Firehouse Central 2010 will take place September 27-October 1, 2010 in Dallas, TX.
Please check back for event details.
Conference Program 2009
| October 28, 2009 | |
| 8:00 AM |  Critiques: A Roadmap for Future SuccessDon Abbott, Owner Command Emergency Response Training 2 Hour Class Category: Training CRITIQUES?. It is an important part of our individual, crew, and department growth. Without critiques we offer our personnel little opportunity to examine our successes and weakness. Critiques, if presented properly, will educate and train our personnel in everything from response, communications, command issues, and fireground operations. This program will present some different types of critiques and their application to help ensure future successes. (2 credits) |
| 8:30 AM | Alternative Funding Opportunities for Emergency Service Organizations Loy Senter, Fire Chief, Mark Nugent, Operations Battalion Chief Both with Chesterfield, VA Dept of Fire and EMS Category: Funding With budget challenges facing emergency service organizations of all sizes, providing a source of alternative funding should come only second to the safety of your personnel. This class will offer several proven alternative financial solutions that have provided millions of dollars to fire and EMS organizations across the nation. Whether you lead a one station volunteer department or are the chief of a major metro organization, you have one thing in common: you are constantly competing for budget monies to operate. This session will provide valuable tips in areas including grant writing, fee for service, and marketing your organization. This is a must attend seminar for all attendees. (1.25 credits) |
| 8:30 AM | CANCELLED: Fire Department Tanker/Tender Safety Mike Weider, Assistant Director IFSTA/Fire Protection Publications, OK State University Category: Safety Fire department water tankers/tenders are the most likely type of fire apparatus to be involved in a fatal collision. Serious tanker/tender collisions have been on the rise in recent years. This program focuses on the causes and prevention of these collisions. The information in this presentation was developed during the preparation of a report for the United States Fire Administration and much of it also applies directly to pumpers and aerial apparatus. The presenter was the author of the USFA report. (1.25 credits) |
| 8:30 AM | Responding to Everyday Rescue Emergencies Mickey Conboy, Lieutenant, Squad 41, 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. (1.25 credits) |
| 8:30 AM | Tactical Medical Response Initiatives Met Clark, Lieutenant, Fire EMS Training Officer Austell FD, GA Category: EMS/Law Enforcement The tactical medical response initiatives is a three phase response to austere, remote, disaster, SWAT and special operation environments. This template was established for the first responders arriving on scene for nonconventional threats. The first tactical medical initiative is Risk Management and Mitigation. The second initiative is Medical Evacuation. The third initiative is Critical Incident Stress Management. This subject fits within the scope of SWAT medicine and special operations. Tactical medics often use the tactical combat casualty care guidelines established by the United States military to perform medical skill sets in the austere environments. The first phase of the tactical combat casualty care is care under fire. This phase states that the medic should essentially pick up any weapon and shoot back to gain fire superiority. Within the continental US, medics cannot pick up weapons and fire indiscriminately without proper accreditation and training. This class addresses the issues of the care under fire phase and applies the tactical medical response initiatives template to public safety. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | CANCELLED: Real Time Rescue 2009 Fred LaFemina, Battalion Chief, Rescue Operations, FDNY FEMA/USAR Task Force Leader NY-TF1 Category: Specialized Rescue This is a presentation on technical rescue incidents and problems that will arise which are not part of the training manuals. We will discuss actual trench cave-in collapse rescue and body recovery, collapse operations, scuba rescue, confined space and the training, and national standards that cover them. In addition, Chief LaFemina, who responds to technical rescue incidents on a daily basis, will discuss actual incidents in which he was the incident commander and what actions he implemented to ensure a safe and successful rescue of the victim. Learn what really happens and not just what the book tells you what might happen. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | CANCELLED: Solving Fire Officer Problems Workshop Peter Lamb, Fire Chief, North Attleboro, MA FD Category: Leadership This interactive program will alternate between a tactical and a personnel problem and several actual problems will be discussed and solved in a group think process by all participants with an experienced fire officer guiding and facilitating. This will be fast paced and active as we will discuss and get alternatives and comments on the problems that face all departments, whether career, volunteer, on call or combination. This program will be informative and allow folks to think about leadership and tactical problems with the benefit of all to help out and act as a safety net. