Busy Times

In case you were wondering where I have been for the past month or two, I have been slammed.  Between class submissions, IAFF events, the DNC, family, and everything else I have been busy during the past few weeks.  I hope everyone is still around that has been reading because there are only a few of you anyway.  On Tuesday morning, our 9-11 memorial stairclimb committee particpated in our committee climb on TV to promote our October 13 event.  As always, it was an incredible event, and the feel of it was great.  We had about 15 folks climbing and it went without a hitch.  Additionally, Wells Fargo presented us with a check for 20,000 dollars to act as the title sponsor for our event!!!!!

 70 Down a few more to go.....

Blurred faces shows who the focus of the day was really on......

Visit facebook for some more photos from yesterday if you wish but here a few I liked.  I will be submitting two more articles to FSW in the near future so be on the lookout over there for some more contributions from me over there.

Lastly, if you will be near Charlotte on October 10th, please come and join the Crowntown FOOLS for their first education event.  Jason Brezler of Leadership Under Fire will be making a stop in for a four hour seminar that promises to be a great event.  It is 15 for FOOLS members and 35 for non members.  Please visit their facebook page for further information.. Thanks for checking in everyone....

Asheville NIOSH Report

Below is the link to the NIOSH report out of Asheville, NC.  Please read it and learn, there are some great points made in the report.  It offers forth a question to me, how do you remove the nosecone in your mask quickly?  I think I have found a training evolution for the next shift.

Asheville, NC LODD

FDIC 2013/1st Birthday

I am humbled and proud to announce that my Emergency Communications class has been chosen as a classroom session for FDIC 2013.  I am so honored to be a part of such a great educational event in our trade.  Thanks to all of you for the support along the way.

Also, because I was so busy I forgot to make a post announcing the first birthday of this blog.  I can't believe where this blog has taken me in this year, again thank you.

I certainly hope to keep the momentum over the next year, so please keep reading......

Training For the Fight

As firefighters, we all know the common apprehensions associated with in house or even academy sponsored training. Many firefighters fear they will fail, feel that they will learn nothing, or that it is only for people who haven't been there and done that. One problem I see is that many departments or companies decide to train only to "check the box". We all know ISO, NFPA or the CFAI require a certain commitment to company level or department sanctioned training in order to remain compliant, but many of us lose the opportunity to make these sessions meaningful.

Take for example SCBA proficiency drills. Most of us do them annually and generally we fail ourselves by making the evolution the same thing it has always been. So we crawl around make some EBSS and UAC connections and we get credit and head back to the station. We rarely realize that we could use some realism, some real fire ground functions to the training to reinforce other basic skills. Why not throw a radio in and call a mayday or four? Why not have a firefighter simulate a medical issue while wearing SCBA to practice quick doffing of gear? Why not practice masking up in a rapid manner as though we have encountered smoke during a fire alarm activation? These are just a few things I have seen practiced to help with SCBA and fire ground efficiency.

Another tried and true characteristic of firefighters is we like to have fun. However, this fun can spiral out of control during training creating an unproductive evolution. Idle firefighters are trouble as we all know. Therefore when designing or leading training we need to ensure that there is minimal downtime in between runs or stations. However, we also must ensure to properly allow participants to rest in order to remain functional and ready for the next part.

If you lead or design training for your department, ensure that you train for the fight and not to entertain your members. If you are just a firefighter that ones to up the training in your department, be the change, and start fixing it yourself. Training is used to increase ones proficiency in a given subject. Sure we must jump through a few hoops each year, but why not use them as opportunities to challenge our members to be their best. As one of my instructors at FDIC last year said: "Minimum is only one step above unacceptable". So how do you want your department/station/crew to be viewed? Do you want a a group who meets minimum standards or one who is proficient at the given skill?

An additional benefit of training for the fight is that firefighters will be much more receptive to training that they can relate to the real world. We all agree that things that can't be replicated in the field have no place in our trade or in the training we create. Therefore, I ask how come we continually place our people in positions where there only have fun training and gain nothing from it because of our fear of challenging our people to venture out of their comfort zone.

Training can be fun, but it should never be the central tenet of any evolution. The central part of the training should be to ensure each participant benefits from it by gaining knowledge, efficiency, and skill in the trade we all know and love.

FSW Article

Well, I have officially put out my first post on the Fire Service Warrior Website called "We Don't Stop". It is an article that really describes how I try to live life everyday. Please read it, and join in the FSW movement. Here is the article:

The Passion for Excellence

Last shift, during my free time I decided to start a new book I had heard was excellent titled "Fearless" and is written by Eric Blehm.  This book chronicles the life of SEAL team six operator Adam Brown.  This book is good on many different levels, but it tells the story of a passionate man with a huge heart and the love for a career.

