Engine Company Tips and Tactics

Firefighter Jeff Shupe, Cleveland (OH) Fire Department

A means of reviewing the basics or developing a new insight, this class focuses on guiding fire departments of all sizes in areas such as organizing for fire attack. Topics covered include the engine company’s missions, eight basic operations, fire attack efficiency, and possible fire problems.

Leading with Attitude

Division Chief Eddie Buchanan, Hanover (VA) Fire & EMS

It’s easy to complain about the job, but what can you really do about it? What can you do about others who don’t love it as you do? This presentation offers a rankless “gut check” into how each of us contributes to the success of the fire service. Concepts such as loyalty alignment, followership, and attitude are explored in detail; tangible techniques for facilitating change are.

Search Operations for Today’s Fireground

Fire Engineer Jeff Seaton, San Jose (CA) Fire Department

The objective is to provide relevant, applicable, and appropriate training that matches traditional safety practices and the technology with which firefighters are equipped. Emphasis is on acquiring the ability to ensure safe, effective, and coordinated search operations.

Tactical Decision Making

Battalion Chief Steve Chikerotis, Chicago (IL) Fire Department

Examine case studies and lessons learned from the chief’s personal experiences in almost 30 years of crawling down hallways on the Chicago Fire Department. Each incident is brought to life through exciting pictures and video. Each story reinforces a powerful lesson learned, including risk management, reading smoke, building construction and collapse, fireground tactics, flashover, communications and accountability, commanding the Mayday, and RIT rescue. This class is geared to the seasoned veteran as well as the new recruit. The goal is to prevent firefighter deaths through safer and more effective fireground tactics.

The Company Officers Role in Safety and Survial

Forest Reeder, Battalion Chief/Director of Training & Safety, Pleasantview (IL) Fire Protection District

This workshop will take a look at some of the most hazardous areas of fireground operations and identify what the company officer should be looking for to keep their crews safe.  Participants will also be encouraged to rethink some typical tactical assignments when presented with hazardous fire and building conditions.  You will be challenged to identify what the officer should be looking for and monitoring during operations. This program supports the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives by advocating better risk management and empowering the fire service membership to stop repeating history.

Wood-Frame Construction, Principles, and Hazards

Paul T. Dansbach, Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Safety, Rutherford, NJ

The focus is on safe fire operations in all wood-frame structures. Methods of construction and potential for fire spread and collapse of the four types of wood-frame construction are discussed. Case studies are used to demonstrate collapse potential. Also, a look at occupancy types where wood-frame construction is commonly found and ways to identify the type of wood-frame construction in existing structures.