonzales observes. “No matter how

threatening the environment, soldiers are taught that it is

better to die than to fail, death before dishonor. The training

works.”

Like the military, the culture that has been created in the

fi re service works also. Every year, we lay to rest an average of

100 fi refi ghters. “I will call for help with my last dying breath.”

Such a statement is hubris. This reckless abandon toward our

well-being must end. Once again, refer to the Standard Fire

Orders, Fire Order 10: “Fight fi re aggressively, having provided

for safety fi rst.” A better way to make that statement would

be, “Provide for safety fi rst, then fi ght fi re aggressively.” Safety

should never be an afterthought; call for help as soon as it is

necessary.

WISDOMToday, Jeff Helvin makes the rounds to some of the major

and not so major fi re conventions across the country, tell-

ing his story in the hope that sharing his terrible experience

might make a difference in someone’s life. Since that day in

the Natomas neighborhood of north Sacramento, a few things

have changed for Helvin. He has recovered from his physical

injuries and is back answering the call at one of the busier

houses in the SFD. Though the injuries he sustained to his

body have healed, the emotional scars that he bears persist,

although they are not readily apparent.

•••

At the time I met Jeff Helvin, it had been 18 months since

Stilt Court. The power of the emotional experience lingered.

He was still visibly moved as he recounted the incident. “It

only takes one fi re to change your life forever,” Helvin said.

The audience was apprehensive, wondering collectively, “Do I

have what it takes to survive?”

Helvin choked back emotion as he spoke about his ar-

rival at UC Davis Medical Center, his fi rst conversation with

his wife, the sea of blue uniforms at the emergency room as

his brother fi refi ghters fl ocked to the hospital to hold vigil,

and seeing his crew members as they were treated for their

injuries. He still carries the burden of their suffering with

him, even now. He feels that he let his crew down by placing

them in the precarious position from which they so narrowly

escaped. Helvin accepts full responsibility for what happened

that day and thinks about how different things might have

been if he had just slowed down a little. Helvin noted: “When

I was in my interview with the chief before I was promoted to

captain, the chief told me, ‘Your most important job is to keep

your crew safe.’ I didn’t do that.”

Helvin says he views his SCBA and radio differently today.

He practices calling a Mayday every time he does a daily

safety check on his SCBA. He stresses the importance of a

360° lap to incident safety. Historically, safety advances in the

fi re service have been paid for with fi refi ghters’ lives. Theo-

dore Lee Jarboe, a former chief and author, notes: “There is

no greater infl uence for change in the Fire Service than the

line-of-duty death of a fi refi ghter. Yet, there is no greater trag-

edy than that of a fallen fi refi ghter whose death prompted the

passage of a safety policy that may have prevented his or her

death.”

PLANIn 2009, another survivor, Captain Chesley Sullenberger,

the now-celebrated pilot who landed US Airways Flight 1549

in the Hudson River, saving the lives of more than 150 pas-



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TRAPPED BY FLASHOVER ●

sengers and crew, survived by keeping

his cool. A catastrophic bird strike that

destroyed both engines of his aircraft

90 seconds after takeoff from New

York’s LaGuardia Airport necessitated

an emergency water landing. Sullen-

berger is a product of military fi ghter

jet training and a fastidious planner. He

had implemented his own emergency

landing procedures for that airspace

many times in his mind while fl ying

over the New York metropolitan area.

He is a true student of his profession

and found value in the experiences of

those who preceded him.

Meditation, preparation, and team-

work were the catalysts of the positive

outcome on the Hudson River. There

may have been a bit of luck involved,

too. Sullenberger had a plan well before

“The Miracle on the Hudson,” but “Mir-

acle on the Hudson” makes for better

headlines than “Planned Event on the

Hudson.” Sullenberger tells of learning

the magnitude of the commander’s re-

sponsibility to his duty at an early age:

When I was a boy, my father (who served in the Navy) would talk about the great obligations of a commander to look after every aspect of every-one’s welfare who served under him. My dad made it clear to me how hard it would be for a commander to live with himself if, through a lack of foresight or an error in judgment, he got someone hurt or killed. When I was a boy, he im-pressed upon me that a commander’s job is full of challenges, and his respon-sibilities are almost a sacred duty.

He later writes: “With the lives of hun-

dreds of passengers in our care, the stakes

are high. That is why, long before Flight

1549, I read about and learned from the

experience of others. It matters.” ●

BIBLIOGRAPHYGonzales, Laurence. Deep Survival: Who lives, who dies, and why? Miraculous stories of survival and sudden death. W.W. Norton and Company, 2004.

Personal interview, 2010, Jeff Helvin. “His Own Words,” Sacramento City (CA) Fire Department. Jeff Helvin provided information for this article to ensure its accuracy.

Kubler-Ross, Elisabeth. On death and dying.Scribner, 1969.

Sullenberger, Chesley. Highest Duty: My search for what really matters. Harper Paperbacks, 2009.

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● MARK VONAPPEN, a member of the Palo Alto (CA) Fire Department since

1998, is assigned to the Training Division and is a fi refi ghter on the ladder

company. He is a committee member for California State Fire Training and has

contributed to the development of Firefi ghter Survival and Rapid Intervention

curriculums. He is an instructor for the Santa Clara County Joint Fire Academy,

a recruit Instructor for Palo Alto Fire, and a member of the “Nobody Gets Left

Behind” training group. He has been involved in training and public speak-

ing since 2003 and is lead instructor for “Read and React: Calling the May-

day,” featured in the California State Training Offi cers Symposium Fresno in

2009/2010 and at the TAK Response Conference in September 2010.


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BY GEORGE GU INAN 5 TH

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. THERE’S SOMETHING

new every day. Never assume anything, and remember

that no two jobs are ever the same. These are just a few

sayings fi refi ghters live by; they serve to keep our minds chal-

lenged, alert, and always on guard. Vacant property security

systems (VPSS) are just another of these new and unexpected

things with which we must deal in the course of what we are

called to do. VPSS installations are still fairly new, but they are

rapidly increasing, and incidents involving these systems are

on the rise. Comprised of fortifi ed window and door cover-

ings, these systems have added to the challenge of forcible en-

try operations for fi refi ghters everywhere. Encountering them

on arrival at fi re or emergencies is a cause for concern and

is not to be taken lightly. By reviewing the basic information

on the systems’ use, makeup, and methods of installation pre-

sented here, you will see how the presence of these systems

can affect fi refi ghting operations. The photos depict what we

have seen so far and some of the methods for compromising

and defeating these systems when the need arises.

VPSS are used to secure properties and protect them from

vandalism. They may also provide a measure of safety and

protection for con-

struction workers

operating within

the buildings. The

systems are leased

or rented and are

usually installed

on newly constructed or renovated buildings during the later

stages of construction. Typically, the systems will remain in

place while the building is in the marketing and sale stages,

right up to the time that occupancy takes place.

After their beginnings in the United Kingdom, VPSS found

their way to the United States. Their use has grown rapidly

and can now be seen from the East Coast to the West Coast.

There are other systems and variations of fortifi ed window

and door coverings; VPSS constitute only one category. Instal-

lations can be seen in urban and suburban locations and on

commercial as well as residential structures. They are in use

on one-story and multistory structures and on buildings of

any size. Recently, they have been seen installed on vacant,

abandoned, and foreclosed structures. Installers have indicated

that they will install these systems only on structures that are

unoccupied. Though installations can be locally regulated and

their use limited to such structures, applications have now

been seen on vacant occupancies within occupied structures.

Do not assume that there is no life hazard simply because

VPSS are present. Perform complete searches for life as soon

as it is safe to do so.

The system’s fortifi ed window and door coverings are con-

structed of lightweight steel; average-sized coverings weigh

between 30 to 40 pounds each. These coverings are designed

to enclose windows, doors, and other access openings. When

installed over openings, they are usually placed into position

with fi nished window and door units already in place. When

applied, these coverings completely enclose the entire open-

ing, covering over window frames and doorjambs so that they

cannot be seen from the exterior. The window coverings have

New Forcible

Entry Challenge:

Vacant Property Security Systems

Photos by author.

1

2 3


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vent holes that allow air and light to pass.

Other systems and variations of fortifi ed

window and door coverings are similar in

makeup and installation. In more urban

locations, installations may have window

bars or safety gates in place. They have

been seen on basement and roof access

points, including steel basement doors,

small basement windows, overhead

skylights, scuttles, and bulkheads. Typi-

cally, only the openings that allow for

direct or easy access into the building are

covered—i.e., fi rst-fl oor openings, open-

ings exposed to fi re escapes, balconies,

and roofs accessible from adjoining

buildings. For cost effectiveness, remote

and inaccessible openings are usually left

uncovered (photos 1-3).

When encountering VPSS at scenes involving fi re—and as

soon as it is determined that entry will be made—incident com-

manders (ICs) should request additional personnel and the nec-

essary apparatus to facilitate a more rapid removal of multiple

coverings. Operations involving the removal of coverings above

the fi rst fl oor will necessitate the use of tower ladders or aerial

platforms. Another option would be portable or aerial ladders,

but they will not afford you the best of operating conditions.

Using them will place fi refi ghters in compromising positions

and will not allow them to adequately control coverings after

they are removed. VPSS coverings are not overly heavy, but they

can be cumbersome when they are compromised and removed.

If they are not controlled, they will present a serious hazard

when falling to the ground. ICs should coordinate the removal

of window coverings and ensure that the ground below has

been cleared before attacking the coverings. Ladder apparatus

that provide a stable operating platform are the safest and most

reliable options for complete removal.

WINDOW COVERINGSExcept for a variation in size, the only difference between

window coverings is the method used to install them. Remov-

ing VPSS window coverings from the exterior of the building

is not diffi cult. These coverings appear formidable, but once

members familiarize themselves with the system, the instal-

lation, and the way it works, the system is easy to defeat. In

cases where systems are installed with window bars or safety

gates already in place, remove the coverings as soon as pos-

sible. This will allow members to identify

the window bars or safety gates and to

be able to address that problem as well.

Completely removing the VPSS from

the interior is more challenging, espe-

cially if it is installed with window bars

or safety gates already in place. Mem-

bers who commit themselves to interior

fi refi ghting operations prior to removing

VPSS coverings could be faced with a

serious life hazard. Operating to remove

coverings in high heat and reduced vis-

ibility caused by smoke would be tough

enough, but if conditions deteriorate

rapidly and members need to immedi-

ately evacuate, encountering one of these

coverings would be a defi nite problem. If

egress through the original point of entry

is compromised, the VPSS could possibly eliminate a second-

ary means of escape or at the very least seriously delay the

escape.

Removing Window Coverings from the Interior

All VPSS window coverings are secured in position with

either threaded rods or, more likely, cables attached on the

interior side to a U-shaped steel cross-brace that spans across

the window opening. Two rods or cables are attached to each

cross-brace, and there are usually two braces per covering. If

rods are used, they are attached directly to the cross-brace.

Cables, on the other hand, are threaded through the cross-

brace to a tightening device on the opposite side. The tighten-

ing device is then attached to the brace on the interior side. To

remove the covering from the interior side, the cables, rods, or

cross-brace must be compromised. The following are some of

the possibilities for doing this:

1Using a fl athead ax or the back side of a halligan, strike

the cross-brace near one of the cable or rod attachment

points. This will crease the brace, allowing it to bend more

easily. After the cross-brace is creased, use the fork end of

the halligan to pry the brace away from the wall and inward

toward the center of the window opening. Since there are usu-

ally two cross-braces, repeat this for the second brace. When

the second brace is pried away, you will see that the system

has been compromised and the covering will be free. If the

ground below is cleared and it is safe to do so, you can lower

the covering to the ground. Otherwise, control the covering,

● FORCIBLE ENTRY

4 5

7

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and bring it in through the opening to the interior (photos 4-7).

2 If the covering is secured in place with cables, use the

adz end of the halligan to pry the cable-tightening de-

vice away from the brace. This will loosen the cables enough

to allow the brace to be turned sideways and into the window

opening. As in method 1 above, repeat this for the second

cross-brace; the system will then be compromised, and the

covering will be free. If the ground below is cleared and it

is safe to do so, you can lower the covering to the ground.

Otherwise, control the covering, and bring it in through the

opening to the interior (photos 8-10).

3If window coverings are installed with window bars or safe-

ty gates already in place, neither of the above two methods

will completely remove the system. If you simply compromise

the brace, the cables or rods would still be attached to the cross-

brace, and the brace will not pass through the window bars or

gates. If this is the case, you must compromise the cables or rods

and separate them from the cross-brace (photos 11-12).

If the covering is secured with rods, you must shear the

hex heads or the rod itself using an ax and a halligan. If the

covering is secured with cables, cut the cable. You can do

this by using a pair of diagonal cutters or heavy-duty wire

cutters (photo 13). Cut the cable as close to the attachment

point as possible. Shearing the rods or cutting the cables will

separate them from the brace, thus compromising the system,

and the covering will be free. Remember that there are two

rod or cable attachment points on each brace. If the brace fi ts

through the window bars or safety gates, compromising one

attachment point on each brace may be enough to accomplish

complete removal. Otherwise, you will need to shear both

rods or cut both cables on each brace. Note: If the covering is

installed with window bars or safety gates already in place,

compromising the system in this manner will not allow you to

adequately control the covering once it is separated from the

cross-brace. You must be certain that the ground below is safe.

Removing Fortifi ed Window Coverings

from the Exterior

Looking at a vacant property system from the outside, you

will notice that the window coverings are secured in one of

three ways, each being immediately recognizable. The fi rst

method of installation is easily recognized by the plates on

the face of the window covering. Each plate has a tab, which

passes through the face of the covering. The plate is then at-

tached to the rods or cables on the interior. There are usually

four plates on each covering. To remove a covering installed

in this manner, sever the visible outside plate from its attach-

ment to the inside, threaded rod or cable. Following are two

possibilities for doing this:

1Using a power saw equipped with an aluminum oxide

metal cutting blade and angling the blade from the side,

make a cut through the outside plate. This will sever the rod

or cable from the plate. Cut the remaining plates in the same

manner. When fi nished, the system will be compromised, and

the covering will be free. When operating from the bucket of a

tower ladder or an aerial platform, one member can hold pres-

sure on the window covering while another member makes

the cuts. This will hold the covering in place until cutting is

completed and make the process easier.

2Using a fl athead ax and halligan, place the adz end of

the halligan behind the plate. Strike the halligan with

the fl at head of the ax until the plate is sheared away; this will

sever the rod or cable away from the plate. Shear the remain-

ing plates in the same manner. When fi nished, the system will

be compromised, and the covering will be free (photos 14-16).

The second method of installation, similar to the fi rst, uses

rivets instead of plates as an attachment point on the face of

the window covering. The rivet is then attached to the rods

or cables on the interior. There are usually four rivets on each

covering. To remove a covering installed in this manner, sever

the visible outside rivet away from its attachment to the inside

● FORCIBLE ENTRY

8

11

9

12

10

13


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FORCIBLE ENTRY ●

threaded rod or cable. The

following are two methods

for doing this:

1Using a power saw

equipped with an alu-

minum oxide metal cutting

blade and angling the blade from the side, make a cut through

the outside rivet. This will sever the rod or cable away from

the rivet. Cut the remaining rivets in the same manner; when

fi nished, the system will be compromised and the covering

will be free. As in the previous method, when operating from

the bucket of a tower ladder or an aerial platform, one mem-

ber can hold pressure on the window covering while another

member makes the cuts. This will hold the covering in place

until cutting is completed and make the process easier.

2Using a fl athead ax and halligan, place the pike end of the

halligan into one of the vent holes on the face of the cover-

ing and adjacent to the rivet. Strike the halligan with the fl athead ax,

driving the pike through the window covering. If the rivet does not

come free, repeat this procedure using a vent hole on the opposite

side of the rivet. This should compromise the attachment. Free the

remaining rivets in the same manner; when fi nished, the system will

be compromised, and the covering will be free (photo 17).

The third method of installation uses a spring-loaded cross

bar which runs behind the face of the covering. The bar is

locked into the covering with two pins, one on each side. The

spring-loaded cross bar is then attached to the cables or rods,

which run to the cross-brace on the interior side. There are

usually two spring-loaded cross-bars on each covering. If the

covering is installed vertically, the bars will run horizontally,

from side to side, with the pins located on the sides. If the cov-

ering is installed horizontally, the bars will run vertically with

the pins located on top and bottom. This method of installation

is recognized by the absence of plates or rivets on the face of

the covering and by the locking pins located on the sides. To re-

move a covering installed in this manner, separate the window

covering from the spring-loaded cross-bar. The following are

two possibilities for doing this:

1Locate the locking pins on the side of the covering to fi nd

the location of the spring-loaded cross-bars. Using a power

saw equipped with an aluminum oxide metal cutting blade,

make a cut about six inches in from either side and perpendicu-

lar to the cross-bar. (If the cross-bar runs top to bottom, this

cut will be six inches in from either the top or bottom.) The cut

should go through the face of the covering and deep enough

to cut completely through the cross-bars. One long cut from

top to bottom or left to right will compromise both cross-bars,

and the covering will be free. If this cut is made in the middle

of the covering instead of six inches in from the side, the saw

blade will tend to bind under the weight of the covering. Once

again, when operating from the bucket of a tower ladder or an

aerial platform, one member can hold pressure on the window

covering while another member makes the cuts. This will hold

the covering in place until cutting is completed and make the

process easier.

2Locate the locking pins on the side of the covering. Us-

ing a fl athead ax and halligan, place the pike of the hal-

ligan into one of the slotted holes on either side of the locking

pin. Strike the halligan with the fl at head of the ax to drive

the pike through the slotted hole. When a good purchase has

18

14

19

15

20

16

21

17


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been achieved, peel the window covering back and away from

the wall; this will separate the covering from the cross-bar. Lo-

cate the locking pins for the remaining spring-loaded cross-bar,

and peel the covering away from it also. The system will now

be compromised, and the covering will be free (photos 18-21).

DOOR COVERINGSThere are three types of door coverings used in VPSS. If

encountering a structure with a system installed, you may see

any one or all three types on the same structure. All three can

be easily recognized and distinguished from each other. Door

coverings are installed and secured into place using rods or

cables attached to an interior steel cross-brace, the same as

window installations. Unlike window coverings, the attach-

ment points for the cables or rods cannot be seen from the

outside; therefore, the system cannot be defeated in the same

manner. Two of the three door types are easily opened from

the inside; there is no need to defeat the system from the inte-

rior. From the exterior, however, all of the door coverings are

more formidable. The construction design of these coverings

renders our standard methods of forcible entry useless. You

cannot force these door coverings conventionally with an ax

and halligan; the rabbit tool will not work either.

Opening Fortifi ed Door Coverings

1The fi rst type of door is easy to recognize by the pres-

ence of a combination keypad and vertical slide handle

on the exterior face. If installed, this door covering is usu-

ally found on the main point of entry only. When the correct

combination is entered, the door will open. On the interior

side, there is a vertical slide handle, which, when operated,

will disengage the lock and open the door. The interior slide

handle does not require the combination and is always opera-

tional. From the exterior side, use a power saw equipped with

an aluminum oxide metal cutting blade to cut a triangle- or

square-shaped hole through the face of the door. Cut this hole

midway between the top and bottom, to the left of center and

opposite the combination keypad. When complete, put your

arm through the hole, and operate the interior slide handle

to disengage the lock. The hole needs to be large enough to

fi t your hand and arm through. Note: In photo 24, there are

two square holes cut in the door. The higher of the two cuts

is useless, as it is too high on the door, and thus the vertical

slide handle cannot be reached. A second option for this door

would be to compromise it by cutting the hinges and then

using an ax and halligan, driving the adz end of the halligan

between the door and the doorjamb and prying the door out

and away from the jamb (photos 22-24).

2The second type of door uses two or three simple slide

bolts to secure it shut. The exterior face of this door is

completely smooth and blank; nothing is visible except the

hinges. This door cannot be accessed from the exterior and,

therefore, is found only on entryways other than the main

point of entry. On the interior side, locate the slide bolts and

● FORCIBLE ENTRY

22

26

23

27

24

28

25

29


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simply slide them horizontally away from the doorjamb to

unlock the door. From the exterior side, use a power saw

equipped with an aluminum oxide metal cutting blade to cut

the hinges. Then, using an ax and a halligan, drive the adz end

of the halligan between the door and doorjamb, and pry the

door out and away from the jamb (photos 25-26).

3The third type of door is easy to recognize by the presence

of keyholes that are shaped for use with a skeleton key.

There are usually two keyholes, one top and one bottom, on the

outside face of the door. The door uses a three- or four-point

locking system to secure the door closed. Without the proper

skeleton key, this door cannot be accessed from the outside. Fur-

thermore, this door cannot be unlocked from the inside either.

If encountered from the interior, the only way to egress

from this door would be to defeat the system by compromis-

ing the cables, rods, or cross-braces. To do this, strike the

cross-brace with an ax or a halligan near one of the cable or

rod attachment points. The cross-brace will crease, allowing

it to bend more easily. After the cross-brace is creased, use

the fork end of the halligan to pry the brace away from the

wall and inward toward the center of the opening. Since there

are usually two cross-braces, repeat this for the second brace.

When the second brace is pried away, you will see that the

system has been compromised and the covering will be free.

Simply striking the cross-brace multiple times may be enough

to compromise the system without having to use the fork end

of the halligan to pry.

From the exterior side, use a power saw equipped with an

aluminum oxide metal cutting blade to cut the hinges; then,

using an ax and a halligan, drive the adz end of the halligan

between the door and the doorjamb, and pry the door out and

away from the jamb (photos 27-29).

LESSONS LEARNED/REINFORCED• Be alert to changes in your response area. Remember,

there are variations in fortifi ed window and door-covering

systems. Recognizing changes and differences in systems

will enable you to be prepared for the situations when they

happen.

• Ensure the response of a tower ladder or an aerial platform

when fi re involves a structure with fortifi ed window and

door coverings. Consider the need for additional units and

personnel.

• When operating from the bucket of a tower ladder or an

aerial platform, only two members should be in the bucket.

Overcrowding the bucket will reduce the maneuverability of

members and hinder the removal process.

• Though early removal of the coverings from the exterior of

the structure is suggested, members should familiarize them-

selves and know what to do from both sides.

• Interior removal assumes the use of basic tools such as the

ax and halligan or simple pocket tools such as diagonal

cutters or wire cutters carried by most fi refi ghters. There are

other ways to remove these coverings. Explore and train on

whatever works best for you.

• When committing to interior operations, conduct them with

extreme caution and with due regard given to deteriorating

conditions. A secondary means of egress may be seriously

delayed or totally unavailable.

• Remember that falling coverings present a serious hazard

on the ground below. Coordinate removal, and ensure that

the ground below is safe. Control the coverings whenever

possible, and lower them to the ground rather than letting

them fall. Bringing them into the interior of the building is

an option, but do not place them where they may become a

hindrance to interior operations.

• In general, if the fi re or emergency is minor, the IC should

consider entry through a remote window. If the structure

is entered in this manner, members can then easily open

fortifi ed door coverings from the interior without having to

cut the door. When operations have been completed, one or

two members could then relock the doors and exit from the

same remote window through which they entered. This will

maintain the integrity of the door and allow the IC to secure

the structure when leaving the scene. The exception to this

would be if you encountered the third type of door that

cannot be accessed at all without the proper skeleton key. If

operations can be completed through that remote window,

there would be no need to compromise this door at all.

• Remaining openings such as scuttles, skylights, and small

basement windows are all covered in a manner similar

to the ones mentioned above. By recognizing the type of

covering involved, the method of installation used, and then

applying the proper techniques, you should be able to easily

defeat them. ●

● FORCIBLE ENTRY

● GEORGE GUINAN 5TH is a lieutenant in the Fire

Department of New York, where he has served 31 years.

He is assigned to Ladder 176, Brooklyn. He is an instruc-

tor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy and has been a

volunteer fi refi ghter for 34 years with the New Hyde Park

and Selden (NY) Fire Departments.

Do not assume that there is no life hazard

simply because vacant property security systems

are present. Perform complete searches

for life as soon as it is safe to do so.


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BY ROBERT S ENN

LIKE YOU, I AM A FIREFIGHTER. WE ARE NO DIFFER-

ent except that I am a survivor of the collapse of the

World Trade Center towers on September 11, 2001. I

have since been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disor-

der (PTSD). I am not the only one. Learn from me before your

“moment” comes.

It’s the middle of the night. I’m sitting alone someplace on West Street. My helmet is perched on the back of my head. I’m leaning forward, elbows on my knees, and my face is in my hands. A cigarette burned to the fi lter is between my fi ngers. It’s dark, and a misting rain is falling. The smell is pretty pun-gent. Smoke is slowly rising from the piles of steel that used to be the World Trade Center. Suddenly, I look up, and Tommy is standing there in front of me. He and Adam are both looking at me emotionless with stone faces. Then they turn and look back toward the wreckage. They slowly raise their arms and point to the middle of “The Pile.” They say nothing. They hold that pose for a few moments; then their faces turn back to-ward mine. Tommy’s eyes are very dark, and tears are about to fall onto his cheeks. Adam is standing behind him, about three feet to his left. He just stands there and continues to stare at me with an almost helpless look on his face. Slowly their arms drop back down to their sides ...

………BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not on West Street. I am sitting up in my bed. I am

soaking wet in sweat, and I am panting. It’s as if I had just

fi nished running fi ve miles. Tommy and Adam are both dead—

two of 343 brothers either missing or confi rmed lost. “What

is wrong with me?” I slide my feet out of the side of the bed.

I am shaking. The sheets are wet, and my sweat is cold. I feel

as if somebody just beat me with a cane. My mind is search-

ing for something normal. I look over at the clock; it’s only

12:30 a.m. I’ve been asleep only for an hour. I continue to sit

there for a few moments. Then the tears start falling. My wife

Christine’s hand slowly comes up my back. “Are you okay?

You were twitching and kicking.” I don’t know what to say

to her. I tell her what just happened. She sits up, rubbing my

back, and just leans against me. It’s past midnight; I am sitting

in bed soaking wet, crying, wondering what is wrong with me

and will it EVER stop.

I get out of the shower. I am in the bedroom getting

dressed. It’s sunny outside, and there is a nice breeze coming

through the window blowing the curtains around. I sit down

on the edge of the bed. As I’m pulling up my socks, I’m think-

ing about “Leon.”

Suddenly, I am no longer in my bedroom. I am standing in a housing project elevator with the guys from my fi rehouse and a company we respond with. Leon is standing next to me with a big smile on his face. We just fi nished laughing after I told him that he’s “possibly the ugliest fi reman I’ve ever met.” The elevator door opens, and our smiles go back to the business at hand ...

…………………..BANG!!!!!!!!!!!

Instantly, I’m back, with my hands on my sock sliding up

over my right foot. Leon is gone, too, along with his entire

company. I am now sitting in my underwear on my bed, and

I start crying—more like sobbing—to the point that I almost

choke on the mucus and tears, the absolute purest form of

grief coming out. Christine walks into the bedroom to ask me

something, “Oh my God, are you okay?” I can’t even get a sen-

tence out. I am pointing, mumbling, and sobbing. She is look-

ing at me with a sense of helplessness, wondering what to

do. All she could do was sit with me until this almost-seizure

fi nished. What is wrong with me?

I am in Las Vegas, Nevada. There isn’t a cloud in the sky. It’s a beautiful day. I get out of a golf cart and walk over to line up my shot. I start back toward the cart to pick out a club. I stop dead in my tracks—completely frozen. It is 100°F, and I am shaking as if it’s –30°F. In the distance, I hear the backup alarm from a front-end loader. My head turns. All I see is dust swirl-ing and hard hats working. The dust blows our way, and my friend Bob looks over at me, wondering why I am just “stand-ing there,” almost comatose, in the middle of the fairway. “Are you okay?” My eyes are closed, and my arms slowly rise as I point toward that noise. “Do you hear that? Do you see that?

Post Traumatic

Stress Disorder:

One Firefi ghter’s Story


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Do you smell that concrete dust? That’s it, Robert. That’s the Trade Center.” I just stand there. Bob gets out of the golf cart and walks over to me. I am shaking, I am pale, I am actually nauseated. I fi ght to get back in the golf cart, and I am staring off into space. What the heck is wrong with me?

These are only a few of the hundreds of episodes I have

had and continue to experience stemming from the recovery

effort following September 11, 2001. Why am I sharing my

experiences with you? To bring greater awareness of how

traumatic stress affects not only us but also those with whom

we share our lives. It is rare, if ever, that we would consider

sharing an article from this periodical with nonfi refi ght-

ing personnel, simply because it has no application in their

life. But, traumatic stress affects everyone to one degree or

another. Victims of traumatic stress fall into different catego-

ries: Primary; Secondary; and, sadly, Forgotten. Therefore, I

encourage everyone to share this with those with whom you

share your life. Nobody is exempt from emotional pain. Just

as we address “awareness” of hazmats, bloodborne pathogens,

lightweight building construction, proper personal protective

equipment, and scene safety, we must consider the emotional

toll this business places on us, our coworkers, and our fami-

lies.

“IGNORE THE EMOTIONAL” From my experience, those in the fi re business must remain

99.9 percent cognitive when it comes to “function” on the

fi reground. When I say “cognitive,” I mean that we are taught

to leave our emotions at the door and “suck it up.” Treat victim

injuries, stretch handlines, cut roofs, tie knots, take meter

readings, and mitigate problems. We do whatever it takes to

“get it done.” This is really the only way to get through the

given tasks. Remove the “human” connection, and just get it

done. Otherwise, if you connect with the victim’s emotional

or physical pain, it would eat you alive and turn you into a

babbling mess. Entwined in this idea is the notion that the

tougher you are, the more respect you gain from your peers;

the more smoke you can take, the dirtier you get, the more

ceilings you can pull, the deeper you can get into the fi re

occupancy (and the one I’ve seen most frequently: ignoring

personal physical injuries)—all leading to your being per-

ceived as a better fi refi ghter, thus earning you more respect. It

seems twisted, yet it is true. Whether you wear yellow turnout

gear or black, whether you wear leather or poly, whether your

engine carries cotton jacketed hose or vinyl, you pretty much

get this drilled into your head from Day 1.

You are slowly programmed to perform free of emotion, to

be the toughest you can be regardless of the obstacles. When

that chief walks over to your company after a job and asks the

offi cer, “How are your guys?” the reply is always, “We’re good,

Chief.” You could be standing there banged up pretty bad, and

you are always “fi ne.” You could have just taken somebody

off the subway tracks in pieces, and you are “fi ne.” You could

have just fi nished body bagging a kid on Christmas morning,

and you are “fi ne” because you are a fi refi ghter, and fi refi ght-

ers do not feel; we just do. Then, we go home.

Some might say we get “jaded” to being confronted with

bad things day in and day out. To some degree, we do. Some

of the things we see become “normal.” To John Q. Public, the

sight of fi re blowing out of a fourth-fl oor window is absolute

horror. To us, it means we don’t have to go looking for it,

and the place already fl ashed over. We can make some easier

assumptions on the hoseline stretch. We can enhance our size-

up and be better informed as to how the fi re attack will be

addressed. Outside of wind-driven fi res, in general we see it as

a good thing for us.

We pass on tradition after tradition to keep us alive and effi -

cient; we remain the ones to call when that bad moment arises

for John Q. Public. September 11, 2001, took that concept to a

whole new level. In the months after 9/11, we were portrayed

as America’s superheroes. Posters of professional athletes that

adorned the bedroom walls of kids across the nation were

being replaced with photos of fi refi ghters at the World Trade

Center. America’s heroes were no longer guys with capes and

masks; they were everyday men who swore to go to places

that most people wouldn’t be able to go. We were indestruc-

tible anomalies that kids wanted to be. Most of the fi refi ghters

I have had the privilege of knowing will tell you where you

can put the “superhero” thing. In the end, the light “we” were

cast in only made it more diffi cult to function in life. Most of

us just wanted to be left alone.

TRAUMATIC STRESSSo, what is traumatic stress? According to Dr. Mark Lerner,

clinical psychologist and president of the Institute for Trau-

matic Stress, “Traumatic stress refers to our emotional, cogni-

tive, behavioral, physiological, and spiritual reactions when we

are exposed to, or witness, events that overwhelm our coping

and problem-solving abilities.” Well, if you are taking a test,

that is a great defi nition to remember. In reality, what do we

need to remember regarding traumatic stress? It is a normal

reaction to an abnormal event that can and will kill us just as

a fl ashover or a backdraft will. Traumatic stress and its effects

will accumulate inside us and, like a sponge, eventually will

become “supersaturated.” And with that, so does our ability to

cope in daily life. PTSD is having these types of reactions and

behaviors stick with us, interrupt daily life, and continue to

affect our lives for long periods of time.

Reactions in General

One of the things I learned the hard way was that sadness

and anger are directly linked. It’s almost as if you tied each

end of a rope to them. These two emotions will cause those

around us to react quite differently when we are experiencing

them. If you are “the angry guy,” you may cause those in your

life to return anger right back at you, thus exacerbating the

condition—like pouring gas on a fi re, if you will. Anger harms

others as you emit the pain from inside. You may lash out at

others physically or verbally. This may result in divorce, arrest,

or unemployment.

On the other hand, if you are being “the sad guy,” you may

be expressing grief, disconnecting from society, or slipping

into a depressed state. These two very different forms of

expression are coming from the same “mechanism of injury.” I

● POST TRAUMATIC STRESS


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__________________________








found myself vacillating between these two states quite readily

and without warning.

Regardless of the reactions, one lesson we must learn is that

they are normal. We are not broken. We are not defective. We

are human. Most of us are known as “The Firefi ghter” within

our respective circles in life. We are expected to maintain a

certain level of toughness and be indestructible. We do not

cry. We do not feel. We do not express grief. I always wanted

to be known for being that “tough guy” who knew his job and

did it well.

Reactions: Mine and of Those Around Me

Following September 11, 2001, I was unable to remain “that

guy.” I was very broken inside. I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t

communicating very well with people, and my ability to func-

tion became more and more diffi cult. With the exception of

very few people, I had disconnected myself from society. I

was smoking cigarettes like a chimney, and I was drinking

about 20 cups of coffee a day. I was “self-medicating” with

caffeine and nicotine to avoid sleep, because with sleep came

the violent nightmares like those described above. Rarely did

I sleep a solid night. The fl ashbacks and the constant fi lm of

September 11—what I witnessed and what I was subjected

to—played like a loop tape in my head, and there was no

“Stop” button. The last thing I wanted to do was sleep. The

thought of “bedtime” evoked a very high level of anxiety. In

my head, I was broken. The rest of my life was going to be

completely destroyed, and the chances of my living any sort of

long, “normal” life was impossible. I was watching every air-

plane that passed overhead. Every loud noise made me jump,

and that darn tape kept playing in my head. I was on “high

alert” at all times.

As for those in my personal life, some were very willing to

embrace my pain and attempt to comfort me. However, others,

including some of those with whom I worked, weren’t so will-

ing. In fact they got downright nasty in their reactions to us

who were struggling with our ability to cope emotionally. This

only made a bad situation a whole lot worse and contributed

to my eventual breaking point. I have since attributed most of

their reactions and treatment of us who were suffering to their

own inability to cope with the event. This, combined with the

fraternal side of the fi re service, which at times can be quite

brutal, was a volatile combination. This should be recognized

and avoided at all costs.

When emotional trauma is diagnosed or suspected, the ac-

companying stigma of being identifi ed as one who has “gone

nuts” and will wind up in a rubber room is just as damaging

(if not worse) as the original trauma. Once I realized that

I needed clinical help, I found myself embarrassed to tell

anyone about it. I remember telling myself, “You have become

that guy.” That guy is the troubled war veteran, the crazy cat

lady, the guy at the supermarket talking to the cans in the

soup aisle. This is all very humorous when you are healthy,

yet crippling when you are unable to cope with day-to-day life

any longer. “Who can I tell?” or, better phrased, “Who is it safe

to tell?” I found myself making immediate decisions when I

was asked, “Hey, how are you feeling?”

Well, to be honest, Barry, I’ve gone nuts. I talk to myself. Loud noises make me dive between parked cars for cover. I see dead people. I’m smoking two packs of butts a day, and I’m wired on coffee. How are the wife and kids?

They’d back away as if I were contagious; or, even worse,

they’d mock me. They were the people I did not open up to.

I learned the hard way a few times that I had told the wrong

person the truth. I would tell that category of people, “I’m

fi ne. Whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.” I really hate

that statement. It falls into the same category as “suck it up,”

“get over it,” “move on,” and so on. I used it to get me through

the conversations and protect myself.

RECOVERYMy “recovery” has deepened, and my ability to cope has

strengthened. I can now tell everyone how and why my career

came to a screeching halt. I can speak about how my life

has changed without any reservation, regardless to whom I

speak. I have learned that those in our lives who truly care

about us—I mean truly, deeply care about us regardless of our

status, the car we drive, the clothes we wear, or the school

our kids attend—were those with whom I could speak of the

nightmares and fl ashbacks freely. They were the persons who

would sit with me while I cried and who would take my wife

out to get coffee or get her nails done so she could decom-

press a bit. They were the people who would respond, “Okay,

I’ll wait for them with you,” after you said, “My cheese slid off

my cracker, and the guys with the straightjacket and big nets

are coming for me.” There weren’t many I let into that circle of

trust for quite some time. During this time, I was able to make

distinctions among comrades, brothers, and friends and to

identify those who were “brothers” in name only.


I remember telling myself, “You have become

that guy.” That guy is the troubled war veteran,

the crazy cat lady, the guy at the supermarket

talking to the cans in the soup aisle.


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POST TRAUMATIC STRESS ●

A PLACE FOR COGNITIVE VS. EMOTIONAL THINKING

Just as we said when we swore to

uphold and protect, we are there to care

for others in their moment of need. It

took years of therapy and convincing to

help me realize that “I am not a fi re-

man only.” Firefi ghting is what I did. It

is what I was passionate about. It was

what fulfi lled my desire to help others.

I am a husband, an individual, a friend;

above all, I am human. Regardless of the

uniform or helmet I wear, I am human,

and I will feel pain. It is okay to hurt,

and it is okay to feel. Common sense

tells us that there is a time and a place

to “feel”—two-thirds of the way down

that snotty hallway at 2 a.m.? Obviously

not. In the midst of cutting the roof off

an automobile trying to extricate an

entrapped patient? Also, not.

I learned as I started to embrace my

emotional recovery that we function

both cognitively and emotionally, and I

also learned the difference between the

two. Being a fi refi ghter—contrary to the

public’s perception of the “chaotic insan-

ity” that appears to go on at fi res and

emergencies—we must be fairly well-

educated and able to perform outside

the box in this vocation to be effi cient

and professional, not to mention to keep

us alive. Within that cognitive mind func-

tion, we know that what we are witness-

ing may indeed be sad or horrifi c. So,

we defl ect the emotional response and

“maintain” to complete the task at hand.

It works, and it has worked well from

my experience. However, the problem

is that at some point, you must look the

emotional side of the incident in the face

and accept that it may make you feel sad

or angry or even physically ill. (Watching

the nozzle fi refi ghter dry heave on the

Brooklyn Bridge while we washed what

was left of a “jumper” who landed on the

roadway over the edge was evidence of

that.) Regardless, if you keep that emo-

tional charge inside of you and go home

from work with that lit fuse burning

away .... I ask you: When will you fi nally

“react?” Will you take it out on your kids?

Will you take it out on your spouse? Will

you take it out on a fellow commuter

who just happens to cut you off on the

roadway? Will you go home and drink

the pain away?

Something I learned the hard way

is that regardless of how tough you

perceive yourself to be or that everyone

else perceives you to be, you will have

an emotional response. So, ask yourself,

Which person are you—the closet crier,

the angry neighbor, the drunk, or the

numb stone-faced guy who doesn’t feel

at all? Being in this business, odds are

that you will see yourself in one of these

categories. Does this make you a bad

person? Absolutely not. You are human,

and you just might need some help. I’m

not a social worker or a clinician. I am

just a fellow fi refi ghter who has been

to the bottom, and I continue to work

on my recovery every day. Some days

are brutal; some days are actually okay.

Some days, I even smile more than once.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF IF YOU WANT TO HELP OTHERS

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___________________










selves so we can give that 110-percent effort. If we are bruised

and beaten physically or emotionally, we endanger ourselves,

our coworkers, and those we serve. Overcoming the emotional

“tough-guy syndrome,” as I call it, and saying “I am injured”

or “I am exhausted” is okay. Whom are we kidding by work-

ing sick or hurt or emotionally wiped out? We fool nobody.

We only increase the chances for further, possibly permanent

physical injury, or worse.

Surrendering. Contrary to how it sounds, surrendering does

not mean giving up. It means having the strength to let go of

our instinct to dig in our heels and instead begin the process

of coping with what is slowly killing us. It is a term I learned

when I began my recovery. I had to “surrender” to the fact

that I was almost killed multiple times. I was buried up to my

armpits in the rubble. I was one of the very few to escape. I

witnessed countless people expire violently. I was incapable of

just making it “stop.” I needed to surrender to my limitations on

emotional intake and, for the fi rst time ever, care for the care-

giver. I needed to give myself permission to heal and to be in

pain. It has taken a lot of work, and it is a continuous process.

Understand that this “injury” is not like a broken bone that

gets a plaster cast and eight weeks later, with some physical

therapy, you are back and 100-percent healed. I will work on

this for the rest of my life. I will continue to “recover” until

my fi nal day on the planet. I must always be in contact with

where I am emotionally. I must perform the “self check-in.” If I

feel down and out, I acknowledge it and I embrace it. If I feel

angry, I acknowledge it and I embrace it, and—the hardest

thing to do when we are struggling—it’s okay for me to enjoy

things. I felt as if I was never allowed to feel good again. This

is the corner I was painted into, and it was a life sentence of

pain and sadness.

Survivor guilt. I struggled with this emotion greatly. So

many wonderful men and women did not get to home that

morning. I did. Why? That question chewed at me day and

night, and it still reaches up and taps me on the shoulder at

times. In the fi re business, we want to know the “why” with

regard to all aspects of the vocation. Why do buildings col-

lapse? Why do we lose pressure in handlines? Why do we

need to wear all this personal protective equipment? I rarely

ever took things I learned without asking some questions. It

made me a better fi refi ghter; however, it also made me ask a

lot of questions about why I was still here when so many oth-

ers had been lost. It will not stop. These questions will torture

me for as long as I am alive.

“IT IS WHAT IT IS” “It is what it is.” No truer words have ever been spoken to

me. It means seeing things for what they are and understanding

that we feel pain. It is self-acknowledgment that we see a lot of

bad stuff. In our business, we never get called for an A+ on a

report card. We don’t get called to celebrate the arrival of a new

baby. We get called to the assault victim or the crib death. We

get called to the 2 a.m. driving-while-intoxicated incident and

the driver looks just like the captain’s daughter. This is the real-

ity we live in. Ignoring the facts and the reality of our vocation

is dangerous and eventually will bring us to a breaking point.

To explain it better, picture yourself as the sponge I men-

tioned earlier. Eventually, that sponge will take in so much wa-

ter that it will become supersaturated. When that point comes,

the sponge will leak from the bottom. Why wait until we are

at that same point? Why sideline it or pretend to ignore it? I

did and, trust me, it doesn’t go away. Just as we accept that

transitioning from an offensive interior attack on a structure

fi re to a defensive master stream operation doesn’t mean that

we failed or that we are poor fi refi ghters, so, too, we reach a

point where we have to make the proactive decision to avoid

fi refi ghter injury and death by “pulling them out” so that all

the fi refi ghters go home. What are we saving? Most structures

today are disposable, especially with the advent of lightweight

building construction. Although many believe so, we are not

disposable. If you are feeling anger or sadness, embrace it, feel

it, accept it. Find a home for it, and understand that we are

there to help the helpless. It is what it is.

REACHING OUT FOR HELP You have saved others as a fi refi ghter—maybe directly,

maybe indirectly. You are a rare breed being able to serve

in the capacity you do, whether you are paid for it or do it

out of your desire to serve your community. Regardless of

the pay scale or your limitations, you must take care of you,

for nobody else will. Finally saying, “I need help” was the

hardest thing I have ever done. I was very scared and in a lot

of pain. Thankfully, I did put out my hand and ask for help.

It is okay to reach out and save the father, the husband, or

the wife inside you. Give yourself the care that you deserve

so you can continue giving to others. I was worth it. You are

worth it.

COMMUNICATION AND THE TOUGHEST ONE I KNOW

Communication is paramount. Find that person you can

“talk to.” If you don’t have someone to talk to, go to your phy-

sician, who should be able to help you fi nd a clinical outlet. If

you still can’t fi nd anyone, fi nd me. I will talk to you and help

you fi nd a clinical outlet. Outside of my therapy, I communi-

cate with my wife. I don’t get into the gory details. I just tell

her what is going on in my head and that going shopping for

new curtains today is a bad idea: “I need to be home and just

be with you.”

Granted, all marriages aren’t as healthy as mine, and you

must use your head to make the right decisions at the right

times—meaning avoiding conveying opinions like, “I really

don’t like your mother, and I don’t want to go eat her excuse

for cooking tonight.” We all know where that is going to end

up. Like hitting yourself in the head with a 2 × 4, it feels good

when you stop doing it.

If I let Christine know where my head was and what was

coursing through it, I avoided numerous potential arguments

because I kept her in the loop. I also didn’t restrict our com-

munication to just “my” problems. I wanted to know how she

was feeling; we both needed to agree that there were some

things I needed to do, and she needed to know there were

some things I was incapable of doing.



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POST TRAUMATIC STRESS ●

There is no winner or loser in this

level of communication. Either you both

win, or you both lose. Staying quiet,

giving up, and shoving it all down inside

will without a doubt make you lose—

and lose on multiple levels. Remember

what she goes through every time you

walk back out that front door to go to

the place that may potentially take you

from her.

There is no tougher job than being

the spouse of a fi refi ghter. After I fi nally

made it home on September 12, 2001,

she had to see my injuries, she had to

feel my sadness, she had to answer all

the phone calls. (There were more than

50 messages on our answering machine

within 24 hours.) She had to take me to

the orthopedic doctor and the ophthal-

mologist. She had to take me to our fam-

ily physician. Then she had to watch me

pack my bag and go back there. My wife

weighs 125 pounds soaking wet. But, she

is the strongest woman I have ever met.

We must acknowledge those people

in our lives who support our passion

for the fi re business. Kids look up to

us. People are enamored by the fl ash-

ing lights and the blaring sirens. Your

spouse, my spouse, does not look at it

the same. They know about the inju-

ries. They know about the line-of-duty

deaths. They know about the “almosts.”

They smell the carbon coming out of our

pores when lying in bed two days after

a “good job.” And they watch us go right

back to what almost took us from them

time and time again. They will be left

bringing up the kids. They will be left

with the memorial services. They will be

left with the pain.

Communicating with Christine—ac-

knowledging and validating her fear

and her pain, acknowledging that she

was just as much a victim of this event

as I was—is the only reason we are still

married. Just like the fi re fl oor and the

fi re business in general, it isn’t about

you. It’s about the whole company and

the whole department. When you walk

through the front door of your home,

it isn’t just about you. Communicate. It

makes a difference.

STAYING IN THE DAYBeing in the present was a diffi cult

concept to comprehend at fi rst. “It is 4

p.m. Tuesday. I am not at the WTC. I am

home, and I am safe.” It was self-affi rma-

tion that I was okay. Eventually, it was

very grounding to do this. It brings me

back from violent fl ashbacks to the real-

ity of the present, which helps break the

spasm-like episodes of the fl ashbacks I

experienced. My counselor Gerry Mori-

arty, LCSW, taught me to literally speak

to myself when these episodes started:

“Bobby, STOP. You are home. You are

safe. You are okay.” The more I stay “in

the day,” the easier it is to focus on heal-

ing. I found myself adapting a 12-step

recovery model, the same model used in

alcohol recovery programs. There are a

multitude of therapeutic routes to help

you embrace your pain. This one works

for me: one day at a time.

FEEDING INTO SOMETHING GOOD

As I stated, struggling through survi-

vor guilt for a very long time, I didn’t


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http://www.FireEngineeringBooks.com






feel that I was entitled to embrace anything good. I still fi nd

myself feeling this way at times, especially when mid-July hits.

The clock that reminds me that 9/11 is right around the corner

starts ticking louder and louder. It’s brutal, to be honest. I fi nd

myself hovering very close to home from July to the end of

September. I’m working on it. I refused to celebrate Christmas

in 2001, 2002, and 2003. I was “there,” but I could care less if

activities involving the trees, lights, gifts, or anything “happy”

were going on. I was disconnected from everything social. I

thought I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. Hon-

estly, I was running, running from my pain. If I thought about

holiday gatherings and gifts, I felt guilty for still being here.

When I was at my lowest point, survivor guilt was like

chewing on razor blades and even led me to feel that I did

not want to be here anymore. Understand that I didn’t have a

mechanism prepped and ready for me. It was just that I was

in so much pain that it would have just been easier to “not

be here anymore.” It is 2010, and only recently did I admit to

this. It was the worst feeling I’ve ever had. The theme of life

became, “You are alive, and you are being punished for surviv-

ing. Have a nice day.”

After a lot of therapy—and basically as if I were learning to

walk again in terms of my emotions—I began permitting Bobby

to enjoy himself. Sometimes it works, and I enjoy the event.

Other times, I still go home beating myself up. This process is

slow; day by day, I am fi nding it okay to stay and enjoy myself.

I found it was again okay to go out to dinner with my wife and

our friends. It was okay to laugh and start to try and enjoy the

things that were fun on September 10, 2001. I have to convince

myself that embracing the good things in life throughout my

recovery are just as important as embracing the painful experi-

ences. This is still a daily battle, but it’s getting easier.

OLD PAIN … NEW PAINWhen I fi rst entered the offi ce of the Fire Department of

New York (FDNY) Counseling Unit, it was with the intention

of dealing with the events of September 11, 2001. I found that

within the process of embracing that day and the recovery

effort that followed, “old” pain would surface—sadness and

pain from some fatal fi res, LODDs, and other events in my life

that happened prior to 9/11 showed their faces, and I had to

embrace them as well. I never realized how much pain I had

inside until I started to let it out bit by bit. It feels much better

having a place for those emotions now. As I said earlier, “It

doesn’t just go away.”

MY COMMITMENT … YOUR COMMITMENT The three components of my ability to continue to heal and

recover, and those I advocate for all who answer the call when

the bells go off, are the following:

1Self Check-In: How am I today? If I am not 100 percent,

am I going to be able to do my job whatever it may be if

I am called on to do so?

2 Self-Care Vow: I must take care of myself because no-

body else will.

3Be My Brother’s Keeper: “I committed to being a care-

giver for those incapable of caring for themselves. I must

care for my comrade if he or she is suffering as well. Don’t

kick them while they are down. It hurts a lot.

NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? I reached a point in my recovery while seeing both Gerry

Moriarty and Dr. Mark Lerner that I started to ask, “Okay, now,

what are you going to do?” I had retired from the FDNY, I was

writing a lot as a therapeutic outlet. I wrote about Septem-

ber 11 and was encouraged by Dr. Mark to publish an article

regarding my experience in a medical journal on mental

health so that the mental health community could get a better

understanding from the “victim’s” view. It was very fulfi lling.

I found a sense of purpose again. I found myself wanting to

help other fi refi ghters who were hurting, to let them know

they weren’t alone as I had felt for so long. I wanted them to

know that this pain is not a life sentence and that they are not

painted into a corner for an eternity. Within the struggle of

survivor guilt was also this overwhelming feeling that I have

to “earn it every day.” I have to earn the right to see Christine.

I have to earn the right to see my family and friends. I have to

make a difference. No free rides.

Currently, I am speaking to fi re departments, educators, law

enforcement agencies, government offi cials, and “regular folks”

about traumatic stress and how it affects us, our families,

our coworkers, and our friends. I tell my story of September

11, 2001, when I was buried in the rubble of two collapsing

buildings and of the nine months that followed recovering the

dead. I explain how an invisible injury took over my life and

that Hell had followed me home. I speak of how I wandered

helplessly for 18 months and then fi nally sought help. I re-

count being diagnosed with PTSD, a condition I thought there

was no way to combat and from which there was no way out.

We cry together; we even laugh together a little bit. Most im-

portantly, we learn together, and maybe just one of them will

remember the importance of his wellness and that it’s okay to

feel and it’s okay to heal.

I truly believed that I was going to die a slow, painful,

emotional, lonely death. I implore you to learn from my ex-

perience: You must be aware of emotional trauma, and we all

need to embrace our pain regardless of the mechanism that

has injured us.

My greatest concern is that there are other fi refi ghters and

their families out there who are crumbling inside, drinking their

pain away, losing their loved ones to divorce, and losing their

jobs and their passion for the fi re service and more so for life—

all as a result of their emotional exposure to trauma. As I said,

I’m not a doctor or a social worker. I’m just a regular guy who

has been there and who continues to try and fi gure this life out

as each sun rises and sets. Find peace. Take care of yourself,

and take care of your families. In the end, it’s all we have. ●


● ROBERT SENN is a 20-year fi re service veteran and

a retired Fire Department of New York fi refi ghter. He is

an FDIC classroom instructor and lectures to uniformed

personnel and corporate entities across North America.

He has a bachelor’s degree from the New York Institute of

Technology and is the author of “Beyond Surviving.”


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BY ANTHONY AV I L LO

IT STARTED OUT AS A ROUTINE FAMILIARIZATION AND

training drill with a new piece of equipment that our

department had recently purchased. Ultimately, however,

it changed the way we looked at rapid intervention company

(RIC) operations, especially from a command and control

standpoint.

North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire and Rescue (NHRFR)

recently acquired a fi refi ghter locator system, consisting of

personal transmitters individual fi refi ghters attach to their

clothing or integrate into their self-contained breathing ap-

paratus (SCBA) and the receivers to which they transmit. The

department equipped all its battalion commander vehicles, all

squad companies that respond as RICs, and the safety offi cer

with handheld fi refi ghter locator receivers.

According to the manufacturer’s Web site, the individual

transmitter emits a high-frequency, 2.46-GHz signal that can

be tracked using the handheld receiver. Unlike ultrasonic

waves that bounce off all walls and ceilings, this fi refi ghter

locator’s signal can penetrate walls, ceilings, and fl oors. The

receiver looks similar to an old Courageous Cat gun (for those

of you who actually remember Courageous Cat) and allows

rescuers to track personnel whose personal alert safety system

(PASS) alarm has activated. The closer the receiver is to the

distressed individual, the stronger the signal, indicated nu-

merically as a percentage and graphically by light bar display.

I had tested a similar piece of equipment at the Fire

Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) about fi ve years

ago and was very happy that NHRFR had fi nally acquired it.

You cannot fool this thing and, believe me, we tried! I highly

recommend the fi refi ghter locator; it will complement any RIC

equipment inventory (photos 1, 2).

THE DRILLThe familiarization drill started out as an evolution designed

to integrate the fi refi ghter locator with NHRFR’s Mayday,

rope-guided large-area search and radio communication

procedures. We were operating in a “borrowed” four-story

windowless warehouse, whose owners allowed us to use it

for training on weekends, outside of business hours (photo 3).

We dispensed with the usual diabolical search drill evolutions

we would normally employ in lieu of a simpler, friendlier

evolution. We used no masks or SCBA and left on some of the

warehouse lights. We did not “hood” any rescuers to simulate

zero visibility, as is usual in this type of drill. The aim was

to reinforce the proper use of the locator tool and to build

confi dence. Even so, it was still tough to fi nd victims because

of maze-like confi gurations, machinery, isolated hallways, and

randomly located offi ce and workshop areas (photos 4, 5).

Preventing RIC

Radio Chaos:

The 3/3 Option

1 2

(1, 2) The fi refi ghter locator device. According to the device’s display in photo 2, the searchers are looking for a North Hudson Ladder

2 Bravo fi refi ghter. The yellow light bar indicates they are getting closer. (Photos by author.)


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We set up the command post (CP) and command board on

the building’s exterior side A. The scenario: All four members

of a rescue company, while conducting rope-guided search

operations on the warehouse’s third fl oor, each become sepa-

rated from the lifeline, but not at the same time. The Mayday

calls were staggered about a minute or two apart.

In this evolution, once the fi rst Mayday was received,

we began our rescue operation according to our standard

operating procedures (SOPs). The incident commander (IC)

acknowledged the Mayday and the staff at the CP gathered the

location, unit, name, air supply, and resources (LUNAR) infor-

mation. These data were relayed to the RIC command offi cer,

who had been assigned to oversee and monitor the rescue op-

eration and the RIC activities from the CP. Fireground opera-

tions switched to another radio frequency (channel 2) while

the Mayday fi refi ghters remained on the original fi reground

operations frequency (channel 1) with the RIC.

Then the second Mayday came in and, in quick succes-

sion, the third and the fourth. They came in so fast that the

distressed fi refi ghters’ transmissions were stepping all over

each other. In addition, the RIC, which had been deployed

already when the fi rst Mayday was received, using the LUNAR

information, had a very diffi cult time distinguishing among the

Mayday callers and their corresponding locations in the build-

ing. RIC command had an even harder time sorting the whole

mess out and relaying information to the RIC without being

stepped on.

If it wasn’t for the fi refi ghter locator system, it would have

been even worse. When a PASS alarm activates, the locator’s

receiver displays the fi refi ghter’s SCBA identifi cation, com-

pany, and apparatus position on its screen, and the team can

choose which distressed fi refi ghter to go after.

In reality, this operation would require several RICs using

several devices. In our drill, we limited the RIC operation to

two companies operating together (or splitting up, depend-

ing on what they decided). Each RIC had a fi refi ghter locator

receiver, and we had one at the CP (which is also part of our

SOP). One of the device’s helpful features allows you to scroll

among Mayday requests and determine who seems to be near-

est or in the most distress (i.e., has the lowest air supply).

The main problem we encountered at the CP was that the

radio chaos and the multiple Mayday requests were creating

a “chicken without a head” issue for the RIC. In addition, the

RIC’s anxiety level was pretty much through the roof with

trying to fi gure out which distressed fi refi ghter was transmit-

ting—and this was only a drill!

Another failed rescue option we tried was to use feedback-

assisted rescue (FAR) operations. Since the RIC used the same

frequency as the Maydays, the feedback was transmitted over

the RIC radios as well as those of the distressed fi refi ghters,

rendering the option useless. The accepted practice of trying

to tell rescue teams in the heat of battle and in limited or zero

visibility to turn down their radios so a FAR operation can be

conducted is just not practical and is doomed to failure.

THE 3/3 OPTIONAlthough the RIC team eventually found everyone, includ-

ing the fourth Mayday who “wandered” up to the fourth fl oor

instead of the third (as planned in the evolution), it was ap-

parent to all that we were not at all effective in managing the

Mayday. More importantly, based on the time it took the RIC

to fi nd them and the likely survival time limits that would be

placed on them, most, if not all, of the “lost” members would

not have made it out of there alive. We gathered at the CP to

● RIC RADIO CHAOS

3

4 5

(3) Note the size of the structure used for the drill. Undisciplined

fi refi ghters could easily get lost in such a place; they would not

make it out alive.

(4, 5) The drill structure’s interior layout. Even with the lights on, this place is a fi refi ghter’s nightmare.


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discuss the issue. The rescue captain who was inside monitor-

ing the activity fi rsthand confi rmed what we all knew: The

drill did not work. He suggested we use a third frequency for

the RIC team.

The response to that suggestion was typical of the hard-core

veterans that we are: “What? A third channel? A third chief on

the radio? Preposterous! We can’t do that! I don’t think that has

been done before, has it? How do we manage three frequencies

when we are having a problem with managing two?”

I was also somewhat skeptical. I didn’t think it was feasible

and I thought it would likely create more confusion. However,

the way we were doing it at the moment was not working at

all, so we fi gured we would give it a shot. One issue immedi-

ately discussed was that we had to arrange for enough person-

nel to be on hand at the CP to manage the operation on three

frequencies—you now need three command offi cers. Luckily,

this was a drill and we could play around with the situation

and brainstorm it a little more.

This time, when the Mayday was broadcast, as in the fi rst

evolution, after acknowledging the Mayday and gathering

the necessary LUNAR information, I, as the IC, moved the

fi reground operations (and myself) to another channel. Let’s

say the original fi reground frequency was channel 1. Once the

Mayday came in, I moved the fi reground operations to chan-

nel 2, leaving the original fi reground frequency (channel 1)

open for the Mayday fi refi ghters. I assigned my safety offi cer

as the Mayday manager; he stayed on channel 1. On receipt

of a Mayday and while I was gathering initial information, the

safety offi cer was instructed to immediately report to the CP

from wherever he was and to stay on channel 1 and communi-

cate with the distressed fi refi ghters from the CP. His job was to

gather additional information and to keep in contact with the

Mayday fi refi ghters.

We then sent the RIC inside for the rescue, designating

channel 3 as the RIC frequency; the RIC command offi cer

was at the CP. In this evolution, while I was still handling the

simulated fi re, the Mayday manager was communicating ver-

bally with the RIC command offi cer at the CP, feeding him the

information required to coordinate the rescue. In fact, as the

additional Maydays came in, the messages were more easily

deciphered and prioritized because they were on the dedi-

cated Mayday frequency rather than competing with all the

screaming on the RIC channel. The Mayday manager would

then verbally relay this information to RIC command, who

would transmit it to the RIC on its frequency (channel 3).

ADVANTAGES To our surprise, using three frequencies worked out much

better than we anticipated. After consulting with all involved,

we found the advantages were many.

• First and foremost, separating the Mayday and the RIC fre-

quencies drastically reduced radio insanity. Anyone who has

tried to pull off a multiple Mayday/RIC operation (or even a

single Mayday with an excited distressed fi refi ghter) knows

about this insanity. Some fi reground operations suffer regu-

larly from radio insanity even without a Mayday!

• RIC members liked being on a different frequency and

said that the emotional burden of the urgent predicament

coupled with the unnerving radio transmissions from the

distressed fi refi ghters had been reduced. They felt they

could operate in a more businesslike manner when they

were not hearing transmissions like “I’m running out of air!”

and “Get me out of here!”

• Without the radio insanity, the RIC also reported its mem-

bers could focus more on listening for any distress signals

from the lost fi refi ghter (e.g., PASS alarm, banging on ob-

jects to be better heard, and so on).

• Verbal, face-to-face communication between the Mayday

manager and RIC command at the CP helps RIC command

prioritize messages, which keeps the Mayday and rescue fre-

quencies less cluttered. Also, if a message is not understood,

it can be clarifi ed instantly, which can’t always be done on

the radio. The Mayday manager acts as a dispatcher for RIC

command and provides only the essential information.

● RIC RADIO CHAOS

Incident Commander Mayday Checklist

__ Acknowledge Mayday.__ Clear radio traffi c by emergency transmission from dispatch. __ Contact distressed fi refi ghter; obtain LUNAR information. • Location. • Unit. • Name. • Air supply. • Resources needed.__ If unable to contact distressed fi refi ghter, conduct personnel

accountability report (PAR). __ Switch fi re operations to different frequency by “Urgent”

transmission to channel 2. __ IC continues to supervise fi reground activities.__ Safety offi cer reports to command post (CP) to become

Mayday manager, monitoring Mayday frequency and supporting distressed fi refi ghters on original fi reground frequency (channel 1).

__ Strike two additional alarms—one for fi re; one to support RIC operation.

__ Request command company to CP.__ Level II staging for additional alarm companies.__ Request additional chief offi cers.__ Dispatch to notify chief of department.__ Consider using a company on scene as a second RIC. __ Request additional RICs as needed. __ Request advanced life support emergency medical service

unit to report to CP. __ Establish rescue division supervisor (RIC command, prefer-

ably a chief offi cer).__ Deploy RIC and designate RIC frequency (channel 3).__ RIC command stays at CP in verbal communication with

Mayday manager.__ Consider hoseline support for RIC operation.__ Conduct PAR on new fi reground frequency (channel 2).__ Evaluate on-scene resources.__ Assign a second safety offi cer to monitor building.__ Police must open/maintain lane for EMS access/egress;

police will escort EMS to hospital. __ Determine hospital destination; dispatch to notify hospital of

incoming patients.__ Ensure critical incident stress debriefi ng is available.__ Plan for relief/release of involved companies.


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• The RIC frequency carries only necessary information from

the Mayday manager, which the RIC command offi cer and

RIC-to-RIC command transmissions determine.

• FAR broadcast only on the Mayday frequency was easier.

The RIC found it was easier to hear and track, since the

feedback was transmitted only over the radio of the dis-

tressed member, not also that of the RIC, as happened in the

previous two-frequency evolutions.

DISADVANTAGESTo show that it is not all roses, there are some disadvantages.

• The RIC has no direct communication with the distressed

fi refi ghters. Although it might be feasible to allow one

RIC member to monitor the Mayday frequency, this might

complicate the operation at the wrong time and confuse

things. We tried this, but it did not work well and is not

recommended. If operations are conducted properly, the RIC

should not need to talk to the distressed fi refi ghter.

• There is an urgent need to secure and coordinate supervisory

personnel at the CP as a matter of policy. You will need at least

three supervisory personnel to pull this operation off. This

might be diffi cult but not impossible to do in a smaller depart-

ment if planned for properly. Some options to consider include

the following:

— Increase your command staff on initial alarms. (If you

have a staffi ng issue, this might not be realistic.)

— Use a command company. If you need it, call it.

— Use a company offi cer who has been trained; it might be

best to train them all! This might be the most realistic and

practical solution.

— Develop a policy addressing a superior offi cer mutual-

aid response to all working fi res. This might be the best

answer.

— If you are really lucky or persuasive, you might even be

able to convince the higher-ups that additional command

offi cers are a necessity and increase your staffi ng.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We found that the accountability offi cer (in NHRFR, the

command technician; in others, an aide), must be a big piece

of the puzzle here. You must immediately document the

Mayday information and times and track the RIC’s submersion

time. We used the bottom part of our command board to track

fi re activities. To track the Mayday information, we used the

top of the board. You might need to use a separate command

tech (a Mayday tech) for the RIC operation, especially if there

are multiple Maydays. If only one command board is available,

in a pinch, use a marker on a car hood or wall. Get something

down (photo 6).

When confronted with a building of the magnitude of that in

which we were training, I would also consider a second or even

a third RIC right away. In addition, the response of additional

safety and chief offi cers should not be far from your mind as IC.

Of course, all RIC policies would be in effect here, such as

the request for an additional two alarms (one for suppression

and one to support RIC operations), additional RIC teams,

advanced life support response, and so on, but that is informa-

tion for another article.

The Incident Commander Mayday Checklist (see sidebar) is

a guide to help manage a Mayday. It is never easy.

STAY ON THE LIFELINEAlthough the primary goal of this drill was to familiarize

members with the fi refi ghter locator device, we made sure

that personnel realized in no uncertain terms that, in such a

building, if they operate without discipline and leave a lifeline

or hoseline (or never bring in a lifeline at all), their chances of

survival once they get into trouble are extremely remote.

This alternative approach to the Mayday operations is cer-

tainly worth exploring further. We ran another drill the follow-

ing week in the same building with different companies, and

all felt it was an improvement over the present two-channel

system we use. Through our department Safety Committee, we

have proposed modifi cations to our Mayday SOP.

Author George Will said: “The future has a way of arriving

unannounced.” Have you thought about it? ●

Author’s note: A discussion forum on this article is available on

the Fire Engineering Community Web site. Comments and sug-

gestions regarding this operation would be welcome. Let’s hear

from you!

● RIC RADIO CHAOS

● ANTHONY AVILLO, a 26-year fi re service veteran, is

a deputy chief with North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire and

Rescue, assigned as 1st Platoon regional tour commander.

He has a bachelor’s degree in fi re science from New Jersey

City University. He is an instructor at the Bergen County

(NJ) and Monmouth County (NJ) Fire Academies. Avillo is a

member of the FDIC and Fire Engineering advisory boards.

