FOOD FOR THOUGHT
TRICKS of the TRADE
And
THOUGHTS
TO PONDER
The following links and articles are informative, entertaining, and thought provoking.
Special Thanks to Chris Walker for sharing this great link!
This video is worth passing on- be patient with the video quality,
it pays off in the end. Size up doesn't end with your initial radio report,
size it up until your back on the truck headed home.
The best way to honor sacrifice is by gaining wisdom:
Chief Wilkins:
Please forward this message to other chiefs in our region. Thank you.
Last July, all three shifts of the Defiance Fire and Rescue Division sat at the
kitchen table in our Central Fire Station and reviewed the Colerain Township
Department of Fire and EMS preliminary report on the April 4, 2008 line-of-duty
deaths of Capt. Robin Broxterman and Firefighter Brian Schira. One aspect of
fireground safety reinforced in the report is the importance of a 360-degree
sizeup to assess the layout of a burning building and fire conditions before
entering the structure. A few days after our kitchen table discussions, all
three shifts conducted extensive practical training at a house under
construction with a walkout basement -- similar to the structure in which Capt.
Broxterman and Firefighter Schira lost their lives. With crews limited in size
to replicate our typical initial fireground staffing (four or five personnel),
we worked on finding the most efficient and expedient means to simultaneously
place apparatus, establish water supply, pull hand lines, deploy forcible entry
tools and a thermal imaging camera, and complete a 360-degree sizeup before
making entry.
Last Sunday (February 8), just after midnight, an initial crew of four Defiance
firefighters arrived at a house fire with heavy smoke showing, but no flames
visible from the street. From the street, the house appeared to be a one and a
half story structure. However, the house actually had three levels -- with two
levels above grade in the front and a walkout basement from the rear. The
structure was lightweight construction. While en route, the officer on the
initial crew -- Lt. Steve Johnson -- did not hear radio traffic from a police
officer already on scene who stated fire was showing from the rear. The crew
was aware that dispatch had been advised the occupants of the home were out of
town.
Had it not been for our training brought on by the Colerain Township
preliminary LODD report, it is quite probable that Lt. Johnson and Firefighter
Tim Moog would have made entry through the front door to search for the fire
without a 360-degree sizeup. Instead -- as Firefighter Moog pulled a preconnect
to the front door, engine driver Chad Brown charged the line and Firefighter
Joe Koelsch connected a supply line to a hydrant -- Lt. Johnson conducted a
360-degree sizeup and observed that the walkout basement was fully involved in
fire with extension to the main floor. Lt. Johnson directed Firefighter Moog to
reposition the line from the front door to the rear, and they initiated a
defensive attack. Less than three minutes later, the main floor collapsed into
the basement. Had Lt. Johnson and Firefighter Moog made entry through the front
door, we are almost certain they would have fallen into the fully-involved basement.
The likelihood of survival would have been slim.
We have two firefighters who are unscathed today in part because Colerain
Township Fire and EMS placed their LODD report on the Internet in the hopes
that the rest of the fire service could learn from their tragedy. We are
grateful for their candor and determination to not allow the lives of Capt.
Broxterman and Firefighter Schira to be lost in vain.
Mark Marentette
Fire Chief
City of Defiance
Because the fire is out,
doesn't mean it's safe....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wfpRO9bTfo
Alcohol
Resistant Foams NEEDED FOR E85 and E95 Fires
The following link shows some GREAT short video presentations of FOAM Applications, Reactions, and a general knowledge of Ethanol Fires. Stressing the simple FACT the AFFF is not adequate for fuel fire involving E85 and E95 in cars today!
Thanks to Steve for sharing this information and Chris for passing it along!!!
http://www.fsi.uiuc.edu/content/virtual%20campus/quickHitMedia/ethanol/
Chris I found this video on the effect afff has on e85 and e95 fires see if
you think it is worth passing on to your e-mail list.
Steve Herman
Great video for this time of year from Dave Statter and Billy G.
Awareness level rescuers and responders are responsible for
securing the scene for/from both other would be rescuers and civilians (See NFPA
1670, 6.2.2 (4)Standard).
The best part of the video is her extreme gratitude to
rescuers at the end- demanding where the dogs leash is.
(Remember your dog biscuits!)
http://www.wusa9.com/news/columnist/blogs/2008/12/must-see-tv-man-and-his-dog-along-with.html
Guys-
Please take 5 minutes and visit this link and PLEASE discuss as a group.
