Comments on: Open Mic Wednesday

By: Ted Finco

Ted Finco — Thu, 28 May 2009 19:14:38 +0000

I am not happy with who ever put Tanker Shuttle and pump operations class together. Up here in the U P we have real jobs and the fire people can’t go to those classes that are that long. Also the cost of that class would take up 1/3 rd of our training money so if they were split I know that up here we would have more people attending them. The Bureau of Fire Services, Firefighter training council should think about splitting them.

By: Don Hall

Don Hall — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:00:34 +0000

On training; I think the State curriculum for Firefighter I & II is fine and gets the job done however; I don’t think the newer firefighters are helping themselves in the learning process. I can remmber myself as a young firefighter and even now as an Officer going through the vehicles compartments during down time and looking over equipment and refamiliarizing myself with it, taking apparatus out with others and practice pumping in differant situations, pulling hoseloads and reloading them, doning breathing apparatus in the apparatus.

This has to be done in order to become proficient in, and maintain these skills.

By: Greg Olrich

Greg Olrich — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:53:50 +0000

For the fire investigator the cfi trainer sessions are hands down the best. They currently have 19 sessions, put on by the best of the best. Plus their free. They are put on by International Association of Arson Investigators. IAAI.

By: Lee Finlayson

Lee Finlayson — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:28:41 +0000

I have been involved in the fire service for the past 15 years, in my humble thoughts the fire service in Michigan and around the country is lacking in the understanding of fire science. I completely believe if we can achieve an understanding of the science of what we are engaging in we can reduce the injuries, deaths of firefighters and civilians. With this secondary we can reduce property losses. Due to advanced notification (i.e. cell phones, alarm systems) we are getting there at an earlier stage of the fire and by simply taking the door we need to understand what we are doing to the fire and the air track of the fire. So, in my thoughts at least, we should all be a student of the science of fire. be safe Lt Lee Finlayson Grand Rapids Fire Dept

By: Don Welch

Don Welch — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:25:18 +0000

There are two things that trouble me most concerning the fire service today. First, we as firefighters have put a great emphasis on the basics of training but we have never followed up on these basics. Once the training is complete, you’re done. It is up to your individual department to train you to thier department specifications. What about those people that leave a department and join another. The training they recieved over the years are focused on a department they just left and for the most part, some of the basics are lost. I think that a “continuing education” (CE) should take place such the emergency medical sector.

Second, while the main focus for all officers is tactics, tactics and more tactics on how to combat the major fires that many department don’t have. There should be some emphasis should be placed on personnel leadership and administration practices such as budgeting, departmental reports, forcasting, etc. “Everyone” wants to be a chief, but those who actually become a chief or department officer of a small department have to learn on the run and have trouble with those tasks until it is too late at times. I realize that there are schools out there designed to help with those skills however, many “volunteer” chiefs don’t have the funds or time to commit to those year long far away classes. A better administrative curriculum should be designed with the small department chiefs in mind.