He is the author of Fireground Strategies, Second Edition(Fire Engineering, 2008) and Fireground Strategies Sce-narios Workbook, Second Edition (2010). He is a contribut-

ing author to Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefi ghter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and co-author of its StudyGuide (Fire Engineering, 2010).

(6) You must have a tracking and documentation mechanism in

place to track the activities of the RIC operation. Here, we use

the bottom portion of the command board. Make sure you take a

picture of it before you erase it.

6


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BY DAN S ENN

MANY MISINFORMED INDIVIDUALS ARGUE ABOUT

the role and importance of certain modes of physi-

cal conditioning for the fi re service. Some say that

cardiovascular, or aerobic, conditioning is most important; oth-

ers say that resistance, or strength, training is most important.

The truth is, both are equally important not only in fi refi ght-

ing but also in regular daily activities. It is well known that

many deaths and physically limiting conditions are directly

heart related, hence the argument for aerobic conditioning.

The bottom line is, your heart has the vital role of keeping

every cell in the body adequately perfused 24 hours a day,

seven days a week. This also means that the heart must meet

perfusion requirement to each cell throughout every mode of

physical activity and nonactivity. Therefore, the heart’s work

capacity must be as dynamic as the range of physical activity

in which we perform. Because of our dynamic range of activ-

ity, a viable argument is made for both aerobic and resistance

training and every mode of training in between. This article

will examine the similarities between our cardiovascular

system and the apparatus and equipment we use to fi ght fi res.

Through this you will better understand your heart’s response

to different modes of exercise and recognize the need for ap-

propriate conditioning.

PUMP PERFORMANCEAs fi refi ghters, we’re all familiar with the importance of

our apparatus pumps and their diverse functions. The pump

itself is our lifeline when we’re on the end of the hoseline in

an untenable environment. Apparatus pumps may serve as

relay pumps where they’re performing fl ow work by receiv-

ing a large volume of fl owing water from a source and simply

boosting pressure; we can pull water into our pump by creat-

ing a negative pressure; and we can perform high-pressure

work by supplying a hoseline, standpipe, or sprinkler system

on the top fl oor of a high-rise. Which mode of pump opera-

tions do you think places the most stress on the apparatus?

Have you ever thought twice about your safety as a fi refi ght-

er on days when you’re riding a backup engine, dreading that

you may have to rely on a questionable pump to perform any

of these functions? Saturday pump tests on the backup appara-

tus can be a scary task. I remember testing one standby truck;

it was a banana yellow-colored relic that had a crew cab with

a tall narrow door and a high window that made it look like

a phone booth. As I pushed the revolutions per minute (rpm)

up, there was a corresponding increase in the intensity of the

leaking streams of water and the rattling sounds coming from

the pump. I was hoping the pump wouldn’t suddenly explode

like a round of antiaircraft fl ak, pelting me with pieces of cast

shrapnel before I had a chance to turn and run.

What’s the purpose of performing these tests? We push

the pump through a near maximal workout to determine if

it meets a minimum peak performance—in other words, we

would rather have the pump explode when it’s not needed

as opposed to on a fi re scene. If something breaks or doesn’t

meet performance requirements, it’s taken out of service and

sent to the shop for repairs.

HEART’S FUNCTIONAL CAPACITYHave you ever considered your own heart in this context?

How much confi dence do you have in your own heart’s func-

tional capacity when going into your next fi re? Those who

lack physical conditioning probably unknowingly run their

hearts through this same near-max test at every working fi re.

However, our heart’s performance measures aren’t as objective

as those for our apparatus pumps. We don’t have the luxury of

gauges and controls that allow us to monitor the function and

performance of our heart at all times.

Our cardiovascular system—which consists of the heart,

system of vessels, and blood—performs the same functions

as our apparatus pump, water, and hoses and is governed

by the same laws of physics. Our apparatus pumps function

to eject the water that is inside the pump through the outlet,

thus pressurizing and directing the fl ow of water through a

distribution system of hose. As long as the pump receives a

supply of water and the pump operates within the capacity

of that supply, we have a constant pressurized fl ow of water

through the distribution system. Think of our heart in the

same context.

The heart relies on a constant supply of returning blood

fl owing in by the vena cava. This fl ow converges between the

superior and inferior vena cava to supply the heart with blood

to pump. This returning blood fl ow subsequently collects in

The Human Heart Is Like a Fire Pump


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the right atrium during atrial relaxation. This fi lling of the

right atrium is referred to as preload. The amount of preload

is determined by the volume and pressure of returning blood

and the volume the right atrium accepts during its fi lling

phase. Preload plays a signifi cant factor in cardiac output,

since it ultimately determines the volume of blood pumped

into the left ventricle and that is available for distribution dur-

ing ventricular contraction. Therefore, the heart receives blood

supply during relaxation and subsequently contracts against

this blood volume, creating pressure within the chambers and

thus directing fl ow through valves and maintaining a pulsating

systemic blood pressure by maintaining a pressurized volume

of blood within the arteries.

With any pump, the amount and pressure of fl ow enter-

ing the pump from its supply source will largely determine

the effort and effi ciency of the pump. This is evident when

we switch from tank to hydrant supply. The water entering

the pump from a hydrant has its own source of pressure and,

therefore, allows the truck to reduce its workload while still

maintaining outlet volume and pressure. The same is true for

the heart. The workload and effi ciency of the heart are largely

determined by the fl ow of returning blood (hydrant supply)

and the subsequent required output (gallons per minute) and

systemic resistance to fl ow (hose diameter). The condition

of valves and interior wall surfaces and the strength of the

power unit (engine or muscle tissue) are factors that limit the

functional capacity of our apparatus pump or heart. These fac-

tors that reduce functional capacity greatly challenge the heart

to meet the perfusion requirements. In addition, the mode of

physical activity and subsequent stress on the body also pro-

vide different challenges to the heart and affect its effi ciency.

During a continuous aerobic activity, such as running, our

heart performs fl ow work much like our apparatus pump

would operate in a relay pumping operation: A pressur-

ized high-volume fl ow is entering the pump through a large

intake, and a high volume of fl ow is circulated through and

subsequently ejected from the pump through a large-diameter

hose at an increased pressure. A whole-body aerobic activity

requires a large volume of blood fl ow because of the mass of

musculature involved and the vasodilation of the arteries sup-

plying those muscles. Think of it as switching from multiple

1¾-inch hoselines to multiple 2½-inch hoselines that accom-

modate the need for increased volume of blood fl ow and also

reduce the workload of the heart by reducing resistance to

fl ow. So, increased activity increases the required volume fl ow,

but friction loss is minimized by vasodilation. Therefore, we

can reduce the workload of the heart as long as the fl ow re-

turning to the heart is maintained. The heart is simply provid-

ing an extra boost of pressure to maintain a consistent fl ow.

Blood fl ow during an aerobic activity assumes a consistent

fl ow through the arteries because of a lower resistance and

the venous fl ow returning to the heart, aided by a “milking”

or “muscle pump” action created by the repetitious action of

the musculature, thus enhancing blood return and providing

adequate supply to the heart so it can meet output demands.

In addition, the right atrium tends to create its own nega-

tive pressure following its contraction phase as it relaxes and

expands its volumetric capacity during atrial fi lling. This also

aids in maintaining a constant return of blood fl ow through

the vena cava. These processes are just as important to the

heart as it is for an apparatus pump to be connected to a large

water main with the ability to supply an adequate volume and

residual pressure to operate multiple large-diameter hoselines

or master streams. The effi ciency and output volume of pump-

ing operations rely on a good hydrant supply. As a general

rule of thumb, we can step on the supply hose to make a

quick assessment of our ability to increase output volume. If

the supply hose maintains an unforgiving fi rm pressure when

stepped on, we know our supply is adequate for our current

output volume. However, our body has a limited capacity to

maintain this high-volume fl ow operation.

As dehydration mounts, blood volume declines. This is a

signifi cant concern for fi refi ghters becoming dehydrated as a

result of sweat loss from working or training in full turnout

gear in heated environments. This lower blood volume causes

a reduction in returning blood volume and, therefore, reduces

preload. Consequently, this reduces stroke volume and creates

a greater stress on the heart to maintain cardiac output and

systemic blood pressure. Relate this to apparatus pump opera-

tions, and you can make the connection. In this situation,

residual hydrant supply is being exceeded, as evidenced by a

fl uttering supply hose approaching the brink of collapsing and

cavitating the pump.

Now consider a situation where we have to supply the

standpipe of a high-rise. If using only tank water, this task

would resemble the task performed by our heart during re-

sistance training. In this situation, we are pumping at a much

greater resistance with no relief in workload provided by the

augmenting pressure from a hydrant. Remember, a pump can

only distribute an output that is limited by the condition of the

pump and the supply entering the pump. Leaky valves prevent

the ability to draft and compromise output volume and pres-

sure capacity. In addition, if the residual from our hydrant

supply drops to a critical point, the supply hose will collapse,

and the pump will cavitate, reducing its output and effi ciency.

In this case, we are most likely limited to pumping through

small-diameter hoselines and are having to pump against high

resistance and are limited to a lower volume of fl ow. In other

● HEART LIKE FIRE PUMP

How much confi dence do you have

in your own heart’s functional capacity

when going into your next fi re?


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www.hmechassis.com© 2010



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Fire Truck Chassis Group








words, we have a high workload stress on our heart, hav-

ing to pump at high rpm with a limited output volume: high

stress/low effi ciency. During higher-intensity activity, such as

weight lifting, our heart faces these challenges by pumping

blood through a distribution system restricted by muscle ten-

sion, which restricts the return fl ow supplying the heart and

reduces cardiac output.

MEASURING CARDIAC PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY

Consider how we measure cardiac performance and ef-

fi ciency. Cardiac output is measured by the product of heart

rate and stroke volume (HR × SV = CO). Stroke volume is

determined by preload, as explained earlier, and the percent-

age of blood volume ejected from the left ventricle by each

contraction, also known as the ejection fraction. It is important

to note that the left ventricle is unable to eject its entire con-

tents during each contraction because the ventricle is unable

to contract to the point of completely collapsing its volumetric

capacity. Therefore, a residual volume remains in the ventricle

following its systolic phase. The fraction of blood ejected dur-

ing each contraction is determined by two factors: afterload

and contractility. Afterload refers to the backpressure the left

ventricle has to overcome to move blood. During ventricular

contraction, pressure builds until a level exceeding the after-

load pressure before the aortic valve is forced open, allowing

fl ow to pass through. Contractility refers to the strength of

each ventricular contraction. Greater contractility allows the

ventricle to more easily overcome afterload and produces a

more powerful contraction, which allows more blood to be

expelled over a shorter time and increases the ejection frac-

tion. Afterload and contractility become signifi cant factors as

work or exercise intensity increase beyond the demands of an

aerobic activity. With this in mind, let’s consider hemodynam-

ics during resistance training.

HEMODYNAMICS DURING RESISTANCE TRAINING

High-intensity, intermittent exercise involves greater muscle

tension over longer sustained durations when compared with

the rhythmic nature of aerobic exercise. For example, dur-

ing a bicep curl, the muscle tightens and squeezes down on

the vasculature, pinching off the fl ow of blood, much like

having a kink in a hoseline. This creates a greater resistance

to fl ow and, therefore, a greater resistance to be overcome

by the heart to move blood through those working muscles.

The heart has to compensate by increasing the strength of

its contraction, described earlier as contractility, to overcome

systemic resistance in an attempt to sustain an effi cient ejec-

tion fraction per stroke volume. This is the reason resistance

training is considered pressure work for the heart, as opposed

to fl ow work during aerobic activity.

Additionally, this resistance to fl ow also prevents blood from

returning to the heart. Although the veins have one-way valves

preventing backfl ow, the compliant structure of the veins do

little to augment the movement and return of blood back to

the heart against resistance caused by muscle tension. This, of

course, in a sense means that the heart is connected to a dead-

end hydrant of a small water main. The decrease in returning

blood and residual pressure means less blood entering the

right side of the heart during diastole and subsequently a

lower stroke volume, which results in a lower output pressure

(stroke volume is the most signifi cant factor infl uencing blood

pressure). We can increase the rpm of the truck or the rate of

the heart all we want, but our output volume and subsequent

pressure are governed by the supply feeding into the pump.

During resistance activities, the heart is greatly challenged

to maintain adequate systemic blood pressure. Cardiac ef-

fi ciency relies on the return blood fl ow and the capacity of the

heart to produce forceful contractions to move blood against

high-resistance pressures. This is different from aerobic work

in which cardiac effi ciency relies on the heart’s ventricular

volume capacity and the responsiveness of the ventricular

musculature to repetitive stretch-contract cycles.

Man and machine both have their distinct advantages and

disadvantages. If our apparatus pump is in bad condition, we can

fi x or replace it, but it cannot fi x itself with continued further use.

Our heart, on the other hand, can adapt and improve its function

with proper training; however, it is not a quick fi x. Adaptations

occur over time with training, and these adaptations must be

maintained with continued training stimulus. As explained earlier,

the stress on our hearts depends on the mode of physical activity.

Continuous aerobic activity presents a fl ow stress on the heart,

and resistance activity presents a pressure stress.

Although most perceive aerobic training as “the way” to

train your heart, many overlook the stress placed on the heart

when performing pressure work and thus fail to condition

the heart for this mode of stress. For example, in northern

climates, this danger is evident by the high incidence of heart

attacks following a heavy, wet snowfall. Shoveling heavy snow

is not strictly an aerobic activity. For people of low physical

work capacity, shoveling wet snow would fall into the high-

intensity intermittent activity category. The heart’s workload is

also exacerbated by high intrathoracic pressure caused by ten-

sioning the core muscles for stabilization. It is no surprise that

heart attacks occur under these stressful conditions. The heart

itself has a high demand for blood under a high workload.

However, an underconditioned individual may have a weak

heart that has limited contraction strength or hardened or

clogged arteries, limiting the ability to “go to a larger-diameter

hose” and reduce friction loss and pump pressure. Couple this

with a low-volume “dead-end hydrant,” and you have a heart

that is pumping a maximum rpm but unable to adequately

supply the cardiac muscle tissue itself or the rest of the body

with the required volume of blood during physical stress.

WORKING IN FULL TURNOUT GEARThere are additional concerns to consider about our cardio-

vascular health when training or working in full turnout gear.

The added weight and resistance to movement our turnout

gear provides consume a portion of our total work capacity. In

other words, for any given task, that task will require a higher

heart rate with higher metabolic demand when performed

in turnout gear compared with performing without turnout

● HEART LIKE FIRE PUMP


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HEART LIKE FIRE PUMP ●

gear. Therefore, additional workload is placed on the heart

when performing on-scene tasks. Additionally, our turnout

gear restricts body heat dissipation. As our core temperature

increases, two cooling response mechanisms increase in activ-

ity: sweat response in an attempt to enhance evaporation and

triage of blood fl ow to the skin in an attempt to exchange

heat through convection. As mentioned earlier, dehydration

reduces preload. The triage of blood fl ow creates competi-

tion between the working muscle and the skin, subsequently

reducing the residual pressure and volume of returning blood

fl ow and causing the heart rate to increase further to maintain

blood pressure and perfusion.

Perfusion demands throughout the body are not met by

simply varying the heart rate. Our cardiovascular system

engages in dynamic adjustments in the size of the vessels to

maintain blood fl ow and makes adjustments according to the

returning blood supply and the systemic resistance to fl ow.

The type and intensity of activity determine the challenges the

heart faces. Both our hearts and our apparatus pumps are lim-

ited by the capacity of the supply source and pump in modes

ranging from low-pressure/high-volume to high-pressure/low-

volume conditions. Our physical fi tness training must prepare

our heart for all modes of operations. Continuous aerobic

exercise prepares our heart to perform low-pressure/high-

volume fl ow work. However, many overlook the importance

of resistance training to prepare our hearts for high-pressure/

low-volume modes of operation. Therefore, it is important to

participate in a fi tness program that incorporates a variety of

modes of training including low-intensity, continuous, aerobic

work and high-intensity, intermittent, anaerobic work. A good

fi tness trainer or advisor should prioritize your training based

on individual needs but still incorporate a variety of training

methods to prepare your heart for the full spectrum of activ-

ity you encounter on the job and in your daily life. With the

proper conditioning prescription, the heart develops adapta-

tions that enhance its ability to endure stress and allows us a

greater work capacity during all modes of physical stress. ●

REFERENCESBrooks, G. A.; Fahey, T. D.; and Baldwin, K. M. (2005). Exercise physiology: Human bioenergetics and its applications (4th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

Guyton, A. C. and Hall, J. E. (2006). Textbook of medical physiology (11th ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.

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● DAN SENN, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, is a fi refi ghter/

EMT for the Fargo (ND) Fire Department. He coaches

and trains athletes in sports performance and works with

fi refi ghters on job performance and injury rehabilitation.

He teaches fi refi ghter physical fi tness and safety and con-

tributes to his department’s monthly fi tness newsletter.

His education has focused on exercise physiology, motor

learning, biomechanics, and sports medicine. He is work-

ing on a second master’s degree and assists with organiz-

ing and training a fi refi ghter combat challenge team.


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Owned &Produced by:


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_____________________________________________________

http://www.takresponse.com






BY JAMES L . F L EM INGAND SHARON L . BO L L INGER

FIREFIGHTING AS A PROFESSION DEMANDS SIGNIFI-

cant physical strength and endurance. To meet these

demands, fi refi ghters need to maintain an excellent

level of fi tness. Also, fi refi ghters are exposed to signifi cant

physical, chemical, biological, and psychological hazards,

which place signifi cant stressors on them that can impact

their overall wellness. This is seen in the high rates of injury,

cardiovascular disease, and cancer among fi refi ghters. Main-

taining a strong wellness and fi tness level can improve a

fi refi ghter’s resistance to disease and injury, as well as aid in

combating such disease and injury when it occurs.

The International Association of Firefi ghters (IAFF) and the

International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) have developed

a wellness and fi tness program that provides a model to help

fi refi ghters develop and maintain suffi cient wellness to meet

the demands of their job. In addition, the National Fire Protec-

tion Association (NFPA) has developed an industry standard of

medical safety for recruits and active fi refi ghters to help pro-

tect fi refi ghters and the public. NFPA 1582, Standard On Com-

prehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Depart-

ments, includes the provision for a wellness/fi tness assessment

that is in accord with the IAFF/IAFC Wellness-Fitness Initiative

(WFI). Inherent in this program is an in-depth assessment of

cardiovascular health, appropriate screening for cancers of

risk to fi refi ghters, and self-assessment of overall fi tness.

The Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department (PFD) is one of the 10

model programs of the IAFF/IAFC WFI. Our medical surveil-

lance program has monitored the health status of our mem-

bers and provided medical counseling to improve wellness

and fi tness for more than 20 years. In cooperation with fi re

department management and the fi refi ghters’ union, the PFD

has developed a program for improved intervention, providing

the members with specifi c goals and recommendations to help

maintain appropriate wellness levels. As part of this, we moni-

tor and provide guidance and support on various preventive

health issues, including obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular

tone, and diabetes.

TIERED MEDICAL PROGRAMIn 2003, we recognized that although fi refi ghters were main-

taining an overall excellent level of musculoskeletal fi tness,

multiple issues in their wellness level continued to be noted in

their annual assessments. In collaboration with PFD manage-

Phoenix Fire Department:Model of Wellness-Fitness

Table 1. Tiered Medical Program Health StandardsHealth Standard Tier 4 Tier 3 Tier 2 Tier 1

Body fat >30 % Male (M) 25-30 % M 20-24 % M <20 % M>34 % Female (F) 30-34 % F 24-29 % F <24 % F

Blood pressure >160/110 >150/100 >140/90 <135/85

Metabolic Equivalent Testing (METS) (under age 40) See Addendum to Table 1 Below

Blood sugar >300 200-299 100-199 65-99HbA1c 8.0 >7.5 6.5-7.4 <6.5

Source: Tiered Medical Program, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department Health Center

Addendum to Table 1: Metabolic Equivalent Testing (METs)Age Range Tier 4 Tier 3 Tier 2 Tier 1

< 40 <12.0 12.0-12.9 13.0-13.9 >14.0

40-49 <12.0 12.0-12.6 12.7-13.5 >13.5

50+ <12.0 12.0-12.4 12.4-13.0 13.00



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REMEMBER FOREVER: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 … AND BEYOND.

The Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation was created to ensure that

we as Americans “Remember Forever” the fallen firefighters of September 11

and in their memory recognize other firefighters who demonstrate that same

courage and valor in rescue missions.

The Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award commemorates the life and career achievements of Deputy Chief

Ray Downey, who lost his life while commanding rescue operations at the World Trade Center attack on

September 11, 2001. Deputy Chief Downey was chief of rescue operations and a 39-year veteran of the Fire

Department of New York. He was the most highly decorated firefighter in the history of FDNY. Deputy Chief

Downey commanded rescue operations at many difficult and complex disasters, including the Oklahoma

City Bombing, the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing, and many natural disasters worldwide.

For his lifetime of unparalleled service to firefighters and citizens alike, and in remembrance of the courage

and valor exemplified many times throughout his life, it is fitting that the Courage and Valor Award, presented

to one extraordinarily courageous American firefighter each year, bear the name of Ray Downey, a truly

extraordinary man.

Keep the tradition alive —

Nominate your candidate for the 2011 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award now.

For more information visit

www.courageandvalor.org

FIRE ENGINEERING

COURAGE AND VALOR

FOUNDATION

3300 First Place Tower

15 East Fifth Street

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http://www.courageandvalor.org





RAY DOWNEY COURAGE AND VALOR AWARD

2011 NOMINATION FORM

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PERSON SUBMITTING NOMINATION FORM:

Name:

Address:

city state zip code

Phone:

Email:

Relationship to Nominee:

NOMINEE INFORMATION:

Name:

Title/Rank:

Fire Department:

Years of Service:

Home Address:

city state zip code

Home Phone:

Qualifications/Distinguishable Traits:

1. Please give a brief history of the nominee.

2. Describe the event or circumstance for which you feel the nominee displayed unparalleled courage and valor and is deserving of the 2011 Ray Downey

Courage and Valor Award.

3. Describe in detail why you feel the nominee went above and beyond the call of duty during this event.

Important Details:

• Answers to questions 1-3 should be typed on separate 81/2 x 11 pages and attached to the nomination form.

• The incident/meritorious act described in this nomination form must have occurred between December 1, 2009 - November 30, 2010, and must have

been part of an official fire department response to an emergency incident.

• The award is open to all firefighters in the United States, regardless of rank or department type.

• The recipient of the award may be living or deceased.

• The recipient will receive a medal and a significant financial award.

• The award will be presented at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis, March 23, 2011.

• Nomination forms will be published in Fire Engineering magazine and on its Web site.

• Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered.

• Forms must be received by January 7, 2011 for consideration of the 2011 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award.

Signature

In remembrance of Ray Downey and all fallen firefighters, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Fire Engineering

Courage and Valor Foundation.

Please send nomination forms to: Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation Nomination Committee

Attn: Diane Feldman

PennWell Corp.

21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410


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ment and IAFF Local 493, as part of a formal renegotiation by

objective (RBO), the PFD Health Center developed a program

that would look at specifi c wellness health parameters, called

the Tiered Medical Program. During the assessment phase, we

discovered that our members had issues with several prevent-

able health conditions that could be improved with direct

intervention.

For this program, we identifi ed four elements to specifi -

cally monitor: body fat measure to assess obesity; blood

pressure to assess hypertension; metabolic equivalent test-

ing (METs) measured during cardiovascular stress testing, to

assess cardiovascular tone; and blood glucose and HbA1C

levels to assess diabetes. We used industry standards such as

NFPA 1582 as the basis for determining whether a member

can safely perform his operational job requirements under this

program. When there was no standard available, as in the case

of obesity, we used medical consensus to determine appropri-

ate levels. A fi fth element was originally identifi ed, pulmonary

function changes. However, after three years of evaluation, we

found no members who fell into a Tier 3 or 4 level secondary

to this element, and it has been dropped from the program.

In 2004, we conducted a yearlong collaborative RBO ef-

fort with management and union to develop this program,

fostering complete buy-in from both sides. The program

was designed as a medical wellness program, and like the

WFI, was not meant as a punitive tool. The entire goal of

this program was to identify health and wellness issues and

assist the fi refi ghter in managing those issues. This program

was incorporated in 2005 as part of the fi refi ghters’ annual

medical evaluations. In addition, we also informed all fi refi ght-

ers of this program through written and video presentations.

The fi rst year was intended to introduce the program to the

members. All identifi ed individuals with issues received guid-

ance, but no other actions were taken at that time. Starting in

2006, the program was increased to provide

directed intervention for those individuals

identifi ed. The Tiered Medical Program has

now matured with full awareness among

our fi refi ghters, who are able to use their

medical evaluations to assess where they

stand.

Table 1 describes the elements of the

program and the current measurement lev-

els. Firefi ghters are encouraged to maintain

their level of wellness at Tier 1. Tier 2 is

designed to act as a buffer to identify mem-

bers who are below Tier 1 level but do not

need medical/wellness intervention other

than counseling and guidance. Tier 3 was

established to identify members who still

meet NFPA 1582 requirements but who are

showing health and wellness changes that

require intervention. Tier 4 is designed to

identify those individuals who have health

changes that do not meet current NFPA

1582 criteria. Note: There is currently no

NFPA 1582 provision that addresses obesity.

Therefore, we only consider a member as Tier 4 for obesity if

he also exhibits at least one other comorbid health issue.

RESULTSIn the fi rst year (2006), we identifi ed 86 individuals who fell

into Tier 4 and another 235 individuals who were at Tier 3. The

majority of these individuals had issues either with their cardio-

vascular tone or their level of body fat. This represents overall

about 20 percent of our workforce. Most individuals (about 70

percent), after becoming aware of their issues, were able to im-

prove their Tier status by at least one level within three months.

By 2008, the overall rate for Tier 3/4 dropped to 10 percent.

In 2009, the rate was less than three percent, with only 22

members in Tier 4 and 26 in Tier 3. This shows a signifi cant

improvement for all of our fi re members. Figure 1 shows the

progression from 2006 through 2009.

We feel this program has shown that close attention to health

and wellness parameters, along with timely intervention and

positive motivation, dramatically improves fi refi ghter health.

The marked decrease in the percentage of members in Tiers

3 and 4, along with the improvement of members into more

healthful patterns within reasonable time frames, clearly shows

the benefi ts of this program. We again emphasize that this

program is in no way punitive. It identifi es health and wellness

issues and assists members in fi nding ways to improve.

The program has not matured without issues. The biggest

issue is maintaining this as a wellness program, designed to

identify and assist those with problems. There has been a

strong push in some areas to make this a fi tness program,

which we do not support. There is a strong fi tness component

necessary to maintain true wellness, but our goal remains to

help fi refi ghters individually maintain improved wellness.

Also, there is small number of our members who have

developed morbid conditions that are not likely to improve.

● WELLNESS MODEL

Figure 1. Tiered Medical Program: Percentage of Personnel in Each Tier by Year



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FIRE ENGINEERING December 2010 83

WELLNESS MODEL ●

However, we continue to work with these members to main-

tain good control of their disease issues, maximizing their

overall function.

Our program still needs improvements. A large number of our

members show blood pressure values (when they come in for

annual assessment) that place them in a prehypertensive region.

A recent review showed that about 39 percent of our members

had at least one blood pressure reading of 135/85 or greater. We

are looking to adjust the values of our Tier program to better

identify and help members monitor their blood pressure.

Also, we have noted through the WFI annual assessments

that a large number of members have elevated lipids. We know

this increases their risk for developing cardiovascular disease,

and we do counsel on ways to help manage this issue. Howev-

er, placing measurement of lipids into the formal Tier program

may help increase awareness and support better management

of control by members. This will be part of the next suggestion

to the management/union RBO committee to improve our pro-

gram. Like the issue with obesity, there will be no Tier 4 level

unless there are also other signifi cant comorbid conditions.

• • •

The WFI provides a comprehensive evaluation that allows

fi refi ghters to monitor their continued health and wellness.

We feel that including a program that provides guidance and

intervention when health changes are noted clearly leads to

positive change toward improved wellness at the individual as

well as the departmental level. ●

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● JAMES L. FLEMING, D.O., MPH, has been the medi-

cal director of the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department Health

Center since 2001. He received his osteopathic doctorate

from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery

and master of public health degree and a fellowship in

occupational medicine from Johns Hopkins University.

Fleming is a member of the American Osteopathic Board

of Preventive Medicine in Occupational and Environmen-

tal Medicine, from which he received his Board Certifi ca-

tion in 1986. Fleming served as the United States Army

Surgeon General’s consultant in occupational medicine

until his retirement in 1998. From 1998 to 2001, he was

assistant professor and director of occupational medicine

at the Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center.

He is a member of the National Fire Protection Associa-

tion 1581, 1582, and 1584 Task Groups and the IAFF/

IAFC Wellness-Fitness Initiative Technical Committee.

● SHARON L. BOLLINGER, RN, has been clinical nurse

manager since 2007 for the Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department

Health Center, where she began work as an occupational

health nurse in 1998. She received an associate degree

in nursing from Parkersburg (WV) Community College

and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida State

University. Previously, she worked as a staff nurse on a

medical/surgical fl oor and as a cardiovascular intensive

care charge nurse for more than 15 years. Bollinger is a

member of the Arizona Valle del Sol Association of Oc-

cupational Health Nurses.


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BY DAV ID J . T RA I FOROS

WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT A FIRE SERVICE,

national news, or special-interest magazine or

Web site, you can’t avoid items about taking care

of yourself and your health. I’m sharing my story with you

because many fi refi ghters advised me to do just that so you

can take care of yourself. Of course, this won’t happen to you;

it will happen to the other guy. Let me tell you how I became

that other guy.

I came up through the fi re department ranks over the past

30 years and had served as chief for the past 10. In the mean-

time, my physical fi tness had declined. A sedentary lifestyle

allowed me to gain weight. I experienced some fatigue while

doing what I liked doing best—going to fi res and working

on the fi reground. I would do whatever needed to be done,

whether it was taking command or working in the interior of

a structure.

Well, 2009 was going to be my year to get physically fi t. I

studied and tried several diets to lose that belly you read about

being dangerous for your heart and the cause of diabetes. I suc-

cessfully lost 35 pounds slowly over a six-month period.

This effort not only introduced me to a good diet with

improved eating habits but reacquainted me with routine

exercise. Once again, I started jogging four to fi ve miles

three times a week. Although I experienced some shortness

of breath, I just thought it was because of the summer’s heat

and humidity and that I still needed to lose some weight.

The shortness of breath went away by the second mile, so I

thought that was okay.

I also started riding my bike with my wife so we both could

improve our health. We biked regularly at various distances.

So, life went on with little concern. My clothes fi t better,

and people told me I was looking good, asking how much

weight had I lost. I went to our fi re department doctor for my

semiannual physical. In addition, I took a stress test and had

that prostate exam performed that most guys don’t like. All of

these results were my best in more than 10 years.

Since I was 51, I ventured to the doctor to have a colonos-

copy. I felt great, and life was good. Going to fi res, I felt like a

young fi refi ghter having fun with the guys.

A local hospital offered free heart scans for all our police

and fi refi ghters. The hospital offered me the scan fi rst, since I

was chief of the department and wanted to promote the pro-

gram to our fi refi ghters.

The morning I went for the scan, my wife and I had just re-

turned from a weeklong vacation with our daughter in Indiana

and Michigan on Lake Michigan, riding bikes, climbing sand

dunes, hiking, and enjoying life.

THE HEART SCANThe scan was a simple procedure. I had to take off my

T-shirt, get hooked up to the heart monitor, and lie down on

a sliding table attached to the computed tomography (CT) ma-

chine. A portion of my chest went through the scan, and they

asked me three times to hold my breath. Twenty-fi ve minutes

after the scan, I met with a nurse who gave me the results: “All

is fi ne.” A heart scan looks for calcium, and that translates into

plaque buildup in your arteries and walls of your heart. There

was absolutely no pain involved. I called my wife, told her all

is well, and went to work.

Five hours later, I received a call from my doctor, who kept

asking me if I was okay. I informed him I was fi ne. Then he

broke the news. In reviewing the scan, the cardiologist had

found an eight-centimeter (cm) ascending aortic aneurysm.

There are two types of aneurysms. One can be above the heart

in the aortic arch and the other one can be in the abdomen.

Mine was in the aortic arch.

At the time, I had no idea what that meant. The doctor kept

asking me if I had any shortness of breath, or was I experi-

encing chest pain or severe back pain. I had none of those

symptoms. He informed me that an eight-cm aneurysm is very

large—they usually operate when it is about fi ve cm. I was long

overdue for surgery. My doctor conferred with a cardiologist,

who responded that if I was in no pain, I should see him in the

offi ce in a few days and just take it easy until then. That means

don’t prune trees (as I did) because you are a guy and do that

kind of stuff as a rule. Instead, go sit in the yard and read a

book or sit in front of the TV and be a couch potato. Have

someone in your family watch you to yell at you to rest.

At the appointment with the heart surgeon, he informed my

wife and me what this surgery involved. My aneurysm was

above the heart in the aortic arch; that would require a full

open-heart surgery. In addition, the surgeon said he had heard

a leaking valve when listening to my heart, which was the

reason for my shortness of breath while running. He asked me

what kind of replacement valve I preferred—a tissue valve (ob-

tained from a pig or a cow) or a mechanical valve? How would

I know? So I had to have these explained to me. If you choose

a tissue valve, that means the doctor will see you again in about

Will You Geta Second Chance?


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12 years to replace it. A mechanical valve, however, lasts about

50 years but only has one drawback: For the rest of your life,

you will have to take warfarin (also known as Coumadin®),

which acts as a lubricant for the mechanical valve.

My wife and I were in shock. So now the questions popped

into my head. When should I have the surgery—sooner or

later? Should I get a second opinion? Where should I go for

this surgery? Will I die? Do I need a will? What will happen to

my family? What about my faith in God?

The thoughts kept me up at night. I kept working to keep

my mind occupied. Firefi ghters from my department kept me

in check by reminding me to take it easy. “No fi re duty, Chief.”

“Go home and relax.”

I did seek a second opinion. A good friend of mine is the

doctor in charge of the emergency department at another

hospital; I valued his professional opinion just as he did mine

(he would want me to come to his house if it were on fi re).

He introduced me to a heart surgeon at his facility.

This heart surgeon presented a clearer, more optimistic

explanation of the procedure than the fi rst heart surgeon, who

presented a darker view. We understood how this procedure

would take place and its success rate, which the fi rst surgeon

did not explain. Still, the fear of all involved was overwhelming.

I had been a paramedic for 10 years, so I had a good idea of

what would need to be done but was afraid to ask the doctors.

So I tried not to think about it. The surgery was scheduled to

occur in about a week with this second heart surgeon. Because

of the size of the aneurysm, he recommended surgery as soon

as possible, and I decided on a mechanical valve at this point.

THE SURGERYHere is what it was like for me on the day of the surgery. I’ll

explain it so if this happens to you, you won’t be in so much

shock when it happens. This procedure is the same as the

open-heart surgery for blocked heart (coronary) arteries.

That morning you arrive early at the hospital and become a

patient. I arrived at 5 a.m., two hours before the surgery. The

night before, I was home with my family, having a nice dinner

and doing fi ne.

You wait to go to registration and sign paperwork that you

almost need a lawyer to tell you what it means. Next, you wait

to go to a preoperation area. This is where you give up your

clothes for now to wear one of those hospital gowns. They

come in to shave your chest.

That’s when it hits you—panic, fear, all your thoughts ask-

ing, “What am I doing here?” Remember that fi rst time you

entered that fi re building? It’s almost that same type of feeling,

except a skilled surgeon is taking care of you. He will be the

chief or incident commander for the time being.

Next, a member of the clergy came in to offer prayer with

my family at my bedside with me. That will bring tears to your

eyes no matter how tough you are. Then the worst part of all,

saying goodbye to your family. Many emotions will take place.

At this point you want to go home, but ....

When you get up to the preoperating room, the anesthesiol-

ogist will visit you, providing you with a dose of Versed. Great

stuff—it puts you to sleep, and that’s all, folks.

Your family will be taken to a waiting room and will be

kept abreast of your location and the progress of the surgery.

There is prep work to get you ready for surgery—e.g., estab-

lishing central intravenous lines and additional shaving of oth-

er body parts. The big one is reducing your body temperature

to slow the heart so you can be placed on a heart-and-lung

machine, which allows the surgeon to operate on your heart.

They cut open your chest and all those parts underneath the

skin. You now become a member of the “zipper club.”

The surgery to remove three inches of aorta and replace

it with a new mesh material lasted three to fi ve hours. Also,

they replaced the aortic valve with a mechanical valve. My

family was allowed to visit me in recovery about two hours

after surgery. The hospital staff told my family not to expect

me to look like I did before surgery but to expect me to look

like I was hit by a bus. Well, according to my family, I looked

the same as before except that my wrists were tied down and

I had tubes coming out of my neck, mouth, and stomach and

sutures running across my chest. I believe there were 24 in all

in a scar about 10 inches long.

THE RECOVERYI remained unconscious in the intensive care unit (ICU) un-

til I awoke about nine hours later, after the medication wore

off.

You know that joke “Watch what you say around an uncon-

scious person”? I remember hearing the hospital staff ask my

wife if I was a smoker. My pulse oximetry had a reading of

about 85; close to 100 is desired. This question alarmed my

wife, since I never have been a smoker. The doctors believed

that this could be a result of more than 30 years in the fi re

service. When I asked my wife when this conversation oc-

curred, she told me it was about six hours before I woke up.

Still intubated, I woke up wanting the tube out of my mouth.

That’s why they tied my wrists to the bed, so the nurse put me

back to sleep until they could pull the tube out.

When I woke up again, I thought it was noon, and I asked

to watch the World Series baseball game on the TV in my

room. It was actually 13 hours later.

After surgery, expect some pain and discomfort. Just ask for

pain medicine. But now, all those things you could do the day

before, you can’t. Try to sit up when they ask you to. You will

need help. They want to sit you up in a chair. That is a very

slow process and will tire you out. They will give you a pillow.

Mine was red and heart-shaped. This will become your best

friend. It will be very painful whenever you cough, sneeze,

laugh, or do anything involving movement or refl exes. You

will want this pillow to make it easier.

You will be required to march in place next to your bed

to help the two long, large-diameter tubes coming from your

abdomen drain any fl uid or blood from around your heart.

Every hour, you will have to inhale using a spirameter to

help reinfl ate your lungs after the surgery and get you out

of the ICU and into a room for privacy. This requires you to

inhale, not exhale. So be patient, and keep inhaling. This also

will tire you out.

Before you leave the ICU, those chest tubes have to be

● A SECOND CHANCE


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● A SECOND CHANCE

removed. Let me tell you, it will not be

pleasant! Ask that they remove them

quickly, and hope a nurse does it rather

than a doctor. Nurses have more practice

and know how to remove them so as to

cause less discomfort. As a rule, doctors

don’t do this as much, if at all, so let the

nurses do it.

In addition, two wires will be stick-

ing out of your stomach. Do not remove

them; these wires are important! They

are making contact with your heart and

will be used only in an emergency if you

need to have your heart paced.

As with any hospital stay, you will

be very tired. Remember, you have had

no sleep before going through this

procedure. Hospital rules require taking

vitals and administering medications

regularly. They check your status, and,

oh yeah, I got weighed in every day at

4 a.m. Don’t expect to sleep very much,

if at all.

Here is another point: Should you

sleep on your stomach, back, or side?

Expect to sleep on your back for about

seven days. Most of these beds seem to

harden day after day.

When you are moved from ICU to a

room, get a private room if possible. You

will want to sleep if you can for a faster

recovery. With a private room, you won’t

have to listen to a roommate’s relatives

and friends visiting while you are trying

to sleep. I stayed in the ICU for two

days; some patients may stay longer.

You will be required to walk several

times a day up and down the hallway. In

most cases, once you are able to climb

the stairs, you will be allowed to go

home. Usually, you can go home in fi ve

days from the date of the surgery. My

stay was longer (nine days) because they

were regulating the Coumadin dosage.

HOME AT LASTOnce you go home, it is easier to

rest and do things from a recliner. Any

movement you make and the occasional

sneeze or cough, however, will make

your chest hurt. That is where that pil-

low will come in handy. You also still

have to use that spirameter; I used it for

about three weeks. Wash your hands

often to avoid getting sick and keep visi-

tors at a distance from you.

Now to get yourself in better shape,

you can go outside, walk up and down

the street, then around the block, and

eventually several blocks away from

home.

Probably the best part is that you need

to rest after every event. Taking a shower

can be very diffi cult in the beginning, so

you must rest afterward. You go out to

take a short walk, you come home and

rest. You eat a meal and take a rest. Dur-

ing the recovery, you will feel strong and

healthy one day and like an old man the

next. Rest to get better and stronger.

GET THAT HEART SCAN NOW!After my surgery, the doctor told

my wife, and told me the next day,

that I was lucky I did not die before

this surgery. When they opened me

up, they saw that my aorta was green,

which means it was “stretched beyond

stretched,” and it was leaking. I was liv-

ing on borrowed time. Had I not been

the fi rst in my department to go for the

heart scan instead of the last, I might

not have survived to even get a scan. I

would have died before my turn.

A week or two after your surgery, you

will start on cardiac rehabilitation three

times a week. There you walk on the

treadmill, ride a stationary bike, ride an

aerodyne bike, use a rowing machine,

and lift some weights. I also worked out

fi ve times a week, wanting to get back

into shape to continue to fi ght fi res. My

diet had not really changed except for

watching my salt intake. Because of the

mechanical valve, I am on Coumadin,

which is a pain, because you are limited

on eating green vegetables, which would

lower the Coumadin level. However, as

long as you eat the same types of food

regularly, your Coumadin level should

stay within its range. Coumadin will be

replaced by another drug in about three

to four years.

ONE YEAR LATERWell, it is more than a year since I had

this experience. I have since retired from

®


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● A SECOND CHANCE

my fi rst career and started a second career as a fi refi ghter

with a paid/on-call fi re department. I get to perform and enjoy

all the fi refi ghting duties that I have enjoyed throughout my

career. I have also joined another department as the director

of training and instruct at a regional fi re academy. I am busier

now than ever before, and I feel great. I have to keep up with

those new young recruits and fi refi ghters.

The lesson I want to share with you is that you should go for

a heart scan. It costs about $95 to $125—well worth the price of

your life. Many people die yearly from undetected aneurysms.

A heart scan will show any plaque buildup in your heart and

detect an aneurysm. A chest X-ray will also detect an aneurysm.

Go to the doctor and get checked out. Get rid of that belly,

and get back to enjoying life. Walk, bike, swim, dance, and

play some sports—heck, even golf. Just stay active. We only

go around once in life. It takes just once for that hidden

problem to become an issue, and life as we know it is over.

The doctor informed me if that aneurysm had ruptured, I

would have had only about four minutes at the most before I

would have died.

What about your family? Who will take care of them? Are

you ready to die? I was not. I got a second chance at life, so

I am going to make the best of it and stay active and visit the

doctor regularly so I can enjoy my retirement. Get your life in

order just in case. Sit down with your family and discuss the

rest of your life and what you want. Death is something we

don’t usually plan for.

Data reveal that over the past 30 years, 45 percent of

fi refi ghter line-of-duty deaths are the result of heart disease.

Studies indicate that the particular risk factors for fi refi ght-

ers—high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes—are

three times higher those for the regular population.

Since this episode took place, I have heard from fi refi ght-

ers I know and don’t know and civilians who told me that

having read or heard about my problem, they decided to get

the heart scan. The scan revealed some type of unknown

heart problem.

At lunch with a fellow fi refi ghter, in discussing this whole

ordeal, he asked me, if I had it to do all over again, would I?

I answered YES! But only if the outcome would be the same.

But as we know from our chosen profession, there are no

guarantees in life, so go get the heart scan, and get peace of

mind for you and your family. ●

Always Memorable!

Drawn by Fire is more than a collection of 156 fi re service editorial cartoons! Through his amazing artwork, Paul Combs—a fi refi ghter and award-winning illustrator—delivers powerful

messages that help everyone remember the seriousness of the greatest job in the world, the fi re service.

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● DAVID J. TRAIFOROS, a 38-year fi re service veteran,

is the director of training for the Bensenville (IL) Fire Pro-

tection District and a fi refi ghter with the Berkeley (IL) Fire

Department. He retired as chief of the Franklin Park (IL)

Fire Department in 2010. He served as the department

training offi cer and as a regional training offi cer and was

named Illinois’ Instructor of the Year for 2005. Traiforos

served on the board of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System

(MABAS) Division 20, which serves Chicago’s near west-

ern suburbs.


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SPEAKING OF SAFETY

BY JASON M . KRUSEN

Air Monitoring at Structure Fires

HYDROGEN CYANIDE (HCN) IS

an extremely dangerous and

common by-product of combus-

tion found in smoke, and it is quickly

receiving recognition for its dangerous

presence. HCN has long been known to

be present in smoke. However, under-

standing the synergistic effects of HCN

and carbon monoxide (CO) is somewhat

new. With the assistance of the Cyanide

Poisoning Treatment Coalition (CPTC),

members of the Columbia (SC) Fire

Department (CFD) have been making

an effort to change the way they handle

fi res and to educate the fi re service on

these dangerous gases.

In October 2007, the CFD tested a sin-

gle-gas meter from a local vendor. This test

was designed to look at a replacement of

a single-gas CO meter for the current ag-

ing inventory. The meter that was received

was a Rae Systems ToxiRae® II with HCN

sensor. The vendor asked that the CFD

review the body of the unit and its basic

operation with the intention of swapping

it out for a CO meter once it became avail-

able. This was an unplanned event that

made for a positive change in the way the

CFD would operate at fi re scenes.

Because HCN characteristics were not

completely unfamiliar to Haz-Mat 1 (HM-

1) personnel, the chief of training asked

that they be researched. There was a sig-

nifi cant difference in the amount of HCN

information found on the Internet when

compared to that of CO. Although the

presence of HCN in smoke was nothing

new, it was unclear exactly how danger-

ous it truly was. The CFD was sporadi-

cally using CO meters during overhaul

for well over a decade, and we were

fairly familiar with the characteristics

associated with CO exposure. With only

a few articles and documented incidents

readily available concerning HCN, we

began to look into how the CFD could

learn more about this unfamiliar and

dangerous by-product of combustion.

GETTING STARTEDAfter learning about HCN and the risks

associated with exposure, we quickly

decided that the CFD needed awareness

training for HCN exposure. Two key

documents were found to get started:

Report of the Investigation Committee into

the Cyanide Poisonings of Providence

Firefi ghters, a 2006 report on the cyanide

exposure of Providence, Rhode Island,

fi refi ghters, and “SMOKE perceptions,

myths, and misunderstandings,” a CPTC-

sponsored educational supplement.

After learning what little could be

found on the subject, we compiled and

presented a concise document to the

CFD command staff based on the fi nd-

ings of the two documents. The docu-

ment not only explained the problem

but also presented an inexpensive

solution. The fi rst section explained the

health effects and likelihood of HCN

exposure. The key points include the

following:

• The immediately dangerous to life

and health (IDLH) quantity for CO is

1,200 parts per million (ppm), while

the IDLH of HCN is 50 ppm—24

times that of CO.

• Low CO levels present a false sense

of security as to the presence of

HCN.

• HCN has a short half-life, making it

diffi cult to fully determine the level

of exposure.

• HCN symptoms in lower level ex-

posures are similar to heat-related

illness and CO poisoning.

• HCN symptoms in severe or acute

cases mirror those of a heart attack.

• Many health care facilities are not

capable of testing or treating HCN

poisoning.

• Suppression personnel are not prop-

erly trained on how to identify the

symptoms of HCN.

• Statistical data are not available to

help educate and protect fi refi ghting

personnel.

The second section was a list of short-

and long-term goals the CFD needed

to achieve. Because limited evidence or

support was available as to exactly when

and how much HCN was present at fi res,

accurate data would be necessary to

get the command staff’s support. With

one meter already in use, we contacted

two additional vendors and asked if the

CFD could demo a meter from different

manufacturers. Industrial Scientifi c’s Gas-

Badge® Pro and MSA’s Altair® Pro were

quickly obtained. In addition to collect-

ing data, the time period would be used

to fi eld test the meter that would eventu-

ally be purchased.

HCNHCN is 24 times more dangerous than

CO. The National Institute for Occupa-

tional Safety and Health (NIOSH) recom-

mended exposure limit (REL) for HCN is

4.7 ppm. This is considerably lower than

the REL for CO, which is 35 ppm, but

it is still important. If exposed to levels

exceeding 270 ppm, death can occur in

as little as six to eight minutes, or in 30

minutes at 135 ppm, according to the

Occupational Safety and Health Admin-

istration (OSHA). An acute exposure to

cyanide can result in symptoms such as

weakness, headache, confusion, fatigue,

anxiety, dyspnea, and occasional nausea

and vomiting. Respiratory rate and depth

HCN has long been known to be present in

smoke. However, understanding the synergistic

effects of HCN and CO is somewhat new.


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SPEAKING OF SAFETY

usually increase on fi rst exposure and

will slow at later stages to become gasp-

ing.

DATA COLLECTION BEGINSWith the plan developed, informa-

tion was presented to HM-1 personnel.

If accurate metering was to be involved,

HM-1 personnel would also have to be

involved. It was crucial that a consistent

message be delivered to all shifts. A basic

form was created to collect the data at

fi res, which was then transferred to a

master spreadsheet. This data collection

took place over a nine-month period and

resulted in 36 recordable incidents. There

were many other incidents for which the

atmosphere could have been metered,

but HM-1 was either late arriving or

incomplete data were recorded.

We quickly learned after the fi rst few

fi res that it was not a matter of when

or where but of how much HCN could

be found at a fi re. There were few

incidents where no HCN was detected.

In May 2008, the chief of operations

issued a memo to the CFD explain-

ing the metering that HM-1 personnel

were conducting at fi res; this document

helped win the support of some of the

more apprehensive offi cers. The memo

explained that personnel would con-

tinue to monitor for CO at structure fi res

before removing self-contained breath-

ing apparatus (SCBA) until meters with

HCN sensors could be purchased. By the

end of the nine-month data-collection

period, enough information was col-

lected to show the need for a stronger

SCBA policy and more air monitoring at

structure fi res.

To assist with the fi ght, the CFD piloted

the To Hell and Back IV video on cya-

nide poisoning for the CPTC. The fi lm

was presented to the department, thus

allowing an additional point of view on

the subject from someone outside the

CFD. This fi lm later debuted at FDIC

2009 and has since gone on to educate

fi refi ghters across the country. During

this same training session, HM-1 person-

nel explained how the CFD needed to

handle future calls.

RESEARCH FINDINGSIt was diffi cult to determine a pattern

based on the data collected. There were

small fi res, such as a pot on the stove

that generated light smoke that con-

tained high HCN levels, and there were

room-and-content fi res that should have

produced higher HCN levels based on the

amount of smoke, but these registered

only in the single digits. It was diffi cult

to explain, but it made the personnel

look at what was heated or burned. It is

impossible to predict the composition of

the smoke and its harmful contaminants

based on its color and characteristics.

Merely heating a pot handle during a

common “pot on the stove” call produces

deadly levels of HCN and CO.

HM-1 responded throughout the entire

city and county to collect data. Once on

scene, HM-1 personnel worked in pairs to

effectively meter the structure, strategical-

ly moving through it and comparing and

documenting the readings from the three

meters to check for consistency. Read-

ings would be taken at similar locations

inside the structures such as at the front

door, the fi re room, and the room farthest

from the fi re. Personnel even monitored

the atmosphere outside the structure

where crews were staging and at the

pump panel and command post. Meter-

ing would take place at various times for

comparison purposes such as immedi-

ately following the knockdown of the fi re

and during and following ventilation.

A recent kitchen fi re in a garden apart-

ment showed the CFD the importance

of metering the atmosphere (photo 1).

The fi re was called in at 1749 hours and

was knocked down quickly after causing

damage to the end unit (Bravo side) of a

two-story, 12-unit building. Approximately

one hour and 25 minutes after the fi re was

under control, crews were asked to check

on the units farthest away (Delta side)

from the fi re to ensure it was safe for oc-

cupants to enter the structure. The ladder

company that entered those units reported

a light haze of trapped smoke in the units

and that a quick ventilation was needed.

HM-1 personnel entered the structure

and found an alarming reading of 79 ppm

of HCN and 49 ppm of CO. These numbers

were nothing new because we had been

metering for a few months up to this point.

However, the amount of elapsed time with

such elevated numbers was new. We had

not really seen anything of that magnitude

so long after the fi re was under control.

METERSIn October 2008, the command staff

was presented with a list of recommenda-

tions based on the information learned

during the nine-month data collection

period. The numbers astonished the com-

mand staff, who quickly agreed on the

need for increased protection for person-

nel. By the end of 2008, the purchase of

10 Toxi Rae II® single-gas meters and the

writing of a standard operating guideline

(SOG) for atmospheric monitoring at

structure fi res were both approved.

By spring 2009, the meters were

(1) Apartment units pictured in the foreground posted high-level readings yet were

farthest from the fi re and had only moderate smoke trapped. (Photo by author.)

1


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placed in service on four rescue trucks,

four hazmat support engines, and HM-

1, and one was given to the chief of

training. Metering is now taking place

at every fi re, from a pot on the stove to

two-alarm multifamily dwelling fi res.

The SOG covers issues such as when to

monitor, who is responsible for moni-

toring, when to calibrate, what to do

if someone is expected of having HCN

exposure, and how to provide care.

THE ROAD AHEADSince there is so much more to learn

about HCN, the CFD is continuing to

look for new ways to protect fi refi ght-

ers. The fi rst and easiest way is to ensure

SCBA are being worn properly and at

every fi re. CFD chief offi cers are enforc-

ing our SOG by ensuring air monitoring

is taking place prior to SCBA removal.

SCBA use on all calls involving smoke is

being monitored; fi refi ghter self-rescue

and air management training are being

taught departmentwide. The CFD is also

teaming up with the University of South

Carolina—School of Public Health to

look for other concerns and ways HCN

can affect fi refi ghters. Ideas for grant

funding are being explored to conduct

further atmospheric monitoring and

fi refi ghter exposure testing.

The path CFD took was a learning expe-

rience and resulted in great changes, and

the overall reception by personnel is posi-

tive. These continuing changes came about

from a progressive movement to better the

department, not as a result of a negative

incident or mandate. Because of this and

the persistent training and education, the

fi refi ghters are better protected. ●

Rescue is an attitude...

...it’s about never giving up!

John Norman draws on decades of rescue company experience,

as well as his leadership of the FDNY’s Special Operations

Command, to provide you with a framework for establishing and

running a special operations unit within your fi re department.

In this book, Norman shows readers:

• How to select the right personnel for the job

• How to identify the role your special operations unit

should play and provide the service needed

• How to select the right apparatus, tools, and equipment

for your special operations unit

• The importance of maintenance and training

• The vast variety of rescue incidents that you should be

prepared for, ranging from building collapse to scaffold

emergencies to water rescue

When people are trapped and need to be rescued, you must have

the knowledge, skills, and abilities to respond and act without

hesitation. This book provides the building blocks you need to

succeed when failure is not an option!

Now Available!

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468 Pages/Hardcover/April 2009

ISBN 978-1-59370-193-2

$79.00 US

FireEngineeringBooks.com1.800.752.9764

● JASON M. KRUSEN is a 14-year

fi re service veteran and a captain

with Haz-Mat 1 in the Columbia

(SC) Fire Department. He is on the

board of directors for the Cyanide

Poisoning Treatment Coalition. He

is a planning manager for the State

Urban Search and Rescue Team, SC-

TF1, and the Midlands Region IMT

and a logistics manager for the Type

II Collapse Search & Rescue Regional

Response. He is also the project

manager and instructor for E-Med

Training Services, LLC. Krusen has

an associate degree in fi re service

administration.


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FIRE COMMENTARY

BY M I CHAE L D E L LAROCCO

IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT FIRE-

fi ghters risk their lives every day.

In fact, it is said so often that the

words have lost the proper import and

impact. Our personnel are sworn to

protect lives and property and are taught

that life safety is the fi rst and foremost

of our fi refi ghting priorities. Do we re-

ally contemplate that risk and, if so, why

do we continue to ignore the obvious?

Firefi ghters risk their own lives every

day mainly because of their own refusal

to become physically fi t.

The situation exists throughout the

United States in career and volunteer

fi re departments. Many of the senior

members wear their years of experi-

ence around their waist, and many of

our younger members are fat and out

of shape. Don’t worry about offending

these “fi refi ghters”; they know they’re

overweight, but they don’t seem to care.

For the most part, the fi re service lead-

ership in this country evidently doesn’t

care, either. The quotation marks above

are used because it is questionable

whether some of these men and women

could complete even the most basic of

physical fi refi ghting activities during

routine circumstances. Under stress

and the pressure to function at a major

incident, one can only speculate on

their ability to perform. Year after year,

statistics tell us that poor cardiac health

is killing the nation’s fi refi ghters, but

nobody, apparently, is paying attention.

Many articles have been written

about physical training for the fi re

service, and there are a number of fi re-

fi ghters who do work to maintain their

physical readiness and overall health.

This article is not directed at them,

except for the fact that they may have

to do extra work to make up for others

who cannot do their job and who are a

true liability for their brother and sister

fi refi ghters, not to mention the citi-

zens they are sworn to protect. Those

citizens believe that the fi refi ghter who

arrives on an emergency scene will be

properly trained and equipped, but

also that he or she will be physically ca-

pable of performing the duties expected

of a fi refi ghter. Who would you want to

come to your assistance—a well-trained,

strong, healthy fi refi ghter or a weak,

obese blob who has only done enough

to barely meet minimum standards (if

any standards even exist). We need to

raise the bar.

In the United States, 118 fi refi ghters

died while on duty in 2008. Heart attacks

were cited as the most frequent cause

that year, attributed to 45 fi refi ghter

deaths. In 2009, heart attacks were re-

sponsible for 43 (47.7 percent) of the to-

tal 90 on-duty fi refi ghter fatalities. Sadly,

so far in 2010, 40 deaths are listed by the

United States Fire Administration as be-

ing caused by heart attacks or unknown

factors and make up well over half of the

number of on-duty fi refi ghter fatalities

(66 total at this writing).1

PHYSICAL ABILITY To some degree, these could be pre-

ventable incidents. No one, of course,

can absolutely predict every cardiac

event, but can’t we at least reduce the

odds against us? The International As-

sociation of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the

International Association of Fire Chiefs

(IAFC) saw the need for an objective

standard of physical capability when the

Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)

was developed and recognized by labor

and management as a legitimate and val-

id assessment of a fi refi ghter’s readiness

for duty. It is a requirement that recruits

pass the CPAT in many departments, but

how many require the CPAT annually?

Some departments, such as Utica, New

York, offer a stipend for fi refi ghters who

complete the CPAT each year. Those

who choose not to participate in this

program are not penalized, but they do

not receive the extra pay either. Peer

pressure and strong encouragement

from upper fi re department management

have resulted in more than 50 percent of

the department’s completing the annual

physical test within the minimum stan-

dard time allowed. In addition, at least

one hour of physical fi tness training

is required for all personnel each day

while on duty. In 2009, all Utica fi refi ght-

ers who participated successfully passed

the CPAT evaluation.

SAFE DRIVINGInterestingly, some steps have been

taken to try to reduce the other most

common cause of fi refi ghter fatalities,

vehicle accidents. National standards now

require seat belt use and so-called “black

boxes” that record apparatus driving data.

Awareness level and emergency vehicle

operations classes are intended to save

fi refi ghter lives, though our actual record

of success through these measures is

still not proven. However, this problem

is attracting attention. In time, offi cial

safety mandates and better training may

effectively reduce the number of fi refi ght-

er deaths caused by vehicle accidents.

Reducing the number of heart attacks

among fi refi ghters may prove to be more

diffi cult.

CARDIAC HEALTH RESEARCHHow do we ensure better cardiac

health? One important way is through

research. Dr. Denise Smith of Skidmore

College and the University of Illinois

and colleagues have completed several

studies, and more work is underway

with specifi c focus on fi refi ghter cardiac

issues.2,3

It will take years of extensive re-

search to comprehend the physiologi-

cal responses to fi refi ghting activities.

Although the studies done so far are

signifi cant, they may only indicate the

tip of the iceberg in understanding and

preventing fi refi ghter cardiac deaths.

Truly, the cardiovascular response to

fi refi ghting activities is intricate and

Don’t Risk Your Life Every Day


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The engine company’s basic job is almost the same no matter

which type of department you belong to—a large urban fi re

department with dozens of engine companies, a medium-sized

department with several engines, or a small volunteer company

with only one or two aging engines.

Author John Salka, who has years of service in several career

and volunteer departments, looks at the similarities and

differences in the engine company operations practiced by

fi re departments throughout the United States and discusses

in detail the equipment, staffi ng, and operations of engine

company fi refi ghters at structural fi res and emergencies in

urban, suburban, and rural settings.

In this book, Salka teaches readers:

• The abilities and limitations of engine companies, depending

on equipment, staffi ng, and water supply

• To execute the tactical missions of engine companies

• The importance of mastering engine company functions

for successful fi re attack

REAL-LIFE,

EASY-TO-APPLY

LESSONS!

196 Pages/Hardcover/April 2009 • ISBN 978-1-59370-080-5 • $69.00 US


Toll-free 1.800.752.9764


complex, demanding scientifi c study that

is obviously beyond the expertise of the

most talented fi refi ghter or chief. We are

fortunate that Smith and her colleagues

have become involved and are dedicated

to this important work, and we owe

them a huge debt of thanks.

NUTRITION AND HEALTHThe IAFF has recognized that diet

is related to improved cardiac health.

Traditional fi rehouse meals are fa-

mous, but they, unfortunately, are also

famously high in saturated fat and

calories. The IAFF provides its members

with guidelines for better health and

nutrition in the “Fit to Survive” section

of the association’s Web site as part

of its Wellness-Fitness Initiative.4 The

site also addresses smoking cessation

and reducing high blood pressure. It is

indeed auspicious that an organization

such as the IAFF has considered health,

fi tness, and nutrition as essential com-

ponents of a fi refi ghter’s fi tness for duty

and has provided suitable assistance to

its members. The next appropriate step

should be to expect that all career and

volunteer fi refi ghters and fi re offi cers

will recognize the wisdom of this good

judgment and use it for their depart-

ments, but hope is not a strategy.

•••

Let’s face it. Because of the nature

of our duties, fi refi ghters should be in

better physical condition than the aver-

age citizen. We owe it to ourselves and

to those we serve. We must take this

problem seriously; recognize that it will

not just go away if we pay no atten-

tion to it; and, for the future of the fi re

service, take positive steps to diminish

fi refi ghter deaths from heart attacks. By

insisting on a minimum level of physical

capability to perform fi refi ghting activi-

ties and by looking to science to better

comprehend the cardiovascular stresses

that occur during fi refi ghting, we may be

able to prevent and reduce the number

of cardiac deaths in the fi re service. We

can do better. Please, don’t risk your life

and the lives of your fellow fi refi ght-

ers because you’ve ignored your own

cardiac health. ●

ENDNOTES1. United States Fire Administration, “2010 Firefi ghter Fatality Notices,” www.usfa.dhs.gov/fi reservice/fatalities/.

2. Skidmore College, Health and Exercise Sci-ence Department, “What’s Happening in Health and Exercise Sciences,” http://cms.skidmore.edu/exercisescience/whats-happening.cfm.

3. University of Illinois, Fire Service Institute. “Fire-fi ghter Fatalities and Injuries: The Role of Heat Stress and PPE,” www.fsi.illinois.edu/documents/research/FFLSRC_FinalReport.pdf.

4. International Association of Fire Fighters, “Fit to Survive: The fi re fi ghter’s guide to health and nutrition,” www.iaff.org/hs/FTS/ftsdefault.asp.

NOW AVAILABLE!!

FIRE COMMENTARY

● MICHAEL DELLAROCCO is the

assistant chief in Schenectady, New

York; an arson investigator; and a fi re

instructor and was New York state

champion in the Firefi ghter Combat

Challenge, Chief’s Division.


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http://www.iaff.org/hs/FTS/ftsdefault.asp

http://www.fsi.illinois.edu/documents/research/FFLSRC_FinalReport.pdf

http://cms.skidmore.edu/exercisescience/whats-happening.cfm

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/






TECHNOLOGY TODAY

BY E L I VOSS

The Bigwig Tool

PERSONNEL AND INCIDENT

commanders alike must con-

sider their own safety and the

safety of their crews because hurried,

unsafe search and rescue operations

may have serious consequences for

rescuers as well as victims. Personnel

must be properly trained and equipped

with the necessary tools to accomplish

a search in the least possible time. Some

of these tools may include rope, charged

hoselines, forcible entry tools, and the

fi re service’s fi rst and only marking door

wedge—the Bigwig Tool. The Bigwig

Tool is a new product that solves the

marking and wedging problems fi re-

fi ghters face when they are tasked with

searching.

Marking doors while searching is

extremely important because it helps

maximize a search crew’s efforts. When

search crews can recognize rooms that

have already been searched by simply

looking at markings on a door, they will

minimize duplication of efforts by not

accidentally searching a room more than

once; this creates a more organized and

faster search crew. So, when the search

crew encounters an unmarked door,

they will search that room. This prevents

search crews from missing rooms, which

in turn will allow rescuers to fi nd more

victims and, potentially, save more lives.

The Bigwig Tool incorporates an

adjustable, reusable fl uorescent mark-

ing device for just this purpose. After a

search crew searches and then exits a

room, they simply mark the room’s door

using the Bigwig Tool’s marking device.

As they search more rooms and mark

more doors, they adjust the marking de-

vice outward, similar to that of lead in a

pencil, and continue marking. Once the

marking device is consumed, insert an-

other marking device to keep marking.

The primary reason for controlling

doors while searching is fi refi ghter

safety, and wedging doors open is one

of the easiest ways a fi refi ghter can mini-

mize the potential of becoming trapped.

Whether it is a swinging or an overhead

door, fi re crews have been trapped or,

even worse, killed when the doors they

entered closed behind them. The Bigwig

Tool is also designed to hang over the

hinge of an open swinging door (photo

1) or in the track of residential overhead

doors (photo 2), thus preventing the

door from closing. By hanging it over

the hinge, you minimize the risk of hav-

ing a wedge getting knocked out of the

door.

The Bigwig tool also glows in the dark,

which enables fi refi ghters to visually

see a door through which they entered.

This will keep the search crew ori-

ented in case they become misdirected

while searching. It is also helpful when

encountering a downed fi refi ghter. If

you encounter a door being held open

by the Bigwig Tool while searching for

a downed fi refi ghter, there is a good

chance that the fi refi ghter is in that room;

he most likely placed the Bigwig Tool in

the door before he entered it.

The Bigwig Tool is lightweight and

durable. It fi ts easily in a gloved hand

and can be stored easily in a pocket or

by using quick-break ties on a fi re coat

buckle. It can also be deployed easily

for use in a variety of situations such as

when marking searched vehicles and

rooms in hazmat areas and during tech-

nical and vehicle rescues where marking

for shoring and cribbing is needed. It

is also useful when needing to wedge

doors open to allow EMS easy access

and cot removal at emergency scenes.

Some of the Bigwig Tool’s uses in-

clude the following:

• Marking doors for egress routes

and vehicle extrication cuts and to

identify hazmat scenes.

• Wedging swinging and residential

overhead doors.

• Lighting doors to more easily spot

an open door and to enhance crew

orientation.

• Locating downed fi refi ghters.

• Technical rescues.

• Creating easy access for EMS and

victim removals.

