Frank R. Myers

Frank R. Myers is a retired lieutenant with the City of Miami (Florida) Fire Rescue, where he served for 32 years. He works as a consultant for PSTrax.com, a technology service that helps fire departments across the country automate their apparatus, equipment and inventory checks.

Articles by Frank R. Myers

• Changing positions at your work helps you grow and mature

  Thursday, February 28, 2019

  While I was a firefighter in the Emergency Response Division for my former department, I sincerely looked forward to every tour of duty. However, I never saw the "other" side of my department and understood what happens behind the scenes. It was not until I was awarded the position of driver engineer instructor for me to realize what occurs. It brought my professionalism up to the next level. When I first reported for my first day in my new position, it was great. Sitting in my new office and working with another instructor reviewing some hydraulic equations, which I thoroughly enjoyed, I said to myself, "This is great." Soon after, I learned the many other aspects involved with this position.

• ‘Tuning in’ to people’s feelings, body language and voice tones

  Thursday, January 24, 2019

  I do not claim to be an expert, psychologist or therapy worker; however, I do believe I have a knack for "tuning in" to what people are projecting to me through their various mannerisms. With time and experience, anyone can fine tune their people "reading" capabilities through dealing with them on a day-to-day basis. This is especially true when your line of work is in the medical field. Over several years of being a crew member and then officer on an ALS (advanced life support) rescue unit with my former department, I could quickly determine what is real and what is not real.

• How much pride do you have about your profession?

  Friday, January 11, 2019

  Most of us take great pride in what we do for living — especially those who are in sworn, uniformed careers, i.e., military, law enforcement, fire rescue, customs, corrections officer, etc. Then, there are those who chronically complain about their work. I know it's not easy but maybe they need to consider a career change! All of us understand that work can be challenging at times. But wouldn’t life be boring if we didn’t have these challenges, and subsequently weren't able to reap the rewards with a sense of accomplishment — taking "pride" in what we did accomplish?

• Logistics in the fire department

  Tuesday, December 04, 2018

  When I first signed up to be on my department’s USAR (Urban Search and Rescue), FEMA Florida Task Force 2 (FLTF2) team, I did not have a clue about the different disciplines there were and what was available. I just wanted to be a part of it. The Task Force Leader at that time said we needed logistics personnel. So, I said "OK," sounds neat to me! As a logistics specialist/manager/leader, you were responsible for all equipment and gear (the cache), its inventory, resupply and maintenance. We were also responsible for the vehicles and the driving of them, food and lodging, among other tasks.

• Is camaraderie a tradition we’re losing?

  Wednesday, November 14, 2018

  With the advent of the digital age, we have become our own private islands and become immersed in looking at the screens of our electronic devices. What happened to communicating with people face-to-face or via phone rather than texting or emailing? Those days of interacting with our co-workers around a table are disappearing. I recall when I first walked into the fire station there was a palpable bond that was apparent with the crew(s). Everyone had a nickname and someone was always working on a project, whether for the station, apparatus or a personal endeavor.

• Wheel chock placement for pumper and aerial apparatus

  Wednesday, October 31, 2018

  I remember when I first started going through the procedures for becoming a driver engineer in my former department, I do not recall being told about wheel chocks, or how to use them! Once assigned to a driver’s position, I don’t even recall having wheel chocks on my apparatus. That is probably because the geography of Miami is flat (boring). It was not until a few years later upon becoming the driver engineer instructor that I became educated on their use. Most, if not all, fire apparatus come from the factory with wheel chocks. In general, the wheel chocks should be 25 percent of the measured diameter of the tire.

• Keeping your uniform in order says a lot

  Wednesday, October 10, 2018

  Your uniform says a lot about you and your organization. Personal appearance and hygiene always need to be kept in mind. The way others see you — the public, fellow employees, and others that you associate with in your line of work — can make a statement based on first impressions and beyond. Those who served in the military were taught how to keep uniforms, personal belongings and the place called home for the time being in proper order. These values and traditions carry on throughout life.

• Is honesty the best policy?