To summarize the book very briefly, Adam started out as the kid in school who was driven, passionate about success and a knack for being helpful and compassionate.  He slowly progressed into a very dark place and became dependent of alcohol and drugs to survive.  Adam slipped away from family and friends, went to jail, and then met a woman who changed his life.  She reignited the passion for success he had during grade school, and then there he was a Navy SEAL, a member of the most elite military unit in the world.  Throughout his career up until his death, Adam earned life, learning every day and soaking up all he could in all aspects of his life.  Adam learned to be a great father, husband, and warrior and carried out all three until his was killed in action.

This book brought forth some thought to me that directly relate to the fire service and how firefighters should be through their careers.  We all come in the door, ready to go to every fire in the world if they would let us.  Each of us wants to learn everything we can from everyone to make ourselves the go-to guy in our department, station, or company.  Passion is all over the place for most new firefighters, you can see it in their eyes when they are excited about running their 5th call after midnight.  These folks are loving life, so what happens a few years down the road, when these same energetic firefighters stop taking outside classes that are required but may offer knowledge that will make them better firefighters?  Why do they let passion disappear into the dark caverns of their mind possibly to never be seen again?

I offer forth an answer to those questions, it is because you let them bury the passion away.  Firefighters are great at pointing fingers and playing the blame game amongst other things.  Rarely, do you hear someone admit that the reason the rookie isn't doing well is because they as a mentor failed.  Passion breeds passion and it can spread like a wildfire or being extinguished like a cigarette in a bucket of water if you let it.  The new firefighter is as impressionable my 17 month son, they take in everything everyone around them does, both good and bad.  It is imperative that we as firefighters realize this is the time to keep the rookie momentum rolling on.  Firefighters come out with a minimum level of training, and many have that unmistakable passion for the job.  To me all that is missing is the experience, and mentoring of the senior members for this rookie to become the best firefighter your department has even seen.  We need to quit playing the blame game about the rookie who sleeps all day or is better at Xbox than he/she is at throwing a 24 foot ladder.  It all boils down to we can make a difference as long as that rookie has the passion to take it all in.

I'm sure if anyone could figure out to gauge passion in an applicant firefighter in a valid and reliable way, they would make improvements to our service that we can only dream of today.  It is hard to gauge the passion of an applicant, but I feel those who have found some sort of fire service role prior to the application to either a career or volunteer department are the most passionate.  Sure, someone had to give them their first chance, and some people wake up one day and decide the fire service is for them, but how did they approach it?  Each department looks for different styles of firefighters, but one common theme exists, the Chiefs everywhere want someone who they will be proud to pin with a badge, and someone who will exhibit a positive attitude of public service and caring

"Fearless" showed me that a passionate person will always have it somewhere inside of them, it may be active, or it may lay dormant.  Either way as I said before in my post "The Best Advice", passion isn't something that comes in the Sunday mail with the chief.  People have it or they don't, but our job is to bring out the passion that may lay dormant inside someone.  Adam Brown lost his way for ten years of his life (if not more), but he got into the Navy and did anything and everything he put his mind to against all odds, simply because of his passion for his career as a SEAL.  He learned everyday, and never took no for an answer.  He often struggled just as we all do in our own way, but his passion for life, not just his career carried him through it.

Passion can seemingly disappear from someone if they let it.  An individual may suffer a setback or a hardship in their career that may affect their passion for the fire service but a moments notice it can be reignited.  Additionally, it doesn't take a company officer to bring that passion out in someone.  It can just as easily be a new rookie to a department or station that brings the passion for the profession back into a station.  Passion is a fire never extinguished, it may smolder, but it will never go out unless you let it.

If you haven't already, go out an read "Fearless", it is a great story about a true American hero.  Adam Brown made mistakes in his life, but as one of my friends shot over in a text the other night, Adam earned life.  His story should teach that everyday may be your last to make that difference in the fire service so why wait to address something or to do that training you know you need?  Get out there and be the change today, its up to you and your passion for fire service excellence to make it happen. 

Keeping Your Eyes Open

I apologize for my lack of posting over the past few weeks, but I have quite a few irons in the fire and this was last of the list of things to keep up.  I did complete and submit my FDIC class proposal, so I am proud of completing that and hopeful that I will be chosen.  The best part is, even if I'm not chosen, I'll be submitting again next year.

Well, onto the stuff you are here for.......

While carrying out perhaps my favorite fatherly duty of reading a bedtime story to my young son, I read a line that sparked a flurry of thoughts in my head.  The line came from Dr. Suess's book I Can Read with My Eyes Shut.  As with most Dr. Suess books, there isn't really a plot to follow just some good rhymes.  However, one line struck me that I related to the fire service, here it is: "There are so many things you can learn about, but you'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut."