A fi refi ghter needs only one Bigwig

Tool to complete an entire search of

a building, big or small. It is the fi re

service’s fi rst and only combination door

marker and wedge. These two vital appli-

cations make the Bigwig Tool an essential

item in every fi refi ghter’s toolbox. ●

● ELI VOSS is an 11-year fi re service

veteran and an engineer with the

Davenport (IA) Fire Department,

assigned to Engine 3. He is also an

instructor with the Iowa Fire Service

Training Bureau and Eastern Iowa

Community College.

Photos by Jill Weitzel.

1 2


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AN ESTABLISHED PILLAR

OF THE FIRE SERVICE INDUSTRYAll-American Hose, LLC is the new name for an es-

tablished pillar of the fi re service industry. In June 2010 All-American Holdings, Inc. acquired Snap-tite Hose, Inc. The sale included all the assets, products, and technolo-gies of Snap-tite Hose. Manufacturing remains in Erie, Pa with the same employees, management, and quality cus-tomers have come to know. The new private ownership is very active in the business with an intense customer focus on delivering and servicing fi re hose.

All-American Hose markets products under three iconic brand names, Snap-tite Hose, PONN, and National Fire Hose… all very well established and known throughout the industry.

All-American Hose products are all proudly made and tested in U.S.A…in Erie, Pennsylvania.

All-American Hose is proud of it’s legacy of being the company which introduced and marketed Large Diameter Hose or LDH hose to North America. Until the mid-seven-ties, all fi re departments used supply hose no larger than three inches in diameter. The Snap-tite brand hose was introduced in four and fi ve inch diameters which enabled fi re departments to lay one supply line from the hydrant to get the same or more water supply than using several three inch or smaller lines. In addition to the increased speed of deployment, the fi re ground became safer by being able to reduce the number supply lines on the scene. In 1980 Snap-tite set up LDH hose manufactur-ing in Erie, PA to produce the larger diameter hose, and promoted Storz couplings to supply the market. After producing Nitrile Rubber lay-fl at hose for a number of years, in 1990 the company acquired PONN Fire hose and moved PONN’s woven hose manufacturing from New Jersey to Erie, PA. This gave the company a woven attack hose capability to complement the rubber covered LDH. In 1995 the company purchased National Fire Hose in California which was moved to Erie, PA in 2005. The National Fire Hose purchase completed the woven hose product lineup adding forestry, industrial, and other mod-els of lay-fl at hose, giving All-American Hose a complete product lineup for its dealers and customers.

All-American Hose is a company moving forward on many fronts, challenging the status quo, pushing fi re hose design and technology, while offering unmatched superior customer service. By being in tune with the industry and its customers, All-American Hose has dedi-cated itself to manufacturing and distributing a complete line of legendary fi re hose products while honoring the heritage and tradition of the fi re service with an unparal-leled commitment to safety, reliability and value.

www.ALL-AMERICANHOSE.com



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SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, AND

RELEVANCE IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY

These values defi ne our mission. They guide how we educate and support more than 65,000 distance learners studying in 50 states and more than 125 countries. They shape the growth of American Military University. They are a roadmap for how we prepare you for successful careers.

AMU is one of the few institutions that is both regionally and nationally accredited by federally recognized accredit-ing agencies. AMU is a member of the regionally accred-ited American Public University System and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council.

Above all, we exist to serve our learning community. Our students quickly discover a tight-knit community of profes-sors, staff, and fellow students. We continuously strive to keep the learning environment creative, demanding and rel-evant to what’s happening in the world today. Our students benefi t from one-on-one discussions with their professors.

We commit ourselves to providing the best in career-relevant programs. We offer an impressive curriculum, with more than 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including homeland security, intelligence, education, and emergency management. The professors are truly “real-world” experts who incorporate knowledge they learn from the fi eld. Many are executives in govern-ment, business and non-profi t organizations, including the State Department, Department of Defense, Department of

Homeland Security, CIA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United Nations.

Our degrees are designed for students who want study and continue with building their career. The Fire Science program is the next step in advancing your career in fi re-fi ghting and emergency response operations.

AMU’s Associate and Bachelor of Science degrees in Fire Science Management offers students an opportunity to study the principals, theory and best practices in fi re science, management, fi re safety, leadership and crisis management, among others. AMU adheres to the USFA Fire & Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Program model.

Our professors are industry insiders that combine relevant theory with real-world experience. Our faculty members are experienced leaders in fi refi ghting, fi re ser-vice management, urban search and rescue, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, incident command, emergency management, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and hazard mitigation.

American Military University offers 54 bachelor’s and master’s programs, including:

• Public Administration• Education• Emergency & Disaster Management• Homeland Security• Intelligence Studies• History• Sports Management

American Military University offers respected

online degree programs designed for students

who want to advance their career. Our

Fire Science and Emergency and Disaster

Management programs are among 76 online

degree programs for those who wish to serve,

learn, and lead as an Emergency or

Fire Services Manager.

FoHE accredited/FESHE compliant.

Serve. Learn. Lead.

2009 International Association of Emergency Managers

(IAEM) recipient of:

• Academic Recognition Award, Emergency & Disaster Management Program.

• Student Council Chapter of the Year, APUS’ International Association of Emergency

Managers Student Association (IEMSA).

PublicSafetyatAMU.comLEARN MORE AT

OR CALL

877.777.9081

American Military University is a member institution of the regionally accredited American Public University System



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ES THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURE OF

LDH AND STORZ CONNECTIONS INTO

THE US FIRE MARKET

AWG Fittings, LLC is the original manufacture of LDH and “Forged” Storz connections into the US fi re market is also a leading manufacturer of professional fi refi ghting equipment. The family owned enterprise has more than 100 years of experience in engineering, designing and manufacturing of fi re fi ghting equipment. With a total of three locations, the US headquarters are located in South Walpole, Massachusetts.

Through a network of distributors and dealers, AWG provides premium products to end users worldwide. AWG Fittings, LLC offers a full line of water handling products such as:

• Apparatus intake valves –Gate style –Piston style –Ball style• LDH distribution wyes and Siamese’s• Hand line nozzles• leader line wyes• gate valves – 2.5” and 6”• foam eductors and foam nozzles.• Storz couplings and adapters – 1” through 12”• NST X NST adapters

Offering almost every type of connection for fi re fi ght-ing anywhere in the world, AWG is the world’s largest Manufacturer for Storz hose couplings. The in-house foundry for cast aluminum and brass products enables AWG to cater to specifi c needs and maintain tight quality control. Every valve is individually pressure tested prior to being shipped to customers. Firefi ghting is a dangerous job; AWG Fittings, LLC takes extra precautions to keep you safe.

An in-house engineering and production department focuses on research and development to continuously improve existing products, develop new technology and products, and create custom engineering for individual needs. Every AWG product is backed with the knowledge of industry experts and active fi refi ghters. With each AWG purchase you can be certain you are receiving the highest quality fi re fi ghting products in the entire industry.

The ability to adapt to differing standards throughout the world has earned AWG a unique reputation among fi re fi ghters worldwide as a leading name in the industry Their products are simple to use, sturdy and reliable. AWG products are designed to meet and exceed the strin-gent demands of the fi re fi ghting industry.



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WE CARE ABOUT AIR

Breathing Air System is one of the nation’s largest sup-pliers of high pressure breathing air equipment: cascade storage systems, compressors, monitors, fi lters, adapt-ers and assemblies, fi ll stations, gauges, regulators, and oxygen generators. Our motto is “We care about air”.

For years we have specialized in mobile air systems. If it’s a slide-in cascade system ready to be placed into your van or pickup, up to a mobile compressor system, we’ve built them. Check out the Responder Class of Air, Light, and Hazmat Response Trailers. The Responder will bring stored air, lighting, a mobile compressor, and a protected work area right to the emergency location. These can be custom-sized and equipped.

Many fi re departments are facing the end of the 15-year service life of their SCBA cylinders. Breathing Air Sys-tems will supply you with budget-friendly SCI replacement cylinders, at 2215, 3000, or 4500 psi. We also have the new 30-year replacement cylinders.

When safety and rescue depend on rugged, heavy duty forcible entry tools, Breathing Air Systems brings you the proven Paratech line. A full line of hooligan tools, the compact and versatile pry-axe and buster tool, and pow-erful Percussive Rescue Tools – depend on these when the work is critical.

NFPA 1989 mandates that a purity analysis be done on breathing air at least quarterly, six times for some de-partments. Breathing Air Systems can take the hassle out of compliance. And it won’t bust your budget.

Quarterly, or as often as you require, you will receive a test kit via UPS. All required adapters are enclosed. Col-lect your sample in the sterile container, then ship it back in the package provided. You’ll get your results in about a week.

Today’s emergency departments have to deal with the possibility that catastrophe can cut a community off from readily available medical treatment. With this in mind, Breathing Air Systems brings you the MOGS – the Medi-cal Oxygen Generating System. This unit will produce medical oxygen at your location, enough to fi ll six “D” cylinders per hour.

For 40 years, Breathing Air Systems has been a leader in service to EMS units, fi re departments, and the scuba industry. Our national headquarters is located in Reyn-oldsburg, Ohio; we have branch offi ces in Florida, Ten-nessee, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. For a free catalog, call 800-937-2479, or check out our website at www.breathingair.com. Join the thousands of depart-ments moving air through Breathing Air Systems!


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http://www.breathingair.com






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ES SMART TOOLS

FOR REAL TRAININGBullEx, the leader in SMART training technologies,

offers hands-on, innovative training simulators for your public education and fi refi ghter training programs. These systems are currently being used by thousands of fi re departments, corporations and government agencies around the world; providing the safest, most realistic training possible.

Smoke GeneratorsBullEx Smoke Generators continuously produce the best

smoke possible for fi re and emergency services training. Built on steel chassis with all metal structural components, these smoke generators are built to handle the tough-est training demands. Whether you are doing search and rescue, ventilation or initial fi re attack drills, BullEx Smoke Generators don’t stop until your training is done.

SmartDummy Rescue ManikinsThe BullEx SmartDummy rescue manikins are built with

a heavy-duty canvas material that is tough enough for fi re training, but fl exible enough to simulate victims. Featuring an integrated microphone and continuous or sound- activat-ed message playback, our manikins are capable of creating realistic victim response to life threatening emergencies.

BullEx Smoke Generators used in conjunction with the SmartDummy will intensify your search and rescue drills without ever striking a single match. Flood your large area search training environment with dense training smoke in moments and challenge your primary search team to locate and extract the SmartDummy in zero vis-ibility conditions.

Advanced Fire TrainingBullEx Advanced Fire Training Props allow you to

custom design your technical fi refi ghting drills around a leaking pressure vessel, a downed helicopter or a work-ing vehicle fi re. Our large-scale props feature a stainless steel Pilot and Burner Control Module which houses the control valves used to operate multiple burn zones. Mul-tiple fi re props can be used with the burner tray and pilot module allowing you to cost-effectively add additional props to your training arsenal.

HazMat Training The interactive BullEx GasTrainer offers simulated

HAZMAT detection training scenarios and challenges the trainees to meter and respond in a diagnostic learning environment. Your trainees will learn how to interpret numerical readings for potentially lethal gases, alerting both the instructor and student when critical alarm levels are reached. Interactive hand-held training devices can be customized to feature a variety of gas leak scenarios.

Fire Safety Trailers Teach valuable fi re prevention lessons in an interactive

environment and show trainees what it feels like to face a fi re, training them to take proper action. BullEx Fire Safety Trailers target all age groups — with heat, smoke and digital fl ames for hands-on adult training and hazard recognition props for children.

Live Fire Extinguisher TrainingI.T.S. Xtreme Live-Fire Extinguisher Training

The I.T.S. Xtreme can be set up in a matter of minutes, features compressed air and water training extinguishers and is safe for the environment. The I.T.S. Xtreme’s fl ame response system determines where the trainee is aiming and sweeping a training extinguisher and automatically varies the fl ames in response. Optional stainless steel props including a Trash Can, Stove Top, Paint Locker or Electric Motor, create realistic fl ame patterns to further challenge trainees.

Intelligent Training SystemThe Intelligent Training System allows you to provide

training with varying diffi culty levels and class of fi re se-lections. The training extinguishers utilize compressed air and water, eliminating the need for time consuming cleanup or the expense of recharging dry chemical or CO

2 extinguishers. An E-stop switch on the handheld

controller shuts down the fl ames instantly if the system is bumped or knocked, making BullEx live-fi re training systems the safest live-fi re simulators in the world.

Magnum Fire Training SystemChallenge your fi refi ghters or brigade members to fi ght

the Magnum Fire Training System with extinguishers or hose lines for full scale hands-on training. With an output of 2.8 million BTU your trainees feel the heat and learn how to respond. Smart Controls shut-down the propane and auto-ignition only if the fi re is knocked out com-pletely.

Digital-Fire Extinguisher TrainingBullsEye Laser-Driven System

BullsEye uses advanced laser technology to simulate the discharge of a dry-chemical or CO

2 extinguisher for

a completely clean, safe and effective training experi-ence. BullsEye senses where the user aims and sweeps a laser training extinguisher and automatically varies the LED driven digital fl ames in response. Training can now take place completely indoors — wherever the trainee’s hazard actually exists.

For more information and to view demo videos of the full line of BullEx training simulators, visit us at www.Bul-lExSafety.com.



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DESIGNING FOR TOMORROW’S DEMANDS

C.E. Niehoff & Co. is an employee owned American company that has become a leader in the design and manufacture of heavy duty brushless alternators. Our brushless alterna-tors are designed with the most demanding applications in mind, to minimize your downtime and maxi-mize your operating effi ciencies. Models are customized for niche markets with a wide range of output capabilities and a variety of market specifi c features.

CEN alternators are designed to withstand chaff, dust and corrosive agents of agriculture, construction, marine and mining environments. The brushless design eliminates internal arcing making it ideal for operation in volatile environments.

The high effi ciency of CEN’s unique design requires less engine horsepower and fuel to produce the high output required in the emer-gency vehicle, railroad, bus, and military markets. Our capabilities have garnered a reputation as an engineering innovator, anticipator of future requirements, and designer for tomorrow’s demands.

C.E. Niehoff & Co.2021 Lee Street. Evanston, IL 60202

USA847 866 6030

[email protected]


Designing forTomorrows Demands

C.E. Niehoff & Co.is an employee owned American company that has become a leader in the design and manufacture

of heavy duty brushless alternators. Our brushless alternators are designed with the most demanding

applications in mind, to minimize your downtime and maximize your operating efficiencies. Models are

customized for niche markets with a wide range of output capabilities and a variety of market specific

features. CEN alternators are designed to withstand chaff, dust and corrosive agents of agriculture,

construction, marine and mining environments. The brushless design eliminates internal arcing making

it ideal for operation in volatile environments. The high efficiency of CEN’s unique design requires less

engine horsepower and fuel to produce the high output required in the emergency vehicle, railroad,

bus, and military markets. Our capabilities have garnered a reputation as an engineering innovator,

anticipator of future requirements, and designer for tomorrow’s demands.

C.E. Niehoff & Co.2021 Lee Street. Evanston, IL 60202 USA

847 866 [email protected]



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Save Money. Save Time.

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www.ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Info/Fe | 877.845.7668 Superior Service. Flexible Programs. Exceptional Value. ORANGE BEACH, AL 36561

Associates | Bachelor’s | Master’s | DBA | Certificates

Space is limited.

Register Today!

www.ColumbiaSouthern.edu/Fire-Leadership

Chief Brunacini Fire-Rescue

Leadership RetreatFeb. 25–27, 2011San Diego, California

Firehouse World Exposition and Conference

Earn Your Fire Science Degree Online with CSU.

FIRE UP YOUR CAREER!

EARN YOUR DEGREE ONLINE!

Columbia Southern University (CSU) offers completely online fi re science degree and certifi cate programs de-signed to take your career to the next level. From learn-ing about fi re prevention to fi re service equipment, you will gain the expertise and skills you need to succeed in the fi re service industry. Visit our website to apply today!

• AAS in Fire Science• BS in Fire Science• BS in Occupational Safety and Health• BS in Occupational Safety and Health/Fire Science

Concentration• BS in Business Administration• MS in Occupational Safety and Health• MS in Occupational Safety and Health/Environmental

Management Concentration• MBA /Public Administration Concentration• Undergraduate Certifi cate in Fire ScienceOther degree and certifi cate programs in business ad-

ministration, human resource management, and informa-tion technology are also available.

Visit http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/info/fem or call 800-977-8449 for more information on how to take your career to the next level.

Why CSU?• Accelerated, Flexible Degree Programs • Maximum Transfer Credit

• Affordable Tuition • Textbooks at No Cost • Complimentary Tutoring Services • No ACT, SAT, GMAT or GRE Required • Federal Financial Aid • TA, DANTES and VA Benefi tsThe Board of Certifi ed Safety Professionals will recog-

nize CSU degrees for the application process under the both the Associate Safety Professional designation and the Certifi ed Safety Professional designation.

Become a Partner. Build a Future.Consider the advantages a more educated, qualifi ed

workforce can generate for your organization and join CSU as a learning partner. There is no cost for partnering with CSU – only an advantage of providing educational op-portunities to your employees.

As a CSU learning partner, your employees will receive the following benefi ts:

• 10 % Tuition Discount• Application Fee WaiverSpouses and children of employees are also eligible for

these benefi ts. Combined with the already competitive tuition rate, the quality education offered at CSU is an unbeatable value.



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http://www.columbiasouthern.edu/info/fem





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TECHNOLOGY FOR LIFE®

Dräger is an international leader in the fi elds of medi-cal and safety technology. The family-owned company was founded in Lübeck, Germany, in 1889. Over the past fi ve generations, Dräger has evolved into a publicly traded, worldwide group. The company’s long-term suc-cess is based on the four key strengths of its value-driven culture: customer intimacy, professional employees, continuous innovation and a commitment to outstanding quality.

“Technology for Life” is the guiding philosophy. Whether in clinical applications, industry, mining or fi re and emergency services, Dräger products protect, sup-port and save lives.

The safety division offers customers consultancy, prod-ucts and services for an integrated hazard management, especially for personal and facility protection. The current portfolio comprises stationary and mobile gas detection systems, respiratory protection equipment, fi re training systems, professional diving equipment as well as alcohol and drug detection units.

Dräger has nearly 10,000 employees worldwide and is present in over 190 countries around the globe. The Group maintains sales and service organizations in over 40 countries. Its development and production facilities are based in Germany, United States of America, Great Britain, Sweden, South Africa, Brazil, the Czech Republic and China. Our North American headquarters is located in Pittsburgh, PA and employs more than two hundred people.

The original offi ces were founded in Pittsburgh in 1907 by Drägerwerk AG to sell and service breathing apparatus used by U.S. mine rescue teams and fi re

Dräger offers a wide range of innovative personal protective equipment that fi refi ghters have come to rely on. That is because Dräger is constantly developing new producsts and providing the latest safety solutions to fi rst responders. Dräger is committed to the fi re service market and invests heavily in a growing product portfolio that includes:

-Self Contained Breathing Apparatus-Thermal Imaging Cameras-Portable Gas Monitors-Colormetric Tubes-Firefi ghter Location Devices-Chemical Protective Suits-Closed Circuit Breathing Apparatus-Airline Equipment-Air Purifying Respirators-Training Systems both Live Fire and Propane-Mobile Training SystemsIn addition to product innovation, no other company

offers the level of training to fi re fi ghters than Dräger does. With a complete line of safe, realistic, reliable and approve live fi re fi ghting simulators and fi re training sys-tems for all types of fi re fi ghting conditions, Dräger offers portable fi re training units that range from fi re extin-guisher training to large full intensity interior and exterior simulators and fl ashover systems. A full selection of fi xed and mobile training galleries are available (interior and exterior), complementing the training objectives of munic-ipal, industrial, marine, airport and military fi re services.

No one manufacturer of breathing apparatus takes the level of training as seriously as Dräger does.

To add to the product portfolio in NAFTA, Dräger launched the CPS 5900 level A chemical protective suits. Lightweight, soft material and a large visor gives the user the comfort to be able to do their tasks easier and safer. The CPS 5900 is NFPA 1994 approved and also gives the user peace of mind to know that it will be safe in most industrial chemicals and warfare agents.

Dräger’s PSS 7000 SCBA was designed from the ground up and has several unique features that put a whole new meaning to fi t, form and function to an SCBA. With completely redesigned backplate, mask with clear voice amplifi cation and quick change system for breath-ing air cylinders are just a few reasons why this makes the SCBA the best in the market.

When it comes to gas detection, Dräger offers a wide variety of portable gas instruments to fi t any fi re depart-ments need. Since Dräger manufacturers its own gas sensors, they can offer 5 year warranties on O

2, CO and

H2S sensors. Another benefi t to making your own sensors

is the ability to offer a wide variety of toxic gas sensors and when it comes to maintaining these instruments, Dräger’s portable gas meters don’t have to be calibrated for 6 months. The ability to sway a rechargeable battery with an alkaline battery pack in the Dräger portable gas detectors, ensures that it is always ready to go.

Dräger offers three different thermal imaging cameras (UCF 1600 Basic, UCF 1600 and UCF 3200) that gives the fi re department the choice of a camera that will best fi t their needs. All UCF cameras are easy to handle, durable and lightweight. The UCF 1600 and UCF 3200 have fea-tures that enhance the use of a thermal imaging camera. The use of color palettes enhance the different applica-tions cameras go into and ThermalScan™ gives fi refi ght-ers the ability to pinpoint hotspots after the fi re.

Dräger continues to be the provider of choice for peo-ple who depend on our technology. They are a thought leader and continue to offer a series of free educational webinars on the dangers of Hyrodgen Cyanide and Carbon Monoxide to help fi re fi ghters gain awareness of these two toxic gases.

Dräger. Technology for life®



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ELKHART BRASS.

OVER A CENTURY OF INNOVATION.

Elkhart Brass is the industry’s most experienced manufacturer of innovative fi refi ghting and fi re protection equipment. Elkhart products can be found in fi re depart-ments around the world, building systems and off-shore drilling sites, as well as in military, marine, and industrial fi refi ghting applications.

Well known for its commitment to quality, value and customer service, Elkhart celebrated its 100th anniver-sary in 2002. Since its founding, the company has been owned and operated by the same family and is in the fourth generation of management.

Elkhart Brass still operates at its original site in Elkhart, Indiana. In addition to manufacturing and management, the site also houses product research and development, engineering, and product testing. Elkhart manufactures 2,000 products used in virtually every as-pect of fi re fi ghting.

Elkhart Brass History:1902 Company founded by Albert E. Hansen

1920s Offered fi rst ball-type shut-off nozzle

1930s Mystery®America’s fi rst peripheral jet fog nozzle

Developed a line of truck-mount deck guns

1940s Began making portable monitors

Added the integral ball shut-off to the Mystery®Nozzle in the Select-O-Stream® line.

1950s Developed Select-O-Flow® nozzles, the indus-try’s fi rst constant fl ow, selectable gallonage nozzle.

1970s Introduced Select-O-Matic®automatic nozzles, the fi rst nozzles to operate on the availability of water rather thanpressure (still the company’s best selling product).

1980s Introduced Chief®Nozzles – a lightweight, sim-plifi ed version of the Select-O-Flow®line.

Created a complete line of fi reground applianc-es, used with LDH.

Developed Stinger®monitors – the fi rst product with quick disconnect to move from truck mount to ground mount (prior to Stinger, two separate pieces of equipment were needed).

1990s Developed a new generation of easier-to-operate Select-O-Matic®nozzles with more gallonage choices.

Introduced X-Stream® SM-2000 Select-O-Matic® nozzle with gallonages from 500-2000 GPM.

2000s Changed the face of fi refi ghting again with W.E.T. (Wireless Electronic Technology) that al-lows the remote controlled operation of monitors from up to ¼ mile away.

Introduced Extender® which automatically raises Elkhart Brass compact monitors 18” above ap-paratus deck.

Introduced the Vulcan®monitor, the industry’s most Compact, lightest master stream device with fl ows up to 1250 GPM

Developed low pressure handline nozzles, in-cluding break-apart options, all offering out-standing stream performance at 75 psi (and in some cases, 50 psi) in the Chief™, Phantom® and Select-O-Matic®lines.

Introduced R.A.M.®- Rapid Attack Monitor – for quick deployment and easy one-man operation

Put on the market the Unibody Valve line, featur-ing a cross-compatible apparatus ball valve and a butterfl y valve with a robust, heavy-duty motor.

Developed the Glow Bumper for handline nozzles to better enhance fi refi ghter safety.

Offer Electronic Remote Controlled Monitor Systems for Industrial installations utilizing a multi-point wireless network.

Revolutionary new handline nozzles hit the mar-ket with the Solid Strike – a solid stream nozzle with the fl exibility that allows you to vary GPM or reach without shutting down to change tip size.

Flex Attack CAF nozzle that quickly switches between wet foam, dry foam and water without-shutting down

Elkhart Brass products are sold worldwide through a network of dealers and distributors, as well as directly to OEM’s and Governments.



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Essex Industries, Inc. is a group of family owned companies that have been providing solutions in engineer-ing and manufacturing to the aero-space and defense industries since 1947. The Essex product portfolio is robust and is no stranger to respira-tory protection; especially at that critical moment.

You’ll fi nd Essex respiratory protec-tion equipment aboard commercial and military aircraft and in military fi eld hospitals, government buildings, nursing homes, fi re scenes, natural disasters and many more places where reliable protection is essential.

The Last Chance Rescue Filter was developed for those who value safety and training. With its triple fi ltration and patented technology, it elimi-nates the potentially lethal gases present in a structure fi re. No matter which model of SCBA your depart-ment uses, there’s a Last Chance Rescue Filter that will snap onto it in seconds. Plus, with a 5 year shelf life and small, lightweight packaging, it’s easily stored in a pocket or carried on your belt. So it’s guaranteed to be there when you need it most. When your life’s on the line, grip, rip, snap and GET OUT.

Join fi refi ghters from around the country and overhaul the Last Chance live burn at www.lastchance-fi lter.com/liveburn


LAST CHANCE RESCUE FILTER –

AN ESSEX INDUSTRIES INNOVATION



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RESPONDING TO YOU

SINCE 1981

Established by Fire and Rescue professionals in 1981, FirePrograms has been responding to your soft-ware needs for three decades. As an industry leader, we are continually expanding our product offering to bring more value to our customers. Try our fully integrated solutions and see why thousands of departments trust FirePrograms.

DEPENDABLE TECHNOLOGYFirePrograms uses the .NET devel-

opment platform, along with a SQL Server Database, to provide a combination of technologies that guarantees long term product support.

UNPARALLELED SERVICEOur PROACTIVE support team provides superior cus-

tomer service and is easily accessible through various contact methods. We also offer several fl exible training options to help departments optimize use of FirePro-grams.

PRODUCTSOur Station Manager, Risk Manager, and Mobility

packages integrate seamlessly with Scheduling, Fire Investigation and, utilizing the Link2 module, even your apparatus.

Station Manager. FirePrograms’ Station Manager is a NFIRS certifi ed incident reporting package that al-lows you to manage and organize your administrative procedures, analyze resource allocation, justify additional resources, or to support an ISO audit. In addition to Inci-dent Reporting, this package features Personnel & Staff Management, Training Records, Company Reporting, BLS (non-NEMSIS) Reporting, Apparatus, Equipment, Inven-tory & Barcoding, Daily Log, and Apparatus Maintenance.

Risk Manager. FirePrograms’ Risk Manager pro-vides your department with the means to track and man-age information on the properties you protect. Like Sta-tion Manager, this fully integrated package can be used at one station or over a Wide Area Network of multiple stations or offi ces. Modules in this package include Loca-tions & Property Records, Inspections & Code Enforce-ment, Pre-Plans, Permits, HazMat, Hydrant Locations, Testing & Inspections.

Mobility. FirePrograms’ Mobility is an interface designed for in-the-fi eld use with tablets and laptops running Windows operating systems. Use the stream-lined interface to quickly retrieve and enter data while on scene, regardless of whether you have a communications connection.

Scheduling. FirePrograms’ Scheduling interface provides unlim-ited fl exibility and access to simple or complex shift schedules. Easily track and maintain shift assignments, trades, Kelly days, sick days and even disaster schedules in an intuitive and powerful interface.

Fire Investigation. FirePro-grams’ Fire Investigation software can be installed standalone or fully integrated with your existing Fire-

Programs Incident Records. Track everything related to your case, including, case details, witnesses, suspects, arrests, autopsies, lab results, vehicles, interviews and chain of evidence. The built-in security functions let you control access to sensitive data such as juvenile records.

Link2. FirePrograms’ latest technology bridges the gap between records management, maintenance and vehicle safety. The Link2 web interface allows your de-partment to view vehicle data, establish alert parameters, receive email notifi cation, schedule maintenance, and even enter vehicle inspections. In a single location, you can access historical data from your engine, transmis-sion, ABS system or any custom defi ned circuit. Know what’s happening to your apparatus before it goes out of service.

Shared Features. All packages include several fea-tures to further enhance your software use. For example, Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping, Calendar, Email (Internal and External), Database Search, and Cus-tom Reports plus over 300 built-in System Reports.

INNOVATIONFirePrograms maintains our status as an industry lead-

er through innovation. Over the past two years, FirePro-grams has developed and released fi ve major software products, added hundreds of user requested enhance-ments, and continued to invest in the future.

Check out FirePrograms Software today and experi-ence fi rst-hand how our scalable solutions will meet the needs of your department.

FirePrograms Software6405 SW 38th Street, Bldg 200

Ocala, FL 34474Phone: (800)327-7638

Fax: (352)447-5083Email: info@fi reprograms.comWeb: www.fi reprograms.com



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SERIOUS PERFORMANCE NOW COMES AT A GREAT VALUE. BUILT WITH

A NEW, CONTEMPORARY CHASSIS, G-XCEL™ FEATURES MANY OF OUR

INNOVATIVE DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDING EXTENDED BACK LENGTH IN

THE JACKET AND EXTRA LENGTH IN THE KNEE AND SEAT FOR EXCELLENT

MOBILITY. PLUS A LONG LIST OF OPTIONAL FEATURES ALLOWS YOU

TO CONFIGURE G-XCEL™ TO YOUR EXACTING SPECIFICATIONS.

FIND THE GLOBE SOLUTION TO ALL YOUR PPE PROBLEMS AT A

CONFERENCE NEAR YOU, OR VISIT GLOBEISTHESOLUTION.COM

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO LOCATE YOUR GLOBE DEALER,

OR CALL 800-232-8323.

��Globe Firefighter Suits is part of the Globe family of brands

Globe is the

“ I’m looking for better gear, but I need to make every dollar count.”

GOT A PPE

PROBLEM?

Find the Globe Solution to your PPE problem atglobeisthesolution.com

Everything you want, at the price you need.

G-XCEL™

GLOBE FIREFIGHTER SUITS products are sold by Globe Manufacturing Company, LLC. GLOBE, G-XCEL and designs are trademarks of Globe Holding Company, LLC.

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The Company That Invented Turnout Gear

Since 1887, Globe Firefi ghter Suits has focused on just one thing – per-fecting the most protective, longest lasting turnout gear in the world that enables you to push the limits of performance.

Over the years, Globe has been re-sponsible for introducing many of the materials, designs, and construction methods we now take for granted in fi refi ghter suits. Globe invented the waterproof coat construction method that is still in use in the fi re service today and manufactured the world’s fi rst “Firefi ghter’s Suit”. Globe was the fi rst to use DuPont™ NOMEX® fl ame and thermal resistant materi-als, fi rst to use 3M SCOTCHLITE™ refl ective materials, and the fi rst to use CROSSTECH™ moisture barri-ers. And Globe launched a new era in advanced fi refi ghter suit design with the introduction of G-XTREME™, designed to move the way the human body moves – without restriction.

Today, Globe is trusted by more fi refi ghters and fi re departments around the world than any other. Globe now produces and services a wide range of premium performance personal protective equipment for fi rst responders under the Globe Firefi ghter Suits, Globe Cairns, Globe LifeLine, Globe FootGear and Globe CARES brands. And no matter what challenges tomorrow’s fi refi ghters face, Globe will continue to be there to protect them.

A Commitment To ResearchGlobe research and development

projects have focused on partner-ships with university based science and government agencies to improve fi refi ghter safety. Recent project include:

• North Carolina State University to develop a “Light Weight CBRN Protective Fire Fighter Turnout” and “Enhanced Performance Tactical CB Boot”.

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute to develop an “Integrated Fire-fi ghter Locator and Physiologi-cal Monitor” and “Fire-ground Environmental Sensor Monitor System”

• Skidmore College on the “Effect of Physical Fitness on Physiologi-cal Recovery from Firefi ghting Duties” and “Improving Struc-tural Firefi ghting Gear – From the Inside Out”

This ongoing commitment to re-search and innovation is at the core

of Globe’s industry leading position - “Turning out the world’s best.”

Got a PPE Problem?

Find the Globe Solution to all your PPE problems at a conference near you, call 800-232-8323, or visit globeisthesolution.com.

GLOBE IS THE SOLUTION



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THE RELIABLE BARRIER EXPERTS

For more than 30 years, W. L. Gore & Associates has been a pioneer in developing high-perfor-mance fabrics for a variety of technical applica-tions — emergency response, fi re, law, ChemBio, and military. Specializing in breathable, protective barriers, Gore works with leading gear manufactur-ers to deliver high-quality footwear, gloves, jackets, pants, and suits using CROSSTECH®, GORE® CHEMPAK®, and GORE-TEX® fabrics. Visit www.GoreProtectiveFabrics.com, for information about Gore’s complete line of fabrics and the products in which they are used.

Gore engineers every barrier based on the con-cept of fi tness for use, which means delivering the best product that meets or exceeds the demands of a specifi c application. When developing a protec-tive barrier, Gore collaborates with users to fully understand the environments in which they work, the challenges they experience, and the hazards they face. These hazards may be the extreme temperatures of a fi re, chemicals at an accident scene, body fl uids during an emergency rescue, or chemical warfare agents at a terrorist incident. Gore combines this understanding with its extensive knowledge of membrane technology to engineer a barrier fi t for each application. As a result of this collaborative approach, Gore continues to engineer premier barriers that exceed standards in breathable pro-tection against the potential hazards that fi rst responders encounter.

Every fi re department’s needs are different, so Gore’s line of CROSSTECH® products spans the range of durability, breathability, and performance while protect-ing against exposure to water, blood, body fl uids, and NFPA common chemicals. Manufacturers use this family of products in a variety of garments, gloves, and boots for structural fi refi ghting, EMS, law enforcement, and search and rescue professionals. These barriers deliver outstanding combinations of thermal protection and total heat loss, allowing fi refi ghters to stay more protected with less heat stress. Drawing on new barrier technol-ogy, which is currently used in military applications, Gore has engineered the new CROSSTECH® black moisture barrier specifi cally to maintain the same high level of breathability as CROSSTECH® moisture barrier, with the added benefi t of more durable performance in a wide range of environmental conditions. The ideal choice for departments and individuals who are tough of their gear, the CROSSTECH® 3-layer moisture barrier is the most durable barrier on the market today — delivering rugged, long-lasting protection, even after exposure to extreme temperatures. This barrier provides outstanding resis-tance to abrasion and wear without compromising liquid protection. To support departments working to comply with NFPA 1851 requirements, Gore stands behind these products with warranties that include labor and materials

for repairs of normal wear and tear. Specifi cally, CROSS-TECH 3-layer moisture barrier comes with a fi ve-year limited warranty, and CROSSTECH® black moisture barrier has a limited warranty through the fi rst NFPA 1851 complete liner inspection, up to 3.5 years from date of manufacture.

GORE® CHEMPAK® fabrics provide certifi ed protec-tion against toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents, while allowing fi rst responders to move more freely and remain engaged longer. With suits made of these durable fabrics, departments can respond with added confi dence that the suits and their seams will stay intact. Used in ensembles certifi ed to NFPA 1992, NFPA 1994 Class 2 and Class 3, and NFPA 1971 (CB option) standards, Gore’s lightweight, fl exible fabrics increase comfort and help reduce heat stress. GORE® CHEMPAK® fabrics improve the ability to respond quickly, remain engaged, and perform physically demanding activities during emergencies that require ChemBio protection.

Used in the industry’s leading duty jackets and outer-wear, GORE-TEX® fabrics keep a responder dry — wa-terproof to keep the weather out and breathable to let the body’s sweat vapor escape. GORE-TEX® fabrics offer long-lasting comfort and protection against weather in one durable garment, even after exposure to conditions that cause other barrier products to break down.

From high-performance fabrics to pediatric cardio-vascular patches, W. L. Gore & Associates has redefi ned product performance in industrial, electronic, consumer, and medical applications. These innovations are part of a 50-year track record of creative products that set new standards in their markets. Even in the most challenging applications or environments, every Gore product comes with a solid commitment to performance and reliability.

CROSSTECH, CHEMPAK, GORE-TEX, GORE and designs are registered trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.



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PROVIDING SUPERIOR

SERVICES AND PRODUCTS

Hale Products Inc provides superior services and products for safe and effi cient operation and delivery of fi re suppression agents, serving both the domestic and international fi re suppression industry. The company encompasses Hale, Class 1, and Godiva Pumps – three of most recognized brand names in the world for fi re pumps and equipment. Together our products bring a fresh and innovative approach to the operation, and delivery of fi re suppression agents. Our goal is to exceed the expecta-tions of our end users by offering outstanding products, fl exible customer service, industry best performance, and greater value to optimize the operation and performance of your fi re suppression products.

The Hale Pump Company was founded in 1914 by three Pennsylvania fi refi ghters who had the “innovative foresight” to build better fi re pump - a triple combination pumper mounted on a Model “T” Ford. This innovative

spirit continues today with the “High Flow” Qmax midship pump, the most popular vehicle mounted pump in North America. As the needs of the fi re industry change, Hale continues to innovate to meet and exceed the needs of the market. Hale recently released the TPB Twin Booster pump, the fi rst 750 GPM rated two stage series/parallel PTO driven fi re pump. Hale has also expanded its core product line to include an exceptional line of FoamLogix Foam Proportioners and the easy to operate CAFSPro Compressed Air Foam Systems.

Today, Hale Products Inc. is much more than just fi re pumps. In the last 95 years Hale Products has grown through new product innovation and strategic acquisitions to include truck mounted and portable pumps, engine controls / governors, valves, pressure gauges, foam pro-portioning and compressed air foam systems, and Es-Key / multi-plexing systems.

During the 1980s Hale made a key acquisition of Go-diva in Warwick, England. Godiva is a manufacturer of portable, high-pressure, and rear-mounted fi re pumps. Godiva is one of the leading fi re pump suppliers outside the United States. This acquisition allowed Hale expands its reach around world and to bring the USA based “Bar-ton/American Godvia” fi re pump products under the Hale umbrella of products.

In 2002 Hale acquired Class 1. Class 1 is a leading sup-plier of electrical and electronic control components and plumbing components and systems to the fi re market. Class 1’s strength in innovative electronics and plumbing, combined with Hale’s leading position in pumps has led to the development of the Hale Pump Module, a pre-engi-neered, pre-wired, pre-plumbed pump assembly designed to include a Hale pump and Class 1 premium electron-ics, valves and plumbing. The pre-engineered design

maximizes the performance and effi ciency of the entire pump system with common parts for effi cient service and simple maintenance.

The Hale Products Inc. brands of Hale Pumps, Class 1 and Godvia have a combined strength that enables us to provide exceptional service, functional technical sup-port, and an unparalleled degree of industry knowledge and innovation that would not have been possible if the companies were working independently. These attributes make Hale Products, Inc. your ideal choice for your fi re suppression product needs.

Today, Hale Products, Inc. is a strong, growing com-pany that is dedicated to innovation of new products and the expansion of current and new markets domestically and internationally. Hale will continue to strive to be the premier “Problem Solver” within the fi re industry because in the end we “Serve Side by Side”.



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A WORLD LEADER

IN FIRE APPARATUS

HME Ahrens-Fox can trace its heritage back to 1913,

over 93 years ago, when Magnus Hendrickson founded the

Hendrickson Motor Truck Company in Chicago. Quite an

innovator in his day, Hendrickson began building custom

trucks including those for specialized applications such as

heavy delivery, stone cranes, roofer’s hoists and scaven-

ger bodies.

It was Hendrickson that developed and marketed the fi rst

tandem axle suspension, quite an innovation in its day, and

was one of the fi rst truck manufacturers to install Diesel

engines. The company built its fi rst line of fi re apparatus in

the 1930s, and was the fi rst to develop and market the fi rst

tilt cab custom pumper chassis in the 1980s.

Hendrickson Motor Truck Company changed its name

over time to Hendrickson Mobile Equipment to better

refl ect the diversity of products being produced. Over the

road trucks, crane carriers, split shaft power take offs,

cast spoke wheels, tandem suspensions and specialized

prime movers such as a mammoth rig that was built to

transport 500,000-lb. transformers to a Canadian hydro-

electric plant, proved over and over, the engineering and

manufacturing expertise of HME.

Today, HME is located in Wyoming, Michigan with over

140 employees working in a three-year old, state of the

art, 150,000 square foot plant, producing fi re apparatus,

over-the-road Class 8 truck chassis and special mobile

equipment units such as drill rig chassis and heavy-duty

prime movers. The vehicles begin with the frame rails

entering one side of the plant, and the fi nished units

emerging from the other. This “under one roof” facility

brings together both the chassis and fi re engineering

departments to produce fi re apparatus that are truly

single-source from start to fi nish.

The company is the world’s largest single-source pro-

ducer of custom, stainless steel fi re apparatus, and has

just introduced a number of new products for 2006.

Drawing from its heritage of the innovative and legend-

ary Ahrens-Fox line of apparatus, the RAT™, or Rapid

Attack Truck, combines a fully rated Class A pumper engi-

neered into the size of a mini pumper without sacrifi cing

water, hose or equipment carrying capacity. The CAT™ or

City Attack Truck is a custom engineered solution, perfect

for departments with high call volumes that need a unit

having heavy duty pumping power, easy service acces-

sibility, replacement of corrosion-prone components

such as aluminum tread plate, and user-friendly design

elements such as an extremely low rear hose bed. The

CAT™ provides an abundance of compartment space for

storing EMS and fi refi ghting equipment and is mounted

on an HME custom chassis designed to be more maneu-

verable than the chief’s Crown Victoria.

The new Arsenal™ aerial was designed to outmaneu-

ver a single axle quint, provide 750-gallon+ water tanks

and to carry a full load of ISO required ladders, pike

poles and equipment. The department’s investment is

further protected by the HME Ahrens-Fox 24-1/2-year

body corrosion warranty, 10-year plumbing warranty, and

25-year corrosion and rusting warranty on the ladder,

torque-box and outrigger assemblies.

New products on the mechanical side include Hydra-

Technology™ water delivery system that uses no corro-

sion-prone threaded fi ttings and the new MAD DOGTM,

patent pending compressed air foam system that com-

bines a high level of knockdown power with an affordable

price.

A world leader in fi re service innovation, American-

owned HME Ahrens-Fox is one of the fastest growing fi re

apparatus builders today, constructing a diverse line of

innovative, heavy duty stainless steel fi re apparatus that

is setting the industry standard for design, performance

and long life.

The City of Stamford, CT has 14 HME Ahrens-Fox units in service including pumpers, areials, tankers and a rescue truck.



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HOLMATRO USA –

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS

IN MARYLANDThis year, Holmatro Incor-

porated celebrates 25 years in the USA. Holmatro has been has been manufactur-ing high performance rescue equipment for more than 40 years. In addition to our North American manufacturing and headquarters in Glen Burnie, Maryland, Holmatro also has operations in The Nether-lands and Poland. Through our dealer network Holmatro offers product, training, service and support to customers on every continent. Rescue and emergency services personnel around the world depend on Holmatro’s technology to make their critical tasks easier, safer and more reliable.

Holmatro has a rich history of product development and innovation. For us product improvement is an ongo-ing process. The challenges of rescue are always chang-ing. Rescuers face new materials, new designs and new technologies whether at the scene of a vehicle accident, building collapse or natural disaster. That is why Hol-matro is always improving, always developing new prod-ucts and always bringing new solutions to the market.

Over the company’s history, Holmatro® Rescue Equip-ment has been at the forefront of many product technol-ogy improvements. After decades of innovative fi rsts, in 2005 Holmatro® introduced a revolutionary new tech-nology that is proving to be one of the most important innovations ever in the fi eld of extrication: CORE Tech-nology™.

CORE Technology™ is an innovative new hydraulic system that employs COaxial Rescue Equipment hose, couplers, pumps and tools. At the CORE of this system is our revolutionary fl uid path technology. This coaxial hose design consists of a high pressure CORE, surrounded and protected by the low pressure return. But what makes our coaxial hydraulic hose possible is our patented CORE Technology™ coupler. These couplers have a built-in, au-tomatic return valve that eliminates the need for a dump valve on the pump, simply connect the hose and you’re ready to go. And YES, the CORE Technology™ system, including hose and couplers, has been tested by Under-writers Laboratories and has been certifi ed to be compli-ant with NFPA 1936.

More than just a new tool, hose or power unit, CORE Technology™ is a new hydraulic system that fundamen-tally changes the extrication process. When lives are at

stake, it’s all about speed and safety. CORE Technol-ogy™ is signifi cantly faster, easier and safer, allowing rescuers to focus on the rescue operation, not the rescue equipment. Once you work with CORE Technology™ and discover the unprecedented benefi ts, you won’t want to go back to a twin line system.

Whether you are considering a twin line system, or desire a state of the art CORE Technology™ system, Holmatro’s North American Headquarters, in Glen Burnie, Maryland, is still the only hydraulic rescue tool manufac-turing facility on the planet that can supply rescue equip-ment that is both UL Listed and NFPA Compliant. This state of the art manufacturing facility is ISO 9001:2000 registered and follows the strictest quality control proce-dures…our own. We utilize the most modern CNC ma-chining centers, assembly techniques and quality control equipment. Holmatro products are fi rst proven on our laboratory bench-top, and must meet our strict quality standards, before they are allowed to prove themselves in the fi eld. These rigorous standards include: durability, lateral loading, mechanical deformation, over-pressuriza-tion and extreme temperatures.

In addition to the manufacturing facilities, our Glen Burnie location features a training center that is equipped to teach service, maintenance, and extrication techniques. Adjacent to the classroom is a hands-on training area that allows us to continue working, even when the weather outside doesn’t cooperate. Our admin-istrative offi ces complete our Glen Burnie facility.

Holmatro USA always welcomes visitors, so the next time you are in the Baltimore Maryland area, be sure to stop by for a tour. Holmatro is proud to offer products made in the USA, with unmatched precision and quality.



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HURST JAWS OF LIFE®

Over thirty years ago, Hurst revolutionized rescue when we created the world’s first rescue tool and aptly named it “Jaws of Life.” But, that was only the beginning. Today, Hurst Jaws of Life leads the industry with design innova-tions that result in superior rescue products designed for one purpose...to save lives.

The Difference is Clear Unlike 30 years ago, Hurst is no longer the only brand

of rescue tool on the market – yet there is a reason we remain the industry leader. From design to operation to durability, our products are different thanother brands and its these important differ-ences thatmake our products worthy of the Hurst Jaws of Life® name. Hurst leads the pack with:

Powerful DesignsOur designs are influenced

anddriven by the experts in the field of rescue – our cus-tomers. We listen to our cus-tomers when they talk about the new challenges facing fi rst responders and technical rescuers and we design our products with their needs as our priority.

FlexibilityHurst products are not typically designed for a singu-

lar end use but, instead, feature astonishing flexibility to accommodate a wide variety of rescue scenarios. From highly versatile combination tools to the adaptability of Airshore stabilization struts, we believe flexibility is a key component for optimal readiness.

DependabilityWe’re always here. Our customers count on us to de-

liver on our brand promise, to provide solutions and to as-sist in the safe use of our products. We embrace this role as part of our corporate culture. We proudly stand behind our products, our people and our customers.

Easy OperationOur products are designed for ease of operation on the

scene, including new Streamline® Technology that allows for quick and easy one-step connectivity of rescue tools under pressure and the patented Star-Grip control valve that offers the industry’s best on-scene ergonomics.

DurabilityHurst products stand the test of time in the world’s

busiest fire and police departments. The reliable perfor-mance of our products day in and day out is a key reason why Hurst is a world leader in rescue.

Proud to Bear the Hurst Jaws of Life® Name

Only the best products in the world are worthy of the Hurst Jaws of Life® name. Hurst alone offers complete solutions for rescue professionals. Whether it is high or low pressure hydraulic rescue tools, hydraulic and pneu-matic lifting capability, shoring and stabilization products, or portable shelters, Hurst is the only name you need.

Hurst Jaws of Life® and Hurst Jaws of Life High Pres-sure® are the only authentic Jaws of Life® brands in hydraulic rescue tools. Hurst High Pressure products are

the 10,000 psi version of the original Hurst Jaws of Life. Both brands of tools offer unrivaled power and easy handling for even the most challenging rescue scearios.

Hurst Jaws of Life® Air-shore tools are high-strength, light-weight, positive lock-ing, aluminum stabilization struts. The tools’ removable attachments and bases are adaptable to most shapes, surfaces, and situations. De-signed for vertical, horizontal, and angled support, as well as stabilization, the Airshore products will secure your res-cue environment.

Hurst Jaws of Life® Vetter encompasses pneumatic equipment through a wide range of reliable products, including air bags for lifting, pipe and leak sealing, pneu-matic shelters and decon tents, and much more!

With the sophistication of newer vehicles, the Crash Recovery System (CRS) helps ensure that rescuers have reliable and up to date information for things like battery and power cable locations, airbag activators, and other critical information needed to complete a rescue safely and quickly using regularly updated software.

When it comes to rescue, Hurst Jaws of Life® is the only name you need.

For more information about Hurst Jaws of Life®, our product offering, or to locate a distributor, please visit www.jawsoflife.com or call 1-800-537-2659.



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www.INNOTEX.ca

Toll free: 1 888 821 3121

[email protected]

Featuring:

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HIGH QUALITY TURNOUT GEAR™INNOTEX INC. has over 30 years of experience in the

development, manufacturing and distribution of fi re retardant protective clothing and is now one of the lead-ing North American manufacturers of NFPA 1971-2007 certifi ed turnout gear. INNOTEX INC., commitment is to provide fi refi ghters with the absolute best turnout gear to maximize their performance and their safety. INNOTEX® has been chosen by several hundred Fire Departments and currently protects some of the largest Fire Depart-ments in North America, the military as well as large International Fire Departments.

Through innovative light weight design we have created gear that provide better fi t allowing your body to move freely with less restriction and help reduce heat stress.

By combining the best NFPA certifi ed composites with uncompromised quality stitching and strategic reinforce-ments we have created turnout with unmatched dura-bility. From our one piece “L” shape storm fl ap, to our patented BR-1™ collar system, INNOTEX® always strives for the ultimate protection for our heroes.

Our performance driven designs combined with our experienced workmanship, our attention to detail, our fl exibility and a careful selection of materials results in HIGH QUALITY TURNOUT GEAR™ that you will always be proud to wear.



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WHY KME?

KME is a privately held, family owned company since 1946 and is a true American success story. Since our founding by WWII veteran John J. Ko-vatch Jr., KME has strived to continue to grow by maintaining the ability to rapidly respond to the demand of our customers with innovative new prod-ucts and services that offer real value and build long term partnerships. KME is dedicated to making decisions in the best interest of the company, its employees and customers. Without in-fl uence from outside investors or stock market analysts, we can react quickly when necessary and make long term reinvestments back into the company rather than pay out short term investor dividends. With a team of managers that have been with KME for decades, we offer customers an experienced staff ready and willing to serve our clients and our customers, representatives, and employees know that if needed they can easily contact our CEO, John J. Kovatch III. Stability, longevity, and reliability – that’s what you get from KME. Our continued reinvestment into the company with training, equipment, and facilities has allowed for steady growth with no long term debt. KME is dedicated to serve today and future generations as it’s not just a business, it’s a family commitment.

KME is a true sole source custom manufacturer of all components of our vehicles. We manufacture our own cabs, chassis, bodies, tanks and aerial devices and we even have several commercial truck dealerships. No other company offers the range of styles, models and features than KME, and our “YES” philosophy allows KME to pro-vide them all at an affordable price. KME’s engineering department designs through a core scheme for all of our products, whether it is a fi re truck pumper or a 6,000 gal-lon aircraft refueler. With over 600 employees, KME has experienced resources to support our customer’s needs. However, KME still assigns a primary point of contact for each truck to coordinate all communications between KME, the sales representative, and the client throughout the entire build process. The project manager is commit-ted to ensuring the customers’ needs and expectations are met from order to delivery every time.

Each KME vehicle is designed, manufactured and tested to perform under the most rigorous demands. Our products go through dozens of checks by both KME and third party professionals to ensure every vehicle meets our demanding superior quality controls and safety requirements for operators and occupants. This starts at design with computer generated 3D models, through fi nite element analysis to verify structural integrity of the design, even to contracting globally recognized engineer-

ing fi rm Lucius Pitkin to perform over the road evaluation and life history analysis, combined with decades of appa-ratus experience helps KME design quality and safety into every product. Safety is never an option. KME recently spent millions in testing to integrate products into each vehicle that not only protect occupants, but also help prevent accidents from occurring. KME fi re chassis have met and exceeded all crash test standards for frontal and side impact, as well as roof crush tests. KME also offers over fi fty other safety features designed to keep both oc-cupants and exterior personnel safe.

KME’s Customer Service Division has a mission to pro-vide friendly, timely, and accurate response to customer parts, service, training, technical support, and warranty demands. Our world headquarters location has a staff of customer service representatives with over 220 years of combined experience. This factory staff and our nation-wide network of sales and service centers comprise a knowledgeable and experienced team of professionals ready to serve. KME has an extensive, nationwide inven-tory of both purchased and fabricated parts with many of them ready to ship the same day. Factory trained and certifi ed technicians are ready to perform service, main-tenance, and upgrades to a variety of systems utilizing the latest diagnostic tools for rapid and accurate repairs. Body and aerial remounts and apparatus refurbishments are also available.

KME works for you! From our ownership to our nation-wide sales team, the experienced crews on the produc-tion fl oor to the project managers, from our wildland units to our tractor drawn aerials, KME and our product work for you. There is no company in the fi re service more capable of providing safe, quality, custom apparatus with the highest value across such a wide range of products than KME.



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The Knox® Rapid Entry System is a family of high secu-rity products that has been serving fi re departments since 1975. Today, more than 11,000 departments nationwide use Knox key boxes, vaults, Haz-Mat cabinets, electric key switches and padlocks.

This proven rapid entry system reduces response time, property damage and the liability for lost keys. Depart-ments use a unique, high security master key to access the Knox System in their jurisdiction. Knox devices are purchased and installed by property owners but can only be ac-cessed by fi re personnel.

The Knox Rapid Entry System has grown to include UL Listed storage cabi-nets, heavy-duty padlocks and electronic override key switches. Complimentary products include the Sentralok® and Key-Secure® Master Key Retention Systems and locking Knox FDC Plugs and Caps.

Key BoxesKnox offers key boxes in a variety of

sizes and fi nish colors. They range from the Residential Knox-Box that contains 2 keys to the 1300 Cabinet that stores up to 231 keys to a new Elevator Key Box. Regardless of the application, Knox offers a key box to meet the need.

Key SwitchesThe Knox Key Switch activates emer-

gency override control of gates, roll-up doors, elevators, and other electrically powered equipment. The one or two posi-tion switch is also available in a “momen-tary” confi guration or as a double switch for more complicated systems.

PadlocksThe Knox all-weather exterior padlock

secures perimeter gates and lockout ar-eas. They are also used to secure indus-trial equipment yards, hazardous chemical supplies and residential storage areas.

Master Key Retention DevicesWith a Knox Master Key Retention De-

vice, Knox has taken the Knox Rapid Entry System security to the next level. With a KeySecure® or Sentralok® unit, the master key is locked in a visible position providing immediate accountability. Both units provide an audit trail showing who and when the key was released.

Locking FDC Plugs & CapsThe Knox FDC Protection Program pro-

vides fi re department control over FDC equipment and long-term FDC protection against vandalism. Locking Knox FDC

plugs and caps provide the intake and discharge sides of water based fi re protection systems with protection to prevent debris and vandalism and are referenced in the 2009 International Fire and Building Codes.

Thirty-fi ve years after the Knox System was fi rst intro-duced, the demand for high security rapid entry continues to grow. Knox is proud that most of the original Knox-Box key boxes are still in service today.


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4" StorzGuard™

5" StorzGuard™

2.5" & 1.5" FDC PlugKnox

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KNOX – CELEBRATING

35 YEARS OF SERVICE

www.FireEngineering.com FIRE ENGINEERING December 2010 117


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ENGINEERED BY FIRE FIGHTERS

FOR FIRE FIGHTERS

Kochek Company, was founded more than 23 years ago in Eastford, CT USA, as a high quality producer of water fl ow products and fi re connec-tions. It has established itself as a single source supplier for products that move water from pressurized or

static water supplies. As a designer and innovator of fi re fi ghting prod-ucts, Kochek Company participates in U.S. and international associations to establish standards in performance and design. Kochek Company recog-nizes it has a place in the industry

that allows it to serve those custom-ers with large quantity requirements while never forgetting that the busi-ness survives on those customers with single and often special needs. Fire fi ghting and water fl ow go hand in hand. Kochek Company has built its’ reputation keeping that fact in mind. From new product to repair to design and engineering, Kochek serves the fi re and emergency com-munity world wide.

Utilizing one of the most technical-ly advanced manufacturing facilities in the fi re equipment “water fl ow” industry, the Kochek Company has brought more product innovation and diversity to threaded adapters, suc-tion hoses, storz connections, water strainers, LDH appliances and other supply and pressure products since the design of the hydraulic aerial ladder. As a family founded and employee owned company, Kochek Company recognizes the needs of its customers and its employees are interconnected. Kochek’s advanced manufacturing facilities are friendly to the environment as they serve cus-tomers, employees and the commu-nity. Utilizing only high speed robotic CNC manufacturing machine tools, Kochek Company delivers products to all markets of the world competi-tively, and on time.

Kochek’s beginnings and gen-esis are rooted in both the practical application of its products and an understanding of the requirements set forth by the marketplace. With 23 years of fi re fi ghting experience, Kochek Company brings a new and sustainable commitment to the fi re service and those who work within it. The world changes every day as do the needs of the fi re service. Today, fi re fi ghters around the globe are challenged not just by fi re, fl ood and weather, also by the constant threat of terrorism. Kochek Company does and will continue to build products to aid them on a daily basis. Kochek Company products are engineered by fi re fi ghters for fi re fi ghters.


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tel: 800.764.0366

or 951.684.5110

email: [email protected]

www.luxfercylinders.comEnter 146 at fireeng.hotims.com

SETTING THE STANDARD

WORLDWIDE

Luxfer Gas Cylinders is the world’s largest manufactur-er and provider of all-aluminum, hoop-wrap and full-wrap carbon composite SCBA and medical oxygen cylinders for the global EMS and fi re fi ghting market. More Luxfer cylinders are used by fi refi ghters and fi rst responders around the world than any other cylinder brand.

With a comprehensive North American product range that includes the lightest-weight SCBA cylinder available (LCX-SL, Super Light), the toughest, most durable cyl-inder design (LCX-XD, Extreme Duty), and cylinders with the potential for service life of up 30 years (LCX-EL, Extra Life); Luxfer continues to lead the way in cylinder technol-ogy and innovation all in the pursuit of best meeting the needs of fi refi ghters and fi rst responders. Luxfer cylin-ders are manufactured in the USA, are approved to appli-cable Department of Transportation (DOT) and Transport

Canada (TC) standards, and meet all NFPA, NIOSH and SCBA OEM requirements.

Established in 1898 and headquartered in Riverside, California; Luxfer Gas Cylinders operates fi ve manufac-turing sites and numerous sales offi ces across the globe dedicated to meeting the expectations of customers in all major gas markets, including medical oxygen, SCBA & life support, fi re suppression, alternative fuel and specialty gases. A member of the Luxfer Group of companies,. Luxfer has grown to be a world leader in product qual-ity and in product safety, with innovative programs for the markets we serve. With nearly 40 million cylinders in service in more than 50 countries, Luxfer Gas Cylinders is truly setting the standard worldwide.

LUXFER GAS CYLINDERS – Setting the Standard Worldwide.

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A REPUTATION FOR

QUALITY PRODUCTS

Established in 1981, MatJack, Inc. has grown from simple beginnings to be an industry leader with cutting edge tech-nology and worldwide distribution. MatJack / IIPI products are designed and manufactured in Indianapolis, Indiana USA with distribution offi ces in Europe. MatJack / IIPI has a reputation for quality products and customer service second to none.

ISO 9001: 2000 Certifi edMatJack / Indianapolis Industrial Products, Inc. is QMS

certifi ed ISO 9001/2000 and an approved vendor for the government US General Services Administration (GSA Advantage).

Trade and Business Association Affi liationsMatJack / IIPI is a member in good standing with several

trade organizations including:• US Chamber of Commerce • Indiana Chamber of Commerce • Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce • National Association of Manufacturers • Indiana Manufactures Association • Better Business Bureau • FEMA - Federal Emergency Management Agency • FEMSA - Fire & Emergency Manufacturers & Services

Association • National Fire & Protection Association • TRAA - Towing & Recovery Association of America • IASM - International Association of Structural Movers • and several state associations




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ABOUT MUNICIPAL EMER-

GENCY SERVICES

Established in 2001 Municipal Emergency Services has quickly grown to be the largest supplier of Globe Manu-facturing personal protective equipment, Honeywell First Responder Products, Scott Air-Paks, FireQuip Hose, 5.11 Tactical Station Wear and Dragon Fire Gloves to fi rst responders in North America. With over 130 sales repre-sentatives, 45 mobile service technicians, and 13 in-house service centers strategically located around the United States we can assure that our customers are purchasing quality name brand equipment that remains functioning to the appropriate NFPA and manufacturer’s specifi ca-tions throughout the life of the product.

Our sales representatives have over 1,300+ years of combined experience in fi rst responder service and 8,000+ hours of certifi ed training which adds up to better product knowledge, service and training for our custom-ers. We supply equipment for Firefi ghting, Law Enforce-ment, Hazmat, Confi ned Space, Urban Search and Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services to Municipal, Volunteer and Federal government sectors.

MES is built on three distinct business platforms giving fi rst responders the opportunity to fulfi ll their equipment needs through our 130 strong fi rst responder focused

sales force, an extensive online store or through our Federal Government division which caters to the specifi c needs of military and WMD fi rst responders.

MES supports its customers with a nation wide ware-housing system that carries over $3 Million of Scott Air-Paks and accessories, 800 sets of turnout gear, 2000 pairs of boots not to mention numerous other products in stock to meet the immediate needs of our customers. Also our NFPA 1851 third party certifi ed PPE Cleaning & Care centers assure our customers that their Personal Protective Equipment meets the latest NFPA specifi ca-tions while maximizing the service life of the product. MES has a turnkey leasing company that affords our customers the opportunity to secure alternative funding of equipment when grants or budgets are not available to them. With competitive fi nance rates our customers can also bundle services in with their equipment to assure that they meet the latest safety, NFPA, NIOSH, and OSHA requirements.

Headquartered in Sandy Hook, CT, the company utilizes 100,000 plus square feet of warehouse space throughout the United States. MES can be reached at 1-877- MESFire (1-877-637-3473) or through our Web site @ www.mesfi re.com.

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CAIRNS® HELMETS CELEBRATES

175 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

From its humble beginnings as a water-resistant leather cap made for New York City fi refi ghters in 1836, the Cairns Helmet has evolved into the most durable and popular piece of head protection equipment for fi refi ght-ers around the world. First introduced as the New Yorker Helmet by its fi refi ghter creator, H. T. Gratacap, the helmet was later adorned with its distinctive front piece by the Cairns brothers, whose family legacy in the fi re protection industry spanned over a century.

During that time, the helmet underwent several upgrades, from “a revolutionary new material called alu-minum” in the 1920’s to the fi rst low-profi le, lightweight OSHA-compliant helmet, the 770 Philadelphian Helmet in 1974. Then came the ground-breaking 660 Phoenix Helmet in the late 1970’s, an OSHA-compliant helmet that incorporated the fi rst full thermal/impact cap. A series of “fi rsts” soon followed: fi rst fi berglass-reinforced compos-ite shell on the 660C Metro Helmet in 1981, fi rst polyara-lyte faceshield in 1983, and fi rst non-corroding faceshield hardware in 1984.

In 1995, Cairns engineered a level of performance that has never been equaled, even in today’s helmets. The 990 Intruder Helmet offered superior cut and penetra-tion protection with 3 overlapping layers of ballistic-grade Kevlar material. In 1990, Cairns introduced the Classic 1000 Helmet featuring a Kevlar composite material in a traditional helmet style. Then in 1992, the Cairns 1010 Helmet was launched as a total fi berglass composite in the same classic shape. The popular front piece line was re-launched in 1997 with expanded features and a piece of Cairns history in the new carved brass eagle front holder.

In 2000, Cairns was purchased by Mine Safety Appli-ances Company, which remains committed to carrying on the Cairns tradition of excellence in engineering, manufacturing and delivery of advanced head protection products to fi refi ghters throughout the world.



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MANUFACTURERS OF INNOVATIVE

EQUIPMENT THAT CAN LIFT, SHIFT,

SEAL, STABILIZE AND PENETRATE

At the start of a new decade and after close to fi fty years, Paratech Incorporated, an ISO 9001 certifi ed U.S. manufacturer, continues to be the leader in the design and production of lifesaving, state-of-the-art emergency, tactical and industrial equipment.

Paratech’s equipment has become the standard for disaster agencies’ rescue teams and technical rescue caches both in the U.S. and internationally and has been called upon to assist in all major natural and human caused disasters throughout the world.

Paratech’s product lines are comprised of:Rescue Support Systems (RSS) – Thanks to

their unparalleled strength and versatility, Paratech’s Rescue Support Systems have been FEMA tested and adopted as standard for their technical caches. Applica-tions include:

Structural collapse – Earthquakes, construction collapses, cave-ins, fl oods and structural fi re damage require a collapse rescue system designed to extract victims quickly and safely.

Excavation containment – Paratech’s pneumatic rescue struts allow for remote placement and easy lock-ing as well as safe, remote removal.

Special Applications – A wide variety of bases and accessories are available to assist in numerous spe-cial application scenarios including, but in no way limited to, elevator shaft access and victim retrieval, high angle applications, confi ned space work and trench rescue scenarios.

Vehicle Stabilization – Paratech’s Vehicle Stabilization Kits (VSK’s), with a load capacity of up to 120,000 lbs. (54,431.1 kg) with a 4:1 safety factor, have the strength and fl exibility to handle sub compact cars, buses, cement trucks and even train locomotives.

MAXIFORCE® Air Lifting Bags – A complete system comprised of 25 different sizes of Air Lifting Bags made from Neoprene covered aramid reinforcement, with the power to lift or shift up to 70 tons and all the control equipment to match.

Powered Impact Tools – Rugged, ergonomic, lightweight and utilizing minimum air consumption, the three distinct models of pneumatic breakers, (Airgun 40SC, Airgun 40, Pakhammer 90) have the ability to break and cut through concrete, masonry walls, steel, metal and composites, aircraft fuselages and are often used for digging during tunneling operations.

Forcible Entry Tools – These high quality heavy duty forcible entry tools (FET) are designed to pry, pound, puncture, twist, cut open or remove all types of barriers between emergency personnel and the life they are sav-ing. The category includes a full line of Hooligan Tools as well as a powerful Percussive Rescue Tool (PRT), the compact and versatile Pry Axe and the very popular Buster Tool.

