It is always great to talk to Fire Fighters and Fire Officers, no matter where in the world I find myself. It was one of the tremendous highlights from my recent trip to South Africa.
Thanks to the fire fighters of Johannesburg and Durban for sharing keen insights into their departments and operations. It was a great exchange. There are so many similarities to Fire Fighters and Fire Stations all over the world that they are too numerous to mention (including the mop bucket, lol).
Got to see their equipment and discuss issues. Many of the same things that we struggle with in the USA are there as well. Pre- and Post- Apartheid Firefighter selection, staffing and training mirror some of the departments in the USA. I say that in terms of our own attempts at equal opportunity employment, post the Civil Rights era. A different scale and yet the same issues. We were able to discuss Officer selection and development; strategies and tactics; the attitude of the population, as it relates to Public Safety; and the future of department goals and objectives.
I felt right at home with this Pierce Attack Pumper, until I climbed into the cab and realized that the steering wheel was on the “wrong side” and that I had to do my pump calculations in the metric system. The “Rule of Thumb” still applies. It was nice to tour the city in the Operations Vehicle (equivalent to my Battalion Chief’s SUV, at home). The only difference is that theirs is a Mercedes SUV. It was then on to one of the Ladder Trucks.
The equipment was great to review and compare, yet we all agreed that the equipment is nothing and ineffective without proper human resource management.
I want to thank Thato and Trevor for a great time with the South African Fire and Emergency Services Division. Stay safe and hope to chat again soon.
You’ve done the unthinkable and are wondering if there’s any saving your career; there might be if you do these three things.
Source: 3 ways fire chiefs can salvage their careers | Fire Chief
The National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board) is pleased to announce an initiative to assist the men and women of the Department of Defense (DOD), especially VETERANS RETURNING FROM SERVICE OVERSEAS in finding career and employment opportunities in the Fire Service when retiring out of military service.
Denver firefighters opened their doors and their hearts to share painful lessons to help improve firefighter safety across the country and around the world.
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has released Denver Fire Department: Leadership So Everyone Goes Home, a documentary highlighting the department’s efforts to make improvements after the tragic loss of three Denver firefighters over a six-year period
Ben Welsh On Jul 7, 2015
Source: Los Angeles Times
County regulators ordered the department to remove the devices last week after fire officials were unable to produce documentation showing Compton firefighters had been properly trained to use the equipment.
The action comes after The Times disclosed in March that nearly one in four city firefighters lacked a permit to perform emergency medical care, a key credential required by other local fire agencies.
“If they aren’t going to follow directions and it’s not going to be a safe use of the equipment then you have to put a stop to the program,” said Cathy Chidester, head of the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency, which oversees 911 service in the area.
Officials say it may take several weeks to train the firefighters or verify their credentials. In the meantime, some units that arrive first at the scene of a cardiac arrest could be limited to providing CPR until highly trained paramedic rescuers arrive to deliver an electronic shock.