There are no shortage of articles, posts, and rants about learning and training but here is another one to add to that list.  What the quote says to me is that we have to absorb all that is around us at all times.  If we keep blinders on, or ignore some great experiences, mistakes, or lessons we will miss all of the good stuff.  A few weeks ago, Chris over at Fire Service Warrior wrote a great article on entropy, or closed systems and how that relates to the fire service.  It brought forth the idea that we must reach outside of our own department at times to learn skills to use within.  His article discussed how closed systems move towards disorder without any outside intervention.  Think about some of the departments around you that "don't get out much" where are they headed?  I can name a few near me that are quite simply setting themselves up for disaster. 

To relate it to the Dr. Suess quote, we have to keep our eyes open to the big picture of the fire service as a whole, not just our little part or island.  Most of the excellent post-certification knowledge that I have gained have been from classes offered outside of my department.  The different perspective that is offered can be beneficial so we don't create a closed system within our department.  Too many firefighters fail to take advantage of free training that great fire service leaders post in various training communities throughout the internet. Some of these videos, posts, articles, or comments hav changed me as a firefighter. Take for instance Aaron Fields' hose videos, or various videos posted on Fire Service Warrior or Chris Huston's Stuff on Engine 22 . These are just a few examples of the fact that some of the best fire service minds are out there passing on their knowledge daily on websites everywhere. If you keep your eyes shut as Dr. Suess says, whether it be by sleeping all day at work, ignoring the knowledge around you, or failing to take advantage of some of the trade journals and publications that are out there, you are failing yourself, your organizations, and most of all the citizens that you serve.

So go out there with your eyes open and take it all in. There is knowledge everywhere around you so go out and take it in. Don't ignore what's around you and all the experiences that you could miss with your eyes shut. We have all told the new folks "God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason", so lets not forget he gave us two eyes to take it all in around us too. Combine those two eyes with the two ears and an open mind, and you will soon find a knowledgeable and genuine firefighter. Ensure that you combine these elements to make your self the best you can be.

How Do You Communicate

This post came to me while continuing to design my class for the South Atlantic Fire Expo later this summer.   I have always been a huge proponent of calm radio traffic.  The calmer the traffic the better the incident generally goes.  Sure I have yelled on the radio, sure I have said some dumb stuff on the radio, but with experience comes a calm radio demeanor.  This expectation isn't just for the officer either, it should be for everyone who has a radio.  These days audio is broadcast and recorded all over the internet so the impression someone may get of your department may come from a 5 second audio clip.

Almost everyone fireman has heard the old quote from Andy Fredricks: "“The garbage man doesn’t get excited when he turns the corner and sees trash, because he’s expecting it. Likewise, you should be expecting fire on every run."  My colleague Pete over at ELAFFHQ even had a post on it a few weeks ago "Death, Perspective and the Garbageman".  Yet we continue to hear folks on the radio screaming as though they are seeing the apocalypse unfolding in front of them.  I can play you audio clip after audio clip of officers pulling up to the biggest fire they have ever scene and sounding like it just a fire alarm.  On the flip side of that, I can play you plenty of audio where officers pull up to a trash fire and make it sound like they are narrowly escaping the gates of hell.  When I address the topic during training, I always advocate for the use of the 3 C's of communication, Clear, concise, and calm. With these simple rules, communications on every emergency scene can be improved vastly.

Clear

 Everyone that as ever listened to the radio knows that quite often you can't understand a word someone is saying on the radio.  I know that some readers who "aren't from round here" would struggle to understand some of the southern dialects we (I) have on the radio here in the South.  This is frustrating for both the listener and the transmitter.  First, the transmitter is upset because no one is responding or comprehending what he is saying.  Secondly, the listener(s) are frustrated because they know information is being broadcast but they can't figure out what it is.  Much of this mistake can be attributed directly to training our members to talk on the radio.

To talk on the radio no matter what the manufacturer, you must place the microphone 1-2 inches from your mouth or voice port.  There are many SCBA accessories that assist with in mask communications, but if you don't have those, ensure you bring the mic up to the voice port at the distance mentioned above.  In addition, normal conversational voice should be used when communicating on the radio.  Some people do have a "radio voice" but we need to ensure that we are using a clear tone of voice and speech.  If we rush words, use improper slang or some code word no one knows it helps no one of the emergency scene. 

