2010 Conference Program
Firehouse World 2011 will take place Feb. 26 – March 2, 2011 in San Diego.
Please check back for event details.
Conference sessions are 90 minutes in length, unless otherwise noted. Program subject to change.
Continuing education credits, from East LA College, are available to all conference attendees. Attendees are encouraged to apply. Your participation benefits you and the fire service. Online registration for these college CE's is now closed. However, you can still apply for them when you arrive at the convention center. Registration sheets will be available in each class as well as the CSFA booth and select conference locations. (CE's are free to all California residents; out-of-state residents are required to pay an out-of-state fee.) Attendees that apply for credit will receive .5 units.
| March 2, 2010 | |
| 8:00 AM | Ron Siarnicki, Fire Chief (ret.), Prince George County Fire/EMS Department, Executive Director, NFFF 2-Hour Class Category: Safety Fire departments don't know when they will have a line-of-duty-death or serious injury. Is there a plan in place? Are personnel records current? Do the fire chief and other members know how to make timely and proper notification to survivors? This session will provide valuable information and insights that will help your department be prepared for any situation. Attendees will receive a comprehensive resource guide for handling line-of-duty deaths. |
| 8:00 AM | Don Abbott, Owner, Command Emergency Response Training 
Class limit: 40 studentsPLEASE RESERVE YOUR SPOT Call 1-800-827-8009 and ask for registration 4-Hour Class Category: Preplanning A dynamic tabletop scenario to help responders at all levels and positions, including fire, police, EMA, utilities, government officials and EMS, learn and practice the various roles and responsibilities needed to rescue the injured and restore order after a major disaster. |
| 8:30 AM | Larry Collins, Battalion Chief, USAR Task Force 103, LA County FD Category: Collapse This session will cover important information for first responders, company officers, and chief officers charged at structure collapse emergencies, including 10 steps for commanding structure collapse operations. The lessons presented will reflect the experiences of the U.S. fire and rescue services (and those in other nations) during the past two decades of urban search and rescue and collapse rescue operations. A specific emphasis of this presentation will be response to terrorist attacks resulting in structural failure. |
| 8:30 AM | Kent Freeman, Captain, Roseville, CA FD Category: Specialized Rescue This program will cover the mandatory components of confined space rescue as outlined in the regulation, discuss options for entry, look at new innovations and techniques as well as use case histories to reveal both desired and unfortunate conclusions to rescues. The program will also provide a glimpse at the recently completed Confined Space Rescue Technician curriculum by California State Fire Training. |
| 8:30 AM | Dennis Compton, Chief (ret.), Mesa, AZ, FD, International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) Category: Leadership This session explores key areas of focus and critical leadership concepts that will contribute to the success of fire officers and simply improve their performance. It is well established that fire departments cannot outperform the capability of their leaders. Current and aspiring fire officers of all ranks will find this session unique and practical. |
| 8:30 AM | Joe Castro, Battalion Chief, Commander, Tactical Training Section, Los Angeles, CA FD Category: Lessons Learned In September, 2008 a Metrolink passenger train carrying 225 commuters from Downtown Los Angeles crashed into a Union Pacific freight train on a sharp curve in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles, killing 25 passengers and seriously injuring over 100. You'll hear firsthand the account of the first LAFD Chief Officer to arrive at the actual train location. Battalion Chief Joe Castro was the Operations Section Chief supervising all tactical operations in the initial action operation period. Chief Castro's presentation will focus on the case study itself, first arriving officers responsibilities, tactical considerations, operating with limited resources, executive level ICS, and unified command concepts. |
| 8:30 AM | Curtis Massey, Firefighter (ret.), President, Massey Disaster Planning Category: Strategy & Tactics Refining the most effective use of attack lines that match today's fire loads; a thorough review of base building systems and their advantages/disadvantages; understanding key tactical issues such as stack effect, dewatering, "attack and evac/search stairs"; firefighter safety and survival tips relative to high-rises; case studies of recent major skyscraper fires and how to conduct your own high-rise training evolution. |
| 8:30 AM | Michael Contreras, Capt., Wellness & Fitness Program Coordinator, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA); Jeff Hoey, Capt., Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Category: Fitness All who attend will learn the needed components to build a successful academy fitness program. The course will teach how to prepare recruits for the academy setting, how to evaluate incoming recruits and how to continue evaluations throughout the academy. Also, the course will cover fitness programming during the academy, and continued encouragement of the probationary firefighter throughout their career. By following the fitness programming and evaluations, the participant will learn how to get the most from the recruit, no matter how much time is allotted for fitness. |
| 8:30 AM | Kimberly Alyn, Best-Selling Author, International Fire Service speaker Category: Career Advancement Kimberly Alyn has coached countless firefighters to the top of the list in the promotional process in the fire service. She will be sharing the fast track to success in the panel interview portion of the process. Topics include: common mistakes people make, what raters look for in candidates, what raters mark you down for, and how to set yourself apart from other candidates. |
| 8:30 AM | John Brunacini, Fire Captain (ret.), Phoenix, AZ FD, Nick Brunacini, South Shift Commander (ret.), Phoenix, AZ FD Category: Strategy & Tactics This session will look at the eight main critical factors for residential structures. We will also take an in-depth look at the building techniques used to construct both old and new homes as well as modern fire behavior in the residential setting. In this session participants will practice in the context of "real world" tactical simulations. |