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | Decontaminating Law Enforcement Personnel Russ Merrick, Captain, Special Operations Command, Rochester, NY FD Category: Hazmat When seconds count are you trained and ready to perform your task? Haz-Mat teams typically perform decontamination operations of entry personnel and equipment upon leaving the Hot Zone, but are you prepared to handle a Law Enforcement incident that requires decontamination of SWAT and or Bomb Squad personnel and their equipment? Undoubtedly we live in a time when acts of terrorism involve Weapons of Mass Destruction or Improvised Explosive Devices. These types of situations require entry team members to wearing unconventional personal protective equipment and tools not normally worn by our Haz-Mat entry teams. Will your teams be successful? Why agencies need to take their training to that next level to perform safely and proficiently. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | Georgia Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (GaMABAS) Dennis Thayer, Sergeant and Paramedic Cobb County FD, GA With the introduction of the National Response Plan, updated and now called the National Response Framework, states are required to develop plans for statewide, intrastate mutual aid, and incident response. Georgia was selected by the International Association of Fire Chiefs Intrastate Mutual Aid Program as a Tier One mutual aid system. The Georgia Mutual Aid Group (GMAG) was charged with the responsibility of writing the fire Mutual Aid Response Plan. GMAG has developed a plan based upon the Illinois Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) program. In addition GMAG has gone a step further by developing a statewide interoperability plan that includes mapping, high hazard identification and pre-planning, resource tracking and all brought together by a state-wide semi-automated dispatch system. Georgia is the first state in the country to take on such a project encompassing a manual box alarm system that is designed to be scaled relative to the needs of the incident. Additionally, we can locate, dispatch, and track (real-time) resources throughout the state as they respond to and demobilize from large scale incidents. While our system has not been fully developed out, different aspects are being utilized throughout the state on a smaller scale, with constant work being accomplished to take the entire project state-wide.(1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | Recruiting and Retention: You Cannot Leave it to Chance Dr. Harry Carter, Chief, (ret), Adelphia, NJ FD Contributing Editor Firehouse Magazine Category: Leadership Gone are the days when people were literally breaking down the doors to join their local volunteer fire departments. Dr. Carter is a 45-year veteran of the fire and emergency service world. He has literally lived through the changes which have affected us all, and are continuing to this very day. In this session he will assist you in creating a plan to retain and recruit members for your fire department. He is a firm believer that retention comes before recruiting. He will help you to bring that attitude to bear in your own community. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | We Will Never Forget Richard Bowers , Fire Chief, Montgomery Cty Fire and Rescue, MD, Jennie Collins, Battalion Chief Prince William Cty Dept. of Fire & Rescue, VA Just after 6:00AM on April 16, 2007, Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue units were dispatched to a house fire. Six minutes after arriving, conditions dramatically changed and two MAYDAY radio transmissions occurred. The result was the tragic line of duty death of one of their own. What happened and what lessons can be learned by all firefighters and departments? Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue desires the ultimate outcome of this tragic incident to be the sharing of knowledge and lessons learned in an effort to prevent this from happening to another firefighter and fire department. |
| October 29, 2009 | |
| 8:00 AM | CANCELLED: Do You See What I See? Peter Lamb, Fire Chief, North Attleboro, MA FD Category: Leadership This tactical based class has a focus on size-up but geared for risk analysis and safety perspective. A guided look at some fireground situations that would serve as a good primer for new officers, or a great review for the seasoned veteran. (1.25 credits) |
| 8:00 AM | CANCELLED: High-Rise Firefighting - Part 1 Curtis Massey, Firefighter (ret.), President, Massey Disaster Planning Category: Strategy & Tactics Refining the basics of hose lays (including back-up lines), fire flow demands and proper/effective handlines that match today?s fire loads; learning base building systems (including HVAC smoke removal and elevator/stair pressurization systems) and how to interface with them; understanding stack effect and ways to manage it; designating and managing the attack and search & rescue/evacuation stairwells which greatly impacts movement of civilians and deploying fire suppression personnel; understanding the importance of addressing ?dewatering? issues; firefighter safety and survival ? how to survive if your air runs out on an upper floor above the fire; new ideas in augmenting transmitting emergency traffic messages; how to conduct high-rise evolutions and case studies of recent high-rise fires here and overseas. (1.25 credits) |