Speak clearly by using common department terminology, speak into the mic, and understand how it feels to be on the receiving end of the radio traffic.  When we are in an emergency situation on the fire ground, that is the critical time that we must transmit information clearly and quickly to all members there.   Yelling on the radio only makes your transmission less clear to others.  The loud voice on your end actually makes it more difficult for the users on the other end to understand what you are saying.  With all of that said, there are times where yelling is unavoidable such as fire licking on your rear end etc.

Concise

Being concise on the radio is definitely one of the biggest challenges we face when it comes to communications.  We all know the guy who talks the fire out, turns the two car MVA into a three alarm talk fest, or give a dissertation of conditions on a fire alarm.  We all have them in our department, and sometimes I have even been that guy.  We have to realize that only one person can talk at a time on the channel, and that someone else may have something more important to say than what we may be communicating.  In addition, firefighters are no different than children, we have a short attention span.  That fact alone should hit home because we all know we drown out some things after a certain timer goes off in our head.  Being concise should become a habit for all firefighters and officers when we talk on the radio.  never before have there ever been so many radios on the fire ground, so limiting radio traffic is more important than ever. 

Sometime we must understand that less is more.  If we limit the length and the detail of what we transmit, people may get more out of it than a 25 second transmission describing the thread count of the sheets inside the house.  Firefighters need simple information much of the time so our descriptions and transmissions must reflect that.  There are some situations where a long transmission is needed such as a haz-mat scene or even some technical rescue scenes, but not every scene needs to be a talk fest.  Be concise, get your point across and release the button and give up the air time.

Calm

As I mentioned above, being calm on the radio is of paramount importance especially when it comes to the first in officer.  The saying goes "How the first line goes indicates how the fire will go".  This holds true with communications as well.  If the first arriving officer screams, everyone will be that much more amp-ed up and excited.  However, if the officer exhibits a calm, no nonsense, and sensible approach to the fire the incoming units will be much more disciplined, calm, and deliberate with their actions after their arrival.  Also, as I mentioned above, a calm transmitter on the radio is much easier to understand.  The louder you speak into the radio, the harder it is for the radio to collect your voice, convert it, and transmit it to other users. 

Some would argue that if you are calm on the big fires people won't know they are big.  Don't believe me, I have heard it from command officers in two departments.  In response, I commented that if they want to know its big come on over to the party and they can find out.  I don't believe it is the IC job to make a fire sound big or small for anyone, it is their job to safely mitigate the incident.  If you have been in the fire service any time, the most successful and respected officers are those who are calm in the eyes of adversity.  Firefighters love to see a calm officer or Chief when the Feces hits the Oscillator. 

To understand how calm affects people in a group, we need to look no further than the military.  All great military leaders remained cool under fire.  You never hear of any that freaked out or locked up, so don't be that IC that does.  Being calm isn't something that just comes automatically to all firefighters.  It takes time, experience, and some mistakes.  I was a radio screamer on two incidents where I was in command that changed me.  I listened to the tapes and laughed at myself sounding like a scared little 10 year old.  Since the last one of those incidents, I have changed.  I'm sure many of you reading this had "those" incidents, the question is did you learn from them, or are you still a radio screamer?


Be The Change

Through some friendships I have forged in the past few months, I have taken a bit of a new philosophy than I once had regarding the fire service.  I have begun to realize that charge starts with me, or in the case of this article, it starts with you.  Practice with your crews some of the items I have discussed, implement a change in yourself, fix it in your station and then the others will follow suit.  If you set the good example, others will follow as they see the positive outcomes that come out of what you have done on scenes.


Communications is the most neglected subject in terms of training in the fire service.  Continuously, NIOSH cites communication as an issue during LODD's.  Make the change in your department and your self to fix some of the communication issues you may have within your jurisdiction.  In the meantime, stay disciplined out there.

AZ LODD

Billy G is reporting a LODD in AZ resulting from an apparatus rollover while en-route to a call.  Two other firefighters were injured in the accident, so please pray for their recovery and for the family of the fallen brother.


Here is Billy G's Report:
AZ FIREFIGHTER KILLED-APP CRASH WHILE RESPONDING

"The Secret List www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

We regret to advise you that a Firefighter was killed in the Line of Duty and two were injured in single-vehicle crash this morning while fighting the Montezuma Fire burning in the Baboquivari Mountain Range southwest of Tucson.

The 3 United States Bureau of Indian Affairs assigned Firefighters were responding to the fire in a brush fire truck on Federal Route 19, near mile post 22, when the vehicle rolled over. Two of the Firefighters were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, and the other died at the scene."


Stay Trained out there folks. 

Helping Our Own

Nearly every post on this rag has had some sort of fire service or fire department theme.  While today's post relates to us, it could be written about the bank worker or the garbage man.  Please bear with me but take it to heart.  During the past month, our city has been offering supplemental accident and illness insurance to our people.  The emails were vague and it took some reading to find about it but it was a great benefit for the people that work for our fine city.  Many deleted the email, many said they didn't care, and many thought it was just another way to "cut" pay.  I saw it as an opportunity to help our own.

