Conference Program

Check back often for updated information.

Conference sessions are 75 minutes in length, unless otherwise noted. Program subject to change.

September 29, 2010
8:30 AM	Engine Company Standpipe Operations David M. McGrail, District Chief, , Denver FD, CO CATEGORY: ENGINE OPERATIONS Quickly and efficiently placing a handline in operation off a standpipe is one of the most important jobs the engine company will perform. Because standpipe operations are low frequency high hazard events, the engine company must be well prepared, both mentally and physically, for these demanding operations. This interactive workshop will provide attendees with a strong foundation, upon which to build a successful standpipe operation. The recommended tools associated with "proper weapon selection", standard operating procedures, and various types of hoseline (standpipe) stretches will be addressed. Attendees will leave armed with quality information that will help them take their respective organization to the next level.
8:30 AM	Firefighter Rescue Mickey Conboy, Lieutenant, FDNY CATEGORY: SPECIALIZED RESCUE With a new emphasis on firefighter safety and survival today, take a realistic look at lessons learned from the fireground where we had to deal with firefighter trapped and overcome on the fireground. Not all fires involve only one firefighter in trouble, are you prepared to handle multiple firefighters in need of your help, now? Have you mastered rescuing your brother firefighters or are we doomed to repeat these lessons learned from history of the fire departments in this country?
3:00 PM	Holding Court: So You Really Think You Understand Truck Work! Kevin Trost, Captain (ret.), Sacramento, CA FD CATEGORY: TRUCK OPERATIONS What happens when you vent the wrong location? What happens when you don't vent at all? What if you don't have a Truck Company? Do you and/or your department understand the relationship between fire attack, search, rescue, and truck work? The Truck 101 course provides an opportunity to dispel some of the misconceptions regarding Truck Company operations. Whether you are a firefighter, company officer or battalion chief, you need to have a clear understanding of the truck functions on the fireground. In addition, you need to understand the priority of these functions. This course will take you from an introduction as to the role of the Truck Company on the fireground, to identify the functions of a Truck Company, and to prioritize those functions. Then, the course will breakdown the roles and responsibilities of the Truck Company members and how to apply them on the fireground. Whether you are a volunteer department, paid department, combination department, or even staff a Truck Company it is imperative that you understand the importance of truck work on the fireground. The safety of all fireground operations is directly related to Truck Company operations, and this course will provide a clear understanding of that relationship.
3:00 PM	Safety Overview (Live Fire & Hands-On Training) Ron Peddy, Texas A&M CATEGORY: SAFETY This presentation will review components dealing with safety protocols, requirements, and practices for conducting live burn and hands-on training activities. Key items will include: safety culture, NFPA 1403, project safety analysis, pre-burn checklist, fuel protocol, weather procedure, medical procedure and training action plan (TAP).
September 30, 2010
8:00 AM	CHAOS Should Not Stand For "Chief (or Captain) Has Arrived On Scene" Steve Prziborowski, Battalion Chief , Santa Clara County, CA FD CATEGORY: COMMAND This session reviews how to effectively command and control an incident, including size-up, radio reports, company assignments, and creating the incident action plan through discussion and simulations. Not setting an incident up properly from the start can have serious consequences to firefighter safety and survival, not to mention incident outcome.
8:00 AM	Fire Ground Operations…Roles and Responsibilities for the Engine Company Jeff Shupe, FF, Cleveland, Ohio FD CATEGORY: ENGINE OPERATIONS The fireground can present many confusing looks and complexities. Sometimes it can take firefighters away from their "attack plan". This can lead to dangerous conditions for all firefighters operating at a working fire. This presentation will define the mission of an engine and what it is responsible for. It will also review operational procedures that should be understood by all fire department members regardless of of how big or how small a department might be. This class runs from 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM.