  Tuesday, September 18, 2018

  Every department operates with policies, standard operating procedures, guidelines, etc. However, no matter how strictly you follow these parameters, they do not "always" work from a practical standpoint. Is following them to the "T" always working in the best interest of the client/patients/public? Sometimes the decision-makers within the top ranks of a department do not have in-depth knowledge about what is taking place at the lower levels — in my case, serving in the emergency response division of the fire department for most of my career.

• Maintaining your hand and power tools

  Tuesday, September 04, 2018

  During morning checks of your apparatus, it is important to not only check the power tools on your truck, but also the hand tools. Regular maintenance and cleaning need to take place to assure that they will perform correctly when needed and be presentable in case a public demonstration takes place. Keeping this philosophy in mind is a "win-win" situation for both the public and the firefighters that use the tools.

• Are you prepared for retirement? What can you expect?

  Wednesday, August 22, 2018

  Everyone at some point in their life looks forward to retiring. The issue facing some is what we do with our time if we’re still productive. We need to occupy our time by having activity in our lives, both mentally and physically. I started my career as a firefighter when I was 21 years old. I served 32 years and retired at age 54. I know that may sound too early, but 32 years was plenty since the municipality I served for carried a heavy run load. It takes its toll on you mentally and physically because, believe it or not, firefighting is a high-performance job.

• Are you an opportunist or a contributor?

  Monday, August 13, 2018

  Throughout a career, you will encounter many different types of individuals, each with unique personalities. You will soon learn to pick out what a person’s intentions, morals and/or standards are. In other words, "where they are coming from." I have realized that there are those individuals, unfortunately, that just come to work, do the bare minimum, don’t get involved in anything, and just put their time in to collect a paycheck and reap benefits offered to them.

• What impression do you want to leave where you live?

  Tuesday, July 24, 2018

  Most firefighters take great pride in their work and what they do. The decals on personal vehicles and fire department-emblazoned T-shirts, polo shirts or any article of clothing worn off-duty advertise who we are and what we do. The public sees us as servants for the municipality we work for and a person to go to in a time of need. This is especially important if you live in the area where you work! How we act when not in the line of duty is important because any small detail of inconsideration, rudeness, inappropriate behavior, etc. while in public can give not only you, but your department and/or your municipality a bad name.

• What is the most important resource in your fire department?

  Wednesday, July 11, 2018

  Shortly after I was promoted to lieutenant, a questionnaire was given out to several newly promoted personnel. It was quite lengthy, and took me several days to complete. The questionnaire was given out by the contracted testing company, who was outsourced. They did this to find out what the job was like, so they could make a realistic promotional exam based on your duties and responsibilities of all aspects for your rank. To my surprise while completing the questionnaire booklet, somewhere between 70-80 percent of what I answered revolved around "training."

• Is entering all information needed if it isn’t critical? Absolutely

  Wednesday, June 27, 2018

  If you have a job task that requires you to fill out and process forms, do you really need to complete all fields? If you want to be thorough and eliminate continued questions or follow-ups due to lack of information, the answer is "yes." Recouping service funds also can be expedited in some circumstances! Besides filling in "all the boxes," it is important to be as detailed as possible to provide a clear picture. The report or form needs to explain the necessary information clearly in lieu of face-to-face communication for the next person down the line.

• Dealing with changes in management styles

  Wednesday, June 13, 2018

  Everyone at some point in their careers will have to deal with the change of a supervisor. In the fire service, especially at the station level, this is an intimate working relationship unlike other careers where the supervisor stays predominantly in their office and only confers with upper management. We need to realize that everyone has their own management style and we either need to accept it or move on to a different position. We are somewhat fortunate in the fire service because we can transfer and/or bid to go to another station.

• Then and now: Apparatus changes over the years

  Thursday, May 31, 2018

  As many of us have experienced over many years in a career, there are always trends and changes. Besides those that have occurred to apparatus in the fire service, I have also noticed changes in design. The changes on apparatuses have revolved around safety, technology and improvements. As with all changes that occur over time, a trend usually appears across all departments.

• An assortment of forgotten equipment and tools for firefighters

  Thursday, May 17, 2018

  One of the tasks assigned to a new firefighter was to learn the inventory on the trucks in the fire station. It was expected of you to at least open the apparatus compartments and get a mental picture of the location of all equipment and tools. This way, when asked to get a particular item from the truck, you would go straight to its location without wasting time aimlessly searching for it. Over the years, I had noticed that some of the more "unique" items slowly began to disappear and/or were eliminated altogether from the inventory. Some of us "old timers" may remember some of these.

