Oh Christmas Tree

The oversized tree was up and decorated. Bright lights. Colorful Christmas ornaments. The family heirloom from my grandmother place in the middle. Anintricate angle doll sits on the tippy top of the tree. Everything was done with the tree that day around noon. Dec 26th. You read that correctly. The day after the great present explosion, we finally finished getting the tree put up. Why bother completing a task the day after the due date? If we couldn't get the tree ready in 364 days, why still do it? That is where the wisdom of children comes in.

My daughter, baby girl, is a whole 5 yrs. old. Old enough to write a Christmas wish list, make cookies for Santa, and help decorate a tree. Doing the tradition of putting a tree up was on my to-do list, but not really near the top. Two days before Christmas, I finally stayed home long enough to clear out the space and put the tree up. Being that I am a husband and color blind, I opt not to get involved in the details of what goes where on the tree. But despite starting, we never finished. And since baby girl had actually slept over at her aunt's Christmas eve, it seemed like we were facing a year where we missed the Christmas tree standard.

"So, daddy, can I help decorate the Christmas tree tomorrow?" Of all the things I expected to hear her say on Christmas, that wasn't one of them. Has anyone ever asked you to keep going when you already stopped? You set a goal, you missed the mark, and now someone is looking at you saying "Keep going!" As we make our way through life, we stumble and fall at times. It only becomes failure when we don't get back up.

And so, we made time. Amid the hustle and bustle of opening more presents, learning to ride a new bike, and drinking hot coco, the tree was finished. My daughter never stops amazing me. An ordinary day with my kid, reminds me of the extraordinary life lesson of how to keep on, keeping on.

About the Author  

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Remembering the Sandy Hook Tragedy and Thoughts on where we are at Four Years Later

Four years ago, on December 14, 2012 tragedy struck our country, we lost 20 children and 8 adults.Twenty innocent children and seven adults who were going about their day at their elementary school in the small town of Newtown Connecticut. They werekilled by of a psychotic and ruthless murderer.

I remember where I was, what I was doing that day and will always remember hearing the news and live radio audio as to what happened a short 40-minute drive from my college campus. I was a junior in college and assigned to work for the ambulance service of a neighboring town. I had been offered to work that day but had turned it down due to finals being that week and I desperately needed to study. Unfortunately, that day, my colleagues who worked the same BLS service that I did, had to respond to the shooting and help. I couldn’t feel anything but guilt that a new guy had to take that shift on one of his first days working for our company.

The valiant response that day by the school staff and first responders, some of whom I have worked with was honorable and courageous. They saved as many lives as they could. However, the lives of 27 people were lost. Those 27 people will always be remembered for good people that they were, we continue to pray for their families and friends. We also continue to keep our colleagues that were there that tragicday in our thoughts and prayers.

About the Author

 NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the 2nd Assistant Chief of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management.

Perceptions. Life in the Public Eye

The other night on my way home from dinner with my wife, we decided to stop for a quick drink. I don’t know about anyone else, but every time I walk into any type of building or store I always take a quick survey around. I look at the atmosphere, type of clientele, décor, entrances, exits, and even the type of building construction. Shortly after we sat down I noticed a group of firefighters at the bar hanging out, drinking, and having a good time.

I was glad to see that they were getting along so well, and it was nice to see the wide range of ages within the group. Having friendships outside the firehouse is also a very good thing to have as it helps build a stronger connection and a more cohesive group. However, the question that is raised is how did I know they were firefighters? Well, the answer to that is actually simple. The group were all wearing company clothing; t-shirts, job shirts, and a few were even in full station wear uniform.

As the night progressed and I was enjoying my time with my wife I couldn’t help but notice the group of firefighters having beer after beer and shot after shot. They were getting louder and louder and rowdier and rowdier. It was unmistakable as to the fact that they were there and who they were.

The object of this post is not to put anyone down, make me out to be an angel, to rip on anyone. The object of this post is to try to bring the concept of Perception in the Public Eye to light. Hanging out with the guys and enjoying each other’s company and having a good time. There is a point though where you have to be smart about it.

The citizens we are responsible to protect call us in their hour of need. They know that if they need help the fire department will always be there. As public servants, we are often looked at in a different manner and all too often held to a much higher standard in the publics eyes. Anytime we are out in public wearing shirts, hats, jackets, job-shirts, uniforms, or anything related to our department we turn into walking billboards and automatically people start paying more attention to us, weather we know it or not.

As we all know, social media is a huge part of everyday life. Basically everyone has a camera phone and instant access to multiple different forms of social media platforms. By wearing any type of company attire while drinking and carrying on it opens yourself up for a ton of negative publicity. All it would take is one person to take a picture and post it to social media and spin a caption in a negative light. It doesn’t matter if what is posted is exactly what happened or not, what matters is people will see people in uniforms drinking and carrying on. Then every time they see someone in uniform they will remember what they saw.

It is alright to go out and have fun, everyone has to be able to have a good time. You just have to remember to be smart about it. Remember how you act and what you wear reflects not only on you, but your department, and the entire fire service family. Always try to conduct yourself as if someone is always watching, because when you are wearing company attire you are putting yourself under the microscope of public perception.