Tactical Forcible Entry Tools (TFE) – Paratech has customized its forcible entry tools to cater to S.W.A.T. police, special operations and military forces. Made with a durable black tactical fi nish, these high quality tools are designed to pry, pound, puncture, twist, cut open and remove all types of barriers.

Firefi ghting Tools (FFT) – These rugged, heavy duty overhaul tools are made with the highest quality materials and are available in a range of sizes and con-fi gurations with lengths of 3’ to 12’ and custom lengths by special order.

Rescue Air Cushions – (RAC) Available in 4 sizes and 2 pressure ranges, an ideal tool for high lift require-ments of non-reinforced broad surfaces on trucks, vans and light aircraft, also used by collapse rescue teams to fi ll voids and regain support for rescue struts, wall braces and shoring. Other applications include rescuing downed or trapped animals, industrial lifting applications and can be used as a fl otation device.

Leak Sealing Systems (LSS) – Specialized infl atables and plugs that are designed to shut down liquid leaks on pipes, tankers and railroad tank cars and successfully seal chemical leaks in both highway and industrial accidents.

Special Mission Tender/SMT™ for Urban Search & Rescue and Trench – The SMT™, an organized, low maintenance and cost effective trailer comes fully loaded with Rescue Struts, Maxiforce® Air Lifting Bags, Forcible Entry Tools and other kits and com-ponents to facilitate rapid response to rescue scenarios.

Paratech recognizes that their success is not only due to their specialized equipment whose versatility has allowed an easy cross over into markets outside of the Fire Service such as the mining, industrial, military, towing, and tactical markets --This great feat could not have been achieved without the skilled work force at the facility, the competent and dedicated fi eld sales support of their Regional Sales Managers in the U.S. and abroad, and the faithful promotion of the equipment by their vast network of Dealer Partners.

Thanks to their instinct for innovation, cutting edge technology and excellent customer service, Paratech will continue to lead the world in the design and production of innovative lifesaving emergency equipment.

For more information on how Paratech can help you lift, shift, seal, stabilize and penetrate…contact them at 1-800-435-9358 or visit their website at www.paratech.com.



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ES INDUSTRY-LEADING INNOVATION

TO ENHANCE PERFORMANCE

AND FIREFIGHTER SAFETYFirefi ghters are required to face relentless

and ever-changing challenges in their mission to protect lives and property wherever they serve. Pierce is North America’s leading manufacturer of custom fi re and emergency apparatus be-cause it fi rst listens to the needs of fi refi ghters – then responds with safe, advanced and reliable vehicles and technologies.

It’s why Pierce developed the patented Pierce Ultimate Confi guration (PUC), the fi rst modern tilt-cab emergency response vehicle designed specifi cally for the expanding duties of today’s fi re services. The PUC eliminates the pump-house, allowing departments to customize their apparatus to meet unique needs and priorities.

It’s why Pierce developed the 360° Protection From Every AngleSM initiative and why, as a part of that, Pierce introduced the fi rst ever frontal airbag system and side roll protection system for fi re apparatus.

Ensuring the safety of others is a primary part of your mission. Looking out for your safety is at the core of the Pierce mission. That is why the company continually re-searches, develops and introduces vehicles to meet every fi refi ghting need, as well as advanced safety systems to protect fi refi ghters.

The Pierce Ultimate Confi guration: A response vehicle that’s built around your needs.

The PUC is a feature-by-feature, bumper-to-bumper rethinking of what a fi refi ghting vehicle can be. It’s engineered to be easier to use, service, and maneuver, and to store more equipment and stay safer. Every single component is engineered to help fi refi ghters perform at the highest possible level.

For example, a typical PUC pumper can carry about 30 percent more equipment and that enables fi refi ghters to reach for whatever is needed when it is needed. In life and death circumstances, the value of having a special-ized piece of equipment cannot be overstated.

The PUC offers more. Its shorter wheelbase and lower center of gravity means improved vehicle handling. The PUC possesses a tighter turning radius that allows fi re-fi ghters to position in a narrow cul-de-sac or twist through a crowded urban neighborhood for more rapid response.

With a PUC at the scene, equipment and gear are more easily within reach. Crosslays, ladders, stokes-baskets and backboards are shoulder height for most fi refi ght-ers, reducing risk of injury and streamlining response. In short, the PUC is fi refi ghting effi ciency on wheels.

The PUC is available on all Pierce custom chassis in side and top mount confi gurations, as well as on all aerial ladders and rescues.

A commitment to fi refi ghters is a commitment to safety.

The Pierce Protection From Every AngleSM initiative helps keep fi refi ghters safe as they work to keep ev-

eryone else safe. For example, the company’s exclusive frontal airbag system for both the driver and offi cer is an industry fi rst in custom chassis fi re trucks, and it exempli-fi es the company’s commitment to safety leadership.

Moreover, the Pierce exclusive Side Roll Protection Sys-tem is another part of that initiative. It directly addresses traffi c accidents involving a vehicle roll - a leading cause of fi refi ghter death. The Pierce Side Roll Protection System senses the exact moment of a side-roll, and then deploys passenger protection devices including seatbelt preten-sioners and an infl atable side airbag structure.

This high level of commitment to safety entails things so big that they’re hard to see and details so small that they’re easy to miss. For example, Pierce outfi ts its custom chassis with one of the thickest fi rewalls in the industry. And VLH® caps add an extra measure of safety when fi refi ghters are working with pressurized lines.

Other Pierce safety technologies include:

• TAK-4® independent front suspension shortens stop-ping distance and improves ride quality

• Command Zone™ advanced electronics for real-time information at your fi ngertips

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) enhances vehicle control during evasive maneuvers

• PS6™ seats with double-length seat belts and dual retractors

• Tire Protection System with tire blowout band protec-tion

• Control Zone™ pump panel with controls grouped by function

• Luminescent rung covers for improved visibility• Husky® and Hercules™ foam systems for quicker

knockdown • MADAS accident reconstruction system performs ac-

cident cause analysis

Pierce is proud to provide fi refi ghters with performance and safety innovations, and to continue to develop new products and technologies. Serving fi rst responders is the reason we are dedicated to ongoing innovation.



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For over 50 years, PHS has been helping government, industry and the public safety sector address their health and wellness concerns by pro-viding convenient, personalized, and cost effective health and wellness solutions. Today, PHS is the indus-try leader, bringing these valuable programs and services to fi re depart-ments throughout the United States.

We provide Comprehensive Medi-cal, Wellness and Fitness Evaluations that comply and follow NFPA Guide-lines, the IAFF Wellness-Fitness Initiative, and all applicable OSHA regulations. PHS programs identify individual fi refi ghter health risks and equip fi re departments and their members with the knowledge needed to maintain and improve their health. A PHS Mobile Medical Unit and a team of qualifi ed healthcare profes-sionals perform all services right at your station(s).

If you’re looking for a health and wellness solution for your depart-ment, PHS is the right partner to have by your side.

What We Do• Perform onsite medical exams,

fi tness assessments with exercise prescriptions, and wellness evalu-ations, including personalized health coaching

• Develop customized programs to meet your budget requirements

• Provide Personalized and im-mediate Onsite Feedback from Qualifi ed and Experienced Healthcare Professionals

• Provide fl exible scheduling that can work with your shifts to elimi-nate overtime/downtime

• Provide medical results that are computer processed and centrally managed

Benefi ts of Using PHS• We discover critical health risks

facing your fi refi ghters and de-partment

• Determine the action steps re-quired to reduce those risks and prevent their negative conse-quences

• We come to you; your fi refi ghters don’t have to fi nd the time to get

the tests done themselves• All testing is performed during

one appointment• Individual and department health

trends are plotted, compared and reported over time

Don’t get caught off guard and risk

the fi nancial, medical, and personal expenses associated with unknown risks – arm your fi re department with the knowledge it needs to preserve the future.

Contact PHS at www.phsmobile.com/publicsafety or 800.833.3005.

INNOVATIVE ONSITE HEALTH &

WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR FIRE

DEPARTMENTS NATIONWIDE

Enter 148 at fireeng.hotims.comwww.FireEngineering.com


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Using technologically advanced materials and innovative design, Res-cue 42 has distinguished themselves as an industry leader in fi re and rescue equipment. Increasing de-mand for the TeleCrib® Stabilization System has led to several years of tremendous growth for the company, prompting two recent expansions into larger manufacturing facilities and several new product lines, most

recently the VAULT™ system of hitch mounted mobile solutions.

The VAULT™ - Hitch Mounted Mobile Solutions

The VAULT™ is an innovative new product line that offers both secu-rity and mobility in one. With several VAULT™ models to choose from, your covered, whatever your need! The beauty of the VAULT™ system is in

the versatile chassis. The VAULT’s™ compact design makes it easy to store and is narrow enough to fi t though doorways or onto elevators. The large, solid urethane “never fl at” tires won’t go fl at and the rug-ged running gear lets you roll your VAULT™ over unpaved surfaces.

When you’re ready to go out, sim-ply roll your VAULT™ to your vehicle, crank the handle to raise the unit up to the hitch adapter (included with all VAULT’s™), then crank the handle again to raise the wheels off the ground. Since the VAULT is not a trailer, there are no speed or road restrictions (think off-road!) and no li-censing or registration requirements. Once at your destination, simply reverse the process and take your VAULT™ wherever it’s needed.

VAULT™ models include a mo-bile cargo box with optional SCBA cylinder inserts or dividers and a fully equipped Incident Command Post with or without a generator. Please visit www.RESCUE42.com for videos, pictures and additional information.

Extrication Stabilization Equipment

Thousands of fi re departments have trusted the Kevlar® Composite TeleCrib® Stabilization System to stabilize their worst wrecks. Made from the strongest and most ad-vanced composite, the TeleCrib® Struts are four times stronger than steel struts, about half the weight and are impervious to most environ-mental and chemical corrosion. The strut system is exceptionally easy to use but versatile enough to handle advanced stabilization situations.

The Shark™ Collapsible Step Crib-bing saves an enormous amount of space on rescue vehicles, freeing up room for critical life saving equip-ment. The Shark™ collapses to 5½” for storage – 4 Sharks™ take up less space than 2 plastic or wood step chocks. Their innovative design also allows you to use ratchet straps and pickets, giving you superior stability.

For additional information on all Rescue 42 Fire & Rescue products, videos, pictures and a free instruc-tional DVD, please visit their website at www.RESCUE42.com or call toll free at (888) 427-3728.

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THE WORLD LEADER

IN FIRE APPARATUS

Firefi ghters around the world are called to action at a moment’s notice – because when lives are at stake, anything less can be catastrophic. At Rosenbauer, we live by the same philosophy. Our vehicles, production teams, and service personnel are ready to do whatever it takes to ensure your safety and satisfaction. Whether it’s a commercial pumper or a one-of-a-kind aerial, each truck is unique in the eyes of a Rosenbauer production team. Each truck receives individual attention to every detail. Throughout the entire production process – from the ini-tial design drawings to fi nal inspection on the showroom fl oor – quality always comes fi rst. At Rosenbauer, we’re ready to meet the tightest deadlines. We’re ready to build the toughest vehicles. We’re ready to develop the latest technology. And when it comes to supporting the tireless efforts of emergency workers around the world, we’re ready to serve because we are Rosenbauer.

About Us: Rosenbauer International was founded in 1866 in Linz, Austria, by Johann Rosenbauer. The compa-ny began selling fi refi ghting equipment and developing a reputation for quality that continues today. At the turn of the 20th century, Johann expanded his company’s activi-ties to include pump and hose manufacturing. During the 1920s, the Rosenbauer name began to earn a growing reputation for leadership in the manufacturing of fi re-fi ghting vehicles that, with one technological innovation after another to its credit, continues to this day.

During the 1990s, Rosenbauer aligned itself for global industrial manufacturing that resulted in the creation of group companies in the United States, Singapore, China and the subsequent opening of new markets and greater challenges. During the development phase of the 1990s, the Rosenbauer workforce more than doubled with roughly half of the Group’s workforce employed outside of Austria.

In 1995, General Safety became Rosenbauer’s fi rst partner in the USA. The company, which is based in Wyo-ming, Minnesota, was founded in 1929 by Kevin Kirvida’s grandfather, and his father joined the company in 1949. Kevin, who came on board in 1978, maintains General Safety’s proud tradition of quality and innovation. In ad-dition to the highly developed fi re trucks they build for the municipal sector, they also manufacture specialty vehicles for airports and industrial companies.

1998 saw Rosenbauer’s entry at Central States to of-fi cially create Rosenbauer America. The company, which was founded in 1982 by Harold and Helen Boer and is located in Lyons, South Dakota, is characterized by in-dustrial production that is strongly oriented towards the fulfi llment of individual customer wishes. When it became a partner, Central States was already active in 32 states and today, Rosenbauer America has virtually full national coverage.

Two years later, in February of 2000, the team was further enlarged with RK Aerials. The company, which is located in Fremont, Nebraska, was founded in 1988 by Rob and Pam Kreikemeier and manufactures hydraulic turntable ladders and aerial platforms. It is one of the few companies in the USA to not only offer steel ladders, but also hot galvanized versions, which have a far longer service life.

Rosenbauer obtained a further key technology with the chassis production for the Panther ARFF vehicle. Since 2003, the chassis have been manufactured at Rosen-bauer Motors, which is found at the same location as the General Division.

Whatever the size, location, geography or makeup of your department and coverage area, Rosenbauer America can design and manufacture the apparatus that meets your unique needs. With direct access to cutting-edge technology and unmatched depth of experience, Rosenbauer offers the widest range of vehicle types on the market today.

Our depth of experience applies to our estimating, engineering and sales staff, as well as fl oor manag-ers and supervisors. Together, they work as integrated teams to ensure rock-solid bid estimates that cover every detail. And to make sure you’re completely satisfi ed, our national network of dealers maintains constant communi-cation with you every step of the way.

From modest roots in mid-19th century Austria, the Rosenbauer Group has grown into the world’s largest manufacturer of fi re apparatus and fi refi ghting equip-ment, employing a global workforce of 1,500 people at numerous facilities on four continents. While achiev-ing this position took more than 140 years of calculated growth, this strategy has been a company hallmark since its founding and continues to be such as the company moves further into the 21st century.



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ES LEADERS IN PERSONAL

PROTECTIVE FABRIC

TECHNOLOGY

Safety Components, located in Greenville, SC and a division of the International Textile Group, is an innovative, high quality fabric solutions provider for demanding high performance applications. Our company is a global market leader in the production of automotive air bag fabrics, structural fi refi ghting, aerospace escape slides and fuel cells, FR military, and outdoor fabrics. We also produce a wide array of highly technical fabrics for industrial special-ty and commercial applications such as fi ltration, specialty military, composites, tire manufacturing, coated fabrics, and fl ame resistant protective apparel. Our mission is to continue to develop innovative and cutting edge fabrics utilizing the highest quality, high strength raw materials available in today’s global marketplace. Our product devel-opment staff works in conjunction with our customers and valued suppliers to design products that are functional, meet customer specifi cations, and ultimately raise the bar of product performance. At Safety Components, we are experts with knowledge of the highest caliber fi bers in the world and would welcome an opportunity to partner on new product ideas. Together, with collective and receptive minds, we can raise the performance bar and deliver in-novative products for any application.

Innovative Outer shell Fabric DesignsRecognized as the technology leader and largest

supplier of fi refi ghting fabrics in North America, Safety Components innovative fabric solutions continue to im-prove the personal protective performance of outer shell fabrics. Whether it’s enhanced, durable water repellency for safer, lighter, more comfortable gear, or solution dyed fi bers for improved color consistency, or lower profi le ripstop weaves for improved resistance to abrasion, or most recently the inclusion of military grade Kevlar® for improved durability…look to Safety Components for supe-rior outer shell fabric performance.

• PBI Matrix® reinforced with 600 Denier Cables of Du-Pont™ Kevlar®…the strongest, most durable fi bers in fi refi ghting today. These cables provide the ultimate rip-stopping power…50% stronger than 400 denier yarns for unmatched performance.

• PBI Gold +®. You already know PBI Gold as the gold standard when it comes to thermal protection. Now you can go beyond tough, thermal protection with turnout gear that is designed with superior water re-pelling features and exceptional abrasion resistance.

• Armor 7.0™ combines military grade, ballistic fi lament DuPont™ Kevlar®, solution dyed DuPont™ Nomex® and DuPont™ Kevlar® fi bers that provides added thermal protection, excellent tear resistance and superior fabric strength. This blend delivers a lighter weight, seven-ounce twill-weave fabric that improves comfort and mobility.

• Fusion™ combines solution dyed DuPont™ Nomex®, with solution dyed DuPont™ Kevlar®, encapsulated with a miracle layer of our patented Tefl on® F-PPE. These three elements come together into an innovative low-profi le rip-stop weave to deliver excellent thermal protection, unsurpassed performance in color longevity, with superior abrasion resistance and water repellency.

Improved Thermal Liner TechnologyTechnological advancements in fi refi ghting fabrics

extend through our complete line of thermal liners. With innovations that address the key elements in thermal liner performance such as moisture management, freedom of movement and weight gain. As the last layer of defense, we understand the importance of properly engineered thermal liner systems. That’s why we patented higher lubricity liners featuring excellent moisture management and pure fi ber battings for consistent TPP and THL performance.

• Glide™ is a lightweight, DuPont™ Nomex® thermal liner that features our patented, high lubricity weave. It is 15% slicker than other low friction liner products and up to 40% slicker than a traditional liner system. Glide provides optimal moisture management…keep-ing you cooler and more comfortable.

• Our Chambray™ thermal liner is lightweight and com-fortable, and affords excellent thermal performance. Made from 100% solution dyed DuPont™ Nomex ® fi -bers to offer enhanced color consistency and greater light fastness longevity. Engineered with ring spun yarn technology that improves overall fabric strength while assuring a smoother more comfortable fabric.

• Shadowbox™ brings together excellent freedom of movement and superior moisture management. Made of 100% DuPont™ Nomex® fi bers, Shadowbox pro-vides both enhanced thermal protection, comfort and color retention.

• Com’motion™ combines fi lament Kevlar®, Nomex® and Lensing FR®, Com’motion provides incredible wicking and moisture management, permanent slick-ness and strength for thermal liner protection.

All our fabrics are produced, tested and inspected to the industry’s highest standards. Safety Components maintains ISO 9001:2000, TS 16949 and ISO 14001 cer-tifi cations. Our fabric testing laboratories are ISO 17025 approved, ASTM (North America), DIN (Europe), JIS (Asia), and NFPA certifi ed. Safety Components is the only company in our industry with global certifi cation capabil-ity. For almost 100 years we have maintained the highest reputation for product quality, product innovation, prod-uct diversity and on-time delivery.



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Scott Health & Safety was founded as Scott Aviation in 1932 when Earl M. Scott began manufacturing the fi rst pivoting tailwheel for airplanes in his Lancaster, NY base-ment. The company grew steadily for the fi rst few years as manufacturer of several different aviation compo-nents, but exploded when during World War II, the British Royal Air Force asked Mr. Scott to develop a walk-around, on-board oxygen system for its pilots so they could safely fl y to altitudes of 30,000 feet and above.

From that invention, Mr. Scott developed the fi rst Air-Pak® SCBA model in 1945 called the 6000 B4A. Thinking there was a market for his product for the fi re service, Mr. Scott ap-proached the local departments about his SCBA, but it wasn’t an overnight sensation. Back then, fi refi ghters were nicknamed “smoke eaters” for good reason. They simply used wet handker-chiefs or canister masks to fi lter smoke as they fought fi res.

Seventy-fi ve years later, the Scott Air-Pak SCBA is synonymous within the U.S. fi re service with SCBA and is used every day by hundreds of thousands of U.S. fi refi ghters in a majority of the cities in America, large and small. It is the premier SCBA in the U.S. and was crucial to the search and rescue efforts during 9/11 in New York and Washington D.C.

Since its humble beginnings as an aviation components manufacturer in Earl Scott’s basement, Scott has grown to become the premiere manufacturer of innovative respiratory and other personal protective equipment and safety devices for fi refi ghters, industrial workers, police squads, militaries, homeland security forces, and rescue teams around the world.

Scott began its fi rst foray into the international market in 1997, specifi cally the newly opened Chinese market, to form the joint venture manufacturing facility Shang-hai Eagle to develop SCBA for the Asian market. That venture was successful in its fi rst year of operation and is now the largest SCBA manufacturer in the region.

In 1999, the company split into two separate business-es - Scott Aviation and Scott Health and Safety. In 2000, Scott Health & Safety acquired Kemira Safety Oy with a 70 year history of manufacturing quality, innovative respi-ratory products. Kemira became Scott Oy and continues to supply Scott with innovative designs and products for industrial workers.

Tyco International purchased Scott Health & Safety in 2001 and has grown the company’s global presence by adding several very respected and powerful global brands to the Scott Health & Safety family. Protector, a premiere brand of respiratory protection products and Unisafe, a recognized as leader in eye, head and ear protection equipment, have extended the reach of Scott into new product lines and global markets.

In 2004, Tyco divested its last connection with the original Scott Aviation to concentrate on Scott’s core line – personal safety products. Later in 2004, Tyco added Fire Equipment de Mexico, S.A. (F.E.M.S.A.), a small manufacturer of fi refi ghter protective clothing and other fi refi ghting gear, to Scott’s product line which extends Scott’s reach into the South and Latin American markets.

Now, with six global manufacturing locations, Scott produces products that protect thousands of individuals each day from environmental hazards including smoke,

toxic fumes, fl ame, combustible gases, falling objects, and contaminants.

The company has been on the forefront of innova-tion since its beginning, using extensive research and gathering “Voice of the Customer” input to design and develop its products, some which have become standards in the fi re service. Beginning with the fi rst compressed air SCBA, some of the other fi rsts Scott has introduced include the single-lens facepiece, the integrated PASS device, the 4500 psi cylinder, the snap-change cylinder, and the Top-Down Convertibility™ design concept, which allows a personal issued facepiece to be used in multiple applications from air-supplied to air-purifi cation.

Today, the innovative spirit continues at Scott with the introduction of several new products that will revolu-tionize the way fi refi ghters do their jobs. The new SSR Thermal Imaging Camera / Locator is the fi rst thermal camera to merge thermal imaging and fi refi ghter loca-tion technology into one search and rescue tool. And our new SureSeal System for the AV-3000™ facepiece uses Scott’s patent-pending reverse refl ex design and a new headnet securing system to provide the best fi t-factor available today.

It is through this commitment to innovation and groundbreaking product development that Scott Heath & Safety remains on the forefront of protecting fi refi ghters from harmful working environments. We support all our product development with excellent customer support and the best warranty in the business and we are com-mitted to putting the customer fi rst in all aspects of our business.

For more information about Scott Health & Safety, visit our website at www.scotthealthsafety.com.

AT THE FOREFRONT

OF PROTECTING FIREFIGHTERS



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DETECTION AND PROTECTION

For over 50 years Smiths Detec-tions advanced, accurate and trusted solutions quickly and accu-rately detect and identify explo-sives, weapons and contraband, chemical warfare agents, toxic chemicals and materials, biologi-cal warfare agents, nuclear and radiological threats and narcotics.

Our capabilities range from system integration to developing advanced technologies ideal for discovery, detection, and identi-fi cation of illegal, controlled and suspicious substances. We de-velop products in partnership with the military and emer-gency responders to meet requirements for accuracy, durability and ease of use in a broad range of missions.

Smiths Detection solutions allow your team the abil-ity to quickly, easily and accurately prepare your team with the latest and most advanced capabilities to tackle CBRNE missions.

Our product line includes: New - HazMatID™ 360 – newly enhanced, ruggedized

FT-IR analyzer that identifi es 32,000 unknown substanc-es, classifi es chemical hazards and provides extended secure wireless capabilities

New - LCD-NEXUS™ – ruggedized, highly sensitive and selective CWA and TIC detector to deploy stand alone or operated as part of a network to enhance perimeter protection

New - SmartBio™ Sensor – fi eld portable real-time biological detector of microbes, bio-toxins and genetically modifi ed agents.

New - BioACT™ – packaged advanced confi rmatory technologies for biological assessment

HazMatID™ Ranger – handheld FT-IR analyzer to im-mediately identify chemical “false alarms” and suspicious substances integrated with HazMasterG3 Software

Prime Alert™ – bio-detection threat verifi cation system that screens for microbes and key bio-toxins in minutes

Bio Check™ – rapid, sensitive powder screening test kitBioSeeq™ PLUS – high precision LATE PCR identifi er

for fi eld presumptive confi rmation of high threat biologi-cal agents.

New - HGVI™ with LINX Wireless Communications Kit – multi-sensor hazardous gas and vapour identifi er with state-of-the-art remote monitoring technology

New - RespondeR RCI with Explosives Screening Soft-ware – portable Raman solid and liquid chemical identifi -er, with new BLS software which enables rapid explosives screening through glass and plastic bottles

LCD Series™ – Wearable and compact CWA and TICs detect-to-warn device for individual detection

SABRE™ 4000 – Handheld IMS detector and identifi er for narcotics, explosives, TICs and CWAs

MMTD™ – Hardened multi-mode threat detector for trace detection of explosives and narcotics

HPRID™ – High performance radioisotope identifi er GasID™ – Portable gas and vapor FT-IR that can iden-

tify over 5,500 fl ammables, TICs and TIMs, corrosives and WMDs

Advanced Technologies: Smiths De-tection applies advanced tech-nologies to offer emergency responders, military and security personnel the latest, fastest, and most accurate solutions to detect and identify a broad range of substances including:

Suspicious PowdersTICs & CWAsDrugs & NarcoticsExplosivesPesticides

Volatile Organic CompoundsFlammables and Non-fl ammablesRadiationBacterial and Viral Warfare AgentsWeapons of Mass DestructionBiological Warfare AgentsImprovised Explosive Devices

Service and Support: Smiths Detection knows what it takes to support an array of products over their full life cycle. We strive to ensure equipment performs optimally and customer needs are effectively addressed.

Smiths Detection offers a full line of training programs. Topics include “Basic Product Operation”: to intensive “Advanced User” courses.

Dedicated service and Partnership Programs, including ReachBack 24/7/365 technical assistance, customized training seminars and regional user workshops are suc-cessful in supporting your equipment and your team.

Extensive Collection of Chemicals Librar-ies: We’ve built the largest collection of advanced threat assessment spectral libraries for the military and emer-gency responders worldwide. The databases consist of tens of thousands library entries, ranging from common household chemicals to explosives and chemical warfare agents.

Grant & Funding Opportunities: Smiths Detec-tion equipment qualifi es for many federal and/or state funding and grant opportunities. A list of Hazmat and preparedness related sources are available on our web-site at www.smithsdetection.com.

Contact Information: For more information or to schedule a demonstration of any of Smiths Detec-tion Global Military and Emergency Responder solutions please contact us at:

Toll Free: 888-473-6747Phone: 203-207-9700

Email: [email protected]

Smiths Detection21 Commerce Drive

Danbury, CT 06810 USAwww.smithsdetection.com



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EVERYTHING’S RIDING ON IT

“The drive to take a customer’s idea from concept to production to satisfy their need is what makes our busi-ness model work. The dedication of our customers to the communities they serve will not allow them to settle for conventional vehicles. They are truly the driving force behind our success.”

—John Sztykiel, President and CEO of Spartan Motors

That same drive has been at the heart of Spartan’s business since 1975 when Diamond Reo Trucks of Michi-gan declared bankruptcy. During that period, four young engineers saw an opportunity to strike out on their own and continue doing what they loved to do—design and build trucks. George Sztykiel, William Foster, Gerald Geary and John Knox sacrifi ced everything they could to establish the company; relying on word of mouth and their reputations to generate business.

Today, departments around the world choose Spartan products to safeguard their communities. The company’s ability to confi gure cabs and chassis to exact customer

specifi cations and performance needs, such as applica-tion, terrain, street confi guration and other factors is unprecedented in the emergency-response industry.

Spartan also provides specialized customer service, as well as training programs for vehicle operators, mechan-ics and technicians. Just this past August, the company hosted its 16th Annual Fire Truck Training Conference to rigorously train service personnel from across North America on its products and services.

As a market leader, Spartan’s product portfolio is responsive to the desires and budgets of departments globally. More than three decades of experience, along with thousands of options and premium components, al-low Spartan to accommodate a multitude of department needs and expectations.

Spartan understands that no two departments are the same and most of them require high levels of capabil-ity. When you spec a Spartan custom chassis, you can be confi dent you are getting advanced high-performance in a purpose-built chassis. Don’t settle for conventional, visit spartanchassis.com to fi nd out more.



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Summit Fire Apparatus is owned and operated by a family of fi re fi ghters. We are fi rst responders and incident commanders. We built our fi rst fi re truck in 1957. We are com-mitted to designing and building the emergency equipment required to meet the ever-changing needs of the

fi re industry. New technology and enhancements

abound in our units, but affordable quality remains constant. We special-ize in specialty vehicles. Air Truck, Brush Truck, Skid Units, Heavy Res-cue, Pumper, Tanker, Tender, Haz-Mat Units, Custom Trailers and our

newest edition, the R.E.D. Wagon. Just this year, we feel we have

designed the safest rooftop access in the industry. By utilizing a ROM hose bed cover and pneumatic handrails we have signifi cantly reduced the possibility of a fi refi ghter falling off the top of the truck.

In 2001, we introduced the fi re industry to the extended front bum-per. It has since been enhanced to include pre-connected tools, a trash line and a winch instantly ready and closer to the scene. It is hard to remember a time when the extended front bumper was not a standard feature.

In 2006 Summit introduced the Air and Light Vehicle along with a se-quencer that automatically chooses the cylinder with the lowest pressure fi rst. Using this approach to cascad-ing, you no longer need a mechanical degree and calculator to keep the tanks from equalizing before the job is complete.

Summit confi gured pump and foam components in a way that had never been done before to build an Indus-trial Foam Pumper for an oil refi nery fi re company. In 2010 Summit was awarded a contract in Australia to construct two more industrial foam pumpers. Mr. Messmer says, “Our proven track record and spirit of co-operation won us the contract.”

Recently Summit added Trailers to its line - Hazardous Materials CBRNE Response Vehicle, TRT Trailer (Tech-nical Rescue Team) and the R.E.D. Wagon (Remote Evacuation and Deployment).

Summit Fire Apparatus has been manufacturing custom fi re appa-ratus for over 50 years. President, Joe Messmer, says, “In that time we have ascertained one thing for certain, the customer wants what they want. We customize each unit. Your ideas are built into a safe, well equipped unit.”

Summit is located in Edgewood, Kentucky, just outside of Cincin-nati, Ohio. Contact Joe Messmer or Erich Gausman (859) 331-0360 www.SummitFireApparatus.com

MANUFACTURING

CUSTOM FIRE APPARATUS

FOR OVER 50 YEARS


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SUTPHEN CORPORATION –

THE TRADITION CONTINUES

Now on its fi fth generation, the strength and stability of Sutphen Corporation is unquestionable. Sutphen contin-ues to build quality fi re apparatus while remaining true to its family owned traditions.

The Sutphen product line has its standards, like our original Mid-Mount Aerial Platform, but over the past few years, the line has expanded to meet the needs of more Fire Departments. Flexibility and innovation are key char-acteristics at Sutphen Corporation. We understand the need to be fl exible for our customers, and we have the innovation to develop the products their job demands.

ChassisTo ensure the fi nest quality Sutphen Corporation builds

our Chassis from the ground up. There is no divided responsibility so our customers get fast, effi cient, reliable service and convenient parts access from one source. Sutphen Chassis are designed and manufactured follow-ing stringent specifi cations for strength and durability, and must meet load capacity and service requirements.

Custom PumpersSutphen quality and dependability is customized for

each department’s specifi c needs. We offer both Rescue and Traditional body styles in aluminum or stainless with a seemingly endless list of optional equipment. Each custom pumper is designed for maximum fi re-fi ghting capability.

If you desire custom quality but need commercial price, consider Sutphen’s line of Custom Commercial or C Se-ries Commercial pumpers.

Aerial PlatformsSutphen Aerial Platforms feature the Mid-Mount design

that provides unsurpassed safety, performance, reliability, and maneuverability. Only one out and down jack each side provides the industry’s quickest and most compact set-up. The Mid-Mount design with a high pivot point gives fi refi ghters the capability of working at low angles over the cab, and work on a 360-degree basis without moving the apparatus. The aerial device itself is constructed us-ing patented Huck Bolt technology, the same that is used in commercial and military aircraft. The elimination of welding the aerial reduces the risk of fatigue and cracked welds that can lead to costly repair and down time. The aerial is a four sided, box-boom design, allowing for a stronger aerial device and a totally enclosed, protected waterway. Sutphen Aerial Platforms are available in tan-dem and single axle models, the only one in the industry.

Aerial LaddersSutphen’s proven mid-mount design provides superior

weight distribution on chassis, extraordinary maneuver-ability, and easy access to the pumper-like hose bed, as there are no hose chutes or turntable in the way. The extruded-aluminum ladder is highly resistant to corrosion and has extraordinary strength and torsional rigidity, re-sulting in a 3:1 safety factor. Sutphen Aerials and Ladders have boast tips loads as high as 1000# and 750# while fl owing 1500 gpm at any angle, at full extension.

SPH 100 Aerial PlatformThe all new SPH 100 Aerial Platform gives you all the

features of our Tandem Axle Platforms with a shorter 230” wheelbase making it even more maneuverable. Other features include enclosed rear ladder storage, increased compartment space, and a larger platform. These improvements plus the already long list of benefi ts of a Sutphen Mid Mount Aerial Platform make the SPH 100 the best selling aerial platform in the business.

Shield Series PumpersThe Shield Series line of pumpers is our answer to the

ever-increasing popularity of program type trucks. With the Sutphen Shield Series, you get the same custom built quality and superior craftsmanship you have come to ex-pect from Sutphen. By offering standardized body styles and packaging options, we were able to keep the cost of production to a minimum. The Shield Series are built on our own Sutphen Chassis, and they are manufactured right along side our more customized units. Available with four (4) different body options, S1, S2, S3, and S4, you are sure to fi nd the right style for your needs.

The popularity of this line continues to grow as Sut-phen now offers the ability to design your own truck with the Virtual Firehouse/Truck Confi gurator on the Com-pany’s website.

Heavy RescueOur Heavy Rescue apparatus are custom designed

to fi t our customer’s requirements and are engineered to both maximize and optimize compartment space and storage. Sutphen can customize confi gurations for HazMat, Urban Search and Rescue, and Mobile Com-mand Center units.

Petrochemical and IndustrialCertain fi re fi ghting situations require a heavier duty ap-

paratus. Sutphen Petrochemical and Industrial fi re fi ghting apparatus can provide foam streams up to 3000 gpm at 110’ of aerial elevation from draft and up to 4000 gpm at 100’ of elevation with a pressurized water source. Pumper units are also available with pump outputs from 1500 to 5000 gpm.

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A SUTPHEN.



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On Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 9 a.m. the doors of the com-pany’s new world headquarters of-fi cially opened for business. Few who drive up to the building’s entrance will even think about it housing the

world’s most innovative manufacturer of fi refi ghting equipment. Rather, TFT’s two story, red-bricked fi re-house “façade” – complete with twin bright red fi re station doors and hand cut regional white limestone – will

more likely remind visitors of the fi re stations of childhood memories and dreams.

Guests coming through the front doors enter immediately into a world of memorabilia and treasures – TFT’s very own fi refi ghting museum. This two story showplace traces the com-pany from its very beginnings in the fall of 1971 (in the basement of the McMillan home on Michigan Avenue in Hobart, Indiana).

TFT’s new location will also allow a central base for TFT University – an ongoing program that enhances par-ticipant’s job skills through product and operational awareness activities and discussions. The program’s in-credible growth both on campus and on the road are the result of hands-on demonstrations, coupled with hand-tailored targeted workshops.

Being in one location allows the Service and Technical Support Team, consisting of fi refi ghters, mechani-cal and electircal engineers, repair technicians and equipment testers, to share an offi ce/work area and be available from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday.

TFT’s service team can be reached by email [email protected] or by calling toll-free to 800 348 2686 or 1 219 462 6161. Should the need arise, a team member is on call 24 hours, 7 days-a-week.


®

A 100% Improvement in

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• Ideal for Poor Performing Hydrants, Long Rural Water

Delivery Relays, or Small Diameter Hose Operations

• Lightweight Compact Design Provides Easy Deployment

and Hookup with a Pre-Connected Supply Line

AR Series

Oasis Hydrant

Assist Valve

Contact your local TFT dealer

at www.tft.com (800 348-2686)

and Schedule a Demo Today.

For more information visit www.tft.com/fe1

NOT JUST ANOTHER

NOZZLE COMPANY



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N5A NEW YORKER LEATHER

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Choose WISELY.Choose CAIRNS.

THOUSANDS OF HELMETS IN-STOCK AND READY TO SHIPTheFireStore.com | 800.852.6088

A Division of Witmer Public Safety Group, Inc.

AMERICA’S HELMET WAREHOUSE

1010 TRADITIONALCOMPOSITE

1044 TRADITIONAL COMPOSITE



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THEFIRESTORE.COM – EQUIPPING HEROESTM

WITH EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUCKTheFireStore.com has been serving the public safety

equipment and supply industry for more than a decade. TheFireStore.com was launched in 1996 to meet growing demand in the fi refi ghting community. The division serves the fi refi ghting community by offering product lines from more than 400 manufacturers.

Today they are a nationally recognized multi-channel dealer of public safety equipment and supplies. Current distribution channels include their nationally recog-nized e-commerce site, four retail locations and a large, seasoned direct sales force. Many of the products sold through the direct sales channel are restricted to specifi c territories by the manufacturers and require advanced training, ongoing service, and specialized attention that this expert force can deliver.

TheFireStore.com is currently headquartered in their own 35,000-square foot building in southeastern PA. Con-struction is wrapping up on the addition 29,000-square-feet of warehouse space. All of this is aimed at improving delivery time on the products you need from the names you know and trust.

Equipping Heroes! From our roots we have had a vision to serve and protect those brave men and women who serve and protect the public. Today we all fi nd the United States in need of that protection more than ever before. TheFireStore.com is positioned to continue equipping you - the heroes who work to insure the safety of all.

®


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INTRODUCING...


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BUILDING FIRE APPARATUS BODIES SINCE 1942

Toyne has been building fi re apparatus bodies since 1942. Specializing in aluminum and stainless steel con-struction, Toyne offers a complete line of fi re apparatus to meet the demands of the modern fi re service, anything from a rapid attack unit to an aerial platform.

Toyne is led by president Mike Schwabe and his brother and vice president Bill Schwabe, and remains a U.S. family owned business.

A recently completed 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art paint facility shows the commitment that Toyne has for the quality of the product for each customer.

Fully engineered CAD designs and CNC machining give Toyne the ability to not only build each and every truck in a custom manner, but also gives the ability to manufac-ture exact replacement parts if needed.

All facets of each apparatus are fully designed before being built on the fl oor helping to ensure the best fi t, function, and fi nish in the industry.

Whether built on a custom or commercial style chassis, Toyne has the ability to meet the needs of the fi re service both today and for tomorrow.

Don’t settle for less, step up to the best! www.toyne.com.


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THE BEST-SELLING WATER AND

FOAM TANKS IN THE INDUSTRY

Historically, water and foam tanks for fi re apparatus were manufactured primarily from steel or fi berglass which were heavy and prone to cracking. In 1982 the fi rst polypropylene water tank was conceived, designed and built through the efforts of a Lynnfi eld, Massachusetts Fire Department technician to replace a rusted steel tank in his department. Word of this successful concept spread quickly and other local Fire Departments sought a polypropylene replacement.

By December of 1986, the demand for this new tank material reached the point where the Lynnfi eld techni-cian and a fellow fi re fi ghter decided to be co-founders of the world’s fi rst polypropylene fi re tank business. The new company, United Plastic Fabricating, Inc. (UPF) opened their doors in North Andover, Massachusetts in a 6,400 square foot facility. Sales grew quickly and within a year’s period of time, UPF moved to a 10,000 square foot facility. UPF expanded operations to Florida in 1989 and to Wisconsin in 1991. With continued growth, UPF moved into a new 38,000 square foot corporate headquarters in 1992 which includes a design and engineering center. Today, UPF has over 140,000 square feet of facilities and employees over 275 people on its team.

Early in its twenty-fi ve years, UPF’s sales surpassed steel tanks to become the best selling water and foam tanks in the industry, while trade-marking the name, Poly-Tank®. UPF’s lifetime warranty, the most complete warranty in the industry, makes the Poly-Tank® the last tank you’ll ever need.

UPF’s product line has also expanded signifi cantly since 1986. Products include:

The Defender™ slip-on tanks: The Defender™ 2C has a standard compartment that can be converted to 12-gal-lon foam cell with optional foam cell kit and is available in three standard capacities: 200, 250 and 300. The Defender™ 3 is a standard model skid tank available in 150 (short-bed unit), 225 and 300 gallon capacities and comes standard with an integrated skid base, an expand-ed pump mounting area, hose reel mounting blocks and standard fi ttings.

The Ellipse™ tanks for ellipticals features UPF’s unique Closed-Curved™ baffl ing system. Each Ellipse™ tank has a high stability factor and is available in sizes from 1,000 - 4,000 gallons. The Ellipse™ features three styles - black textured, a painted fi nish or a stainless steel wrap.

The Ellip-T-Tank™ tank is a cost effective, semi-el-liptical tank with a T-shaped lower section. The smooth uninterrupted surface of the polypropylene walls is ideal for painting, as there are no external supports visible. The Ellip-T-Tank™ uses a standard Poly-Tank® sub frame making the installation simple and cost effective. The Ellip-T-Tank™ is available in sizes ranging from 1000 to 4000 gallon capacities.

The PolySide® wet-sided tank is a wet-sided tank designed to maximize your water supply. UPF PolySide® tanks weigh an average of 50% less than steel tanks. The design of the PolySide® provides the most rapid evacua-tion available in the industry.

Poly-Tank® ARFF tanks are standard equipment to the major ARFF manufacturers in the US. Typical sizes are 1500, 3000 and 4500 Gallons. UPF ARFF tanks are fi eld tested in locations in the US and worldwide and can be custom built with unique options and features.

The Protector™ Foam Trailers have been fi eld proven by the military, industrial, airport, and municipal fi re departments around the world. UPF foam trailers come in sizes ranging from 250 to 3,000 gallon capacities. Trailers offer a variety of transfer and application equip-ment in the form of hand lines, monitors and proportion-ing systems capable of fl owing 100 gpm to 2,000 gpm. Additionally, trailers with a foam transfer pump capable of on-loading or off-loading foam concentrate. Other op-tions include the capability to carry haz-mat equipment or bulk supplies.

Additionally, UPF manufactures industrial products - the PolyBody® for service and line trucks, the PolyBox® underbody truck toolboxes and a variety of polypropylene trays and accessories that are non-corrosive, high impact polypropylene.

With over 75,000 tanks in service worldwide in more than 85 countries, UPF continues to be the world market leader selling twice as many tanks as all of its competi-tors combined.

With the latest in capital equipment and sophisticated software, UPF’s dedicate team offers innovative designs and practical solutions by providing long lasting, cost effective polypropylene alternatives to existing metal and fi berglass products worldwide.



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ES TO IRAQ AND BACK, RONALD

WASHINGTON EARNS A DEGREE

IN FIRE SCIENCE FROM UMUCRonald Washington knew he wanted to earn

a BS in Fire Science, but needed to fi nd a way to manage it while working as a civilian con-tractor in Iraq. University of Maryland Univer-sity College (UMUC) offered the program and fl exibility he needed.

Washington chose UMUC after researching several universities online. “It seemed like a good fi t for me,” he says. “The Web site was very professional and in addition to fi re science, the university offered other courses of interest to me such as homeland security and emergency preparedness. UMUC’s program also offered a good combination of class work and hands-on training.”

Scheduling time for school was challenging for Wash-ington. He worked 12-hour shifts every day in Iraq as a health and safety coordinator, conducting safety inspec-tions, audits, assessments and safety meetings. “I used every minute to my advantage,” he says. “I was blessed to have a job that allowed me to sit behind a desk at vari-ous times throughout the day. During my free time I did homework or studied for tests and made phone calls to my wife and family back home.”

Washington returned home permanently from Iraq in November 2008 and graduated from UMUC in May 2009. He is currently work-ing as a lead safety health and environmental representative for a large module company in his hometown.

Washington is grateful to UMUC for ev-erything it has done for him. “UMUC has prepared me to advance in my profession,”

he says. “The teachers were all great; they were under-standing of the hardships I faced working 12-hour shifts in Iraq.” He adds that his most memorable accomplish-ments are completing the Fire Science Cooperative Education Program (COOP), which allows UMUC students to apply classroom theory to real-world professional proj-ects, and WRTG 394 Advanced Business Writing.

“Receiving my bachelor’s degree from UMUC has given me the confi dence to succeed in a competitive safety fi eld,” says Washington. “I’m eligible for promotion with my current employer or if I choose to change companies, I have the credentials to do so. I have already recom-mended UMUC to a lot of my friends and family. And, when I decide to return to school for my master’s degree, UMUC will defi nitely be my fi rst choice.”

Copyright © 2010 University of Maryland University College

FIRE SCIENCEPREPARE YOURSELF TO

MOVE UP THE LADDER.

800-888-UMUC • umuc.edu/leaderstodayEnroll now.

• Courses developed in conjunction with the National Fire Academy

and the Federal Emergency Management Administration

• Learn the skills you need for chief executive and senior

leadership positions

• Scholarships, loans and an interest-free monthly payment

plan available

Get ready to take the lead. Earn your bachelor’s degree in fire

science from University of Maryland University College (UMUC).

Offered completely online, the program focuses on managerial

skills and covers disaster planning and interagency coordination.

You could even earn up to 30 credits in one semester for what

you’ve learned on the job, with UMUC’s Prior Learning program.



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CORPORATE PROFILES

WHP Trainingtowers is the premier provider of Live Fire Training Towers and Burn Room Liners designed to meet the needs of Fire Departments, Community Colleges and various branches of the Military. The company’s Alarm Series offers numerous designs that are then customized to best meet the needs of the organization. These de-signs include the High Rise, the General Alarm, a Move-able Simulator, and the 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st Alarm. The company has a rich history of designing custom state of the art structures to accommodate nearly every con-ceivable fi re training operation covering a whole range of scenarios; residential, commercial, high-rise, shipboard fi refi ghting, confi ned space, rappelling and SWAT team operations.

The company provides turnkey solutions from design “through” construction “through” placing your building in service. The company uses a two part framing system to create a rugged building specifi cally for heavy duty fi re training. The buildings incorporate fl oor joists that are 12” on center and hot dipped galvanized stairs & railings. The buildings are powder coat painted in a variety of col-ors. 4” concrete fl ooring is available throughout.

The company offers a number of interior and exterior options to further customize the simulators. Exterior op-tions include stairs, caged ladders, forcible entry props, cantilevered balconies, inset balconies, rappel anchors, brick facades, ship’s doors, garage doors and more. Inte-rior options include gas fi red simulators, confi ned space simulators, smoke distribution systems, standpipes, pivot doors, search & rescue mazes and more. The maze panels are offered in a variety of confi gurations including half panels, full panels, breaching panels and door panels allowing the user to create a variety of confi gurations. Simulators can be further customized with a variety of roof styles including, dual pitch roofs, sloped roofs, mansard roofs, bar grate roofs and split roofs. Chop-out props are fl ush with the roof for safety and realism. The company also works with departments wanting to expand their existing training building.

WHP designs burn rooms to protect both new and ex-isting structures from repeated burns. WHP burn rooms work well with either Class A or gas simulator fi res. Liner panels in conjunction with air space, created by a com-bination of hat channels and battens, provide excellent insulation. The company offers three liner panels to be incorporated into the burn rooms: Padgenite 1TM, Super PadgeniteTM, and Duraliner HTTM. Burn rooms can be further enhanced with temperature monitoring and burn cribs.

To learn more:

[email protected]

800-351-2525

Enter 155 at fireeng.hotims.comwww.FireEngineering.com


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ES DEDICATED TO SERVING

THE WORLD’S FIRE AND

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Since 1908, Darley has been dedicated to serving the World’s Fire and Emergency Services. We are a manufac-turer and distributor of fi refi ghting pumps, fi re apparatus, and fi refi ghting equipment and remain a family owned and operated company. Our corporate headquarters are located at 325 Spring Lake Drive in Itasca, IL 60143, and our manufacturing, engineering and research and devel-opment operations are in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and Toledo, Oregon.

W.S. Darley & Co. has purchased a new headquarters in Itasca, IL. The new facility is over 40,000 sq feet and is located about 10 minutes from their previous headquar-ters in Melrose Park, IL. According to company president Paul C. Darley, “We had been in our previous building for almost 50 years. Our business is growing, and this new state-of-the-art facility has almost double the amount of space that we had in our Melrose Park headquarters. This new building also better refl ects our corporate image as we move into our next 100 years of business. It will allow us to continue to expand our business to better serve the needs of our growing customer base.” Darley is currently making some improvements to the building and will move into the new facility in January, 2008. The new building is located at 325 Spring Lake Drive in Itasca, IL 60143. All telephone numbers will remain unchanged.

We remain a family owned and operated business com-mitted to customer service and our employees. Company operations are overseen by the executive committee con-sisting of three Chief Operating Offi cers, Jeff, Paul and Peter Darley, The Chief Executive Offi cer is Bill Darley and he is certifi ed engineer and has been with our com-pany for over 50 years. He is one of the most respected individuals in the fi re service due to his commitment and integrity. He served as President of the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association and currently serves on sev-eral corporate and charity boards.

Our entire company is committed to customer satisfac-tion. We are dedicated to excellence and offer a diverse line of quality products and services through progressive design, manufacturing and distribution.

Darley has the plants, engineering and machinery to design, manufacture and assemble a wide variety of fi re and emergency products.

Our engineering staff includes certifi ed and profession-al engineers. Our company utilizes the latest in Computer Aided Design (CAD), and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) to ensure that all manufacturing designs are com-pletely incorporated within the manufacturing process.

Our dealer and service network consists of over 200 U.S. distributors in all 50 states. We have more than 50 International dealers located in over 40 countries. Our products are found in more than 70 countries around the world. Parts and services are also directly available from our plants with the convenience of toll-free numbers, fax

and telex. Our goal is to ship replacement parts within 24 hours after receipt of order.

W. S. Darley & Co. has been supplying apparatus, pumps and fi refi ghting equipment to the United States Federal Government as well as other governments and agencies around the world for over 60 years. During World War II, we received the Army/Navy E Award for excellence three times, producing thousands of centrifu-gal fi re pumps for military bases around the world. Many of these pumps are still in service today. Each year we are awarded hundreds of federal government contracts primarily for supplies from our fi re fi ghting, law enforce-ment and municipal supplies catalogs.

Darley was recently awarded major contracts by the Department of Defense to provide our forces with fi re fi ghting, rescue and special operational equipment. They are introducing a new low cost line of CAFS and Purifi re Water Purifi cation Systems at this year’s FDIC. Request a free copy of our 2009 catalog with 300 pages of the lat-est equipment for Fire and Homeland Security.

Visit us at the FDIC booths 1922, 2021, and 7126.



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© 2010 Eye Safety Systems, Inc.

FIREPROTM

GOGGLECROSSBOWTM

EYESHIELD CDI MAXTM

SUNGLASS

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Eye Safety Systems, Inc. was founded in 1998 with the mission of creating eye protection optimized for the world’s most demanding oc-cupations. Founder and CEO John Dondero brought the performance and style benefi ts of sports eyewear to the world of serious eye protec-tion, relaying his expertise in sports-goggles into a passion for eye safety. With the consultation of veteran fi re-fi ghters and exhaustive research and development, the fi rst ESS product line was introduced: the ESS Strik-eteam™ wildland fi re goggles. Since then, ESS has developed many more products for the fi refi ghting, law en-forcement, and military markets, and has become known for introducing advancements not yet found in other eye protection systems.

ESS has now sold over 8.4 million units of eyewear, becoming the larg-est supplier of military eye protection in the world and establishing itself as a leading brand for the fi refi ghting market, being the premier eye protec-tion option for nearly every major helmet manufacturer. The focus of ESS’ management, design, and sales teams is to provide the highest quality products to its customers, tailored to their specifi c needs: no other eyewear company listens more attentively to customer feedback than ESS.

There are three tenets to the ESS philosophy:

Quality. ESS eyewear is backed by a 1-year warranty against defects in manufacturing and workmanship and has a return rate of less than 1/20th of 1%. Strict quality controls and competitive pricing make ESS an exceptional value. ESS products are known for their toughness, perfor-mance, and reliability.

Innovation. The ESS Product De-velopment team has issued a long line of industry-fi rsts. From sparking the revolution in low-profi le ballistic mili-tary goggles (the ESS Profi le NVG™ series) to introducing a universal-fi t, anti-fog eyeshield system (the ESS Crossbow™ & Crossbow Suppressor™, 2010 EMS World Top Innovation Win-ner), ESS is the eye-protection leader that has shaped the modern eye pro industry through its constant ingenuity. Today, imitations of ESS products and designs abound but none approach the quality of the original.

Service. ESS products are made to rigid safety specifi cations in the

USA. Manufactured by Oakley, ESS boasts unsurpassed R&D and produc-tion capabilities that uniquely position it to quickly fi ll the largest military orders and design unique solutions meeting the needs of its varied mar-ketplace. ESS responds immediately to customer needs and is dedicated to providing the highest level of service.

From the battlefi eld to the fi re

ground, our inspiration is fueled by a passion to protect the defenders of freedom and public safety around the globe. Through innovative design, continuous product refi nement and a dedicated focus on protecting eyes, ESS looks to the future with an ongoing commitment to bring its customers the fi nest, most reliable eye protection available.


THE MOST RELIABLE EYE

PROTECTION AVAILABLE



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APPARATUS DELIVERIES BY JOHN M. MALECKY

>> The Birtle (Manitoba, Canada) Fire Department de-

signed this FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS pumper to protect

rural farming properties, explains Chief Kevin Hickman. The

vehicle can maneuver well enough to cross over farm fi elds

for fast-moving stubble hay land fi res, as well as to fi ght

structural fi res.

Features/Equipment:

• FREIGHTLINER M2 106 chassis with 224-inch wheelbase

and two-seat cab;

• CATERPILLAR C7 330-hp diesel engine with ALLISON

3000 EVS automatic transmission and pump-and-roll

capability;

• Model MXV Crown Cab Unit enclosing top-mount pump

panel and providing three seats;

• WATEROUS CS single-stage, 840-igpm pump with

HYPRO Foam Pro 1600 system, four-inch rear intake, one-

inch front bumper line (reduced from 1½-inch discharge),

two 1½-inch speedlays (under module seats), 2½-inch rear

preconnect, and AKRON Fire Fox front bumper turret;

• WELLINGTON PLASTICS 1,000-imperial gallon water

and 25-imperial gallon foam tanks;

• HOLMATRO rescue tools;

• BULLARD thermal imaging camera; and

• light and power with HONDA fi ve-kw gasoline generator

and two FRC fl oodlights mounted midship.

Enter 1 at fi reeng.hotims.com

>> The Wilmington (NC) Fire Department uses this METAL

CRAFT fi re-rescue boat to protect an area with many storage

tanks, a river walk dock with dock space, and boat dockage

areas, explains Assistant Chief Ron Jordan. It is also used for

rescue and serves as a dive platform for extended operations,

allowing for fl exibility in responding on mutual aid to surround-

ing beach communities with limited or no watercraft resources.

The boat will be staffed by engine or squad personnel, increas-

ing its versatility.

Features/Equipment:

• Firestorm 50 Model (50-foot, fi ve-inch length; 15-foot,

10-inch beam; and 18-inch draft);

• two CATERPILLAR C 18 885-hp diesel engines and two

354 HAMILTON jets;

• two HALE 8FG single-stage, 3,000-gpm pumps (pump-

ing up to 7,000 gpm together) and HYPRO Foam Pro

Accumax system;

• common manifold supplied by both pumps with 16

discharges (fore, aft, and midship) for supply lines and

handlines;

• four ELKHART monitors (two Copperhead models aft

and one Scorpion each fore and on roof);

• 500-gallon foam tank;

• provision to roll a Stokes litter through the pilot house

door to an EMS bench;

• PHILLIPS AED; and

• dive platform.


>> The Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) Fire Depart-

ment designed this SVI TRUCKS hazmat unit with a custom-

built resource area and an operations area in the body which

has a push-out section that increases the area to 24 square

feet, explains Deputy Chief Tom McEwen. This allows the

option of suiting up in an area with adequate room to move

around in. It also provides room to set up a round table with

seating for six to host multiagency briefi ngs inside a secure

area.

Features/Equipment:

• SPARTAN chassis with 231-inch wheelbase and four-seat

cab with 20-inch raised roof, rear command area, over-

head cabinets, HP all-in-one unit, two LCD monitors, and

DVD/HDD unit;

• CUMMINS ISL 370-hp diesel engine with ALLISON 3000

EVSPR automatic transmission;

• 22-foot walk around/walk-in body with four seats, ROB-

INSON roll-up compartment doors, and exterior CARE

FREE awning on right side;

• rear bumper-mounted electric assist step;

• WILL BURT mast with PELCO camera;

• two HANNAY reels (one each low pressure air and elec-

tric cord); and

• light and power with KOHLER 20-kw diesel generator,

SVI Command Light, and 10 WHELEN fi xed scene lights

(two on cab, eight on body).



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PRODUCTS/SERVICES/MEDIA

>> Black Diamond Footwear’s FIRE

BOOTS, which include the X-BOOT (pic-

tured), feature Ortholite footbeds, fi re-retar-

dant leather, and CROSSTECH® fabric. The

only fi re boot to have the American Podiat-

ric Medical Association Seal of Approval for

encouraging improved foot health, Black

Diamond Footwear’s boots are designed

with proven shoemaking technologies and

construction. Using proprietary materials and fi refi ghter input,

Black Diamond Footwear’s boots meet NFPA 1971 standards.

www.blackdiamondfootwear.com. (800) 459-5895.


>> SAFER Systems’ SAFER HOME-

LAND RESPONDER™ 1.1 (pictured) and

HAZMAT RESPONDER™ 1.1 have been

upgraded with over a dozen new enhance-

ments, making the products easier to use

and better for planning for, responding to,

and conducting detailed postevent analy-

ses of chemical emergency events. Both

are designed to minimize the impact on human life, property,

and commerce when an accidental or intentional release of

toxic chemicals occurs. Enhancements include a more powerful

Source Area Locator™ function that makes it simpler to locate

the likely source area of a chemical release; improved sensor

display functionality; and a new, specialized model that ad-

dresses combustion events and the dispersion and deposition

of toxic substances. www.safersystemv10.com. (805) 383-9711.


>> Panasonic Solutions Company’s

TOUGHBOOK U1 ULTRA combines

the portability of a handheld computer,

the benefi ts of a full Windows OS, the

durability needed for enterprise applica-

tions, and a suite of available integrated

features. Equipped with a Transfl ective-

Plus display for up to 6,000 nit viewability in direct sunlight,

64GB solid state hard drive, 2 GB of memory, an Intel® Atom

Processor (Z530 1.6Ghz), and Windows 7®. The device is ideal

for highly mobile jobs. Features include Intel® Atom™ proces-

sor Z530 (1.6GHz), 5.6-inch WSVGA sunlight-viewable touch-

screen, and circular polarizer with antiglare and antirefl ective

screen treatments. www.toughbook.com. (800) 527-8675.


>> MSA’s PREMAIRE® CADET ESCAPE

RESPONDER WITH ESCAPE CYLINDER

AND APR CONVERSION FACEPIECE is

a combination supplied-air respirator that

offers small size, simplicity, and economy.

Streamlined new design offers fi rst-stage

regulator and cylinder valve within one

assembly that’s less likely to snag within

tight spaces. Low-profi le escape cylinders can be worn on

right or left hip. Ultra Elite® Responder Pressure-Demand face-

piece with APR conversion capability offers choice of sizes and

nose cups. It is NIOSH approved as a combination supplied-

air respirator and self-contained breathing apparatus. www.

msanorthamerica.com. (800) MSA-2222.


>> Ziamatic Corp.’s PERSONAL

GEAR/HELMET POUCH, MODEL

PGP-1 is a PVC-coated polyester pouch

that includes grommets for simple and

secure mounting to most surfaces.

Mount the pouch inside the crew com-

partment and quickly stow a helmet, gloves, small tools, or

personal effects on the way to the scene. The large one-hand

buckle is easy to use with or without gloves. NFPA 1901-09

compliant and third-party tested to nine g-force, it fi ts all

current traditional and contemporary helmet styles. With no

hard edges, the collapsible pouch is a safe and economical

storage option. www.ziamatic.com. (800) 711-FIRE.


>> Cole Hersee’s VOLTAGE SENSING

RELAY & TIMER (VSRT) is part of the

FlexMod™ line of products. The FlexMod

VSRT conserves the starting power of a

vehicle battery by shutting off auxiliary

loads when either starting voltage drops

to a low level or a preset timer times out. Excessive battery

discharge is a problem that is sometimes unavoidable, particu-

larly for emergency vehicles. When a vehicle is left idling with

active warning lights and other onboard loads, a battery defi cit

can still arise, and the emergency vehicle cannot be restarted.

The FlexMod VSRT virtually eliminates the possibility of a

vehicle’s not reaching the next emergency situation becuase of

a dead battery. www.colehersee.com. (617) 268-2100.


>> Reelcraft’s Series 30000 line of

heavy-duty CORD REELS keeps long

lengths of expensive electrical cord

off the ground and out of harm’s way.

The reels are designed to handle long

lengths of 10/3, 12/3, and 16/3 cable.

Choose from bevel crank, hand crank,

and electric motor-driven rewind. These

industrious reels are constructed of heavy-gauge steel and

assembled with vibration-proof, self-locking fasteners to en-

sure assembly integrity. They undergo a fi ve-stage cleaning

process and are individually powder-coated for the highest

quality paint adhesion. www.reelcraft.com. (800) 444-3134.


>> Affi liated Computer Services, Inc.’s

FHINSPECTOR FOR IPAD™ is the fi rst ap-

plication for the Apple iPad that improves

the quality of fi re inspections and allows

information to be easily shared with fi re-

fi ghters, giving them access to critical data

in an emergency. Part of the FIREHOUSE

Software™ suite of offerings, this applica-

tion combines the user-friendly iPad inter-

face with GPS technology and the ability to better perform fi re

inspections and track key information such as building details,

evacuation plans, and hydrant locations. The complete inspec-

tion solution with an iPad and application features GPS to de-

termine a building’s location and other useful information for

inspectors and fi refi ghters. Available on the Apple iTunes Store

for download. www.fi rehousesoftware.com. (800) 921-5300.



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CONFERENCES/EXHIBITIONSJANUARY 13-15, 2011, NAEMSP Annual Conference. Bo-

nita Springs, Florida. Sponsor: National Association of EMS

Physicians. Contact: (800) 228-3677, (913) 895-4611.

Fax: (913) 895-4652. E-mail: [email protected]. Web

site: www.naemsp.org.

JANUARY 20-21, 2011, IAFC Labor Management Initia-

tive (LMI) Conference. Phoenix, Arizona. Sponsor: Interna-

tional Association of Fire Chiefs. Contact: (866) 486-0737.

E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.iafc.org.

JANUARY 23-27, 2011, FDSOA Apparatus Symposium.

Orlando, Florida. Fire Department Safety Offi cers Associa-

tion. Contact: Sally McCormack, (508) 881-3114; Bob Finley,

(618) 344-2595. Web site: www.fdsoa.org.

FEBRUARY 4-6, 2011, MU FRTI 30th Annual Winter Fire

School. Columbia, Missouri. Sponsor: University of Missouri

Fire Rescue Training Institute. Contact: (800) 869-3476, (573)

882-4735. Fax: (573) 882-0678. Web site: www.mufrti.org.

FEBRUARY 12-13, 2011, Fourth Annual Monroeville Fire

Show. Monroeville, Pennsylvania. Sponsor: Kelly Simon Pro-

ductions. Contact: (800) 747-5599. E-mail: ksimon@kellysi-

montradeshows.com. Web site: www.nylawexpo.com.

FEBRUARY 21-22, 2011, IAFC Executive Edge: Boot

Camp for Fire and EMS Leaders. St. Petersburg, Florida.

Sponsor: International Association of Fire Chiefs. Contact:

(866) 385-9110. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.

iafc.org.

FEBRUARY 25-27, 2011, 18th Annual NCESMF Confer-

ence. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sponsor: National Col-

legiate EMS Foundation. Contact: (208) 728-7342. E-mail:

[email protected]. Web site: www.ncemsf.org/conf2011.

MARCH, 16-23, 2011, National Fire Service Staff and Com-

mand Course. Ocean City, Maryland. Sponsors: Maryland Fire

and Rescue Institute, International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Contact: (800) ASK-MFRI. Web site: www.mfri.org.

MARCH 27-31, 2011, IAFC Wildland Urban Interface Con-

ference. Reno, Nevada. Sponsor: International Association of

Fire Chiefs. Contact: (708) 344-1112, (877) 394-9478. E-mail:

[email protected]. Web site: www.iafc.org.

COURSES/SEMINARSJANUARY 20-23, 2011, Ice Diving Search and Rescue/

Recovery. Kingston, New York. Sponsor: Team Lifeguard

Systems, Inc. Contacts (845) 657-5544. Fax: (845) 657-5549.

Web Site: http://teamlgs.com.

JANUARY 22, 2011, Ice Rescue Technician. Harrisville, New

Hampshire. Sponsor: Lifesaving Resources. Contact: (603) 827-

4139. Fax: (603) 584-1182. Web site: http://lifesaving.com.

JANUARY 24-27, 2011, Incident Command Emergency

Response. Reno, Nevada. Sponsor: University of Nevada-

Reno Fire Science Academy. Contact: (775) 754-6003, (866)

914-0015. Web site: www.fi reacademy.unr.edu.

JANUARY 25-FEBRUARY 5, Hazmat/WMD Technician

for Surface Transportation Incidents (HWMDST). Pueblo,

Colorado. Sponsor: Security and Emergency Response Train-

ing Center. Contact: (719) 584-0584. Web site: www.hazmat-

training.com.

FEBRUARY 5, 2011, Ice Rescue Technician. Harrisville, New

Hampshire. Sponsor: Lifesaving Resources. Contact: (603)

827-4139. Fax: (603) 584-1182. Web site: http://lifesaving.

com.

FEBRUARY 5-6, 2011, Surface Ice Rescue Level 2. Clinton

Heights, New York. Sponsor: Team Lifeguard Systems, Inc.

Contact: (845) 657-5544. Fax: (845) 657-5549. Web Site:

http://teamlgs.com.

FEBRUARY 8-10, 2011, HAZWOPER 24-Hour Hazardous

Materials First Responder Operations. Carlin, Nevada.

Sponsor: University of Nevada-Reno Fire Science Academy.

Contact: (775) 754-6003, (866) 914-0015. Web site: www.

fi reacademy.unr.edu.

FEBRUARY 15-19, Highway Emergency Response Special-

ist (HERS). Pueblo, Colorado. Sponsor: Security and Emer-

gency Response Training Center. Contact: (719) 584-0584.

Web site: www.hazmattraining.com.

FEBRUARY 17-20, 2011, Ice Rescue Train-the-Trainer

Academy. Hancock, New Hampshire. Sponsor: Lifesaving Re-

sources. Contact: (603) 827-4139. Fax: (603) 584-1182. Web

site: http://lifesaving.com.

FEBRUARY 18-19, 2011, Firefi ghter Development Sym-

posium 2011. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sponsor: Fire Training

Resources. Contact: (866) 966-9295. Web site: www.fi retrain-

ingresources.net.

FEBRUARY 22-26, Tank Car Specialist (TCS). Pueblo, Colo-

rado. Sponsor: Security and Emergency Response Training

Center. Contact: (719) 584-0584. Web site: www.hazmattrain-

ing.com.