| 8:30 AM | Jeff Helvin, Captain, Sacramento FD, CA Category: Major Incidents As other companies began to arrive smoke conditions changed drastically forcing firefighters out of the building, which separated the crew members of Engine 15. Two firefighters exited the front door and one bailed out a second-floor window a "MAY-DAY" was called for the Captain of Engine 15 who was trapped on the second floor. Come and hear the full story and the lessons that were learned during this incident. |
| 8:30 AM | Patricia Reed, Program Analyst, Michael Kraynak, Lead Merchandise Specialist The federal government's procurement expert, GSA, offers several programs, under which state and local entities may access federal contracts. The GSA Wildland Fire, Cooperative Purchasing, and Disaster Recovery Purchasing programs bring the federal government's buying power to the local level. This course provides an overview of each program, the laws and agreements that allow state and local use, and the process and guidelines nonfederal entities must follow in order to participate. |
| 8:30 AM | Bob Barraclough, President, The Best Fire Apparatus Resource, Inc., Plano, TX; Alan Saulsbury, President, Fire Spec Services, Inc., Homer, NY Category: Purchasing "One-ups-man-ship" is alive and well when purchasing new apparatus. Just look at some of the new apparatus on display at some of the recent shows. Our speakers will be showing a vast array of photographs of some of the more interesting options now being specified on new apparatus. From the traditional chrome bell to the new low amp draw LED light bars, these two gents will share the "best of the best" with the attendees. To keep within your budget, approximate costs for the options will be provided. |
| 1:45 PM | Alan Brunacini, Fire Chief (ret.), Phoenix, AZ FD, Nick Brunacini, South Shift Commander (ret.), Phoenix, AZ FD; John Brunacini, Fire Captain (ret.), Phoenix, AZ FD Category: Command Training Your barber has to have a license to cut your hair but chances are the IC in charge of your structural firefighting operations didn't go through any kind of structured training program designed to prepare him/her self for managing high-hazard incident operations. Safe and effective hazard zone operations do not happen by accident, they are the product of experience and training. A Blue Card Program not only institutionalizes and standardizes training; it also captures firefighting experience in a way where it can be passed from one generation of firefighter to the next. |
| 1:45 PM | Bret Davidson, Battalion Chief, Rancho Santa Fe, CA FD Category: Wildland Tactics This session is designed to show the challenges of global warming and its effect on wildland fires. This class will review bad human behavior that can lead to poor situational awareness and under estimation of fire behavior. A review of the Santiago Burn Over in Orange County, CA, and a near miss in the Corral Fire in Los Angeles County will be conducted. |
| 1:45 PM | Kimberly Alyn, Best-Selling Author, International Fire Service speaker Category: Leadership The bar has been raised on the standards for leadership, performance, and accountability in the 21st Century. This session will show you what it takes to step up to those standards and be a leader who creates enthusiasm for vision. Leadership theory and concepts will be examined as they relate to the fire service. The issues facing fire departments in the 21st Century will be discussed and how you can face those issues as a leader in the fire service. |
| 1:45 PM | William D. Hayes, National Advocate Program Manager, NFFF, Director of Public Information & Community Affairs,DC Fire & EMS; John Price, Captain/Paramedic, Anaheim FD, CA; Rich Marinucci, Fire Chief, Northville Township, MI FD Category: Safety Based on NFFF's 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, this class is designed to change the American fire service culture from accepting line-of-duty injuries and deaths as a normal, inevitable reality to one of improved safety awareness, institutionalized safety attitudes and behaviors and conformity to best model practices and effective risk management procedures. This class specifically addresses the impact that an LODD has on families, fellow workers, the organization, and the community. It also provides a renewed focus on the need for firefighters and fire officers to change fundamental attitudes, and behaviors in order to prevent line of duty injury and death. All sixteen initiatives are presented and examined to identify key individual and organizational action steps for implementing them. |
| 1:45 PM | Darryl Cleveland, Firefighter 2/Paramedic, Cal Fire, CA Category: Safety We will look at recent case studies of firefighter fatalities and near misses as a result of the extreme burning characteristics of the modern fire environment. Participants will have the opportunity to see and discuss live fire footage and discuss tactics and strategies that will help chief and line officers make better decisions on the fireground and create a more safe and effective firefight. The ultimate goal of the course is to prevent firefighter injury and death. |
| 1:45 PM | Richard Blatus, Battalion Chief, FDNY Category: Strategy & Tactics This interactive class will motivate discussion on the importance of the decisions made by the first-arriving units. Chiefs Blatus and Richardson will lead the students through a series of different scenarios which will provoke their critical thinking skills as they relate to available manpower on the first-arriving unit. These exercises will be interactive and promise to stretch the students' imaginations to their limit. |
| 1:45 PM | Mark Emery, Battalion Chief, Woodinville, WA Fire & Life Safety District Category: Strategy & Tactics During the last 40 years the North American fire service missed a number of significant changes to the traditional fireground. These changes represent a call to action for the fire service to adapt strategically and tactically. You will learn what these changes are and contemporary tactical alternatives that will achieve traditional strategic outcomes. |
| 1:45 PM | Don Forsyth, Battalion Chief, Orange County Fire Authority, CA, Todd Lockwood, Fire Captain, Orange County Fire Authority, CA Category: Wildland Firefighting A Landmark Change in the way the California Fire Service is attempting to educate the home owners and the public to do their part to protect their own lives and property from the frequent devastating Wildland Fires in California. This program will provide an overview of this novel new approach the Orange County Fire Authority has implemented. We will cover the philosophy of this new program, comparison to the old method, the new materials developed, and the new method of delivery using In-Service Fire Companies to educate the public who live within the Highest Wildland Fire Severity Zones. |