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the fire service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

The SOGs of Success

And finally, I'm done. Months of studying late into the night, way past my bed time.
Months reading acronyms that seemed to be a language all their own. Months of practicing skills now rooted in my mind ready to activate at a moment’s notice. After all that, I have completed the promotional process. All that I wait for now is the phone call that decides where I go from here. 
 
One part my departments process is an interview. In preparing for interview, I put together a curriculum vitae. "What's that?" is what I asked the person who recommended it. He went on to explain that it is what a person has done throughout his or her career. It's more complete than a resume. Think of it as doing a patient assessment that allows you to get an ideal of how the person is doing. It was in that process of pouring into Microsoft Word the experiences that I had, that the full impact of what other people poured into me sunk in. I have had the chance to be a part of things in my department, in the state, and nationally. No matter how well I did at any of those, I realize how much support I have gotten from others. The mentors and supporters in my life had given me S.O.G.'s to have an impactful life. 
 
Strength

What trying times have you had in your life? Are you there right now? Whether the trouble happened to you, or because of you, we all have trying times. To this day supporters and mentors still help me to persevere through difficult times. In those dark times, not only could I not see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I felt myself walking through knee deep quicksand that I was sinking in. It was the strength that others poured into me that allowed me to see things to completion. 
 
Opportunity

Have you ever been in an awesome situation and say to yourself "How on earth did I get here?!" You weren't the typical number one choice to be in that project or on that team. Yet, you did great work while there. That's what happens when others see your potential, and give you a seat at the table. That is what happens when your supporters and mentors give you an opportunity. 
 
Guidance

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there" (Will Rodgers). I looked at this training announcement that said "Safety through Leadership". I am constantly looking for leadership training, but I had doubts about this one. Yet, at the encouragement of one of my many supporters, I applied for it all the same. Since then, the 2007 Virginia Fire Officer's Academy has been one of the best choices I have done in my career. Supporters and mentors provide direction for you to move on down the track. 
 
I have no idea how much success I will have in my life. I'm sure it will be due, in large part, to the mentors and supporters that help me along the way. People who have given me S.O.G.'s. My success comes from people seeing in me what I was unaware of in myself. For as ordinary as I feel most days, my supporters and mentors have a way of finding the extraordinary. 

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Understanding Wind Driven Fires

From the beginning of time Mother Nature has presented mankind with all kinds of meteorological phenomenon’s and the one we are going to discuss in this article is wind its effect on us as firefighters. As we know we cannot fight with Mother Nature but instead work with her when the weather-related challenges are presented to us on fire scenes.

It has been estimated that been 2002 and 2010 approximately 24 firefighters were killed in structure fires due to wind as a factor most notably was the April 12, 2009 house fire in Houston, Texas that claimed the lives of two firefighters operating in a ranch style home. More recently was the March 26, 2014 fire in the Back Bay of Boston, MA that claimed the lives of two firefighters operating in a brownstone style home. May these firefighters and all those who lost their lives, rest in peace.

The first thing we should understand is that no matter what type of firefighter we are – structural, wildland, hazmat – what is wind in respect to fire? According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, wind speeds as little as 10 miles per hour can cause rapid fire progression in a structure regardless of the structure. Prevailing winds that enter a fire-vented location of the structure could create a flow path of blowtorch-effect flames and untenable temperatures when a secondary opening is created. 

The next thing we should understand is how to identify and attack wind driven fires because we cannot predict or stop when wind will affect fires.

1.       Understand wind and its effect on fires.

2.       Understand the blowtorch effect

3.       Size up the structure with a complete 360-degree size up. Pressurized wind

4.       If there is a wind-driven condition found, notify all units on the fire ground.

5.       Coordinate and control all vent points.

6.       If possible, avoid advancing through a downwind opening. Determine the wind pattern and adjust your tactics. Advancing through a downwind opening from the unburned side will create a wind trap for firefighters and possible victims involved in a potentially dangerous flow path.

7.       Understand flow path.

8.       Implement LCES

9.       Lastly, consider a transitional attack on the fire. Attack from the involved side to the uninvolved side and if possible conduct search, rescue and additional and final fire control operations from the involved side as well.

Flow Path with no Wind & Flow Path with Wind

First, what is a flow path? A flow path is the area between where the fire is and where the fire wants to go.

To establish a flow path in a structure with no wind, we need to remember two key concepts.

1.       Windows create a bidirectional flow with fresh air coming in through the bottom and exhaust coming out from the top.

2.       Once the ceiling is vented, it will pull the superheated gas, smoke and fire to the vent point creating a flow path.

To establish a flow path in a structure with wind, we need to remember these two key concepts.

1.       The wind in the structure will override the pressure of the outlet in the window creating a unidirectional flow path into the structure instead of out of the structure.

2.       The ceiling vent will provide the only exit for the exhaust. The wind will force all the superheated gases, smoke and fire rapidly through the structure to that single outlet thus causing what is known as the Blowtorch Effect.

Blowtorch Effect

The blowtorch effect is the area of wind driven fires that is sadly and untimely claiming the lives of firefighters entering wind driven affected structures. Like the fire triangle & tetrahedron, the blowtorch effect has a similar shape: The Blowtorch Triangle. This triangle consists of an inlet, out and heat. Just like the fire triangle and tetrahedron if we remove one side we reduce the possibility of the triangle.