MARCH 5, 2011, Ice Rescue Technician. Harrisville, New

Hampshire. Sponsor: Lifesaving Resources. Contact: (603)

827-4139. Fax: (603) 584-1182. Web site: http://lifesaving.

com.

MARCH 7-11, 2011, Wildland Firefi ghter II. Carlin,

Nevada. Sponsor: University of Nevada-Reno Fire Science

Academy. Contact: (775) 754-6003, (866) 914-0015. Web site:

www.fi reacademy.unr.edu.

MARCH 8-11, 2011, Industrial Fire Brigade Leader. Carlin,

Nevada. Sponsor: University of Nevada-Reno Fire Science

Academy. Contact: (775) 754-6003, (866) 914-0015.

MARCH 18-20, Engine Company Operations I. Indianapo-

lis, Indiana. Sponsor: Fire Department Training Network. Con-

tact: (317) 862-9679. Fax: (317) 862-9685. Web site: www.

fdtraining.com.

MARCH 18-20, Truck Company Operations I. Indianapolis,

Indiana. Sponsor: Fire Department Training Network. Con-

tact: (317) 862-9679. Fax: (317) 862-9685. Web site: www.

fdtraining.com.

MARCH 29-APRIL 2, Intermodal Specialist (IMS). Pueblo,

Colorado. Sponsor: Security and Emergency Response Train-

ing Center. Contact: (719) 584-0584. Web site: www.hazmat-

training.com.

APRIL 13, 2011, Commercial Building Fires Seminar with

Captain Bill Gustin. Carol Stream, Illinois. Sponsor: Fire

Training Resources. Contact: (866) 966-9295. Web site: www.

fi retrainingresources.net.

COMING EVENTS

FDIC The upcoming Fire Department Instructors Conference

(FDIC) offers dynamic fi re service leaders in its General

Sessions, nationally known instructors in its Hands-On

Training (H.O.T) and classroom sessions, and the latest

technology from fi re industry exhibitors.

MARCH 21-26, 2011, FDIC. Indianapolis, Indiana.

Contacts: (888) 299-8016.

E-mail: [email protected].

Web site: www.fdic.com.


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http://www.firetrainingresources.net

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http://www.fireacademy.unr.edu

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http://www.ncemsf.org/conf2011

http://www.firetrainingresources.net


http://www.iafc.org

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http://www.mufrti.org

http://teamlgs.com

http://www.fdsoa.org

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FIRE ENGINEERING’S ONLINE SOURCE FOR OFF-DUTY FIREFIGHTERS.Visit FireLife.com for information on Recipes, Hunting Videos, Financial Tips, Health, Sports and more.


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>> The ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)

has begun enforcing its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting

Rule. The EPA announced earlier this year that it would delay

enforcement to allow adequate time for industry profession-

als to become trained and certifi ed in the new regulations.

ESA members who work in pre-1978 homes are affected by

these regulations and must be compliant; failure to comply

can result in litigation from consumers. The regulation applies

to all renovations performed in pre-1978 homes and child-

occupied facilities that result in the disturbance of painted

surfaces of six square feet or more per interior room or more

than 20 square feet for exterior surfaces. View the new regu-

lations at www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.

>> The INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHT-

ERS (IAFF) presented a check for $27,879,000 to the Mus-

cular Dystrophy Association (MDA) during the 2010 Jerry

Lewis MDA Telethon. The record-breaking contribution was

delivered to MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey

Umali during the 21½-hour broadcast. The contribution rep-

resents year-round fundraising efforts for MDA by the IAFF,

MDA’s largest sponsor. The IAFF has been an MDA national

sponsor for 56 years. Its employees and customers have

raised money for the MDA through their involvement with

the annual Fill-The-Boot campaign, golf and softball tourna-

ments, and other special events. For more information on

these programs, please visit http://mda.org/help/natevents.

html. www.iaff.org.

>> PIERCE MANUFACTURING INC. has sold a Contender®

wildland fi refi ghting vehicle to the Villages (FL) Fire Depart-

ment (VFD), located 30 miles south of Ocala, Florida. This

fast-growing department serves a retirement community of

80,000 residents. The Pierce apparatus features all-wheel

drive, seating for four fi refi ghters, and a 320-amp alterna-

tor. The fi refi ghting system includes a 500-gallon water tank,

two booster hose reels, and a 20-gallon foam cell. The VFD

was formed in 2000, and in 10 years has grown to include six

fi re stations and a force of 67 career fi refi ghters. The depart-

ment’s protection area includes 38 square miles, 80,000

residents, and more than 2 million square feet of retail space.

www.piercemfg.com.

>> HONEYWELL announced that it will integrate Sperian

Protection Instrumentation, LLC into Honeywell Analytics

Americas, which is part of the Honeywell Automation and

Control Solutions Life Safety business. Honeywell Analytics

and Sperian Instrumentation are leading providers of gas-

detection solutions and services. Sperian Instrumentation,

formerly Biosystems, is a world leader in gas detection. The

Biosystems family is used in hazardous locations throughout

the world and offers a full range of gas-detection products in-

cluding portable gas monitors, best-in-class docking stations,

and a line of fi xed gas-detection systems. www.honeywell-

now.com.

>> Effective January 1, 2011, The NATIONAL VOLUNTEER

FIRE COUNCIL (NVFC) will make changes to its member-

ship dues. All staff and state department and Junior mem-

bership dues will increase from $10 to $12 per person. The

NVFC will also begin offering a 10-percent discount on the

Personal Member rate (normally $30) and the Department

Member rate (normally $50) for those who renew their mem-

bership at least 30 days prior to their membership expiration

date. The NVFC will also introduce a new two-year member-

ship option with a 10-percent discount off the regular Per-

sonal and Department Member rates. Information is at www.

nvfc.org/membership. (888) 275-6832.

>> UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA (UA) data published in the

Journal of the American Medical Association showed that the

overall survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

was 5.2 percent without any bystander CPR, 7.8 percent

when bystanders did conventional CPR with rescue breaths,

and 13.3 percent for those receiving chest-compression-only

CPR. The study also identifi ed that the rate of bystanders

becoming involved with CPR for patients with out-of-hospital

cardiac arrest increased signifi cantly from 28 percent in 2005,

when the statewide study began, to 40 percent by the end

of 2009. View a six-minute instructional video produced by

the UA Sarver Heart Center on www.medicine.arizona.edu/

sarver-cpr.

Names in the News>> Acting United States Fire Administrator GLENN GAINES

signed the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge after his

fi rst all-hands meeting with United States Fire Administration

staff. Gaines emphasized that wearing seat belts is an es-

sential component of efforts to ensure fi refi ghter safety in fi re

apparatus and vehicles. Vehicle crashes remain the number

two cause of fi refi ghter on-duty deaths. Gaines also signed

his name to the 100% Seat Belt Pledge Certifi cate, awarded

to any fi re department that has all members take the pledge.

So far, more than 154,000 fi refi ghters have taken the pledge

and about 800 fi re departments have achieved 100-percent

participation. To fi nd out more, view www.trainingdivision.

com/seatbeltpledge.asp.

>> The International Fire Service Accreditation Congress

(IFSAC) announced that former chairman TIM BRADLEY

has been recognized by The Institution of Fire Engineers

(IFE) as a “Fellow” for his work in the fi re service and, more

specifi cally, on International Fire Service Accreditation. Since

its inception in 1918, IFE has recognized fewer than 200

“Fellows” internationally. Bradley coauthored a paper with

Dr. Robin Willis Lee from the Fire Service College in Moreton

Marsh, England, on Accreditation of Fire Service Training and

Education Internationally. Bradley is a 36-year fi re service

veteran and serves as senior deputy commissioner of insur-

ance in charge of the Offi ce of State Fire Marshal in North

Carolina. www.ifsac.org.

>> PAUL MCCULLOCH, technical support supervisor for

Fire Safety at Uponor, was appointed to a three-year term

to the Residential Fire Sprinkler Design and Installation

Exam Development Committee by the International Code

Council® (ICC) Board for International Professional Standards

(BIPS). McCulloch, who started with Uponor in 2003, has

been designing, installing, and training on residential fi re

sprinkler systems for more than 12 years. He has moved up

from designer to lead designer and now to supervisor on the

company’s multipurpose plumbing and fi re sprinkler system,

called AquaSAFE™, quickly becoming Uponor’s premier

expert on residential fi re sprinkler systems as well as on U.S.

and Canadian building and fi re codes. www.uponor-usa.com.

COMPANY/ASSOCIATION NEWS


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http://www.uponor-usa.com

http://www.honeywellnow.com

http://www.ifsac.org

http://www.piercemfg.com

http://www.trainingdivision.com/seatbeltpledge.asp

http://www.iaff.org

http://mda.org/help/natevents.html

http://www.medicine.arizona.edu/sarver-cpr

http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm

http://www.nvfc.org/membership

http://mda.org/help/natevents.html





C O M M U N I CAT I O N S

For classified advertising information,

Contact: Tricia IlacquaTel.: (774) 293-1525Fax: (877) 742-8338



A P PA R E L B O O K S / E Q U I P M E N T

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E D U CAT I O N / T R A I N I N G

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E M P L OY M E N T F I R E E Q U I P M E N T

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Fiberglass or PoIypropylene? We make both!Custom Composites has been in business for 38 years serving the needs of fire

apparatus manufacturers for the last 26 years. We offer fiberglass and polypropylene

tanks in standard configurations or custom made to your specifications.

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E M P L OY M E N T

Fire Safety Engineering Technology • Assistant / Associate / Professor (Position #4527)

The Department of Engineering Technology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte invites applications for tenure-track positions with an anticipated start date of

August 15, 2011. The Department houses five undergraduate programs with over 850 students, and has received approval to begin two new graduate programs. The un-

dergraduate Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Technology programs are TAC of ABET accredited. Masters level programs in Construction & Facilities Man-

agement and Fire Protection & Administration are accepting applications for students to begin study in 2011.

Applicants with expertise in one or more of the following are desired: Fire Combustion, Material Flammability, Fire Protection, Fire Modeling, Fire Systems Design, or

Facilities Management. Expectations of successful candidates include the development of a strong record of scholarship (including external funding and archival publica-

tions), quality undergraduate/graduate teaching and professional and university service.

Required qualifications include an earned doctorate AND a minimum of three years relevant professional practice or industry experience. Candidates must possess excel-lent

leadership, organizational, teamwork, interpersonal, and communication skills, and must be able to multi-task in a fast-paced environment that serves a diverse student pop-

ulation. In specific unique cases, a candidate with a M.S. in Construction, Fire Science, Engineering, Engineering Technology, or related discipline, and a record of

sustained scholarship and/or exceptional professional contributions may be considered.

Preferred qualifications include professional registration, prior teaching experience, and a proven record of funded research. Rank and salary are commensurate with

qualifications and experience. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.

TO APPLY: Apply electronically at https://jobs.uncc.edu. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Please attach the following documents with your electronic

submission: 1) application letter, 2) one-page resume summary, 3) complete curriculum vitae or resume, 4) a concise statement of research agenda, 5) a concise statement

of teaching/student mentoring philosophy, and 6) complete contact information (name, address, telephone, and email) for five professional references. Additional infor-

mation about the department and our programs can be found at www.et.uncc.edu.

The Setting: UNC Charlotte, a research intensive institution, is one of the largest and fastest growing universities in the University of North Carolina system. With over

25,000 culturally diverse students in one of the New South's most beautiful cities, UNC Charlotte is located on a 1000-acre wooded campus. With a population of over 1.8

million in its metropolitan region, Charlotte presents a vast array of cultural, educational, recreational and social activities to meet the interests and needs of a diverse

population. Charlotte, known for its beautiful canopies of stately oaks, is located in the piedmont region and provides easy access to both the Great Smoky Mountains and

lovely Carolina beaches. The climate is generally moderate with four seasons, providing excellent outdoor activities throughout the year.

UNC Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. The University is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse faculty and staff committed

to working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte


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TRAINING

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ALTERNATORS

Fire Engineering

serves firefighters and EMS

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As a trusted source to

thousands, every issue

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M SaGEF


M SaGEF

_________________


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AdvertisingSales Offices

EXECUTIVE OFFICE / PUBLISHER

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CLASSIFIEDS

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FIRE ENGINEERING® (ISSN 0015-2587) is published 12 times monthly by PennWell Cor-poration, 1421 S. Sheridan, Tulsa, OK 74112. December 2010 issue, Volume 163, Number 12. Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa and addi-tional mailing offices. Executive, editorial, and advertising offices at 21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410-2602. Copyright 2010 by PennWell Corporation. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Fire Engineering is a registered trademark.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe call 800-582-6949 or visit our website atwww.fe-subscribe.com. 1-year rate for USA and possessions $29.95, Canada $42.75, International $64.95. Call for single copy and digital site license pricing. All subscription correspondence should be addressed to Fire Engineering, PO Box 3498, Northbrook, IL 60065.Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PO Box 122, Niagara Falls,Ontario Canada L2E 6S4.

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Fire Engineering, Box 3498, Northbrook, IL 60065.

Advertisers Index

This index is provided as a service.The publisher does not assume any liability for errors or omissions.

A

AWG Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

All American Hose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71, 98

American Military University . . . . . . . . . . 99

B

Breathing Air Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

BullEx Digital Safety. . . . 19, 30, 49, 63, 102

C

C. E. Niehoff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Classified Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . 147-150

Columbia Southern University. . . . . . . . 104

Conterra, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Courage & Valor Foundation. . . . . . . . 80-81

D

Draeger Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 105

E

ESS - Eye Safety Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . .141

Elkhart Brass. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 106

F

FDIC 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

FDIC Online. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

FEB&V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 88, 90, 94, 96

Fire Engineering - Fire Life . . . . . . . . . . 145

Fire Engineering University . . . . . . . . . . 84

Fire Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47, 108

Friction Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

G

George W. Post Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Globe Manufacturing Company . . .2-3, 109

W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. . . . . . . 9, 110

H

HME, Inc. Chassis Group. . . . . . . . . 75, 112

Hale Products / Class 1. . . . . . . . . . 15, 111

Holmatro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5, 113

Hurst Jaws of Life. . . . . . . . . . . 11, 35, 114

Husky Portable Containment. . . . . . . . . 31

I

ISG Infrasys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Innotex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

K

KME Fire Apparatus. . . . . . . . . . . . 116, C3

Knox Box Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Kochek Company, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Kussmaul Electronics Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . 25

L

Last Chance Rescue Filter. . . . . . . . . . . 107

Luxfer Gas Cylinders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

M

MES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 121

MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 122

MatJack / I.I.P., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

N

National Volunteer Fire Council. . . . . . . 87

O

Onspot of North America. . . . . . . . . . . . 83

P

Paratech, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 123

PennWell Centennial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. . . . . .20-21, 124

PlymoVent Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Professional Health Services . . . . . . . . . 125

R

Rescue 42, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Robotronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Rosenbauer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-13, 127

S

Safety Components Fabric Technologies. . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128, C4

Scott Health & Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 129

Sigtronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Smiths Detection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 130

Spartan Chassis, Inc . . . . . . . . . . C2-1, 131

Sperian Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Summit Fire Apparatus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Sutphen Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . 69, 133

T

TAK Response 2011. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Task Force Tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

TheFireStore.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135

Toyne Fire Apparatus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

U

United Plastic Fabricating, Inc.. . . . 43, 137

University of Maryland University College. 138

Urban Firefighter Magazine . . . . . . . . . . 93

W

W.S. Darley & Company . . . . . . . . . 33, 140

WHP Training Towers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Waldorf College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31



M SaGEF


M SaGEF


http://www.fe-subscribe.com







BY M I CHAE L N . C I AMPO

ON FIRE

What’d You Do Up There?

PRIOR TO CLIMBING UP THE

portable ladder to the roof of a

two-story private dwelling with

a “walkable” roof and fi re extending into

the attic space, the member checked the

dogs of the ladder. The fi rst member

about to climb should always check that

the dogs are locked so the ladder doesn’t

retract once the member begins to climb

the ladder or places his body weight

on the extended section. Remember to

also extend the ladder well above the

“three rungs are suffi cient” rule because

fi refi ghters come in all shapes and sizes.

A tall fi refi ghter exiting the roof may have

to bend over and reach for the ladder to

descend, causing him to lean forward and

off the roof as he reaches for a rung to

hold onto. If the ladder were well over

the “three-rung rule,” he could simply

hold onto a rail or upper rung and pivot

off the roof onto the ladder in a well-

balanced position, making him less likely

to fall off the roof.

As the fi rst member of the roof team

began climbing the ladder, he carried a

hook and halligan. He placed the head

of the hook onto an upper rung and

slid the halligan up along the opposite

rail while maintaining a full grip on the

underside of the rail with his free hand.

The second member carried a saw in

a sling over his back while sliding an

ax up the other rail. Remember, bring

a hand tool that is suffi cient enough

to open the roof in case the saw has

mechanical failure or won’t run if the

smoke chokes the engine out. (The saw

needs an AIR and fuel mixture to run.)

As the fi rst member got to the roof,

he sounded (banged or tapped) the roof

with his hand tool and then, as he placed

his one boot on the roof, he sounded the

roof again to check stability. Try to follow

this two-step procedure before stepping

off the safety of the ladder; transferring

from the ladder without sounding could

have catastrophic results if the roofi ng

was severely compromised by fi re below.

It is also a good practice as you proceed

across any roof—sound it for stability!

The two fi refi ghters looked for a good

place to begin their initial roof cut. Since

the fi re was at one end of the dwelling

in a rear bedroom and extending to the

attic, they went to the backside of the roof.

Both members noticed some smoke push-

ing between the shingles about halfway

up and chose this location to cut. When

working in private dwellings, cutting an

initial vent hole too low or near the soffi t

may be counterproductive. Fire normally

burns upward and will more likely run

up the joist toward the peak than run

down the joist. Also, if the fi re and smoke

are already self-venting out the bedroom

windows, you shouldn’t need to cut

there. Choosing an area about halfway

up ensures you will hit some of the fi re

room; and, as a wise old offi cer once

reminded me, cutting right at the roof

peak or ridge may vent the attic space but

not the fi re room. In these structures, the

hallways usually run along the same line

as the peak, and the attic fl ooring may run

down the center of these spaces, making

it harder to push the ceilings down below

and requiring a longer hook.

As the members made the fi rst cut

a few feet in from the roof’s edge, the

fi refi ghter holding the hook smacked its

head into the shingles and sheathing. He

lifted up on the hook’s handle so that

it was about waist high next to the saw

operator and in line with the cut, which

acted as a safety brace. Not only did this

support the fi refi ghter and assist him

with his balance as he cut, but it also pre-

vented him from stepping off the roof’s

edge if visibility decreased. This tactic is

very useful when operating at or near a

roof’s edge; remember to keep the hook

at about waist level—too low a level

can cause the fi refi ghter to trip over the

handle. While he maintained the brace,

he also held onto the back of the saw op-

erator’s coat to guide him toward the rear

as he walked backward during the cut.

Once they cut the hole and removed

the sheathing, they needed to push down

the ceiling to complete overall ventila-

tion of the fi re room. By this time, other

fi refi ghters arrived on the roof to assist.

As soon as the sheathing was removed,

two of them lunged forward to push

down the ceiling below. Firefi ghters must

use caution here and pause and think

for a moment. If you lunge forward over

the hole, escaping heat, smoke, and

gases can and will ignite! Instead, try to

position yourself inline with and have

your face turned away from the ventila-

tion hole. This way, if the by-products

do ignite, you can move away from the

hole. Leaning over the hole exposes you

to these dangers and may result in your

slipping and falling directly into the hole

as you push down the ceiling. Luckily

for the two members, the fi refi ghter who

used the hook as a safety brace grabbed

onto their bunker coattails while they

were pushing down the ceilings below.

At the change of shifts, one of the

guys asked, “What’d you do up on the

roof last night?” The fi refi ghter looked

embarrassed and ashamed and answered,

“Nothing really,” and quickly became the

brunt of a few jokes. However, he had

had the foresight to create a safety brace

and safely prevent another fi refi ghter

from falling into a hole. That’s what we

should strive to do on every run, give the

gift of looking out for one another. ●

● MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 24-

year veteran of the fi re service and a

lieutenant in the Fire Department of

New York. Previously, he served with

the District of Columbia Fire Depart-

ment. He has a bachelor’s degree in

fi re science from John Jay College

of Criminal Justice in New York City.

He is the lead instructor for the FDIC

H.O.T. evolution “Truck Essentials.”

He wrote the Ladder chapter and

co-authored the Ventilation chapter

for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefi ghter I and II (Fire Engineering,

2009) and is featured in “Training

Minutes” truck company videos on

www.FireEngineering.com.


M SaGEF


M SaGEF







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M SaGEF


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Indianapolis, IN

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Presented by: Owned & Produced by:

PRELIMINARY EVENT GUIDE

A SUPPLEMENT TO PENNWELL PUBLICATIONS

THE TRAINING YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT.

w w w. f d i c . c o m

Official Training Magazine of FDIC


M SaGEF


M SaGEF

http://www.fdic.com






M SaGEF


M SaGEF

http://www.JAWSOFLIFE.com





1www.fdic.com

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CONTENTS

Bigger. Better.

The Best FDIC Ever.

FDIC 2011 will be the largest event in our 84 years of

existence, and our commitment to provide cutting-edge

training will remain true to our long heritage. No other

event in North America offers such a high level of instructor

training or offers a better platform to network and discover

new products and services for the fi re service. Hands-On

Training and classroom instruction will focus on everyday

issues, incorporating the latest technology and information

to help keep you safe and, ultimately, save lives.

More domestic and international attendees will attend

FDIC 2011 than ever before, providing a unique

opportunity to share ideas and talk directly to equipment

manufacturers and suppliers from around the globe.

Simply, FDIC provides the leading venue to create new

relationships and grow existing friendships within an

environment surrounded by elite industry professionals.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

■ Fire Instructors

■ Training Offi cers

■ Fire Chiefs

■ Administrative Chiefs

■ Line Chiefs

■ Company Offi cers

■ Career and Volunteer Firefi ghters

■ EMTs and Paramedics

■ Apparatus and Equipment Specialists

■ Haz-Mat Technicians

■ Community Emergency Response Teams

■ Fire Academy and Fire Science Students

■ Fire Marshals

■ Fire Inspectors

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

■ 18 H.O.T. Evolutions

■ 44 4-Hour Pre-conference Workshops

■ 30 8-Hour Pre-conference Workshops

■ 210 Classroom Sessions

■ 500 + Industry Leading Speakers and Instructors

■ 900 + Exhibitors

■ 29,000 + Expected Fire Industry Professionals

■ Big Room Sessions

■ Certifi cates of Attendance for Continuing Education

■ Networking Opportunities

■ Live Demonstrations

■ And More…

Invitation to Attend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step-by-Step Planning Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Schedule at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Executive Committee and Advisory Boards . . . . . . . 8

Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

FDIC Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Hands-On Training Evolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Opening Ceremony/General Session . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Classroom Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Exhibitor List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Event Registration Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Hotel Registration Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Shuttle Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Three Ways To Register Today

Mail to: PennWell/FDIC11

Registration Department

P.O. Box 973059

Dallas, TX 75397-3059

Fax to: +1-888-299-8057 or

+1-918-831-9161

Online: www.fdic.com

Questions? Please call:

+1-888-299-8016 or +1-918-831-9160


M SaGEF


M SaGEF

http://www.fdic.com

http://www.fdic.com





www.fdic.com2

INVITATION TO ATTEND

Dear Firefi ghters and First Responders,

2011 will be an exciting year for FDIC. The Indiana Convention Center has completed its expansion,

providing space for more exhibitors than ever before, as well as providing direct access to the Lucas

Oil Stadium. This event will mark 2011 as the single-largest gathering of exhibitors within our industry,

featuring the latest advancements in information and equipment technology.

In addition, our history of providing the most inclusive training program will continue to set the

standard with more H.O.T. Evolutions, Pre-Conference Workshops and Classroom Sessions than

ever before. You will have unprecedented access to a premier group of handpicked instructors. The

combined total amount of industry-leading information obtainable at FDIC is simply not available

anywhere else in the world.

Maintaining a strong FDIC tradition, the 2011 Opening Ceremony will pay tribute to all past, present

and future fi refi ghters. This event is a true inspiration that simply cannot be placed into words and

must be personally attended in order to comprehend the gratitude and respect of those who place

their lives on the line to save others. In recognition of outstanding bravery and selfl essness, one

fi refi ghter will receive the annual Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award.

On behalf of the management, the staff, partners and volunteers, we look forward to renewing existing

friendships and meeting many new faces in Indianapolis. Certainly, this will not be a year

to miss.

Regards,

Eric J. Schlett

FDIC Executive Director


M SaGEF


M SaGEF

http://www.fdic.com






M SaGEF


M SaGEF

__________ _________________

http://www.tft.com

http://www.haleproducts.com





www.fdic.com4

STEP-BY-STEP PLANNING GUIDE

Plan your visit to FDIC 2011 now by following these four easy steps. Register and pay

by FEBRUARY 9, 2011 to be eligible for Early Bird discounted rates!

Hosted by:

Indianapolis

Fire Department

Co-Sponsored by:

Fire Apparatus

Manufacturers’

Association

Fire Department

Safety Offi cers

Association

Fire and Emergency

Manufacturers and

Services Association

Indianapolis Fire

Fighters IAFF Local

416

International Society

of Fire Service

Instructors

STEP 1: SELECT YOUR REGISTRATION TYPE

• Hands-On Training Full Package - Includes general sessions, classrooms and exhibits,

plus your choice of up to 16 hours of H.O.T. Evolutions or Workshops for an additional fee.

• Two Day Hands-On Training Only - Includes general sessions and exhibits, plus your

choice of up to 16 hours of H.O.T. Evolutions or Workshops for an additional fee.

• Full Conference - Includes general sessions, classrooms and exhibits.

• One-Day Conference - Includes general session, classrooms on selected day only and 3

days of exhibits.

• Exhibit Package - Includes all exhibit days.

• One-Day Exhibits Only - Includes exhibit on selected day only.

• Spouse Exhibits Only - Includes all exhibit days.

STEP 2: SELECT H.O.T. EVOLUTIONS AND / OR WORKSHOPS

You Would Like to Purchase and Attend*

Review the course descriptions in this brochure and register early, as class sizes are limited

in H.O.T. Evolutions and Workshops. Please note that H.O.T. Evolutions participants

must register and report to the Staging or designated location by 6:30 am and Full-Day

Workshops begin promptly at 8:00 am.

* If you chose a Hands-On Training Registration type.

STEP 3: CHOOSE FROM 3 EASY WAYS TO REGISTER FOR FDIC 2011:


Fax: Toll-free: +1-888-299-8057 Direct: +1-918-831-9161

Mail: PennWell / FDIC11 Registration Department

P.O. Box 973059, Dallas, TX 75397-3059

STEP 4: BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM

To make your hotel reservation, contact Preferred Convention Services, the offi cial FDIC

2011 housing company. DO NOT contact the hotels directly. Discounted rates are available

only through the PCS offi ce. You may book your reservation any of the following ways.

Please note that the Hotel Reservation Form may be found in the back of this brochure:

Online: www.preferred1.com

Phone: 888.472.7462 or 310.235.2647

Fax: 310.235.2648

Mail: FDIC 2011 (hotel reservation form located in back of this brochure)

1990 East Grand Ave., Ste. 150, El Segundo, CA 90245



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SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Sunday, March 20, 2011 H.O.T/ Attendee Registration 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Instructor Registration 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Monday, March 21, 2011 Attendee Registration 6:00 am – 5:00 pm

Lucas Oil Stadium Registration 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Exhibitor Registration 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

H.O.T. Evolutions Staging / Bus Loading 6:30 am

H.O.T. Evolutions and Workshops 8:00 am – 5: 00 pm

Tuesday, March 22, 2011 Attendee Registration 6:00 am – 5:00 pm

Lucas Oil Stadium Registration 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Exhibitor Registration 8:00 am – 5.00 pm

H.O.T. Evolutions Staging / Bus Loading 6:30 am

H.O.T. Evolutions and Workshops 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Attendee Registration 7:30 am – 5:00 pm



Opening Ceremony 8:30 am – 10:00 am

Classroom Sessions 10:30 am – 7:15 pm

Thursday, March 24, 2011 Attendee Registration 8:00 am – 6:00 pm



General Session 8:30 am – 10:00 am


Lucas Oil Stadium Exhibits Open 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm

All Exhibits Open 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Outside Demo Exhibits 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Firefi ghter Combat Challenge 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Friday, March 25, 2011 Attendee Registration 8:00 am – 5:30 pm




Lucas Oil Stadium Exhibits Only 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Firefi ghter Combat Challenge 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

All Exhibits Open 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

Outside Demo Exhibits 10:00 am - 5:30 pm

Battle of the Bands 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Saturday, March 26, 2011 Attendee Registration 8:00 am – 3:00 pm


All Exhibits Open 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Lucas Oil Stadium Exhibits Only 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Outside Demo Exhibits 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Firefi ghter Combat Challenge 9:00 am – 12:00 pm


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EXHIBIT HALL HOURS

Thursday, March 24 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm Lucas Oil Stadium Stadium Exhibits

Thursday, March 24 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm All Exhibits

Friday, March 25 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Lucas Oil Stadium Stadium Exhibits

Friday, March 25 10:00 am – 5:30 pm

Saturday, March 26 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Lucas Oil Stadium Stadium Exhibits Only

Saturday, March 26 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Saturday, March 26 9:00 am – 2:00 pm Outside Demo Only


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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND ADVISORY BOARDS

FDIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Eric J. Schlett

Vice President - Executive Director

EDUCATION

Bobby Halton, Education Director

Diane Feldman, Conference Director

Mary Jane Dittmar, Conference Manager

Ginger Mendolia, Conference Coordinator

SALES AND MARKETING

Lila Gillespie, Exhibit Manager (A-K)

Nanci Yulico, Exhibit Manager (L-Z)

Jared Auld, Exhibit Services Coordinator

Sue Ellen Rhine, Exhibit Services

Coordinator

Eric West, Event Marketing Manager

EVENT OPERATIONS

Allison Foster, Event Operations Manager

Kay Baker, Event Operations Manager

Kimberli Jeffers, Registration Manager

FDIC EXECUTIVE ADVISORY BOARD

Steve Auch Battalion Chief, Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department

Anthony Avillo Deputy Chief, North Hudson (NJ) Regional Fire & Rescue

Bill Brown Battalion Chief, Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department

Alan Brunacini Chief (Ret.), Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department

Eddie Buchanan President, International Society of Fire Service Instructors

John Buckman Chief, German Township (IN) Volunteer Fire Department

Michael N. Ciampo Lieutenant, Fire Department of New York

John “Skip” Coleman Assistant Chief (Ret.), Toledo (OH) Department of Fire and Rescue

Glenn Corbett Professor of Fire Science, John Jay College, New York, NY

Paul Dansbach Fire Marshal/Fmr. Chief, Rutherford (NJ) Fire Department

Rick Fritz Battalion Chief (Ret.), High Point (NC) Fire Department

Mike Gagliano Captain, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

William Goldfeder Deputy Chief, Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department

Bill Gustin Captain, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue

Leigh Hollins Battalion Chief, Cedar Hammock (FL) Fire Department

Brent Hullender Lieutenant, Atlanta (GA) Fire Department

Steve Kreis Executive Assistant Chief, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department

Rick Lasky Chief, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department

Mike McEvoy EMS Coordinator, Saratoga County, NY

Dave McGrail District Chief, Denver (CO) Fire Department

Jack Murphy Fire Marshal (Ret.)/Fmr. Deputy Chief, Leonia (NJ) Fire Department

Michael Nasta Deputy Chief, Newark (NJ) Fire Department

Gregory Noll Senior Partner, Hildebrand & Noll Associates, Lancaster, PA

John O’Connell Firefi ghter (Ret.), Rescue 3, Fire Department of New York

William Peters Battalion Chief (Ret.), Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department

David Rhodes Battalion Chief, Atlanta (GA) Fire Department

John Salka Battalion Chief, Fire Department of New York

Rob Schnepp Assistant Chief, Alameda County (CA) Fire Department

FDIC ASSOCIATE ADVISORY BOARD

David Bernzweig Lieutenant/Paramedic, Columbus (OH) Division of Fire

Larry Collins Captain, Los Angeles County (CA) Fire Department

Rudy Horist Assistant Chief of Operations, Elgin (IL) Fire Department

Eriks Gabliks President, National Association of State Fire Training Directors

Peter McBride Incident Safety Offi cer, Ottawa (Canada) Fire Services

John Sachen Training Offi cer, Delta (MO) Fire Protection District

Gary Seidel Chief, Hillsboro (OR) Fire Department

Peter Sells District Chief, Toronto (Ontario, Canada) Fire Services

William Shouldis Deputy Chief (Ret.), Philadelphia (PA) Fire Department

Mike Terpak Deputy Chief, Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department

Cynthia Ross Tustin Deputy Chief, Bradford-West Gwillimbury (Ont., Can.) Fire &

Emergency Services

Andrea Zaferes Head Instructor Trainer, Lifeguard Systems, Inc., Shokan, NY


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SPONSORS

Platinum Sponsor

Café, Lanyard and Custom Sponsor

Custom Sponsor

Main Program Sponsor


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Hotel Keycard/H.O.T. SCBA Sponsor Custom Bronze and Notebook Sponsor

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SPONSORS

Floor Map SponsorCustom Banner and Overlay Sponsor

Custom Sponsor

Pocket Guide Sponsor

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Pennant Flag Sponsor

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Would like to thank the following Restaurant and Bar Partners and

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FDIC EDUCATION

Fellow Firefi ghters and Friends,

Thank you for joining us for the 84th Fire Department Instructors Conference. Everyone at Fire Engineering/FDIC

is revved up with anticipation for FDIC 2011. FDIC 2011 is showcasing the most cutting-edge, state-of-the-art

training and education, equipment, and services available for our industry. The exchange of ideas on how we

can accomplish our work will be at a new level as we enjoy a brand new convention center with state-of-the-art

classroom facilities and a host of new and traditional FDIC networking opportunities.

The FDIC keynoters on Wednesday and Thursday are, as is customary for FDIC, from among our ranks—not a race

car driver or some entertaining water polo writer but two of our nation’s most respected fi re offi cers and instructors:

Captains Mike Dugan from FDNY and Bill Gustin from Miami-Dade. They have messages of inspiration, insight, and

motivation. These men are giants in our industry who have proven themselves repeatedly not only by heroics in

battle but by their heroic courage of character. They will speak directly to us about our triumphs and challenges, our

advances and opportunities. We will also take a moment to remember our fallen. The opening ceremony will honor

the sacrifi ces and courage shown by those who’ve come before us.

Being involved at FDIC 2011 defi nes your commitment to personal excellence and your pursuit of professional

mastery. The gathering of the FDIC faithful has been for decades and continues to be where topics of

tremendous interest and tremendous consequence are discussed, reviewed, and debated fi rst. You are that

tradition of excellence, that 1% of our profession whose passion and commitment will continuously strive to

ensure everyone comes back from every run. FDIC is your house, FDIC is as focused on what we do as you

are. You are part of the most critical element in your community’s safety and welfare, and FDIC is the most

critical element in your continuing drive to be the best for your community. FDIC will make you stronger, and

your presence makes FDIC better.

FDIC 2011 again will serve as the bellwether for the status of the American and the international fi re service. The

hands-on training this year will include a new Urban Essentials class being delivered by some of the most gritty and

fi reground-tested fi refi ghters in North America. There will also be a brand-new class on rescue as well as the latest

advances and improvements in our traditional techniques and tactics.

The workshops will include some of the most controversial and most effective fi reground techniques for the

wide variety of fi re behavior and fi re compartmentation one can expect to be confronted with on today’s modern

fi reground. You’ll return from FDIC 2011 ready to engage your community’s fi refi ghters in discussions around

fi re station coffee tables. Whether it’s dynamic fi re behavior, green construction, the latest in emergency medical

services, or fi re service leadership, it’s all at FDIC, 18 hands-on training evolutions 74 workshops, 224 classrooms—

the greatest collection of information in the fi re service today.

And 10 years after the murderous attack on the World Trade Center, the main program will feature the fi re service’s

highest honor, the presentation of the Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award. The 2011 awardee will receive a

medal along with a check for $35,000 for rising above and beyond the call of duty. We look forward to seeing you at

the many social events and at the many training opportunities that the largest annual gathering of fi re service training

professionals in the world offers.

We assure you that FDIC 2011 represents the greatest fi scal value proposition educationally possible for any

fi refi ghter. More importantly, FDIC is, as always, the fi nest fi re service conference experience in the world.

Regards,

Chief (Ret.) Bobby Halton

Editor in Chief, Fire Engineering

Educator Director, FDIC


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HANDS-ON TRAINING EVOLUTIONS

4-Hour Evolutions: Monday and Tuesday, March 21 – 228:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Advanced Car and SUV Vehicle Extrication

Lead Instructor: Battalion Chief Leigh Hollins, Cedar Hammock

(FL) Fire Department

Participants will receive hands-on instruction about the

newest, most advanced techniques for stabilizing vehicles

and extricating victims from cars and sport utility vehicles

(SUVs) using a wide array of hand and power tools. A four-

station rotation provides students with a fast-paced, diverse

extrication experience and plenty of “tool time.”

ADVANCED

Essentials of Search and Rescue NEW!

Lead Instructor: Firefi ghter Joseph Alvarez, Maplewood (NJ)

Fire Department

Students will learn how to overcome entanglements,

disorientation, restricted-passage areas, and gravity-related

hazards. Stations include Primary Search, Vent Enter Search,

Large-Area Disorientation Search, and Mask Confi dence.

Students will demonstrate competence in the use and

care of protective clothing and SCBA, identify hazardous

environments requiring the use of SCBA, learn the limitations

of the SCBA, show competence in the use of SCBA in

obscured visibility, and demonstrate both primary and

secondary search procedures under smoke conditions.

BASIC/INTERMEDIATE

Fire Department Rescue Operations NEW!

Lead Instructor: Firefi ghter Paul J. DeBartolomeo, Fire

Department of New York

Today’s fi rst responders are faced with challenging rescue

scenarios in the form of vehicle and machinery accidents,

construction mishaps, building collapse, and various other

entrapments. This program is designed to expose students to

the equipment used in the fi eld of technical rescue to develop

or improve skills in mitigating these emergencies. Students

will get hands-on instruction in the use of high-pressure air

bags, pneumatic and hydraulic jacks, hydraulic rescue tools,

rescue jacks, struts, grip hoists, and wood cribbing. Students

will participate in realistic rescue scenarios similar to those

faced in the fi eld. The scenarios will allow the students to use

various types of rescue equipment to develop new skills and

techniques the modern day rescuer needs to succeed.

ALL LEVELS

Flashover

Lead Instructor: Captain Joseph Berchtold, Teaneck (NJ)

Fire Department

Observe fi re behavior and the signs that lead up to fl ashover.

Phase #1 training from Swede Survival systems will allow

you to observe and experience in a controlled environment

how fi re develops and grows up to and through the fl ashover

stage. Learn how ventilation and hose streams can control

a fl ashover. You will gain knowledge and skill in recognizing

these situations and learn when it is time to get out of the

structure. You will better understand the events that lead up

to a fl ashover as well as how fi refi ghters are responsible for

creating fl ashovers.

INTERMEDIATE

Heavy Vehicle Extrication NEW!

Lead Instructor: Battalion Chief Todd Taylor, Wayne Township

(IN) Fire Department

This class will allow students to better prepare for an incident

involving heavy vehicles and the types of extrication scenarios

that are found with vehicles of this type by discussing vehicle

design and construction and how this relates to the incident.

These vehicles are constructed much differently than regular

vehicles. Therefore, normal vehicle extrication techniques

will not accomplish the objective of safe patient removal.

Students will be able to perform various techniques on actual

heavy vehicles which may include semi trailers and larger

vehicles. This will show techniques such as rescue from side

underrides, rollovers, and rear underrides. In addition, students

will be introduced to the use of rotating wreckers to assist in

the rescue of potential victims.

ALL LEVELS

Thermal Imaging Techniques

Lead Instructor: Battalion Chief Steven Woodworth, Atlanta

(GA) Fire Department

Thermal imaging is one of the fastest-growing fi elds in the

fi re service. Thermal imaging technology is changing at a

pace with which training offi cers simply cannot keep up.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a new

standard, NFPA 1801, Standard on Thermal Imagers for the

Fire Service, 2010 Edition. The features available on cameras

change monthly. This course is designed to meet the needs

of fi refi ghters, company offi cers, and chief offi cers who must

evaluate, train, and use thermal imaging cameras on a daily

basis. Learn about and use a variety of cameras available to

the fi re service.

BASIC


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Truck Company: Forcible Entry

Lead Instructor: Battalion Chief John Buckheit, Fire


Students will participate in time-proven and state-of-the-art

approaches to common forcible entry problems, including

metal and wood door forcible entry, inward- and outward-

opening doors, forcing in restricted space and limited visibility,

glass and metal storefront doors, and padlocks. Techniques

involve roll-down gate size-up, through the lock, through the

gate, and use of the manual drive mechanism. The training

is designed for fi refi ghters and rescue workers who have to

get through secured doors, fences, and gates to effect their

operations. Learn effi cient, rapid, and safe methods to negate

common security devices so operations to search, place

lines, and access victims can commence. The focus is on the

problems you are likely to encounter and the very best ways to

combat those problems.

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED

Truck Company: Ventilation

Lead Instructor: Lieutenant Matt Szpindor, Fire Department of

New York

Ventilation is an important truck company function that must

be performed at all structural fi res. Students will review the

basics of ventilation and vent size-up, discuss how the type

of structure and building construction affect ventilation, and

get plenty of hands-on experience using both hand and power

tools. Instructors from across the country will present different

perspectives on ventilation, as the students rotate through

a variety of challenging ventilation skill stations, including

peaked-roof and fl at-roof operations.

BASIC/INTERMEDIATE


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Aircraft Rescue and Firefi ghting NEW!

Lead Instructors: Captain Jeffrey B. Giraud, Dallas-Fort Worth

(TX) Airport Fire Department; and Division Chief Kevin Elmore,

Indianapolis (IN) International Airport Fire Department

This hands-on evolution is designed to address the response

needs of a typical structural fi re-EMS department that has

a higher than average probability to encounter an aircraft

incident or crash outside the normal operating range of

the airport ARFF department. It is also designed to provide

relevant recurrent training for certifi ed ARFF personnel.

Although this course will not complete the objectives of

NFPA 1003, Standard for Airport Fire Fighter Professional

Qualifi cations, each part of the course is designed to meet the

criteria within that standard. The course is further designed to

meet eight of 12 recurrent training topics mandated by the FAA

under CFR Part 139 for ARFF operations profi ciency.

ALL LEVELS

Conducting NFPA 1403 Live Burn Training

Lead Instructor: Assistant Fire Education Specialist Gregory A.

Fisher, Illinois Fire Service Institute

This course is designed to take students through live fi re

training evolutions in an acquired structure through live burn

scenarios that meet the requirements of NFPA 1403, Standard

on Live Fire Training Evolutions, Chapter 5 on Live Burn

Training in an Acquired Structure. Students shall observe the

priorities of the lead instructor with a brief on requirements for

structure, student, and objective preparation. Participants will

observe the safety offi cer’s checklist during preparation of an

acquired structure as well as considerations prior to ignition

during the live fi re evolution and after the fi re is extinguished.

All other positions under the standard such as ignition, rehab,

and water supply will be fi lled. (Students taking this class are

encouraged to take the classroom portion later in the week to

enhance their live burn evolutions.)


Engine Company: Essentials

Lead Instructor: Engineer Anthony Piontek, Green Bay (WI)

Fire Department

This is an all-inclusive class on engine company operations.

It actively engages students in practical hands-on evolutions

and decision making concerning water supply alternatives,

hose loads, stretches, and how best to service their respective

districts. The class culminates with students advancing

lines as members of the attack team under various realistic

scenarios for fi re attack.

BASIC

IAFF/IAFC Fire Ground Survival Program

Lead Instructor: Captain (Ret.) Michael C. Hayes, Fire


In December 2007, the International Association of Fire

Fighters (IAFF) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs

(IAFC) joined efforts to create a Fire Ground Survival Program

for the North American fi re service. Over the past few years,

fi refi ghters from the United States and Canada have worked

with NIOSH and NIST in researching the most critical elements

of fi reground survival and looking at fi refi ghter fatalities and

near misses to identify how best to survive a Mayday situation.

This comprehensive course includes sections on Preventing

a Mayday, Being Ready for a Mayday, Mayday Procedures,

Mayday Skills, and Firefi ghters’ Expectations of Command. It

will focus on Mayday procedures and skills fi refi ghters must

be able to perform instinctively to survive. Firefi ghters will

learn how best to prevent the onset of panic while performing

survival skills, how to perform low and reduced profi le

techniques and disentanglement techniques, how to rectify

SCBA emergencies, how to self-rescue from upper fl oors, and

how best to use the radio to communicate with Command to

aid in their own rescue. Students will also act in the position

of Command using radio communications to assist fi refi ghters

experiencing a Mayday. Students will be required to provide

structural fi refi ghting personal protective equipment

including pants, jacket, helmet, and gloves.

ALL LEVELS

8-Hour Evolutions: Monday and Tuesday, March 21 – 228:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


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Live Fire First-Due Tactics NEW!

Lead Instructor: Doug Stephenson, Sergeant, Johns Creek

(GA) Fire Department

The decisions and tactics employed in the fi rst few minutes

of arrival at a structure fi re will set the tone for the remainder

of the incident. The lack of situational awareness, failure to

understand incident priorities vs. resource allocation, and

poor decision making will lead to substandard performance.

In addition, time-consuming adjustments and corrections

to poorly chosen actions ultimately affect the safety of

crews operating on the fi reground. Students will discuss

and demonstrate fi reground priorities, then put into practice

effi cient tactics to meet incident objectives while providing

for their safety. This program will explore the critical thinking

process and employ sound tactics for the initial arriving

crews. The class will use a fi xed burn building with multiple

workstations and scenarios. This is a hands-on event requiring

participants to be profi cient in their use of PPE and physically

capable to operate in an intense training environment.

BASIC

RIT Combat Drills

Lead Instructor: Assistant Chief James Crawford, Midway (SC)

Fire Rescue Department

Rapid intervention team training should be realistic and

to the point. When a RIT deploys into a burning building

for a Mayday, each team member will be taxed to the limit

physically and mentally. This hands-on program will train and

evaluate RIT members at performing these RIT duties under

realistic conditions. Students will be assembled into teams

and “deployed” into a series of obstacle courses where they

will encounter numerous problems that must be dealt with

as a team. The aggressive “Pittsburgh Drill” obstacle course

is designed to force you to work as a team and sharpen

your skills. Each team must maneuver the obstacle course

to a downed fi refi ghter victim, perform a victim assessment/

low profi le maneuver, complete any extrication, package

the victim, and initiate removal. The team must remove

the fi refi ghter victim back through the obstacle course to

safety. Students will have the opportunity to use specialized

equipment, operate portable radios within the incident

command system, work within a team under pressure, and

practice RIT skills in a realistic environment.

INTERMEDIATE

Structural Collapse

Lead Instructor: Firefi ghter (Ret.) Mike Davis,

Fire Department of New York

It’s 2 a.m. You’ve arrived at 69 Main Street, an occupied

building in the center of town. It has sustained extensive

collapse from a gas explosion. A triage area is established

amid the chaos, and removal of surface victims is underway.

Reports to the command post indicate numerous residents

are unaccounted for. The incident commander orders the

operations offi cer to assemble teams and resources for rescue

operations within the heavily damaged structure. You are

assigned to one of these teams, and soon you will be crawling

into the blackness. Learn and fi ne-tune the skills necessary to

achieve safe and effective search and rescue within collapsed

wood-frame and unreinforced masonry structures. Technical

rescue gear and proper PPE are required. The use of knee

pads and respiratory equipment is highly recommended.

Full turnout gear can be substituted.

BASIC/INTERMEDIATE

Truck Company: Aerial Operations

Lead Instructor: Deputy Chief John Riker, Newark (NJ)

Fire Department

This hands-on evolution explores the reasons that fi re service

personnel should become knowledgeable in aerial ladder

operations and how aerial ladders are of value at a fi re scene.

It discusses the differences between proper and improper

operations as it pertains to ladder positioning for rescue,

removal of victims, horizontal ventilation, roof operations, and

elevated streams. This program will also address safety for all

members operating with or supporting aerial operations.

BASIC/INTERMEDIATE

Truck Company: Essentials

Lead Instructor: Lieutenant Michael Ciampo, Fire Department

of New York

In this interactive class the students will rotate through a series

of stations in truck company operational tactics. Station 1,

Forcible Entry: Two door frame props will be used to simulate

inward and outward door forcing. There will also be a power

saw cutting station where metal rebar simulating window bars

and a roll-down gate prop will be cut. Station 2, Ladders:

Students will learn new leg locks and the arm lock and then

perform raises to prepare them for the interactive rescue

station. Station 3, Ventilation: Students will perform horizontal

and vertical ventilation on the acquired structures. Saw use

will include rotary and chain saw with numerous types of cuts.

Station 4, Search: Two real life window entry (VES) scenarios

will be created with furniture in the dwellings. Students will

also operate in teams of three fi refi ghters searching the

structure. Station 5, Overhaul: Students will open up the

structure with hand tools to search for fi re extension.

BASIC/INTERMEDIATE


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SPONSORED BY:

Urban Essentials NEW!

Lead Instructors: Lieutenant Ray McCormack, Fire Department

of New York; and Captain Erich Roden, Milwaukee (WI)

Fire Department

Urban Essentials is designed to be an intense and personally

challenging opportunity to advance your knowledge and

fi refi ghting skills. Learn how to protect yourself and your crew

in the event of a wind-driven fi re. You will be introduced to

the latest in wind-driven protection assemblies and tactics.

Make sure to bring your A game for C-side commercial forcible

entry where you’ll be challenged by hidden locking devices

and tight doors. Boarded-up systems are designed to keep

you out. Learn how to defeat these increasingly common and

dangerous entrapment hazards. Roof ventilation puts you

on top of the action and demands knowledge, planning, and

determination to complete your task. You will handle fl at and

steeply pitched roofs, learn the differences associated with

both, and increase your urban fi reground versatility. You will

rotate through fi ve intense multipart segments, all taught by a

group of experienced and personable urban fi refi ghters.

ALL LEVELS

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR ALL H.O.T. EVOLUTION ATTENDEES

1. Students must bring their own NFPA-compliant bunker or technical rescue gear. FDIC will not supply it.

2. Bunker gear ensemble includes NFPA-compliant turnout coat and pants, helmet, hood, fi refi ghting boots,

and gloves.

3. Technical rescue gear ensemble includes jumpsuit or BDUs, compliant helmet, steel-toed boots, compliant

eye protection, and gloves.

4. Bunker gear is required for all evolutions; technical rescue gear as listed above is required for students

attending Fire Department Rescue Operations and Structural Collapse.

5. FDIC will supply SCBA for students as required. Students must bring bunker gear and hoods for Conducting

NFPA 1403 Live Burn Training, Flashover, Live Fire First-Due Tactics, RIT Combat Drills, and Essentials of

Search and Rescue.

6. All students are required to submit the FDIC HOT Liability Waiver signed by the chief of department.

7. Thousands of fi refi ghters participate in evolutions on each of the H.O.T. days. The transportation and logistics

of these large numbers require that we respect our fellow participants and instructors. As a courtesy to your

fellow brothers and sisters and to FDIC, we require that you arrive on time with all of your equipment and

physically ready to work hard both Monday and Tuesday mornings.

8. Buses will load at 6:30 a.m. Regardless of the scheduled class start time, buses start loading at this time. In

the past, we have lost precious training time because latecomers delayed morning bus-loading operations.

9. Please arrive at the convention center on time, paperwork completed, equipped, and ready to train.



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WORKSHOPS

Basement Fires

Firefi ghter Nicholas A. Martin, District of Columbia

Fire Department

Basement fi res are among the most hazardous incidents that

you respond to, primarily because of delayed recognition and

limited access. This workshop will discuss techniques for size-

up and attack of basement fi res, including considerations for

the truck company, engine company, and incident commander.

Learn about the hazards, size-up techniques to improve early

recognition of the fi re’s actual location, various methods of fi re

attack, the construction and contents of typical basements

with the corresponding effects on fi re behavior, structural

stability, and tactical options.

ALL LEVELS

Emergency Response to Large Events

Frank Cheatham, Health and Medical Emergency

Response Team Coordinator, Virginia Offi ce of Emergency

Medical Services

Many departments have large events/gatherings in their

response area. With each of these events come a unique

set of issues that can quickly impact a department’s day-to-

day operations. This workshop will examine several types

of large-scale events and help the participants develop an

understanding of the unique needs of such events and how

to best plan for and meet those needs while also providing for

the daily needs of the jurisdiction.

ALL LEVELS

Fireground Air Management

Captain Casey Phillips, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

“We have got to do a better job of air management!” This is

the common fi nding of most LODD reports, and yet the fi re

service continues to take a reactive posture. This dynamic

video-driven workshop introduces and reinforces the idea of

air management and the Point of No Return. It will provide

the tools you need to implement air management in your

department. It gets fi refi ghters back to being proactive instead

of hoping things turn out OK. Some of the areas covered

include why our current air management practices are killing

us, how fi refi ghters are dying on the fi reground and what

can be done about it, the Point of No Return—how it draws

us in and how to avoid its pull, the Rule of Air Management

(ROAM)—the cornerstone of progressive air management

programs, and what “out of air” looks like. Air management

can be implemented in departments of all sizes, and it doesn’t

take a lot of extra money, staffi ng, or new equipment.

ALL LEVELS

Fireground Tactics Take-Home Model

Chief (Ret.) Bill Godfrey, Deltona (FL) Fire Department

Fireground tactics are tough. There are many ways to attack a

fi re, and everyone has different staffi ng and unit assignments.

Learn the secret to fi reground tactics and developing a sound

attack plan and how tactics, strategy, and command fi t

together. See how staffi ng can change your plan, and learn

how to apply it to your department and teach it when you

return home. Participants receive a workbook detailing the

teaching model, lecture notes, illustrated case studies, and a

CD-Rom. This is the ultimate take-home.

ALL LEVELS

Offi cer Development Hands-On Skills

and Drills

Captain Bob Carpenter, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue

This workshop addresses an issue that many departments

have in their promotional process: promoting the unprepared

offi cer. This is an overview of a new addition to the Miami-

Dade (FL) Fire Rescue (MDFR) Offi cer Development Program.

Getting the maximum impact out of training time is crucial,

and reducing “fl uff” classes is more important than ever in

these economic times. MDFR has instituted a Skills and Drills

component to ensure that new offi cers are prepared and

confi dent to supervise and train personnel in the bread and

butter hands-on skills of company operations. The program

will address some of the hurdles involved in implementing

such a program and the solutions to overcome them. This

workshop is a must for trainers, administrators, and training

chiefs interested in breathing a new level of enthusiasm into

their Offi cer Development Program.

INTERMEDIATE

Pride and Ownership: The Love for the Job

Chief Rick Lasky, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department

This hard look at the fi re service fi nds it short on the one

element that makes it effective: passion. This is an upfront

and honest criticism about the need to reignite the love for

the job on every level, from chief on down. Revisit the proud

history and tradition of the fi re service and refl ect on the family

values and brotherhood that have made fi refi ghting the best

job in the world. Topics include our mission, the fi refi ghter, the

company offi cer, the chief, our two families, sweating the small

stuff, the promotion, what September 11 did to us and for us,

ceremonies, marketing, and making it all happen.

ALL LEVELS

4-Hour Workshops: Monday, March 218:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


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Responding to Incidents Involving Hybrid and

Electric Vehicles

Lieutenant Jason Emery, Waterbury (CT) Fire Department

With the infl ux of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) into the

market and the nationwide release of two electric vehicles

(EVs) in 2011, it is imperative that emergency responders, who

are on the “front lines” of handling accidents, extrications, and

fi res, train to respond to incidents involving these vehicles.

This workshop will help fi rst responders stay on top of

automotive trends in these technology areas and will provide

the skills needed to safely respond to incidents involving

hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. Identifi cation

methods, vehicle systems, potential hazards, and response

procedures will be addressed as well as the Chevrolet Volt

and Nissan Leaf, the fi rst two major entrants in the electrical

vehicle market. This program is designed to familiarize all

response personnel, from the fi rst year probie to the seasoned

chief offi cer, with how to safely work around HEVs and EVs at

an incident.

ALL LEVELS

Right Seat Responsibilities

Assistant Chief Mike Cardwell, Urbandale (IA)

Fire Department

With today’s staffi ng limitations, young offi cers often lack

the experience or an on-scene command offi cer to make

critical initial fi reground decisions. This workshop teaches

the process of how to apply information gathered during

response and size-up to make initial strategy decisions based

on fundamental risk analysis principles. It was developed to

provide young company offi cers with a template for taking

size-up information, comparing it against building hazards and

existing fi re conditions, and completing a risk-benefi t analysis.

Students will receive practical, fi eld-tested guidelines to help

them complete that analysis. The result will be sound strategic

decision making in the fi rst fi ve minutes, the most critical time

frame for any incident.

INTERMEDIATE

Roof Operations

Firefi ghter Art Bloomer, Kearny (NJ) Fire Department

Operating on roofs today can be a daunting task, taking into

consideration reduced staffi ng levels and how new technology

has made roofs, both peaked and fl at, much different than they

were even 10 years ago. Solar panels and rooftop cell sites are

becoming more prevalent, and they can impede your access

to the roof to ventilate. This workshop will benefi t not just the

truck company fi refi ghter but all fi refi ghters regardless of rank

and position. Learn how to work with and overcome these

obstacles, how smoke and fi re move through different types of

construction, the more accepted styles of roof ventilation, and

new techniques for “opening up.” It will give you the tools you

need when you are sent to “get the roof.”

ALL LEVELS

Think Like an Incident Commander

Deputy Chief Thomas Dunne, Fire Department of New York

What is an incident commander seeing, thinking, and feeling

when he supervises a fi re operation? Staffi ng, tactics,

geography, and construction may vary at different incidents,

but the one constant is the incident commander’s thought

process. How is his view of a fi re different, and how can

his perspective make you a more effective chief, company

offi cer, or fi refi ghter? This workshop is designed to share this

information and develop vital fi reground skills. The material

is geared to illustrate key points in preparation, size-up,

fi reground decision making, and communications. The goal

is to help fi re personnel of all ranks make more confi dent and

effective decisions at an emergency operation.

ALL LEVELS

Using Mandates to Improve Your

Training Program

Division Chief Chad Abel, Fishers (IN) Fire Department

This program will provide students with the current

requirements for entry level and ongoing training as prescribed

by ISO/OSHA/NFPA as well as strategies to meet these

requirements without cutting other valuable training. Using

a state-neutral document to gauge your program’s level of

compliance, you will see that meeting the demands of the

regulatory agencies needn’t be a problem but rather can be a

helpful part of any robust training program. Learn the keys to

success as well as what you can and cannot achieve and how

to deal with those realities.

INTERMEDIATE


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REMEMBER FOREVER: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 … AND BEYOND.

The Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation was created to ensure that

we as Americans “Remember Forever” the fallen fi refi ghters of September 11

and in their memory recognize other fi refi ghters who demonstrate that same

courage and valor in rescue missions.

The Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award commemorates the life and career achievements of Deputy Chief

Ray Downey, who lost his life while commanding rescue operations at the World Trade Center attack on

September 11, 2001. Deputy Chief Downey was chief of rescue operations and a 39-year veteran of the Fire

Department of New York. He was the most highly decorated fi refi ghter in the history of FDNY. Deputy Chief

Downey commanded rescue operations at many diffi cult and complex disasters, including the Oklahoma

City Bombing, the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing, and many natural disasters worldwide.

For his lifetime of unparalleled service to fi refi ghters and citizens alike, and in remembrance of the courage

and valor exemplifi ed many times throughout his life, it is fi tting that the Courage and Valor Award, presented

to one extraordinarily courageous American fi refi ghter each year, bear the name of Ray Downey, a truly

extraordinary man.

Keep the tradition alive —

Nominate your candidate for the 2011 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award now.

For more information visit

www.courageandvalor.org

FIRE ENGINEERING

COURAGE AND VALOR

FOUNDATION

3300 First Place Tower

15 East Fifth Street

Tulsa, OK 74103

(P) 918.831.9563

(F) 918.831.9476

[email protected]


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RAY DOWNEY COURAGE AND VALOR AWARD

2011 NOMINATION FORM

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PERSON SUBMITTING NOMINATION FORM:

Name:

Address:

city state zip code

Phone:

Email:

Relationship to Nominee:

NOMINEE INFORMATION:

Name:

Title/Rank:

Fire Department:

Years of Service:

Home Address:

city state zip code

Home Phone:

Qualifications/Distinguishable Traits:

1. Please give a brief history of the nominee.

2. Describe the event or circumstance for which you feel the nominee displayed unparalleled courage and valor and is deserving of the 2011 Ray Downey

Courage and Valor Award.

3. Describe in detail why you feel the nominee went above and beyond the call of duty during this event.

Important Details:

• Answers to questions 1-3 should be typed on separate 81/2 x 11 pages and attached to the nomination form.

• The incident/meritorious act described in this nomination form must have occurred between December 1, 2009 - November 30, 2010, and must have

been part of an official fire department response to an emergency incident.

• The award is open to all firefighters in the United States, regardless of rank or department type.

• The recipient of the award may be living or deceased.

• The recipient will receive a medal and a significant financial award.

• The award will be presented at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis, March 23, 2011.

• Nomination forms will be published in Fire Engineering magazine and on its Web site.

• Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered.

• Forms must be received by January 7, 2011 for consideration of the 2011 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award.

Signature

In remembrance of Ray Downey and all fallen firefighters, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the Fire Engineering

Courage and Valor Foundation.

Please send nomination forms to: Fire Engineering Courage and Valor Foundation Nomination Committee

Attn: Diane Feldman

PennWell Corp.

21-00 Route 208 South, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410


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WORKSHOPS

EMS and ICS: Where Do I Fit In?

Karen Owens, Emergency Operations Assistant Manager,

Virginia Offi ce of EMS

When listening to radio traffi c in a jurisdiction, you will

frequently hear, “Engine 7 on scene, Engine 7 establishing

command.” However, how many times have you heard the

following radio traffi c? “Ambulance 2 on scene, Ambulance

2 establishing command.” While ICS is an all-hazards

approach to incident management, the focus is normally

the fi re service’s involvement in the establishment and

management of the incident command structure. Few,

if any programs, offer scenarios and position specifi c

information as they apply to EMS providers. This workshop

will discuss the roles of the EMS provider in the incident

command structure and present scenarios based on the

information provided.

INTERMEDIATE

Fireground Commander

Battalion Chief John J. Salka Jr., Fire Department of

New York

This workshop examines the important skills and abilities

that a chief needs to conduct a safe and effective

fi reground operation. There is more to it than just setting up

a command board and collecting accountability tags. Learn

the vital skills that need to be maintained and practiced at

every structural fi re, including establishing and maintaining

command, effective and proper communications, staying

ahead of the fi re, calling for help early, staying on top of

the attack hoseline, being prepared to relieve units, and

pressing the attack or pulling members out.

INTERMEDIATE

Hybrid Safety for First Responders

Matthew G. Stroud, Owner/President, MGS TECH

Incorporated

This workshop includes discussions about hybrid parts

locations, high voltage hazards, power down procedures,

and fi re and submersion tactics. It will dispel myths and

misinformation about these vehicles and operating around

them. Learn about air bag (SRS) systems, what a hybrid is

and how to identify it, basic electrical theory, parts location

and identifi cation, and the hybrid’s future.

ALL LEVELS

Leadership Excellence

Chief Ron Kanterman, New London County, CT

In this interactive, hands-on workshop with role playing,

you will learn how to develop yourself, your people, your

organization, and your communication skills. You will

discover things about yourself and your department you

didn’t know or realize, and you will come away with a

vision, a mission statement, and a plan for improvement

to take back to your fi rehouse and your training unit. You’ll

learn to laugh at yourself and benefi t from the mistakes the

instructor made along the way throughout his career.

INTERMEDIATE

Situational Awareness

Engineer Christopher Brennan, Harvey (IL) Fire Department

Situational awareness is a complex process that is a

synthesis of your experience, your training, and your

comfort level. The physical and psychological stresses of

fi refi ghting impact every one of us differently and need to

be addressed separately. Applying situational awareness

requires decision making. Students will learn fi reground

tactical decision making as a means of effectively using

their situational awareness using the combat-proven Boyd

Loop. With this knowledge, you will be better prepared to

confront the challenging environment of the fi reground.

ALL LEVELS

Strategy and Tactics at Commercial Fires

Battalion Chief Stuart Grant, Dallas (TX) Fire-Rescue

Nowhere else is the potential for immediate catastrophic

failure and subsequent multiple injuries or deaths more

present than at a commercial building fi re. This workshop

will identify strategies that can help the initial incident

commander and the command offi cers make good solid

decisions at commercial structure fi res. Students will learn

the thought process and rationale for these decisions and

form small groups to express their ideas and strategies

using slides of fi res in commercial buildings.

ALL LEVELS

4-Hour Workshops: Monday, March 211:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.


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To Hell and Back Train the Trainer

Battalion Chief Tom DeMint, Poudre Fire Authority,

Fort Collins, CO

This workshop introduces students to the critical elements

of the four To Hell and Back fi refi ghter safety programs. It

outlines strategies for integrating the free training into your

fi refi ghter training programs. Learn about the community

safety programs available, the elements and selection

of compliant and effective PPE, the harmful effects of

hydrogen cyanide, and the importance of wearing SCBA

during fi refi ghting and overhaul operations.

ALL LEVELS

Training Plan for Success

Divisional Chief Kevin Clifford, Saint John (New Brunswick,

Canada) Fire Department

This program uses a comprehensive assessment of the

respective fi re department’s response profi le to develop the

training programs necessary to ensure that the fi refi ghters

have the critical competencies to safely and effectively

respond to the emergency needs of their citizens. Students

will be presented with seven key objectives that will serve

as the foundation for developing a comprehensive training

program for their departments. The seven key objectives

will prevent departments from getting caught in the “fl avor

of the week” training programs and will ensure that a

critical skills and training gap assessment is ongoing and

that all subjects within the fi refi ghter response profi le are

presented on a regular basis. As part of the presentation,

practical examples, models, presentations, schedules,

calendars, and assessment tools will be used and shared

so students can implement the plan in their departments.

ALL LEVELS

Training Program Management for

Small Departments

Chief Devon Wells, Hood River (OR) Fire Department

Training is the backbone of the fi re service, and it is an

ever-changing environment. This workshop, presented

by the International Society of Fire Service Instructors,

will offer new ways to manage a training program. Topics

include managing daily shift training, volunteer drills,

creating a training schedule, and using training to create

“buy-in” at all levels of the organization.

ALL LEVELS

Understanding Extreme Fire Behavior

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Ted Nee, Albuquerque (NM)

Fire Department

Examine fl ashover, backdraft, and smoke explosion

from both a theoretical and a practical fi reground point

of view. The goal is to build better mental models of fi re

phenomena and the strategy and tactics necessary to

operate safely and effectively on the modern fi reground.

Emphasis is on recognizing the critical fi reground cues and

factors predictive of extreme fi re behavior. Students will

receive a detailed instructor guide, copies of the student

handouts, and a copy of the presentation to take back to

their department.

ALL LEVELS

Vent-Enter-Search of Today’s Fire Buildings

Captain Michael Dugan, Fire Department of New York

Ventilation, entry, and search are the basic required duties

of a truck company at every structure fi re and must be

performed in a coordinated and controlled manner to

protect the fi refi ghters and offi cers operating inside the fi re

building. Students will review and reinforce their knowledge

of these three important truck company skills and the need

to control and coordinate the duties of the truck company

with those of the engine company.