9:30 AM	Real Leadership in the Fire Service is Not for Wimps! Kimberly Alyn, Ph.D., Owner, Fire Presentation CATEGORY: LEADERSHIP This session will cover some of the advanced tools and techniques available to demonstrate the best leadership possible in your fire department. Session focuses on how to become a great leader and how to create more leaders within the organization. The biggest issue facing the fire service today is leadership. The need for quality leadership development up and down the chain is imperative. When you have good leadership development in your fire department, you'll discover that most of the other issues take care of themselves. Attitude reflects leadership, and firefighters today need great leaders. Find out how to employ the most influential leadership possible.
11:00 AM	Holding Court: How We Almost Killed Four of Our Own! Kevin Trost, Captain (ret.), Sacramento, CA FD CATEGORY: CLOSE CALLS They say it is our bread and butter! They say it is a piece of cake! They say we could do it with our eyes closed! What if one small mistake is made and everything that could go wrong does go wrong in a single family dwelling? The Close Call, Stilt Court course will walk you through the events that lead to three firefighters and their captain being trapped on the second floor in of a single family dwelling, without water, of a first floor fire. Listen to the audio; watch the video; have a frank discussion of the mistakes that were made and the lessons learned. You will come to understand how the three firefighters escaped with minor injuries, and the captain suffered serious burn injuries. This course will lay out the facts, and challenge every participant to ask themselves if this could happen in their department. This course is a must see for all members of every organization! Additionally, the course will address what the Sacramento FD has done to reduce the risk of this type of event happening again.
11:00 AM	How to Excel at Fire Service Promotional Exams-The Key Points Steve Prziborowski, Battalion Chief , Santa Clara County, CA FD CATEGORY: CAREER ADVANCEMENT Attendees will be exposed to the most commonly utilized events within a typical fire service assessment center: the written examination, the oral interview, the emergency simulation and the personnel counseling session. Numerous key points for success will be discussed to help candidates increase their score on their next promotional exam!
October 1, 2010
8:00 AM	Firefighting…….It's a Numbers Game! Jeff Shupe, FF, Cleveland, Ohio FD CATEGORY: STRATEGY & TACTICS It doesn't matter if you are from a big urban fire department or a small rural hamlet with only one fire engine. To perform fireground operations as needed requires the right kind and right number of resources to get the job done. This presentation will look at different fireground situations and what is needed to develop fireground strategies and the right resources. We will look at fire fighting principles and practices and company organization for safe, effective fireground operations. This class runs from 8:00 AM - 10:45 AM.
8:00 AM	Holding Court: Can’t We Put The Fire Out Anymore? Kevin Trost, Captain (ret.), Sacramento, CA FD CATEGORY: STRATEGY & TACTICS We continue to kill and injure firefighters and the debate continues if our basic firefighting principles are flawed. We have added ICS/IMS, 2in/2out, RIC, better turnouts, SCBAs, the safety officer, and the numbers don't go away. What is going on? Well, part of the answer is the fact that there are many myths and misconceptions as to the basic firefighting principles and how to apply these new safeguards on the fireground. This course will walk you through the history of how some of these safety guards have come about. More importantly, this course will try to dispel the misconceptions as to how we should be applying them on the fireground. The course will address COMMAND: who, where, when, why, and how. The course will address the fireground LAP: who should take it and when should it be taken. 2IN2OUT: what it is and what it isn't. RIC: what it is, who does it, what do they do and when. Lastly, the course will address the safety officer on the fireground. This course will challenge the myths and misconceptions regarding these new safeguards. Everyone who attends this course will come away with a better understanding as to the application of these safeguards on the fireground so we can continue to put the fire out using basic firefighting principles with addition of these safeguards.
9:30 AM	Responding to Everyday Emergencies Mickey Conboy, Lieutenant, FDNY CATEGORY: SPECIALIZED RESCUE Firefighters across the country respond to an increasing number of rescue emergencies each year. Learn invaluable lessons from recent incidents such as workers buried in a trench and tanks, children impaled on fences and occupants trapped in a building collapse.