| 8:00 AM | Fireground Scenario Workshop John J. Salka, Jr., Battalion Chief, FDNY Category: Strategy & Tactics The program will be an actual workshop where various fireground situations will be displayed on the screen along with some additional after arrival information. The class attendees will be asked to consider the conditions at the scene and the other information they have received and answer a set of questions concerning tactics, strategy, tools, hoselines, safety etc.After a prescribed amount of time the instructor will begin a discussion of the tactical options, asking participants to state how they answered the questions and handled the situation. This discussion will end with a short presentation on the ?best? practices and other acceptable courses of action for the situation. This scenario will be repeated several times, once for each of the situations presented such as a private dwelling fire, a commercial building fire, a high rise fire, a college dorm fire etc. This is a great format that allows the instructor to not only present the prepared information but also get some input from students attending the class. (1.25 credits) |
| 8:00 AM | The Nuts and Bolts of the First 72 Hours! Responder Injury and LODD Team Investigations Richard Bowers , Fire Chief, Montgomery Cty Fire and Rescue, MD, Jennie Collins, Battalion Chief, Prince William Cty Dept. of Fire & Rescue, VA One of the most challenging processes that face any Department?s leadership is the loss of a firefighter(s) or the serious injury to a firefighter(s) at structure fires. One of the items that will need to be immediately done is to assemble an Investigation Team to review the tragic incident. This presentation will provide the participants with the ?nuts and bolts? of forming an Investigation Team and the investigation processes associated with firefighter LODD and serious injury investigations. |
| 8:00 AM | The Return of Abbottville: Is Your Community Ready for a Disaster? Don Abbott, Owner Command Emergency Response Training 4 Hour Class Category: Preplanning Major Incidents A dynamic tabletop scenario to help responders at all levels and positions, including fire, police, EMA, utilities, goernment officials and EMS, learn and practice the various roles and responsibilities needed to rescue the injured and restore order after a major disaster. Class limit: 40 people. You must sign up for this class when you register. (4 credits) |
| 8:00 AM | Those Bugles Don't Make You the Boss Dennis Compton, Chief (ret.), Mesa, AZ FD, International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) Category: Leadership Holding a formal rank does not necessarily mean that a fire officer is fulfilling the responsibilities of their position. This unique session explores critical leadership, management, and supervisory capabilities that contribute to developing willing followers. It is the ability to create and maintain a positive, productive, and healthy work environment that establishes a fire officer as the leader in the eyes of those being led. All current and future fire officers of all ranks and types of fire departments will benefit from this session. Attending will simply help people be more effective in the roles they fill. (1.25 credits) |
| 9:30 AM | FEATURED PRESENTATION: The Charleston Sofa Super Store Report Followed by A Life Saving Message J. Gordon Routley, Chief (ret.), Shreveport, LA Category: Lessons Learned Nine firefighters lost their lives in the tragic Charleston Sofa Super Store fire on June 18, 2007. Chief Routley, Project Team Leader of the Charleston Post-Incident Assessment and Enhancement Review Task Force, will discuss what went wrong and why. Get the details first hand from someone who knows about the investigation and firmly believes that proper training and education can be life saving. (1.25 credits) |
| 11:00 AM | CANCELLED: First Due…No Clue! Engine Company Operations, Are You Safe On The Line? Robert Cobb, Deputy Chief (ret.), Jersey City, NJ FD Director of Community Mitigation, Insurance Services Office Category: Strategy & Tactics Engine company operations on the fireground sounds simple enough; stretch some lines and aim a stream of water at the fire. This seminar examines the important tactical objectives of the engine company. Successful engine company operations begin with size-up, not only for the officer but for all members of the crew. A method of assisting the 1st due engine company utilizing a simple ?information gathering system? is discussed. Are lightweight truss construction, energy efficient windows and older buildings ?yellow flags? in your size-up? Find out why they should be. Correct size-up will determine initial tactics and strategy and will set in motion the ?incident game plan?. The engine company?s rescue plan will also be discussed. Chief Cobb?s presentation will take you through the components and skills that make a successful engine company stand out on the fireground. (1.25 credits) |
| 11:00 AM | Grant Writing 101 Loy Senter, Fire Chief, Mark Nugent, Operations Battalion Chief Both with Chesterfield, VA Dept. of Fire and EMS Category: Funding Does your emergency service organization currently participate in a grant-writing program? Would an additional stream of revenue assist your organization in providing better service to the community? Have you written grant proposals in the past and just not received any awards? This class will present a simple plan on how to establish a grant writing team in your organization, your first step to producing a winning proposal. This must attend session will provide proven solutions to assist your department through the entire grant writing process. Starting with a needs assessment and working through the reporting process, the valuable information provided in this session will pay dividends to your organization well into the future. (1.25 credits) |
