Firehouse Central 2010 will take place September 27-October 1, 2010 in Dallas, TX.
Please check back for event details.
Thursday Conference 2009
| 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. |
| 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: |
| 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. |
| 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) |
