THE IRONS
Let`s try an experiment. Put a firefighter in a round room that has no doors or windows. He can`t reach the ceiling, and the floor is rock solid. The task for the firefighter is to escape from the room.
FE Volume 151 Issue 5
The Latest
SAVING OUR OWN: DESIGNING A FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL TRAINING AID
The need to train our firefighters to survive on the fireground will always rank at the top of our training priorities list. However, the realism of the fireground emergency ("Maydays," firefighters lost or trapped, and so on) will always be difficult to recreate in a drill scenario. Without an instructor`s ability to set the "mood" for the drill, it becomes just another obstacle course.
FIRE GELtm
Chemdal Corporation: Works with water to douse flames, prevent rekindling, and stop Class A fires from spreading. Special polymer when mixed with water decreases temperature in fire area, allowing firefighters to move in and extinguish flames. Takes direct fire impingement, and acts as a barrier to oncoming fire when applied to surfaces such as residential/commercial buildings; foliage; and gasoline, oil, and propane tanks. Works with standard firefighting equipment and all water types. (800) CH
Washington, D.C. firefighters receive retroactive salary increase
A 9.5 percent pay raise for uniformed District of Columbia firefighters was approved in the Fiscal Year 1998 District of Columbia Appropriation passed by Congress on November 19, 1997. The raise was contingent on the D.C. Fire Department`s realizing $2.3 million in savings initiatives, which were matched with $2.6 million in federal funds from the D.C. appropriations bill, according to the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI). The pay raise had to be approved by the D.C. City Council and
More FE Volume 151 Issue 5
CREATING A COMMAND CULTURE BASED ON TRUST: LESSONS LEARNED AT MANN GULCH BY MICHAEL F. STALEY
We simply have not been able to figure out how to get firefighters to override their own sensibilities, contradict their survival instincts, and obey orders without question when they believe the orders are wrong. Nor would we want to.
WILL WASHINGTON FINALLY LISTEN?
For more than 10 years, politicians and pundits have claimed, with great flourish, "The `sleeping (fire service) giant` has awakened!" At first, we were enthusiastic, tantalized by images of Firefighter Gulliver striding confidently into the Land of Lilliput, D.C.
RETALIATION UNDER THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT: DONT DO IT
It is common knowledge that within the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)1 you will find regulations and prohibitions pertaining to topics such as minimum wages and maximum hours, FLSA exemptions, and so on. What may not be as well known is that within the FLSA are specific provisions that prohibit an employer from retaliating or discriminating against any employee who files a claim or exercises a right under the FLSA.2 In addition, the FLSA has a specific section that provides for potential damage
Focus on the basics
I just read "You Should K.I.S.S. This Job" (Random Thoughts) by Tom Brennan in the February issue. Well done.
ANNUAL PUMP TESTING
Pump testing is an integral and vital part of apparatus safety and maintenance. Imagine arriving on the scene of a multiple-alarm fire, laying hose (every firefighter`s dream and every engineer`s nightmare), hooking up to the hydrant, and starting to pump water--only to have the pump fail after 10 minutes. One question that might be asked at such a time is, could the pump failure have been prevented by an annual pump test?
THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT SAID THE WALLS WERE OK, BUT…
The IC, Assistant Chief Harry Norum of the City of New York (NY) Fire Department (FDNY), however, did not trust the walls, built with sand-lime mortar 126 years ago. The building had retrofitted bracing "stars" to the exterior, indicating walls that were tied to floors because of their instability, and they had been battered by tower ladder streams. He maintained the collapse zone. The walls did collapse. No one was injured.
REPLACEMENT BLADE
Phoenix Rescue Equipment, Inc.: New style toothed cutting blade fits all full-size Phoenix Rescue tools. Features improved grip and smoother cut. (800) 394-5118.
TYPHOON HIGH-FLOW MASTER STREAM NOZZLE
Task Force Tips, Inc.: Features user-selectable operating pressure control, continuously variable straight-stream to wide-fog pattern adjustment. Front bumper incorporates power-fog teeth. 600- to 4,000-gpm device made of hardcoat anodized aluminum alloy. Available with six-inch ASA 150 flange, DN 150 flange, or six-inch Storz coupling.
