Fire Engineering

09/27/2025

09/26/2025

Hooks & Hoses: Striking a Balance Between Safety and Realism in Live Fire Training

In this episode of Hooks & Hoses, host Eric Dreiman delves into the complexities of live fire training, sharing lessons from his extensive experience across acquired structures and fixed facilities. He emphasizes the critical balance between adhering to NFPA 1403, Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions, and providing firefighters with realistic, effective training that prepares them for the unpredictable nature of real fires. Dreiman discusses the value of the crawl-walk-run approach in building confidence and skills, the challenges of controlling burn conditions using door management and burn packages, and the limitations of various training props, including gas-fired simulators and flashover chambers. He stresses how overly intense heat can hinder learning and create dangerous “training scars,” while too-safe scenarios risk fostering a false sense of security.

09/26/2025

One person was hospitalized after a sedan fell off an overpass on Route 283 in Mount Joy Township and caught fire on September 22, 2023. The...

09/26/2025

🚒 Two rigs. Five firefighters. One shot to do it right.

When staffing isn’t ideal, clarity and tempo make the difference. Here’s how Decatur (TX) Fire Department runs their five-person fireground response, and what other departments can learn from it: https://ow.ly/pbtE50X2y8t

09/25/2025

The term “excited delirium” is no longer recognized by the medical community. But the legal consequences for paramedics in the Elijah McClain case show just how high the stakes are when fire and EMS providers are called to behavioral emergencies.

Fire service leaders should be aware:
✅ The AP’s Lethal Restraint report is a must-read.
✅ Long Beach Fire’s “integrated medical response” model offers practical lessons.
✅ The new consensus statement from NAEMSP, IAFC, and IACP is now the gold standard for EMS-law enforcement collaboration.

The diagnosis may be gone, but the risks are real. Stay informed, train your crews, and know the guidance that protects both patients and providers.

More here: https://ow.ly/f27850X1AM9

09/25/2025

09/25/2025

WEBCAST TODAY, 11 am ET:
https://ow.ly/LAEZ50WTu0n
Morning Pride® Gear
-with Shaun Teacher

Choosing the right turnout gear is critical yet challenging, given the need to balance protection, performance, and comfort. Morning Pride® helps fire departments navigate these complexities by offering gear engineered for reliability and safety, featuring proven materials and customizable options. With a legacy of innovation and quality, Morning Pride empowers firefighters to make informed purchases that meet demanding standards because every detail counts when lives are on the line.

More info and registration:
https://ow.ly/LAEZ50WTu0n

Sponsored by Morning Pride

09/24/2025

Technical rescues push us to think creatively and adapt quickly. In Manchester, NH, a firefighter rescue team safely extricated a patient trapped under a 4,000-pound mini excavator in a trench. Multiple lift plans were attempted before the team successfully lifted the machine using rams, air bags, and cribbing—all in under 40 minutes.

Key takeaways:

🛠️Always have multiple plans ready
🛠️Stage your equipment ahead of time
🛠️Maintain clear communication
🛠️Keep medical personnel ready for immediate care
🛠️Dedicate a safety officer for complex rescues

Training and teamwork make the difference between a good outcome and a tragedy.

Read the full breakdown here: https://ow.ly/bz5550X1K62

09/24/2025

Humpday Hangout: Cancer Legislation, Wildland Firefighting, and More

This installment of the Humpday Hangout explores the raw realities of wildland firefighting and the urgent push for federal recognition of occupational cancer in first responders. Gabriel Kirkpatrick Mann, filmmaker of the acclaimed documentary Hotshot, talks about his six-year journey embedding with elite hotshot crews in California’s brutal wildfires. He reveals the physical demands, evolving mission scope, and overlooked health risks these firefighters face. Transitioning to policy, Julie Paidar, widow of Mike Paidar, fire captain from the St. Paul (MN) Fire Department, discusses her tireless advocacy for the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act. This groundbreaking legislation was created to grant cancer-related line-of-duty death benefits at the federal level. She and Jimmy Seavey Jr., a firefighter and advocate, emphasize the need for legislative momentum and grassroots pressure to address this crisis, which touches every firehouse in the United States.

https://www.hotshotmovie.com

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/828231419367046
S.237 link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/237
S.237 co-sponsors: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/237/cosponsors

HR.1269 link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1269
HR. 1269 co-sponsors: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1269/cosponsors

http://congress.gov/members/find-your-member

09/24/2025

Drones in the fire service aren’t the future...they’re the now.

From live thermal imaging to real-time video streaming, drones are giving us what Chief Brunacini called “making the unknown known.” They’re changing how we size up incidents, improving situational awareness, and making the job safer for firefighters on the ground.

Departments are already experimenting with drones at structure fires, wildland incidents, and even EMS calls. But with this new tool comes the need for training, policies, and a solid understanding of the limits: battery life, wind, and pilot skill matter.

More here: https://ow.ly/qN3K50X1COt

09/24/2025

A cliff hanger...

More from Paul Combs: https://ow.ly/urIZ50X1xOE

09/23/2025

Women in Fire: Inside the Fire Service Promotion Process

In this episode of the Women in Fire podcast, host Lisa Baker, Southwest Trustee, Women in Fire, welcomes experts from California and Colorado dissect the realities behind fire service promotions, from driver/operator to captain and beyond. Deputy Chief Heather Mozdean of the Fremont (CA) Fire Department, Lieutenant Heidi Simon of the South Metro (CO) Fire Department, and Firefighter Brooke Sims of the Aurora (CO) Fire Department, share their hard-earned insights on the motives behind seeking promotion, the rigors of written and practical testing, and the critical leadership responsibilities that departments often overlook. They also address common pitfalls like test integrity, balancing firefighter and engineer experience, and the tough conversations that must happen when officers fall short. Sims offers a frontline perspective on juggling study demands with family life, while Mozdean and Simon emphasize mentorship and ongoing development through task books and probationary periods.