ALL LEVELS


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WORKSHOPS

25 to Survive: Residential Building Fires

Captain Daniel D. Shaw, Fairfax County (VA) Fire & Rescue;

and Lieutenant Douglas J. Mitchell Jr., Fire Department of

New York

More fi refi ghters are seriously injured and killed while

operating at residential building fi res than at other building

fi res. This dynamic and interactive program will address

25 critical fi refi ghting issues common to the residential

building. The program will discuss the areas of preparation,

response, and operations, all vital to successfully

mitigating the event. Students will learn “street-smart”

tips, tactics, and practical company drills to remedy the

common errors encountered and allow the student to bring

back more than just what they heard.

ALL LEVELS

Art of “Reading Smoke”

David Dodson, Lead Instructor, Response Solutions, LLC

This workshop will allow participants ample opportunity

to practice the reading smoke principles through the use

of actual fi reground video and classroom interaction.

It explores the modern smoke environment with an

emphasis on tactical and behavioral solutions that can

help the participant with fi rst-due decision making and

incident handling. The instructor will lead participants

through case studies, updated technical data, best

practices, and group exercises (using raw fi reground

footage) that emphasize situational awareness and

intelligent exterior/interior solutions.

ALL LEVELS

Firefi ghter and Fire Offi cer Survival:

Why Things Go Right and Why Things Go Wrong

Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder, Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire

Department; Chief David C. Comstock Jr., Western Reserve

Joint Fire District, Poland, OH/Attorney, Comstock, Springer

& Wilson Co., LPA, Youngstown, OH; and Deputy Chief (Ret.)

Curt Varone, Providence (RI) Fire Department/Attorney

This high-energy workshop will provide organizational

risk management training related to operations for

fi refi ghters, offi cers, and instructors on what they can

do immediately to avoid/minimize incidents from going

horribly wrong. The program will focus on numerous

case studies and will feature an in-depth look (using

video, slides, audio, and lecture) at numerous very recent

fi refi ghter close calls and fatalities with solutions to avoid

them. The diverse and unique perspective of these three

veteran fi re offi cers, two of them attorneys, will provide

attendees with plenty of tools to bring home and apply

so history doesn’t repeat itself.

ALL LEVELS

Frontline Safety

Chief Richard Blohm, Director of Occupational Safety and

Health, IAFF-NJ; and Nicholas Del Re, Chief in Charge, Fire

Department of New York HazMat Branch

This workshop provides emergency response personnel

with new strategies they can implement to help reduce

fi refi ghter injuries and fatalities in their departments. It

consists of activities that are designed for fi refi ghters, by

fi refi ghters, to address key issues related to their health

and safety. The goal is to change the safety culture

of the fi re service from one where the mission is most

important to one where the safety and lives of fi refi ghters

are balanced against the mission of the incident. The

course demonstrates that fi refi ghters can act with safety

as the primary value, which may reduce the number of

fi refi ghter injuries and fatalities that occur each year. The

program gives students the opportunity to examine their

own values, those of their work team, and those of their

organization when it comes to safety.

BASIC

8-Hour Workshops: Monday, March 218:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


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Intelligent Fire Operations

Captain Bill Gustin, Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue

Intelligent fi re operations place the value of fi refi ghters’

lives over the value of property. Intelligent fi refi ghting

doesn’t have to be defensive. Students attending this

workshop will learn how an awareness of building

construction and fi re conditions can reduce the risk

to fi refi ghters without having to fi ght every signifi cant

structure fi re from the outside. Look beyond the statistics

to examine why fi res may not be as frequent as in the past

but are often more diffi cult and dangerous. Learn why

experienced, professional fi refi ghters do not operate at

every fi re and every occupancy with the same strategy,

tactics, or level of risk. Also see why fi re operations in

modern “engineered” construction require more cautious

tactics than those traditionally used in older buildings.

Examine the hazards of fi ghting fi res in nonresidential

buildings to learn why fi res in commercial occupancies

result in a disproportionately high number of fi refi ghter

deaths, considering that residential fi res far outnumber

nonresidential fi res.

INTERMEDIATE

International Fire Instructors Workshop (IFIW)

Moderators: Captain Peter McBride, Ottawa (Ont., Canada)

Fire Services; and Dr. Stefan Svensson, Swedish Civil

Contingencies Agency

This fourth annual lecture series, hosted this year by the

FDIC, is directed at developing a broader understanding

of fi re dynamics, fi re suppression techniques, tactics,

command decision making, and realistic training methods

for the fi re service. The IFIW features an international group

of instructors presenting 45-minute mini lectures over two

days on best practices in fi refi ghting instructional design

and highlighting leading edge research and engineering

directed at fi re prevention, suppression, tactical safety,

decision making, education, and developing ideas for

future shared research themes directed at advancing

the fi re services. Lectures include “Catching Fire: Why

Emotional Intelligence Is Important in the Fire Service,” by

Dr. Arthur H. Perlini; “Live Fire Training LODD Incidents,”

by Daniel Madrzykowski; “UL Fire Research with the

Fire Service,” by Steve Kerber; “Fire Behaviour Training

for Recruits,” by John McDonough; “Learning From

Experience,” by Stefan Sardqvist; “Command and Control:

The Scientifi c Approach,” by Dr. Stefan Svensson; “Getting

the Message Across: Compartment Fire Dynamics-Fuel

and Ventilation Controlled Fires,” by John Chubb; “Analysis

of a Double LODD,” by Karel Lambert; “Fighting Fires

Underground in Frankfurt’s Metro,” by Jens Stiegel; “Fire

Control and Ventilation Doctrine,” by Ed Hartin; “Tunnel

and Underground Infrastructure Firefi ghting,” by Shan

Raffel; and “Working in Another Time,” by Peter McBride.

ALL LEVELS


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WORKSHOPS

ISFSI Credentialed Live Fire Trainer – Module 1

Deputy Chief Dave Casey and Training Commander Doug

Cline, Seminole Tribe (FL) Fire Rescue

Module 1 is common between the three International

Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) credentialed

programs: Acquired Structures, Permanent Structural

Props, and Exterior Props. This program goes beyond

the requirements of 1403 and is designed to teach how

to conduct realistic training that prepares students for

the street in a safe and compliant manner. Candidates

completing module 1 can take module 2 of the different

programs (which has considerable practical segments),

leading to ISFSI credentialing as a live fi re trainer.

ADVANCED

It’s Game Day; Are You Ready?

Captain Erron Kinney, St. Andrews Fire Department,

Charleston, SC; and Lieutenant (Ret.) Jim Murphy, Orange

County (FL) Fire Rescue Department

Game day is not a training exercise. So how do you

prepare for game day and motivate personnel to train and

prepare for the unexpected? Through a combination of

National Football League (NFL) and fi re service playbooks/

best practices, students will train to be better prepared for

real-world emergency events. You will want to train when

you are empowered by relevant, meaningful skill sets, and

you will take home tools and resources that have a proven

track record of success in facilitating world-class training.

ALL LEVELS

Leadership for the First Line Supervisor

Battalion Chief Robert Burns, Fire Department of New York;

and Chief Neil Hintze, Executive Chief Offi cer, FDNY Center for

Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness

This workshop will consist of a systematic review of

the role of leadership in today’s fi re service. Although

the material presented will be valid for offi cers of all

ranks and assignments, it will be of particular interest to

company offi cers, newly promoted offi cers, and members

anticipating promotion in the near future. The curriculum

will identify the characteristics and traits of successful

leaders and the skill sets that are required to manage

effectively in the modern emergency service workplace.

ALL LEVELS

Leading Learning

Chief Scott Thompson, The Colony (TX) Fire Department; and

Chief Curtis Birt, Lake Cities (TX) Fire Department

This program targets volunteer, combination, and career

departments that want to improve their training programs

and the development of their people. Information will

be presented for departments needing to develop and

implement a training program as well as information on

how to improve what is already in place. Students will be

guided through a self-evaluation process to determine what

they have, what they need, and what they want to achieve

in terms of training and offi cer development. Professional

standards will be discussed and traditional as well as

nontraditional training philosophies and methodologies and

the training-leadership relationship developed.

ALL LEVELS

Mastering Fireground Command:

Calming the Chaos

Battalion Chief Anthony Kastros, Sacramento (CA)

Metropolitan Fire District

Today’s fi reground should be a calm and orchestrated

event, but often it is not! Fewer fi res, mass attrition, and

little or no command training have created an era in today’s

fi re service where the simple “bread and butter” house

fi re is a sentinel event. Radio traffi c is unclear, and basic

mistakes are made on a regular basis. Don’t believe the

lie that you cannot prepare for the test and the job at the

same time. The military, airlines, and NASA do it, and it’s

about time the fi re service did! These high-risk fi elds have

relied on simulations for years. Simulation software should

not just be used at test time; it’s a great tool for developing

great fi reground offi cers. While there are many sources of

good information, offi cers still lack command training that

puts them in the hot seat and helps them apply their skills

with clear, calm, command presence. A simple, street-

smart system is a must for offi cers and aspiring offi cers.

Regardless of the SOPs, the students will be able to format

their department operations into this system for day-to-day

operations. Students will review radio traffi c and video of

actual incidents. Simulation software will be used to size

up and organize commercial, residential, garden/center hall

apartment, and wildland fi res.

ALL LEVELS


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Positive Pressure Attack

Battalion Chief (Ret.) Reinhard Kauffman, Salt Lake City (UT)

Fire Department; and Chief Kriss Garcia, American Fork (UT)

Fire Department

Positive pressure attack (PPA), proven on the fi reground,

allows for a coordinated and systematic approach to

hoseline and ventilation operations. This workshop

covers the mechanics and the basics of PPA, precautions

surrounding its use, and presents methods for

incorporating PPA without delaying the initial fi re attack.

Participants will be introduced to a “build and burn” live

fi re drill structure.

ALL LEVELS

Rescue University 2011

Deputy District Chief Steve Chikerotis, Chicago (IL)

Fire Department

This colorful presentation is loaded with fi re case studies

and lessons learned from the instructor’s personal

experiences during 32 years of crawling in hallways

with the Chicago Fire Department. Each incident is

brought to life through exciting pictures and video.

Each story reinforces powerful lessons learned. Topics

covered include Rescue Profi ling, Rescue Tactics, Risk

Management, Reading Smoke, Building Construction and

Collapse, Flashover, Communications and Accountability,

Commanding the Mayday, and RIT Rescue. This class

is for the seasoned veteran as well as the new recruit.

The goal is to increase the student’s ability to save lives

through the use of coordinated rescue tactics.

ALL LEVELS

Training Tricks of the Trade:

Make Every Class/Drill a Home Run

David Walsh, Fire Science Program Chairperson/Instructor,

Dutchess Community College Fire Science Program,

Poughkeepsie, NY

Today’s fi re instructors are challenged with providing top-

notch training that is effective, safe, and time-sensitive.

Learn how to make even the most boring training topic

interesting. Presented are dozens of tried-and-proven,

easy-to-accomplish “tricks” and easy-to-do demos for

transforming lessons on the most mundane topics into

exciting and successful educational experiences.

ALL LEVELS

Truck Placement and Operations

Lieutenant Michael Wilbur, Fire Department of New York

Aerial apparatus represent a large investment, yet most

departments that have them underutilize them and really

don’t understand their proper use. This workshop covers

such topics as the operational differences and limitations

between light-duty and heavy-duty aerials; how using the

apparatus beyond their limitations can cause catastrophic

failures; the importance of conducting annual testing to

reduce failures; and the proper positioning, placement, and

operations of aerial and tower ladders.

ALL LEVELS


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WORKSHOPS

Building Construction Principles for

Incident Commanders

Paul T. Dansbach, Fire Marshal, Rutherford (NJ) Bureau of

Fire Safety

This workshop will highlight building construction hazards,

collapse potential, and recognizing building features that

will be useful to incident commanders. Topics include

fi refi ghter fatality statistics, recognizing the type of

construction, the building materials used in each type

of construction and how these materials react to fi re,

identifying the fi re spread and collapse potential of a

building, the importance of identifying the fl oor levels in

buildings with multiple stories and buildings that have a

change in grade around the perimeter, the importance

of recognizing typical and nontypical fl oor layouts in

buildings, and recognizing what construction features will

help or hinder operations. Exterior wall construction will

be reviewed in detail—how the wall construction may limit

access to the building’s interior and how to overcome the

obstacles presented by the materials used in the

wall construction.

ALL LEVELS

Does Your Department LACK the “Right Stuff”?

Ron Siarnicki, Executive Director, National Fallen

Firefi ghters Foundation

Is your department on the path to a line-of-duty death

(LODD)? This compelling presentation by the National

Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation examines the root causes of

LODDs and the role of Leadership, Accountability, Culture,

and Knowledge as it impacts the end result. Many fi re

departments across the United States LACK the “Right

Stuff” to prevent them from being on a path to an LODD.

Leadership, Accountability, Culture, and Knowledge are

the elements that need to be addressed and managed

in those environments. Through education and training,

those departments can improve their survivability by

understanding the root causes of fi refi ghter fatalities

and tackling these four elements with special emphasis

on understanding fi re service culture. This program will

provide information on how to incorporate this learning into

instructional presentations.

ALL LEVELS

Effective Time Management for the Executive

Fire Offi cer

Captain John Alston, Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department

This primer uses hands-on training aids, video clips,

and PowerPoint® presentations to show participants

the importance of effective time management. Students

will identify the effects of poor time management on fi re

department administration. This subject is often taken for

granted or overlooked, but the slightest adjustment can

reap tremendous benefi ts. Students will discuss critical

functions of the fi re department and the role that effective

time management plays in them and learn how to prioritize

communications and tasks in their organization.

ALL LEVELS

Fireground Strategies: Control the Fireground

to Control the Fire

Deputy Chief Anthony Avillo, North Hudson (NJ) Regional

Fire & Rescue

This workshop will identify areas where weakness in

command and organizational structure cause a breakdown

in operations and safety. It stresses operational discipline

along with prefi reground preparation in the way of setting

expectations for subordinates. Learn how to bring the

incident command system down to the street level for

a safer and more effective fi reground and foster a safe

operating philosophy to minimize fi reground injuries and

fatalities. Awareness and vigilance are the fi rst steps

toward a safer fi re service.

ALL LEVELS

4-Hour Workshops: Tuesday, March 228:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.


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Sponsored by:

EVENTS AT FDIC

2011 FDIC Battle of the Bands

March 25th, 2011 ■ Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

FDIC 2011 will host the fi rst-ever Battle of the Bands competition at Lucas

Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Friday, March 25th. Ultimately, three bands will

compete on stage for the chance to win $20,000. If selected, each band will

perform a three-song set in front of thousands, competing for fame and fortune.

Please visit www.FDIC.com for a complete list of details, rules and regulations.

Scott Firefi ghter Combat Challenge®

March 23rd-26th, 2011

South Street Exhibits & Demonstration Area, Indianapolis, IN

For the fi rst time ever, the Scott Firefi ghter Combat Challenge® will take place

at FDIC 2011. Wearing “full bunker gear” and the SCOTT Air-Pak breathing

apparatus, pairs of competitors race head-to-head as they simulate the physical

demands of real-life fi refi ghting by performing a linked series of fi ve tasks

including climbing the 5-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and

rescuing a life-sized, 175 lb. “victim” as they race against themselves, their

opponent and the clock. The Challenge seeks to encourage fi refi ghter fi tness and

demonstrate the profession’s rigors to the public.March 21-26, 2011 ■ Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

fdic.com

Need A Reason To Attend FDIC 2011?

How About

Half A Million.Over 400,000 square

feet of additional

space within

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Over 100,000

additional square feet

of outside-exhibition

space within the new

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& Demonstration Area

FDIC 2011 will be the largest

conference since its inception 84

years ago. In addition to increased

exhibitor attendance, the Indiana

Convention Center has just

completed a massive expansion

that includes an indoor, street level,

climate controlled connector to the

Lucas Oil Stadium.

In addition to new 400,000

square feet of space within the

convention center, FDIC 2011 will

also incorporate the South Street

Exhibits & Demo Area, which

includes over 100,000 square feet

of additional space. This area will

be host to the Scott Firefi ghter

Combat Challenge and serve as

a product demonstration area for

participating exhibitors.

■ Indianapolis Convention

Center Expansion – Includes

over 254,000 square feet of

exhibit space, 63,000 square

feet of meeting rooms and

100,000 square feet of pre-

function space.

■ South Street Exhibits & Demo

Area – Adds an additional

100,000 square feet of exhibit

and demonstration space,

including the Scott Firefi ghter

Combat Challenge.

The tradition of FDIC as the

leading event within the fi re

industry lives on. 2011 will offer

the largest venue in the history of

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exposure to leading equipment

manufacturers and suppliers than

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http://www.fdic.com

March 21-26, 2011

Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

www.fdic.com

South Street Exhibit

& Demonstration Area

Maryland Street

Ca

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ol S

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et

South Street Exhibits

■ Indianapolis Convention Center Expansion

Includes over 254,000 square feet of exhibit

space, 63,000 square feet of meeting rooms

and 100,000 square feet of pre-function space.

■ South Street Exhibits & Demo Area

Adds an additional 100,000 square feet of

exhibit and demonstration space, including the

Scott Firefi ghter Combat Challenge.


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Firehouse Excellence

Captain Mike Gagliano, Seattle (WA) Fire Department; and


There is nothing quite like a fi rehouse. It can be the most

incredible experience of your life or a miserable exile to

purgatory. It can be a place of learning where skills are

honed and techniques refi ned or a stagnant cesspool

where competence erodes into ineffective complacency.

What is it that causes one place to be cohesive and

brimming with camaraderie while the place just down the

road is fi lled with dissension and drudgery? Five key areas

can turn any fi rehouse into the type of place that enables

fi refi ghters to thrive and fulfi ll their calling. This workshop

will present a high-energy, no-nonsense look at how to

build and enjoy the type of fi rehouse everyone wants.

ALL LEVELS

High-Rise Operations:

Is Your Department Prepared?

District Chief David M. McGrail, Denver (CO) Fire Department

This interactive workshop will provide attendees with

a wide range of tools to help them prepare their fi re

department for success at high-rise operations. Several

case studies of actual high-rise fi res will be highlighted,

with an explanation of the various lessons learned and

reinforced and how these valuable lessons can be applied

to your next high-rise fi re. Attendees will be given a

standard operating procedure that can be tailored to their

specifi c needs. A thorough explanation of the specifi c roles

and responsibilities from the fi rst-due engine company

to the fourth-due chief will be discussed, with attendees

working through several high-rise fi re scenarios.

INTERMEDIATE

Mission-Focused Command

Division Chief Edward K. Hadfi eld, Coronado (CA)

Fire Department

This program will provide company and command offi cers

with the necessary decision-making skills to quickly

establish a tactical and strategic plan with positive

outcomes. It will highlight command concepts based

on building profi les, rescue profi les, and proper tactical

considerations for each circumstance based on today’s

fi reground, not yesterday’s urban myths about fi refi ghting.

Offi cers will develop an Incident Assignment Plan using

mission-focused principles. The program will teach

students how to make sound fundamental decisions based

on knowledge and the reality-based facts of what the

incident has given them. It will also expose the danger of

using theory in a world of reality.


PPV in Wind-Driven Fires

Battalion Chief George K. Healy, Chicago (IL) Fire Department

Incident commanders—chief and company offi cers—who

command fi re operations in multistory buildings will focus

on lessons learned from operations in such buildings.

The workshop will discuss results of the testing that

was conducted on smoke control with positive pressure

ventilation (PPV) and alternate strategies for fi re attack for

wind-driven fi res. Learn tactical considerations to make

this high-stress situation more manageable.

ALL LEVELS

Street-Smart Habits for Effective Fire Training

Assistant Chief Brian Crandell, Central Valley (MT) Fire District

This interactive workshop will focus on developing and

delivering training programs that result in improved

fi refi ghter performance in the street. It will focus on

training methods that have proven effective with all levels

of fi re service training, from basic fi refi ghter training

through advanced command training. Students will learn

simulations and real-time drills for all skill levels, all with

immediate practical application. They will also discuss

their experiences in planning and implementing successful

drills. Emphasis is on lessons learned, application of

command functions, and fi refi ghter safety.

ALL LEVELS

Tactical Considerations and Size-Up

Battalion Chief Michael L. Walker, Oklahoma City (OK)

Fire Department

This workshop will show how to deal with the ever-

changing dynamics of scene management at a structure

fi re and what to do when the initial plan isn’t working.

Using footage taken from a helmet camera, students will

learn from real fi res the instructor has commanded. They

will learn how the tactical decisions affected the outcome

of the event, namely an unusual house fi re and two

different multialarm apartment fi res. The captured footage

from the helmet camera has proven to be invaluable for

personnel to learn from during critiques.

INTERMEDIATE


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WORKSHOPS

Value-Added Leadership

Chief (Ret.) Alan Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department

The major reason a fi re department is in business is

to deliver service to Mrs. Smith—our customer. She

remembers that we responded quickly and solved her

problem, but most of all she remembered that we were

nice to her and her family. Fire department bosses must

understand that the way they treat the fi refi ghters is what

gets delivered to the customers. Any behavior that Chief

Smith wants Firefi ghter Smith to extend to Mrs. Smith he

must extend himself. The message of this workshop is very

simple and very important: Value-added service requires

value-added leadership.

INTERMEDIATE


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Command Training Center Development

and Management

Chief (Ret.) Alan Brunacini, Deputy Chief (Ret.) Nick Brunacini,

and Captain (Ret.) John Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ) Fire

Department

This workshop will focus on several curriculums used to

deliver command training inside several organizations,

different centers around the country and the facilities

and equipment they use to deliver command training,

simulation technology and development, and hazard zone

and safety integration. Command training needs to focus

on the actual job that we do every day in the streets. The

end product of our training needs to produce incident

commanders who make better decisions that provide for

a safer and more effi cient operation in the hazard zone.

Learn how to make command training realistic

and applicable.


Fire Department Cornerstone Leadership

Lieutenant Mike Mason, Downers Grove (IL) Fire Department

This look into the world of leadership for fi refi ghters,

company offi cers, captains, and chiefs will provide some

of the most groundbreaking aspects of leading fi refi ghters

on and off the fi reground. It is a wake-up call to fi re

departments across America regarding leadership in the

“paramilitary” environment that is being created in the fi re

service today. It is an in-depth look into managing and

leading on and off the battlefi eld from the philosophies

and actions of those who have been there within the

military as well as the fi re service. Learn to motivate

fi refi ghters through compassion, trust, sense of duty,

courage, and commitment while keeping them safe on

and off the fi reground.

ALL LEVELS

Fireground Scenario Workshop

Battalion Chief John Salka, Fire Department of New York; and


This program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for fi refi ghters,

company offi cers, and chiefs to experience a number of

different types of structural fi res. Examine fi res in private

dwellings, commercial buildings, apartment houses, and

offi ce buildings. Whatever your experience level is, you will

certainly see something you have never seen before in this

workshop. During the fi re scenarios, the tactics, strategies

and other factors will be analyzed and discussed.

Students will have an opportunity to comment on what is

happening in the scenario and how they might handle a

similar situation in their own department. This will be an

interesting, fast-moving, and entertaining program that you

don’t want to miss.

ALL LEVELS

Hazmat: Initial Approach and Actions

Kristina Kreutzer, Ph.D., Research Chemist, DuPont; Member,

Mill Creek (DE) Fire Company

Understanding the environment is the foundation of any

incident. The fi rst priority is safety and the proper approach

and staging of responders. From there, the strategic

and tactical goals can be identifi ed. This point begins to

address the management and control and identifying the

problem points of managing an incident. Understanding

the nature of the incident is the key to safe and expedient

resolution and provides guidance in determining incident

priorities and tactical concerns.

BASIC/INTERMEDIATE

4-Hour Workshops: Tuesday, March 221:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.


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WORKSHOPS

High-Rise Operations

Battalion Chief Jerry Tracy, Fire Department of New York

The challenge of operating in commercial structures

considered high-rise or low-rise demands the disciplines

of procedures that go far beyond routine operations. Many

cities, large and small, are experiencing a tremendous

growth in such structures because real estate space

has become a premium commodity and availability is

declining. Learn the information required for preplanning

and how the cooperation and duties of building owners

and managing agents fi t into the plan of operations. The

preplan will be more than a building profi le—it will focus on

a plan of action when the emergency happens. Understand

the characteristics of different construction types as well

as how features of fi re protection, HVAC (heating, air-

conditioning, and ventilation) systems, and standpipe

systems are used in operations. Learn about strategies and

tactics to extinguish the routine to the most diffi cult fi res—

controlling smoke movement, search and rescue, and the

command system that supports operations.

ALL LEVELS

Identifying and Developing the Complete

Company Offi cer

Battalion Chief Michael J. Barakey, Virginia Beach (VA)

Fire Department

How do we identify, select, and train our next offi cer

core? We identify, select, and hire new recruits or other

fi re service members in a systematic manner, so why

not the company offi cer? Does your department expect

competent decisions from new offi cers but offer no

training or direction? The solution is twofold. First, use

proven methods and models to identify and select your

next offi cer core. Then, provide that group with training in

the form of a formal academy. This workshop will provide

several models to assist in the identifi cation and selection

of future company offi cers as well as show how to build

a modular Captain’s Academy for volunteer and career

departments from scratch.

INTERMEDIATE

Incident Rehab

Mike McEvoy, EMS Coordinator, Saratoga County, New York;

Technical Editor, Fire Engineering

This train-the-trainer session will prepare participants

to deliver the IAFC Firefi ghter Rehab program using the

Rehab and Medical Monitoring: An Intro to NFPA 1584

textbook and accompanying Power Points®. Participants

will gain an in-depth understanding of the standard, the

roles and responsibilities, and the nine components of a

successful rehab operation.

ALL LEVELS

Managing a Fire

Assistant Chief (Ret.) John “Skip” Coleman, Toledo (OH) Fire

Department; Technical Editor, Fire Engineering

With the advent of the incident command system, almost

any fi refi ghter can be put in the position of incident

commander, at least initially at an incident. Running a fi re

is not easy, but with some logical and common sense

steps, this daunting task can be made simpler. There is a

logical approach to managing fi res and similar emergency

incidents. This presentation will provide a safe and

effective approach to managing incidents. The major

focus will be on running residential fi res, but it will cover

major incidents and other emergency responses. This

is not an incident command class but rather a step-by-

step approach on how to prioritize assignments and then

control the scene.

ALL LEVELS

New Firefi ght: Interior Attack in

Lightweight Construction

Peter Van Dorpe, Chief of Training, Chicago (IL) Fire

Department

Lightweight, energy effi cient construction; modern

fuels; fi refi ghter encapsulation; and staffi ng reductions

have combined to make today’s residential fi refi ght a

dramatically new challenge for even the most experienced

fi refi ghter. This workshop brings together cutting edge

research and best practices from around the country to

help instructors develop curriculum and teach tactics

for surviving and fi ghting fi res in modern residential

construction.

ADVANCED


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Not Everyone Goes Home

Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder, Loveland-Symmes (OH)

Fire Department

Real-life and very current case studies are used to help

participants distinguish between fi refi ghter behaviors that

are heroic, involve taking calculated risks, and may end

with tragic results and behaviors that are “hardly heroic”

and may even border on “stupid.”

ALL LEVELS

Training Offi cer and Instructor Boot Camp

Battalion Chief Forest Reeder, Pleasantview (IL)

Fire Protection District

Every instructor needs to continually develop new skills

and learn about the challenges that instructors and

training offi cers face every day. This boot camp will help

you refi ne your professional skills and learn new ones in

many useful areas. This is a do-it-yourself workshop with

loads of practical work in the areas of objective writing,

using and developing JPRs, conducting basic training

needs assessments, and adult learning principles. You’ll

be challenged to fi nd ways to improve yourself as an

instructor, and you will emerge with new skills to help

you do your job better. Portions of this program have

been featured in the International Society of Fire Service

Instructors Webinar series as well as in the weekly drill

feature on www.fi reengineering.com.

ALL LEVELS

Truck Company Essentials

Lieutenant Mark Gregory, Fire Department of New York

The tactics and discussions that will be presented

cover operations in both the suburban and rural setting.

Staffi ng issues and how to overcome them will be

addressed. The objective is to present the importance

of practicing our basic essentials. Fireground operations

are successful when the foundations of our training are

properly practiced. Truck company work encompasses

many different areas—size-up, proactive ground and aerial

ladder placement, commercial building operations, multiple

dwelling operations (low-rise and hi-rise), and private

dwellings. Essentials will focus on interior and exterior

operations such as forcible entry, search, victim removal,

ventilation, and laddering.

ALL LEVELS


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WORKSHOPS

Developing a Fire Department Training Program

Chief Thomas J. Wutz, Fire Service Bureau, and Mark C. Butler,

State Fire Instructor, New York State Offi ce of Fire Prevention

and Control

Many fi re departments struggle to provide comprehensive

and challenging training for their personnel whether

career, combination, or volunteer. Frequently these are

departments without a dedicated training bureau or

division, and the offi cer/instructor assigned the training

responsibility continually searches for training programs

and resources without a comprehensive plan. This program

will provide training offi cers with the tools and resources

they need to establish a training program for their agency.

Through a series of presentations and practical exercises,

students will develop a step-by-step training program

to identify their specifi c training needs, design a training

course/program for their agency, plan the implementation

of the program including budgetary considerations,

and evaluate the delivery of their comprehensive fi re

department training program.

INTERMEDIATE

Developing Leadership in Fire Offi cers

Chief Dennis Compton, International Fire Service

Training Association

This session explores critical leadership, supervisory, and

management behaviors that make fi re offi cers and those

they lead more effective. A fi re department is only as

capable as the chief offi cers and company level offi cers

who lead the system and the members. Enhancing the

development of current and future fi re offi cers is perhaps

the greatest contribution we can make to the future of

our fi re departments, as well as their service delivery and

support systems. All current and future fi re offi cers will

benefi t from attending this session.

ALL LEVELS

Fire Dynamics for the Fire Service

Daniel Madrzykowski, Fire Protection Engineer, National

Institute of Standards and Technology; and Steve Kerber, Fire

Protection Engineer, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

This updated workshop will discuss how building

geometry, materials, furnishings, ventilation, and

fi refi ghting tactics can infl uence fi re growth and spread,

leading to untenable conditions for fi refi ghters. A

combination of new videos and new data will describe

fi re behavior to characterize the thermal environment to

which fi refi ghters may be exposed. Fire behavior and

fi re dynamics are based on the fundamental relationship

between fuel, oxygen, and heat—i.e., the fi re triangle. The

type of fuel, the location of fuel in the room, the geometry

of the fuel, building construction, and ventilation can

have a signifi cant effect on the speed of fi re growth and

spread. Ventilating the structure can provide cooling by

removing heat, but ventilating a “fuel-rich” room may

cause a fl ashover by allowing fresh air into the structure.

Understanding ventilation will lead to improved

tactical decisions, such as when to use positive

pressure ventilation.

ALL LEVELS

Fireground Decision Making

Chief (Ret.) Richard B. Gasaway, Roseville (MN)

Fire Department

Have you ever watched a video or read a case study of

a catastrophic fi re and asked yourself, “How could they

not have seen this coming?” This program examines

the challenges of developing and maintaining situation

awareness in dynamic, high-stress, high-consequence

environments. You may be shocked and amazed to learn

the many ways your situation awareness can be impacted.

This program will focus on the challenges commanders

face when required to make decisions under stress. You

will understand why commanders struggle to gather the

cues and clues needed at high-stress, complex emergency

scenes; why it’s not always easy to make sense of what is

happening; and why it is so diffi cult to predict the future

events at complex incident scenes.

INTERMEDIATE

8-Hour Workshops: Tuesday, March 228:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.


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Fireground Tactics: House Fires and Store Fires

Deputy Assistant Chief (Ret.) John Norman, Fire Department of

New York

This class focuses on the most common fi res in America—

fi res in one- and two-family homes. It covers the death and

injury rates in such homes, size-up, the fi refi ghter survival

survey, fi re attack, hoseline selection and placement,

water supply, search and rescue, and more. Emphasis is

on developing workable tactics that your organization can

implement on the fi reground under a variety of common

and not so common conditions. Fortunately, major store

fi res are not everyday occurrences but, as a consequence,

many departments try to apply house fi re tactics to

commercial fi res. The workshop will also highlight the

differences between residential and commercial fi res and

discuss tactics for dealing with both.

ALL LEVELS

Growing Leaders Using Empowerment

(G.L.U.E.)

Captain Larry C. Conley and David M. Conley, Leadership

Development Concepts, St. Louis, MO

G.L.U.E. is designed to teach recruit instructors a

principle-focused approach to fi re safety. Participants

learn seven basic principles that work to enhance

practical fi re safety training. Recruit instructors internalize

these principles and pass them on to their classes,

creating an improved brand of principle-focused fi re

safety professionals. The truly effective fi refi ghter must

learn and practice principle-centered thinking. This is the

GLUE that supports and strengthens the new training

learned in the academy and ultimately produces a

department of professional fi refi ghters who are the pride

of communities everywhere.

ALL LEVELS

IAFF Health and Safety Initiatives:

Preparing You for Survival

Lieutenant Michael Cacciola, Fire Department of New York;

and Captain George Cruz, Los Angeles County (CA)

Fire Department

Nothing matters more to the International Association of

Fire Fighters (IAFF) than the health and safety of fi refi ghters

and paramedics. The IAFF dedicates signifi cant resources

to the never-ending struggle to make a dangerous

profession as safe as possible. The purpose of the

IAFF’s occupational health, safety, and medical efforts

is to identify hazards; develop and disseminate user-

friendly technical materials and information; and provide

assistance so fi refi ghters can recognize and control the

health, safety, and medical needs associated with their

profession. To assist in the achievement of that goal, the

IAFF offers a comprehensive array of services addressing

occupational health, safety, and medicine needs through a

variety of programs. This workshop will highlight programs

developed by the IAFF to improve the health and safety of

today’s fi re service.

ALL LEVELS

Improving Incident Safety

Offi cer Effectiveness

David Dodson, Lead Instructor, Response Solutions, LLC

This practical, street-tested class is designed to help

an incident safety offi cer (ISO) make a difference on the

fi reground. The workshop will show how an ISO can apply

a proactive approach to predicting hostile fi re events,

building collapses, hazardous energy releases, and

fi refi ghter injury traps. Extensive use of raw fi reground

video for group projects will drive the learning experience.

The workshop can also serve as a study tool for those

seeking ISO certifi cation.

INTERMEDIATE


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WORKSHOPS

International Fire Instructors

Workshop (IFIW)

Moderators: Captain Peter McBride, Ottawa (Ont., Canada)

Fire Services; and Dr. Stefan Svensson, Swedish Civil

Contingencies Agency

This fourth annual lecture series, hosted this year by the

FDIC, is directed at developing a broader understanding

of fi re dynamics, fi re suppression techniques, tactics,

command decision making, and realistic training methods

for the fi re service. The IFIW features an international group

of instructors presenting 45-minute mini lectures over two

days on best practices in fi refi ghting instructional design

and highlighting leading edge research and engineering

directed at fi re prevention, suppression, tactical safety,

decision making, education, and developing ideas for

future shared research themes directed at advancing

the fi re services. Lectures include “Catching Fire: Why

Emotional Intelligence Is Important in the Fire Service,” by

Dr. Arthur H. Perlini; “Live Fire Training LODD Incidents,”

by Daniel Madrzykowski; “UL Fire Research with the

Fire Service,” by Steve Kerber; “Fire Behaviour Training

for Recruits,” by John McDonough; “Learning From

Experience,” by Stefan Sardqvist; “Command and Control:

The Scientifi c Approach,” by Dr. Stefan Svensson; “Getting

the Message Across: Compartment Fire Dynamics-Fuel

and Ventilation Controlled Fires,” by John Chubb; “Analysis

of a Double LODD,” by Karel Lambert; “Fighting Fires

Underground in Frankfurt’s Metro,” by Jens Stiegel; “Fire

Control and Ventilation Doctrine,” by Ed Hartin; “Tunnel

and Underground Infrastructure Firefi ghting,” by Shan

Raffel; and “Working in Another Time,” by Peter McBride.

ALL LEVELS

Managing Rescue Operations

Battalion Chief Joe Downey, Fire Department of New York;

and Battalion Chief Larry Collins, Los Angeles County (CA)

Fire Department

An “East Coast, West Coast, and Middle America” view

of challenging rescue operations and some tried-and-true

“best practices” for managing them, this is an opportunity

for fi rst responders and rescue specialists to examine

emerging rescue challenges and consider how they are

being overcome by departments across the country.

Case studies of recent major rescue operations and

disasters provide insightful analysis from the perspective

of two veteran rescue practitioners and commanders and

the opportunity for participants to brainstorm possible

solutions and practice “game planning” for similar

emergencies closer to home.

BASIC/INTERMEDIATE

Obtaining Funding for Operational Needs

Cynthia Ross Tustin, Program Specialist, Offi ce of the Fire

Marshal, Ontario, Canada; and Chief Mark Wallace, McKinney

(TX) Fire Department

As we work to recover from the economic recession

and continue our struggle to move the fi re service to

the forefront of community priorities, the competition

for limited municipal dollars will require our proposals to

stand out above the rest. You and your department have

operational needs. This workshop will give you tools and

processes to improve your odds for success in obtaining

that crucial funding that will allow you to rebuild your fi re

department. The focus is on explaining your operational

needs to politicians, conducting and explaining a risk

analysis, developing and presenting a cohesive report to

council, and the art of the good executive summary.


Professional Development and Credentialing for

Tomorrow’s Leaders

Division Chief Eddie Buchanan, Hanover (VA) Fire & EMS/

President, International Society of Fire Service Instructors;

and Christopher J. Naum, SFPE, Chief of Training, Command

Institute, Washington, DC/Second Vice President, International

Society of Fire Service Instructors

Raise the bar of fi re service instruction through

professional credentialing. This workshop with the

International Society of Fire Services Instructors is

designed to provide an orientation to the organization’s

professional development and credentialing system. It

provides instructors with a pathway to progress from

an outline-based instructor to a professional fi re service

educator. The workshop provides an overview on the

need for professional development for the instructor

and describes the process in detail. Initial instructor

development content will also be included. Credentialing

levels include “Accredited Fire Service Instructor” (AFSI),

“Master Fire Service Instructor” (MFSI), and “Professional

Fire Service Educator” (PFSE). Participants must be

qualifi ed instructors in their department to participate. Only

instructors who are serious about improving their level of

instructional delivery should enroll.

ALL LEVELS


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Smoke Symposium

Assistant Chief Rob Schnepp, Alameda County (CA)

Fire Department

This is the most comprehensive presentation about fi re

smoke. Modern day fi re smoke and its toxicants are largely

responsible for cardiac-related deaths and disease, which

are attacking fi refi ghters like the plague. To effectively

function on the fi reground—as a means of preventing or

limiting exposure—fi refi ghters must be armed with new

information and a greater understanding of fi re smoke. This

smoke symposium promises to deliver a new awareness

about smoke, current and new research about toxicants

contained in smoke, suggested protocols to meter and

monitor air quality, how to prevent the exposure by

understanding personal air consumption, air management,

tactical considerations and protective actions, and the

truth about a fi re department plagued with thyroid cancer

and disease linked to cyanide exposure.

ALL LEVELS

Specifying Fire Apparatus

Battalion Chief (Ret.) William C. Peters, Jersey City (NJ)

Fire Department

This program will guide the apparatus purchaser through

the process of specifi cation, including justifi cation for

replacement; outlining the options and features desired on

the new apparatus; the various types of specifi cations and

which one is best; the all-important general requirements

to protect the purchaser; the factory preconstruction

conference; and the fi nal apparatus inspection, delivery,

and acceptance. Several exercises will encourage group

participation and reinforce lessons learned. All of the

updates in the 2009 edition of NFPA 1901, the apparatus

standard, will be included and discussed.

ALL LEVELS

Station Fire:

An Incident Commander’s Perspective

Deputy Chief Mike Bryant, Los Angeles County (CA)

Fire Department

What started out on August 26, 2009, as a 10-acre brush

fi re in the Angeles National Forest above the City of La

Canada near Los Angeles, California, rapidly turned into

the largest fi re ever recorded in the history of Los Angeles

County and the 10th largest fi re in California history.

Presented is an overview of the command challenges

and accomplishments as well as the events leading up

to the tragic and sad deaths of two Los Angeles County

fi refi ghters while performing fi refi ghting operations at Fire

Camp 16. Numerous photos recreate how the burnover

occurred and how the two fi refi ghters lost their lives.

ALL LEVELS


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OPENING CEREMONY / GENERAL SESSION

Celebrate the unique and time-honored tradition of the Opening Ceremony and

General Session at FDIC 2011. This year’s moving presentations include the following:

■ Video highlights from the Hands-on Training (H.O.T.) evolutions that took place the days before.

■ Tribute to the 2010 U.S. and Canadian fallen fi refi ghters.

■ Keynote speakers who have risen to prominence from among the fi re service ranks and who will jump-start your FDIC

experience as you begin the classroom portion of the week.

■ Presentation of the Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award. Nominations for this award are accepted until January 7,

2011, for someone who performed a meritorious act at an incident that occurred between December 1, 2009, and

November 30, 2010. The recipient receives a cash award of $35,000 and a medal.

■ Presentation of the Tom Brennan Lifetime Achievement Award and a look at previous winners, including such fi re

service legends as Alan Brunacini, Ray Downey, Denis Onieal, John Norman, Vincent Dunn, Francis Brannigan, and

Ron Siarnicki. This award is named for Fire Engineering Editor in Memoriam Tom Brennan, who embodied a lifetime of

achievement in the fi re service.

■ Presentation of the George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award. This award, formerly the Fire Engineering Training

Achievement Award that was given to such well-known fi re service trainers as Andy Fredericks, Mike Lombardo,

John Salka, Scott Millsap, Forest Reeder, and Tracy Raynor, is given in conjunction with the International Society of

Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI). It recognizes individuals for extraordinary accomplishments in fi re service training.

Nominations must be received by December 31, 2010.

These dynamic morning sessions, held Wednesday, March 23, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., and

Thursday, March 24, 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m., are always motivational and are not to be missed!

Opening Ceremony WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

General Session THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2011 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

First Responders’ Vital Role in Combating

International Terrorism

George Akkelquist, Counter Threat Institute International

Designed for terrorism liaison offi cers (TLOs), this course

explains the values, attitudes, and beliefs of the Sunni Radical

Extremists (SRIE), how to recognize a potential SRIE, and how

to open and maintain lines of communication during interview

and asset recognition if necessary. How the SRIE tactical and

strategic doctrines impact offi cer safety, investigative tools,

advanced elicitation, and source recognition are among the

topics covered. The class is intended for the TLO who has

attended the POST certifi ed Basic and Intermediate courses;

it is not for the novice.

Managing Technical Rescue Operations

Captain Richard W. Alfes, Naugatuck (CT) Fire Department;

FEMA MATF-0l Squad Leader

Students will be alerted to the common hazards inherent

in and mistakes made during technical rescue operations

involving confi ned space, trench collapse, structural collapse,

and rope rescue. The variety of tactical and strategic plans

discussed will enhance students’ operations at the scene of a

special rescue incident, including stabilizing the incident while

waiting for additional assistance. Many times, knowing what

not to do is the best option during a highly technical operation.

Real-World Hydraulics

Chief Kirk Allen, Kansas Fire Protection District

Become acquainted with simple solutions to problems

involving hydraulics. You will share in more than 18 years of

experience involving fl ow testing and major issues involving

hydraulics. Knowing the problem is only half the battle! Learn

why blanket guidelines for hydraulics are dangerous and the

information textbooks do not cover. Discover how to verify

manufacturers’ information. Become acquainted with solutions

for fi xing apparatus sensor and gauge problems, and learn

which fi re hose myths should be debunked.

Effective High-Rise Fire Safety Management

Captain John Alston, Jersey City (NJ) Fire Department

Case studies, surveys, and lessons learned are used to

illustrate how planning, preparation, and response that

incorporate a proactive/prepared civilian component

and a systematic response component (emergency first

responder) can improve the outcome in high-rise fires.

Learn how to implement a successful High-Rise Fire Safety

Management Program. The roles of response guidelines,

standards, ordinances, stakeholders, advocates, and

beneficiaries are analyzed.

Creative Company Drills

Captain Raul A. Angulo, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

Students will share in an innovative series of drills and

evolutions (not found in textbooks) for engine and truck

companies that will make drilling challenging and exciting and

that will also build morale and enhance crew preparedness.

Slides clearly lay out in sequence special skills and techniques

to increase knowledge and facilitate retention. Drills cover

equipment, radio communication, couplings, hoselays, rescues

involving ascending and descending stairs and ladders, self-

extrication, climbing walls, lifting obese patients from the fl oor,

fog application, and more.

Making the Grade

Captain Brian Arnold, Oklahoma City (OK) Fire Department

Training and safety are highlighted in this presentation that

addresses methods that illustrate how training in multiple

fi refi ghting areas should be approached in relation to

preventing fi refi ghter fatalities. The impact of the National

Fallen Firefi ghter Foundation’s 16 Life Safety Initiatives on

fi re service training is evaluated. Participants will be guided

in ways to incorporate basic and advanced skills into

realistic evolutions.

Fireground Strategies

Deputy Chief Anthony Avillo, North Hudson (NJ) Regional

Fire & Rescue

Students will be made well aware of the ease with which

complacency and inattention on the fi reground can lead

them to become injury and fatality statistics and of the

unintended consequences of unsafe actions. Accountability,

adequate supervision, discipline, leadership, and safety on the

fi reground are emphasized.

Kleen Energy Explosion: What We Learned

Chief Edward Badamo, South Fire District, Middletown, CT

The Kleen Energy Explosion in Middletown, Connecticut,

on February 7, 2010, killed six people and injured more

than 30. Students will learn the roles building construction,

resources, coordination, challenges, incident management,

and the cause of the explosion played in this event and the

lessons. Discussion will focus on power plant function and

construction, the application of National Fire Protection

Association standards for power plants, the gas blow process,

worksite safety, and incident command and management at a

large-scale incident.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Vehicle Extrication: Tactical Level Management

Assistant Engineer Les Baker, Charleston (SC)

Fire Department

Arguably, the most important responsibility at an extrication

incident is managing tactical operations. This program

evaluates the responsibilities of the disentanglement group

supervisor: his role in the command structure at a typical

extrication incident in relation to the incident action plan

and strategic goals, in connection with accountability and

the coordination of group operations, and in relation to

incident safety.

Incident Commander Do’s and Don’ts

Battalion Chief Joseph Berchtold, Teaneck (NJ)

Fire Department

Students will acquire tools that help them to make good

command decisions on the fi reground. Areas addressed

include accountability, risk assessment, leadership, setting

up command, calling for resources early, pacing yourself in

the fi rst few minutes on the fi reground, achieving maximum

visibility for size-up, and building a lifeline for when you are out

of options. Learn what you can do now to prepare to become

an effective command offi cer in the future.

Fighting Structure Fires

Lieutenant Steve Bernocco, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

Know the answers before the fi re asks the questions. This

dynamic presentation focuses on the tactics of the fi rst-due

companies from large and small fi re departments at structure

fi res. Add to your experiential mental slide tray! Students will

watch videos and computer simulations of structure fi res and

then discuss various engine and truck tactics that could be

used to fi ght them. Critique the critical decisions of the fi rst-

due offi cers. Answer the question: “What can we do better?”

Lessons Learned from a First-Time

Training Offi cer

EMS and Special Operations Chief Jason Blount, Hillsboro

(OR) Fire Department

Gain an understanding of the position of training offi cer:

its expectations, trappings, and successes from one who

has recently assumed that position. The role of the training

offi cer in relation to the organization and the importance of

a personal development plan are among the topics to be

addressed.

The Ready Position

Engineer Christopher Brennan, Harvey (IL) Fire Department

The Ready Position is the point at which the capacity and

capabilities of the Fire Service Warrior are in an ideal state

of potential energy. Whether sitting in the fi rehouse at the

kitchen table or in the recliner at home with the pager sitting

next to you on the table, ideally, you will be ready to spring

into action when an alarm sounds. Learn how to master the

physical and mental skills of the Fire Service Warrior: Be

100 percent present when you enter into battle; have the

knowledge, skills, and abilities to thrive on the fi reground;

and be prepared for the unfortunate should the worst-case

scenario occur at an incident.

Introduction to FlatPak: Evaluating the New

SCBA Technology

Jim Brown, Ph.D., Safe Responder, LLC, Indianapolis, IN

Get updated on FlatPak, the new SCBA that represents a

breakthrough in respiratory protection for fi refi ghters. Findings

of the evaluation of the new SCBA by Safe Responder’s

Laboratories are discussed, including the indication that

FlatPak imposes less cardiovascular stress and increases

fi refi ghters’ range of motion. In early 2011, FlatPak will

be deployed on a limited basis with the Indianapolis Fire

Department. Firefi ghters’ physiology will be monitored. The

data will be compared with that collected during the 2008

Indianapolis fi refi ghter physiology study.

Firefi ghter Safety and Survival

Firefi ghter/Paramedic Patrick L. Brown, Chicago (IL)

Fire Department

The emphasis is on developing the attitude and skills that

will prevent line-of-duty deaths. The importance of rational

fi reground activities and safety is highlighted, as are things

fi refi ghters can do to ensure safety and effi ciency on the

fi reground before arriving. Veterans will be reminded of

the need to do those “monotonous things” done on a

daily basis. Should something go wrong despite all the

preplanning and preparation, students will be reminded of

how to recognize a Mayday situation, how to call one, and

what to do in those circumstances.

Bruno and Norman “Unplugged”

Chief (Ret.) Alan Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department; and


New York

Take advantage of the opportunity to see, hear, and interact

with these two fi re service luminaries. Glean the lessons

learned from their illustrious fi refi ghting careers. Share their

observations and perspectives in an informal and entertaining

atmosphere. Available only at FDIC.


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Fast-Track Command

Chief (Ret.) Alan Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department

Firefi ghters must routinely work in immediately dangerous to

life and health (IDLH) environments to conduct rescue and

fi re control operations. Learn how to deal with the “here and

now” hazards that necessitate a local incident management

system that can fast track the standard command functions to

match the time-compressed IDLH time frame. Become adept

at packaging the standard eight command functions so they

can be quickly implemented and effectively applied to match

incident conditions that are changing quickly and typically

getting worse until you make them better.

Blue Card Command Training and

Certifi cation Overview

Captain (Ret.) John Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ)

Fire Department

Structural fi refi ghting requires the integration of many people,

much equipment, numerous apparatus, and operating within

various systems and procedures. Safe and effective hazard

zone operations do not just happen. They are the products

of experience, education/curriculum, hands-on training,

and a sensible evaluation program. The Blue Card program

institutionalizes and standardizes command training, as well

as captures fi refi ghting experience in a way so that it can be

passed from one generation of fi refi ghter to the next.

Residential Tactical Template for Firefi ghting

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Nick Brunacini, Phoenix (AZ)

Fire Department

The residential fi re is the fi re service’s most common fi re. We

need to use a logic-based initial size-up to ensure safer and

more effective action on these structures. This session will look

at the eight main critical factors associated with residential

structures, provide an in-depth look at the building techniques

used to construct old and new homes, and observe modern

fi re behavior in the residential setting. Participants will practice

within the context of real-world tactical simulations.

Ventilation Principles and Practices

Lieutenant Brian Brush, West Metro Fire Rescue,

Littleton, CO

A revisit of the fundamental understanding of the why,

how, and when of ventilation tactics to offset the fact that

technology has caused our enemy, the fi re, to advance as

much as our skills. Fire behavior; the “hierarchy of ventilation”;

vertical, horizontal, and mechanical ventilation techniques;

fi reground roles and responsibilities; drill ideas; tool

assignments; and tactical action plans/preassignments are

among areas discussed.

Leading with Attitude

Eddie Buchanan, President, International Society of Fire

Service Instructors

This class is about empowerment—making positive changes

in your department and lives. It poses and answers the

questions: What can I do about changing those things I don’t

like about my job? Do I have to be a “yes” man to be a good

“follower”? How do I deal with the offi cer, the negative guy, the

bobblehead, the rookie—and myself? Participate in a rankless

and nameless “gut check” that will reveal what you can do to

improve yourself, your department, and the fi re service today

and for future generations.

Reading Buildings: Enhancing Size-Up Skills

Battalion Chief John Buckheit, Fire Department of

New York

Bring your size-up skills to new heights. Tap into the

instructor’s 25 years of experience. Develop your own

“educated eye” as you follow the “X-ray” approach to sizing

up structures: Determine which features can reveal a building’s

age, construction type, and occupancy and can assist the

fi rst responder in investigating and mitigating response for

carbon monoxide, odors, gas leaks, water leaks, and electrical

emergencies.

Origin and Cause: A Systematic and

Comprehensive Investigation

Adrian J. Cales, Operations Systems Manager, Public Service

Enterprise Group, Paramus, NJ

Students are presented with a comprehensive format for

examining and documenting the fi re scene and determining

the origin of the fi re. Become acquainted with the components

and essential elements that should be part of every fi re scene

investigation from the time of the call to the time you leave the

scene. Learn how to develop fi re investigation reports that can

be used for a criminal or civil litigation proceeding.

Understanding the Training Building Process

Assistant Chief Mike Cardwell, Urbandale (IA)

Fire Department

Many departments are struggling to provide realistic, hands-

on fi re and rescue training, especially in these dire economic

times. Learn how three departments overcame signifi cant

challenges to create an excellent training facility for their

personnel. You will embark on a journey that encompasses all

important steps in the project, from gaining political support to

securing funding to planning and then to construction.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Initial First-Due Size-Up Reports for

Company Offi cers

Battalion Chief Leonard Carmichael Jr., Trenton (NJ)

Fire Department

The framework for the entire fi reground experience from

assessing the incident scene arrival information to setting up

an incident management system organization is presented.

Mental checklists, size-up factors, fi rst-due companies’

actions, and additional resources needed are covered.

Improving and Maintaining Good Instructors

Lieutenant Scott Carrigan, Nashua (NH) Fire Rescue

What are the qualities of a good instructor? How do you

develop and retain good instructors? How do you keep good

instructors motivated? These are among the topics addressed.

Case studies and audiovisuals help to illustrate and reinforce

important concepts.

The Leadership/Followership Equation:

The Key to Fire Department Success

Dr. Harry R. Carter, Chairman, Board of Fire Commissioners,

Howell Township Board of Fire Commissioners Fire District #2,

Adelphia, NJ

Good followers are as important as good leaders for a

fi re department to function properly. What to do when

differences arise between these two groups, how to resolve

problems that may arise, and how to foster interaction that

will lead to understanding and cooperation are addressed.

Students will help to devise solutions to problems presented

in case histories.

FDNY: Dynamic Advances in Safety and

Effi ciency Post 9/11

Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano, Fire Department of

New York

Since 9/11, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) has

implemented many innovative programs that promote safety

and effi ciency. FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano, one

of the most respected and admired offi cers in the American

fi re service, will relate how these successful programs were

conceived, initiated, and implemented; how members bought

into them; and their results. Among them is the seat belt

modifi cation program, which improved functionality and use.

Commissioner Cassano will also discuss FDNY’s landmark

injury-reduction and accident-reduction programs and how

they are managed and implemented on the fi reground.

Vacant Structures in Your Community

Chief John D. Caufi eld, Rochester (NY) Fire Department

Vacant properties contribute to increased rates of fi re,

particularly arson; and federal statistics show that the number

of vacant properties in the United States has approached

18.8 million. This class offers proactive strategies for

decreasing fi refi ghter risks associated with these structures,

primarily preventing fi res in vacant properties and minimizing

risk to citizens and fi refi ghters should a fi re occur in a

vacant property. Developing standard operating guidelines,

preplanning, and sharing information, including fi re dispatch

notifi cations, are covered. Also, become acquainted with

successful strategies other municipalities have used to resolve

some of these problems.

Fire Attack 2011

Deputy District Chief Steve Chikerotis, Chicago (IL)

Fire Department

Tap into the presenter’s 32 years of experience acquired while

crawling the hallways with the Chicago Fire Department. The

session is enriched with case studies and lessons learned,

complemented by photos and video. Among the topics

covered are coordinated fi re attack, rescue, risk management,

reading smoke, construction and collapse, fl ashover,

communications, and accountability.

“Unifi cation Theory”: Would It Increase

Firefi ghter Safety?

Firefi ghter John Chubb, Dublin (Ireland) Fire Brigade

The class addresses the question of whether it would be

benefi cial for the European and American fi re services to

adopt a common approach to improve fi refi ghter safety and

effi ciency. The European perspective on the practices of the

American fi re service is presented, and the issue of whether

the European fi re service has objectively analyzed American

fi refi ghting tactics is addressed. Presented in conjunction

with IFIW.

Tactical Truck Tips

Lieutenant Michael Ciampo, Fire Department of New York

Numerous truck company tasks must always be accomplished

on every fi reground. Often, limited staffi ng and resources or

adverse or unusual conditions and obstacles force the truck

company fi refi ghter to adapt and overcome to handle the

situations that arise. Some call them “Tricks of the Trade,” but

are they really just “tricks”? Learn street-smart truck company

skills, tactics, and tips that will help you perform your job more

safely and effectively.


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Training Today’s Fire Service

Training Commander Douglas K. Cline, High Point (NC)

Fire Department/ISFSI

How well does your training program meet the needs of all

levels of members in your department? Learn to perform a

“GAP” analysis to determine the answer to this question,

and then employ the tools and tips gained from this session

to build an adequate training program. Additional topics

addressed include E-learning, virtual classrooms, time

management, program scheduling, and member participation.

Searching Smarter: Search Basics

Assistant Chief (Ret.) John (Skip) Coleman, Toledo (OH)

Department of Fire and Rescue; Technical Editor,

Fire Engineering

A primer for conducting searches on the fi reground in little

to zero visibility with all the usual associated distractions.

Learn how to develop a plan before beginning a search in a

residential occupancy, as you approach the structure to be

searched, and while the search is underway to determine

where to search next. Learn why and how to establish a

“continuity of search”—ending the search as soon as a victim

is located can be disastrous for others still in the building.

Roundtable “Offl ine”

Moderator: Assistant Chief (Ret.) John (Skip) Coleman, Toledo

(OH) Department of Fire and Rescue; Technical Editor,

Fire Engineering

The leading voices of the fi re service gather together for an

informal discussion of topics of interest to the modern day

fi refi ghter. This distinguished panel from around the country

will take your questions. What’s on your mind? No topic is too

heated for discussion.

Tactical Considerations for Large Homes

Lieutenant Brian Collins, Brentwood (TN) Fire and Rescue

There are differences between fi ghting a fi re in a home of

the “typical” 1,400- to 2,200-square-foot size found in most

communities and the 10,000-square-foot “starter mansions”

that have been appearing in many communities. Large open

spaces, lightweight components, and “unusual” features affect

fi refi ghting and safety. Attempting to fi ght a fi re in a large home

with average-sized home tactics could spell disaster. The

speaker addresses the staffi ng levels outlined in NFPA 1710

and 1720 in relation to these “mansions.”

ARFF: Hazards of the Front Row

Assistant Chief/Shift Commander Don Collins, Massport Fire-

Rescue at Boston-Logan International Airport

The wisdom of responding to a plane crash alarm by standing

by at the edge of the runway is reassessed, and the risk/

benefi t analysis of this practice and entering the airport

operating area runways and taxiways unless a crash has

actually taken place is discussed. The role of responding

apparatus, the hazards apparatus may potentially create by

adding to the obstacles on the airfi eld, and the antiquated

policies that dictate chasing damaged/compromised aircraft

down runways with smoke and debris, possibly compromising

the fi re department’s response, are addressed. The objective is

to ultimately prevent runway incursions.

“Mining” for Life: Structure Collapse Operations

after the Haiti Earthquake

Battalion Chief Larry Collins, Los Angeles County (CA)

Fire Department; FEMA and International US&R

Task Force member

Structural collapse search and rescue operations are

examined within the metaphor that depicts fi refi ghters as

“miners” and the victims as “gold.” Various mining techniques

(“strip mining,” “hard rock mining,” and “sinking vertical

shafts,” for example) are discussed within the context of the

search and rescue operations in Port-au-Prince after the Haiti

earthquake disaster.

Progressive Leadership Principles and Tools

for Fire Offi cers

Chief Dennis Compton, International Fire Service

Training Association

Fire offi cer leadership is explored from a number of intriguing

perspectives: culture, fi refi ghter safety, and the overall

effectiveness of the organization’s leaders and members.

Critical leadership behaviors, traits, and skills that add to the

effectiveness of fi re offi cers are also presented.

Firefi ghter Free Speech

David C. Comstock Jr., Chief, Western Reserve Joint Fire

District, Poland, OH; Attorney, Comstock, Springer & Wilson

Co., LPA, Youngstown, OH

An exploration of the interaction between a fi refi ghter’s

First Amendment rights of free speech vs. a government

administrator’s right to maintain order and discipline within

the fi re department/federal rules and regulations. Federal

court cases involving many of the repeated confl icts that

occur within the fi rehouse, including criticism of fi re offi cials

and retaliatory action, preemptory gag orders, preapproval

of media releases, fi refi ghters’ display of public signs and

bumper stickers, participation in public demonstrations, and

contacting city offi cials outside of the chain of command are

addressed, as is immunity for public offi cials who enforce

disciplinary policies.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Forcible Exiting: “The Fortifi ed Rear Door”

Captain Buster Cooper, Conway (AR) Fire Department

A fi refi ghter is trapped at the rear door of a commercial

structure. He is low on air and is encountering intense heat.

He calls a Mayday. Would you be able to quickly and effi ciently

perform the forcible exiting operation necessary to rescue

this fi refi ghter? This class offers the knowledge and skills

needed for this situation and emphasizes rotary and chain saw

applications. Learn to identify forcible exiting situations, select

the appropriate tools and techniques, and quickly and safely

enter a closed structure.

Heavy Timber Construction:

A New Look at an Old Type of Building

Glenn Corbett, Professor, John Jay College; Technical Editor,

Fire Engineering

Often referred to as “mill construction,” heavy timber

construction is substantial. Although this type of construction

was the choice for factories in the 19th century, today the

structures have new uses as residential occupancies, schools,

and self-storage facilities, among other uses. This class

explores the details of heavy timber construction, the new

hazards presented by their new occupants, and the strategic

and tactical considerations to keep in mind when fi ghting a

fi re in them.

Tillering Techniques

Lieutenant Steve M. Crothers, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

Becoming familiar with the principles, concepts, and

dynamics of driving and tillering a tractor-drawn aerial is the

focus. Operators will learn to overcome the common pitfalls

they often encounter. Students gain knowledge from the

perspective of the superior and substandard tractor-drawn

aerial fundamentals.

The Fire Instructor “10 Step” Program

Lieutenant Michael Daley, Monroe Twp. (NJ) Fire District #3

Educators will be given the tools to evaluate their teaching

skills, methods, and effectiveness to determine if they

are serving their students in the most effi cient manner.

Contemporary teaching techniques and matching the teaching

style to the student are also covered.

Training from Tragedy

Michael Dallessandro, Life Member, Grand Island (NY)

Fire Co.

The focus is on how to incorporate training and instructional

points from fi refi ghter line-of-duty death reports the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reviewed

during the past 10 years into fi re department driver training

and safety programs. Students will learn how to access the

NIOSH reports and will review apparatus accident statistics

from 2009 and 2010. The connection between fi re department

budget cuts and jeopardizing fi refi ghters on the fi reground

and also when traveling to and away from the emergency site

is explored.

Alternative Tool Evolutions for Today’s Vehicles

David Dalrymple, Education Chair, TERC—US

If you haven’t yet encountered a vehicle your tools couldn’t

cut, spread, or break, more than likely it will happen one of

these days. The more options you can put in your mental

“toolbox,” the more prepared you will be for that day and

the better off your victims will be. Students are introduced to

alternative tool evolutions used by rescuers around the globe.

Structural Collapse:

The Hidden Dangers of Residential Fires

Firefi ghter/EMT James M. Dalton, Coordinator of Research and

Development, Chicago (IL) Fire Department

The results of two studies of fi refi ghter deaths and injuries

related to unprotected wood construction and the collapse of

unprotected dimensional lumber or lightweight wood structural

components are discussed. Case studies, video, and photos

are used to illustrate the failure times of the tested assemblies,

the performance of passive fi re resistive technologies,

structural modeling techniques, and the limitations of thermal

imaging devices. Risk management, tactical recommendations

for fi refi ghting operations in residential buildings with

lightweight construction, and recent revisions in the

International Residential Code are also covered.

Drive to Survive

Firefi ghter/EMT Christopher Daly, Goshen Fire Department,

West Chester, PA

This interactive session identifi es the most common causes

of vehicle crashes and illustrates why crashes occur. Methods

used by crash investigators show that regardless of how

skilled the driver of an emergency driver is, under certain

conditions, physics will take over and cause the vehicle to go

out of control.


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Wood-Frame Construction:

Principles and Hazards

Fire Marshal Paul T. Dansbach, Bureau of Fire Safety,

Rutherford, NJ

The focus is on safe fi refi ghting operations in wood-frame

structures, including post and beam, balloon frame, platform

frame, and lightweight frame. Methods of construction, fi re

spread and collapse potential, the effects of alterations,

and conducting an adequate size-up are among the topics

discussed.

Trench Rescue: The Silent Killer

Firefi ghter (Ret.) Michael Davis, Fire Department of

New York

Safety and operational issues associated with trench rescue are

highlighted and reviewed. Students will learn how to use OSHA

and NFPA standards to determine their departments’ training

needs and the resources needed to establish a program to

address the potential hazards in their response areas.

The Principles of Lifting and Stabilization

Firefi ghter Paul DeBartolomeo, Fire Department of

New York

Become acquainted with the basic principles of lifting

equipment and their applications for various technical rescue

scenarios and the role of stabilization equipment in a safe

operation. The safe mitigation of real-life scenarios involving

vehicles, construction accidents, collapse scenarios, and big

rig entrapments is the focus. Among the equipment that will be

discussed are high-pressure air bags, pneumatic and hydraulic

jacks, hydraulic rescue tools, rescue jacks, hi-lift jacks,

pneumatic struts, chains, and binders.

Tactical Considerations for Type I through Type

V Building Construction

Battalion Chief Sean DeCrane, Cleveland (OH)

Fire Department

Students are introduced to a set of tools that will help them

reach decisions based on experience and knowledge of a

situation. This decision-making process uses the likeliness

of an event and the potential outcome or consequence to

establish a level of risk the commander, company offi cer, or

fi refi ghter can use as the basis for a decision.

Flat-Roof Operations

Firefi ghter Nate DeMarse, Fire Department of New York

Attendees are shown a systematic plan of attack that will

automatically prioritize the important tasks that must be done

when operating on a fl at-roof building. The skills needed to

safely and effi ciently perform primary duties on this type of

roof are reviewed.

Benefi ts of the Personal Harness and

Escape System

Lieutenant Daniel DiRenzo, Cherry Hill (NJ) Fire Department

The focus is on incorporating these systems with personal

protective equipment or self-contained breathing apparatus to

rescue other fi refi ghters or self-rescue. Students will become

acquainted with the techniques for using this device as well as

its capabilities.

Reading Smoke 2011: Tactical Solutions

Battalion Chief (Ret.) Dave Dodson, Response Solutions,

Thornton, CO

Fire offi cers will learn ways to develop “recognition-prime”

for predicting building fi re behavior and hostile fi re events

like fl ashover. Among other topics covered are the three-step

process for reading smoke, street-tested tips for improving

smoke recognition, and developing specifi c tactical solutions

for the scenarios presented.

