“Tactical Safety: Are You Ready for the NFL?”…
By thehousewatch | February 3, 2010
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – Are You Ready For the NFL?
By: Ray McCormack
This NFL is a bit different from what you are probably thinking; this NFL stands for the National Fire League. The fire service has teams for all types of sporting events, even an Olympics. There are also team skill competitions in extrication and fitness. What kind of a team do you think your department could field if the game were fire?
In the National Fire League, everyone’s staffing is equal, and everyone’s equipment is standardized. The apparatus used by all teams will have identical pumping and laddering capabilities. Everything including the protective gear will be standardized, fully utilized and properly worn. There will be rules to follow and if broken there will be penalties.
So where is the variation? The variation is what makes any game interesting. The variation comes from the people involved, the players. The team’s personnel are the real strength as well as the weakness. Each team must capitalize upon its strengths while diminishing their weaknesses. Being well-trained and knowledgeable are two traits that raise a team’s chance of winning.
There will be referees who have the power to stop play and remove those who are not in compliance with the rules. Remember that not all infractions are rated equal and not all will be seen. Post game analysis utilizing video will be provided by a select group of fire specialists who specialize in Monday morning quarterbacking of fire events.
The opponent is a two story house with an enclosed one car garage. There are clues available to the teams that compose an encompassing initial size-up. Clues such as a construction label affixed next to the exterior electrical meter describing any lightweight elements and the lack of a basement. A bonus view is available to those that perform an inspection of all sides. A lower level room has light smoke contamination and clearly displays a ceiling minus a drywall covering. The game allows for the IC, first arriving officer, and or a delegate to do initial walk arounds.
Smoke detectors are sounding on both floors but there is no visible fire. The home has a sprinkler system, however, the fire is in the unsprinklered garage. Two main teams, Attack and Search (two engines and one ladder company), will conduct fire suppression; and for the rescue portion of the game, additional special teams are available and assembled including RIT and Back up; each team member is radio equipped. There is also a report of two small children inside the home. There are two separate water sources located within 200 feet of the fire building and the house has a 60 foot setback from the street. Rehab, medical, an air refilling station, and three additional special calls are available to the incident commander (IC).
Hoselines will be stretched, but to where? Searches will be conducted, but when, where and how? Command will be burdened with additional information streams; will it become overburdened? A safety officer and an additional chief join the game but are not on scene initially.
The National Fire League plays these games so that the participants can learn from each other. Was there a hose load used that complimented this type of dwelling fire? Would you change yours after seeing this new one in action? Was the laddering effective and timely? Did the teams use sequential tactics? Were there any rule violations and if so how serious were they? Did the IC run the fire or was it the other way around?
We must make a mental note that we can never be perfect no matter how nicely the game is set up for us. The real key to a successful game is to have a flexible plan of action that utilizes interior feedback and exterior overview and to train all your players to a level that is equal to or surpasses that of the coaches’.
The winners sometimes crush their opponent and sometimes they just squeak by. Developing a tactically-safe fireground requires attention to detail; how tactics are formulated, taught and implemented must make sense for the jurisdiction or team. Fire companies that understand that the game can be played anytime and under less than ideal circumstances, but have practiced their game along with contingencies, will surely win more often than not, and hopefully only suffer minor aches and pains between games.
Are You Ready For Some Fire?
Next Tactical Safety – Collateral Damage
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“Out of the Office”…
By thehousewatch | January 22, 2010
thehousewatch.com will be out of the office for the next week….
When I return, I have a big announcement for you all. Stay tuned and thanks for your continued support.
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“Tactical Safety: Hoselines Treat All Stairs Equally?”…
By thehousewatch | January 18, 2010
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – Hoselines Treat All Stairs Equally?
By: Ray McCormack
Although all stairways are not created equal, your hoseline can not tell the difference, only you can. Some buildings can contain multiple stairways of different types, while most only contain one style. Straight run; Return, Scissor, Wrap Around, and Path stairways are the most common.
