Tag Archives: first due tackle

We had the opportunity to break the new sleeves in by lifting and moving some 3,500 pound concrete blocks. This will be the first of a couple posts showing their use and challenges.

Last weeks post on some ventilation training (Read Here) spurred an idea Phil Burden and some other seasoned firefighters have wanted to try. The idea was to cut the roof between the first and second trusses from gutter to gutter over the ridge.

Don't laugh to loud at this next suggestion, but the next time your in one of the big box stores, check out the baby section and see all the different locks and gates.

Let me first say, this video is not about the tactic to ventilate a single story ranch joint, because most often your right, we wouldn't. We had a roof and this was one part of the training to learn about a louvered cut and in the end, the modular home truss system.

Veteran firefighter Kevin Gadd put this post together after a few fireworks displays he inspected in July. Lot's of good information for what to look for, watch for, and as far as ducking...hopefully you did the inspection.

We specifically asked some questions of the farmer/firefighters at the training about what the most likely entrapments are on the new equipment used today. Many of the entrapments are caused by moving parts, so if the farmer tries to clear a jam or fix part of the machine without shutting it down we may get the call.

Torches are not a tool that we use everyday, month, or year on our emergency scenes, but if needed can you pull it off the rig, work truck on a job site, or cart in an industrial setting and go to work quickly? Entrapment and impalements possibilities are never ending and some may require cutting a victim free with a torch.

Yesterday, a semi crashed into a building in Bucyrus, OH.  A friend sent the picture to the left from the scene.  Read one of the news report here.  Luckily the driver of the semi made it out before significant structural collapse occurred.  

Let's review the muscle memory we are trying to gain through repetition. (1) Gap (2) Set (3) Force. Now, to many times when we are gaining access through a commercial door, we loose the gap when a tool slips out or the metal springs us back.

The prop itself is a small replication of a boat's gunnel with several variations of cleats. We quickly made this training into a EMS / rescue scenario that covers penetrating injuries and basic hand tool operations.