Take a look at the pictures and time frame.
In a matter of 24 seconds conditions went from nothing to FLASHOVER almost
killing a firefighter
http://cms.princegeorgescountymd.gov/FireEMSNews/default.aspx?itemid=845
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!
MABAS1.jpgBrian P. Kazmierzak, EFO
Clay Fire Territory
Division Chief of Training & Safety
MABAS Div. 201 Tactical Rescue - Task Force Leader
18355 Auten Rd.
South Bend, IN 46637
(574) 272-2144 (W)
(574) 532-0462 (C)
www.clayfd.com
"Shame
on the fire officer that surrenders their Fire Station Leadership to
a recliner and the television" Mark Emery
All,
Thanks to Dave Stater for the following.
Capt. Dave
firegeezer on 10 Nov 2008 @ 11:24 ET
Area Of Origin Tip
WITH NEW ADVANCES AND TECHNOLOGY come new problems for fire and rescue people. We all remember the crash-course (sorry for the pun) training on the new automobile bumper shock absorbers and their propensity to hurl deadly debris into the nearest firefighter.
These sorts of discoveries are always a surprise because nobody who makes these things ever thinks about letting us know first. We have to find out about it ourselves and then spread the word. Such is the case with these new, screwy light bulbs that are showing up in homes all over the country.
One of our readers from Local-3272 passed along to us a training memo from his department that we all can file away into the cranial databank for future “smell of smoke” calls. This bulletin tells us:
On June 18, 2008, BC602 ran a house fire where the occupant reported a haze of smoke in the structure. The first Engine reported an electrical odor at the top of the basement steps that had the distinct odor of light ballast. Initial investigation both visually and with a Thermal Image Camera revealed no unusual hazards. The house contained no “traditional” fluorescent light fixtures. The occupant informed us that they had installed CFL bulbs in numerous fixtures and lamps throughout the house.
We began the process of checking each bulb and found one in a ceiling fixture that had a ballast failure much like we are accustomed to finding in traditional overhead tube lighting fixtures in commercial buildings.
A CFL bulb contains a ballast at the base of the unit between the spiral tube and (Edison) screw. This ballast, encased in a plastic shell, may or may not have visible vent holes or slots.
The ballast contains a Voltage Dependent Resister that, when failure occurs, opens like a fuse to protect the device and associated electrical equipment. The resultant heat and smoke should escape from the vents in the housing. Light smoke may be visible and one will smell that distinct electrical ballast odor. As in the case the other night, there were visible smoke marks and a small, brown oily/gooey residue at the vent holes. These signs were not visible with the bulb in its socket.
Since more CFL bulbs are finding their way into the home, don’t overlook these items when investigating a smoke odor.
Thanks to the FF’s from Bloomington for sharing with us.
Update:
Dave Statter (STATter911)
sent us this photo of one of these lightbulbs that had a similar problem.
It was brought in by one of the photographers at Channel 9 from his house and
you can see that in this instance the discoloration and charring is visible on
the outside.
How many zeros
in a billion?
This is too true to be funny.
The next time you hear a politician use the
word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about
whether you want the 'politicians' spending
YOUR tax money.
A billion is a difficult number to comprehend,
but one advertising agency did a good job of
putting that figure into some perspective in
one of it's releases.
A.
A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B.
A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C.
A billion hours ago our ancestors were
living in the Stone Age.
D.
A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E.
A billion dollars ago was only
8 hours and 20
minutes,
at the rate our government
is spending it.
While this thought is still fresh in our brain...
let's take a look at New Orleans ..
It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division.
Louisiana Senator,
Mary Landrieu (D)
is presently asking Congress
for
250 BILLION DOLLARS
to rebuild New Orleans . Interesting number...
what does it mean?
A.
Well... if you are one of the 484,674 residents of New Orleans
(every man, woman, and child)
you each
get $516,528.
B.
Or... if you have one of the 188,251 homes in
New Orleans , your home gets $1,329,787.
C.
Or... if you are a family of four...
your family gets
$2,066,012.
Washington, D.
C
HELLO!
Are all your calculators broken??
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax (Fed)
Federal
Unemployment Tax (FU TA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Tax
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service charge taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax (Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Tax
Vehicle License Registration T ax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
(And to think, we
left British Rule to avoid so many taxes)
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago...
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.
We had absolutely no national debt...
We had the largest middle class in the world...
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
WTF happened?
Can you spell 'politicians!'
And I still have to
press '1'
for English.