| 11:00 AM | Internal Affairs Joel Baker, CFO, EMT-P, Section Chief, Office of Professional Standards Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Category: Firefighter Rights To become a good internal affairs (IA) investigator you must have a good working knowledge of personnel law, the policy and procedures of your agency, State and Federal tort law, the U. S. Constitution, an a understanding of a number of State and Federal Court decisions, interviews and interrogations law as it applies to administrative as well as criminal investigations and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This course is designed to give the participants information on their rights as an accused and/or witness during an internal investigation procedure. At the completion of the course the participants should have a basic understanding of the investigation procedures. This training session will examine each of these topics in depth: (1.25 credits) |
| 11:00 AM | Subordinate Counseling and Discipline in the Fire Service Kimberly Alyn, Best-Selling Author, International Fire Service Speaker Category: Leadership This session will cover the important aspects of discipline and subordinate counseling in the fire service. Topics include common myths about discipline laws, actions that warrant discipline, and laws governing discipline. This class will show you the importance of stepping up to the responsibility of discipline and the rights of those being disciplined. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | CANCELLED: High-Rise Firefighting - Part 2 (Advanced Class) Curtis Massey, Firefighter (ret.), President, Massey Disaster Planning Category: Strategy & Tactics Understanding new-age technology systems being introduced into today?s high-rises which will greatly impact firefighter safety (battery rooms ? the 21st century version of the ?truss? as a firefighter killer); rooftop transmitters/RF radiation hazards; raised floors and exposed ceiling grids with high-voltage cabling; tenant special suppression systems; man-traps; tenant/access stairs; the plenum wiring ?epidemic?; new on-site electrical generating plants; new Gen-2 and computerized/?touch-less? elevator systems; a study of Curtis?s own ?Rapid Ascent team? concept and in conclusion - a look at the new wave of super-tall skyscraper construction and how it will forever alter the ways these type fires are fought. High-Rise buildings have never been more dangerous, complicated and challenging than they are today ? despite sprinklers! Prepare by learning and training. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | CANCELLED: Near-Miss Reporting at Year 4: Lessons from the Past for Long Term Safety John Tippett Jr., Deputy Chief of Operations Charleston FD, SC Category: Safety The presentation will include a brief discussion of the program?s history, followed by case studies, small group workshop and exercises to reinforce the culture shift to a safer fire service and demonstrate the system?s variety of use. The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System is entering its fourth year of operation. The system is growing in recognition and popularity with members of the fire service. Success stories are starting to surface indicating that members of the fire service are recognizing the value of the system. A loyal following of over 100,000 unique visitors has been tallied, along with an ever growing number of recipients of the system?s weekly near-miss trainer, Report of the Week. Approximately 7000 firefighters receive the trainer, forwarding to over 60,000 others. The system also produced a very successful training calendar in 2008 that featured a different topic each month. An excerpted near-miss report tied to the topic, coupled with a reference to a Crew Resource Management principle appeared on the calendar along with an eye-catching photo. These successful elements will be incorporated into a two hour presentation that will rely heavily on report case studies, small group workshop activities and exercises. The activity laden presentation is designed to introduce the concept of a safer fire service culture to attendees and provide strategies for those already subscribing to the culture shift that can be taken back to their departments. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | Firefighter Rescue Mickey Conboy, Lieutenant, Squad 41, FDNY Category: Specialized Rescue With a new emphasis on firefighter safety & 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 only involve 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. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | HazMat Response and USAR Deployments: A Combined Operations Approach Mark Schmitt, Captain / HazMat Specialist Greensboro Fire Department Category: Specialized Rescue Many emergency services personnel do not realize the importance of the hazardous materials response component in a USAR event. This presentation is aimed at USAR team members at any level who have never addressed the need for hazardous materials specialists, hazardous materials responders who have never thought about their place on a USAR team and any personnel in emergency services who may have the need to work with or call for a USAR team to assist them at a major emergency event. Attendees will have a much better understanding of how the HazMat specialist assists the USAR deployment. (1.25 credits) |