• Coping with the working blues

  Thursday, April 26, 2018

  ​If anyone has served for many years with a fire department, there will be times when a person will have some "lows" based on actions or occurrences at their workplace — sometimes involving co-workers. Knowing how to cope and find ways of getting back on track and becoming more upbeat and enthusiastic about your work will help you become physically, mentally and emotionally stronger.

• Do you have a protocol for the death of a fellow firefighter?

  Thursday, April 12, 2018

  ​At some point in everyone's career, there will be a colleague who will die from accidental or natural causes — active employee or retired. Depending on what your fire department establishes as a standard operating procedure, each should be treated in a specific way.

• Interacting with other municipal agencies at work

  Thursday, March 29, 2018

  When I worked for the fire department, there were many instances and opportunities to interact with members of other municipal departments over the years. For the most part, the encounters occurred day-to-day when working in the emergency response division. However, as my career shifted to the training center, I was assigned to the driver engineer instructor's position, and I was asked to get involved with presentations for different entities and other fire departments.

• Pros and cons of a driver always staying with the truck

  Thursday, March 15, 2018

  Depending on the manning for your department and/or your area of response, is it a good idea to have the driver always remain with the truck? Whether it is a routine movement, medical call, or staging area, there are pros and cons. Let’s look at the different aspects to see what you feel works best for your department, and to possibly adopt it as a policy or Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

• What you do off-duty is just as important as what you do on-duty

  Thursday, March 01, 2018

  ​One day my wife started getting rid of some old T-shirts of mine (without me knowing) to give away to a local charity that resold used clothes. Many were fire department shirts that I had won from T-shirt bets during football season or other fire department shirts I had traded with our department shirts.

• Do you have people willing to do research and development?

  Wednesday, February 14, 2018

  In the fire service, we always had the opportunity to try new equipment, gear, tools, uniforms, turnout gear, etc. Anyone with the opportunity to try different and innovative offerings from different manufacturers should take advantage of it. It can make your job easier, safer, more cost-efficient.

• Pay attention to more than just apparatus gauges and components

  Friday, January 26, 2018

  ​With the inherent nature of firefighting, there are always changing events. It is a dynamic and ever-changing profession. During live fire emergencies and operations, drivers need to remain diligent about the activities occurring around them. They cannot remain focused on the pump panel or aerial operations only; they need to be vigilant about their surrounding area and radio communications.

• Is teaching theory necessary if it’s never used?

  Thursday, January 11, 2018

  ​After instructing aspiring driver engineers at my former department, there were many days of lecture the candidates had to attend to know the ins and outs of operating and understanding a fire apparatus. Once they began to drive, pump, operate the ladder devices, etc., much of the theory was unused.

• Better resources today for firefighters at major working fires

  Thursday, December 14, 2017

  At some point, a firefighter will experience a "major working fire." These types of fires are usually large in scale and require 6-12 hours (or more) of active working, crew changes, staging areas and subsequently a "fire watch" with one unit on standby at the scene after the fire has been extinguished to assure there are no rekindles.

• Accomplish more by keeping structure and organization in your day

  Thursday, November 30, 2017

  Time seemed to go by quickly when employed by the fire service, but I can still recall the first day I walked into the fire station after completing the fire training college — as it was called back in the day — some 36 years ago.

• Sometimes taking no action is a big mistake

  Thursday, November 09, 2017

  With the recent firing of six City of Miami firefighters, many have taken notice. Anytime there is a controversial issue that impacts a public-sector employee, it makes headlines! Supervisors and administrators need to take any type of racial, sexual, hazing harassment seriously. There is no place for it in the fire service — period.

• Paying attention to the smaller items in your inventory goes a long way

  Thursday, October 26, 2017

  ​One of the things "old school" senior firefighters passed on to me was making sure the everyday hand tools and other items were maintained and presentable. This included our forcible entry tools, axes, pike poles, shovels, etc. Regular maintenance not only makes them look good cosmetically (e.g., public demos), but also assures that they are not going to cause further injury when damage and defects occur from regular use and wear and tear.