I hope this goes around the
U S A
at least 100 times
WTF happened?????
Special Thanks to Chris Walker for sharing these videos that were sent to him!
Here's a
couple videos that you may want to pass along. The St. Louis fire truck
collision occurred just recently. Luckily only minor injuries.
St. Louis
FD wreck.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=06b_1224370568
Houston
rescue.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=664_1218107578
VIDEO
PROPAIN TRUCK EXPLODES!
All,
Thanks to Nate DeMarse for sending this link to the Group. It is a
textbook illustration of a step-by step attack in the Hell's Kitchen area of
the Big Apple. Some questions and answers follow.
Capt. Dave
Here
is a great video that Erich Roden recently posted on http://thehousewatch.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5sVVyEOvYU
http://www.nycfire.net/node/654. AUDIO to go with
the video!
I
recommend stopping the audio until the video reaches about 55 seconds. It
appears that if you do that, the audio will be somewhat synched with the
arrival and other actions in the video.
Nate
A
great video for fire behavior and the importance of taking time to make time
when dealing with stretching a line and getting it into operation. The
camera is rolling well before the engine arrives on the fireground to well
after knockdown. Good video!
Nate
GREAT PSA!!!!!!
All,
Take
a look at the video produced by the Phoenix Fire Department following a
commercial building fire, that reinforces the concepts of (1) not entering a
bow string truss building when the truss is involved in fire, and (2) no
building is worth the life of a firefighter.
This
will make the start of a great day drill.
Capt.
Dave
http://flashovertv.firerescue1.com/player.swf?key=147E014FEBEBF0F7
A GREAT SCBA DRILL!!!!!!
This is a good, easy to do SCBA confidence drill (video link)
from Chad Bauer.
We've tried this before and it can be a great
public relations opportunity as well- take some stickers and Fire Safety coloring
books with you.
Early in the morning is a great time to do it- its still cool
outside and most kids aren't at the playground yet.
Check it out now at:
http://www.firefighternation.com/video/video/show?id=889755%3AVideo%3A789513
This is awesome to watch.
This is truly amazing. I
often wonder why air traffic control did not scramble some fighter jets when
they saw all of these planes veering off their flight plan at the same time;
9-11 FLIGHT PATHS
I have never seen this
before. The two jets that hit the World Trade Center
actually crossed paths enroute.
Click on the arrows in the right
column to the left of each flight.. The one
that shows them all in action is most interesting. It reveals how well the
plan had been developed, barring departure delays. I wonder if the original
plan was to have them all strike their targets at the same time?
And they did it all
with U.S. aircraft, U.S. flight schools, and a few box
cutters
click below
http://www.kerman94.com/911-Flights.HTM
SPECIAL FYI FROM THE MICHIANA FOOLS
SPECIAL FDIC AFTER SHOW VIDEO EDITION
FROM
MY FRIEND NATE DEMARSE AT FDNY
FDIC 2008 is over and I am back at home catching up on
the week's worth of work that has piled up. Here are a few points of
interest that you may be interested in reference FDIC:
All of the speeches and H.O.T. class teasers are located
here: http://fdic08.events.pennnet.com/fl//videos/index.cfm
A few of the better highlights are listed below:
This first link is Bobby Halton's speech at the opening
ceremonies on Wednesday: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1269587271/bclid1493222070/bctid1497023349
This is probably the best motivational and moving speech
that I've had the pleasure of sitting through. He is a great speaker, and
if you have time to listen to the whole thing please do. You certainly
will not be upset. If you don't have time to sit through the entire
thing, YOU MUST START listening at the 15 minute mark until the end! You
will not believe the ending. **Compare the hose bed from Day #1 to the
link below on Day #2. After the opening ceremonies, I re-packed the bed
so it looked professional. Andy Fredericks nearly rolled over in his
grave!! The best conference in the world can't have a messy hose bed.**
This second link is Bobby's speech on Day 2:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1269587271/bclid1493222070/bctid1498586762
Another outstanding speech.
Maybe someday I'll be about 1/3 of the speaker that he is, and I'm not just saying
that because he's my boss and a member of the group! lol :-).
Additionally for anyone who cares, I am introduced as the "brand new Photo
Editor" at around the 04:50 mark on this clip. If you have time
listen to the keynote speeches on both days also. Several tremendous
speakers and motivators.
