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November 2009

Photo by: Steve Redick

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On the Cover

The snorkel of Squad 2 operates at a 2-11 alarm fire in the truss loft and ceiling area that then spread to the entire roof and caused the collapse of the truss roof. Initially, units used thermal imaging cameras to inspect holes in the double ceiling to find the fire. The fire occurred in Chicago, IL, on Sept. 5, 2008.

Dedication

This month's Firehouse® is dedicated to Firefighter Patrick Reardon, 42, of the New Haven, CT, Fire Department; and Crew Chief Brian Joseph Buss, 32, First Officer Michael Wayne Flynn, 59, and Captain Thomas L. Risk, 66, of Neptune Aviation Services Inc. of Missoula, MT, who died in the line of duty, April 2009.

Incident Report

On The Job: WISCONSIN

On Sunday, July 5, 2009, a multiple-alarm fire destroyed four buildings totaling approximately 240,000 square feet at the Patrick Cudahy meat-packing plant in Cudahy, WI. The four three- and four-story buildings were constructed in 1893 of heavy timber with 18-inch brick walls. The buildings were used for storage, microwave bacon production, ham production and maintenance.

Fire Service Leadership

U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran

Kelvin Cochran was appointed administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) on Aug. 27, 2009. Cochran has 28 years of experience in preventing and responding to fires and emergencies, including firefighting, EMS, hazardous materials, public education, and research and development. His administrative expertise includes personnel management, training and strategic planning.
The "Anatomy & Physiology" Of the Structural Fireground

I believe there is no better way to understand the relationship between tension and compression than to analyze how a suspension bridge works. Perhaps there is no better suspension bridge to analyze than the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, CA.

Fire & Emergency Apparatus, Cover Story

The Apparatus Architect

Several dynamics are changing the course of fire apparatus design during a time when we are "trying to do more with less." First is the impact of our country's economy and the resulting deployment strategies within fire departments.

Higher Education for the Fire Service

5 Things You Need to Know about Financial Aid

Unfortunately, when many people consider whether to start college, they never make it past the answer to their first question: "How much is tuition?" No one becomes a firefighter for the money, so it is not likely that you have the extra cash lying around to go back to school. Add to that the current economic situation, which is causing many fire-rescue-EMS departments to reduce or eliminate tuition reimbursement, and it may not seem like now is the time to enroll in college.
Midwest Fields Many Higher Education Choices

Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, IA, has packaged training with education to produce a remarkable double play for the fire service. It serves as a training ground for aspiring firefighters and in the process delivers recruits who have earned associate's degrees to enthusiastic local departments.

Fireground Safety

Class A Foam and CAFS Briefing: Structural Firefighting

One of the most promising technological advances to occur within the fire service over the last 25 years was the technology associated with Class A foam and compressed air foam systems (CAFS). This technology, which primarily had its beginnings in wildland fire operations, represents a revolutionary breakthrough today for use in structural firefighting.