| 1:45 PM | Devon Wells, Assistant Fire Chief, Hood River FD, OR Category: Volunteer Training Training volunteer firefighters is a topic of national significance. The first step is to train them so they feel safe, competent, and ready to serve the public. This session will cover a proven way to train new volunteer firefighters and get them "hooked" on the fire service. It provides a pattern to follow so no training step is missed. If a recruit does miss a course, it is documented and easy to track so they can return to the topic and make-up the material. It will also cover the use of distance education and e-learning as a part of an academy. |
| 1:45 PM | Steve Prziborowski, Battalion Chief, Santa Clara County, CA FD Category: Leadership This session will assist fire service personnel who may find themselves as the first-arriving company officer at an emergency scene. The first-due company officer has the potential to make or break an incident, as they are the one that will be making the most important decisions that have to be made upon arrival. Given a variety of simulated incidents, attendees will have an opportunity to perform size-up, establish incident objectives, assign companies, establish tactical objectives, learn from the experiences of other attendees, and most importantly, learn how to effectively command and control an incident as the first-due company officer. |
| 1:45 PM | Mike Wilbur, Lieutenant, FDNY; Tom Shand, Contributing Editor, Firehouse Magazine Category: Purchasing This program will cover not only the basic NPFA 1901 equipment but those tools, equipment and appliances that can make your job easier and safer when operating on the fireground or any significant incident. |
| 1:45 PM | Steve Bernocco, Lieutenant, Seattle, WA FD, Phil Jose, Captain, Seattle, WA FD Category: Strategy & Tactics This is a dynamic, 100% video-driven presentation that focuses on the tactics of the first due companies at structure fires. Students will watch dynamic videos of structure fires and then discuss the various Engine and Truck tactics that could be used to fight these fires, leading to a discussion of first-in critical decisions and "best practices" tactics. This is an Engine and Truck Company tactics class unlike any other. |
| March 3, 2010 | |
| 8:30 AM | Steve Bernocco, Lieutenant, Seattle, WA FD, Phil Jose, Captain, Seattle, WA FD Category: Air Management This video-driven, multimedia presentation expands upon our recent classes in air management and moves towards practical implementation in both emergency and non-emergency situations. There will a brief discussion of the rule of air management, the point of NO return and how firefighters die on the fireground. We will describe effective emergency progress reports utilizing the CARA format with an emphasis on air readings. The class will conclude with a dynamic presentation of survival in "out of air" situations. |
| 8:30 AM | Mike Dugan, Captain, FDNY Category: Fire Attack This is a session about getting the Engine Company and Truck Company to work together as safely as possible. This session will also review the duties and positions of firefighters assigned to either the truck or engine company. |
| 8:30 AM | Darren Hall, Captain, Coronado, CA FD 3-Hour Class Category: Engineer Training This class is designed for firefighters preparing for the transition to the Engineer Position. The class is broken into two segments. This segment focuses on pump theory, pumping scenarios, pump trouble-shooting and how to determine friction loss in a variety of potential hose lays. The class will conclude with trends and realistic examples for Engineer Examinations. |
| 8:30 AM | Alan Brunacini, Fire Chief (ret.), Phoenix, AZ FD Category: Command Firefighters routinely must operate in immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) places to conduct rescue and fire control operations. Those deadly conditions are currently present and our operational and command system must be instantly effective. Dealing with these "here and now" hazards require a local incident management system (LIMS) that can fast track the standard command functions to match the time compressed IDLH time frame. This session will present how we can package the standard (8) command functions so they can be quickly implemented and then effectively applied to match incident conditions that are changing quickly and typically getting worse until we make them better. |
| 8:30 AM | Mickey Conboy, Lieutenant, FDNY Category: Specialized Rescue With a new emphasis on firefighter safety and survival today, take a realistic look at lessons learned from the fireground where we had to deal with firefighter trapped and overcome on the fireground. Not all fires involve only one firefighter in trouble, are you prepared to handle multiple firefighters in need of your help, now? Have you mastered rescuing your brother firefighters or are we doomed to repeat these lessons learned from history of the fire departments in this country? |
| 8:30 AM | Curtis Massey, Firefighter (ret.), President, Massey Disaster Planning Category: Strategy & Tactics This session will cover a detailed analysis of managing rapidly-evolving new-age tenant systems greatly impacting firefighter safety that is little known to many departments which contradict established high-rise SOPs; a study of Curtis's own fireground proven "Rapid Ascent Team" concept that has been adopted by several fire departments; a study of new "super-tall" skyscraper construction that will alter the ways fires are fought in these buildings. |
| 8:30 AM | Tom Somers, Captain, Los Angeles FD Category: Command What is the basic infrastructure required for emergency services to operate? This session will define the basics, how to rapidly assess the infrastructure and build a simple and effective plan with operational objectives. Until fire management recognizes "the situation for what it is" it will continue to operate in a vacuum. |
| 8:30 AM | Bob Barraclough, President, The Best Fire Apparatus Resource, Inc., Plano, TX; Alan Saulsbury, President, Fire Spec Services, Inc., Homer, NY Category: Apparatus Purchasing Body material, body designs and the dress out are important parts of your apparatus specifications. The presenters will explain the "pros" and "cons" of galvaneel, aluminum, stainless steel, GRP and plastic material, what options you should consider with compartmentation, shelving, lighting and how the major components should be placed for maximum safety, balance and usage. You need to see this fast moving Power Point to understand how all of the above will impact dealers, manufacturers and fire departments. |
