...used. The technology used today to help fight fires is extremely progressed and different than it was even just ten years ago. If it were not for these new inventions, communication would not be as easy and complex for any fire station. Firemen face different obstacles every day and have to be ready to jump right in with whatever the circumstance may be. Tactics such as how to use ventilation tools, the proper way to handle forest fires, and the basic prevention techniques to stay as safe and efficient as possible. Becoming a fireman is not cut out for someone who is not athletically gifted. It takes a strong person; both mentally and physically, do complete the drills that one must see every day. The equipment alone is all extremely heavy and powerful. There are many things that most people are unaware of when it comes to the basic characteristics of being a firefighter. Overview of Firefighting When the average person thinks of being a firefighter, they usually imagine cute Dalmatian dogs, loud sirens, heavy clothes, huge water hoses, poles to slide down, and giant ladders. Firefighting is a more complex job than people think because it has many characteristics that we do not think of. Aspects such as the various types of technology used, the different tactics you see on a day to day basis, the physical abilities one must be capable of, and the types of equipment used. It takes both physical and mental strength to get through a day of saving lives and fighting...
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...to be a firefighter. I think fire fighting would be a fun and exciting job. When I watch firefighters battling fires on the news, it makes me want to be out there fighting the fire with them. I also like the idea that I would be helping many people. For example, during 9/11 many firefighters risked and lost their lives going into the badly damaged World Trade Center towers to save the lives of people they did not even know. Every little boy dreams of becoming a police officer or firefighter so that they can ride around in a car or truck with sirens blaring. Now that I have grown older I still want to be a firefighter. That is why I decided to join a six-week high school fire academy at West L.A. College last summer. During those six weeks I learned how to use a firefighter’s hose and how the different nozzles function. I learned the fire-fighting lingo, like “run” means an incident, or “size up” is a verbal picture of the incident that says, “I’m at… I need… I have.” One of the most important things I learned at the Fire Academy was teamwork and how not doing your job could result in the serious injury or even death of one of the members of your Engine Company. Although it was an extreme amount of work and it was a huge sacrifice to give up my summer, this experience only strengthened my desire to become a firefighter. In my eyes a firefighter is not just somebody doing his or her job, he’s a super hero. When someone is trapped in a burning building, a firefighter battles...
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... As far back as I can remember I wanted to be a firefighter. I recall as a kid watching the big red fire trucks go racing by with their light and sirens blaring. On the back were these big, burly looking men. They were hanging on to the back of the trucks, one arm hanging on to the rails and the other arm waving to us. I would watch in awe at these firefighters with there funny looking boots, coats, and helmets running into buildings that other people were running out of. Fire and smoke billowing out of every nook and cranny of a building. These men didn’t care what the dangers were. Their job was to rescue people and put the fire out. I thought firefighters were the epitome of bravery. As I grew older, the lure of the being a firefighter did not go away. But there were other, more viable options for me to have as a career. Getting a job on the fire department is extremely hard. The test is extremely competitive and there are thousands of people that want the same as I did. To become a firefighter. I took the first civil service test and did pretty well. But I knew my scores weren’t good enough to get a job offer. So off to college and find a job. After settling in to my job, I figured this was going to be my future. A suit and tie kind of of guy. That was OK with me. I was making a good living and was looking to marry my high school sweetheart. I started to put the thought of becoming a firefighter further and further from my mind. In the spring...
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...Local Firefighters Are Furloughed Even though the city needs more money, firefighters do not deserve furloughs because they do not make much money and most have to work second jobs. It is imperative to department morale that they receive adequate monetary compensation, without relying on a second job. Furloughs Firefighters do not deserve furloughs. Local firefighters are on 24-hour shifts in an A, B, and C block schedule. There were two furlough days during the year, on specified holidays. This meant whether or not the firefighter was working on that specified holiday he or she would not be paid for it. Morale Furloughs had a detrimental effect on morale in the department. No one wants to work and not be paid for it. The furlough also made the people in the department believe that their hard work was not appreciated, and unneeded. It is unfortunate that short lived fixes, such as layoffs and furloughs are becoming the norm and are negatively affecting morale and the quality of service (Duggan, Lewis, & Milluzzi, 2010). Causes Strain Firefighters often have to work two jobs. People in the emergency service industry do not join this field for money. The majority of firefighters at the City of Charleston work at the fire department full time, and work another job part-time. They work two jobs out of necessity, not from the enjoyment of working two jobs. Most people do not want to work a 24-hour shift to have to go straight to another job without the ability...
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...In both societies firemen are important however the job obligations are extremely dissimilar. In both societies, firefighters are essential to the function of society. Since books are illegal in 451’s society, firefighters are necessary to destroy any books. Without firefighters, who would put out our house fires and save countless families? Although there are similarities between the two societies, the biggest difference is that Fahrenheit 451’s firefighters start fires, while our civilization’s firefighters terminate fires. In the novel, Montag and the rest of his crew burn down an entire house because it contained books. “’Kerosene!’ They pumped the cold fluid from the numeraled 451 tanks strapped to their shoulders. They coated each book, they pumped rooms full of it” (Bradbury 35). As a result of this, firemen became book-burners and not fire-stoppers like they still are in today’s...