• The psychology of becoming a firefighter

  Thursday, September 28, 2017

  My lifelong dream was to become a pilot, either military or commercial. However, the financial situation in my household — being raised by my mother in a single-parent household with two other siblings — was not conducive to pay for college or take flying lessons.

• Don’t let technology take your eyes off the big picture

  Wednesday, September 13, 2017

  ​Now more than ever, we must be more diligent about keeping our eyes on other drivers. This is obvious because, unfortunately, other drivers are on mobile devices and not looking at the road. Another factor is that sound systems some people put in their vehicles prevent hearing the sirens and air horns when we are responding on an alarm.

• How well are you performing proper chassis and fluid checks?

  Thursday, August 24, 2017

  ​Believe or not, there is a lot in common with the chassis of a fire apparatus and the different components that have fluid in them. We will discuss in this article what to check for when inspecting and visualizing the apparatus chassis and the different fluid checks necessary for your daily, weekly and monthly inspections.

• Take the extra steps to secure your station from terrorism

  Thursday, August 10, 2017

  ​With the ever-imposing threat of terrorism, it would be a good idea to remind your employees about taking the extra measures to secure your place of work, your vehicles, equipment on the vehicles and any controlled substances. Beyond the misfortune of a terrorist act or attack, it is good practice to protect your assets and equipment from those smart, mischievous persons — both from the public sector and from within the organization — who take advantage when an opportunity arises.

• Your spare fleet is just as important as your front-line apparatus

  Thursday, July 27, 2017

  Maintaining and keeping your spare apparatus fleet functioning and assuring that it stays cosmetically respectable is crucial for your department. One main reason is that during off-duty special events, your spare trucks are the ones seen by masses of tourists, visitors, residents and citizens. The other reason is that it needs to be ready 24/7/365 in case of a disabled front-line apparatus.

• Troubleshoot placing your apparatus into pump gear

  Thursday, July 13, 2017

  Several times during my career I had been called out to evaluate a driver engineer/chauffeur having an issue placing a pumper truck into pump gear. Many times, it was due to operator error. The scene of a fire is a high-energy, adrenaline-packed environment. It is common for mistakes to happen when caught up in the excitement. Learning to take control of your emotions and take a step back to rethink what is happening is a good way to solve issues when a situation goes awry.

• Surround yourself with motivated, knowledgeable people to improve opportunities

  Thursday, June 22, 2017

  I recently had the privilege to be invited to participate in a military exercise as a role player/subject material expert. I was reluctant at first, but with encouragement from my wife and siblings, I decided to give it a try. My invitation came from a FEMA and U.S. Army Reserve team program director that I had worked with as a logistics specialist in the early 1990s. He had contacted several other retired members to create a selective group.

• Know the basics when using a large-diameter hose

  Friday, June 09, 2017

  Back in the day — before the introduction of the large-diameter hose (LDH) — we would use two lines of hose to supply our trucks. One was a 2.5-inch and the other was a 3-inch, laid out simultaneously to the spud intakes of the truck. We had a procedure of always putting hose clamps on each hose. Then, when the driver was ready, he would open the hose clamps and then the gate at the spud to get the incoming supply of water for the truck.

• Get to know your SCBA — it may save your life

  Thursday, May 11, 2017

  Besides our protective firefighting/turnout/bunker gear, our SCBAs are probably our most important piece of protective equipment. There is no doubt that protecting our respiratory system is invaluable. We have come a long way from the days when we were taught to "conserve" our air or be classified as a "smoke eater." These were no doubt poor decisions that came with the honor of being a firefighter. Nowadays, it is smart and prudent to don your SCBA and begin respiratory protection prior to getting out of the truck or before crossing the "threshold" of the hazardous environment/situation.

• Advantages of doing hydrant maintenance in public

  Thursday, April 20, 2017

  ​If your department does hydrant maintenance such as flushing, testing, painting, etc., take advantage of what you can while out in the public. These same opportunities can also be used when performing standpipe and sprinkler connection inspections. The greatest advantage is for drivers to become familiar with the location of the hydrants in their first alarm territory. This also is good knowledge for other truck crew members.