Removing the Outlet

To remove the outlet we need to remember door control throughout the exterior and interior openings as fire personnel pass through or encounter during their operations. This reduces the potential flow path and reduces the potential for the blowtorch effect. Also, stay in coordination with the vent team. Any uncoordinated ventilation will create an additional flow path to the vent opening.

Removing Heat

To remove heat, consider using a transitional attack. Begin with an exterior attack prior to entry to extinguish the gases and bring the fire to a contents fire to allow for more ideal conditions for interior crews about to go in.  This is done by a straight stream directed solely at the ceiling through a window opening or door. This will not push the fire, only cool it.

Removing the Inlet

Considering using Wind Control Devices and salvage covers on open windows and doors especially in high rise buildings. The WCD’s will minimize the winds impact on fire spread throughout the structure.

LCES

Lookouts: Command must be aware of changing conditions. Door control firefighter should monitor smoke conditions and location of firefighters inside. RIC should perform a 360 size up and constantly watch for changing conditions. Everyone on scene is considered a lookout.

Communication: Report wind conditions upon arrival, status of doors and windows that are opened/closed and report any changes in conditions.

Escape Routes: Operating from the upwind size can make for easier escape routes and safety zones. It may not be possible to ensure escape routes and safety zones on the downwind side due to the potential of unpredictable fire behavior.

Safety Zones: Closing doors behind you as your advance through the structure can provide as a temporary area of refuge and increase survival time until you can escape or rescue crews get to you.

Understanding wind and wind driven fires can be tricky and cause for a long day at the office but our goal is to go home to our families after it’s all said and done.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Driver Training

Driver training is more than getting comfortable behind the wheel of the apparatus you're training on. This is the perfect time to go over apparatus placement in your frequent flyer locations and also your problem buildings (strip malls, apartment complexes, houses pushed back off the road, etc.). Getting practice at apparatus placement during training is helpful for when the call comes in - big or small. Remember placement is key for efficient fire attack and primary search. 

This also helps the chuefer become more accustomed of the streets in your primary response area, more identifiable of hydrant locations for easier access to them, along with your crew putting together initial preplans for the structures. This can prove good kitchen table discussions on strategies and tactics. 

Next time your company officer wants to take you out driver training, pay attention to the buildings you come across, size them up and begin some good kitchen table discussions later at the firehouse. 

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

You're in the Wrong Spot

"Man, that truck sure looks familiar." On a bright, sunny day I had just walked out of an Arlington, VA building. The warm feeling of accomplishment was over me as I had just registering for a charity walk. My daughter, who was about 3 at the time, was bouncing along with me. But that truck. The same grey color. The same kind of wheels. Wait. Is that the same license plate? And why is it on the back of a tow truck?  I had disobeyed a fundamental rule for living in the Washington DC area: There is no such thing as a 'free' parking space. After frantic negations with the driver, I was able to broker a deal to get my truck back on the spot.  
 
I arrived at my second stop of the day, feeling pretty good about not having to walk there. This time we are at a cookout in a park in DC. I park on the side of the road, and cross the street to the cookout. About an hour into my time there, I now see the red and blue lights of the police parked behind the cars near where I had parked. He's out, asking questions, and looking at license plates. Seriously? Twice in one day I'm parked in the wrong spot?  Lucky, this time it was just a request to move somewhere else. Easy fix. 
 
Finally, I made it home to a parking spot that was reserved for me. I knew where I was supposed to be. No tow trucks coming for me. No police officers telling me to move. Nice and safe. I had made it to the right spot. Have you spent some time in your life looking for your right spot? Many times we have periods in life that we feel like we are going place to place and not belonging there. Whether it be a major conflict of priorities, or just the wrong place at the wrong time, we will always find there are places we don’t quite fit. What do you do? Much like my parking lot adventure, put yourself in gear and drive to the next place. Not fitting in at one spot, doesn't mean you can't fit in somewhere else. Everyone has a spot reserved just for them. 

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Parapet Walls

Throughout our history in the fire service and since its inception to building construction, parapet walls have injured and killed several firefighters. Many departments respond to buildings with these walls on daily basis and some departments don’t ever encounter these but there’s no such thing as “never” in the fire service.

So with that, what are parapet walls?

For starters, parapet walls are those that extend above the roof level giving the illusion to street viewers that the building is taller than it actually is and could range from inches to several feet above the roof level. Despite its decorative appearance the wall provides protection to the building from the elements as well. Although they are commonly known as an extended wall above the roof level, they serve multiple purposes for the building itself and we will list a few of them for you and then explain each.
1.    Fire Protection
2.    Improve wind-up lift resistance. 
3.    Vapor pressure relief for older masonry buildings
4.    Scupper drains

Fire Protection
Extending the wall above the roof level, these walls prevent fire spread from going up the exterior of a building which would almost immediately ignite any and all roofing membrane. 

Wind-up lift resistance
When wind blows against a building, it produces vortices at the roof edges causing these forces to lift the roof edge and peel back the roofing system. By having a parapet wall in place, this will help prevent any elevated wind pressure from compromising the roof edge.

