TimesUp

Thanks for clearing that up The point in my post was that if there is some training that you think will help you then you should take it. Not that it will make you the best. Wether for driving or knot tying don't wait for it to be spoon fed to you. Although I think all dept's need to be more proactive in the training of their firefighters. You just can't always wait for them.

Don't get me wrong. A CDL is'nt the end all be all for driving a rig. But if you feel it will help you drive better or smarter why not go get one. By no means does it replace driver training. Although I found learning about airbrakes and all that has to do with carrying a tank load interesting.

Soon after I got on the job I went to the DMV and took the tests and recieved my CDL. I just thought if I was going to drive I should be as prepared as I could. It was'nt that bad. I remember a guy on my job Helping me rent a truck to take the road test in WP. We drove around a shopping center parking lot just before my road test.

One time somebody told me as their bit of wisdom " don't change" Although considering your new responsibilities I don't think this would be good advice.

If your job is to force entry then you should bring what you'll need. Maybe the owner gave you a key? So bring that. Maybe you'll have to cut pad locks...better bring the saw(Aluminum Oxcide) or the duck bill. Maybe you have to force metal doors, so the hydra-ram would work best. Point is you have to think what your up against and bring the right tool. If you can't look at a building a figure it out then its time to do more training. Don't bring a knife to gun fight!

When using the Hydro ram or rabbit tool set either in the door. Give as many lever pumps as necessary so that it will hold itself in the door thus freeing up your hands. Accomplish any other tasks. One or two more pumps and your in. If the door opens outwards think about the hinges but also think that its a storage or custodial closet. In a public hall of an apartment building its prob. a storage closet used by the super. to store everything. Once I came across a outward opening door in a hallway. It was once a storage room. It was so big it was turned into a studio type apartment. It even had a window. But that was very very rare. If the outward opening door is on the exterior look for the bolt heads that hold the panic bar. Look for the bolt heads that hold a slide bolt. Strike the door around the perimiter to create gaps and find the weak points. Then choose you method. The hinges might not be an option since its on the exterior and are probaly hardened and welded as to not remove the pins. Always indentify what the lock is. Then which ones are locked. If you practice your technigue you'll always have the keys to any door.

Pushing heat and hot gases out a well timed vented window and away from the nozzle team. Breaking thermal layers, thus negating the chance of flashover. Placing the nozzle between the fire and any means of egress that must be protected. All of these help extinguish the fire quickly and effectively. These are all tasks which are preformed well with a TFT. If your fires are'nt going out then maybe you have to look at your tactics. Was it a one line fire? Could we have used a second line? Was the fire vented well giving the nozzle team a good chance on making a push? GPM? Fireflow? The Iowa formula? Even if your gonna do the math, should'nt you just know "we need a second line" or a third! Way to often only one line is stretched. Maybe a delayed second line might show up. Even if there is fire on an entire floor of a two and a half story. If the nozzle team makes a good push and the fire is vented well (self vented) Then I've seen these fires go out. Nobody will say"we should of had a smoothbore nozzle" But if the fire goes through the roof everybody blames the TFT for lack of GPM. But how about asking where was the second or third line? Adding a new peice of equipment to your arsenal is'nt always the answer. Tactics and abilitys must be up to par. No sense in reinventing the wheel, just fix the flat and drive on.

If things go bad the cops will only know who the verified guys are. The rest of us are in the clear.

That really only goes for the FD. I've been to some PD swearing in where the new cops are introduced as being residents of somewhere other than MV

Well put L-12. If you know it can save your life and the cost is'nt an issue then why wait for a pencil pusher to sign off on a dept. wide purchase. Ask around and I'm sure you can figure out what you need to buy. That along with some hands on training can save your life.

Good point about the brakes locking up. Alot of guys think they'll lose the brakes and not be able to stop, or the brakes get spongy because the air gets low. If the air goes the brakes will lock up. If the brakes get spongy while your driving you might be on them to much.

How dare that reporter investigate someone using another guys name and finacials to buy a house for himself. So what if some poor guy loses everything he owns because someone stole his identity. I hope those two rott in jail. I wonder who they were gonna rip off next.

I wonder how many tests this guy has taken, or what list he might be on.

C'mon E-22 is'nt that big, is it?

I agree with ya Bob, Its sort of a false sense of security for the guys inside. They may have an agreement with a neighboring dept. But if its the middle of the day they might be waiting awhile. How long do you wait until you go to plan "B". Or do you just operate as if you won't have a fast team. Or as a dept you only rely on your own team. I know, I know, I said "Fast team" please forgive me.

Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

Proactive or Reactive. If it takes a tragedy for you to start thinking about fast ropes or a large gas explosion to start thinking about those dangers then you are reactive. The Fire service would be alot safer for firefighters if we as a whole were proactive. We've all thought about something after it happened. But some of these thing should be on your mind every day. Its to late to start planning for something once its already happened. Although I would'ent be too upset to hear that nobody had a pre-plan for a F2 tornado. Treat all calls seriously, You'll never go wrong.

This story is wild...HAC will know.

I've driven and always did with my gear on and had no problem doing so. We know seconds count. So to wait for a guy to get dressed is crazy. What might someone think when you get to their house thats on fire and they see you getting dressed. You have your gear on, you arrive, your ready to work! No delay in time. Imaging getting to a call where someone needs help and you have to get dressed.

Same Idea, but just Line up the halligan and tap it between the door and the magnet. Then a quick downward pry and it will pop. If you can't get in the door you might not be able to shut off the power.

This is crazy! It sounds like " who care's what you want" , "we'll tell you what you want!" or "don't tell me how it is on your job" , "I'll tell you how it is on your job". I think Chris is trying to offer up some solutions that will make guys on my job safer in the long run. Its the city relying on mutual aid that puts us in danger in the first place.

Chris, Myself and the guys in Mt. vernon appreciate your supporting us with this situation.

Who are you to say otherwise....do you work for the fd? I do. You only have two post and they both have to do with questioning members post. What's your story? Maybe you would like to shed some light on the situation. As stated before all the previous post are right on the mark.

Juice, I would have to say that just about all the facts Mt. vernon guys have stated are true. The past few classes just filled vacancies that have been open for a while. As far as solving a manning issue, it has'nt done that. Don't be so quick to question someone's character.

I was a paratrooper. Part of your training is to get yourself out these situations. They don't teach you to call 911 and wait for the FD. These guys received some good training that day. I just hope they crossed their legs before impact.