| 3:00 PM | Rising to Real Leadership Kimberly Alyn, Best-Selling Author, International Fire Service Speaker Category: Leadership The number one issue facing the fire service today is leadership. When you develop effective leaders all the way down the chain, the other issues start to take care of themselves. The fire service mirrors our current society: it is starving for great leaders and great role model examples. This session will show you what it really takes to be an outstanding leader and how to develop great leaders in your department. (1.25 credits) |
| October 30, 2009 | |
| 8:00 AM | CANCELLED: Media Relations and The Fire Chief Peki Prince, Assistant Fire Chief, Peachtree City FD, GA, Dennis Rubin, Fire Chief, DC Fire and Rescue 2 Hour Class
Category: Media |
| 8:00 AM | The Chief Officer of the Future Kelvin Cochran, Fire Chief Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, GA Professional development, executive coaching and succession planning are hot topics among fire professionals. With so many chief officer retirements pending, up and coming young fire service leaders have their eyes on the prize. Many have a vision to become a chief officer. Some aspire to become chief of the department. The primary professional development focus of most aspiring young leaders is higher education and technical training. There is little to no focus on the key component which contributes to advancement and sustained success--character development. The program will identify character traits which lead to advancement and continuous success at the chief officer level.(1.25 credits) |
| 8:00 AM | The Return of Abbottville: Is Your Community Ready for a Disaster? Don Abbott, Owner Command Emergency Response Training 4-Hour Class Category: Preplanning Major Incidents A dynamic tabletop scenario to help responders at all levels and positions, including fire, police, EMA, utilities, government officials and EMS, learn and practice the various roles and responsibilities needed to rescue the injured and restore order after a major disaster. Class limit: 40 people. You must sign up for this class when you register. (4 credits) |
| 8:00 AM | What ISO Can do for You: Understanding the Tools and Resources of ISO Robert Cobb, Deputy Chief (ret.), Jersey City, NJ FD Dir. of Community Mitigation, Insurance Services Office Category: Leadership This guided program will foster insight into the tools and resources available through ISO and will enhance your knowledge of the ISO's Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) program, Fire Suppression Rating Schedule and ISO's Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS?). Director Cobb will provide an overview of the ISO resource, Fire Chiefs Online ? a special secured website with information and features that can help improve your ISO Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) You will be instructed in the manipulation of an interactive map of your fire-protection area, access valuable reports on commercial buildings in your jurisdiction and fill out the Community Outreach Questionnaire alerting ISO to the latest improvements in your fire department. This program encourages improvements and helps fire departments plan for, budget, and justify expenditures that reduce property damage from fires. In the battle against fire losses, one of the industry's most important weapons is the Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) program from ISO. (1.25 credits) |
| 9:30 AM | CANCELLED: High-Rise Firefighting – Part 3 Curtis Massey, Firefighter (ret.), President, Massey Disaster Planning Category: Strategy & Tactics This class consists of tying the Part 1 and 2 sessions together by executing a collective series of ?break-out style? tabletop disaster scenarios, where small groups of firefighters work together to solve their assigned incident in a mock high-rise setting. From serious fires involving search & rescue/fire attack; to terrorism involving internal chemical releases and aerial strikes on building fa?ades; to major haz-mat spills; to working gas-fed kitchen and ductwork fires in vertical chases ? these carefully orchestrated scenarios will challenge the collective knowledge and skills of class participants. Combined with a group critique of each mock incident and an optional post-class walk-through of the tallest tower on the Atlanta skyline, this 3-part course sets the bar higher than any offered to date ? the most state-of-the-art high-rise multi-incident classroom training ever. (1.25 credits) |
| 9:30 AM | Creating Revenue in a Tough Economy Mark Herendeen, Chief, City of Morrow FD, GA Category: Funding Updating your fine structure for enforcing fire codes, charging for non-emergency ambulance transports, writing fire lane violations, and charging for false alarms are just some of the ways your department can start generating more income.? In this presentation, Chief Herendeen will give attendees ideas on how to generate income for departments that want to think outside the box as well as ways to present those idea to their governmental officials.(1.25 credits) |
| 9:30 AM | LODD: What Does It Mean??? Brian Ward, Training Officer, Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services Category: Safety Most people will answer, Line-of-Duty-Death. That is what it stands for, but what does it really mean? What does it mean to prevent an LODD? What does it mean when an LODD happens? Ask yourself, ?What am I doing to make sure that my crew and I go home every shift?? (1.25 credits) |