Vapor Pressure Relief
Older masonry buildings that have a parapet wall also provide vapor pressure relief. Water, as we know cannot pass through the roofing membrane so the vapor pressure relief was designed to have water find its way to the roof edge and exit through back side of the parapet. Usually these are finished with permeable clay bricks. 

Scuppers
Scupper drains are openings in the side walls of an open-air structure, found at the bottom of a parapet wall. They are used to allow rain or other liquids to flow off the side of the structure instead of pooling within the walls or possible collapsing the roof. 

Notice 2 scuppers at the foot of the parapet wall. 

Hazards with parapet walls
During fire operations parapets are prone to failure. Mostly, these walls are exposed to all elements and could possibly fall into disrepair but with regular maintenance of a structure these walls should be checked and maintained as need be. Many of these walls are supported by an horizontal steel I-beam that runs the length of the front of the structure. The hazard that comes along with this is, should fire reach the cockloft, this steel beam can be exposed to high heat and thus expand causing the wall to potentially fail. There is really no one way that these walls will fail. They could fall as one piece or they could crumble and fall in pieces. 

Changing occupancies in the structure is another potential hazard with parapets. The reason behind this is the new owner or renter’s signage that is placed over the existing parapet. Some signs are anchored through the wall itself while others can be mounted from around and over the existing parapet. Either way these add to the load of the wall and increasing its fail potential should it be put under stress in fire or collapse conditions. 

What do look out for and how to work with these walls
When working on a structure with a parapet, here are some tips to keep in mind:

1.    Set up a collapse zone and monitor the walls for signs of cracking or bowing and notify the IC immediately. Keep in mind that these walls could collapse at any given time even after the fire has been under control. 
2.    Check or exposures throughout the interior and exterior making sure no fire as reached the cockloft putting extra stress on the parapet. 
3.    When setting up an aerial device, look for scuppers to determine the height of the parapet with relationship to the scuppers. If you don’t think you can make the roof due it the walls height, try and look for a secondary means on to the roof. Don’t take a chance trying to jump up and grab the ladder from the roof.
4.    Before stepping on to the roof from the ladder, sound the roof with your tool. Usually a 6 foot hook of any kind will work best. 
5.    Lastly, never assume during fire operations that the parapet was engineered to take the weight and forces of the additional dead and live loads being added to the structure. 

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired.  

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the fire service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

When Help Asks for You

One day, I'm riding in the back of the fire engine, because, when you are in the fire department, that's what you do. Then a guy looks at me and says "so, what are you good at?" "Nothing, really" "Come on, everybody's good at something! That guy, was Marcello Trejo. He was good at plenty of things: Fitness. Compassion. Keeping people laughing. He was the kind of person that when he came to mind, I would wonder what kind of extraordinary impact he would have on the entire fire service. He was not the guy I would have thought would have taken his own life. TD Jakes talks in one of his sermons that some people can be going through turmoil and no one ever know it. Are you one of those folks with turmoil hidden behind a smile? Would you know what to do if someone you knew was that person?

When I take a flight, the flight attendant always has in his or her safety briefing that when we lose cabin pressure, first put your mask, then help the person next to you. In the military and in public safety, we rarely do that. Instead, we fail to see how taking care of ourselves, can be the best things we can do to help others. Instead, like a superhero from the 50's or 60's, we set out to save the world on our own. Not realizing that superheroes of today need, and get, help from ordinary people who care about them. 

For the month of Sep, I've decided that every day, I'll do 22 pushups for the military suicides that happen every day. Then another 13 Burpees to represent initiative 13, the Behavioral Health Initiative from the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. I started to video the workouts, but then I thought "I'm no star athlete, what's the point in that?" Instead, every day, I'm going post something I learn about mental health or suicide. A story. A fact. Info about an organization. Sometimes it will be a video, sometimes just an encouraging word.

The challenge I have for you, not to do push-ups. Go learn something new about mental health or suicide, and post on my blog at www.helpasks4u.wordpress.com  Whether the help is for you personally, or if the help is for someone you care about, remember this:

"Ask for Help, because help always asks for you." Marcello Trejo

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Window Bars & the Set of Irons

Mostly found in urban areas but not uncommon in suburban or rural areas are window bars. These bars are common to private dwellings and often found on basement and first floor windows for security reasons.  

These bars present a multitude of problems for firefighters responding to calls at these locations. 

1. Delay in access to inside the structure.

2. Difficult to perform VEIS (Vent. Enter. Isolate. Search) 

3. Reduces means of egress for firefighters and victim removal should a window need to be used. 

Window bars have the tendency to turn room and content fires into multiple alarm fires and have created havoc for access to victims or down firefighters for reasons mentioned above; so for that reason lets discuss how to remove them quickly and efficiently using the set of irons. 

On type 3 brick buildings the bars are held in by expandable anchors. Holes are first drilled into the brick and the anchors are used to hold the bars in place around the window.

For wood frame structures (type 5) lag screws are usually used to hold the bars in place. 

For either structure, use the set of irons (axe & halligan) and destroy the screws and anchors holding the bars in place by forcing them with the adz end of the halligan driving the halligan with the butt (non blade side) of the axe. 

Should the fastening points be unattainable, split the frame using the halligan and pry the gate from the opening using the fork side of the halligan. 

