We have been following Lieutenant Eager’s adventure as the new Oldtown Engine 2 commander on A-Platoon. Eager encountered a busy fire company that did not “pull hose” for an in-station training session. This article will wrap up our discussion and ask for your assistance with a survey.

FIRE COMPANY PERFORMANCE TAKE-AWAYS

• Even the best firefighters need to practice their craft to maintain the highest level of performance when the opportunity arises to make a difference.
• Our muscle memory and skill retention start to degrade after 90 days of non-use.
• There are situations where firefighters have no discretionary time to make a decision or take mission-critical action.
• As a group, we will whine about having to practice but also complain when our performance does not match our needs.
• It is the effort of every member of the fire company that will make a difference in a challenging situation.

SETTING THE TRAINING HABIT

There should be a skill drill every day where the company is placing hands on the tools and equipment we bring to an emergency. Captain Jarrod Sergi’s presentation of Fire Service Mortar: The Critical Role of the Company Officer emphasizes the importance of skill training every work day, whether it is 15 minutes to ladder a side of a building or an hour to practice a more complex activity.

1) Hot Wash Follow-up

Many departments do a “hot wash” of chief and company officers once an event is declared stable but before the companies leave the scene. This is a review of the actions taken, the challenges encountered and if there is any immediate feedback needed to the owner, fire chief or others.

When the chief officer’s hot wash is done, the company officer will gather the crew and share what was discussed at the hot wash and do a more detailed look at any challenges encountered at the incident. This may result in a skill practice or review of an evolution to reinforce any lessons learned.

2) Spontaneous Drill

A tweet from Andy Kelleher reflected on the practice of Kentland Volunteers conducting impromptu drills when returning from a response. “It wasn’t unusual for the Wagon to stop and the WD or OIC to order a hose like pulled at a specific address. Good traditions, keep making exceptional firemen.”

3) Target Hazard Problem Solving

An engine company with acres of mid-century garden style apartments across the street from the fire station frequently could not gain access to the rear units because the designated fire apparatus access points were blocked by vehicles or dumpsters. In wet weather, the rig would sink in the mud. Firefighters borrowed a measuring wheel from the police and determined how much hose was needed to get lines to the third floor rear apartments.

They validated their measurements through practice pulls. This information is on paper and electronic preplans. This changed how the engine company leader line was set up and deployed. Two years later they had a Molotov-ignited arson fire in a middle unit third floor rear apartment with two trapped. There were no delays or surprises getting the attack lines and ground ladders to the rear.

4) Be prepared for No Discretionary Time Events

Gordon Graham’s 6 Minutes For Safety utilizes the best way for adults to learn and retain vital information. Incorporated as a start-of-shift activity or as part of the daily drill, this is a way to reinforce “must know” information.

Sources for a 6 minutes drill can include lessons from the IAFC’s Near-Miss reports, IAFF Online Academy, NIOSH Line-of-Duty reports, videos posted on STATter911, insight from Bill Carey at Firefighter Nation and Fire Rescue Magazine, and reports from Chief Billy Goldfeder at FirefighterCloseCalls.com.

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2019 Supervisor and Manager Seminar Survey

We are going to start a seminar series for emergency service unit supervisors and managers. I need your help to make a seminar worthy of your time.

Please take 4 minutes and respond to this survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5ZZXRL7

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Featured photo from Highland Park Volunteer Fire Department Blog “HPVFD June 2013 Company Training.”

Fire commander meeting picture used with permission from PIO Pete Piringer, Montgomery County (MD) Fire Rescue Service. Battalion and Deputy Chief conducting a “hot wash” with the company officers after a structure fire.

Elements, identifiers, and sequence of events may be altered in “war stories” to protect the innocent or work better as an example.