I knew I would sign up for it from the beginning, but many needed some convincing.  As a company officer it is my job to ensure that my folks (where I sub each day) know what ways the city offers to take care of them and their families.  Too many firefighters forget that insurance and benefits are just as important as the training we do to stay up on our skills.  If one doesn't stay up on these things, their families will suffer in the worst way possible.  We only discuss benefits when we get hired and when we retire, but what about the middle 25-30 years?  Sure, we might change a few things during open enrollment, but we fail to examine some of the other items that the city/county/department we work or volunteer for may offer to look out for their own.  Have you ever looked at our likelihood to have cancer, have a cardiac event, or have a traumatic accident?  Well if you haven't, at least one will occur to all of us, some will get to experience all three some only two, but no one will avoid all three.   We will all break a bone, roll an ankle, cut ourselves, or some how hurt ourselves on or off duty that will cause medical treatment.  Firefighters need to be taken care signing up for these programs that are offered by organizations.  If you are a member of a fire department especially if you are an officer, watch out for others, look at what benefits your organization offers and take advantage of them.

Please explore what your department offers you and sit down with your family and discuss them.  We need to do a better job of preparing for the times we need to use the benefits than we currently do.  We stick together in times of need, let's stick together before those times.  Make sure we look out for one another, and advocate for those who may not know whats out there to look at what's available to them.

MAFFC Recap

During the past week I have been busy, if you couldn't tell.  I still wanted to get out some information on my trip to Atlanta and how great it was.  At FDIC this year, I was able to meet the leadership of the MAFFC conference.  After speaking to one of them for a few hours, I could tell they got "it".  This group wanted to bring an affordable, beneficial training conference south so that everyone could benefit.  Some conferences are quite expensive and MAFFC is not one of those.  MAFFC core principles are informative training, positive networking, and fellowship. 

The conference for me started off with a class on the "Coordinated Fireground" class.  This class was taught by numerous instructors from all over and they addressed many of the basics that we as firefighters fumble around with at too many fires.  The stations were ladder throws, VES, Hoseline advancement, and forcible entry.  These stations were quick, thought provoking, and informative. 

I took the afternoon off and spent time with family which, as always was great.  I began Saturday morning with the "Advanced Engine Company Operations" class which allowed me to learn some new techniques for advancing 2.5 as well as 1.75 inch hose.  I had seen many of them on you tube and other places but this class let me practice them.  The instructor utilized the two man, back to back techique as I would call it.   Here are some of the techniques we worked with.  The below video is from http://nozzleforward.blogspot.com/.


Saturday afternoon, I took "TIC Operations" which covered many great aspects of the TIC and its operations.  This class was incredible, and was very thought provoking.  It provided many training ideas, class ideas, and dispelled many of the things people or salesmen may tell you about a TIC.  TIC's often look great in a conference room, but only a few perfom well under live fire conditions.

Sunday, I finished up with a ventilation class given by PJ Norwood.  It was a very good class, and was kind of a flashback to FDIC since that is where I had met him.  Also, the program was of the same quality as any FDIC program I attended. 

In short, this conference was great.  It was just what we need in the Southeast; a simple yet informative and econmically feasible conference.  The lead group of MAFFC has big plans for it in the future, and they should.  I would like to thank the sponsors of the event including the IAFF for their generousity that allowed the conference to keep costs low, and quality of instruction high.  Also, I would like to thank the MAFFC board for what they did.  It is only three years old, but this conference is growing every year.  Lastly, I would like to thank Atlanta for the additional traffic that I got to encounter while roaming the 285 corridor.  Wow glad I don't live there.

Make plans to attend MAFFC next year May 17-19 2013.  You can visit the website www.maffc.org or follow them on facebook.

Until the next time......

The Best Advice

I am sure all of us could say we have worked for great officers and for bad officers.  I also believe one could advocate that the bad officers teach you more about being a quality officer than the good ones.  In my previous department, I had the fortune to work for an officer who was one of the best in the Department.  He treated me just like a rookie should be,  he gave me a hard time, pushed me to be better, mentored me, and most of all taught me about many parts of the service, especially tactically.  I was assigned to him straight out of rookie school, and rode the back with two of the best firefighters around.  When I left that department for my current one, he was mad that I left but had done everything in his power to help me get the job with the new department.  To me that showed me what kind of man he truly is.

When I was promoted to Company Officer a few years ago, I of course invited him so he had such a large influence on me over time.  He had some issues and was unable to attend but he did take the time to send me this email below. He gave me permission to put this out there, but he will remain nameless.