| 8:30 AM | Todd Harms, Assistant Chief of Operations, Phoenix, AZ FD Category: Command The main focus of this training program is based upon improving fireground operations and firefighter safety at the task, tactical, and strategic levels of operation. Attendees will discuss the eight critical factors of size-up in the development of an Incident action plan for the completion of the tactical priorities of rescue, fire control, and loss control. |
| 8:30 AM | Richard B. Gasaway, Ph.D., EFO, CFO, Gasaway Consulting Group Category: Leadership This program focuses on the psychology of being successful. Each day you are faced with decisions based on your self-expectancy and your self-motivation. You decide what to do... and what not to do; to be positive... or negative; to be productive... or counter-productive. While some motivation is based on outside influences, more often the motivation that compels behavior is created internally. This program examines the emotions that drive motivation. We will look at the role that memory and imagination play in shaping your success. And in order to change your behavior you must be conscious of your shortcomings and conscious of the competencies that you want to possess. |
| 8:30 AM | Quinn MacLeod, Engineer/Acting Company Officer (ret.), Parker Fire Protection District, Parker, CO, Owner/Lead Instructor of Integrated Fire Solutions Category: Communications Communication is more than just talking over the radio or giving someone an order to carry out a fireground assignment. Communication is all about being a good listener as well as a good speaker. In this session fireground briefings are introduced utilizing the 5-step briefing format. |
| 8:30 AM | Robert Cobb, Deputy Chief (ret.), Jersey City, NJ FD, Director, Community Hazard Mitigation, ISO, Inc. Category: Leadership This guided program will foster insight into the tools and resources available through ISO. Retired Deputy Chief Cobb will apply his 37 years of fire service experience to enhance your knowledge of the ISO's Public Protection Classification (PPCTM) program, Fire Suppression Rating Schedule and ISO's Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS??). Cobb will provide an overview of the ISO resource, Fire Chiefs Online - a special secured website with information and features that can help improve your ISO Public Protection Classification (PPCTM). |
| 8:30 AM | JP Harris, Battalion Chief (ret.), Los Angeles County FD, CA; Gary Harris, Captain, Los Angeles County FD, CA; Brian Crandell, Assistant Chief, Central Valley Fire District, MT; John Culbertson, Captain, Central Valley Fire District, MT 3-Hour Class JP Harris, will present a 3 hour Wildland Urban Interface Structure Protection class utilizing the latest updates to the new edition 2010 Incident Response Pocket Guide (IRPG) all attendees will receive a 2010 IRPG. This tactical concept utilizes Fire Behavior Estimate and insuring that LCES is available in order for Firefighters to commit. This concept is standard operating procedure in many Southern California and Montana fire departments. |
| 10:15 AM | Joshua Stapleton, Fire Captain/Paramedic, EMS Representative, American Heart Association Regional Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee Category: EMS This course is designed to bring the latest updates to the Fire and EMS communities directly from the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium. The course will cover the forthcoming changes in the 2010 Guidelines and how they will impact the way pre-hospital providers do business. It is designed to prepare both providers and EMS Administrators for the training, logistical, and financial impact the guideline changes may create, as well as to inform front-line pre-hospital providers of the research, science, and statistics behind the changes to foster understanding. |
| 10:15 AM | Jeff Seaton, Department & Recruit Academy Instructor, San Jose, CA FD Category: Strategy & Tactics The American fire service has the highest firefighter fatality rate of any fire service in an industrialized country; firefighter disorientation is one of the leading contributors to that! Today's firefighters are in desperate need of ensuring that effective and efficient fireground search operations in Big Box and Hi-Rise occupancies are implemented daily. The intent of this program is to assist in "Preventing the Next 100" LODD'S by providing an increased level of operational capability and safety to all ranks while searching for life and or fire in a Big Box & Hi-Rise occupancy. This program will assist in simplifying these low-frequency extremely high-risk fireground search operations, so that "Nobody Gets Left Behind"! |
| 10:15 AM | Michael Contreras, Captain, Wellness & Fitness Program, Coordinator, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA); Jeff Hoey, Captain, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) Category: Fitness Speakers will discuss the proven approach to recruit success through a strong physical fitness program. |
| 10:15 AM | Paul Lepore, Division Chief, Redondo Beach FD, CA Alan Patalano, Deputy Chief, Long Beach, CA FD Category: Career Advancement Many candidates struggle with how to answer questions during a promotional interview. They struggle with the culture of the fire service versus doing what they think the panel is looking for. Participants will have a rare opportunity to see the promotional interview through the eyes of the evaluators. |
| 10:15 AM | Mickey Conboy, Lieutenant, FDNY Category: Specialized Rescue Firefighters across the country respond to an increasing number of rescue emergencies each year. Learn invaluable lessons from recent incidents such as workers buried in a trench and tanks, children impaled on fences, and occupants trapped in a building collapse. |
| 10:15 AM | Mark Emery, Battalion Chief, Woodinville, WA Fire & Life Safety District Category: Leadership Discover how to develop personal and professional leadership in your life and in your fire station. Your personal and professional leadership can establish a legacy of excellence in your life and in your fire station. The principles of the Fire Station Pyramid of Success will help you discover the peace of mind that comes from knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable. |
| 10:15 AM | Devon Wells, Assistant Fire Chief, Hood River FD, OR, Western Regional Director, ISFSI Category: Training Training is the back-bone of the fire service and it is an ever changing environment. This class will help officers and instructors recognize new ways to manage their training program. We will cover managing daily shift training, volunteer drills, training schedule creation, and utilizing training to create "buy-in" at all levels of the organization. This presentation will create many ideas in the attendee's minds that can be used to be creative in their own department. The participant's will leave with a sense of new ideas and ways to look at training program management. |
