efdcapt115

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Posts posted by efdcapt115

  1. Posted

    In case you haven't been paying attention to the drought that happens to be devastating much of the country right now, or the wildfires that have consumed a million acres of land lately, or the LODD of a 20 year old forestry firefighter the other day, you might want to read the article link below.

    Climate change and global warming; I don't know. Maybe because of the politics of it all, and the MSM not really getting the point across, I never gave it much thought.

    But this article is an EYE-OPENER imho.

    The coming winter? Good question.

    http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719

    JM15 and PEMO3 like this

  7. Posted

    Bill:

    Thank you for your in-sight, a huge help. Yes I 100% agree candidates should be able to seek out their own information. However, if they ask for help and you do not know the answer to it's fullest shouldn't you start to pull from your pool of help? Forums is a great way to do that along with manuals, manufacturers. That is exactly what I did in this instance. By no means did I want to start a shitstorm on a forum. Have a good night and stay safe everyone!

    It's not a shiitstorm Bro, it's just the process we have to go through to get answers around here. lol

    Y'all come back again now.

    x4093k likes this

  10. Posted · Edited by helicopper

    Date: 8/5/2012

    Time: 1430 hrs

    Location: Oak Creek, WI.

    Frequency:

    Units Operating:

    Weather Conditions:

    Description Of Incident: MCI Shooting at a Sikh Temple. Police Chief Bradley Wentlandt reporting an officer shot and a chaotic scene with possibly many victims. Fluid situation and the chief has asked media to refrain from showing images which may endanger officers on the scene.

    Reporters:

    http://www.huffingto...emple-shooting/

    http://content.usato.../1#.UB7QQPaPWTP

    x129K and sfrd18 like this

  11. Posted

    Hope you don't mind me piping in here, because I know very little about these cameras. I think they can be an excellent tool for training purposes though. The videos I've seen made from a POV camera are quite amazing; of course they're great until visibility goes to zero.

    A POV camera that incorporates TIC technology would be a great advancement.

    How much do POV cameras generally cost?

  15. Posted

    Sage,

    As a young, now ex-officer, I can completely relate to your situation. When I turned 21, marking my 3 years as a firefighter and thus allowing (by by-laws) to run for lieutenant, I was pressured into running and becoming an officer. Low and behold, I became the youngest lieutenant [ever] in my hometown fire department. I had a lot of issues to face, not only from a training perspective, but to live up to my family name (my father was chief and my mother a lieutenant, both for several years). Being an officer is a terrible place for a young firefighter, no matter the situation.

    Any how, let's get to your issue: How do we get the older guys invlolved in training and helping the younger guys learn and gain experience. I will tell you there is no right answer. And the older guys will tell you all the wrong answers (I'm not bashing anybody here, but let's face the fact that the older generation of firefighters are more susceptible to tradition than progression). So, I'm going to tell you my little secret.

    Here's my secret: Find an ex-chief, or a firefighter that has been around a while, or any of the older guys that has a real passion for the job. And, if you're ready for it, because this is the hard part, ask for their help. Do this in a comfotable setting (for me, I pulled an ex-chief aside in the bar and asked him, "How do I do this?"). Most people in the fire service, when you ask, are more than willing to help...well, you should know that since you have plenty of responses to your question already. But let's get back on track...once you have that elder's attention, he or she will tell you what you need to do and how to do it (especially after a few adult beverages). Continue talking to them until they decide to go home. You won't believe the information that spills out of their mouths.

    The other approach that I've taken was to be an authoritarian. This is where you put your foot down and say, "You are doing this, or you're not riding the fire truck. Period." This is a last ditch effort, however. Please refer to the previous paragraph as much as possible before resorting to the authoritarian approach. There's a time to be an @$$hole as an officer, but it should only be a last resort. I will tell you from experience, if you are a hard @$$ as an officer, volunteers will not show up. But, if they don't want to cooperate, remind those folks of the rules/by-laws, and show them who's the boss.

    Bottom line, be confident in all of your decisions. Be confident in your training. As always, take more classes. If you need to, find guest instructors. But, most importantly, as an officer you cannot be afraid to ask questions. If you show the older guys (by asking them questions) that you want to learn more, and that your younger guys want to learn more, then they will be more willing to help out and show up to training.