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...Decay. Each stage plays a role in every fire. Understanding each stage, and how to handle or prevent it is critical in becoming in control of a fire. Flameovers and backdrafts are not consider stages, but also are definitely factors of a fire. These factors sometimes can be prevented. Some methods of prevention are taugh at fire academies, or fire schools, to new firefighters, and are constistly being developed. Incipient, also know as the "ignition" stage, is the first stage of a fire. In this stage smoke may began before the fire actually flames up. This is the stage where heat, oxygen, and a fuel source combine to ignite the fire. At this stage it can be controlled by a household fire extinguinsher. Growth is the second stage of a fire. With the initial flame used as a heat sourse, more flames flare up. Flaring up makes the size of the fire increase and the plume reaches the ceiling. In a room hot gases meet at the celing of the roomwhich cause all fuels in that room to be closer to its ignition temperature. In which the fire will eventually spread. During this growth stage is when a flashover can happen. Flashovers occur when a room or other areas becomes heated to the point where flames flashover the entire surface. Temperatures soar to as much as one thousand degrees Fahrenheit in a few seconds. In full gear, a well trained firefighter is unlikely...
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...A Firefighters Point of View DeVry University Linda G Stegall February 15, 2015 The discussion over a volunteer fire department becoming a paid fire department or a combination fire department has been going on in many different areas of North Carolina. Out of these three who is better, who can answer their calls better, and who performs better. As a member of The Wingate Volunteer Fire Department for twenty five years I am very partial to the volunteer side. I know the need for protection from all the different types of departments but it is my decision to side with the combination fire department. When talking about a volunteer fire department, “We are not just a bunch of guys standing around waiting on the pager to go off!” Most of us volunteers work full time jobs and run calls when we can. We have trained and continue to train once if not twice a week. The state of North Carolina sets training objectives that all firefighters paid or volunteer must meet. In order for any firefighter to go into a burning structure of any kind they must be firefighter one certified. “Firefighting is a highly competitive field (Lawrence, nd).” “Most departments only require a high school diploma or an equivalent such as a GED, also require a drug screening and a background check plus a valid driver’s license and live within the service area of the department (Volunteer Fireman, nd).” “In the state of North Carolina each volunteer fire department must maintain a list of firefighters who...
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...History Ancient Rome There was no public fire-fighting in the Roman Republic. Instead, private individuals would rely upon their slaves or supporters to take action. This action could involve razing nearby buildings to prevent the spread of fire as well as bucket brigades. The very wealthy Marcus Licinius Crassus was infamous for literal fire sales. He would buy burning buildings, and those adjacent to them at low prices, and rebuild them using his team of 500 slaves. However there is no mention of the men extinguishing the fires. There was not an organized fire-fighting force in ancient Rome until Augustus's era. United Kingdom Prior to the Great Fire of London in 1666, some parishes in the UK had begun to organise rudimentary firefighting. After much of London was destroyed, the first fire insurance was introduced by a man named Nicholas Barbon. To reduce the cost, Barbon formed his own Fire Brigade, and eventually there were many other such companies. By the start of the 1800s, those with insurance were given a badge or mark to attach to their properties, indicating that they were eligible to utilize the services of the fire brigade. Other buildings with no coverage or insurance with a different company were left to burn unless they were adjacent to an insured building in which case it was often in the insurance company's interest to prevent the fire spreading. In 1833, companies in London merged to form The London Fire Company Establishment. Steam powered apparatuses...
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...Collective Bargaining Crystal Hall Bus 670 Peter McCaan April 2, 2012, 2012 The International Association of Firefighters was formed in 1918 to unite firefighters for better wages, improved safety, and greater service for their communities. At a time when fire fighters worked seven days a week, had little benefits, and safety meant putting a wet towel over their face before running into flames, the IAFF became the voice of the firefighter, the protector of the protector. It is through collective bargaining that this labor union and the employer are able to negotiate the scope of the employment relationship; in turn, creating a safer working environment as well as a strong foundation for which the labor and management teams can use to strengthen their relationship. Collective bargaining generally includes negotiations between the two parties (employees’ representatives and employer’s representatives). Collective bargaining consists of negotiations between an employer and a group of employees that determine the conditions of employment. Often employees are represented in the bargaining by a union or other labor organization. The result of collective bargaining procedure is called the collective bargaining agreement or CBA. Collective agreements may be in the form of procedural agreements or substantive agreements. Procedural agreements deal with the relationship between workers and management and the procedures to be adopted for resolving individual or group disputes. This...
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...Parkinson’s Foundation approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease each year. An estimated seven to ten million people are living with this disease worldwide (Oberdorf, Schmidt, & Schmidt, 2010). The patient I will be discussing on this paper is a 43 year old male. I will call him Tom, to protect his privacy. Tom was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was 40 years old, his symptoms though started when he was 39 year of age. Tom was a healthy, athletic, strong individual. Tom was married with two kids, when he was diagnosed, he worked as a firefighter since the age of 21. One day Tom woke up and noticed an involuntary movement to his left finger, at first he did not pay much attention, but as days passed by he noticed that the symptoms were progressively getting worse, and new strange things were occurring, like not being able to tie his shoe lace, buttoning his shirt was becoming a task, and had developed...
