After a busy, and extremely fun, past week teaching at my
career department’s “Rescue Engine School”, I finally have a few moments to get
back to the blog. As I’ve stated
in a previous post, we are a small department that operates within a larger
fire and rescue system. With that
said, on the suppression side we operate with an Engine, Truck, Rescue Engine,
and Battalion Chief. The Rescue
Engine runs as an Engine Company or a Rescue Company depending on the nature of
the call and our location in the run order. This is determined at the transmission of the alarm and
there is no confusing what our role is at any point during the incident. I believe this procedure and our
equipment compliment greatly assist us in effectively operating a dual-purpose
rig. However, I believe these two
things are only half of the equation.
The people on the rig make up the other half of the equation of
operating effectively with a dual-purpose rig. I became inspired to write this after a well-known fire
service acquaintance saw some photos of Rescue Engine School and complimented
our department for having qualifications to ride the rig, instead of just
putting “warm bodies” in seats.
If you read this blog, then you know my stance on mediocrity
and the lowering of standards within the fire service: it’s detrimental and has
a negative impact on our efficiency and effectiveness. My department has done an excellent job
of ensuring that our folks are certified AND qualified to ride the Rescue
Engine. When operating a
dual-purpose rig, members must be efficient and effective in multiple company
operations. Literally we can run a
box alarm or pin job as a Rescue Company and be returning to quarters from
those incidents when we are alerted to respond to a first-due box alarm or gas
leak as an Engine Company. To
operate effectively, there can be no stumbling or excuses for lack of
proficiency in either Engine or Rescue Company operations. Simply allowing “warm bodies” to sit in
the seats on your rigs is one of the quickest ways to set your department up
for failure.
So how do you prevent “warm bodies” from occupying the seats
on your rigs? Ensure your members are certified AND qualified. Simply attending training and getting a
certification does not mean you are qualified. Displaying competency with the rig’s equipment and
performing tasks associated with your respective company responsibilities are
essential. Continuously strive to
improve performance and gain knowledge.
The fire service and the environments we operate within our
dynamic. It’s essential that we
adapt to the conditions we may encounter.
Not to discredit “old school” methods or training, but just because you
attended a vehicle extrication or fire behavior class in 1990 doesn’t mean you
will be efficient or effective in 2012.
Conversely, new members of the fire service should learn the “old
school” methods as they still may prove to be applicable in today’s fire
service. Be “Into” The Job.
While we can’t, and shouldn’t try to, control what members are doing outside
of the firehouse. We should ensure
that the fire service is a priority to them while they are at the
firehouse. Too often folks are in
the firehouse focusing way too much of their time and attention to their
part-time jobs, fantasy football, sports scores, or other non-fire service
items. Sure, folks need time to
tend to things outside of the fire service but it shouldn’t be the majority of
their time. It’s our
responsibility to show these members why being “into” the job is beneficial to
themselves, to their fellow firefighters, and to the citizens we serve. Create
“thinking” firefighters and encourage innovation. Lay the groundwork for the members by impressing the “principles”
of what we do, but don’t necessarily bind their hands with procedures. Teach them to apply the principles when
making decisions and carrying out tasks.
This is how new methods are developed. Some work, some don’t.
As much as some folks try to “dumb” this job down and remove decision-making
from it, there simply isn’t a manual or procedure for every incident we will
respond to. We need folks that can
think and make solid decisions at all levels within the fire service. You don’t wake up one morning, get
promoted, and all of the sudden become a good decision maker.
While I led this post off talking specifically about our
Rescue Engine, the principles of this post can be applied to any rig. No rig should simply have “warm bodies”
in the seats. It’s up to you and
your department to determine which course of action you take. However, simply putting the “warm
bodies” on the rig will do nothing for your efficiency or effectiveness. I'll leave you with some photos of various evolutions we conducted during our Rescue Engine School to ensure our members operate in an efficient and effective manner.
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| Members utilize the First Responder Hi Lift Jack to "pop" a door from the latch side at the "no hydraulics" station |
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| The end result |
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| Members utilize the Harrington Chain Hoist to perform a column pull at the "no hydraulics" station |
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| No big deal right? |
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| Members utilized the Paratech 10 ton lifting rams to lift the pole and facilitate roof removal |
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| "Victim's" leg pinned between the pole and the headliner of the vehicle |
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| Final extrication scenario |
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| Principles applied |
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| Assistance from Redman's Heavy Wrecker |
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| Stokes litter evacuation from the 5th floor |
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| "Mountain Biker" injured in Mosby Woods National Forest |