If the bars are set into the brick, mortar or concrete use a sledge or any type of mauling tool and smash the area encasing the bars into the wall and pry the bars away from the window. Should it be out of reach, hooks are another tool we can use for prying away as well.

Don't let obstacles get in the way of protecting life and property. This was a couple ways we can gain entry to a building should we only have hand tools available to us. Relying heavily on gas and hydraulic tools can be costly and some times cause more damage than it's worth. The more efficient we are using hand tools the quicker we can get to work and get the job done. 

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Swimming Lesson

You would think that I would know what to expect by now. Four summers in a row, I have taken my kid to swim lessons. The last two summers, I've avoided being the parent who is too involved in his child’s class. Actually, the instructors don't let any parents in during practice, so I had to find something to do while I wait. I have an ordinary routine: 

o    Drop off the kid to her lessons
o    Swim some laps
o    Sit in the whirlpool
o    Shower
o    Pick up the kid

Last week something different happened before swimming. I got an email from the personnel section in my fire department about the next promotional announcement. Just like that, my ordinary swim routine turned into an answer for this question:  How do you to take on your next challenge in life?

•    Get in the water 

o    After checking the water temp with my big toe before swimming, the cold water did not excite me
o    Committing to doing the preparation for a promotional exam made me shiver at the thought of the work that needed to be done
o    Getting motivated to start a challenge can be trying

•    It will warm up…eventually 

o    After forcing my body not to jump out the water, it acclimated
o    It took me some time to get used to the ideal of beginning my prep for a new challenge
o    Once I did, I got comfortable with the taking new action

•    One stoke at a time

o    I didn't start out swimming a lot of laps; I started out being consistent with small movements
o    I am studying little by little. Day by day. Week by week. Until I reach my goal.  One stroke at a time. One lap at a time.
o    Big success comes from small steps. 

Every day, ordinary people, like you and I, do ordinary things. If we pay attention, we may find extraordinary inspiration to take on new challenges. 

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

A Moment In Time: Remembering Hinal Patel

To quote one of my all-time favorite musicals, RENT, "525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?" It is absolutely mind blowing that it has been a year since we lost Hinal. 12 months of laughs, 52 weeks of friendship, 365 days of moments, 525,600 minutes of love.

It is still all very surreal to me and I think this is how life is for most of us now. Over the last year we have all experienced highs and lows, good and bad, failures and triumphs, and countless moments that we have shared and countless moments we have kept to ourselves. One thing that is absolutely evident is that we have all missed sharing this crazy ride we call life with Hinal. Even as I sit here and write this I can think of 1,000 different things that I wish I could have shared with her or wish she was a part of this past year. 

As life goes on, we often let little things drift out of our minds. We often take things for granted and that is when we start to miss the little moments in each day. Little moments like just seeing Hinal smile, seeing how passionate she was about the work she did, how a room would light up when she walked in, or her beautiful personality. 

Not a single day has gone by where I haven’t thought of Hinal. Through every single moment, memory, experience and adventure I knew that Hinal was still with us. Her spirit lives on in every single person who was fortunate enough to cross paths with her. The world and our lives are definitely dimmer with her gone; however, the passion she had for life should fuel us all to grow and be the absolute best we can be. 

For every moment we experience I know that she is here watching over us and sharing in our triumphs, standing by us in our failures, and laughing with us (or at us sometimes) every step of the way. 

To answer the question of how do you measure a year, it’s not where you have been, not what has happened, not holidays, birthdays, parties or even in time. The answer is simple: LOVE. Do not let one single moment go by without acknowledging its importance. Do not let one single person who means anything to you go without telling them how you feel because anything can happen. The only time guaranteed is right now so make it count.

To Hinal: I am still in complete disbelief. I look at your pictures and get emotional and then I think of the good times and how I never could resist your beautiful smile. I love you, I miss you, please continue to watch over me as I know you have done for the past year.

Love you forever and always,

Sean

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 Photo collage showing some memories of Hinal. Notice her beautiful smile in every one of her pictures.

The vehicle stickers that were designed and printed for members of the North Stelton Volunteer Fire Company, where Hinal was a dedicated member, and family.

A Thin White Line ribbon that I have pinned to my backpack, my lunch box, my work ID, and hanging in my car to always keep Hinal with me and to always keep her spirit and memory alive.

Bulkhead Doors

Some stairs in a bulkhead doors are sloped greater than normal sloped stairways thus causing increasing issues for crews to make entry due to its steeper incline should entry be warranted through such doors. On the other hand, these doors make great use for ventilation sources for below grade fires due to its easier and for the most part safer access when fighting below grade fires. They can be found in both resident and commercial structures.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

What Are You Learning?

A few months ago a few members of my fire department along with the engine company engineer and the assistant chief approached me about setting up live fire training for the department being I’m an instructor at the local fire school.  I asked them a few questions about what areas they’d like to focus on in the live fire training. They’re response was, “it’s in your hands”. Perfect. Now I have more wiggle room to develop scenarios based on research, our response area and the manpower attending and not have it too generalized.