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...-------------------------About this Piece------------------------ Paddy Brown There is more to being a hero than merely having the courage to run into a burning building. That is what firefighters are paid to do – it’s just one aspect of their chosen occupation. To me, a true hero is someone who people look up to, a person you might pattern your own life after. Someone who is dedicated, sincere, passionate, inspiring. One who cares about people and puts others before themselves. In doing research for this drawing a name that kept popping up was Paddy Brown. Whether it was in conversation with fellow firefighters, or seeing his name in print or searching the net, the one name that always seemed to appear was Paddy Brown. Captain Brown lost his life on September 11, 2001 along with 342 members of the Fire Department of New York. This image of Paddy Brown is a tribute to all who made the ultimate sacrifice while attempting to save others on that tragic day. One of the many quotes to describe the character of Paddy Brown was best expressed by a retired FDNY member. He said, “Paddy had a chestful of medals, and he wore them with a modest heart”. It is only fitting that the image I chose to draw represents a true-life, everyday hero who touched many lives in many ways. That was Captain Patrick J. Brown. [pic] Captain Patrick J. Brown FDNY Patrick...
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...from our mistakes and improving upon them each day. We learned a great lesson in life on June 18, 2007. On this day in history America lost 9 great “Fire Heroes” to a structure fire in Charleston, South Carolina. The fire started at approximately 7:00 p.m. in the locking dock area of a mattress showroom and warehouse. Charleston firefighters arrived on the scene just three minutes after the alarm, followed soon by firefighters from the St. Andrews Public Service District . From 1979 to 2002 there were over 180 fire fighter deaths from Structural collapse. In more recent times, between 1990 and Augusta 2010, 43 fire fighters deaths have been associated with structural collapses. In a scientific study conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) entitled Trends in Firefighter Fatalities Due to Structural Collapse, 1979-2002, it was found that firefighter deaths in residential buildings have more than tripled in the last decade compared to the previous decades (1994-2002: 33 deaths; 1983-1992: 9 deaths) (Brassal, Evans 2002). Are firefighters and other fire professionals missing the evidence needed to curve the potential for firefighter fatalities due to structural collapse? Structural collapses are not always the cause of death, but may have been contributing factors that lead to the cause of death. Can training, better building practices, pre-plans and changing structural building laws decrease the risk for fire fighters? Risk Analysis and concerns regarding...
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...Joining the Explorer Program is the first step i'm taking to gain the experience needed to start a career with the fire service. This essay will be answering the questions about the past accomplishments in my life, my interest in the fire service, and what I would like to gain from the Explorer Program. I would like to join Service because I feel like i'm a good fit for the career. I'm a senior at Sir Francis Drake High School. I have played sports for my entire four years, I play football and lacrosse, I am a captain on both teams. I have a long history of working physical jobs, I have been doing tree work almost my whole life. I'm interested in the fire service because i am very team oriented. I work well in groups, I have been...
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...RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF THE VOLUNTEER:: RECRUITMENT & RETENTION OF THE VOLUNTEER THE MISSING PIECE OF THE FIRE SERVICE THE MISSING PIECE OF THE FIRE SERVICE August 15, 2002 Prepared By: Franklin Woodrow Wilson II Lieutenant, Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 1 HISTORY OF THE FIRE SERVICE ......................................................................... 4 RECRUITMENT ........................................................................................................ 6 MARKETING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ............................................................... 6 ISSUES AND DIVERSITY CHALLENGES ............................................................... 7 CRITICAL AREAS TO INCREASE RECRUITMENT ............................................ 9 COMMUNITY .................................................................................................... 9 SELF ESTEEM ................................................................................................. 10 NEEDS ............................................................................................................ 10 PHILOSOPHY ........
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...Guidelines to Improve Public Awareness of the Services Offered by the Sedona Fire District Jayson Coil Battalion Chief, Sedona Fire District DRAFT manuscript Submitted to Assistant Chief Terry Keller April 14, 2010 Guidelines to Improve Public Awareness of the Services Offered by the Sedona Fire District Why We Are Unique The Sedona Fire District cannot be accurately compared with most rural or urban fire departments in the nation. Although we provide the same core services, we also provide a level of expertise above and beyond most agencies. Our unique environment requires we be proficient in swiftwater rescue, high angle rescue, wildland fire, and other disciplines not always associated with fire departments. We do provide a higher level of medical care than is required. The additional costs are commensurate with the added benefits our agency provides. It is easy for people to argue that we are overstaffed when our level of preparedness is compared to the average call volume we experience. Unfortunately, this thinking is inherently flawed. As an organization charged with helping people in their time of need, we do not have the luxury of just preparing for an average day. We choose to focus on preparing for serious emergencies and multiple calls that do occur. This is the very tenet emergency preparedness is based on. Until we can predict when emergencies will happen and exactly how many people we will need when we show up, we will err on the side of...
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