There are several H.O.T. videos that Bobby has
shot. They are on the Fire Engineering Training Community site (I am not
sure if you have to be a member to view them):
#1: http://community.fireengineering.com/video/video/show?id=1219672%3AVideo%3A27560
#2: http://community.fireengineering.com/video/video/show?id=1219672%3AVideo%3A27555
#3: http://community.fireengineering.com/video/video/show?id=1219672%3AVideo%3A27550
(pretty funny clip, I make a brief
appearance at the end)
#4: http://community.fireengineering.com/video/video/show?id=1219672%3AVideo%3A27543
There will be more videos forthcoming. The video
guys took a tremendous amount of stuff and I am sure it will come out great
when it is edited and posted.
Speaking of the Fire Engineering Training
Community. If you haven't signed up, head over and sign up. It is
located at http://community.fireengineering.com
. I have a group called the "Fire Photographers of the Fire
Engineering Magazine/Training Network" that the photographers can join to
share tips, tricks or ask questions. The site has nearly 1200 members
right now and growing every day. The only request is that you sign up
using your first and last name. No nicknames or initials are
allowed. Even for the more senior guys in the group, the learning curve
is not that bad. There are quite a few senior guys there already and
everyone is catching on quick! Head over to sign up, there is a lot of
great discussion and sharing going on.
Well, I think that brings us up to speed. Have a
safe one, and I'll see you guys around. It was nice to see everyone (that
I was able to see) this week and I am sorry if I missed you if I didn't see
you.
Stay safe,
Nate DeMarse
Brian Kazmierzak
Michiana FOOLS
Good video from Kim May:
Chris,
This is a pretty good video on Ethanol fires, it's about 20 minutes in
length, shows the testing and the science behind the make up and interaction
of the various types of foams on the market with an Ethanol product fire.
Kim
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6670886108506696117&hl=en
Watch this for extinguishing Ethanol E95, E85 and gasohol fires.
CLOSE CALL CAUGHT ON HELMIT-CAM
Check
this out.
TOTALLY
COOL!
Subject: World map.
This is an interesting site!!
VERY INTERESTING! When you click on the
website link below, a world map comes up
showing what strange and dangerous things are happening right now in every
country in the entire world. It is updated every five minutes. You
can m ove the map around, zero in on any one area and actually up-load the
story of what is going on. It is amazing when you can see the things that are
happening right here in the U.S., sometimes right in your own state or even
your city on the Global Incident Map:
There
is a lot happening in our world every minute. This "map"
updates every 310 seconds...constantly 24/7.
http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php
JUST A GREAT PSA
The best fire video I've ever seen- for many reasons!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqIE5lnsGrw
Chris Walker
District 3 Training Coordinator
www.district3firetraining.com
260-348-1287
USE EXTREAM
CAUTION!
Posted Below the
Food for thought Link is a PDF document with photos of the new style (so called
green) Light Bulbs manufactured by “Pur-Lite” 15 watt CFLs.
The light bulbs
were purchased in Canada.
There is little
information about these style of light bulbs other than the claim of using less
energy and being (greener) than the traditional style bulb.
We are unsure if
this was exclusive to only “Pur-Lite” or if other brands and manufactures are
affected.
The pictures and
complaints speak for themselves!
Please use caution
with these style light bulbs.
AN OUTSTANDING TRIBUTE!
Please forward this info to your e-mail list and friends. You Tube
video link of Michael Israel below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZFkZiwMLZ4
For people that don’t have time to regularly check websites for
updated information, I have found this free service that monitors them for you
and will send you emails when the page(s) have changed. The website is www.watchthatpage.com You might
check it out for your own personal use if you have a lot of sites you need to
check routinely.
Thanks,
Greg Van Hook
Hi
Everybody,
Here is a link great training video on the "Punch Technique" that is
a must see for all your firefighters.
http://www.fireengineering.com/videos/index.html
Have a great day and stay safe,
Bob
SPECIAL THANKS TO CHIEF BILLY GOLDFEDER and the SECRET LIST
IMPORTANT VIDEO: In an excellent program, in the spirit of Never
Forgetting...here are 2 videos (Part 1 and 2) about how FDNY Engine 6 was
chosen for a 9/11 exhibit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
We will post updates on the above CLOSE CALLS on our home page.
Take Care-BE CAREFUL.
BillyG
The Secret List 1-3-07 / 1229 hours
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com
Subject:
Large Train Wreck with extrication
This is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen and/or photographed.
It is also one of the most difficult. It was cold, rainy, and almost
black-out conditions.