Shortly thereafter, I went through the proper and legal channels at the school to have the live fire training set up and scheduled at the school and notified my superior officer to let the crews know we have a date set. Once this was set, I started to in a sense “interview” the members that would be attending the training based on the sign-up sheet hanging in firehouse. Little did they know, each week I was analyzing their skills, how they handled the equipment during truck checks, behavior/awareness on calls and little quizzes myself and another firefighter from an urban department near Manhattan, NY would give them. Once I felt this was complete and had enough info, I wrote my lesson plan that would be used for the training and submitted to the school prior to the training date for recordkeeping and legal reasons.

My reason for these “interviews” was this; I wanted to see what they knew so I can strengthen their strengths and expose their weaknesses. I did not want these training evolutions to be basic and routine where the firefighters would be bored and not challenged all the while keeping them and the other instructors’ safe at all times. I want to challenge them not only physically but also mentally because most of what we do is a mental game. It doesn’t matter how physically in shape you are; this job can beat you mentally and break you down quicker than any physical beating can. 

So the lesson plan was set, 3 live burn scenarios based on response areas in our primary response area, the “interviews” with each member attending (8 total firefighters), along with our manpower we usually have on calls (which is usually on the light side) 
For the 8 firefighters who took place in the training, 5 of the 8 were relatively greener firefighters with 5 years or less. Prior to each evolution, the firefighter’s vitals were evaluated by EMS and then the scenario in detail was given to them so there were no tricks or surprises coming their way. Reason being, I wanted them to visualize the scenarios in their heads beforehand and develop their own plan of attack based on their assignments from the incident commander.  

Here’s what I discovered:

1.    In the first evolution, the firefighters used this exercise to loosen up a bit and get the kinks out. Both crews worked well separately but when communicating information to each other they were lacking.

2.    After their “breaking in” evolution, the firefighters were open and honest with us and each other when critiquing their performance. This is key when training. Admitting mistakes and improving on them as you go. No one is perfect 100% all of the time. Mistakes happen and if you can identify them and improve on it, it shows you’re learning.

3.    They challenged themselves to learn and try new techniques they weren’t taught in the fire academy. Although a little hesitant at first and after dry runs and drawings explaining “vent-enter-isolate-search (VEIS), the firefighters each efficiently demonstrated this and admitted it is different yet effective if done properly. In this job, the way things are done are always changing and evolving. Continually education and training is needed to keep yourself safe, your crew safe and also the community you’re protecting safe.

4.    As an instructor, we are too learning while we are evaluating the firefighters in training evolutions. It’s not just about us standing there watching and critiquing them. We too learn from each scenario. What we would do if we were in this situation and how we can improve on this and that. It’s training for instructors as well.

5.    We learn more about each firefighter and what makes this one in a sense special is, it is the guys I ride with. I learn more about them and how they react to things, their strengths and weaknesses in given situations. Also, they learn about me. As an instructor and as a leader. Will they continue to go to me as a way to set up department training or will they look elsewhere? Can they work with me as a firefighter? These are questions that ran through my head as soon as I left the training grounds. 

So my question to all of you in the fire service who are instructors at any level, academy, outside agency or your departments training officer. What do you learn from the training evolutions you set up for outside fire departments as well as your own?
Being a fire service instructor isn’t just about instructing others in fire service training; it’s also about leadership and getting the most out of your students and yourself. Leave your mark on fire service.

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired.  

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 14 years of service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

The Taciboard

When you're a fire service instructor doing a practical exam, you see all kinds of peculiar things. For instance, two students walk to my hazmat skill station. They have all their gear on. They are carrying their tools. But wait. What is that? I've been in the fire service 16 years and have never seen a tool like this. Picture this: A red, wooden, board. It's flat and is about as long as a typical ax or pro bar. One side had a handle carved into. The other side, metal reinforcement attached with screws. Have you ever seen someone coming towards you and said to yourself, "Here comes the funny story!" I waited patiently to hear the "what had happened" start for this odd invention.
 
"It's the Taciboard!"  "The what!?" I say. The student (we'll call him Fred D. Firefighter) goes on to explain that early on in recruit class, he left his tool behind during training. To assist Fred in remembering the importance of carrying his tool, the instructors gave him a board to carry everywhere. It was simply a plank of a dingy, wooden pallet. Fred took it upon himself to do more with it. That's when he came up with this unique, versatile tool. He listed more uses for this thing than I can recite. 
 
When's the last time you owned a mistake you've made? When is the last time you've seen the opportunity in your challenge?  Most people would have seen carrying this board as just an ordinary recruit school punishment. Instead, Fred made an extraordinary new tool based on a new challenge. You don't have to be a teacher to provide a worthwhile lesson. In this case, here's Fred’s lesson for us: Life's challenges give you a chance to find opportunity. Ordinary people do extraordinary things. 

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Engine Company Operations: Perfection in the Attention to Detail

Friends of mine who are members of area truck companies aka ladder companies love to bust my chops being that I am an engine company guy. We get used to hearing the sayings like “You can train a monkey to advance a hose by throwing bananas down the hall” or “If the engine company is blocking the stairs just say (move important truck company coming through)”. 

The job of the engine company seems simple enough, “put the wet stuff on the red stuff”.   It takes a well-trained crew and apparatus to fulfill that saying.  Simplicity of the engine company comes with experience.  Hose kinks, pressure losses, lines not reaching the fire room and lack of supply line are what make engine company member’s head boil. Why is this? 