"You are about to venture on the most challenging yet rewarding job you have faced in the fire service.  There will be times when you will think why didn't I stay a firefighter but those days will soon disappear.  I have this quote, that I keep on my desk, and I look at it often, "a leader with great passion and few skills will always out perform a leader with great skills and no passion".  You are lucky, you have the passion for the fire service and the knowledge, skills and ability to be an outstanding Captain, not everyone has both.  Keep that passion and work to develop those skills, and you will rise to the top.


Remember this, "if everyone below you is successful then you are successful and if they fail it is because you failed them".  Keep a humble attitude towards you men make sure they know that when the team is successful they did it, and when the team fails you did it.  When they know you have their back and will take hits for them, they are more likely to have yours.


Always remember to hold the fire (where is it at and where is it going, cut it off) until the Calvary arrives and never forget the hook.


You are truly missed.  I hope you know that I think the world of you and desperately hate not being there."

Once I read this, I saw its true meaning.  He wanted me to be a true leader.  I didn't need to read an 800 page book to figure that out, it was all right there in this short email.  The key is passion, not the most degrees, not the most certifications, but passion.  Dictionary.com defines passion as "any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate."

Passion is something that can't be taught in a class, can't be found in the book, its in your heart.  It is easily identifiable in a group, it is found in many firehouses but unfortunately not all.  It is something that can be developed and can easily become contagious, but it doesn't just show up when the Battalion Chief brings the mail.

Also, as the definition points out, passion can be love or hate.  Passion is a powerful  emotion and can have some negative results if it is negative.  SO as you can see, we have to watch which way our emotions carry us.  Too often and too easily we (me included) are sucked into a negative conversation regarding our department, station, a call, etc.  We must step above these petty gripes and insist on excellence.  Taking the "high road" is harder, but that why it isn't just called "the road" it is a step above.  An emotion that we can channel into promoting excellence is one we need more of in today's fire service.  Our profession is under assault by politicians, manpower, benefits, and many other parts of the service are being attacked.  If there ever was a time where firefighters needed to channel passion in a positive direction, it is clearly today, right now.

Passion is also that thing that keeps you going when you are having an off day, its the thing that makes you get in the gym while everyone else naps, its the thing that makes you explore parts of the job you may not enjoy, but that you need to know.  A passion for the fire service is a great thing, the thirst that it brings inevitably forces more knowledge, proficiency, and skill on the individual who has it.  To see passion for the fire service, look for the firefighter studying NIOSH reports after morning clean up, look for the firefighter marking the balance points on the ladders, look for the firefighter who knows who John Norman, Frank Brannigan, and Andy Fredricks are, and what they accomplished for the fire service.  We all talk about how great the job we have is, but how many of us want to have the passion to make it great for the next generation?

Nick Martin had a quote during the recent "Combat Ready" class that I attended that really hit home with me.  He had a slide that said:

"Its not how you make the mistake, it's how you recover"

Having a passion for the job makes that recovery that much easier.  I make mistakes all the time, as do all of us, but passion feeds my recovery from those mistakes.  Passion leads me to a resolution, and to improve whatever process needs to be fixed to avoid the same mistake happening again.  Passionate firefighters don't let their ego get in the way of learning a new technique, trick, or a battle hardened skill that will help them be better at their job.  In fact, these firefighters seek out these tidbits, to make them more effective on the emergency scene.

It is our job as passionate firefighters to spread this "disease" as some people can call it to everyone we can.  Some see passion as a problem because you are "Eat up" or have no life, but the passionate folks know that more often than not, it isn't true.  If you have the "disease" of passion, don't treat it, spread it to everyone who wants to carry it.  The resources are out there to ignite the passion on your own.  As I posted a short time ago, use your network to keep the faith if you can't do it on your own. 

My former officer's email should bring up some points for you officers and aspiring officers to remember.  Please read it to ensure you didn't miss some of his lessons to live by.

Now get up, get out there and infect somebody with the passion for the job.   

Also, "Never forget the hook".

MAFFC

I am finishing up a great weekend here in Atlanta at the Metro Atlanta Firefighters Conference.  The classes have been great and have refueled my passion for the job.  I will have the opportunity today to attend PJ Norwood's ventilation class and a few others before departing back to the homestead.  My wife has been a trooper through this and has had a great time as well with her friend here in ATL.  I am always humbled when taking classes, as I usually find out I don't know as much as I think I do on many subjects.  It is great to be in gear and sweat with other firefighters from all over who want to be here on their time.

I will have some sort of summary in the next week for you, in the meantime stay disciplined, stay safe.