Vent, Enter, and Search in Today’s

Fire Buildings


The focus is on the truck company skills needed at every

fi re. Methods for controlling and coordinating the duties of

the truck company with those of the engine company are

reviewed. The class is also relevant for departments that do

not have a dedicated truck company but must still accomplish

these tasks at fi res.

Strip Mall Fires

Deputy Chief Thomas Dunne, Fire Department of New York

The challenges strip mall fi res present are very different

from those encountered at standard residential fi res. This

course identifi es these hazards and explores the strategic

and tactical considerations needed to safely and effi ciently

mitigate these fi res.

Hybrid and Electric Vehicles:

The Future of Extrication

Lieutenant Jason Emery, Waterbury (CT) Fire Department

The infl ux of hybrid electric vehicles and the nationwide

release of two electric vehicles this year make it imperative

that emergency responders keep up with current automotive

trends and be fully trained to respond to motor vehicle

accidents involving these vehicles. This session is a

comprehensive guide to the skills needed to respond safely

to incidents involving hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric

vehicles. Identifi cation methods, vehicle systems and hazards,

and response procedures are among the topics addressed.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

NFPA 1403-Compliant Live Burn Training in

Acquired Structures

Assistant Fire Education Specialist Gregory A. Fisher, Illinois

Fire Service Institute

This comprehensive approach to live burn training takes

students from background information to NFPA 1403, Chapter

5, relative to Live Burn Training in an Acquired Structure to

Lessons Learned. Among topics addressed are preparation

(administration, instructor, student, structure); documented

objectives, total scene control, training anomalies, proper fuel

loads; the priorities of the lead instructor, safety offi cer, water

supply offi cer, and the communications and operations crews

on the fi reground; checklists; and near misses and line-of-duty

deaths in acquired structures.

Firefi ghting Challenges of Campuses,

Complexes, and Industrial Sites

Firefi ghter Jason Fisher, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN

An analysis of the response similarities, unique characteristics

and challenges, and the vast differences associated with

this sometimes mystical realm of emergency response. Fire

response to these sites is contrasted with responses to typical

industrial or residential responses from the perspectives of

preplanning, access, fi re load, and specialty hazards and

factors that must be considered from the point of arrival to

the conclusion of the incident. Topics include campus safety,

multiple casualties, research labs, creating partnerships,

developing mutual aid, and working with brigades.

Social Media: The Fire Service’s Next

Big Innovation

Lieutenant Rhett Fleitz, Roanoke (VA) Fire-EMS Department

Learn the “in’s and out’s” of social media for the fi re service.

Many questions about these media (blogs, twitter, facebook,

MySpace, YouTube, skype, podcasting, text messaging, and

so on) will be answered. Learn to be proactive by developing

a social media standard operating procedure. Become

acquainted with some of the ways departments are using

these media for recruitment, retention, informing journalists

and citizens, and publishing news. The benefi ts and potential

consequences for personal use of these media by employees

are also discussed.


Captain Mike Gagliano, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

A high-energy, no-nonsense look at how to build and enjoy the

type of fi rehouse everyone wants: the fi rehouse that offers you

the most incredible experience of your life, the place where

skills are honed and techniques refi ned, one brimming with

camaraderie. This session presents a fi ve-component formula

for creating a fi rehouse environment that enables fi refi ghters to

thrive and fulfi ll their calling.

Dangers of Residential Modular Construction

Chief Kevin A. Gallagher, Acushnet (MA) Fire &

EMS Department

Two fi res in Massachusetts during 2008 raised questions

relative to the hazards posed by certain construction

techniques used in prefabricated (modular) residential

construction. The two-story colonial-style homes involved in

these fi res were destroyed in minutes even though the fi re’s

origin and cause were quickly determined. The hazards of

modular homes are identifi ed and explained. The revised

tactics needed when fi ghting fi res in modular buildings

are discussed. Students will also learn how the hazards to

fi refi ghters can be addressed through changes in regulations

and codes.

Fireground Situation Awareness

Chief (Ret.) Richard B. Gasaway, Roseville (MN)

Fire Department

How to develop and maintain situation awareness in dynamic,

high-stress, high-consequence environments is the focus. You

may be shocked and amazed at the many ways your situation

awareness can be impacted. Learn the signs that indicate that

you are losing your situation awareness.

The Firefi ghter’s Interior List

Chief (Ret.) William Godfrey, Deltona (FL) Fire Department

Learn the secrets of fi reground tactics and developing a sound

attack plan. There are many ways to attack a fi re, and every

department has different staffi ng and unit assignments. How

do tactics, strategy, and command fi t together? How does

staffi ng change your plan? These and other questions are

discussed, and you will be able to apply the information to

your department and teach the information back home.

Wildland Urban Interface for

Small Departments

Chief Richard W. Graeber, Upper Pine River (CO) Fire

Protection District

This program focuses on those agencies that by virtue of size

and area covered have minimal initial attack resources for

fi ghting wildland urban interface fi res and have serious time

lags in getting help but still have all the components for a fast-

moving serious incident. All issues are discussed in scale to

match the ability of smaller organizations. Planning and solid

incident command are emphasized.

Tricks of the Trade

Battalion Chief Stuart Grant, Dallas (TX) Fire-Rescue

Here are more than 50 “tricks” that can help fi refi ghters

accomplish their jobs in a safer, more expedient manner.

Students can take these ideas and concepts back to their

departments for immediate use.


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Fighting Exterior Fires: The Basics

Fire Engineer Sean Gray, Cobb County (GA) Fire and

Emergency Services

In the past few years, there have been multiple fi refi ghter

fatalities from fi res that originated on the exterior of the

structures (Prince William County, VA; Charleston, SC, for

example). Although there were multiple other contributing

factors to those deaths, would a different initial fi re attack

method have changed the outcome?

Interior Benchmarking

Assistant Chief William M. Greenwood, Fire Emergency

Training Consultation Services, Keene, NH

“Interior benchmarks” can help fi refi ghters when they

encounter a bad situation in an immediately dangerous to

life and health atmosphere. Learn how to recognize these

benchmarks and how to employ them so they can help you

maintain situational awareness should you become disoriented

on the fi reground. Interior benchmarking questions are

discussed in detail.

Tower Ladder Tactics

Lieutenant Mark D. Gregory, Fire Department of New York

Are tower ladders being used to their fullest potential? This

class will answer that question and many others. A variety of

uses of the tower ladder, placement options, set-up concerns,

offensive and defensive fi reground tactics, and the use of

the tower ladder at emergency operations such as technical

rescues and hazmat decons are among the topics.

Hoseline Operations for

Multiple-Family Occupancies

Captain Bill Gustin, Miami Dade (FL) Fire Rescue

Examine methods and techniques for rapidly positioning a

hoseline, with a minimum of personnel, on an upper fl oor

of an apartment building, a townhouse, a nursing home, an

assisted-living facility, or another building that is not high

enough to have a standpipe installed under the code. Learn

how to locate a fi re in a multiple dwelling, estimate the

amount of hose needed to reach the fi re, and determine the

number of personnel needed to advance a charged hoseline

in limited visibility. This class was developed for suburban

fi re departments that typically do not have the staffi ng for a

conventional hose stretch to a third, fourth, or fi fth fl oor.

Structure Fire Behavior for

Today’s Command

Division Chief Ed Hadfi eld, Coronado (CA) Fire Department

The scientifi c works of Gorbett & Hopkins in association with

the National Fire Protection Association and the National

Institute of Standards and Technology form the basis for

this session. The focus is the comprehensive approach

to understanding fi re behavior in today’s structure fi res.

Fireground support functions, rapidly changing fi reground

conditions, size-up from a command perspective, evaluation

of specifi c types of occupancies, and deploying adequate

resources for the primary assignment are among topics

addressed.

Hiring for the Future

Chief Craig A. Haigh, Hanover Park (IL) Fire Department

Departments that will excel 25 years from now must make the

right hiring decisions today. Current leaders must build leaders

for the future. Hiring and testing practices, strategic analysis

techniques, forecasting, and developing an organization

culture that includes coaching and mentoring are among

topics addressed.

Fire Offi cer and Leader Workshop

Frank H. Hammond Jr., Fire Training Program Manager, Maine

Fire Training & Education, Lincoln, ME

Has your department evolved into an EMS or a hazmat

department that responds to an occasional fi re? Are you

a fi re offi cer or planning to become one and looking for

information to solidify your knowledge base and basic offi cer

skills? Would you like to refresh your “foundation” to improve

your confi dence? If you answered “Maybe” to even one of

these questions, this session is for you. Developing positive

subordinate attitudes, individual training and enhanced

fi refi ghter confi dence and competency, subordinates’ learning

curves, meeting public education goals, and managing risk

during fi re operations are among the areas covered.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Stress and Heart Disease in Firefi ghters

Michael Gerard Hamrock, M. D., Medical Examiner, Boston

(MA) Fire Department

Students will gain a fuller understanding of the precipitating

factors for acute coronary syndromes in fi refi ghters and how to

develop comprehensive heart disease prevention strategies for

reducing fi refi ghter heart attacks. The six major risk factors for

heart disease on the fi reground; the unique physical, chemical,

and mental stresses on the fi reground; lifestyle and prevention

strategies; case studies; and lessons learned are components

of this class.

Portable Firefi ghter Survival Maze

Lieutenant Tom Hancock, Cobb County (GA) Fire and

Emergency Services

A step-by-step plan for designing and building a portable

maze and then using it to teach fi refi ghter survival training

is provided. Training evolutions include reduced profi les,

entanglements, collapse simulation, hose evolution, and

spongy fl oor simulation.

The Hazards of Ventilating Controlled Fires

Chief Ed Hartin, Central Whidbey Island (WA) Fire & Rescue

How fuel and ventilation infl uence fi re development and the

extreme fi re behavior phenomena that occur when fi refi ghters

encounter a ventilation-controlled fi re are the focus. All

the factors that impact fi re development and increase the

potential for extreme fi re behavior are discussed. Presented in

conjunction with IFIW.

Tactical Consideration for the First-Arriving

Battalion Chief

Assistant Chief Todd Harms, Phoenix (AZ) Fire Department

Fireground operations during the fi rst 30 minutes for the fi rst-

arriving battalion chief are analyzed. The roles of the eight

critical factors of size-up in developing an incident action plan

for the tactical priorities of rescue, fi re control, and loss control

are explored.

Where Science Meets the Fireground: UL’s Fire

Research Work

Chris Hasbrook, Vice President and General Manager,

Underwriters Laboratories Global Building Materials/Life Safety

& Security Industry Sector

The presentation explains how and why UL fi re safety

research, training, testing, and certifi cation of building

materials, suppression systems, life safety systems, fi re

equipment, and personal protective equipment increase

fi refi ghters’ safety and enable them to perform their jobs with

greater confi dence and effectiveness. Students will learn

of the research UL has conducted with DHS’ Assistance to

Firefi ghter Grant program, NIST, CPSC, and fi re departments

around the country and how the fi re service can affect future

UL fi re research projects.

Train As If Your Life Depends on It

Lieutenant Paul Hasenmeier, Huron (OH) Fire Department

How to achieve the best on the training ground so that you

can achieve the best on the fi reground is the theme. Explore

creative ways to maximize your training while motivating

your members. Tips for instilling “FUN” in training for “lazy”

fi refi ghters, rookies who think they know it all, and seasoned

veterans who have done it or have seen it all before.

CO Awareness and Indoor Odor Investigations

Engineer Richard J. Hasley, Franklin (TN) Fire Department

An up-close look at the technical and practical sides of

carbon monoxide/odor alarm responses for civilians and the

emergency responder. There is a need to educate emergency

service workers about the dangers inherent in these calls;

too many suffer CO poisoning frequently while on EMS calls.

Awareness, safety considerations, determining the source,

how CO and odors enter a structure, using thermal imagers

effectively, and the basic treatment of patients are among

areas covered.

Construction Concerns: Modern Materials

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Gregory E. Havel, Burlington (WI)

Fire Department

The focus is on making initial and ongoing size-ups at

incidents involving steel stud and manufactured lumber

construction. How construction affects prefi re planning,

code enforcement, fi re investigation, strategic and tactical

decisions, and long-range planning are among the areas

addressed.

Command and Control of Maydays for the

Incident Commander

Battalion Chief George K. Healy, Fire Department of

New York

Scenarios from fi res at which Maydays have been transmitted

are discussed from the perspective of the incident

commander’s role. Communications; resources; mutual aid,

police, EMS, hospital, and other supporting agencies; FAST;

and how to ensure that injured and trapped fi refi ghters have

the best chance for survival are among the topics discussed.

Extrication: Using Personnel to

Maximum Advantage

Captain Aaron J. Heller, Hamilton Township (NJ) Fire District #9

The roles of personnel at motor vehicle extrications involving

new vehicle technology are defi ned. Why it is dangerous

not to have adequate staffi ng levels at these incidents, how

to provide more dynamic supervision and training, and the

appropriate medical care for entrapped victims are also

discussed.


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Captain’s Corner

Battalion Chief (Ret.) Michael Hennigan, San Francisco (CA)

Fire Department

Management and leadership principles applicable to

motivating, inspiring, and leading a fi re company are the focus.

Offi cers will acquire a foundation and simple guidelines to help

them become outstanding offi cers. The “Captain’s Corner”

column appears regularly on www.fi reengineering.com.

Effective Training

Captain Jim Hester, Tinker (OK) Fire & Emergency Services

Training ideas, props, and techniques from all over the

country are explored to help students acquire street smarts.

Among the topics addressed are fi re attack, search, forcible

entry, ventilation, fi refi ghter safety and survival, RIT, liquefi ed

petroleum gas, and live fi re training in burn facilities and

acquired structures.

How to Determine the Stability of a

Burning Building

Assistant Chief (Ret.) Howard J. Hill, Fire Department of

New York

The warning signs of a fi re-induced building collapse, a

checklist for identifying a fi re’s effects on a building’s structure,

and guidelines for taking appropriate action are among the

topics discussed. An overview of the collapse potential of

construction materials will progress to cover the variety of

scientifi c, operational, and policy-driven factors to consider on

the fi reground.

Firefi ghter-Friendly Thermal Imaging

Lieutenant Samuel Hittle, Wichita (KS) Fire Department

The benefi ts of thermal imaging for common fi reground

functions are evaluated alongside the pitfalls that can

jeopardize operations and company members’ safety. How

to use the camera for optimal performance during common

fi reground functions, camera limitations, and common

misinterpretations are among topics covered. A camera will

be used to enable students to compare actual events and the

manner in which the camera interprets these events.

Managing Operations at an All-Hazard

Emergency in High-Rise Buildings

Deputy Chief James Hodgens, Fire Department of New York

A guide to how local fi re departments that have high-risk target

high-rise buildings, such as a government building, a stadium,

a mall, hotels, and institutions, in their jurisdictions can

address considerations unique to these targets in a terroristic

crisis. Among areas covered are successful response within

the National Response Framework, which depends on

advance preparation, particularly the development of an all-

hazard emergency action plan (EAP) that has been practiced,

and coordinating the EAP with the building’s life safety and

security features and staff and with the local fi re, police, and

emergency management departments.

A Firefi ghter’s Own Worst Enemy

Deputy Chief Jason Hoevelmann, Sullivan (MO) Fire

Protection District

A look at how your actions, behaviors, and attitudes can

contribute to your problems and those within your organization

if you don’t recognize them and control them, and how

supervisors’ human dynamics and interactions in the fi rehouse

can transfer to the fi reground. Students will be guided in how

to ensure that they and their departments can be a fl uid, clear,

dynamic moving stream as opposed to a stagnant pond sitting

in a farm fi eld.

Dealing with Negativity in

Volunteer Departments

Chief Tim Holman, German Township (OH) Fire & EMS

The causes of and solutions for negativity are explored.

Students will learn how to recognize negativity before it

gets out of control and to minimize negative attitudes by

changing the environment. Department profi les are presented;

interactive, fast-paced, problem-solving discussions.

Offi cer Development Programs:

Building for the Future

Deputy Chief Rudy Horist, McHenry Township (IL) Fire

Protection District

The answer to successful offi cer training lies beyond NFPA

1021 certifi cation programs. This session links certifi cation

training with realistic job requirement training. Content,

using benchmarks and professional development milestones

to track improvement and competency, and strategies for

implementing entry-level and continuing-education programs

for offi cers are among the areas covered.

Fire Service Marketing and the Strategic Plan

Captain/Training Offi cer Tim Hyden, East Manatee (FL)

Fire Rescue

The climate and challenges facing the fi re service today

make it imperative that the citizens of your jurisdiction

know who you are and what you do—what they are getting

for their tax dollars. The vehicle for doing this is to market

your department. Before developing the marketing plan,

however, the department should have a strategic plan in

place. Attendees will participate in a step-by-step process for

developing such plans and will work as groups to develop a

strategic and marketing plan for a fi ctitious department.


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Big Fire, Big Water

Battalion Chief Curt Isakson, Escambia County (FL)

Fire Rescue

All fi re departments, regardless of size, may have to deploy

large-scale attacks against fi res that are beyond their

resources. This class helps to ensure a successful attack

against these fi res no matter how infrequently they may occur.

Students will gain insight into how to maximize hydrant fl ows

and use rural water supply tactics in the urban setting and how

to use the available resources to get the desired amount of

water at the desired location.

30 Years of Vehicle Training:

What We Have Learned?

Dr. William F. Jenaway, Executive Vice President, VFIS

Tens of thousands of vehicle operators from every state have

been trained through the VFIS Emergency Driver Training

Program for more than 30 years. Hear from the experts what

was learned over that time relative to operator behavior,

vehicle design and construction impact, the infl uence of

accidents and regulations, and best practices.

Engine Company Options for an Initial

Action Plan

Captain Scott Joerger, Rochester (NY) Fire Department

First-due engine companies should have at least fi ve options

for beginning fi re attack. These options, their benefi ts, and

their potential hazards are presented. The focus is on fl exibility

in selecting options and the necessity of having the options

meet the needs the target hazards present. Options are

discussed from the perspective of a proper size-up.

Teaching Tactical Thinking

Battalion Chief Phillip A. Jose, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

Fire service leaders can take their instruction up a notch by

using methods that identify and discuss decision points when

using Recognition-Primed Decision Making. Learn about cue

identifi cation, patterns, anomalies, uncertainty, and methods

for teaching introspective thinking from the front of the room.

Construction-Based Fire Attack

Lieutenant Don Kaderabek, Niles (IL) Fire Department

The focus is on building construction-associated problems

and methods for making safety-oriented tactical decisions on

the fi reground. The behavior of construction features under

fi re conditions is illustrated through the use of photographs,

thermal imaging video, and other audiovisuals. Among other

topics discussed are the following: when the fi re is below,

wind-driven fi res, balloon frame options, and venting for life.

Mastering the Counseling Session:

High-Impact Role Plays

Battalion Chief Anthony Kastros, Sacramento (CA)

Metropolitan Fire District

This high-impact, role-play session develops skills that will

enhance confl ict resolution and management. The issues

covered include lawsuits, sexual misconduct, drinking on the

job, poor personnel relationships, new offi cer/crew situations,

cell phones, driving, and others.

Live to Train Another Day

Division Chief Brian Kazmierzak, Clay Fire Territory, South

Bend, IN

Students will examine topics that are directly related

to fi refi ghter safety and are infl uenced by safe training

operations. The focus is on a safer training ground and,

ultimately, a safer fi reground.

Fire Department Torch Operations

Lieutenant Thomas F. Kenney, Hyannis (MA)

Fire Department

The focus is on the “lost art” of using torches effi ciently

and safely. Included are cutting, oxygen-acetylene, oxygen-

gasoline, and exothermic torches. Uses for torches, how to set

them up, and how to operate them safely are covered.

Ventilating Today’s Residential Fires

Stephen Kerber, Research Engineer,

Underwriters Laboratories

The information presented will assist attendees in reviewing

and revising guidelines for the proper use of ventilation as a

safe and effective fi refi ghting tactic in residential structures.

The fi ndings of an Underwriters Laboratories’ research

study designed to improve fi refi ghter safety by providing an

enhanced understanding of naturally induced and fi refi ghting

tactical ventilation in residential structures are presented

and discussed. The infl uence of horizontal ventilation tactics

on fi re behavior in a two-story, modern residential structure

is contrasted with that in a single-story, legacy residential

structure. The study covers 15 experiments using various

horizontal ventilation practices. Presented in conjunction

with IFIW.

No-Nonsense Approach to Health and Fitness

Captain Erron Kinney, St. Andrews Fire Department,

Charleston, SC

This class examines the problem of fi refi ghter deaths from

cardiovascular causes from the perspective of job-specifi c

physical conditioning in which the fi re service is viewed as a

professional sport and conditioning programs are developed

to directly enhance job performance and skills. Attendees will

be empowered to implement job-specifi c physical conditioning

for greater safety and health.


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Company Drills for Acquired Structures

Lieutenant James Kirsch, Bergenfi eld (NJ) Fire Department

Students will explore ways to get the fullest drilling potential

from acquired buildings. In addition to live burns, these

structures can be used for training opportunities that include

utility emergencies, size-up, mask confi dence, building

construction, ventilation, overhaul, and RIT drills. Students will

learn how to apply NFPA 1403 to safely prepare the structure

for training.

101 Greatest Public Fire Safety Education Ideas

Lieutenant/Training Coordinator Tom Kiurski, Livonia (MI)

Fire & Rescue

Attendees will acquire a great wealth of fi re safety information/

ideas that can be taken home and used to educate the citizens

in their communities. The programs discussed have been

successfully presented in departments across the country.

Fireground Risk Management for the Volunteer

Fire Service

Chief Richard Kline, Plymouth (MN) Fire Department

The focus is on those elements of risk management that pose

barriers to the volunteer fi re service in developing a fi reground

risk management plan. This interactive class highlights ways to

identify and manage risks to make the fi reground safer. Case

studies will reinforce key concepts.

Different Isn’t Bad or Good

Chief Steve Kraft, Richmond Hill (Ont., Can.)

Fire Department

Predominant personality traits and behaviors are explored

from the perspective of improving relationships in the

fi rehouse and on the fi reground. The emphasis is on the roles

of trust, confl ict, and commitment as they pertain to team

players and teamwork.

Incident Scene Command Safety for

Today’s Fires

Executive Assistant Chief Steve Kreis, Phoenix (AZ)

Fire Department

The incident commander’s role in fi reground safety is analyzed

within the framework of the functions of command and critical

fi reground safety considerations. The reasons the fi rst fi ve

minutes on the fi reground are so critical are explored.

Technology: Implementation vs. Development

Chief Bryant Krizik, Orland (IL) Fire Protection District

How to introduce new technology—portable radios, new

software, a new CAFS fi re engine, for example—to your

department and gain buy-in and support from the personnel

who will be using it is the focus. The barriers to implementing

new technologies and overcoming those barriers, introducing

the technologies in a series of steps, and conducting post-

implementation evaluations are among the topics covered.

Fire Service Injuries and Line-of-Duty Deaths:

A Belgian Perspective

Battalion Chief Karel Lambert, Brussels (Belgium)

Fire Department

Several fi res involving fi refi ghter injuries or deaths are analyzed

from the angles of fi re behavior, tactics, and the chain of

events that led to the injury or death. In most cases, the

speakers had interviewed personnel on the incident scene.

Presented in conjunction with IFIW.

Fire Service Traditions and Ceremonies


This revisit of the ceremonies and celebrations that

have marked your experience in the fi re service will

help stoke the fl ames of tradition and pride in you and

your department.

Rigging/Winching Operations for Rescuers

Billy Leach Jr., Ash-Rand Rescue & EMS, Asheboro, NC

Learn how to calculate resistances and anchorability

encountered when moving loads to ensure the equipment

is within its working load limit, thus much safer. Real-world

rescue examples are presented, and students will calculate

resistance values.

Power Saw Operations and Maintenance Tips

Firefi ghter Kevin J. LeGacy, Fire Department of New York

Students will participate in proactive drills that will ensure

safety and promote profi ciency when operating saws. They

will learn how to troubleshoot minor problems that may

arise at the incident scene and that can make the difference

between a successful or a failed operation. All aspects of saw

maintenance are also addressed.

The Lost Art of the First Hoseline

Captain Bob Leonard, San Jose (CA) Fire Department

This program emphasizes basics in a presentation that

drives home the importance of training, standard operating

procedures, and attitude. Firefi ghters, company offi cers,

and command offi cers must ensure that safe, effective, and

coordinated engine company operations are practiced daily.

Without hoselines in their proper positions, other tasks on

the fi reground are subject to failure. The strategies, tactics,

and task-level information presented will enable attendees to

manage and coordinate a successful fi reground operation from

an engine company standpoint.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

The 4 “Rs” of Accountability: Radios, Rosters,

Roll Call, and Riding Lists

Lieutenant John J. Lewis, Passaic (NJ) Fire Department

Does your accountability system work effi ciently? How do you

really know where each fi refi ghter is on the fi reground? How

do you ensure strict accountability during the fi rst 20 minutes

on the fi reground when resources may be light and command

offi cers en route? These and other issues addressed give

attendees a broad look at the accountability systems in use

and their pros and cons. The roles of assigned riding positions,

designated tool assignments, command boards, rosters

formed at roll call, and other components are discussed in

relation to a system of company continuity.

Management of Small Departments Amid

Economic Crisis

Chief Scott Lewis, Pahrump Valley (NV) Fire Rescue Service

A small department need not undergo “management

paralysis” during adverse economic times and can maintain

safety levels for operational effectiveness. A framework for

identifying community risks and expectations, service delivery

requirements, continuity planning, and cost containment is

presented and explained. Attendees will learn how to adapt

their respective management roles in accordance with the

extent of “business” changes that occur in an

economic decline.

Garden Apartment Fire Challenges

Lieutenant Walter Lewis, Orlando (FL) Fire Department

By quickly recognizing the potential problems these buildings

pose in a fi re and employing common remedies, fi refi ghters

and fi re offi cers can help ensure a successful outcome.

Among the challenges discussed are the structure’s height,

multiple units, where it is situated on the lot, courtyards

between buildings, shape, and roof style; overcrowded

parking lots; gates and barriers; overcrowded apartments; fi re

extension; untested hydrants; and multiple exposures.

The Impact of Ventilation on

Line-of-Duty Deaths

Daniel Madrzykowski, Fire Protection Engineer, National

Institute of Standards and Technology

One of the key factors in many fi reground line-of-duty deaths

(LODDs) is a rapid change in the fi re environment within the

structure. A change in ventilation is typically one of the fi rst

actions of the fi re department after it arrives at a structure fi re.

In some cases, the changes are as simple as opening a door

to the structure or venting a window. Several LODDs and near

misses will be examined in terms of ventilation and compared

with experimental data and fi re model simulations. Methods

for recognizing the potential for fuel-rich conditions within

structures are discussed. Presented in conjunction with

IFIW.

Everyone Goes Home

Chief Richard A. Marinucci, Northville Township (MI)

Fire Department

Preventing line-of-duty deaths is the focus of this session,

which is based on the National Fallen Firefi ghters Foundation’s

Everyone Goes Home program and the 16 Life Safety

Initiatives. The roles of fi re department leaders and all

members in promoting safety are reviewed.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of

Problem Solving

Chief Richard A. Marinucci, Northville Township (MI)

Fire Department

Become more successful in your job by improving your

problem-solving skills. Strategies and tactics for acquiring the

skills to make better decisions more quickly in the fi re station

and on the emergency scene are presented and discussed

within the context of real-world situations.

Survivability Profi ling: Can They Be Saved?

Captain Stephen Marsar, Fire Department of New York

The focus is on the correlation between fi refi ghter and civilian

fatalities at the same structural fi res, making an informed

intelligent decision of whether to commit fi refi ghters to life-

saving or interior operations; and using size-up component

and situational awareness to calculate if civilians are savable

before committing fi refi ghters to an aggressive interior attack.

The “Duty to Die Syndrome” is analyzed, as is the limited

survival period for civilians in today’s fi res.

Strategies and Tactics in Residential

Subdivided Structures

Firefi ghter Aaron B. Martin Jr., Fire Department of New York

The rising cost of housing and expansive job cuts have forced

property owners to subsidize their income by subdividing

structures and creating single-room occupancies (SROs).

This session highlights the hazards for fi refi ghters associated

with these structural modifi cations, fl oor plan layouts, and

enhanced occupancies. Attendees will learn how to identify

structures that may have SROs and recognize alterations

and unique fl oor plans/layouts; to initiate the proper tasks

pertaining to fi re containment, search, and extinguishment;

and to maximize effi ciency when removing victims from limited

egress points.


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Effective Use of Tower Ladders in

Tactical Operations

Firefi ghter Nicholas A. Martin, District of Columbia

Fire Department

Proper use of tower ladders in various fi reground scenarios is

presented. Topics include proper placement and deployment

of aerial apparatus; integrating the aerial into the fi reground

effectively; and using the aerial in various scenarios such

as gaining access, rescues, using elevated master streams,

and performing technical rescue. Rear-mount and midmount

devices and “ladder tower” vs. “tower ladder” are also

discussed.

Counterterrorism for Fire and EMS

Fire Marshal Brett Martinez, Suffolk County (NY) Department of

Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services

This presentation focuses on what the fi re service can do

to counter terrorist operations within the United States.

Topics include the role of fi re and EMS in counterterrorism

activity, employing public safety efforts to deter suspected

terrorism activity, the role of the fi re service at every level of

the Department of Homeland Security color-coded threat

system, developing a counterterrorism information network,

and building a unifi ed and coordinated command system.

How the Ottawa Fire Services Implemented

Lessons Learned from Firefi ghters’ Injuries

Captain Peter J. McBride, Ottawa Fire Services, Canada

In the early afternoon of February 12, 2007, members of the

Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) were called for a report of fi re.

On arrival, crews were faced with heavy fi re in the building

of origin, a four-story occupied multiple dwelling. A male

occupant was at a third-fl oor window on side 1, and there was

a report of an additional trapped occupant. Fire was extending

at the rear toward three exposures—all four-story occupied

multiple dwellings—under wind-driven conditions. Within nine

minutes of their arrival on scene, fi ve OFS members were

fi ghting for their lives in the performance of their duties. The

presentation is dedicated to ensuring that the injuries and

suffering incurred by the fi ve members and the lessons learned

were not in vain. The event, response, recovery, and way

forward for the OFS are presented. Presented in conjunction

with IFIW.

How to Attack a House Fire

Lieutenant Ray McCormack, Fire Department of New York

A primer for extinguishing house fi res according to their

locations within the house and customizing the fi re attack.

Learn when, where, and how to apply your hose stream for

maximum effectiveness in single and multiroom fi res and

fi res involving stairways, hallways, attics, lofts, kitchens and

bathrooms, basements, and garages. Tips on how to stretch

up and down stairways, select the best location for the attack

line, and combat fi re extension.

Fires in Low-Rise Offi ce Buildings

Battalion Chief James McDermott, Fire Department of

New York

This class offers an in-depth analysis of the size-up

considerations, building systems, common hazards, and

fi refi ghting strategies and tactics for these “slider” buildings.

Engine company and truck company operations and

considerations of the incident commander are also addressed.

Designing a Successful Fire Behavior

Training Program

John McDonough, Inspector, New South Wales Fire Brigades,

Australia

The fundamentals of fi re behavior training are addressed within

the framework of the Brigades’ journey, begun in 2003, that

signifi cantly changed its approach to structural fi refi ghting.

The instructor shares the Brigades’ critical look at how

they operated for more than 130 years, including inherited

traditions and a culture extending back into the 1800s. Details

of the scientifi c, evidence-based appraisal of the modern fi re

environment, recognition of the signifi cant changes in fuel

composition and building construction, and what informs the

instruction design of the programs used in Australia are also

discussed. Presented in conjunction with IFIW.

When Is “Dead” Really Dead?

Mike McEvoy, EMS Coordinator, Saratoga County, NY;

Technical Editor, Fire Engineering

Incidents in which EMS mistakenly have presumed a patient

dead are not as rare as you might think. EMS providers rarely

are trained in how to make that critical death pronouncement.

This session provides the tools needed to make certain that

the patient declared to be dead is in fact dead. Warning:

graphic images!

High-Rise Firefi ghting Special Operations

District Chief David McGrail, Denver (CO) Fire Department

At a serious high-rise fi re, the basics of fi re suppression and

rescue fall on the engine and truck companies. During a

serious high-rise event, however, the incident commander

likely will encounter a number of complicated problems that

must be handled by a specialized team, such as elevator

rescues above the fi re fl oor and high-angle rope rescues.

Attendees will acquire a foundation on which to build plans for

special operations at their next high-rise fi re.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Moving Forward with Incumbent Work

Performance Evaluations

Darrell Z Mendenhall, M.S., Fire Service Fitness/Wellness

Consultant, Fort Wayne (IN) Fire Department

A case study on how to proceed with incumbent performance

evaluations in a thoughtful, thorough, reasonable, and

transparent manner that maximizes fi refi ghter participation

in the process and ownership in the outcome. Strategies,

partnerships, and procedures for introducing, implementing,

and integrating the evaluation into the department’s overall

medical and fi tness program are covered. The physiological

analysis of the evaluation is compared with the physiological

demands of live fi reground operations identifi ed in a

recent study conducted by Indiana University involving the

Indianapolis (IN) Fire Department.

Lessons Learned from the NIOSH Fire Fighter

Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program

Tim Merinar, Safety Engineer, National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)/Fire Fighter Fatality

Investigation and Prevention Program

Lessons learned will be summarized from presentations on

the following: (1) NIOSH investigations of fi refi ghter line-

of-duty deaths (LODDs) caused by cardiovascular disease,

(2) line-of-duty deaths involving motor vehicle incidents,

(3) an investigation involving a dumpster fi re that contained

combustible metals that exploded during fi re suppression

efforts and claimed the life of one fi refi ghter and injured eight

others, and (4) NIOSH investigations involving structure fi res

that have identifi ed concerns with the thermal resistivity of

SCBA face piece lens materials.

Training for Profi ciency

Captain Kevin Milan, South Metro (CO) Fire Rescue

Profi ciency in training and documenting skills through position

qualifi cation task books are the focus. Methods for analyzing

training programs are presented; students acquire a toolbox

for creating scenario-based training based on NFPA standards.

Job Performance Requirements are assembled into training

scenarios that allow the fi refi ghter and fi re offi ce to train side

by side while addressing their job requirements.

Breaching and Breaking in a Foreign Land

Randy Miller, Rescue Team Manager, FEMA USAR NY-TF1

Gain insight into the operations of NY-TF1 in Haiti during

the earthquake of 2010. Differences in operating in disaster

situations in the United States and Haiti are explained, as

are the challenges the team encountered. Equipment, victim

location, stabilization, extrication, and environmental issues

are discussed.

Truck Company Priorities 2011

Battalion Chief (Ret.) John Mittendorf, Los Angeles (CA) Fire

Department

An overview of a truck company from the career and volunteer

perspectives. Among topics addressed are how a truck

company should be staffed, staffi ng assignments, the most

widely used truck company operations on the fi reground, and

prioritizing tasks. Students will be challenged to apply the

information presented to various types of scenarios.

“Routine” Responses

Battalion Chief Frank Montagna, Fire Department of New York

Safety and strategies for natural gas responses, electricity

responses, and carbon monoxide responses are among

the calls discussed. Hazards, properties, size-up, litigation,

lessons learned from other incidents, and developing standard

operating procedures are also covered.

Report on Residential

Fireground Experiments

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, Assistant to the General President,

International Association of Fire Fighters

Presentation of the NIST Report on Residential Fireground

Experiments is highlighted. The study covers the effects of

varied crew sizes, the time of arrival of the fi rst apparatus,

the relationship between response time and fi refi ghter safety,

overall task completion, and interior residential tenabibilty

using realistic residential fi res. Results and conclusions will be

provided to the NFPA 1710 Technical Committee.

It’s in the Basement

Chief Robert G. Moran, Brewster (MA) Fire & Rescue Department

Fires in below-grade areas of a structure are among the most

hazardous of responses. This class does not provide the

how’s and what’s of fi ghting a basement fi re. It alerts students

to the hazards these fi res present in relation to building

construction, fi re travel, and ultimately collapse. Among the

topics covered are incident priorities (life safety, incident

stabilization, property conservation), size-up and preplanning,

construction, safe search practices, and handline selection

and placement. Real-world case studies are presented.

Urban Tactics with Quint Fire Apparatus

Firefi ghter Nicholas Morgan, St. Louis (MO) Fire Department

The differences of applying standard engine and truck

company emergency scene tactics with traditional engine and

truck companies only, with all-quint companies only, or with a

combination of all three types of fi re apparatus are analyzed.

The session includes a basic discussion about quints and

their similarities and dissimilarities to traditional fi re apparatus,

the reasons some departments replace older apparatus with

quints, and the relative strengths and weaknesses of quint

apparatus for standard emergency scene operations.


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Fire Training Injuries:

Case Studies for Instructors

Walter A. Morris, Training Program Manager, Maine Fire

Training and Education

In this interactive class, students will review copies of

near-miss reports and investigative reports of the incidents

and identify the factors contributing to the fi refi ghter injury.

Participants will also identify who was responsible for

addressing the contributing factors, develop a list of lessons

learned from their review of each incident, and suggest ways

to incorporate these lessons in their training programs.

Training Offi cers’ Liabilities 2011

Deputy Chief (Ret.) John K. Murphy, Eastside Fire & Rescue,

Issaquah, WA; Attorney

This class evaluates the current NFPA training standards

relative to current litigation; reviews the fi ve current cases;

analyzes two case law studies; and provides for students a

risk analysis and best practices from the legal standpoint.

Is There a Connection Between Fire-Associated

Toxicants and Neurological Disorders?

Richard Nass, Ph.D., IU School of Medicine

Gary Coons, Indianapolis Chief of Homeland Security, and

Chief Thomas Carr, Charleston (SC) Fire Department, join

the presenter in exploring a “novel research approach” to

this topic. Heavy metals and other toxicants released by fi res

have shown positive correlations of similar environmental

compound exposure with cognitive and neurobehavioral

defi cits. Exposure to neurotoxicants has been implicated

as a signifi cant risk factor for developing diseases such

as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Particularly, the roles of

manganese, lead, and mercury; other heavy metals; and

organic compounds released in fi res will be examined in

relation to developing these disorders. How to evaluate

whether fi refi ghters may be particularly vulnerable to toxicant

exposures is also covered.

Construction and Use of Multipurpose Survival

and RIT Training Props 2011

Firefi ghter Joe Nedder, Uxbridge (MA) Fire Department

Students will learn how to create and train with multipurpose

props to enhance survival and rapid intervention skills. The

props are easy to build, use, and store. Students will have

access to measured drawings for the basic props discussed.

The props cover the following scenarios: wire entanglement,

basement window extractions, dry wall breaching, the Denver

drill, low profi le SCBA techniques, removing and redonning

SCBA for narrow openings or confi ned spaces, rapid egress

bailouts, the Nance drill (through the hole), and carrying

downed fi refi ghters down ladders.

Leadership and Strategy: Lessons from the

Art of War

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Ted Nee, Albuquerque (NM) Fire

Department; Sandia National Labs (Emergency Operations)

In this fast-paced, interactive presentation, students will learn

leadership and strategy lessons from the Art of War. Written

more than 2,000 years ago by a Chinese warrior philosopher,

these lessons can be applied to today’s fi re service. This

prestigious and infl uential book on strategy is eagerly studied

by military strategists, politicians, and business leaders.

Students will receive a detailed instructor guide and a copy of

the presentation.

Practical Engine Company Training

Battalion Chief Sid Newby, Wichita (KS) Fire Department

Setting up practical hands-on training in engine company

tactics and positions is the focus. You will be walked through

the steps of preparing inexpensive, practical, and effective

engine company drills for engine crew members. Among

topics covered are how to acquire structures for drills, the

legal responsibilities for conducting hands-on drills, planning

for realistic station rotation time lines, course preparation,

class size, and student/instructor ratio.

A “Typical” Taxpayer Fire: Boston’s Tia Ho

Restaurant Fire

Captain Emmet P. Nichols Jr., Boston (MA) Fire Department

This fi re resulted in the death of two experienced members of

the fi rst-alarm companies, who entered the occupied building

during an interior attack. Topics include overcoming staffi ng

issues, the importance of practicing basic essentials during

a taxpayer fi re, coordinating aggressive truck work with

hoseline advance, preparing for a line-of-duty death, and the

role of critical incident stress debriefi ng.

MRSA in the Fire Service

Deputy Chief Ed Nied, Tucson (AZ) Fire Department

The focus is on the recent study on MRSA involving the

Tucson (AZ) Fire Department conducted by the University

of Arizona College of Public Health. Explore ways to reduce

the risk of contracting MRSA and to apply fi ndings from the

study to reduce exposure to MRSA within the station living

environment. Attendees are given materials, SOGs, and

product information to bring home.


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Strategic Leadership: Preparing Your

Organization for Its Future


New York

This class is intended for those in or preparing for senior

leadership roles in their organizations. It explores the role of

strategic leaders, techniques for achieving goals, as well as

the importance of mentoring and succession planning for the

long-term growth of an organization.

Ventilation Tactics for Residential Firefi ghting

Deputy Chief Training Offi cer Paul Norwood, East Haven (CT)

Fire Department

Real-life ventilation in private dwellings is the focus. Learn

how to make the building behave the way we need it to

behave. Students will be shown the difference in results when

ventilation is completed correctly and incorrectly.

How the Mighty Fall

Dr. Denis Onieal, Superintendent, National Fire Academy

Organizations and individuals display behaviors that are

remarkably similar leading up to and during their disastrous

public failures. Students will learn to identify those behaviors

and will gain insight into how to prevent them from developing.

The session concludes with a call for action on a code of

ethics for the fi re and emergency services. The presentation

is based on How the Mighty Fall: and Why Some Companies

Never Give In by Jim Collins.

Rehab: Beyond the Water Cooler

Karen C. Owens, Emergency Operations Assistant Manager,

Virginia Offi ce of Emergency Medical Services

A comprehensive look at a vital issue: how to establish

an effective rehab sector that allows for expansion and

contraction based on incident operations. Also, students

will compare effective and ineffective standard operating

procedures and explore methods for determining fi tness-

for-duty standards. The NFPA 1584 standard covering

rehabilitation and the relationship between incident

rehabilitation and ICS will also be discussed.

Long-Stretch Solutions

Master Firefi ghter Robert C. Owens Sr., Henrico County (VA)

Division of Fire

Several solutions to enable engine companies to effi ciently

stretch beyond their preconnected hoselines to reach the seat

of the fi re, regardless of the number of personnel available,

are presented. Proper apparatus positioning, occupancy

application, training, and communication are also discussed.

Solar Electric Safety for Firefi ghters

Captain Matthew Paiss, San Jose (CA) Fire Department

Students will gain a solid understanding of the principles

of solar electricity generation and of safely fi ghting fi res in

photovoltaic (PV)-equipped structures. Among the objectives

are to safely identify the presence of a PV system, become

familiar with its components, and confi dently operate around

it. Codes addressing solar electric are discussed.

AFG Grants: The Panelist Experience

Cathie Patterson, Acting Branch Chief, AFG Program

An up-close look at what happens during the AFG Fire Grants

Peer Review process. Attendees will engage in exercises that

reveal panelists’ experiences with the competitive narratives

of grant applicants—and the need to improve the narratives.

Evaluation criteria, peer review panelists’ score applications,

and areas within an application that affect success will also be

covered.

Tactical Considerations for

Manufacturing Operations

Firefi ghter Benjamin Peetz, Napoleon (IN) Volunteer

Fire Department

Investigations that follow industrial fi res and explosions often

point to areas that might never have been considered a real

threat by fi re personnel. This presentation reveals details on a

number of common manufacturing operations and a look at

tactical considerations—from prevention and preplanning to

response and mop-up.

The First 365 Days in a New Position

Chief Steve Pegram, Goshen Township (OH) Fire and EMS

A systematic approach to learning and assessing a

department is presented. The instructor will demonstrate how

using basic strategic planning principles can help a new chief

or company offi cer effect change while gaining acceptance.

Topics include actions for the fi rst 30, 60, and 90 days on a

new job and using the SWOT method (Strengths, Weaknesses,

Opportunities, Threats) to engage employees in effecting

change and developing plans.

Information and Communications Technology

Gerri Penney, Ph.D., Executive Fire Offi cer Graduate, Palm

Beach County (FL) Fire Rescue/Bureau of Safety Services

Based on her original research conducted as a National

Fire Academy Executive Fire Offi cer (EFO) student, the

instructor studies executive fi re offi cers in connection with

strategic thinking skills, profi ciency in using information,

and communication technology. The author surveyed 400

graduates of the EFO program.


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The Fire Within: Psychological Factors in the

Fire Service

Arthur Perlini, Ph.D., Associate Vice President, Academic and

Research, Algoma University, Ontario, Canada

Become acquainted with how psychological factors can kindle

the spark needed for successful performance to foster the

leadership, sound problem solving, judgment, and decision

making that are among the highest prized qualities in the

fi re service. The focus is on the need to combine situational

assessment, cognitive biases, and emotional and social

competencies with the requisite tactical training. Presented in

conjunction with IFIW.

Preventing Aerial Ladder Accidents:

Two Case Studies

Battalion Chief (Ret.) William Peters, Jersey City (NJ)

Fire Department

An in-depth look at two fatal aerial apparatus accidents

the instructor investigated for the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health. The fi rst involved an

unsecured waterway that was launched, killing a deputy chief

on the ground. The second pertained to a training accident

in which two fi re department members were ejected from a

new aerial platform and fell 90 feet to their death. Students

will learn how such accidents can be prevented with suffi cient

training and the implementing of safety measures.

All Hell Breaks Loose … and Now You’re

Out of Air

Captain Casey Phillips, Seattle (WA) Fire Department

A video-driven, hard-hitting presentation that examines some

of the most common reasons well-intentioned fi refi ghters

make mistakes on the fi reground. Students’ experiences and

examples from across the country are used to show how

situational awareness can be improved on the fi reground.

This class is a real eye-opener; the instructor homes in on the

factors that cause bad decisions, delays in action, and injury/

death on the fi reground.

Operating and Surviving on

Today’s Fireground

Deputy Chief Jeffrey Pindelski, Downers Grove (IL)

Fire Department

Participants will be given tools with which to conduct a self-

examination on the philosophy, attributes, and skills necessary

to lead and keep fi refi ghters alive while operating on the

fi reground. Topics include generational differences, culture,

the effects of technological advancements, and the need to do

more with less. Students will address the following questions:

What are we doing wrong? What can be done right now, as

well as in the future, to make a difference in our department?

Discrimination Issues: Race, Gender, Sex,

and Drugs

Captain Bradley M. Pinsky, Manlius (NY) Fire Department;

Attorney, Scicchitano & Pinsky, PLLC

This lecture discusses the controversial topics of

discrimination and harassment in the fi re service, including

racial and gender discrimination, drug testing, and sexual

harassment. Reverse discrimination is also covered. Extensive

group participation is encouraged.

The Successful Attack Engine Company

Captain Anthony Piontek, Green Bay (WI) Fire Department

Although engine companies have a large workload in today’s

fi re service, they still need to be successful in our most

important job—fi re attack. This class reexamines the common

goals of the attack engine—stretching and deploying the line,

putting water on the fi re, and how to realistically examine and

create a district- and response-specifi c engine company.

Fast Food Restaurant Fires

Captain Joseph R. Polenzani, Franklin (TN) Fire Department

This class analyzes the dangers of the lightweight/high-speed/

low-cost construction techniques used in today’s chain

restaurants and discusses tactics for safely mitigating fi res in

the restaurant environment. The dangers of fi re offi cers using

residential fi refi ghting tactics in these buildings are explored:

the buildings’ hidden void spaces, where fi re can grow or

travel; their ultra-lightweight construction; heavyweight

equipment; and commercial fi re loads create an unfamiliar

and unexpectedly hazardous environment for fi refi ghters

accustomed to operating in single-family homes.

Responsibilities of the First-Due

Company Offi cer

Battalion Chief Steve Prziborowski, Santa Clara County (CA)

Fire Department

The fi rst-due company offi cer is responsible for making

the most important decisions on arrival at the fi reground—

decisions that can spell success or failure for the incident.

The offi cer (typically a chief offi cer) who arrives to assume

command expects to fi nd an emergency scene that is

organized and functioning under an effective leader.

Participants will review and discuss the 10 most common

responsibilities of the fi rst-due company offi cer as they pertain

to a variety of emergency scene scenarios.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Reading the Fire: Learning the Language

Acting Inspector Shan Raffel, Queensland Fire and Rescue

Services, Australia

Learn how to “read the fi re” so you can make decisions based

on knowledge and skills, not guesswork or luck. Every fi re

sends out signals that can assist you in determining the stage

of fi re development and, most importantly, the changes that

are likely to occur so you can implement the correct fi refi ghting

strategies and tactics. Presented in conjunction with IFIW.

Why Simulation Needs to Be the Next Step in

Driver Training

Lieutenant (Ret.) Robert Raheb, Fire Department of

New York EMS

Departments that fail to profi ciently and routinely train their

members in vehicle operations that include driving simulation

training are leaving themselves exposed to litigation not only

from the community but also from the members. Learn the

aspects of simulator driving training and how successful it has

been for some fi re departments and business organizations.

Fire Smoke: Prevention through Air

Management and Medical Treatment

Firefi ghter Kevin Reilly, Cyanide Poisoning Treatment Coalition

The focus is on preventing acute and chronic smoke exposure

by using proper air management and, when prevention fails,

to have the knowledge to appropriately diagnose and treat

the exposure to save fi refi ghters’ lives. The Department of

Homeland Security awarded a grant to the Cyanide Poisoning

Treatment Coalition to create this program. The objective is to

investigate the long-term cumulative effects of the synergistic

effects of hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide, which

directly attack the heart and brain. Several fi refi ghters this year

have “literally dropped dead from cardiac arrest; all with one

common denominator before their deaths—smoke.”

Tactical Leadership

Lieutenant Frank Ricci, New Haven (CT) Fire Department

This interactive program covers leadership for the informal

leader, aspiring offi cers, and incumbent offi cers. Realistic

approaches to tough problems inside and outside of the

fi rehouse, common pitfalls, and tactical mistakes are

addressed as well as the roles and responsibilities of a strong

leader. The need to prevent tactical drift is emphasized. Topics

include shift life, paid and volunteer staffi ng, and becoming an

advocate for issues that affect your responsibility to market

our services to our elected offi cials.

Thermal Imaging for Hazmat Response

Captain/Training Offi cer Mike Richardson, St. Matthews (KY)

Fire Protection District

The eight primary uses of thermal imaging in hazmat response

are discussed. Attendees will review incidents in which thermal

imaging was successfully used. Also addressed are the

potential shortcomings of thermal imaging in hazmat response

and NFPA 1801, Thermal Imagers for the Fire Service.

Training Your Department on

Positive-Pressure Attack

Captain Jonathan A. Rigolo, Virginia Beach (VA)

Fire Department

This class reveals the bumps and bruises the instructional

staff of the fi re department experiences while training its

members on the positive pressure attack (PPA). The steps

used to take PPA from the discussion level to implementation

at the operations level are presented. Suggestions are offered

for overcoming the opposition of the typical fi re department

culture that resists change and that have made it possible to

convert skeptics and vocal opponents to PPA believers.

How a Positive Safety Culture Will Improve

Firefi ghter Tactical Safety

David Ross, Chief Health and Safety Offi cer, Toronto (Ont.,

Can.) Fire Services

This presentation explores how developing a positive “safety

culture” can address many of the root causes that prevent fi re

departments from realizing their safety goals. “Safety culture”

is defi ned; its characteristics are described, and elements to

promote a positive safety culture that will reduce fi refi ghter

deaths and injuries are introduced.

Someone Has to Do It:

The Role of the Public Information Offi cer

Captain II Stephen J. Ruda, Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department

Students will gain a new perspective of the person who has

been selected to serve as the department’s spokesperson.

Guidelines on the nuts and bolts of being a successful public

information offi cer are presented.


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Engine Company Operations at Standpipe-

Equipped Buildings

Lieutenant Mathew Rush, Austin (TX) Fire Department

Stretching the appropriate line with the proper fl ow is crucial

to the successful outcome of fi re attack in a high-rise

building. This session focuses on merging this attack with an

understanding of high-rise building components, including

standpipe types and appropriate code applications, FDC

connections, fi re pumps, and pressure-reducing valves. Learn

how these building systems interconnect and must be used

advantageously by responding engine companies, how the

building systems work, the maintenance (or lack thereof)

required by the current building code, and the equipment and

tactics necessary to complement and use the system to its

fullest potential.

SCBA Skills and Abilities

Battalion Chief John Salka, Fire Department of New York

This new program outlines and describes the many vital

features and tactical abilities fi refi ghters need to be familiar

with to operate safely while wearing an SCBA. Some

fi refi ghters give little thought to the skills and abilities needed

to use this important piece of equipment. Among the topics

discussed are how to connect and disconnect every strap and

buckle, how long the air supply will last, the reduced-profi le

and full-escape emergency procedures, buddy breathing, low-

air procedures, and use of the RIT pack.

Water for Fire Suppression

Stefan Sardqvist, Ph.D., Civil Contingencies Agency, Sweden

The class bridges the gap between real fi refi ghting and fi re

science. A more valid description of fi re tetrahedron is offered,

since the traditional understanding of the fi re tetrahedron does

not explain fi e suppression. Alternative suppression media for

structural fi refi ghting and the combination of suppression and

ventilation are addressed. The answers to questions such as

the following and additional ones are discussed: How much

water is needed to put out a fi re in the most effi cient way?

Which nozzle is best? Is a spray pattern more effi cient than

a solid stream? What spray pattern is optimum? What is the

best way to cool smoke gas? What are the interior fi refi ghting

limitations? Presented in conjunction with IFIW.

Understanding and Motivating

Today’s Firefi ghters

Deputy Fire Coordinator Tiger Schmittendorf, Erie County (NY)

Department of Emergency Services

Motivating today’s recruits is the focus. Gain insights that can

be applied to all types of departments. Learn how to combat

the challenges we face in the fi rehouse with solutions that are

readily apparent. Share in the input from X-Box generation

fi refi ghters. Tips for attracting and retaining quality fi refi ghters.

Fire Smoke: Perceptions, Myths, and

Misunderstandings

Assistant Chief Rob Schnepp, Alameda County (CA)

Fire Department

Gain an understanding of the unique health effects of

smoke exposures. The hazards of fi re smoke and the lethal

combination of carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, the

critical need for prompt recognition and treatment of acute

cyanide poisoning, and the cyanide antidotes available and

their limitations are discussed. Current trends in overhaul

procedures related to respiratory protection and monitoring are

also explored.

Ladder Offi cer Operations and Responsibilities

Lieutenant Michael Scotto, Fire Department of New York

Students will gain a comprehensive view of the ladder

offi cer’s duties on the fi reground, including tactics for

terrorism. Among topics explored are tactical procedures

and positions of members for various structures and

emergency responses. Responses discussed include

electrical, transportation, and hazmat.

Are You in the Fire Service, Or Is the Fire

Service in You?

Chief Gary Seidel, Hillsboro (OR) Fire Department

What does it mean to lead from the front seat? How do

I ensure that my personnel know how to engage in an

incident smartly and are willing to walk the point? What is

the difference between “certifi ed” and “qualifi ed” to lead?

These are among the questions addressed. Also included are

discussions on “the cigars, whiskey, and winning leadership

approach,” the BP oil spill, and the use of ICS area command

in a public/private venture.

Modern Engine Company Essentials

Captain Dan Shaw, Fairfax County (VA) Fire & Rescue

This interactive program discusses the most vital unit on

the fi reground, the engine company. Learn how changes in

building construction, staffi ng levels, and new equipment have

affected the job of getting water to the fi re. Students will learn

sound tactics and techniques for preparing and operating the

modern-day engine company.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Preplanning and Size-Up for Commercial and

Industrial Occupancies

Chief (Ret.) Craig H. Shelley, World Safe International, LLC

Students will learn how to apply the COAL TWAS WEALTHS

acronym to gather information for an effective preincident

response plan for commercial and industrial occupancies as

well as for conducting an effi cient size-up while responding

to and operating at the incident site. The information in the

preincident response plan can be used to develop the incident

action plan. The value of checklists, applying the 15-point

size-up to various occupancies, and hazards specifi c to

particular occupancies are also addressed.

Firefi ghting in Noncombustible Multiple

Dwellings

Battalion Chief Daniel Sheridan, Fire Department of New York

Building construction, fi re behavior, strategies, and engine and

truck company tactics are addressed. Critiques of fatal fi res

are presented.

Risk Assessment: the IMPACT Factor

Deputy Chief (Ret.) William Shouldis, Philadelphia (PA)

Fire Department

This challenging learning experience provides an analysis of

the roles and expectations of emergency responders in an

all-hazard/all-risk environment. Tactical actions are reviewed

in relationship to the frequency and severity of on-scene

occurrences. Among topics reviewed are hazard assessment,

unacceptable risk, and interagency coordination. Case

studies will reinforce solid strategic principles during a rapidly

escalating event.

Firefi ghting Tips and Tactics

Firefi ghter Jeff Shupe, Cleveland (OH) Fire Department

The focus is on the importance of getting “back to the basics.”

What defi nes the work of an engine company and a truck

company, basic operating points for these companies, and

operating tips for engine and truck companies are discussed.

Suburban Fire Tactics

Captain Jim Silvernail, Metro West Fire Protection District, St.

Louis County, MO

Strategic principles related to the suburban setting are

highlighted. Attendees are motivated to develop and establish

effective preferred operating methods for structural fi refi ghting.

Students will get a glimpse of “how the rest of the country” is

dealing with understaffi ng and adaptive strategic practices to

establish consistent operations.

Unique Incidents and Their

Successful Outcomes

Lieutenant Tom Sitz, Painesville Twp. (OH) Fire Department

Six unique incidents are presented and analyzed. These

incidents were “fi rst-time responses” for the presenter and his

department; he was the incident commander or operations

offi cer. Students will learn the unique set of problems, the need

for innovative thinking, and the techniques these responders

applied for the fi rst time—“through trial and error”—that

successfully mitigated these incidents.

Firefi ghter Safety Management:

Methods for Accountability

Battalion Chief (Ret.) Chuck Smeby, University of Florida Fire &

Emergency Services Program

The focus is on reliable management practices to improve

the organization’s ability to meet its safety goals. Discussions

include uncomplicated accountability methods, follow-up, and

effectively measuring the results of a fi refi ghter safety program.

Examples and case studies are used to illustrate techniques

for measuring valid outcomes.

Cardiac Events in the Fire Service

Professor Denise Smith, Skidmore College,

Saratoga Springs, NY

The physiological responses to fi refi ghting are described to

quantify the magnitude of cardiovascular and thermal strain

associated with fi refi ghting activity. Individual factors and job

stressors that increase the risk of a sudden cardiac event are

presented, along with strategies for decreasing the incidence

of cardiac events in the fi re service.

Company Quick Drills

Deputy Chief Drew Smith, Prospect Heights (IL) Fire District

Participants will observe a company (attendees) with offi cer

(instructor) perform six company quick drills they will be able

to conduct immediately on returning to their departments.

They will also be taught how to create their own company

quick drills.

What the Fire Protection Engineer Didn’t

Tell You

Lieutenant Kyle Smith, Cobb County (GA) Fire and

Emergency Services

An overview of the realities of operating in buildings protected

by automatic fi re sprinklers is presented. Participants will

discuss the capabilities and limitations of various systems

used in big box retail and other storage occupancies. Ways

to support the systems and deal with their consequences are

also discussed.


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Case Study: Holiday Inn Fire, Cobb County/

Marietta, GA

Captain Christopher Sobieski, Cobb County (GA) Fire &

Emergency Services

An analysis of the landmark events of a high-rise hotel fi re

that involved the safe evacuation of more than 160 people,

including more than 20 ground and aerial ladder rescues;

one civilian death; and two fi refi ghter injuries. One crew was

awarded the State of Georgia Governor’s Award for Valor for

performance at this incident. Students will review the actions

of command and the crews and the events of this incident.

An Offi cer’s Map to Excellence

Debbie Sobotka, Deputy Director, Center for Public Safety

Excellence, Inc.

An overview of the Chief Fire Offi cer and Chief Medical Offi cer

professional designation programs is provided. Attendees will

gain an understanding of the signifi cance of being credentialed

and achieving the designations.

Gasoline Construction: Lightweight

Construction Combined with Hydrocarbon

Foam Sheathing

Captain/Paramedic Todd Soong, Rock Community (MO) Fire

Protection District

Learn the dangers of “gasoline construction” used in a type

of class V structure. In this construction, polypropylene wall

sheathing is combined with metal diagonal wall bracing,

polyvinyl chloride siding, and a polyethylene vapor barrier.

These structures present highly volatile fi re conditions—in

essence, the initial fi re crews are met with a vertical class

B fi re with all of the volatility of gasoline. The principles

and components of Type V construction and the possible

substitutions builders/contractors can use are discussed, as

are the melting points, ignition temperatures, and order of

construction of these materials.

Green Building Construction and the

Fire Service

Assistant Chief Ronald Spadafora, Fire Department of

New York

An overview of the green building construction technology and

its impact on fi refi ghting operations is presented. Students

will gain a general understanding of the U.S. Green Building

Council’s LEED Rating System features from fi refi ghting and

fi re protection perspectives.

New York Task Force Response to

Haiti Earthquake

Captain Stephen T. Spall, Fire Department of New York;

Structural Specialist, NY-TF1

This presentation of the NF-TF1’s response to the Haiti

Earthquake in January 2010 highlights the structural

specialist’s duties and concerns when sending rescuers into

collapsed or otherwise compromised structures to search

for and remove live victims trapped in earthquake-damaged

buildings. The potential for concepts used in this operation to

be applied to everyday emergency operations is addressed

by providing case studies of buildings as they were found in

Haiti. Students are asked to project themselves into the role of

a rescuer and consider actions they may take or concerns they

may have in that role.

The PIO Reporter: Telling Your Story in a World

Where “Spin” Doesn’t Work

Dave Statter, Statter911 Communications, LLC

What you do before an image problem occurs may be more

important than what you do later. Building reputation equity in

your community could be the key to your survival when things

go bad. In this “post-media world,” where the public can

access news immediately on the Internet, the fi re department

can easily lose control of the message. Learn how to

communicate so that the public knows what you know, when

you know it instead of waiting until all the details are in. Learn

how to take control, put out the bad news, build trust with the

community, and repair your department’s reputation.

Practical and Effective Fire Station Leadership

Chief (Ret.) Paul Stein, Lakeside and Santa Monica (CA)

Fire Department

This program identifi es the fi re offi cer’s role and

responsibilities and the gray areas that are associated with

them. The basic “laws of the organization”—the mission,

goals, and objectives—are reviewed. Students will be shown

how to align fi re offi cers’ actions and decisions with the

organization’s mission.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Planning a 21st Century Training Center

Assistant Chief Jens Stiegel, Frankfurt am Main Fire and

Rescue Services

In early 2011, following six years of research and planning,

Frankfurt am Main Fire and Rescue Services breaks ground for

its new Fire and Rescue Training Center, which will include a

new academy building, a 1,000m2 training hall with a propane-

powered burn building, a class A burn hall with an exhaust-

cleaning system, and a training facility for operations in the

Metro subway system. The initial situation in Frankfurt, the

basic research conducted in various countries in Europe and

North America during the planning phase, the overall training

concepts that have been developed for the fi re department,

and how new ideas for this state-of-the-art training facility

have been realized are discussed. Presented in conjunction

with IFIW.

Overcoming the Hazards of

Suspended Ceilings

Chief Les Stephens, San Marcos (TX) Fire Department

Suspended ceilings pose a serious risk in themselves and

in the obstacles hidden above them. Among the topics

addressed are identifi cation of the components of the ceiling

grid, how the grid is constructed, what may be above the

ceilings, what happens to the building once the ceiling

is removed, the tools that will and will not work on these

assemblies, and how to implement evacuation procedures

from these assemblies.

Developing an Effective Respiratory Protection

Program

Deputy Chief Hugh Stott, West Chicago (IL) Fire District

Students evaluate their department’s respiratory protection

program and consider improvements that should be made.

Consensus standards and regulations, suggested practices

for creating a comprehensive SCBA program, training,

maintenance, and recordkeeping practices are among the

topics discussed.

Interior Firefi ghting: Hazards and Precautions

Captain Daniel Stratton, Camden City (NJ) Fire Department

Students are presented with protective measures to ensure

safety for suppression personnel operating inside a structure

fi re. Among topics discussed are exposure to electricity,

blinding vision, high heat, hot melting plastics that stick to

gear and result in burns, and precautions for evading dangers.

The First 15 Minutes:

Survival Strategies for Roadway Incidents

Jack Sullivan, Director of Training, Emergency Responder

Safety Institute

Actions taken by emergency responders in the fi rst 15

minutes of a roadway incident can be crucial to the safety

of emergency personnel, victims, and motorists. Proactive

strategies and tactics for establishing safe work areas for

personnel are discussed. Attendees are guided in developing

procedures and training drills to improve protection for

emergency responders at traffi c crashes, vehicle fi res, and

other emergencies on roadways.

Safety in the Fire Service:

The Swedish Perspective

Stefan Svensson, Ph.D., Civil Contingencies Agency, Sweden

The focus is on an increased scientifi c understanding of

the problems on the fi reground. Participants are given a

background of the elements that affect fi refi ghter safety.

Firefi ghter safety from a Swedish perspective is compared

with that in other countries, including the United States.

Safety issues that should be revised or added are highlighted.

Presented in conjunction with IFIW.

Fighting Fires in Multiple Dwellings

Lieutenant Matt Szpindor, Fire Department of New York

Fires in multiple dwellings can tax even large and well-staffed

fi re departments. The focus is on adjusting your strategies

and tactics to meet the challenges these buildings present.

The basic types of multiple dwellings are reviewed. How

building construction affects the fi refi ght and engine and truck

operations specifi c to these buildings are addressed. Case

studies will enable students to see some of these procedures

in action and develop a template for fi ghting fi res in an

apartment building in their response area.

Health and Wellness Resources for

Your Department

Amy Tarte, Director, National Volunteer Fire Council

The presentation touches on national programs such as the

National Volunteer Fire Council’s Heart-Healthy Firefi ghter

program and its components, the Put It Out smoking-

cessation program, and the BEST initiative, as well as potential

funding opportunities for departments. An overview of fi tness,

nutrition, and weight management are presented. Participants

will receive a Fit Kit with a folder of materials.


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Ready Or Not, It’s Time to Train

Chief Scott Thompson, The Colony (TX) Fire Department

A back-to-basics training philosophy that expands to

incorporate professional development, hands-on training,

and mentoring is the focus. The effectiveness of informal and

formal training in the overall learning process is discussed.

Methods of delivering training are offered. Students are shown

how to implement and sell various methods as effective tools

in an overall training program.

Taming the Dragon

Battalion Chief Jerry Tracy, Fire Department of New York

Two case studies on wind-driven fi res involving fi refi ghter

deaths and injuries are analyzed. Successful and unsuccessful

strategies and tactics are reviewed. Students will learn

how the results of scientifi c research conducted with other

agencies have prompted the Fire Department of New York

to incorporate the information on wind-driven fi res within its

training and operations to effect profound changes.

Learning from Others’ Experiences

Firefi ghter David Traiforos, Berkeley (IL) Fire Department

Students will observe photos and videos depicting a moment

on the fi reground that illustrate how aggressive actions taken

by fi refi ghters can lead to danger or interfere with the task at

hand, leaving fi refi ghters at risk to injury or death. On the other

hand, positive actions and behavior reinforce lessons learned.

Fire scene accountability, vehicle placement and operations,

hoseline placement, the use of portable ladders, company

offi cer development, building construction, water supply,

search and rescue, and strategy and tactics are among the

topics addressed.