• Take the extra steps for your SCBAs to protect your members

  Thursday, April 06, 2017

  Departments, their SOPs and Air Program personnel need to assure that all safety precautions, fit tests and maintenance occur on a regular basis. Sometimes, incidents require a change in SOPs and our practices to ensure safety for our members. When I first came on the job, each suppression apparatus had an SCBA pack per crew member on the truck.

• Sensors do not replace your senses when setting up aerial devices

  Thursday, February 23, 2017

  As technology continues to advance in the fire service, certain safety precautions still need to take place regardless of what computers and on-board safety systems tell us. There is no doubt that the new systems and technology being added to fire apparatus are an asset. However, they should not be relied upon as the "final" answer to start operations.

• Keep your home, family and loved ones a priority in your career

  Thursday, January 26, 2017

  ​Most firefighters are gung-ho by nature. We run at 110 percent and thrive on the adrenaline. Even though we are committed as public servants, we need to reconsider taking that unnecessary, uncalculated and unwarranted risk that will endanger us and our lives. Plus, the stress that goes along with having a firefighter/EMS career can take its toll over time, or even immediately in some circumstances.

• Millennials still need to grasp the old-school ways in the fire service

  Thursday, January 12, 2017

  Technology has advanced tremendously in the past decade or more. There is no doubt it has changed our lives and the way we do things. However, technology cannot replace certain knowledge, skills and abilities — especially when it comes to the fire department.

• Holidays bring a new set of skills we don’t usually practice

  Thursday, December 08, 2016

  The holiday season usually sees a spike in fire department alarms. There is no doubt some calls are the result of more people visiting families. However, the holidays also bring on the blues for some people. It can be a time of sadness because of too much holiday-related stress or too few family members with whom to connect. It can also bring on negative aspects of other existing conditions.

• Just how busy is the driver at a fire scene?

  Thursday, December 01, 2016

  The driver of a fire suppression emergency apparatus can become quite the busy little bee when arriving with a crew at a fire scene. Besides initially pulling the hose or getting the fans and generators in place — whether driving a pumper or an aerial — the subsequent tasks remain constant. Drivers may not be inside the structure fighting the fire, but they have their hands full, and many people do not realize what is taking place around the truck.

• Changing unwanted driver behavior and attitude

  Thursday, November 10, 2016

  There are times when a driver can begin to display bad habits when driving the apparatus. This can occur either while driving on routine movements or during emergency responses. If the officer or other crew members need to address unsafe exhibition of their driving techniques or "road rage," then action needs to be taken before costly damage occurs (possibly from litigation or vehicle damage), reputations are ruined or the fire department gets a bad rap and tarnished image.

• New firefighters need to know their department’s vehicles

  Thursday, October 27, 2016

  My former department recently had many firefighters retire. Because of this, there was a need to train many new recruits in a short amount of time. When it comes to training, there are some areas that should not be compromised, especially in actual driving training for new recruits — that time "behind the wheel."

• Take advantage of fire department certification opportunities

  Wednesday, October 12, 2016

  Many fire departments offer some type of education and/or certification policy or reimbursement program. Taking advantage of them can enhance your future and increase valuable knowledge. The "paper" is also something you can take with you, especially if future plans change.

• Be prepared for when a civil disturbance occurs

  Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Recent events across the nation have raised awareness about a civil disturbance that could happen in your municipality. It's imperative to have a standard operating procedure in place to assure the members of your department have a personal protection mindset, and to confirm that your equipment is ready.

• Advance your career by working in different areas of your department

  Wednesday, September 14, 2016

  ​One way to get a profound understanding of your career is to work in different interdepartmental areas. This can include: fire prevention, code enforcement, communications, public education, EMS, training, emergency response division (ERD), urban search and rescue (FEMA), or any other area your department may have not listed here or titled differently.

• What you should do when new equipment arrives

  Thursday, August 25, 2016

  There are few feelings in a firefighter's career better than when you get new equipment either issued to you or to your truck, or get a brand new apparatus for your station. Right away, become familiar with the operation and function for the new gear/equipment. It is absolutely necessary to know every button, horn, whistle. In other words, you get to know it intimately. When you arrive at the scene of an emergency, it does not look good in the public's eyes if you are fumbling around trying to figure out how to get it to work.

• How ready are you to do a public demonstration in an instant?