| 10:15 AM | Richard Blatus, Battalion Chief, FDNY Category: Strategy & Tactics An in depth discussion concerning operational tactics and procedures at several types of residential and multiple dwelling fires. Construction hazards, operational difficulties, and tactical decisions will be explored and reviewed with an emphasis on the types of information the incident commander needs from the firefighters on the "inside". This class is a comprehensive review of decisions which face firefighters when operating in both old and new types of residential construction. |
| 10:15 AM | Mike Wilbur, Lieutenant, FDNY; Tom Shand, Contributing Editor, Firehouse Magazine Category: Purchasing This program will cover the advantages and operational differences of each type of aerial device with some practical examples of how these units perform on the fire ground. |
| 10:15 AM | James Dalton, Coordinator of Research and Development, Chicago, IL FD; Partnered with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Category: Strategy & Tactics Chemical composition of smoke particles encountered by first responders during operations (knockdown and overhaul) and continued exposure to residual particulates on protective clothing is believed to be a contributing factor to the increased risk of firefighter cancer. Jointly, Underwriters Laboratories Inc (UL), the Chicago Fire Department (CFD), and the University Of Cincinnati College Of Medicine have recently completed research focused on firefighter exposure to smoke particulates. This presentation will describe the investigation and analysis of the combustion gases and particulates generated from three scales of fires: residential structure and automobile fires; simulated real-scale fire tests; and material based small-scale fire tests. It will provide a valuable background to interpret fire hazards and can be used by: the medical community to advance their understanding of the epidemiological effects of smoke exposure; first responders to develop situational assessment guidelines for self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) usage and personal protection equipment cleaning regimen; and organizations such as NIOSH and NFPA to develop new test method standards and performance criteria for respirators used by first responders and the care and maintenance of personal protection equipment. |
| 1:45 PM | Richard B. Gasaway, Ph.D., EFO, CFO, Gasaway Consulting Group Category: Command Have you ever watched a video or read a case study of a catastrophic fire and asked yourself "How could they not see this coming?" This program examines the challenges of developing and maintaining situation awareness in dynamic, high-stress, high-consequence environments. You may be shocked and amazed to learn the many ways your situation awareness can be impacted. The National Fire Fighter Near Miss Reporting System 2007 and 2008 Annual Reports identify issues with Situation Awareness as the leading contributing factor to fire fighter near miss events. The National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) has identified issues with situation awareness as contributing to dozens of fire fighter deaths at structure fires. Now that you know there's a problem with fireground situation awareness, you need to do something about it! The program examines the challenges of decision-making in high-stress, high-consequence, time-compressed environments and examines the role that situation awareness plays in helping commanders make good decisions and keep firefighters safe. |
| 1:45 PM | Darren Hall, Captain, Coronado, CA FD Engineer Training This class is designed for firefighters preparing for the transition to the Engineer Position. The class is broken into two segments. This segment reviews driving techniques, defensive driving, and driving laws and regulations. The class will conclude with trends and realistic examples for Engineer Examinations. |
| 1:45 PM | Bill Tricarico, Fire Commissioner, Cortland, NY FD;, Dave Denniston, Loss Control Training Specialist, McNeil & Co. Insur, Exec Dir, Nat'l FARMEDIC Training Program Category: Liability An alarming number of firefighters across the country are being charged, injured or even killed while performing duties which were intended to protect the public. This fast-paced multimedia seminar will explore fire service leaders' roles in protecting our firefighters and EMTs. The no-holds-barred seminar will review the leading causes of injury, death and liability issues facing fire service organizations and provide sample policies and procedures to help limit these exposures. |
| 1:45 PM | Douglas Woods, Regional Fire Program Specialist, Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program, FEMA Region 9, Oakland California This workshop will provide information about the submission of competitive applications under this competitive grant program. Interested representatives from fire department as well as representatives from non-affiliated EMS organizations are invited to attend. Information is presented on program changes, program priorities, eligibility requirements, and on the application process. Also, general assistance in the writing of a competitive narrative for a department's grant application is discussed. The session is free and participants need not be registered for the conference to attend this, and only this, conference session. However you will need to stop by registration BEFORE reporting to the classroom. More information about this FEMA Fire Grant workshop can be found at http://www.firegrantsupport.com. The speaker will also be available during conference exhibit hours at the FEMA/U.S. Fire Administration booth. |
| 1:45 PM | Todd Harms, Assistant Chief of Operations, Phoenix, AZ FD Category: Strategy & Tactics For most departments, the residential house fire is the most common fire response and accounts annually for the largest loss of life. For company officers and battalion chiefs, the main focus of this training program is based upon improving fireground operations and firefighter safety at the task, tactical, and strategic levels of operation. |