| 9:30 AM | Taking Public Education to Another Level Daniel Byrne, Lieutenant, Fire Marshal, Beaufort FD, SC Category: Public Education ?It takes more than plastic fire hats!? Fire continues to kill more Americans than all natural disasters combined, and is still one of the leadings causes of death and injury in the home for children. This presentation is designed to get students thinking about the fire problem in the U.S. in relation to fire prevention, and to rethink our current approach to educating and communicating with our public in order to best influence attitudes and change behaviors; as well as the need to grow a true ?prevention first? fire service culture for our future. (1.25 credits) |
| 2:00 PM | Attacking Fires in "Vacant" Structure George Nour, President/CEO, Professional Rescue and Fire Training FF, Atlanta Fire Rescue Department, GA Safety in the fire service has become paramount during fireground operations. The mission of the fire service however, to protect life and property, has not changed. This class deals with a lack of aggressive tactics on assumed ?vacant? structures. Topics that will be covered in this class include size-up, tactics, and search methods conducted on a reported or assumed ?vacant? structure. This course will also utilize a case study on a LODD in the Atlanta Fire Department and discuss lessons learned from that incident.(1.25 credits) |
| 2:00 PM | CANCELLED: Common Sense White Powder Matthew S. Holston, Lead Hazmat Instructor, Professional Rescue and Fire Training Captain, Alpharetta, GA Dept. of Public Safety This will be a lecture format with the topic being Response to ?white powder? incidents. This topic is real world, common sense response and remediation of reported or suspected terrorist activities either in the form of letters or suspicious packages. This lecture will discuss common sense do?s and don?ts, common response and tactical mistakes, legal issues, quickly ruling out non viable threats all within the guidelines set forth by the FBI following the 5 scenarios that the FBI state will be encountered when dealing with ?white powder? calls. The lecture will also cover what it takes to conduct a proper and effective ?white powder? incident response despite how easy it may appear and will show that most departments lack the ability, equipment and personnel to remediate the incident to FBI standards and should be calling for aid from better equipped departments. A response protocol will be offered to the attendees for their consideration and as guidance to better prepare themselves for a white powder response.(1.25 credits) |
| 2:00 PM | RIC: Rescuing Trapped Firefighters, Advanced Search Rope Tactics Robert Cobb, Deputy Chief (ret.), Jersey City, NJ FD Director of Community Mitigation, Insurance Services Office Category: Specialized Rescue A recent NFPA Fire Analysis & Research Report: Fire Service Fatalities in Structure Fires, indicated that, ?While the number of structure fires has dropped, the rate of firefighter deaths at structure fires has not? (1978-2000). The major cause of injuries and death were "lost inside structures" and "ran out of air." This class covers the important tasks needed for a successful search and rescue mission. Preparation is the key to rapid intervention when the ?Mayday? happens to you. RIC advanced search rope tactics are covered along with a new method, the Rapid Deployment Scan. Also covered are how to manage the search mission. If your in charge how do you manage two, three or four rapid intervention crews all entering a smoke filled burning building? Mayday-Mayday will you be prepared! (1.25 credits) |
| 2:00 PM | The Use of Fire Modeling in a Line of Duty Death Investigation Paul Morley, Battalion Chief, Atlanta Fire Rescue, GA, David M. Wall, MPA, EFO, Director Georgia Fire Academy Alex Mungia, FPE, Schirmer Engineering Category: Lessons Learned Synopsis: On Thursday, November 23, 2006, Thanksgiving evening, Atlanta Firefighter Steven Solomon was fatally burned while conducting firefighting operations in an abandoned dwelling at 257 Elm Street Northwest. On November 24, while Firefighter Solomon was in critical condition at Grady Memorial Hospital Burn Center, Chief Dennis Rubin requested the assistance of an independent review committee to fully examine the causes of this incident and determine the actions that should be taken to prevent any similar occurrences in the future. Firefighter Solomon died on November 29, 2006 as a result of his injuries. On Saturday, November 26, 2006, Chief Rubin convened a special meeting at Atlanta Fire Rescue Station 4 to begin a detailed review and analysis of the incident that fatally injured Firefighter Solomon. Georgia Fire Academy Director David M. Wall was asked to chair a special panel to review the facts regarding the incident and prepare a written report. The fact-finding process used by the panel required many hours of research and discussion. This report includes information and recommendations, and the conclusions represent a consensus by the panel participants. Battalion Chief Paul Morley was on the panel. One of the methods the panel used to assist in determining what occurred was the use of testing of the gear, hoods and use of a sophisticated fire modeling program. The Schirmer Engineering firm donated their time and expertise to the Atlanta FD and provided the computer model showing the fire behavior in the building. The fire model became a valuable part of the investigation. By studying what occurred in a LODD it is hoped that we can prevent a similar such event. (1.25 credits) |