  Thursday, August 11, 2016

  I recall on many occasions being contacted by our district chief or other official fire department entity to do a public demonstration either within a few hours or on the same day. There were many types of establishments we would visit along with various topics that would be requested.

• What the driver can do to maintain the service life of a pump

  Thursday, July 28, 2016

  To help maintain a pump in good working order and extend its service life, a driver can keep pressure out of the pump when not in use, keep it cool during pumping operations and prevent debris from entering it. I tell my driver engineers that centrifugal pumps do not like heat, debris and air. At a recent breakout session at the Fire Department Instructors Conference, presenter Chad Szeklinski from the Milwaukee Fire Department addressed how to relieve pump pressure. His method was to briefly open the tank-to-pump valve while the truck was out of pump gear.

• Think vertical when operating fire apparatus

  Wednesday, July 13, 2016

  Different from normal passenger vehicles, fire apparatus are taller from ground to roof line or highest point — especially aerial ladder/platform devices that pumpers do not have. One of the biggest changes new firefighters and new aerial drivers need to learn is getting into the habit of looking up and sometimes up and forward (especially for platform devices) when driving their trucks. It is important to know the vehicle height and have good depth perception when operating the ladder/platform device.

• Pros and cons of lower-friction hoses and lower-psi nozzles

  Thursday, June 30, 2016

  Several years ago, the fire department I worked at made a change to lower-friction hoses and lower-psi nozzles. Initially, the reduction in pump pressures was clearly apparent. We had previously been using 1 1/2-inch hose with 100 and 125 psi nozzles, and we switched to 1 3/4-inch hose with 75 psi. Our calculated pump pressures went from 152 psi to 102 psi. This definitely required less work from the pump.

• Don’t let apparatus ‘tail whip’ catch you by surprise

  Thursday, June 16, 2016

  "Tail whip" refers to the area of the truck extending backwards from the rear or rearmost wheels to the end of the tailboard. Different types of apparatus, especially ladder or aerial devices, can have several feet of body extended rearward. This dimension needs to be kept in consideration for several reasons. Can it make a turn getting out of the station without damaging the building? Is there enough room on the street in front of the station to turn without disrupting traffic or pedestrian sidewalks? Can we access all areas in our first alarm territory? Do we need to train the drivers to become familiar with the new dimensions if different from their previous truck?

• Truck steering and air brakes: Making them work in harmony

  Thursday, May 26, 2016

  ​One of the toughest adjustments for new apparatus drivers is knowing proper large vehicle operation techniques. Compared to normal passenger vehicles, truck tires are bigger, steering wheels are larger, and air brakes operate and feel completely different.

• The best safety tip for driving emergency vehicles? Slow down

  Thursday, May 12, 2016

  The common reality for emergency vehicle drivers is a duty to respond. The people we serve want us to arrive in the shortest time possible. But at what cost? We have all heard and know the terms associated with emergency driving and responding: adrenaline rush, sirencide, being "first in," beating the other truck to scene, getting out of the station first, etc.

• During your morning checkout, don’t overlook the small details

  Thursday, April 28, 2016

  When it comes to routines, it's easy to miss the small details. I mean the little things you don't feel are important or are just easily overlooked — such as lights, mirrors, windshields, side glass, fire-hose, equipment on the exterior of the truck and compartment doors.

• Knowing where to look when driving fire apparatus

  Wednesday, April 13, 2016

  ​Instructing many new firefighters on driving larger vehicles, I observed that one of the crucial items many of them needed to learn was the reference points around their vehicle. While performing different day-to-day driving and intricate maneuvers, drivers also needed to know when and where to use the truck's mirrors.

• What items do you carry in your apparatus cab?

  Thursday, March 31, 2016

  I remember working on new apparatus specifications and debating the best place to keep our reference books and storage box. With the advent of digital devices, those areas can be repurposed — but should they be? No. Digital devices require batteries and need to be constantly charged. A book does not and is readily available when needed. They are useful as the backup plan.

• Protecting your crew at an accident or emergency scene

  Thursday, March 10, 2016

  A substantial number of fire department alarms involve accident scenes. These emergencies can involve vehicles, bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians, utilities or any other type of occurrence that disrupts the normal flow of daily life. As emergency responders, we need to protect ourselves from the external hazards while operating in these environments.