Most stairways encountered will have a closed-tread design; basement and exterior stairways often contain open-tread stair step design. Stairways are our mode of travel in the fire building; even if we take the elevator we will be exiting below the fire floor and using the stairs for the remained of our assent. Although hose couplings provide us with life saving tactile information, their propensity for getting caught on the slightest obstacle is well documented.
Unfortunately there are no Urban Search and Rescue dogs specially trained to locate and then free a hose coupling caught on a step edge, that job is left to firefighters. Their attraction to snags is just one hoseline problem we need to recognize and know how to fix. Another common problem is dealing with uncharged hoselines. Uncharged hoseline can get caught under doors and get tightly wrapped around corners and stair newel-posts. The same is true for charged hoselines, some problems are easier to fix with uncharged lines and some are easier to remedy with charged lines. I will let you figure out which is which, might make for a good drill; remember, just add water.
We control the hose not the other way around. We place it too close to corners and wrap it tightly on turns. Were you taught the tactically safe method of stretching hose and dealing with stairs? I hope you were, but if not, you can still make corrections and pledge to always stretch better, no signature required. The different types of stairways mentioned impact stretching decisions solely, and when more than one type is available to complete the task.
Return-type stairways are two sets of stairs connected by a midway platform. The stair sections go in two different directions with the associated landings stacking upon each other at the half and full-floor landing positions. This type of stairway will allow us to quickly place our lead-length of hose up on to the half-landing; the problem comes when we just throw hose hoping it will land correctly and not kink. Think about the odds of a successful hose deployment when we just throw hose about. It does not work and it is an example of firefighters who do not understand that solid engine work requires attention to detail.
Scissor-stairs can be confusing for firefighters and officers who have had limited exposure to them. Remember that you will start in one spot on the floor below the fire floor and come out opposite that starting point on the fire floor. The exit point is the big decision regarding scissor stairs once you know where you wish to be on the fire floor you can simply work backwards and pick the correct stairway.
Straight-run stairs are easy because we can see the entire run of the stairway. If the stairway is long and we do not allow the coupling to be forcibly-pulled along, up, and over every tread encountered, then our stretch will evolve quickly. Many firefighters have never been taught to carry hose, many were simply taught to pull the nozzle or associated bundle, let it drop, and keep pulling. Any firefighter who has climbed stairs with just the nozzle in hand can attest to how inefficient that adaptation of a hose stretch really is.
Wrap-around stairways have a voracious appetite for hose. This type of stairway contains at least twice the amount of turns as a traditional stairway, and the connecting portions of staircases are separated by the object (usually an elevator) it wraps around. This is the only staircase where I recommend increasing your hose estimate to one and a half lengths per floor traveled. This increase allows for wide turns at the corners and the distance between connecting staircases. So if we are traveling up four flights you would estimate six lengths for that portion of the hose stretch.
Dragging hose up stairs is all part of the game, however, when distances between firefighters is too great, or we place hose on the stairs too early, then we will encounter an excessive hose drag situation. Hose drag is just that, a drag on effort and energy and points to under-trained firefighters who do not understand the importance of drop points as well as poise. When you encounter a long and difficult hose stretch you need to have a solid plan for the stretch, just charging forward will only get you started on the slow road. Use your poise and confidently wait until other firefighters can assist in the stretch. Company commanders and chief officers make sure you have a hose lay that efficiently accommodates long stretches.
Path stairways are staircases separated by various length hallways. Usually the path will only exist for one or two floors in the building. However poor stretching size-up decisions may force you to create your own path stairway stretch when you discover that another stairway was better suited for your attack than the one originally chosen. Keep your awareness situational to reduce errors of hoseline management, thereby increasing fireground tactical safety.
Next Tactical Safety – Are You Ready For The NFL?