    Your post is interesting, however I think you are being a bit judgmental when you lump all "older" firemen into one group and say they are more susceptible to tradition than progression.

    First off, while older firemen love tradition, most younger people (if they truly have the heart of firefighting within) quickly fall in love with tradition as well.

    Yet while older guys love their traditions, many have always been focused on progression as well. How do you think the fire service has gotten to the point it has today? It has been lead by the more experienced, who have done the work, done the legislative lobbying, developed new SOP/G's for fireground operation and training as well.

    I know the old-timers Sage referring too. If they can't cut the interior qualifications, they're out. Simple as that. There is plenty more for them to do outside, just make sure they don't get their hands on an unauthorized hoseline and start shooting it in the windows while the interior peeps are doing their thing.

    In closing, I guess the distinction must be made with regard to training and senior members as to whether or not they are going to be interior. And making sure that those who are not going in, don't do anything dangerous on the fireground to endanger those within, or any other part of the operation.

    wraftery, LTFIREPRG, Bnechis and 2 others like this

  18. Posted

    It looks like you are in New Hampshire. If I am right, the state motto is "Live Free or Die." Maybe those older guys sre just "living free" and don't want to be told that they have to train. The second alternative in the state motto could come into play for one or more people in your department if you don't train.

    Along with what EFDCAPT115 said, you might also try these:

    1. See if the state has any requirements in place for training.

    2. Go to a similar dept in your area that you feel is "squared away." Find out how they go about getting interest in training. They might even be nice enough to give you their training schedule and/or lesson plans.

    3. Get a dept like the one in #2 to allow you to join them in a mutual aid drill

    4.Bring a guest speaker in and have the speaker scare the sh#$ out of them. For you, I would try DC John Sullivan, Worcester MA, or somebody from Peabody, MA.

    Try some of these tricks and get back to us with an evaluation.

    Number 4 Chief. Very good. I'd recommend Salka. That guy.........lol

  20. Posted

    First thing, classrooms are not the place to motivate firefighters. Unless you can offer something compelling. Take NIOSH LODD reports and recreate them on a white board. Explain to them the events leading up to what went wrong. This will stick in their heads.

    Classroom time; limit it to 30 minutes before you break. Open the windows, doors, let fresh oxygen in as it depletes while everyone is sitting there and makes them sleepy.

    Second thing, get them outside with the rigs and equipment. This is what they want to be doing in the first place. Be creative, but not dangerous.

    The more imaginative you can be with your training the better it's going to go.

    Get that gear and equipment out of those compartments. Let them get hands on with everything.

    Lastly, have a simple goal in mind for the training session. One thing that you really want to stress, impress and make them remember.

    dwcfireman, BFD1054, 16fire5 and 4 others like this

  22. Posted · Edited by efdcapt115

    Hello Christopher,

    It may not feel like it now, because we all know that you are hurting and in pain, but guess what? You actually have a great advantage over other kids your age! You will grow up to be a stronger person, and it will help you as you pursue your goal of being a firefighter! Yes that's right. :)

    You see, when you are tested like this, it builds courage and strength that few other people possess. Chris, most people don't have the advantage of being so strong in character at such a young age. We know you may not feel that way right now, and we want you to know that all of us here; the firefighters, the paramedics, the police, the emergency technicians, the dispatchers, all of us are pulling for you as you get through the tough fight you have been fighting. We also know you are going to make it! And your dreams of being a firefighter can come true in one way or another.

    Guys like you are a shining example of what a good firefighter is made of. Guys like you never cease to amaze me.

    Strength.

    Honor.

    Duty.

    All of these qualities you already possess, and we support you and your goals when you get through what you have to do.

    Stay strong Christopher as you get through this difficult time. I really look forward to hearing how things are going for you. You're going to be just fine buddy.

    Respectfully yours,

    Captain George Glover (retired)

    Eastchester New York Fire Department

    e-mail: efdcapt115@aol.com

    PEMO3, sueg, JM15 and 6 others like this