Elevator Emergencies

Captain (Ret.) Tony Tricarico, Fire Department of New York

All you should know about elevators and their operation in

emergencies is presented. Types of elevators, the basics of

elevator emergencies, terminology, mitigating an emergency,

the tools needed, construction, and site safety hazards are

among the topics discussed. The hoist and pneumatic types of

elevators are compared and contrasted. Students are shown

how to “capture” an elevator in the shaft and the safest way to

work inside a shaft way.

The Hottest Legal Topics: Digital Imagery, Social

Media, and Firefi ghter Training

Deputy Chief (Ret.) Curt Varone, Providence (RI) Fire

Department; Attorney

Learn how to avoid digital media traps and develop sound

and defensible digital media polices. The problems and legal

concerns associated with fi refi ghters’ on-duty use of cameras

at incidents are examined Attendees learn how to develop

a policy covering the taking and handling of digital imagery

and that sets clear boundaries related to the public posting of

that imagery on the Internet. Real-life cases of the past three

years are analyzed from the perspective of consequences to

fi refi ghters and departments arising from posting photos and

videos on the Internet.

Leadership from the Little Guy: What It Takes to

Be the Informal Leader

Firefi ghter/Acting Offi cer Brian Ward, Gwinnett County (GA)

Fire and Emergency Services

A four-step approach for motivating fi refi ghters to become

informal leaders in their departments or regions is presented.

A two-sided mentoring approach is discussed. Scenarios are

used to demonstrate situations and the proposed actions a

leader might take to resolve them.

Gauges Don’t Lie

Captain Douglas B. Watson, Palm Beach County (FL)

Fire Rescue

A journey to the “technological” side of fi refi ghting where you

look at equipment through the eyes of gauges and meters.

Students observe the effects of force, pressure, and fl ow in

some of the common tools of the trade. They also witness the

unseen effects of nozzle reaction and learn how to determine

the strongest way to butt a ladder and maximize torque with

proper hand placement on tools.

Why Firefi ghters Need to Lobby Their Members

of Congress

Bill Webb, Executive Director, Congressional Fire

Services Institute

Learn how fi refi ghters can become more engaged in the

legislative process, specifi cally how it relates to federal funding

for local fi re departments. The audience will be engaged in a

lively discussion about our legislative process.


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CLASSROOM SESSIONS

Building Effective Teamwork

Battalion Chief Jerry Wells, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department

The fi re service has been described as the “ultimate team

sport.” The instructor uses the philosophy of a successful

college football program as a mechanism for building a

successful fi re department. (Be prepared to watch some

football video.) Learn creative ways to get your crew to

“buy in” and create training programs that are more than

just repetitive drills and competency tests. Nontraditional

approaches to positive team building and training are

presented.

Emergency Vehicle Operations: What We Can

Learn from Recent Wrecks

Lieutenant Michael Wilbur, Fire Department of New York

A pictorial review of recent vehicle accidents and their

contributing factors. Students observe the anatomy of an

accident as video shows the rollover accident of a pumper-

tanker from beginning to end and tactics for successfully

recovering when the apparatus leaves the roadway on a curve.

Among topics addressed are DWI, railroad safety, response

policies, intersection safety, driving rural apparatus, leadership,

and maintenance.

Flashover Life-and-Death Decisions on

the Fireground

Firefi ghter Bryan Winzer, Fire Department of New York

Two case studies involving fl ashover are analyzed from

the perspectives of fi refi ghting operations and outcomes.

The 13 points of size-up, fi reground communications, the

warning signs of fl ashover and ways to prevent it, building

construction, rapid intervention team operations, mutual-aid

response, and supporting injured fi refi ghters and their families

are among the topics covered.

Fire Department Hurricane Preparation

Division Chief Mike Wisko, Galveston (TX) Fire Department

This session addresses ways for fi re departments in hurricane-

prone regions to prepare for the landfall of a tropical storm

or hurricane. Among the topics addressed are resource

preservation, community evacuations, mass destruction, long-

term recovery needs, the health and welfare of fi refi ghters and

their families, emergency center staffi ng, and critical incident

stress management.

Principles and Practices of Command:

Beyond NIMS

Battalion Chief Steven Woodworth, Atlanta (GA)

Fire Department

This course was designed to fi ll the gaps left by standard

National Incident Management System (NIMS) training. The

need to train on command presence prior to an incident;

decision-making principles for emergency scenes; and the

importance for all personnel, regardless of rank, to understand

these practices are discussed. Students will gain insights into

how to make effective and timely decisions regarding whether

to operate in an offensive, a defensive, or a marginal mode.

Strategies and Tactics for Interface Fires

Lieutenant Edward A. Wright, Kitsap Wildland Team, Poulsbo

(WA) Fire Department

This course explores Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) risk

management and incorporates the new Incident Response

Pocket Guide’s expanded strategic and tactical guidelines

in a multimedia format with a student guide. Identifying

WUI Watch Out situations, formulating safe strategies and

tactics, prioritizing response objectives, identifying barriers to

situational awareness, and formulating strategies for use in

public interface are among the topics discussed. Attendees

will receive a printed outline of the course.

Small Boat and Personal Watercraft Surface

Rescue Operations

Andrea Zaferes, Vice President, Lifeguard Systems,

Shokan, NY

Do you have the right vessel and equipment? What training is

needed for operations and technician personnel? What does

it mean to have a vessel in a ready-rescue mode? These are

among the questions addressed in the session. Students will

also learn about personal watercraft and small boat state-of-

the-art rescue procedures and how to avoid common pitfalls.


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EXHIBITOR LIST (As of October 20, 2010)

1401 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER . . . . . 5341

1-800-BOARDUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5447

3M PROTECTIVE APPAREL AND

FOOTWEAR MARKET CENTER . . . . . 214

5.11 TACTICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5540

911 CLOTHING & COLLECTIBLES . . . . 3151

911 SAFETY EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . 226

911 SEATS INCORPORATED . . . . . . . . 3928

A&A MANUFACTURING CO. INC . . . . . 4529

ACC CLIMATE CONTROL . . . . . . . . . . . 9113

ACOUSTICOM CORPORATION . . . . . . 9923

ACTION COUPLING & EQUIPMENT . . . . 328

ACTION TRAINING SYSTEMS INC . . . . 8908

ACURA EMBEDDED SYSTEMS . . . . . . 5625

ADASHI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13104

ADVANCED LIGHTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

AERIAL MACHINE AND TOOL

COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4957

AHURA SCIENTIFIC, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . 5751

AIR CRUISERS COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . 5773

AIR VACUUM CORPORATION . . . . . . . 5720

AIRBOSS-DEFENSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9212

AIRHAWK/MAGNEGRIP . . . . . . . . . . . . 4843

AJAX TOOL WORKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9518

AKRON BRASS COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . 4200

ALERT-ALL CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . 4949

ALEXIS FIRE EQUIPMENT CO . . . . . . . 9741

ALL A BOARD INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3021

ALLIANCE FIRE AND RESCUE INC . . . . 539

ALLISON TRANSMISSION . . . . . . . . . . 2300

ALPINE SOFTWARE CORP . . . . . . . . . . 5552

ALUMINUM LADDER COMPANY . . . . . 4816

AMDOR INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5643

AMDOR INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9006

AMERICAN EMERGENCY VEHICLES . . 5940

AMERICAN FIRE TRAINING SYSTEMS,

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3469

AMERICAN FIRE TRAINING SYSTEMS,

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9630

AMERICAN LA FRANCE COMPANIES . 9940

AMERICAN MILITARY UNIVERSITY . . . 1901

AMERICAN RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9853

AMERICAN SIGNAL CORPORATION . . 5056

AMERICAN TRADE MARK CO. . . . . . . . 3510

AMKUS RESCUE SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . 3401

APR PLASTIC FABRICATING . . . . . . . . 5327

ARA SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9616

ARCAIR- A THERMADYNE CO . . . . . . . 9008

ARGUS THERMAL IMAGING . . . . . . . . 3475

ARMORED TEXTILES, INC. . . . . . . . . . . 4751

ARMSTRONG MEDICAL INDUSTRIES

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1139

ASAP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5446

ASI FIRE RESCUE APPAREL . . . . . . . . . 5856

ASTRA RADIO COMMUNICATIONS . . . 4840

A-T SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4441

AUTO METER PRODUCTS INC . . . . . . 9348

AWG FITTINGS, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5356

B K A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

BACKSTOP USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4739

BATTERY TECH CENTRAL LLC . . . . . . 3410

BATTERY ZONE INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4034

BAUER COMPRESSORS INC . . . . . . . . 1233

BELLEVUE UNIVERISTY . . . . . . . . . . . . 5748

BEN MEADOWS COMPANY . . . . . . . . . 5646

BENCHMADE KNIFE CO. . . . . . . . . . . . 2441

BIGWIG RESCUE PRODUCTS LLC . . . 4742

BILL FOX CO., LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5653

BIOMEDIX, INC.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4727

BLACK DIAMOND GROUP . . . . . . . . . . 1000

BLACK HELMET APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . 1903

BLACKHAWK! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4648

BLACKINTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

BLACKJACK FLASHLIGHT HOLDER . . 1610

BLANCHAT MFG INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5560

BLAUER MFG CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1227

BLUEGRASS FIRE APPARATUS . . . . . . 3059

BLUEWATER ROPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4741

BOSTON LEATHER INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 5835

BOSTROM COMPANY INC. H.O. . . . . . 3444

BOYER TECHNOLOGIES INC . . . . . . . . 9411

BRADY PEARSON EDUCATION . . . . . . 3241

BRAUN INDUSTRIES, INC . . . . . . . . . . 3238

BREATHING AIR SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . 8901

BRIGHT STAR LIGHTING PRODUCTS . 1340

BRIGHTHEADLIGHTS.COM . . . . . . . . . 5428

BRINDLEE MOUNTAIN FIRE

APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5434

BRISTOL FIRE APPAREL, INC. . . . . . . . . 604

BRUNSWICK COMMERCIAL GOVT

PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3810

BUDDY COVERS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3674

BULLARD CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 618

BULLEX DIGITAL SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . 3257

BULLEX DIGITAL SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . 9030

BW TECHNOLOGIES

BY HONEYWELL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222

C & S SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3571

C.E. NIEHOFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9351

CALIFORNIA CASUALTY AUTO

AND HOME INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . 5565

CANSEW INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

CAPTURED MOMENT IN STONE . . . . . 3221

CARD IMAGING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9906

CARDIAC SCIENCE CORPORATION . . . 538

CARSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY

INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5756

CAST PRODUCTS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5753

CE SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4841

CENTER FOR DOMESTIC

PREPAREDNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5833

CENTER FOR EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS AT OWENS

STATE COLLEGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4641

CERTIFIED AMBULANCE GROUP . . . . 3371

CET FIRE PUMPS MANUFACTURING . 3000

CHAMPION RESCUE TOOLS . . . . . . . . 1741

CHANNELLOCK, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9109

CHELSEA PRODUCTS DIVISION OF

PARKER HANNIFIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9819

CHEMGUARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5664

CHIEF’S SHIELD PRODUCTS ,LLC . . . 4940

CHOICE MARKETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3057

CITY COLLEGE FIRE PROGRAMS . . . . . 644

CLAYTON I.D.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1542

CMC RESCUE INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1134

CMJ MANUFACTURING INC . . . . . . . . 3568

COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS,

INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4238

COATS NORTH AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

COBALT AV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

CODE 3, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1201

COINFORCE.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9717

COLUMBIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY . 4526

COMMAND LIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2335

COMMANDSCOPE MOBILE PRE PLANS

(REALVIEW LLC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4539

COMMANDSIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3621

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECT INC . . . . . 5049

COMTECH COMMUNICATIONS . . . . . . 5051

CON-SPACE COMMUNICATIONS,

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3512

CONTERRA INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5151

CONTINENTAL GIRBAU INC . . . . . . . . . 9349

COSMAS USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444

COUNCIL TOOL COMPANY . . . . . . . . . 9413

COUNTER-FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1109

COXREELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4241

CR ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN . . . . . . 4626

CRASH RESCUE EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . 4622

CRESTAR FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT

LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3662

CRESTLINE COACH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4231

CRIMSON FIRE INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2207

CTECH MANUFACTURING . . . . . . . . . . 4240

CUMMINS/CUMMINS ONAN . . . . . . . . 4311

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CUSTOM COMPOSITES LLC . . . . . . . . 4730

CUSTOM FIRE APPARATUS, INC . . . . . 5346

CUTTERS EDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3945

CYANIDE POISONING TREATMENT

COALITION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1800

CYBEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5570

D E WILLIAMS SHIELDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406

DANA HOLDING CORPORATION . . . . . 9907

DANKO EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT . . . 3821

DARLEY, W.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2223

DARLEY, W.S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2323

DAVID CLARK CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1544

DBA C/O MILLER PIERCE AGENCY . . . 3665

DE BOURGH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

DELCO REMY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9922

DELMAR CENAGE LEARNING . . . . . . . 4615

DEMERS AMBULANCES. . . . . . . . . . . . 4100

DEUS RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3726

DHS ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS

GRANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5662

DICKE SAFETY PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . 5150

DIFCO PERFORMANCE FABRICS . . . . . 700

DIGITAL COMBUSTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3932

DIGITAL PAGING COMPANY . . . . . . . . . 3448

DIVE RESCUE INTERNATIONAL . . . . . . 3829

DIVING UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL . . 3832

DIXIE ELECTRIC LTD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9924

DORON PRECISION SYSTEMS INC . . . 8911

DOVE DESIGNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

DQE INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2200

DRAEGER SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1021

DRAEGER SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9210

DREAMSEAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5549

DUO-SAFETY LADDER

CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3557

DUPONT COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1645

DURABLE CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3521

E.J. METALS, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5229

E.S. SAFETY SYSTEMS INC. . . . . . . . . . 342

EAGLE COMPRESSORS, INC . . . . . . . . 1303

EARTH CLEAN CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5430

EDISPATCHES.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4143

EDWARDS & CROMWELL SPILL

CONTROL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3460

EF JOHNSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4139

EF RECOVERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8913

EISEMAN-LUDMAR CO, INC. . . . . . . . . 1241

ELBECO INCORPORATED . . . . . . . . . . 3739

ELKHART BRASS MFG CO INC . . . . . . 9225

ELLIOTT, LEBOEUF & MCELWAIN . . . . 4639

EMERGENCY MEDICAL PRODUCTS,

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4541

EMERGENCY REPORTING . . . . . . . . . . 3250

EMERGENCY RESPONSE DIVING

INTERNATIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800

EMERGENCY RESPONSE MAPS . . . . . 3841

EMERGENCY SERVICES INSURANCE

PROGRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3727

EMERGENCY SVCS BILLING CORP

(ESBC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4965

EMS INNOVATIONS INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 4030

END OF THE ROAD, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . 4733

ENVIRONICS USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH

INSTITUTE, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801

E-ONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14032

E-ONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5501

ESS EYE PRO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1208

ESSEX PB & R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2201

EURAMCO SAFETY, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 3845

EVAC SYSTEMS FIRE & RESCUE

EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3933

EVO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4531

EVS LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5647

EVT CERTIFICATION COMMISSION

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5048

EXCELLANCE INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4331

EXTENDO BED COMPANY INC . . . . . . . 735

FAAC INCORPORATED . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5157



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FALCON INNOVATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 5045

FAMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5066

FARBER SPECIALTY VEHICLES/

CUSTOM COACH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9530

FCX PERFORMANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9415

FDM SOFTWARE LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3320

FECHHEIMER BROTHERS . . . . . . . . . . . 405

FEDERAL SIGNAL CORPORATION . . . . 5521

FEMSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5064

FERNO WASHINGTON INC. . . . . . . . . . 1701

FERNO WASHINGTON INC. . . . . . . . . . 3600

FERRARA FIRE APPARATUS . . . . . . . . 1837

FIBROBEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9745

FIRE APPARATUS MAGAZINE . . . . . . . 9000

FIRE ENGINEERING MAGAZINE . . . . . 9000

FIRE ENGINEERING INDIA . . . . . . . . . . 9000

FIRE ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY . . . . 9000

FIRE CHIEF MAGAZINE . . . . . . . . . . . . 5462

FIRE FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1005

FIRE GROUND TECHNOLOGIES . . . . . . 136

FIRE INNOVATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1225

FIRE RESCUE GPO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3728

FIRE RESEARCH CORPORATION . . . . . 3210

FIRE RESEARCH CORPORATION . . . . . 9910

FIRE SAFETY & INSPECTION SERVICES

LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1441

FIRE SERVICE MANAGEMENT, LTD . . . 1900

FIRE SHOPP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9529

FIRE SUPPRESSION PRODUCTS INC. 5553

FIREBLAST 451 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3124

FIREBLAST 451 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9100

FIREBLAST 451 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9200

FIRECOM CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . 423

FIRE-DEX INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311

FIREFIGHTER FITNESS INITIATIVE . . . . 5563

FIREFIGHTERS BOOKSTORE . . . . . . . . 4632

FIREFIGHTERS FOR CHRIST INTL . . . . 4041

FIREHOUSE SOFTWARE . . . . . . . . . . . 3721

FIREHOUSE TREASURES . . . . . . . . . . . 9410

FIREHOUSEDECALSANDMORE.COM . 3917

FIREMAN’S FRIEND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9901

FIREMAN’S FUND INSURANCE

COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13100

FIREMAN’S SHIELD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 703

FIREMATIC SUPPLY COMPANY . . . . . . 9749

FIREPRINTS.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

FIREPROGRAMS SOFTWARE . . . . . . . 4826

FIRETEC USED APPARATUS SALES . . 4527

FIRETOOLS SOFTWARE . . . . . . . . . . . . 5338

FIROVAC BY REBERLAND . . . . . . . . . . 3710

FIRST STRIKE TECHNOLOGIES, INC . . . 704

FIRST-IN BY WESTNET . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4757

FISHER PRINTED SPORTSWEAR . . . . . . 122

FISHER PRINTED SPORTSWEAR . . . . 13148

FLAME FIGHTER CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . 4515

FLAME-SIM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5145

FLITZ INTERNATIONAL LTD. . . . . . . . . . 5039

FM GLOBAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1443

FOAMPRO - PENTAIR WATER . . . . . . . 3537

FOL-DA-TANK CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5140

FORD COMMERCIAL TRUCK . . . . . . . . 5221

FORESTRY SUPPLIERS INC . . . . . . . . . 5735

FORT GARRY FIRE TRUCKS . . . . . . . . 9353

FOUTS BROS. FIRE EQUIPMENT . . . . . 5349

FOXFURY PERSONAL LIGHTING

SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5750

FRATERNAL RED LINE CO.. . . . . . . . . . . 806

FREIGHTLINER TRUCK. . . . . . . . . . . . . 4120

FRICTION FORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340

FRICTION FORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9420

FSI NORTH AMERICA TM . . . . . . . . . . . 4415

FYREPEL PRODUCTS

(DIV. OF LAKELAND IND) . . . . . . . . . 1040

G & L FIRE GIFTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5340

GAME SPORTSWEAR LTD . . . . . . . . . . . 309

GARTAN TECHNOLOGIES LTD. . . . . . . 1245

GEARGRID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 608

GERBER OUTERWEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4230

GFG INSTRUMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . 3466

GIRARD SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5456

GLAS-MASTER WEHR ENGINEERING . 9519

GLOBE MANUFACTURING . . . . . . . . . . 2513

GM FLEET AND COMMERCIAL . . . . . . 1401

GOLFIRE, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4838

GOLIGHT INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9249

GORDON BERNARD COMPANY . . . . . 9207

GRACE INDUSTRIES INC . . . . . . . . . . . 1445

GRAHAM MEDICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5749

GRAINGER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4914

GROUP 1 SOLUTIONS INC. . . . . . . . . . . 401

GROVES INCORPORATED READY RACK /

SLING LINK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1143

HACKNEY EMERGENCY VEHICLES . . . 3336

HACKNEY EMERGENCY VEHICLES . . . 3337

HAIX NORTH AMERICA INC . . . . . . . . . . 737

HALE PRODUCTS / CLASS 1 . . . . . . . . 1823

HALE PRODUCTS / CLASS 1 . . . . . . . . 9400

HAMMERHEAD IND./GEAR KEEPER . . 3457

HANNAY REELS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3411

HANSEN FIRE AND SAFETY . . . . . . . . . 4427

HANSEN INTERNATIONAL . . . . . . . . . . 9719

HAPPY FEET BY RVJ INTERNATIONAL

LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3119

HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR

COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13072

HARRINGTON INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3024

HARRIS CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . 3667

HARRISON HYDRA-GEN . . . . . . . . . . . 9551

HARTWELL MEDICAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

HAVIS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5321

HAWILL’S LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3730

HEALTH & SAFETY INSTITUTE . . . . . . . 5564

HENDRICKSON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5724

HENNEPIN TECHNICAL COLLEGE . . . . 5728

HERO SYSTEMS, INC.

THE HERO PIPE APPARATUS . . . . . 9549

HIGH ANGLE ASSOCIATES . . . . . . . . . 1041

HIGH TEMPERATURE LININGS . . . . . . 3160

HIGHWATER HOSE CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5061

HI-LIFT JACK COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . 5347

HK CARR & ASSOCIATES . . . . . . . . . . . 5770

HMA FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4939

HME INC AHRENS FOX

FIRE APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9725

HME INC CHASSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3637

HOLLIS COMMERCIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

HOLMATRO INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1323

HONEYWELL TOTAL FIRE . . . . . . . . . . 1022

HORACE SMALL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5755

HORTON EMERGENCY VEHICLES . . . 4121

HOSELINE, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9525

HOWELL RESCUE SYSTEMS INC . . . . 9905

HUB DATA911 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5658

HURRICANE FANS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9948

HUSKY PORTABLE CONTAINMENT . . . 5239

HYDRAULICS INTERNATIONAL, INC . . 3839

HYDRO FLOW PRODUCTS INC . . . . . . 1045

HYPRES EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4827

IAFC-SERVICES/ESCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2400

IAMRESPONDING.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . 4038

ICOM AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4032

IFSTA/FPP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3200

ILLINOIS FIRE SERVICE INSTITUTE . . . 5547

IMMI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4339

IMS ALLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4051

INDUSTRIAL SCIENTIFIC CORP . . . . . . . 524

INFINITY GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701

INFLATABLE IMAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8906

INNOTEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 711

INNOVATIVE CONTROLS INC . . . . . . . . 5861

INPOWER LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3452

INSTA-CHAIN, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5621

INTEC VIDEO SYSTEMS, INC. . . . . . . . 4714

INTELLITEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5856



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INTERMOTIVE VEHICLE CONTROLS . . 5630

INTERSPIRO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323

ISG/INFRASYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1217

ISI / AN AVON PROTECTION SYSTEMS

COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 715

JB CARR COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8902

JL2 INC. PAC MULE BELTS . . . . . . . . . 9209

JONES & BARTLETT PUBLISHERS . . . 3126

JUNKIN SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5832

JUNKYARD DOG INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . 4638

KAPPLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

KELDERMAN MFG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3248

KENWOOD USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4349

KEY FIRE HOSE CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 647

KIDDE FIRE FIGHTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1523

KIDDE FIRE TRAINERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1733

KIDDE FIRE TRAINERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9510

KINEQUIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4451

KME FIRE APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4401

KNOX COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1234

KOCHEK COMPANY, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . 1433

KOVENEX/WAUBRIDGE SPECIALTY

FABRICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

KUSSMAUL ELECTRONICS COMPANY

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9919

KZCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5138

L.N. CURTIS AND SONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 4249

LAB SAFETY SUPPLY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439

LADD INDUSTRIES DEUTSCH

INDUSTRIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5243

LAFAYETTE INSTRUMENT CO . . . . . . . 3471

LAKE ASSAULT CUSTOM BOATS . . . . 9649

LANCIER HYDRAULIK USA, INC. . . . . . 4921

LEATHERHEAD TOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339

LEDLIGHTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3020

LENZING AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2100

LIBERTY ART WORKS INC . . . . . . . . . . 4239

LIBERTY MOUNTAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3147

LIFE LINE EMERGENCY VEHICLES . . . 4443

LIGHTHOUSE UNIFORM COMPANY . . 1538

LIGHTNING X PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . 5665

LION APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1533

LOCUTION SYSTEMS INC . . . . . . . . . . 4144

LOSBERGER US LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9015

LUMIFLEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5848

LUXFER GAS CYLINDERS . . . . . . . . . . 1101

MAINTAINER CUSTOM BODIES, INC . . 3675

MAJESTIC FIRE APPAREL INC. . . . . . . . 445

MAKO COMPRESSORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337

MARION BODY WORKS . . . . . . . . . . . . 3120

MARYLAND FIRE & RESCUE INST . . . . 5635

MASIMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3367

MATJACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 841

MC PRODUCTS/DIV OF EMERG SERV

HOLDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4951

MCCOY MILLER CORP/MARQUE . . . . 3801

MDG FOG GENERATORS . . . . . . . . . . . . 646

MDI TRAFFIC CONTROL PRODUCTS/

STARTGROUP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1135

MERCEDES TEXTILES LTD . . . . . . . . . . 5057

MERMAID MANUFACTURING OF

S.W. FLORIDA, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5634

METAL CRAFT MARINE INC. . . . . . . . . 5733

MICHIGAN RESCUE CONCEPTS . . . . . 3579

MICRO-BLAZE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . 9931

MIDWEST FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4929

MILLER BY SPERIAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1012

MILNOR LAUNDRY SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . 544

MINERVA BUNKER GEAR CLEANERS . 5871

MISTRAS SERVICES/CONAM . . . . . . . . 5627

MITI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 606

MOBILE CONCEPTS BY SCOTTY . . . . 4761

MOBILE EYES INSPECTION

SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4731

MOBILE FLEET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

MODELTECH INT’L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3267

MOORE INDUSTRIAL HARDWARE . . . . 3056

MOTOROLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3412

MOUNTAIN UNIFORMS . . . . . . . . . . . . 4635

MP ANTENNA LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9106

MPRI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5531

MSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1709

MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY SERVICES,

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3036

MUNICIPAL MARKETING SERVICES . . 5453

MUSTANG SURVIVAL, INC.. . . . . . . . . . 1326

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON FIREWORKS

SAFETY, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5771

NATIONAL FIRE FIGHTER

NEAR-MISS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4630

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION

ASSOCIATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13080

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION

ASSOCIATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4138

NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY

INFORMATION BUREAU . . . . . . . . . 3375

NAVISTAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5920

NCBRT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3940

NEDERMAN USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4647

NEWMAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9927

NIEDNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2245

NORFAB CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . 221

NORTH AMERICAN FIRE HOSE . . . . . . 3657

NORTHERN INDUSTRIAL FLOORING,

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3368

NORTHLINE COUPLING SYSTEMS

LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5529

NORTHWEST TERRITORIAL MINT . . . . 3220

NRS RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4656

NSTEC NEVADA TEST SITE . . . . . . . . . 5465

NUPLA CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . 5041

OAK POINTE MEDICAL PRODUCTS . . 5657

OCEANSIDE PROD/FIRE RESCUE

UNLIMITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1301

OCEANSIDE PROD/

FIRE RESCUE UNLIMITED . . . . . . . 13084

OCEANSIDE PROD/

FIRE RESCUE UNLIMITED . . . . . . . . 8900

OCTANE FITNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9527

ODYSSEY AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALTY . . 5139

OGURA & CO LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507

OHD - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

DYNAMICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1609

OK-1 MANUFACTURING CO. . . . . . . . . 4732

ON SCENE SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . 4629

ONE POWER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9807

ONSPOT OF NORTH AMERICA . . . . . . 9448

OSAGE AMBULANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5539

OTB BOOTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5744

PARATECH INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1413

PAUL CONWAY SHIELDS . . . . . . . . . . . 1620

PAULSON MANUFACTURING. . . . . . . . 5058

PBI PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS INC . 1115

PELICAN PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3100

PENNWELL CORPORATION . . . . . . . . 9000

PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGE CO . . . . 4821

PERFORMANCE TRAINING SYSTEMS . . 101

PETROGEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3647

PETZL AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435

PGI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1802

PHENIX TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . 3311

PHOENIX RESCUE EQUIPMENT . . . . . 4621

PHOENIX USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5645

PHOS-CHEK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3106

PHYSIO-CONTROL, INC.

(A DIVISION OF MEDTRONICS) . . . . 4850

PIERCE MANUFACTURING . . . . . . . . . 9902

PIERCE/MEDTEC/OSHKOSH . . . . . . . . 8805

PIGEON MOUNTAIN INDUSTRIES, INC . 219

PLASTISOL COMPOSITES LLC . . . . . . 5857

PLASTISOL COMPOSITES LLC . . . . . . 9607

PLYMOVENT CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3026

POK OF NORTH AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . 241

POLARTEC LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4967

POWER HAWK TECHNOLOGIES, INC . 2645

POWERARC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4614

POWERMOON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9627



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PRO POLY OF NORTH AMERICA . . . . . 2227

PROBOTICS AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5364

PROFESSIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5357

PRO-SAFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9108

PRO-TECH INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . 5571

PRO-TUFF UNIFORMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 605

PROVIDENT AGENCY INC . . . . . . . . . . 5559

PRO-VISION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8907

PYROLANCE NORTH AMERICA . . . . . . 9010

QUAKER SAFETY PRODUCTS CORP . . 601

QUEST FIRE APPAREL, INC.. . . . . . . . . . 545

QUIROGA TRUCKS, S.A. DE C.V . . . . . 9325

R & B FABRICATIONS INC . . . . . . . . . . 4147

R HEROES INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4039

R. C. TRONICS INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5758

RADIO TECH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5872

RAE SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1209

RAM MOUNTING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . 5623

RAM’D AIR GEAR DRYER LTD . . . . . . . 9917

RAVEN TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9406

REACH AND RESCUE LTD . . . . . . . . . . 9816

REALWHEELS COVER CO . . . . . . . . . . 8903

RED HEAD BRASS INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3237

REEVES EMS (DHS SYSTEMS LLC) . . . 3461

REFLEXITE AMERICAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3319

RESCOM SALES INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9309

RESCUE 1/ PL CUSTOM . . . . . . . . . . . . 4110

RESCUE 1/ PL CUSTOM . . . . . . . . . . . . 4211

RESCUE 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5671

RESCUE CADDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3165

RESCUE SOURCE/

RESCUE 3 INTERNATIONAL. . . . . . . 8904

RESCUE SYSTEMS INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 2545

RESCUE TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . 3049

RESCUE VAC SYSTEMS, INC . . . . . . . . 4439

RESQTEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3447

REYCO GRANNING SUSPENSIONS. . . 4340

RICOCHET MANUFACTURING CO

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1739

RIT BAG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

RIT RESCUE & ESCAPE SYSTEMS . . . . 425

RITE RESCUE SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . 4640

ROAD RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5753

ROBOTRONICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5648

ROBWEN INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4131

ROCK N RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3256

ROCKETFIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9849

ROCO RESCUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5639

ROLLNRACK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4839

R-O-M CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4721

ROSENBAUER AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . 14011

ROSENBAUER AMERICA . . . . . . . . . . . 4900

RP HUGHES ARCHITECTS, INC. . . . . . 4628

RUD CHAIN INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9921

S.E.INTERNATIONAL, INC. . . . . . . . . . . 5053

SAFESCENE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8914

SAFETY COMPONENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 535

SAFETY CORPORATION OF AMERICA 5738

SAFETY EFFECTS, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307

SAFETY EQUIPMENT INSTITUTE . . . . . . 338

SAFETY LAMP OF HOUSTON INC . . . . 4740

SAFETY SOLUTIONS INC. . . . . . . . . . . 4631

SAFETY VISION INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239

SAINT GOBAIN PERFORMANCE

PLASTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1324

SALAMANDER TECHNOLOGIES . . . . . 3745

SAVATECH CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3547

SCBAS, INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9904

SCOTT HEALTH SAFETY . . . . . . . . . . . 2523

SCOTTY FIREFIGHTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9312

SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS . . . . . . . 9241

SEALEGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9507

SENSIBLE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9909

SENSIT TECHNOLOGIES . . . . . . . . . . . 3559

SETCOM CORP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1540

SHAFER ENTERPRISES/COOL SHIRT . 4817

SHANGHAI ZANRAY INDUSTRIAL

CO LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233

SHELBY SPECIALTY GLOVES . . . . . . . . 638

SIGNAL VEHICLE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . 5120

SIGNS & SHAPES INT’L, INC . . . . . . . . 9935

SIGTRONICS CORPORATION . . . . . . . . 3575

SILVER TOWNE MINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1144

SIMULAIDS INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4726

SIREN OPERATING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . 5660

SKEDCO INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3456

SLIDEMASTER/INNOVATIVE

INDUSTRIES INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3158

SMART POWER SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . 5339

SMEAL FIRE APPARATUS CO. . . . . . . . 4000

SMITH & WARREN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

SMITHS DETECTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5458

SNAP-TITE HOSE /

ALL-AMERICAN HOSE . . . . . . . . . . . 5851

SOG KNIVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1111

SOUNDOFF SIGNAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4815

SOUTH PARK CORPORATION . . . . . . . 9908

SOUTHCOMBE BROTHERS LTD . . . . . 2342

SPARTAN CHASSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1806

SPIEWAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4533

SPORTSART FITNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5548

SPRUNG INSTANT STRUCTURES,

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5369

SSCOR INCORPORATED . . . . . . . . . . . 9619

STANFIELDS LTD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1142

STANG INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3931

STEDFAST, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1001

STERLING ROPE CO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 546

STREAMLIGHT? INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1545

STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES

INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1223

STRYKER EMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201

SUMMIT FIRE APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . 3010

SUPER VACUUM MFG CO . . . . . . . . . . 2435

SUPERIOR SIGNAL CO LLC . . . . . . . . . 5148

SUREFIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3317

SURREY FIRE SAFETY & COMMAND

A DIVISION OF WALKTERS GROUP

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3068

SUTPHEN CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . 14062

SUTPHEN CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . 3321

SUTPHEN CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . 3417

SVI TRUCKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2535

T.R. DESIGNS,INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4661

TACTRON INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5932

TAK-RESPONSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9000

TARGET SAFETY/PREVENTION LINK . 13120

TASK FORCE TIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3509

TEAM/HUSQV ARNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1006

TECHTRADE LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4433

TECNIQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9925

TEEX/ESTI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2001

TEIJIN ARAMID USA, INC . . . . . . . . . . . 9547

TELE-LITE INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3553

TELESTAFF BY PDSI SOFTWARE . . . . . . 547

TEMPEST TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . 3211

TEMPO GLOVE MANUFACTURING . . . 3315

TENCATE PROTECTIVE FABRIC . . . . . . 1332

TERRY FARRELL FIREFIGHTERS

FUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5870

THALES COMMUNICATIONS INC . . . . 3733

THE CAD ZONE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4738

THE COLEMAN COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . 9515

THE EMBLEM AUTHORITY . . . . . . . . . . 3246

THE FIRESTORE.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

THE GLOVE CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . 202

THE INFORCER LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5440

THOROGOOD DIVISION/

WEINBRENNER SHOE CO. . . . . . . . 1612

THUEMLING INSTRUMENT GROUP . . 3157

TIMONEY TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . 9211

TMS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES . . . . . 9817

TNT RESCUE SYSTEMS INC . . . . . . . . 5520



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TNT RESCUE SYSTEMS INC . . . . . . . . 9625

TOMAR ELECTRONICS, INC . . . . . . . . 9314

TOPPS SAFETY APPAREL, INC . . . . . . . 600

TOYNE FIRE APPARATUS . . . . . . . . . . . 3245

TRACE ANALYTICS INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 5546

TRACER LINE @ WWW.

RESCUEPRODUCTSINC.COM . . . . 13144

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY

TECHNOLOGIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9214

TRI AIR TESTING INC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2000

TRUE NORTH GEAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4833

TRUSPEC BY ATLANCO . . . . . . . . . . . . 5468

TSI INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4540

TURBODRAFT BY SCHUTTE &

KOERTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9110

TURTLE PLASTICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3474

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND

SECURITY S&T FIRST RESPONDER

TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

(R-TECH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5557

UNCOMMON USA, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 5535

UNDERWATER KINETICS . . . . . . . . . . . . 332

UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES INC 9541

UNIFIRE POWER BLOWERS INC . . . . . 4130

UNIMAC CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2401

UNITED COMMUNICATIONS CORP . . . 3421

UNITED PLASTICS FABRICATING . . . . 4716

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE . . . . . . . . . . 5633

UNLIMITED SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4344

UNRUH FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5063

UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY . . . . . . . . . . 5257

URETEK ARCHER, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4851

URBAN FIREFIGHTER MAGAZINE . . . 9000

US ALERT LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4345

US DIGITAL DESIGNS, INC. . . . . . . . . . 5732

US TANKER FIRE APPARATUS INC . . . 5528

VANNER INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3658

VAN’S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . 343

VAN’S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS . . . . . . . 9718

VENTRY SOLUTIONS INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 244

VERIDIAN LIMITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 637

VERTEX STANDARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5632

VFIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1343

VIGIL SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5551

VIKING LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT

(AMERICA) AND QUEST ENTERPRISES

INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5163

VINATRONICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 804

VISTA MANUFACTURING INC. . . . . . . . 4150

VIZCON,LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5050

WARD DIESEL FILTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2235

WARN INDUSTRIES INC . . . . . . . . . . . . 9107

WARNER BODIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4153

WATEROUS COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5956

WATEROUS COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9027

WATERWAY INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 802

WEATHERTAP.COM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3264

WEH TECHNOLOGIES INC . . . . . . . . . . 4245

WEIS FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT . . . . . 5130

WELLS CARGO INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9929

WHALING DISTRIBUTORS/

NEWPORT HARBOR FOR FDIC . . . . 8912

WHEELED COACH INDUSTRIES INC . . 5400

WHELEN ENGINEERING CO., INC.. . . . . 723

WHITES MANUFACTURING LTD . . . . . 3668

WHP TRAINING TOWERS . . . . . . . . . . . 1034

WILL-BURT COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5970

WILL-BURT COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9320

WILLIAMS FIRE & HAZARD . . . . . . . . . . 4743

WISE CO, INC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5629

WL GORE AND ASSOCIATES . . . . . . . . . 523

WORKRITE UNIFORM COMPANY . . . . . 236

XRT POWER SYSTEMS/

WESTERBEKE INDUSTRIAL . . . . . . . 8905

ZANFEL LABORATORIES INC . . . . . . . . 3651

ZIAMATIC CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . 2341

ZIMEK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1243

ZISTOS CORPORATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 607

ZODI, HAZMATSHOWER.COM . . . . . . . 3415

ZODIAC OF NORTH AMERICA . . . . . . . 3046

ZOLL TAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 731

ZONE DEFENSE LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3366

ZUMRO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2600

Company Name Booth Company Name Booth


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FEATURES ALLOWS YOU TO CONFIGURE G-XCEL™ TO YOUR EXACTING SPECIFICATIONS.

FIND THE GLOBE SOLUTION TO ALL YOUR PPE PROBLEMS AT FDIC BOOTH 2513 OR A

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____________________







REGISTRATION INFORMATION SHEET

www.fdic.com

1FDIC 2011

EVENT REGISTRATION

Attendee Name:

Phone:

Badge ID:

REGISTRATION

■ Fully complete the registration form. Incomplete

registration forms will be returned for complete

information.

■ Placement in Hands-On Training (H.O.T.) classes is not

reserved until registration form is properly completed and

payment is received.

■ Pre-registration cut-off is March 17, 2011. Attendees

must register on-site after March 17, 2011.

■ Payment for all Early Bird registrants must be received by

February 9, 2011. Registration and payment received

after February 9, 2011 is subject to full registration fees.

■ Each attendee must be individually registered. Single

registrations may not be separated or shared among

multiple attendees.

IF PAYING WITH PURCHASE ORDER (PO) - Purchase

order must have a credit card guarantee or the

registration will be forfeited. Payment must be received

by 2/9/11 in order to receive the Early Bird rate. A PO is

not considered a payment. Payments must be received

prior to the event or upon arrival to receive your badge.

H.O.T. INFORMATION

■ Register early. H.O.T. class sizes are limited.

■ H.O.T. Evolution participants must register and report to

Staging by 6:30 a.m.

■ Full-day Workshops begin promptly at 8 a.m.

■ 4-hour Evolutions & Workshops begin promptly at 8 a.m.

and 1 p.m.

■ Lunch is provided for all H.O.T. & Workshop attendees.

■ There is no refund for partial-day attendance.

—Evolution Requirements

■ Signed liability waivers are required for all Evolutions.

Visit www.fdic.com to print a liability waiver.

■ Full turnout gear and/or technical rescue gear is required

for certain Evolutions. (See “Important Notes for H.O.T.

Attendees” at www.fdic.com.)

■ SCBA will be provided when necessary.

H.O.T. REGISTRATION: STEP-BY-STEP

1. Select the H.O.T. Evolutions and/or Workshops you’d like to attend

2. Total the cost of your chosen H.O.T. classes and any additional conference options at the bottom of

Registration Page 5

March 21-26, 2011Indiana Convention Center & Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, Indiana

Registration Sponsor:


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http://www.fdic.com

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ATTENDEE INFORMATION (Enter this information as you would like it to appear on your badge)

www.fdic.com

2FDIC 2011

EVENT REGISTRATION

Attendee Name:

Phone:

Badge ID:

First Name Last Name Title

Department/Company (Maximum 30 Characters)

Address (To mail badge and conference information)

Address 2 (Suite #, etc.) Country

City State Zip

( ) ( )

Phone Fax E-mail (Confi rmations will be sent via e-mail, if a unique e-mail address is given.)

Rank/Title

(01) Chief of Depart. (07) Firefi ghter/Paramedic

(02) Staff Chief (08) Firefi ghter/EMT

(03) Other Offi cer (06) Other

(04) Firefi ghter (please specify)

(05) Training Offi cer

Job Function (Check all that apply)

(01) Management (08) Public Education

(02) Training (09) EMS

(03) Prevention (10) Haz Mat

(04) Suppression (11) Rescue

(05) Investigation (13) Wildfi re

(06) Maintenance (12) Other

(07) Communication (please specify)

Purchasing Responsibility

(04) Approve (02) Recommend

(01) Purchase (03) Specify

Are you a member of a purchasing committee?

(1) Yes (0) No

Type of Department

(01) Volunteer (04) Industrial

(02) Career (05) Military

(03) Combination (06) Other

Career/Vol (please specify)

Population Served by Department

(01) Under 2,500 (04) 25,001 – 75,000

(02) 2,501 – 10,000 (05) 75,001 – 150,000

(03) 10,001 – 25,000 (06) Over 150,000

Do you read Fire Engineering?

(01) Yes (02) No

If yes, whose copy do you read?

(01) I subscribe (02) My department’s copy

(03) I read a co-worker’s copy

How many years have you attended FDIC?

I am visiting the FDIC 2011 exhibitsto obtain information on: (Check all that apply)

(01) Ambulances

(02) Apparatus & Apparatus

Accessories

(03) Badges, Emblems

& Accessories

(04) Breathing Apparatus/Air

Systems / SCBA & Supplies

(05) Communications/Radios /

Dispatch Equipment

(06) Computer Services/Software

(07) Water, Diving & Ice Rescue

Equip. & Accessories

(08) Educational Materials /

Colleges / Training Services

& Equipment

(09) EMS Equipment & Supplies

(10) FOAM, Environmental Products,

CAF Units

(11) Fans / Portable Generators

& Accessories

(12) Hand Tools & Forcible Entry

(13) HazMat Products

(14) Incident Management /

Accountability Systems

(15) Insurance / Financial Institutions

/Consulting Services

(16) Miscellaneous/Other

(17) Monitors & Detectors

(18) Nozzles, Hoses, Reels

& Couplings

(19) Protective Clothing (PPE) /

Apparel

(20) Pumps/Gauges

(21) Rescue Tools & Equipment

(22) Ropes, Chains, Safety Belts

& Accessories

(23) Sirens, Alarms &

Signaling Devices

(24) Thermal Imaging Cameras

(25) Wildfi re Rescue Equip. &

Access.


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HANDS-ON TRAINING EVOLUTION & WORKSHOPS REGISTRATION FORM

www.fdic.com

FDIC 2011

EVENT REGISTRATION

Attendee Name:

Phone:

Badge ID:

4-Hour Evolutions: Monday, March 21, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th




Flashover





4-Hour Evolutions: Monday, March 21, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th




Flashover





4-Hour Workshops: Monday, March 21, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Basement Fires

Emergency Response to Large Events

Fireground Air Management

Fireground Tactics Take-Home Model

Offi cer Development Hands-On Skills and Drills

Pride and Ownership: The Love for the Job

Responding to Incidents Involving Hybrid and

Electric Vehicles

Right Seat Responsibilities

Roof Operations

Think Like an Incident Commander

Using Mandates to Improve Your Training Program

4-Hour Workshops: Monday, March 21, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

EMS and ICS: Where Do I Fit In?

Fireground Commander

Hybrid Safety for First Responders

Leadership Excellence

Situational Awareness

Strategy and Tactics at Commercial Fires

To Hell and Back Train the Trainer

Training Plan for Success

Training Program Management for Small Departments

Understanding Extreme Fire Behavior

Vent-Enter-Search of Today’s Fire Buildings

8-Hour Evolutions: Monday, March 21, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th






RIT Combat Drills

Structural Collapse




8-Hour Workshops: Monday, March 21, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

25 to Survive: Residential Building Fires

Art of “Reading Smoke”

Firefi ghter and Fire Offi cer Survival:

Why Things Go Right and Why Things Go Wrong

Frontline Safety

Intelligent Fire Operations


ISFSI Credentialed Live Fire Trainer – Module 1

It’s Game Day; Are You Ready?

Leadership for the First Line Supervisor

Leading Learning

Mastering Fireground Command: Calming the Chaos

Positive Pressure Attack

Rescue University 2011

Training Tricks of the Trade:

Make Every Class/Drill a Home Run

Truck Placement and Operations

MONDAY

March 21, 2011

HANDS-ON TRAINING CLASS PRICES Each 4-Hr H.O.T. Class Each 8-Hr H.O.T. Class

Evolutions $115 $210

Workshops $100 $180

PLEASE NOTE: If you select a H.O.T. Evolution in the morning, should you choose to take a course in the afternoon, it must be a H.O.T. Evolution.

PLEASE NOTE: If you select a Workshop in the morning, should you choose to take a course in the afternoon, it must be a Workshop.

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HANDS-ON TRAINING EVOLUTION & WORKSHOPS REGISTRATION FORM

www.fdic.com

FDIC 2011

EVENT REGISTRATION

Attendee Name:

Phone:

Badge ID:

4-Hour Evolutions: Tuesday, March 22, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th




Flashover





4-Hour Evolutions:Tuesday, March 22, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th




Flashover





4-Hour Workshops: Tuesday, March 22, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Building Construction Principles for Incident Commanders

Does Your Department LACK the “Right Stuff”?

Effective Time Management for the Executive Fire Offi cer

Fireground Strategies:

Control the Fireground to Control the Fire


High-Rise Operations: Is Your Department Prepared?

Mission-Focused Command

PPV in Wind-Driven Fires

Street-Smart Habits for Effective Fire Training

Tactical Considerations and Size-Up

Value-Added Leadership

4-Hour Workshops:Tuesday, March 22, 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Command Training Center Development and Management

Fire Department Cornerstone Leadership

Fireground Scenario Workshop

Hazmat: Initial Approach and Actions

High-Rise Operations

Identifying and Developing the Complete Company Offi cer

Incident Rehab

Managing a Fire

New Firefi ght: Interior Attack in Lightweight Construction

Not Everyone Goes Home

Training Offi cer and Instructor Boot Camp

Truck Company Essentials

8-Hour Evolutions: Tuesday, March 22, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th






RIT Combat Drills

Structural Collapse




8-Hour Workshops: Tuesday, March 22, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

Developing a Fire Department Training Program

Developing Leadership in Fire Offi cers

Fire Dynamics for the Fire Service

Fireground Decision Making

Fireground Tactics: House Fires and Store Fires

Growing Leaders Using Empowerment (G.L.U.E.)

IAFF Health and Safety Initiatives:

Preparing You for Survival

Improving Incident Safety Offi cer Effectiveness


Managing Rescue Operations

Obtaining Funding for Operational Needs

Professional Development and Credentialing for

Tomorrow’s Leaders

Smoke Symposium

Specifying Fire Apparatus

Station Fire: An Incident Commander’s Perspective

TUESDAY

March 22, 2011

HANDS-ON TRAINING CLASS PRICES Each 4-Hr H.O.T. Class Each 8-Hr H.O.T. Class

Evolutions $115 $210

Workshops $100 $180

PLEASE NOTE: If you select a H.O.T. Evolution in the morning, should you choose to take a course in the afternoon, it must be a H.O.T. Evolution.

PLEASE NOTE: If you select a Workshop in the morning, should you choose to take a course in the afternoon, it must be a Workshop.

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CONFERENCES & EXHIBITS

www.fdic.com

FDIC 2011

EVENT REGISTRATION

Attendee Name:

Phone:

Badge ID: 5

Hands-On Training Evolutions & Workshops are reserved when payment is received. Class sizes are limited – register early! If you are

registering for H.O.T. Evolutions or Workshops, complete the entire form on the opposite page and send with your registration.

Pricing from Registration Pages 3 & 4 should be added to any additional conference fees and totals at the bottom of this form.

PROMOTIONAL CODE:

CONFERENCE FEES (Please select only one of the following)

Fully paid Fully paid

on or before after

2/9/11 2/9/11

Hands-On Training Full Package $500* $625*

Includes general sessions, classrooms & exhibits.

Allows up to 16 hours of H.O.T. Evolutions and/or Workshops

at additional costs listed on Registration pp 3 & 4.

Two-Day Hands-On Training Only $175* $200*

Includes general sessions and exhibits.

Allows up to 16 hours of H.O.T. Evolutions and/or Workshops

at additional costs listed on Registration pp 3 & 4.

Full Conference $500 $625

Includes general sessions, classrooms & exhibits

One-Day Conference $275 $325

Includes general session, classrooms & all three days of exhibits

Wed., March 23 Thurs., March 24 OR Fri., March 25

Exhibit Package $75 $75

Includes all exhibit days, Thurs. – Sat., March 24 – 26

One-Day Exhibits Only $35 $45

Includes exhibits on selected day only.

Thurs., March 24 Fri., March 25 OR Sat., March 26

Spouse Exhibits Only $15 $15

Includes all exhibit days, Thurs. – Sat., March 24 – 26

Name for Badge:

* PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF

INDIVIDUAL H.O.T. EVOLUTIONS/WORKSHOPS.

Conference Fee $

Hands-On Training Class Price from

Registration Pages 3 & 4 $

Total Due $

PAYMENT

All reservations must be paid in full prior to conference for

admittance.

Enclosed is a check payable to Pennwell/FDIC11.

Enclosed is a signed purchase order with credit card guarantee.

Please include credit card number below.

Charge my credit card: MasterCard Visa

American Express Discover

Card number

Exp. date

Name on card

Signature

2 Ways to Register

Mail to:

PennWell/FDIC11


P.O. Box 973059, Dallas, TX 75397-3059

Fax to:

+1-888-299-8057 or +1-918-831-9161

Questions? Please call:

+1-888-299-8016 or +1-918-831-9160

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be received in writing before February 13,

2011, in order to receive a refund, minus a $100 administrative

charge. After February 13, 2011, refunds are not available.

Substitutions may be made at any time by notifying the

registration offi ce in writing.

Fire Engineering Subscription

Your registration fee includes a 1-year, $10.00 print

subscription to Fire Engineering magazine. Check here if you

DO NOT wish to receive the subscription.


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www.fdic.com

FDIC 2011

HOTEL REGISTRATION 1

Why reserve a room at an offi cial conference hotel?

Special rates have been negotiated at a number of hotels in Indianapolis to accommodate the variety of needs for all of our exhibitors and

attendees. By booking your rooms through Preferred Convention Services, the offi cial FDIC Housing Company, you are supporting the

Event and gaining access to many benefi ts, which include:

· Discounted hotel rates.

· Protection of your reservation if hotels oversell their rooms.

· Experienced reservation agents available for all of your housing needs from the time you make your reservation until the completion of

the conference.

· 24-hour on-site assistance provided during the conference.

· Shuttle service from hotels not within walking distance of the convention center.

· Assistance in setting up hospitality functions at conference hotels at contracted discounted suite rates.

DOWNTOWN HOTELS

Sgl/Dbl Sgl/Dbl2 Dist to CC Shuttle

Canterbury Hotel $203/$203 N/A 1 block No

Columbia Club $166/$176 N/A 4 blocks Yes

Comfort Suites Downtown $187/$197 N/A 2 blocks No

- 4 nt min. required

Conrad Indianapolis $309/$309 N/A 2 blocks No

Courtyard at the Capitol $175/$185 N/A 5 blocks Yes

Courtyard Indianapolis DT $194/$204 N/A 2 blocks No

Crowne Plaza Union Station SOLD OUT N/A Adjacent No

Embassy Suites Downtown $215/$226 N/A 2 blocks No

Fairfi eld Inn & Suites DT $174/$184 N/A 2 blocks No

Hampton Inn Downtown $170/$178 N/A 3 blocks No

Hilton Garden Inn $170/$188 N/A 4 blocks Yes

Hilton Indianapolis 3 blocks No

Traditional King $187/$202 N/A

Traditional Queen/Queen $187/$202 N/A

Deluxe King $187/$187 N/A

Deluxe Queen/Queen Suite $227/$242 N/A

King Suite $227/$242 N/A

State Suite - 3 nt min. req. $327/$342 N/A

Holiday Inn Express Suites $169/$169 N/A 2 blocks No

Homewood Suites by Hilton SOLD OUT N/A 4 blocks No


Hyatt Regency Indianapolis $190/$210 $297/$297 Adjacent No

Indianapolis Marriott DT SOLD OUT $299/$299 Adjacent No

JW Marriott *NEW HOTEL* $219/$229 N/A 1 block No

Omni Severin Hotel SOLD OUT SOLD OUT 1 block No

1 Bedroom Suites N/A $319/$319

Residence Inn Canal $198/$198 N/A 1 mile No


Sheraton City Centre $139/$159 N/A 4.5 blocks Yes

SpringHill Suites DT $184/$194 N/A 2 blocks No

Staybridge Suites Downtown $191/$191 N/A 3 blocks No


University Place Hotel $187/$207 N/A 10 blocks Yes


Westin Indianapolis SOLD OUT $228/$248 Adjacent No

AIRPORT AREA HOTELS

Sgl/Dbl Dist to CC

Courtyard Indianapolis Airport $142/$142 9 miles

Crowne Plaza Airport $171/$171 10 miles

Fairfi eld Inn Airport $157/$157 12 miles

Hyatt Place Airport $190/$190 9 miles

Quality Inn Airport $120/$120 10 miles

Radisson Indianapolis Airport $148/$148 10 miles

Ramada Airport Indianapolis $138/$138 7 miles

Wyndham Indianapolis West $133/$153 10 miles

All hotels listed above will have shuttle service to

and from the convention center.

DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

PCS can book a room for you at ANY hotel in

the Indianapolis area. We are here to book

what you need. Any hotel, anywhere!

Call us for more details........

Current tax rate in Indianapolis is 17%

PCS has arranged discounts with Enterprise

Rent-A-Car. Visit our website at

www.preferred1.com/reservations

for rates and availability.

It has been brought to our attention that unknown housing and travel companies have been contacting FDIC exhibitors and attendees

falsely claiming to represent FDIC as the offi cial hotel/housing company for FDIC 2011 in Indianapolis. These rogue companies (commonly

referred to as “pirates” or “housing bandits”) will charge your credit card for the full stay and hotel rooms will not be available when you

arrive in Indianapolis. Please remember, Preferrred Convention Services is the ONLY offi cial housing company for FDIC.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

FDIC 2011 c/o PREFERRED CONVENTION SERVICES

1990 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 150 * El Segundo, CA 90245

On-line: www.preferred1.com * email: [email protected] * Fax: 310.235.2648 * Toll Free: 888.472.7462 * Phone: 310.235.2647

Hotel availability is based on a fi rst

come, fi rst served basis. For up to date

availability please visit our web-site at

www.preferred1.com.


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www.fdic.com

FDIC 2011

HOTEL REGISTRATION2

2011 FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTORS CONFERENCE

Downtown Conference Hotels:

Canterbury Hotel

$203 Single; $203 Double

Elegant European-style hotel

• Convention center: 1 block

• Restaurant & Cocktail lounge

• Complimentary continental breakfast

• Parking: $25.00/valet

Columbia Club*


Historic private club/hotel

• Convention center: 4 blocks

• 2 Dining rooms, Lounge, Bar & Grill

• Indoor pool & Fitness center

• Parking: $12.00/self

Comfort Suites Downtown

(4 night minimum stay required)


Downtown all-suite hotel


• Restaurant for light meals,


• Fitness center, Indoor pool


Conrad Indianapolis


Hilton brand luxury hotel


• Restaurant & Lounge

• Complimentary high speed/wireless internet

• Spa and fi tness center

• Daily newspaper


Courtyard at the Capitol*


Non-smoking business/family hotel



• Indoor pool & Exercise room


Courtyard Indianapolis Downtown




• Restaurants nearby

• Fitness center

• Parking: $20.00/self; $25.00/valet

Crowne Plaza Union Station

$179 Single; $199Double

Historic hotel with unique rooms

• Convention center: Adjacent


• Indoor pool, Jacuzzi & Fitness center

• Parking: $25.00/valet; $20.00/self

Embassy Suites Downtown


Downtown all-suite property



• Complimentary breakfast & cocktails

• Indoor pool, Jacuzzi & Sauna


Fairfi eld Inn & Suites Downtown





• Fitness center


Hampton Inn Downtown


Downtown value priced hotel



• Wings Restaurant & Bar adjoining

• Exercise room


Hilton Garden Inn*


Downtown low-rise hotel



• Indoor pool and spa


Hilton Indianapolis

Traditional King: $187 Single; $202 Double

Traditional Q/Q: $187 Single; $202 Double

Deluxe King: $187 Single; $187 Double

Deluxe Q/Q Suite: $225 Single; $242 Double

King Suite: $227 Single; $242 Double

State Suite (3nt min): $327 Single; $342Double

Contemporary high-rise hotel


• Restaurant, Lounge & Sports bar

• Indoor pool, Whirlpool & Health club


Holiday Inn Express Suites


Modern mid-priced hotel



• Indoor heated pool & Fitness room


Homewood Suites by Hilton


$201 Single; $221Double

Downtown all-suite hotel


• Complimentary Breakfast & Lite Evening Meal

(Sunday thru Thursday)



Hyatt Regency Indianapolis


Standard Rate: $297 Single; $297 Double

Modern high-rise hotel


• 7 Restaurants & 3 Lounges

• Indoor pool, Health club & Jacuzzi


• Exhibit Halls - 566,600 square feet of contiguous space, 11 Exhibit Halls ranging from

36,300 square feet to 88,900 square feet

• Meeting Rooms – 71 totaling 113,302 square feet

• Ballrooms – 3 various sized totaling 62,173 square feet; largest is 33,335 square feel

• Docks – 48

• Hotel Rooms – physically connected via skywalks to 12 hotels – 4,700 hotel rooms

• Airport – 15-minutes drive to Indianapolis International Airport

Shuttle service to and from the convention center

provided at all hotels marked with an (*). Parking

charges at all hotels are based on 2010 rates and

are subject to change without notice.

Introducing the NEW Indianapolis Convention Center!

The expansion is anticipated to be completed by late December 2010. Once completed, the Indiana Convention Center will offer:

SOLD O

UT

SOLD O

UT


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FDIC 2011


Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

Only Standard Rate Available


Non-smoking fi rst-class hotel


• Restaurant, Lounge & Sports Bar

• Indoor pool, Jacuzzi & Fitness center


JW Marriott Downtown *NEW HOTEL*


Non-smoking fi rst-class hotel


• Tuscan Bistro, Sports Bar, Coffee Bar, 24-Hour

Room Service

• Pool, Fitness center & Day spa


Omni Severin Hotel

Only Suite Rates Available

Suite Rate: $319 Single, $319 Double

Downtown historic high-rise hotel


• Restaurant, Coffee shop & Lounge



Residence Inn Canal



Downtown extended stay hotel

• Convention center: 1 mile


• Fitness center & Indoor pool


Sheraton City Centre*


Multi-story convention hotel

• Convention center: 4.5 blocks

• Restaurant, Coffee shop & Lounge

• Outdoor rooftop pool & Exercise room


SpringHill Suites Downtown





• Fitness center


Staybridge Suites Downtown



New downtown all-suite hotel


• Complimentary hot breakfast

• Fitness center, Indoor pool


University Place Hotel*



Downtown conference center hotel


• Restaurant, Sports Bar & Food court

• Connecting sports center, Pools & Tennis


Westin Indianapolis

Only Standard Rate Available


Full-service convention hotel


• Restaurant, Bar & Lounge

• Indoor Pool, Jacuzzi & Exercise room


Courtyard Indianapolis Airport



• Convention center: 9 miles

• Restaurant

• Indoor pool, Whirlpool & Exercise room

• Parking: Complimentary

Crowne Plaza Airport



Mid-priced business hotel


• Restaurant, Cafe, Piano bar & Lounge

• Indoor pool, Exercise room & Sauna


Fairfi eld Inn Airport


Non-smoking budget hotel



• Indoor pool & Exercise room


Hyatt Place Airport


Modern fi rst class hotel



• Coffee/Wine Cafe, 24 Hour Rm Service


Quality Inn Airport


Budget/economy hotel



• Indoor pool, Whirlpool & Exercise room


Radisson Indianapolis Airport


Multi-story business hotel


• Upscale restaurant, Bar & Grill

• Indoor pool, Health club nearby


Ramada Airport Indianapolis


Budget airport property



• Exercise room


Wyndham Indianapolis West


Modern mid-range hotel


• Restaurant, Coffee shop & 2 nightclubs

• Indoor Pool, Exercise room & Track


2011 FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTRUCTORS CONFERENCE

Downtown Conference Hotels continued

Airport Area Hotels

Please Note: Shuttle service to and from the convention

center is provided for all airport area hotels listed above.

The following hotels

are NOT part of the

FDIC Conference block:

Days Inn Airport

La Quinta Inn Airport

La Quinta Inn Executive Drive

There is NO shuttle service

from these hotels


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INDIANACONVENTION

CENTER

LUCAS OILSTADIUM

CONSECOFIELDHOUSE

Victory FieldBaseball Park

EiteljorgMuseum

IndianaHistoryCenter

NCAA Headquarters& Hall of Champions

IndianaTennis Center

IUNatatorium

IU Michael A. CarrollTrack & Soccer Stadium

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Madame Walker

Theatre Center

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DOWNTOWN HOTELS

A Canterbury Hotel

B Columbia Club

C Comfort Suites Downtown

D Conrad Indianapolis

E Courtyard Capitol

F Courtyard Indianapolis Downtown

G Crowne Plaza Union Station

H Embassy Suites Downtown

J Fairfi eld Inn & Suites

K Hampton Inn Downtown

L Hilton Garden Inn

M Hilton Indianapolis Downtown

N Holiday Inn Express Suites

P Homewood Suites

Q Hyatt Regency Downtown

R Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

S JW Marriott Downtown

T Omni Severin Hotel

U Residence Inn Canal

V Sheraton City Center Hotel

W SpringHill Suites

X Staybridge Suites

Y University Place

Z Westin Hotel

AIRPORT HOTELS

1 Courtyard Marriott Airport

2 Crowne Plaza Airport

3 Fairfi eld Inn Airport

4 Hyatt Place Airport

5 Quality Inn Airport

6 Radisson Hotel Airport

7 Ramada Airport

8 Wyndham Indianapolis West

SOUTH HOTELS

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FDIC 2011

HOTEL REGISTRATION4


M SaGEF


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www.fdic.com

FDIC 2011


To make your hotel reservation, contact Preferred Convention Services (PCS), the offi cial FDIC 2011 housing company. Please do not contact

the hotels directly. Discounted rates are available only through our offi ce. Suites and hospitality space are also available at discounted rates

when booked through PCS. Conference rates are not guaranteed after February 22, 2011.

Name

Company

Address

City State Zip

Phone Fax

Email

Please list 6 hotel choices in order of preference. Your hotel will be

confi rmed based on availability.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Only 1 room per form. If multiple rooms are required, please make

copies of this form. Room type and special requests are based on

availability at the time of check-in.

ROOM TYPE DESCRIPTIONS

S= Single (1 person/1bed) D = Double (2 people/1 bed)

D/D = Double/Double (2 people/2 beds) H = Hospitality Suite

Room Type

Arrival Date Departure Date

Guest Name

Sharing With

Special Requests:

Non-Smoking Low Floor Early Arrival

Smoking High Floor Late Departure

Other:

Reservations will be guaranteed with the credit card information

provided. Advanced deposits are not required.

Credit Card Type: AMEX Visa MasterCard Discover

Credit Card #: Exp:

Cardholder:

Signature:

Cancellation Information: The credit card provided will be charged 1

nights room and tax if the reservation is cancelled 7 days or less from

the arrival date. In addition, a $40 processing fee will be assessed by

PCS for all reservations cancelled on or after February 4, 2011.

Phone: 888.472.7462 or 310.235.2647

Fax: 310.235.2648


Web: www.preferred1.com/reservations

Mail: FDIC 2011

1990 East Grand Avenue, Suite 150

El Segundo, CA 90245

DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?

PCS can book a room for you an ANY hotel in the

Indianapolis area. We are here to book

what you need. Any hotel, anywhere!

Call us for more details....

HOUSING REQUEST FORM

CONTACT INFORMATION

GUEST INFORMATION

HOTEL CHOICES

GUARANTEE INFORMATION

5 WAYS TO RESERVE


M SaGEF


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http://www.fdic.com

http://www.preferred1.com/reservations





www.fdic.com88

SHUTTLE SCHEDULE

Route “1” Route “2” Route “4”

(Airport-West) (Airport-East) (Downtown)

Wyndham Hotel Fairfi eld Inn Columbia Club

Courtyard Marriott Hyatt Place Courtyard/Residence Capital

Crowne Plaza Quality Inn Hilton Garden

Radisson Hotel Ramada University Place

Sheraton City Ctr

Monday, March 21

5:00a – 8:30a Every 30 minutes Every 30 minutes Every 15 minutes

8:30a – 4:00p Every 60 Minutes Every 60 Minutes Every 30 minutes

4:00p – 7:00p Every 30 minutes Every 30 Minutes Every 15 Minutes

Tuesday, March 22



4:00p – 7:00p Every 30 minutes Every 30 Minutes Every 15 minutes

Wednesday, March 23




7:00p – 10:00p Every 60 minutes Every 60 Minutes No Service

Thursday, March 24





Friday, March 25





Saturday, March 26





M SaGEF


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��

Want Heavy Duty?

Then Get Heavy Duty

Visit us at Booth 1837Indianapolis, INMarch 24-26, 2011


M SaGEF


M SaGEF

______________________

http://www.ferrarafire.com






Indianapolis, IN ■ www.fdic.com

Three Ways To Register Today

Mail to: PennWell/FDIC11


P.O. Box 973059, Dallas, TX 75397-3059

Fax to: +1-888-299-8057 or +1-918-831-9161


Questions? Please call: +1-888-299-8016 or +1-918-831-9160


M SaGEF


M SaGEF

http://www.fdic.com

http://www.fdic.com





fre_20101201_dec_2010

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