• Using electronic backup cameras

  Thursday, February 25, 2016

  New technology — and advancements to existing technology — floods the fire service year after year. While many of these tools are great, it is important to realize that these items, just like any other piece of equipment, can fail or malfunction. Electronic backup cameras are no exception.

• When technology fails, it pays to know your hydraulics

  Thursday, February 11, 2016

  ​Since teaching fire service hydraulics to aspiring driver engineers a few years ago, several new trends have emerged in departments across the country. One of these is that drivers only need to memorize the pressures on their preset fire lines on their assigned truck and not calculate hydraulics equations for any given line/nozzle on the fly (in their head) for exams or working at fires.

• Getting back to basics in fire truck specifications

  Thursday, January 21, 2016

  When you respond to an extensive number of calls, apparatus breakdowns are bound to occur. With technology advancing in the fire apparatus industry, components are becoming more expensive to replace and/or repair. Sometimes we need to reflect and see what is really needed, especially when vehicle wear and tear is constant.

• Have you considered a legacy, contingency or backfill plans?

  Thursday, January 07, 2016

  ​I remember the supervision books I read when studying for promotional exams always seemed to have a statement to the effect of, "You can always judge how well a department is run when the manager is not present."

• Color adjustment: Is red the right choice for fire trucks?

  Thursday, December 03, 2015

  I recently had a discussion with a colleague about the different colors fire trucks are these days. One focus was whether some form of the yellow color spectrum is safer than the traditional fire engine red. Even though many statistics show that it is, he brought up a good point: With the lighting options and configurations now available, we can light up the trucks like a Christmas tree!

• Leadership lesson: Giving driver candidates a second chance

  Thursday, November 19, 2015

  There is no doubt one of the most difficult tasks as a firefighter is operating at the pump panel of a fire truck. When we see the driver/engineer/operator at a working fire, it looks as though he is not doing much. However, if the job is done right, it requires a lot of mental preparation to provide the proper pressures when the standard hose lengths, diameters and nozzles change from those that are preloaded on the truck.

• Driver beware: You never know who is watching

  Thursday, October 01, 2015

  Video recording is everywhere — from personal cellphones to highway and street cameras that record everything from traffic flow to red-light runners. Therefore, it's a good idea for public safety officials to always act as though they're being recorded.

• Do you support your members after a vehicle accident?

  Wednesday, September 16, 2015

  Recently, an unfortunate event occurred in my former department. Two of our vehicles — an ALS unit transporting a patient and their family and a pumper truck responding to another alarm — collided at an intersection. The pumper truck had even rolled onto its side after impact. Thankfully, there were only minor injuries to all crew members involved in the accident, and they were sent home for the rest of their tour.

• How quickly can you set up a foam operation?

  Thursday, August 20, 2015

  How quickly can your crew set up a foam operation? For this article, I am talking about trucks (standard pumpers) that have foam containers and a foam eductor attached to a discharge gate. I am not talking about trucks that have foam piped into their systems.

• Maintaining a great public impression

  Wednesday, August 05, 2015

  Fire departments — and the firefighters that operate them — are pillars of the community. People come by the station to vote, install child safety seats, have their blood pressure taken, check out all the cool equipment and a whole host of other things. We are public servants who have the duty and honor of leaving a positive impression on the communities we serve.

• Is your fire truck operation-ready 24/7/365?

  Thursday, July 16, 2015

  Despite why you chose a career in the fire service — to help people, excitement, tradition, opportunity, etc. — the fact remains that it is one of the most dangerous professions out there. In our line of work, minutes and seconds count.

• Does your department have an Accident Review Committee?

  Wednesday, June 24, 2015

  Depending on your department's accident rate, an Accident Review Committee may not be a bad idea. There are many potential benefits. The idea of an ARC is to modify driver behavior without taking disciplinary action. The remediation process and post-accident documentation should not be placed in an employee’s personnel folder. Rather, records should be maintained by the designated driver training person in your department.

• How ready is your department when liability issues occur?

  Wednesday, May 20, 2015

  Sooner or later, your department will face litigation from the private sector when an apparatus accident occurs. It is important that your department's subject material experts, or the person(s) assigned to the training of your drivers, are prepared. Based on personal experience, I recommend that this person have several items in place.