| 1:45 PM | Kevin Trost, Captain (ret.), Sacramento, CA FD Category: Strategy & Tactics We continue to kill and injure firefighters and the debate continues if our basic firefighting principles are flawed. We have added ICS/IMS, 2in/2out, RIC, better turnouts, SCBAs, the safety officer, and the numbers don't go away. What is going on? Part of the answer is the fact that there are many myths and misconceptions as to the basic firefighting principles and how to apply these new safeguards on the fireground. This course will walk you through the history of how some of these safety guards have come about. More importantly, this course will try to dispel the misconceptions as to how we should be applying them on the fireground. The course will address "Command"; who, where, when, why, and how. The course will address the fireground "lap"; who should take it and when should it be taken. 2in/2out; what it is and what it isn't. RIC; what it is, who does it, what do they do and when. Lastly, the course will address the Safety Officer on the fireground. |
| 1:45 PM | Bob Pressler, Lieutenant (ret.), FDNY Category: House Fires The everyday fireground operation for the American fire service is the private house fire. Not all these operations conclude successfully. This class will address all aspects of fighting fires in private dwellings. Starting with building construction and continuing with a proper size-up including "reading" of smoke and fire conditions, the class will cover the requirements of the first to arrive companies to try ensure a safe and efficient operation. The emphasis will be on the efficient stretching of the first hand line and aggressive but safe searches for any trapped occupants. |
| 1:45 PM | Steve Prziborowski, Battalion Chief, Santa Clara County, CA FD Category: Career Advancement The fireground simulation is one of the most critical events, and sometimes the most weighted event of a promotional process assessment center. Whether it is a single-unit response or a multiple alarm fire, commanding an incident can be very challenging, especially if you do not have a pre-determined plan to run an incident. Learn how to go from just being the "check-box" incident commander to the incident commander who not only appears to be in control, but is in control! This presentation will help the student be more organized and more complete when faced with an emergency simulation on their next promotional examination. More importantly, this presentation will help provide a framework for the student to use in the position once they are successfully promoted, when the rubber really meets the road. |
| 1:45 PM | J. Gordon Routley, Division Chief, Montreal FD; Kevin Roche, Assistant to the Fire Chief, Phoenix, AZ FD Category: Safety This presentation will provide the most up-to-date information on trends and causal analysis of firefighter fatalities as well as insight on current research efforts directed toward problem areas that require urgent attention. The primary emphasis will be directed toward identifying and applying research findings that will have a significant impact on preventing injuries and fatalities. |
| 1:45 PM | Gary P. Morris, Fire Chief (ret.), Rural/Metro FD, Phoenix, AZ Category: Specialized Rescue Rapid Intervention Teams have and will continue to save firefighters who are lost, trapped, or injured on the fireground. But, do firefighters understand the limitations of these teams and how to improve their capabilities? This course will review a Phoenix firefighter fatality and the RIT operations trying to rescue firefighter Bret Tarver. The class will present research that was conducted separately by the Phoenix and Seattle Fire Departments to determine the RIT capabilities and limitations. The course will deliver the research results and what these two fire departments did to improve the RIT capability. |
| 1:45 PM | Kelley Gouette, Battalion Chief, CA Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection San Luis Obispo County FD Category: Wildland Tactics CAL FIRE is developing standard operating guidelines for use in Wildland Urban Interface fireground operations. This course will cover ICS organization, structure protection and perimeter control tactics and strategy, developing structure protection plans, evacuations, firefighter safety, structure triage and resource utilization. |
| 1:45 PM | Paul Shapiro, Engineer (ret.), City of Las Vegas FD, NV Category: Hose Streams Whether it be a fire in a single-family residence, a high-rise fire, or a surround and drown big water fire, the weapon of choice in today's fire service is the stream producing appliance, AKA the nozzle, and the ammunition is good old water. This class is going to analyze the various types of fire situations and the types of nozzle, hose, and appliance combinations required to successfully achieve a fire knockdown as safe and efficiently as possible. Emphasis will be placed on utilizing equipment to its maximum capabilities while keeping within the recommendations of the equipment manufacturers themselves. Do not plan on seeing the everyday fire stream classes that have been around forever because this will not be one of them. Students should bring a lot of energy and an open mind to this class and plan on bringing home the latest information on fire stream management. |
| 1:45 PM | Larry Collins, Captain, USAR Task Force 103, LA County FD Specialized Rescue The intent of this program is to prepare fire fighters to understand the dynamics of mud and debris flow, know when to recommend evacuations, conduct an accurate size-up, recognize danger signs, request appropriate resources, and stay alive while commanding and conducting emergency operations to save lives where possible. |
| March 4, 2010 | |
| 8:30 AM | Barry Franchi, Captain (ret.), San Jose FD 4-Hour Class This four-hour course is designed to help firefighters recognize and understand building construction as it pertains to the critical time factors and decisions being made on today's fireground. The intention of this program is to have firefighters look at a structure differently than they did at the start of the class so that they can make good decisions based on the characteristics of the known building construction and how they will help them and/or hurt them. |
| 8:30 AM | Bob Pressler, Lieutenant (ret.), FDNY Category: Strategy & Tactics This class, through the use of both PowerPoint and videos, examines our everyday fires and some of the recurring mistakes that lead to unsafe and inefficient operations. The class will identify the problems and will offer possible solutions to help address your everyday operational problems. |
| 8:30 AM | John Culbertson, Ph.D., Captain, Central Valley Fire District, MT; Brian Crandell, EdD., Assistant Chief, Central Valley Fire District, MT Category: Training This interactive program will focus on developing and delivering training programs that actually result in improved firefighter performance in the street. The program will focus on training methods that have proven effective with all levels of fire service training, from basic firefighter training through advanced command training. Lessons learned, application of command functions, and firefighter safety will be stressed. The use of local command systems in support of training programs will also be addressed with the use of successful systems and participant experiences. Safety and communications components of training programs will also be presented. |
