February 4, 2009

Truck Company Operations: A Hundred Things To Do

Lieutenant Michael Ciampo, Fire Department of New York

On every fireground there are always numerous truck company tasks that must be accomplished. Often, because of limited staffing and resources, the truck company firefighter must adapt and overcome to handle many of the situations that arise. Many of us call them “Tricks of the Trade,” but are they really just “tricks”? Learn street-smart truck company skills, tactics, and tips to help you perform your job more safely and effectively. 

Michael Ciampo is a 22-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Portable Ladder H.O.T. program and a member of the Fire Engineering editorial advisory board. He is featured in “Training Minutes” on truck company operations on www.fireengineering.com.

ICS 100, 200, 300, 400...Now What?

Lieutenant James Murphy (Ret.), Orange County (FL) Fire Rescue

Using firefighting simulations is an effective way to maximize and reinforce Incident Command System (ICS) training, an ideal training model from which to bring your “A” game to the job. By adding high-fidelity simulations to our training tool kit, we gain an instructional medium and an evaluation tool with a proven track record of success in validating competencies set forth by federal, state, and local governments.

James Murphy, a retired lieutenand and 32-year veteran of Orange County (FL) Fire Rescue, co-founded and led training at the department's Incident Command & Tactics Training Center.  He co-developed a credentialing program by blending high-fidelity computer simulation with traditional knowledge assessment.

Aerial and Tower Ladder Operations

Lieutenant Mike Wilbur, Fire Department of New York

Learn the proper placement and operation of aerial devices. Topics include the characteristics and operating features of rear mounts, tractor-drawn aerials, platforms, and quint apparatus. Special emphasis is on truck company placement for various types of occupancies, rescue and life safety strategies, and tactical work of quint apparatus. Gain a new appreciation for the aerial devices you operate. Aerial operators will learn to maximize the use of these very expensive yet under used and misunderstood pieces of apparatus. With this greater understanding of aerial devices and their uses, fireground operations will be enhanced and fire scene safety will increase.

Mike Wilbur has been a volunteer firefighter for more than 34 years and a career firefighter with the Fire Department of New York for 27 years; he is a lieutenant in Ladder Company 27. Previously, he was a member of Ladder Company 56 for 15 years, serving eight years as an apparatus operator. He also served on the department’s apparatus purchasing committee and has given state certification to the FDNY chauffeurs school. He was a member of the IFSTA validation committees for the Apparatus Operator and Aerial Operator manuals and on the United States Fire Administration committees on Safe Operation of Fire Tankers and Emergency Vehicle Safety Initiative.

February 5, 2009

MRSA: Super Bugs in the Firehouse

Mike McEvoy, EMS coordinator for Saratoga County, New York

The superbug methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has closed schools, firehouses, and training academies. Community-acquired MRSA is more powerful and destructive than hospital-acquired strains and poses a major threat to firefighters. Learn how MRSA spreads, why your fire house is an ideal environment for MRSA, and what you can do to reduce your risks of infection. This presentation will give you the tools to protect yourself, your brother and sister firefighters, your family, and your community.

Mike McEvoy, Ph.D., RN, CCRN, REMT-P is the EMS coordinator for Saratoga County, New York. A former forensic psychologist, he now works in the Cardiac Surgical ICU at Albany Medical Center and teaches at Albany Medical College in NY.  He is a paramedic for Clifton Park-Halfmoon Ambulance Corps and medical advisor for West Crescent Fire Department.  He presently serves as a member of the New York State EMS Council and the State Emergency Medical Advisory Council and is the EMS Director on the Board of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs.

High-rise Firefighting Operations

District Chief Dave McGrail, Denver (CO) Fire Department

The focus is on the engine company component of standpipe operations. Addressed are areas of concern, including the basic component of standpipe systems; standpipe water supply; and fire attack operations off a standpipe. A review of pressure-regulating devices and information regarding flow tests of various types of weapons used for standpipe operations are presented.

David McGrail, a 23-year fire service veteran, is a district chief with the Denver (CO) Fire Department.  He developed and implemented a new high-rise firefighting equipment package for the department and associated high-rise operations training. He has two associate of applied science degrees in fire science technology from Red Rocks Community College and two bachelor of science degrees, one in human resource management and the other in fire science administration, from Metropolitan State College of Denver. He is a member of the FDIC and FDIC West Educational Advisory Boards.

Five Alarm Leadership

Rick Lasky & John Salka

What are the issues and responsibilities officers handle every day? We all spend much more time managing firehouse issues and dealing with our firefighters than we do fighting fires. Shouldn’t we spend some time preparing for these tasks so our fire station environment is as successful as our fireground operations? Topics include your firefighters’ first day, the company officer’s role, your company officer’s first day, the chief’s role, roll call, setting up and planning your day, riding/tool assignments, company training and drills, communication, performance evaluations and awards, values-vision-mission, uniforms, and disciplinary issues.

Rick Lasky, a 27-year veteran of the fire service, is chief of the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department. He began his career as a firefighter in the suburbs on the southwest side of Chicago; while in Illinois, he received the 1996 International Society of Fire Service Instructors "Innovator of the Year" award for his part in developing the "Saving Our Own" program. He served as the co-lead instructor for the H.O.T. Firefighter Survival program at FDIC for more than 10 years. He is an editorial advisory board member of Fire Engineering and also serves on the FDIC advisory board. He contributes to Fire Engineering’s monthly Roundtable, is the author of Pride and Ownership—A Firefighter's Love of the Job (Fire Engineering, 2006) and the leadership series featured in Fire Engineering. He also has a weekly radio show on www.fireengineering.com.

John Salka, a 28-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York, is the commander of the 18th Battalion. He teaches and instructs in the FDNY training academy and at fire service conferences. He is the author of First In, Last Out—Leadership Lessons From The New York Fire Department and lectures and conducts workshops on leadership for the fire service and for corporate audiences. He has instructed at the FDNY fire academy in several capacities, including as its probationary firefighter's school, firefighter's professional development program, the captain's development program and the battalion chief’s command course. He received the Fire Engineering Training Achievement Award for his "Get Out Alive" firefighter survival program at FDIC 2001.