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“Cardinals and Ravens”…
By thehousewatch | January 17, 2010
In grad school, I was taught that the first things to go in the workplace during bad times are training and people. It seemed like a logical truism because they both obviously require immense capital and resources to feed them; and both lighten-up the bottom-line when they’re gone. Likewise, fire service training and the firefighters who use it require a ton of resources to remain mission-oriented and combat-ready. However, it seems that our mission’s sustenance may be disappearing right before our eyes; and we can’t seem to see it coming!
I’m referring to the recent news received by Arizona and Baltimore firefighters this week. Their spacial geographies notwithstanding, both groups are waiting for the shock of their respective bad news to sink in. In all my years of wearing the costume (firefighting), I never would have foreseen such decimation of our profession and craft; and with such immediacy. The old manta of many fire departments and training institutions to “get smaller as slow as possible” is out the window. Perhaps mantras should give way to questions for the foreseeable future, realistic questions such as, “what if they turned out the lights completely?” Melodrama aside, these questions are now being asked by Arizona instructors and the unlucky firefighters assigned to fourteen doomed companies in Baltimore. What the fire service really needs besides more capital and resources (I won’t wait by the mailbox) are contingencies.
What if they turned out the lights on your State or local training center? Who would take over when money dried up? I hope your immediate answer is, “Me!” That’s the logical and assumptive answer, and we all should take stock in whether we suck or not at this gig. However, do you have the resources within your own department to not miss a beat? Did you over-rely on your local training center to give you the needed, or worse, required training? If you answer yes to the latter question, you’re problem is systemic and the closing of your respective training facility(s) or agency is a constant rather than a variable to contend with.
The constant in any department, company, or individual approach to training contingency- building is having your department actually put your operations, positions and or procedures IN WRITING. This forms the foundation upon which to build and practice your craft. Without your act in writing, co-dependence on training centers, colleges, States, etc. thrives. A consequence of this thriving co-dependence is that these institutions soon become rife with the good-ol-boy system, as does it’s ugly sister, territorialism. State and local training institutions should provide the guidance, facilities and instructors who know your department’s operations, rather than making you pay to hear who and what is good for you. And believe me, the politicians seem to see these dysfunctional organizational counter-cultures before we do! That’s a huge reason training institutions get cut and slashed. I think it’s the police instructors that are ratting us out…
Being able to keep your department afloat without a training organization, institution or facility(s) is not too hard. It’s easy to get the basics handled. Like the saying, “you don’t need a gym to do push-ups or run,” you don’t need a state-of-the-art training tower or fiscal resources to stretch hose, force doors or search. Find a vacant, use your firehouse, or the local playground. Sure it sucks advancing hose around the teeter-totter, but you’re still advancing hose!
No fire certifications anymore? How about the standards set forth in your written procedures? Do you have competencies in writing? I mean competencies such as, “chocked all doors through which the line passed through,” “gapped the door to set the fork of the halligan,” “maintained orientation with the exit,” etc. These are competencies that must be addressed locally and no certification can ensure they are actually adhered to. A piece of paper with your name and attained credential on it is great. But so is not sucking at fires even though you may not have any paper back at quarters or in your personnel file…competencies are everything; They belong in your department’s training manuals as much as they do in certification programs. Do you have them? Here’s your first training contingency-building step!