| 8:30 AM | Ed Hadfield, Deputy Chief, Coronado, CA FD Category: Safety The fire service has seen a dramatic rise in injuries and deaths to fire personnel in the last ten years. Statistically, we are injuring and killing more firefighters on the fireground than ever before. Findings show how a fatal chain of errors made by personnel from the incident commander to the rookie firefighter promulgate the problem in the American fire service. This course is designed to identify those specific factors associated with the error chain and establish corrective action models to reverse this dangerous trend. |
| 8:30 AM | John Sullivan, District Chief, Worcester, MA FD Category: Rules of Engagement In 2001, the Safety and Health committee of the International Association of Fire Chief's published the landmark document 10 Rules of Engagement for Structural Firefighting. Recently, the IAFC's Safety, Health and Survival section undertook a dramatic revision of this initiative. This provocative guide establishes the fundamental "rules" upon which fireground decisions should be made at all levels when dealing with structure fires. This interactive lecture will utilize real fireground scenarios to illustrate and discuss how the rules of engagement can be utilized by all firefighters on scene to promote rational decision-making and enhance firefighter safety. Building on the concepts of crew resource management and situational awareness, the "rules" can be put to practical use in the dynamic and dangerous environment of structural fire fighting. The objectives of this session are to gain a practical understanding of how to legitimately utilize the "10 rules" in both policy and practice. These concepts will save firefighters lives, and you owe it to yourself and your fellow firefighters to take advantage of this valuable opportunity. |
| 8:30 AM | Mike Wieder, Assistant Director, IFSTA/Fire Protection Publications Oklahoma State University Category: Safety This presentation will highlight a project that was jointly funded by the United State Fire Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice and was performed by the International Association of Firefighters whose main goal was to bring together information on these important issues from the fire and police disciplines into one place. Information that will be addressed in this presentation includes response procedures, vehicle conspicuity, incident management procedures, and avoiding police and fire service conflicts at the incident scene. |
| 8:30 AM | John R. Hawkins, Unit Chief, CAL FIRE and , Fire Chief, Riverside County FD, Perris, CA Every firefighter and fire officer is challenged at one time or another with leadership and command and control questions. Probably the most critical personal development subject areas are leadership and command abilities. The presentation will provide common sense ideas and suggestions on improving or bettering leadership and command abilities. The instructor will provide real examples of successes and failures many of his own through his 46 years of fire service experience. |
| 8:30 AM | Paul Shapiro, Engineer (ret.), City of Las Vegas FD, NV, and Fire Instructor II Category: High Rise Delivering the required fire stream in a standard attack line hose evolution from the engine to the fire is quite easy to develop. There are four basic things the pump operator needs to know, flow rate, diameter of the line, nozzle pressure, and length of the line. When it comes to buildings with fire protection systems, especially multi-story, it gets to be a bit more complicated. Now there are specific flow and pressure limitations to deal with which are usually unique to each building. These limitations can require specific equipment and tactics to deal with the fire problem to have a successful outcome. This class is going to cover all phases of fire department pump operations for building fire protection systems, which include sprinkler systems, sprinkler/standpipe systems with no building fire pump, and sprinkler/standpipe systems with a building fire pump. |
| 8:30 AM | Al Mozingo, Fire Service Training Officer, National Fire Academy (MD) Category: Radiation Emergencies This program brings to the first responder information from the Planning Guidance for Response to a Nuclear Detonation published by the Homeland Security Council on January 16, 2009. The presentation will review: the factors involved in a nuclear detonation, assumptions, damage zones, the 7-10 rule, response actions, fallout information, and survivability factors. |
| 8:30 AM | Michael Taylor, Captain, E41, West Sacramento, CA FD Category: Strategy & Tactics This lecture is designed to give you the nuggets needed for successful fireground operation, when you feel limited by staffing or response. Choosing the proper nozzles, forcible entry tools, and apparatus set up to achieve your goals. Honing your skills so one firefighter can do more with less and empowering the fireground to collect information on the structure. This course is ideal for all ranks to be successful. Structure fires do not care about staffing, but firefighters care about structure fires. |
| 8:30 AM | James Dalton, Coordinator of Research and Development; Peter VanDorpe, Battalion Chief; Both with Chicago, IL FD; Partnered with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Category: Strategy & Tactics This nationally recognized research program depicts through live fire research how dangerous the modern fire environment has truly become. Firefighter fatalities and injuries have occurred in residential buildings because of rapid fire spread through areas of unprotected wood construction or the collapse of unprotected dimensional lumber and/or lightweight wood structural components. In response, the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighter Safety Program awarded funding to the Chicago Fire Department, Underwriters Laboratories, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and Michigan State University to further study this disturbing trend. This workshop will review the significant findings of this research project entitled, "The Structural Stability of Engineered Lumber in Fire Conditions?. This research conducted live fire testing to compare the failure times of conventional dimensional lumber construction to modern lightweight wood construction. This presentation will present video and photos highlighting the failure times of the tested assemblies, limitations of thermal imaging devices, digital thermal and structural modeling techniques. This workshop will also present case studies of fireground incidents, risk management and tactical recommendations for firefighting operations in residential lightweight constructed buildings and current building code developments relating to this topic. Participants will be introduced to an interactive web based outreach program to train the members of their own departments. |
