All the pieces came together for this auger extrication prop.  I originally saw the idea on Brotherhood Instructors page, check it out here. Firefighter Josh Goetz (Carroll Township FD) was instrumental in locating an old auger from a combine.  Firefighter Kevin Kilgor, also from Carroll Township FD lined up a shop for us to fabricate the prop. JD Vasbinder suggested adding ...

 A commenter on my post, Window Cut Down – Company Drill added a good point to the discussion about ensuring the power is cut before running a saw down the wall. How are you killing the power to the structure?  Pulling the meter? Waiting for the electric company?  Flipping off the main breaker? What is your reasoning for the tactic you ...

The picture to the left is from a fire the other night in a two story 1,500 square feet residential joint.  It had a gable roof and the second floor was made into one room with knee walls on both B and D walls.  The window seen here was to the first floor bathroom. For this company drill tabletop session ...

Here’s a simple, yet important drill on orientation with the hoseline.  Lt. Jason Deptula from Vermilion Twp. FD sent the write up over. As we are all taught in our firefighter classes, the female connection on a hose connects to the make end of the next section.  Using the progression of female to male can lead us out of a ...

This past week my latest article was published on acquired structure training burns.  Read it here: A Tale of Two Acquired Structure Burns The following link is to a planning guide in a word document.  Change the logo’s and use it to organize your burn. Acquire Structure Planning Guide The following link is a pdf presentation used for preparing instructors ...

This is a great training opportunity.  Cost is free other than a $10 donation to the Huron County Firefighters Memorial.  Pre-registration required. Also, for you Northern Ohio Firefighters check out this scholarship opportunity.  2012 Scholarship Application Pass it on!

Norwalk firefighter Charlie Hillman sent me this picture of some significant calcification in an old ductile iron main.  Think about the following questions: How does this effect our water supply? Besides the water department having a break in the line or a customer noticing a decrease in water, how can we discover this problem? Does the calcification increase or decrease ...

To start the evolution, the apparatus moves 200 feet to location B.  The tanker is filled from a fill site engine.  When the water tank is full to overflow, the fill line(s) are disconnected (ensure all firefighters are seat belted in prior to moving apparatus), and the tanker moves 200 feet and stops (document your total time for later use ...

Here’s another moving water drill.  If you missed the portable pond set-up drill, click here.  Move the water as you would in a water shuttle operation.  (Record and document times for later use with ISO). Evolution Description: The tanker stops at location A with 2-4 firefighters seat belted in.  To start evolution, the apparatus moves 200 feet to location B ...