As for our Brothers and Sisters in Baltimore, I sure hope the State of Maryland understands what’s at stake at the Baltimore Fire Department (BFD). It transcends training, to over-worked, burnt-out and short-handedness at fires. Fourteen companies?!! The BFD’s union states that this would be the loss of a quarter of their companies. Baltimore is the same size as my department, both in population served and number of companies. A loss of a quarter of my department’s companies would be devastating; I couldn’t imagine it. And I’m not sure I could come up with an encompassing contingency to deal with such a cut. Digressing, I don’t think the City of Baltimore’s pols could ever grasp the impact of the juggernaut that is E.M.S. with fourteen less companies. Imagine taking-in the disbanded companies’ E.M.S. and fire duty, and with longer rides to get there. The wear and tear would be unimaginable on both people and the rigs they’re riding in. Hmmm…sounds like another de-industrializing City that used to make a lot of cars…
I don’t think the BFD will actually face these draconian cuts, it smells like the union-busting that is as prevalent these days as vacants. However, contingencies surely will involve stark reductions or elimination of services provided by the BFD. That is a shame. No big-City job has been fat since the 70’s, there’s only the basics left to cut (bone). E.M.S.? I wonder if the fire service will even be able to do that anymore either in the near future in many towns. Moreover, I don’t think there is even a inkling of a silver-lining in any of this. The fire service is at a cross-roads and the bottom is truly falling out. What I don’t see, thankfully, are contingencies such as worthless mission and vision-statements being ambiguously applied; Our mission has never changed, just how many people and resources will now be adhering to it. I’m glad the fire service is finally realizing this. This reality falls on our shoulders and the pols know the blood is on their hands. We at least have solace in that. Perhaps they will stop meddling in how we do things and let us get past the grieving and onto what firefighters do best, adapting and overcoming. We just want the chance to do it without starting from scratch every year…
I wish the best of luck to Arizona and Baltimore’s firefighters. You both deserve better, we all do. But there are those who watch things happen, and those who make things happen, which side are we going to let win?
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“Tactical Safety: Your Two-Cents”…
By thehousewatch | January 12, 2010
“Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
Tactical Safety – Your Two Cents
By: Ray McCormack
Adding your two-cents essentially consists of looking at a problem from your angle and then proposing a solution. Formal two-cent exchange programs are gaining ground in the new millennium, as some in the fire service look to other industries’ programs to solve our problems. While certain industry protocols have merit, they may not adapt to our market as well as envisioned. Reworking procedural platforms from other industries to conform to the fire service is not the simple cut and paste many seem to profess it to be.
The tweaking of alleged parallel situations is necessary because even the strongest of comparable portions of any borrowed program will not cross over without correction. The glossing over of the rough spots is also necessary for the fire service buy-in component. The final adoption will require the avoidance of differential comparison and the bolstering of positive outcomes as beyond reproach so that the modifiers can tout a successful conversion.
The fire service is a unique model with a work environment unlike any other industry or service in that we are constantly working to gain control; adapting and utilizing a command structure that is fluid, while seeking solutions that are not always apparent or as timely as we would like. We need to develop programs grown from the (fire)ground on up that recognize: our work space and its limitations, variables, and zero- time while substantially improving operational effectiveness and tactical safety.
The idea that we take a program from here and a program from there sounds enticing, but our actions and reactions to events can not be read out of a guide book during battle; they must be internalized and will be acted upon in an environment that denies many senses. Consensus “two-centing” during battle sounds appealing. And if it took place in a more sterile environment, where participants could easily follow the provided check list, and clearly see the packaged solutions, along with instituting a previously simulated response, it might just work just fine. However, in our world we do not have that luxury.
As enlightened as it may seem to be to take what others have learned and convert it to the fire service, modifying other industry programs will always save time and effort, but along with the ease comes a hitch that forces us to adapt to it, as opposed to developing a customized solution. The fire service needs to recognize, listen and learn to our people; only then will we start to develop original programming. We have the ability to solve our own problems regarding command, deployment, accountability, and safety; all we have to do is ask for your two-cents.
Next Tactical Safety – Hoselines Treat All Stairs Equally
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“Recovery?”…
By thehousewatch | January 12, 2010
Fire in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood. First due truck was recently closed due to budget choices. Photo by Gary Porter-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Throughout the Country, Mayors are lauding their budgetary efforts to curb spending during the deprecession. They claim they are taking the necessary fiscal actions to spur or posture their cities for an economic “recovery.” Boilerplate efforts include: pension payment delays, refinancing or buying-down debt services payments, spending reductions on capital projects, etc. Many of us do not pay much attention to these aforementioned efforts, however, we do pay attention to certain other ones: Layoffs, brownouts, company closures, bargaining in bad faith for union concessions, etc.