| 10:15 AM | Bret Davidson, Battalion Chief, Rancho Santa Fe, CA, FD Category: Wildland Tactics This class is designed to respectfully look at structural interface case studies of the Calabasas, Cedar and the Esperanza turnovers. Through these incidents bring out strategies to help prevent future situations. This class is designed to equip the officers with the knowledge to apply good fireground principles and maintain good situational awareness. |
| 10:15 AM | Thomas Somers, Captain, Los Angeles, CA FD Category: Major Incidents The Chatsworth Metrolink vs. Freight train disaster turned into a massive rescue and recovery effort. Learn what happened on Sept. 12, 2008, as a Los Angeles Fire Department communications center representative describes command and control efforts to coordinate response to one of the deadliest train accidents in the state's history. |
| 10:15 AM | Larry Manasco, Captain, Fort Worth, TX FD, Kelby Childers, Firefighter, South Metro, CO FD Category: Training Following his monthly Firehouse.com series, Larry Manasco, together with Kelby Childers, will walk you through a step-by-step process to establish a training calendar for your shift, based on the needs of your response area. Firefighters should train during every tour, but choosing the topics and the means to carry them out can often times be difficult. This class will cover the practical applications of training props and offer ideas for both quick and extensive training sessions. |
| 10:15 AM | David Daniels, Fire Chief/Emergency Services Administrator, Renton Fire & Emergency Services, WA Category: Safety This presentation describes culture from a social perspective and suggests a model that can help those interested in changing organizational culture. Though the tactics are focused on the issue of occupational safety and health, they are useful in any "culture shift" effort. |
| 10:15 AM | Lynn King, Sgt., Medical Products Specialist, Skedco, INC. Category: EMS Field Expedient Bleeding Simulation System?? is a revolutionary bleeding simulation system that brings absolute realism to tactical trauma patient care training. The FEBSS?? keeps patient simulation simple. One button turns the system ON and one button turns the system OFF. A total of 8 bleeding injuries can be controlled remotely up to 50 feet away! |
| 10:15 AM | Robert Cobb, Deputy Chief (ret.), Jersey City, NJ FD, Director, Community Hazard Mitigation, ISO, Inc. Category: Engine Operations Engine company operations on the fireground sound simple enough: stretch some lines and aim a stream of water at the fire. This seminar examines the important tactical objectives of the engine company. Are light-weight truss construction, energy efficient windows and older buildings "yellow flags" in your size-up? Find out why they should be. Correct size-up will determine initial tactics and strategy and will set in motion the "incident game plan". The engine company's rescue plan will also be discussed. |
| 10:15 AM | Kevin Trost, Captain (ret.), Sacramento, CA FD Category: Close Calls Today's fire service appears to be getting younger in age and experience. As a result, there seems to be a lack of understanding regarding the relationship between fire attach and truck company operations. Additionally, there is a great misunderstanding regarding truck company operations during search and rescue on the fireground. This course provides an opportunity to dispel some of the misconceptions regarding truck company operations. Whether you are a firefighter, company officer, or battalion chief, you need to have a clear understanding of the truck functions on the fireground. In addition, you need to understand the priority of these functions. This class will take you from an introduction as to the role of the truck company on the fireground, to identify the functions of a truck company, and to prioritize those functions. The course will breakdown the roles and responsibilities of the truck company members, and how to apply them on the fireground. Whether you are a volunteer department, paid department, combination department, or even staff a truck company, it is imperative that you understand the importance of truck work on the fireground. The safety of all fireground operations is directly related to truck company operations, and this class will provide a clear understanding of that relationship. |
| 10:15 AM | Paul Lepore, Battalion Chief, Long Beach, CA FD, Alan Patalano, Deputy Chief, Long Beach, CA FD Category: Career Advancement Performing in a fire simulator can be a very intimidating process for a candidate who is unfamiliar with the process. This course will take the mystery out of the process and will give the candidate a strong foundation of what it takes to be successful. Additionally, students will learn how to avoid how to develop strategies to effectively manage incident. We will use a PowerPoint presentation along with the Digital Combustion software. This program allows us to take a photo of the building and incorporate fire and smoke to make the scenarios very realistic. |
| 10:15 AM | Tom Clawson, Transportation Emergency Preparedness Program, Coordinator; Chris Alverson, TEPP Instructor Category: Radiation Emergencies Responding to emergencies where radioactive materials are present can be a frightening experience. This session includes basic information on radiation, materials you might encounter, the hazards they pose, signs alerting you to the presence of radioactive materials. Session also includes demonstrations on how to package, treat, and transport contaminated patients. |
| 10:15 AM | Kent Freeman, Captain, Roseville, CA, FD The initial decisions made by the first arriving officers at technical rescue incidents many times determine the final outcome's success. One good decision routinely breeds another good decision; conversely one bad decision will breed more confusion, producing confusion snowballs that result in an avalanche of disaster. This program is designed to provide insight to first arriving personnel at a technical rescue, trench rescue, tower rescue and building collapses, providing time proven, common sense tactical priorities. |