All My Rowdy Friends

While at the "Combat Ready" Class last week many of my fellow firefighters gave me a hard time about some things while we were there, including one of the instructors.  It was a great presentation that I took a lot away from including things that I can implement and live out at all of the fire departments I am associated with.  Many of the guys I knew asked if I was running for political office, but I told them, "I'm just making contacts".  As with any class I take, I met some great folks who I hope to stay in touch with over the years

I was fortunate enough to meet West from http://hpfirefighter.com/ and Pete from http://elaffhq.com/ and was happy to finally meet face to face since I felt like I had known them for a few years.  During my career, I have worked with and met some great firefighters and leaders, however in the past 12 months I have met so many smart people and great leaders in our fire service that I can hardly wrap my head around how they call me one of their peers.  I have been humbled by their words of encouragement and laughed at their joking jabs, and I still can't understand how I have been so blessed in such a short period to have met them.

I have met the authors of all but one Blog that I regularly read, I have met people whose articles I have read, and many other folks who are leaders in our profession.  The ability to talk to these folks on a regular basis is something I value and am thankful for everyday.  It is amazing how similar many of us are, despite our ranks, department size, or geographical location.  However, I am pretty sure that most people that have met me think I am a redneck just because I talk funny and live in SC.

However, while it is a blessing to have such a great network of Bloggers, writers, leaders, and firefighters (some are all of the above), the question should be asked: so what now?  So I met some great people, how do I help the fire service, especially my small piece of it by making these contacts?  I think we all know how...by keeping in touch, pushing each other and motivating one another when each of us has a rough patch, or a discouraging day at work or home.  Chris Huston from Engineco22 tweeted the other day, "People say there is no time, time hasn't changed priorities have".  I think that is so true especially in the fire service of today.  We have no time to train on hoselines because its Tuesday and that's tile day at the station etc, you know the story.  With that said this post is about a network I have developed, not training, I will save that for another day.

We must make it a priority to maintain those friendships we may have made a the local fire school etc. because an isolated fire department is one doomed for disaster.  Chris Brennan over at The Fire Service Warrior wrote about it here: I Have A Theory.  In this article he discusses entropy, where a closed system moves from a state of order to disorder.  A department whose members never go outside for any training, conferences, etc. may see themselves as the leaders in the fire service when they are truly not.  The development of some friends from other departments from all over will help avoid this closed system in your fire house.

Making a connection with people is so simple these days, but being "that guy who seemed nice" at the bar in Indy, vs. "my friend I talked to yesterday" is much more of a challenge.  The fire service really is a small world, whether we feel that way or not, its like the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon, some how within 6 people we are all acquainted with one another. 

Working the Job posted about it Here : The Network. Jason's post is very similar to this one in that it is amazing how many people you meet from writing a fire blog.  Just as I am, he is thankful for all that the blogo-sphere has given back to him.  If you don't have a network of your own, make one, in your county, state or region.  Go to a weekend conference, go to a state sponsored class...oh and by the way aside from meeting people you may actually learn something too.  In short, you don't have to go to FDIC or Firehouse to participate.  In addition to the learning, these people are  a group you can bounce ideas off of, get ideas from, and receive some career changing/saving advise at times.  This group can allow you to keep a pulse on the fire service and how your little island is doing compared to everyone else.  In addition,these folks you meet from all over can help keep your negativity down and help you show folks on your "Island" how good they have it (sometimes).

Most Importantly, this group to me has become a year long conference.  Every week, I have exchanged some sort of text, email, or phone call with someone I have met during the past year.  Some times these communications are just jokes that keep the day going, other times there are some serious questions posed regarding fire service ways, tactics, and leadership. 

This blog has been a major part of the development of my group of folks the I call "The Network" but my involvement in our department's Local, our department's Accreditation process and just being engaged in regional schools and classes have also assisted in it.  All of you reading are part of my group and I am proud to call you a friend, colleague, and a reader of this rag.  Get out and get involved in your department, your local, or just take a class or two outside of your department.  It will help you grow as a firefighter and a person.

Thank you to all the followers, readers, and haters of this blog whether you realize it or not you are helping me develop a great group of people to surround myself with.  Let me also close by saying that I want to thank you for reading this, there are no shortage of blogs out there for you to read and it is an honor for you to take the time to read mine.  I hope that in the words of Mark over at "Fully Involved"  that I give you some positive influence to help you do your job better. 

Until the next time.....