Perhaps two of the most common “face-saving” efforts to curb spending with unions and taxpayers is to opt for brownouts and company closures. Mayors and elected officials relay that no one loses their job or company permanently with the former; however, they rarely relay that we often (historically) lose the very lives who depend not only on these jobs, but the companies those jobs are attached to. I have heard elected officials say such things as, “I guess the blood’s on our hands with these decisions,” regarding them having to make “tough budgetary choices.” What they never seem to say is that they’re willing to accept the burns on their hands too…
We often bash Chiefs of Departments and their administrations for cuts, but they are doing as they are told. They know the historical impact of brownouts, et al. No one raises their right hand during the first day of their fire academy and says, “I hope to be in charge of a $100 million budget and layoff firefighters and companies some day!” That’s unfair to believe. I’m not saying they don’t add to the problem sometimes, I’m just placing the preponderance of blame where it lies, elected-official’s historical naivety. And we all know that those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, just ask:
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“Pulling Slats”…
By thehousewatch | January 2, 2010
Photo by Flickr
Hat tip John:
In an economy full of cuts, yesterday in NYC, the City’s Pols found one thing they didn’t want the fire department to make cuts to anymore…storefront gates. Apparently the iconic image of urban commercialism, the graffiti-laden storefront gate, is out in 2026 in NYC. Does this spell the end of the triangle and box-cut? Who knows, at least the FDNY will be burning some aluminum-oxide (blades) for many more years until this takes effect. I just hope none of my elected officials watch NY1 today…
On a related note, the City is allowing store owners to keep their slats, however, at least 70% of the gate must be open-grilled or “designer” gate construction. The impetus for this new City law is to benefit cops and firemen. Perhaps this “less-cut” approach will benefit our operations in the long run, however, it will probably mean more padlocks and footbolts to contend with. Either way, we all need to be ready…
Happy New Year everyone!
Topics: Editorials | 1 Comment »
“Mutual Exclusivity?”…
By thehousewatch | December 30, 2009
My wife says I’m not a very emotional guy. However, Jason at Firefighter Spot recently put up a tribute video to a 17 year old girl who perished in a Brooklyn fire on Dec. 28. It’s a touching and emotional tribute video, and after watching it, I realized that civilians and firefighters often take differing perspectives on what’s in front of them after a tragic fire. In the video, a neighbor who photographed the aftermath of this tough fire that claimed one life and injured seven, captures the scene, faces, and damage to the building. I have to admit, I too saw a scene replete with fire damage, faces, bystanders, and neighbors as well; however, I also saw: a three-story balloon frame private dwelling; a four-length stretch; razor wire on side 2 (B) making the O.V. consider taking a counter-clockwise jaunt to the rear; scissor gates on the first floor; and a large cockloft/cornice that surely required the chauffeur to pull a lot of lumber with the hook; amongst the other usual fare we look for when looking at fire photos.