The nighttime shots in this sequence are a little deceiving - appearing to have
more light than was actually present.
As many of you know, I don't use flash photography and this is one of the times
where it would have been totally useless anyway do to the rain.
To give you an idea, some of these photos required ten to fifteen seconds of
exposure time to get enough light to capture what was going on.
Very very hard to keep still, even with a tripod.
I have seen a lot of extrications over the years and Wayne Township was nothing
short of impressive, involving tremendous amounts of man-power given the
amazingly difficult conditions involved.
A once-in-a-lifetime thing to capture and document..
Tod Parker
PhotoTac.com
1-6-08
200 S. Girls School Rd
Indianapolis, IN
Wayne FD, IFD, Pike FD
Large Train Wreck
w/extrication
Full extrication from locomotive - 35 cars derailed.
Two trains collided causing both trains to derail after two box
cars unexpectedly released.
Two CSX employees, including a conductor went to Methodist Hospital in
serious condition.
Thousands of gallons of diesel fuel spilled near the scene of
the collision.
The trains also carried soybean oil and a hazardous material called Styrene.
Remember
to click "refresh" or "reload" if above incident is not
listed at link below.
http://www.phototac.com/incidents.htm
All,
Thanks to Steve Redick for sending to the Group this video
link to a fire in the Bronx.
It tends to reinforce a couple of items. Ladder rescues are
rarely pretty and take a lot of time and staffing. Note that when the
interior crew reached the window, they helped the gentlemen on to the ladder
and removed the second victim via the interior stairs. The successful outcome
of this fire was that there was no delay in getting water on the fire and
the aggressive interior operations by the members.
Capt. Dave
this is really something to see.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugot3sLPTKU
Some comments follow. Thanks to Nate DeMarse for
filling us in on the tactical aspects of operating against Child Bars and
Security doors.
This was a fire at the change of tours about a month or
two ago. Not that you can tell but a few group members (Kevin LeGacy,
Jimmy Skelly and myself) make a brief appearance out of the door (near the butt
of the ladder) as the man Is stepping off. Right after that, we were sent
to the floor above to search.
Ladder 54's Chauffeur and OV did a great job getting a ladder
to the rear and the inside team a great job locating the victims and assisting
one out of the window from the inside. The other was brought down via the
interior stairs. E-96 made a very aggressive push on the fire and the
fire was darkened down by the time the first victim stepped foot on the
ground. There was no stand-pipe in this building so the brothers had to
stretch to the third floor.
The older fellow confessed at the scene to setting the
bedroom on fire in an attempt to kill his wife.
Gotta love the natives getting restless in the
background! Excellent video shot by Gary Marks, a free-lance news
videographer.
Nate DeMarse
WORKING STRUCTURE FIRE with
GREAT FOOTAGE!
Special Thanks to Chris Walker for forwarding the Info and Link!
Best fire video I've seen in a while. Watch at least parts #1 and
#2 to see a firefighter "rescue" from the roof of exposure 2.1.
The scary thing is-the buildings involved could be on any
"Main Street" in Indiana.
How would YOU call three-alarms and once those people are
tired and cold-where would you get their replacements?
All,
Thanks to Steve Redick for sending this link to a great video of
the Boston jakes going to work on a multiple building fire.
Capt. Dave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmPocDQwzuU
MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY!
The
following web link features Audio and Video footage of a recent Houston Fire
Department MAYDAY incident.
The Audio is
Graphic and has been added to the available video clips.
All,
Thanks to Steve Redick for sending this link to some amazing video and a discussion on the Mayday incident that happened recently in Houston.
http://www.firecamera.com/index.cfm?Section=4&pagenum=216&titles=0
IT'S ONLY A CAR
FIRE??
DONT
BE.......
DUMB
CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR
AN EXCELLENT PPT FROM
THE NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y.
FIRE SERVICE ACADEMY
http://www.pjnyfd.com/VEHICLE_FIRES.pdf
FOR ALL THE LEATHER HEADS!
Link is to "How it is made" in the old days when
the helmets were Leather.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btv8Kpg24pw
All,
Thanks to Steve Redick for sending the link to the LA County strip store
fire. Following are more comments from Nate's group including an excellent
description of FDNY operations at this type of occupancy (taxpayer).
Capt. Dave
This link is to an interesting commercial fire in LA county...a row of
stores....It would be interesting to compare FDNY SOP for this kinda
job to the LAco SOP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d67UduYB_pM