South Atlantic Show Class

As many of you know, I am presenting "Emergency Communications: How we can control our own destiny" at the South Atlantic Fire Rescue Expo in Raleigh in August.  I got notification that my class will be on Friday August 10th from 1330-1645.  Please come join me as I share some essential information on fire ground and emergency communications.  I am finalizing the presentation now and I am already excited about it.  Hopefully, I will see you there.....I should have a new post up this week, I have just been slammed at home and at work. 
Here is a link to the South Atlantic Fire Expo: http://www.southatlanticfirerescueexpo.com/
Until the next time.....

Follow Up to the Computer Critic Post

I was looking through the posts on the fire that I posted about here :Behind the Computer Critic.  I found a few comments that are great including one from a firefighter who WAS there and knows all of the information.  It reads as Follows:  "I just want to say I stand by my decision to make a rescue. I pulled a line and had no thought other than to do that. The police officer did a great job allowing me the time to go back in and search for victims. But thank you for all the great Monday morning quarterbacking of a tough situation. When making all these comments please remind yourself that some who was there is reading."  This quote is in the facebook quote section on Statter's site.  Find it Here: CA Fire  Just goes to show you, someone reading was there and was doin' it and we don't know.

SFFD Report and Combat Ready

Well, the NIOSH report came out from the San Francisco incident and has some good information in it for everyone to learn from.  You can find it Here. 

Also, tomorrow I'll be travelling the short distance to Salibury, NC to take Traditions Training's Combat Ready class.  I have always heard good things about it so I'm excited about it.  If you will be there shoot me a line and I'd love to meet you in person.  Thanks for reading......

San Diego RV Fire

Somehow this post got lost in the mix prior to FDIC, but it still needs to be put out there.  The video below comes from San Diego during a routine RV fire that they had on a normal day.  This video should show all of us why Full PPE is a must on vehicle fires.  These firemen were lucky that it seemed to just flash on them and they were able to retreat.  This video is probably repeated all over the US everyday, without incident because folks were ready.  RV's and large camper fires are a pain for us because of the construction and the construction materials of the vehicle.  These things burn like gasoline, yet too often you see firefighters standing around in no SCBA or PPE, this video should reaffirm the idea that PPE is a must on all fire calls.......

The Behind the Computer Critic

As a Blog follower, as many of you obviously are, we all see what I feel like is a paradigm shift in our fire service.  We all know that there are video cameras everywhere we go, and that almost no working fire goes untaped anymore.  Someone (Public or Fire Service) is taping what we are doing on almost any significant call that we run these days.  I check statter911.com virtually everyday to help me formulate daily training, keep up on the latest cool videos from all around, and inadvertently, I watch unqualified, under-experienced, and most of all ignorant firefighters post how much better they could have done things than the folks being taped.  Really....... you could have gotten water on the line quicker than 2 minutes, well you probably could if you had your department's staffing, no rescues in progress and who knows what other obstacles the brothers in the video had.

I watched a video today where the fire engine was overwhelmed with what they had going on as soon as they pulled the parking brake. Here is the link to it: Fire in Ca .  This video shows just how hectic and chaotic a fire scene can be, because last I checked A frame ladders weren't NFPA complaint but, they sure appear to rescue people just fine in this fire.  In reading the comments, there are some great ones describing how "they" would have done it better and faster and greater.....but really could they have?  Everytime one of these videos comes out, there are always a few who tell everyone they could have done it better.  My question is always: Did they invite you to the critique?  If the answer is no, then you must not be the expert you think you are Captain Anonymous.

My point is that most videos provide only a snapshot of the whole picture of what the brothers encountered.  We know only what side A looked like, or what the uneducated civilians are saying.  Sure, there are some videos that show some training needs in departments, but the last time I checked I wasn't the training officer in the XXXXX Fire Department, hell I'm not even the training officer in my department, so who am I to say what people need to train on in other departments.  But give me a keyboard and a screen name and man I'm John Norman, or Tom Brennan.

Folks, realize that we can critique one another constructively and quietly, not in a public forum.  We can always think we can do it better, prior to any idea what happened on scene or without even knowing what information the folks had prior to arrival.  We all know every department is different, so why do we as a service continue to critique in an open forum everyone's actions at fires of which we have no idea the events leading up to what we watch in our cozy homes.  Watch the videos, discuss them with your people, but don't criticize one another in a public forum.  Get the information and discuss it, but until you know the whole story, don't sharp shoot tactics and videos.

Until the next time, Stay Disciplined and Stay Trained.

My First Published Article

Well, I know its no fire engineering, but the Carolina Fire Rescue Journal is a journal that is distributed to every firehouse in North and South Carolina.  The spring edition came out today and I was fortunate enough for them to have published my article that I submitted.  This is the first article I have had published in my career so I'm very excited about it.  Hopefully, it isn't the last.

Please enjoy the article, it appears on page 60.  Visit it here.

As always thanks for the support.