It may be as simple as another fire service saying “as the first line goes, so does the fire”. 

On the engine company it takes an ounce of prevention and detail to make a ton of difference on the fireground. How often do you stretch your handlines? When was the last time you pulled the 2 ½” handline? When was the last time you flowed your handlines? Pulled a draft? Conducted relay pumping and tender shuttles?  There is never such a thing as stretching and flowing lines too many times. The public doesn’t want to hear excuses when the line doesn’t reach the fire floor or the line wasn’t pulled correctly and the block was lost. 

When you’re re-racking lines, does your crew second guess how to rerack the lines, or has it become second nature?  The saying “looks pretty, pulls pretty” comes to mind. It may take an extra few minutes to rerack it correctly at zero dark thirty but when the alarm rings for the next job, you are going to want that line to pull nice and smooth each and every time.  Do you have riding positions on your engines, for when each member gets off the apparatus do they know their assignment? This helps keep accountability and cut down on confusion when arriving on scene. 

There is much that can be discussed later about engine company tactics. For the time being we will give in to the truck company guys and keep the engine tactics simple.  Steady is smooth, and smooth is fast. Summer is here, keep stretching and flowing those handlines. Get creative and start timing your company from drop of the supply line to water on the training prop. 

The more you work at it, the smoother your engine company tactics will become. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS WITCZAK is the lieutenant of Brookside Engine Co. 1 and volunteer EMT for the Mendham Township First Aid Squad. Additionally he serves as the Mendham Borough OEM Coordinator. Nick has served in a multitude of departments and positions over the last 8 years including Past Captain of Morristown Ambulance Squad, volunteer firefighter/EMT in combination fire departments including the Wallingford and Allingtown Connecticut fire departments. He has wealth of experience working and volunteering in emergency medical services including municipal, commercial, fire based EMS and 911 fire dispatching. He currently holds a B.S. in Fire Administration from the University of New Haven. Nick works full time in the fire protection industry specializing in safety, sales and project management. He works part time as the NJ Client Development Coordinator for Emergency Resource Management. 

Fire Fact #2: The 2 1/2" Line: A Mainstay of the American Fire Service

The 2 ½” hose line has been in the fire service for decades. This is especially true for urban fire departments with big fires (large factories, high-rise office buildings and crowded residential neighborhoods) and abundance of manpower. Although some departments had retired the use of the 2 ½” the New York City Fire Department required it for all structural firefighting up until the late 1960s. During the 1960s and 1970s the country was hit with a financial crisis leading departments to abandon the use and also questioned the usefulness of the hose and began downsizing to small hose lines for heavy fire attack. 
Well as we all know the 2 ½” hose line is still alive and kicking today; so let’s learning more about the hose line. Using a 2 ½” Attack Line may be a daunting task and very difficult to maneuver throughout a structure.

Here are some benefits of using a 2 ½” line:
1.    Lower friction loss
2.    High fire flows
3.    Exceptional reach & penetration
4.    Heavy knockdown power

When to use:
1.    Heavy fire conditions regardless of occupancy
2.    Offensive attack isn’t safe or able to be conducted
3.    Large un-compartmentalized structures
4.    Unable to determine location, size or extent of fire
5.    High-rise buildings
6.    Large brush or trash fires

Something to consider: 
50 feet of a charged 2 ½” line weighs 106lbs and 50 feet of a charged 1 ¾” weighs 52lbs. Take into account your manpower as well when deciding your initial attack line. 

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 15 years in the service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.

Where Are The Instructions?

Everything was gathered in front of us: Eggs. Water. Oil. Cooking spray. A pan. And of course, cake mix. My youngest daughter and I had items ready, as per the standard operation procedures of cupcake making in our home. We are set to begin operation 'ultimate cupcake'. What makes our cupcakes ‘ultimate’? People may not be willing to put 10 lbs of stuff into a 5 lbs bag, but I'm willing to put 24 servings of cupcake batter into a 12 serving pan.  
 
Aside for the last part, I'm pretty good at following instructions. After years in the military, followed by years in the fire service, I have had plenty of practice. Give me instructions to a task I have never done, and I'll probably figure it out. But what do you when there are no instructions? For things like, how to be a dad? Sure there are self-help books jumping off the shelves for parenting. Where is the one for your specific model of kid? 
 
Despite all of the specific instruction I 've had in my two careers, those careers have also helped me figure out how to work without instructions. I use the acronym RPM. (because, after 14 years in the military, and 16 years in the fire service, how could I resist making my own acronym).  I use this regularly for being a dad, but it can be applied to other aspects of life, such as leadership
 
1.    Read
o    No, you can't find all the answers you need in a book. Yes, you can find useful info that can help you. It is a starting point. Reading will not always give you answers, but it can give you ideals. Things change, parenting changes, leadership situations change. You better be changing to keep up. Keeping your reading list current will help with this.
 
2.    Playbook
o    Slide tray. Template. Script. Whatever you want to call it. People who have been in the military and/or fire service know how to take prior experience, and come up with a general-use guide for getting through situations. I say general, because sometimes the play is broken; it doesn't go as planned. But it can still be made to work. And now the play is improved.   
 