What we should remind ourselves of, is the fact that civilians don’t give a shit about: what size hose we stretch, the classification-type of fire building, how many guys per rig, whether or not the first-due truck is a spare, etc. They often don’t see it the way we do when things go bad, or when we just couldn’t reach someone in time. However, sometimes we don’t see how others see the aftermath of a fire as well. Perhaps civilian and firefighter perspectives are not so mutually exclusive after all. What is important with both perspectives, however, is that we both know a tragedy when we see one. It is up to us however, to ensure that the broken-down spare we have to ride in, loss of manpower, new locks and security devices, and degradation of mission-oriented thinking doesn’t create more civilian tribute videos. We still need the perspective that we are here to save lives; so others may live. That doesn’t mean doing anything unsafe, to the contrary. It’s everything we do before the fire comes in that keeps us safe. So figure out a way to safely use the spare, get through locks, gates and board-ups, and keep this mission-oriented focus in mind when doing so. That’s a perspective civilians and firefighters will both see in action when a camera snaps a photo at the next fire…
This post is dedicated to the young Sofia Olivo and the firefighters who did everything to get her. You could see it captured in their faces…
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“Truck 10″…
By thehousewatch | December 27, 2009
Truck 10 was mourned yesterday as it was officially closed (disbanded) today. It is tough to see a company go under any circumstance; particularly when it’s a respected company and a busy shop. However, the members of truck 10 and Local 215 ensured that everyone was reminded of its legacy, history and service to the City of Milwaukee, one more time. The following videos are a testament to truck 10’s history, and the Riverwest section of Milwaukee’s loss. You will be missed. This is dedicated to every firefighter who has taken a seat on truck 10:
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“Juniority”…
By thehousewatch | December 22, 2009
I’m a Johnny Captain in my job as I just got promoted to Captain from Lieutenant in early August. I finally got the spot in my new company permanently after a recent jockeying for good spots after a company disbandment, and enjoy my new company; it’s the best company in the City because I’m there. I like to take on this perspective so there is no question where my loyalties lie. I had great companies as a Firefighter too. As such, I’ve always been able to stand on the shoulders of giants for years; and I surely got to where I’m at due to many hands in my career. Undoubtedly, the best hands in anyone’s career is that of the senior man (figuratively of course) in the company and they should act like giants. This position is not necessarily bestowed upon the MOST senior firefighter, it may in fact be one with “juniority” who steps up when others don’t.
What’s stepping up? How about becoming the person in the company newcomers have to impress? Trust me, officers can get rid of guys if they want, but the officer always considers what others think of said guys first. With that, my company is the best in the City because my guys are there too….yes, I do try and ensure others’ loyalties lie in the same place as well. That’s why it’s important for the senior firefighter(s) to take stock and responsibility on who gets a spot in the company. Without the vetting that goes in our companies, we soon develop and foster shit shops…
These days, we are asking a lot of our senior firefighters. We are seeing unprecedented decimation of our companies due to the budget axe and subsequent retirements. As a Lieutenant soon up for promotion at my old company, I lost the senior firefighter in my company (my driver) to retirement. He was a great senior man and knew every inch and address in our first due area. He also had almost as much time in the job as I do on the earth and it’s humbling to sit next to people with time like that while commanding the ship; there’s no room for fuck ups because guess who the company will sick on the officer…hope you are doing well Bill, you are missed!
I also just lost the senior man in my new company to retirement. He’s been around the company for years and his leadership and wit were definitely noticeable when I got there. It was also noticeable by the heavy-hitters on my job who showed up for his last meal. That’s refreshing for a new Captain, as having someone to bounce around ideas and getting the lowdown on the company is priceless. I’m not worried about replacing his ’senior man’ position because there are many in the company who already have. That’s the benefit of working in a good shop, and that’s what stepping up is.
It’s tough these days to assume this role as we are leaning on these guys even more to keep the company’s spirits and morale in check. Everyone has succumbed to the fact that the fire service and our respective departments will never look the same ever again; It’s next to impossible to get disbanded companies back and to fill empty seats. It’s not impossible, however, to get morale and esprit de corps back. It’s all about perspective, consider the following: My City has been labeled as a dying urban rust belt City for years; no more corporations or businesses moving here; flight to the burbs; rampant crime; etc.; we were also identified in many recent pop-culture sociology and econ books as a place that may never recover socioeconomically from the past two recessions; in other words, we’re doomed to become like a sister City of ours that used to make cars…until.
Look, things always get worse and then better. The 70’s gave us the same consequences of similar budget crises: loss of personnel, company disbanding, closed firehouses, etc. We’ve seen this shit before and we recovered and kept the job good. It’s up to us to do it again. Remember, they can’t make us hate the job; It will always be a good gig. I guess the question we should ask ourselves is who is going to step up to ensure it always will be? I know a ton of senior men who definitely did and will again. Perhaps the question we should never have to ask is, “who’s the senior man in the company?”
This post is dedicated to Bill and Jon, two great senior men and two great losses to the department. I wish you both the best in your retirements.
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