3.    Mentor
o    Get a counsel of wise people. In a TED talk video, Bruce Feiler, a dad dying of cancer, found a group of dads to mentor his kids after he passed on from his illness. We all need a group of people wiser than us to prepare us for what is ahead. Having one mentor is not enough. This group needs to be as diverse as you want your life to be. Take their wisdom. See the possibilities.  
 
There are a number of life areas that you will have to make things happen without directions on the box. Whenever you’re operating out of the box, try using RPM for ultimate leadership, or ultimate cupcakes. Life needs more of both.  

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

Ordinary People

"You know; this is a bigger deal than you think." That's what I tell my wife as she gets ready for her second interview. For the second time in one day, I've been asked "Are you Veronica Baskerville's husband?" I’ve heard this question many times in our 12 years of marriage, but not from reporters.  

The evening before, my wife went from hearing the piercing sounds of laughter and joy at a baby shower, to the ringing in her ears of gun shots piercing the air. One of those shots landed in the shoulder of a 7-year-old kid. My wife rendered aid to the kid until public safety arrived on the scene to take over. So automatic was her response to give aide, it didn't register for her to even talk about it later that evening. Honestly, with each of us being in the public safety for 16 yrs. each, we each have forgotten most of these stories before getting home. It’s “Just another day at the office.”

On this first day of National EMS week (15-21 May), I'm reminded that of the many ways to group people in the world. I have found yet another paring. There are those people in public safety that have these ordinary days. On duty or not. Career or volunteer.  Full time, part-time, or per call. And will always answer the call to action.

And then there are the people not in public safety. People who see our ordinary day as extraordinary. And appreciate that someone is doing these ordinary things that have an extraordinary impact. I’ve had the privilege of seeing the embodiment of public service for 16 years in my wife. Despite her claims of being an ordinary person, I have always known her extraordinary impact.

About the Author

NICK BASKERVILLE has had the honor of serving in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 4 years in the United States Air Force Reserves. He attained the rank of Technical Sergeant (E-6). Nick also has 16 years of fire service time, with 13 years of that being in a career department in Northern Virginia. Nick has had the opportunity to hold positions in the Company Officer's section of the Virginia Fire Chief's Association (VFCA), The Virginia Fire Officer's Academy (VFOA) staff, and in the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters (IABPFF) as a chapter president, a Health and Wellness committee member, and one of the IABPFF representatives to the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance.

The Importance of Clean PPE

We all love that fresh smell of smoke on our gear. It lets others know we been in a fire and the charred up shield on our helmets tell our stories of the fires we been in. The soot filled turnout gear and sometimes all over our hands and face; the smokey smell in our hair for days, all of that comes with territory of fighting fire. It’s great isn’t it? It’s almost like a rite of passage into the service.  

But is it something that’s costing us years of our time in the service and almost shortening our days with our families?

While on the job, we as firefighters come in contact with tons of carcinogens, toxins and diseases found in structure fires, car fires, as well as blood and bodily fluids which can be carried away in our turnout gear causing potential harm through ingestion, inhalation and/or absorption. As members of the emergency services, we are continually trained on those three routes of entry when refreshing ourselves on our yearly blood borne pathogens training each year. Firefighters are not the only ones to be at risk for contracting potential hazards that are left on our uncleaned gear. Anyone who has direct contact with the gear is also at risk.  This goes for the general public as well since we all know children love getting tours of our firehouses, seeing our apparatus and trying to fit into our gear and wear our helmets. By not keeping our gear clean, exposures to others are possible since we are also in direct contact with the general public. 

Turnout gear that has been worn on fire-related calls, and has been in contact with carcinogens without cleaning in between calls will diminish the gears ability to protect the firefighter. The soot and other related products of burning leave a number of material deposits on the surface of gear and in the fibers of the protective layers of the gears causing the surface of the gear to be less heat reflective. In the presence of oils and other flammable materials, the heat absorption on the surface of our gear, should this gear not have been cleaned prior to making contact, could potentially lead to re-ignition or flash over. When considering the less obvious type of soot - carbon based soot – increases conductivity when in contact with live wires, raising potential for electrical shock. 

Long term effects of dirty gear is quite simple, it doesn’t last as long as the manufacturers recommendation. The soot and other particles that were continually absorbed into the gear will begin to break down the shell of our gear and some of those particles and burn bits that are lodged in our gear can become abrasive causing rips and tears in our gear. Regular human movements and the bending and folding of the gear will cause the rips and tears in the gear abs wear out the fibers. Recommended cleaning of the shell of the gear is ever six months at minimum or more depending on how much contact we have with soot and other carcinogens to reduce the amount of abrasive particles picked up in our gear. So remember to wash your gear; keep yourself, your crew, your family and the general public safe. Just like we take pride in keeping our apparatus, our station and our tools clean, we should our turnout gear because it’s another tool to keep us safe. So take pride in looking your best on every run because we are always in the public eye!

Until next time; work hard, stay safe and live inspired. 

About the Author

NICHOLAS J. HIGGINS is a firefighter with 14 years of service all within departments in Piscataway, NJ. Nick has held the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain as well as being a township elected District Fire Commissioner for 1 term (3 years) in Piscataway, NJ. He is also a NJ State certified level 2 fire instructor. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University working in Corporate Taxation and is the founder/contributor of the Firehouse Tribune website.