Intro and Ideas

[3105]

Although far from being a training guru, Sean has asked me to "guide" this section so that hopefully something useful is brought to the table for everyone's benefit. Being of senile mind and unsound body, I quickly agreed (at least I THINK I agreed).

Anyway, I'm going to explore setting up a couple of sub-sections that will focus on several key areas of training, namely things like company level drills, department/multi-company drills, one-on-one training, training props, D/O training, officer training, things that work, training compliance issues, and maybe a little Instructor 101 stuff.

For those of you who don't know me, count yourself lucky....I'm long of tooth and have, along with almost 25+ years in the service, a background in education (actually, I have a secondary (high school) teaching certificate from good ole Glassboro State before Rowan got his name put on the building). Currently employed as the Motown Training Officer as well as Health and Safety Officer, I also serve as the BC for Station 311.

Having said all that, my on-going weakness is in formulating good, hands-on drills that have the guys and gals smiling afterwards...you all know the ones I'm talking about, where the old light of learning clearly shines on everyone's face when they leave. My strengths are more classroom based than hands on and that's something I'd like everyone to contribute. Tell us what drills/training sessions you've attended or presented that had a definite impact on the students..the ones that made you think or want to practice more. Share these ideas with everyone..I promise to give you credit when I rip yours off.

In my opinion, it's not about WHO created it (although they deserve the credit) but whether we willingly share this valuable stuff with everyone...we're not in a competitive business, but a COOPERATIVE one....let's make this work.

Lastly, I've set up a Photobucket account so that anything I can post image wise can be put up without having to figure out how to compress or downsize the ^&%$&* picture.

Let's start with some ideas....anyone have anything they'd like to see sooner than later? Warm up the old digits and get typing....

[thelurker]

1. Keys to Size-Up, also maybe how to better verbalize what we are seeing....
2. Screaming over the radio when you see fire...Why it hurts people's ears, and how not to do it.
3. Once you find a way to do it, a post of the newest crew leader program would be nice..

[3105]

The first we can do; the second requires a certain amount of personal composure some people just don't possess. Let me work on the third; not certain how to post...this is something I need to talk to Sean about.

Another quick opinion: my personal feeling is that the volume of the IC's voice is directly proportional to the number of screw-ups that will happen; if the troops hear panic, frustration, or unintelligible drivel coming from the IC, they react by doing the same thing. Another area of particular interest to me is something lurker touches on: HOW to accurately communicate what you want, when you want it done, and how you want it done...too many IC's and officers blurt something out that makes half-sense or is not specific enough, then expect the crew to read their &*^$%# minds. Nothing pisses me off more than hearing afterwards: "You should have known what I meant". No, TELL me what you want! Grrrr.... more later!

[galiean251]

Not sure if this is possible - but can we embed something like YouTube in a post? That could expand the ideas into practical examples of training that would otherwise be tough to show in photos, etc.

-- Sean (the Other One)

[3105]

Good question...since I just learned out to post pictures, I'll give it the old college try.

Reagrding training....Keith's link to the Hackensak truss collapse video is a real training gem; if anyone has a wood bowstring, modified bowstring, or triangular truss, they should be showing this video to the troops.

One thing I didn't realize until I watched the video was that the bowstring was sheathed underneath, creating a HUGE cockloft situation...somehow I had always pictured it being open like a garage normally would be. This, in my opinion, made matters ten times worse because our first thought is "How the *&%$# can I get in there and get it?", which then leads to more exhibitions of fireground NTS...we walk right into the trap like mice.

[thelurker]

www.rapidintervention.com/media/monthly_training_topic/february2005/

Link to rapidintervention.com's training on Engineered I-Beam floors.

Enjoy.

[chief3102]

Lurker, thanks for that. I had read that article a while ago and like usual did not book mark it for future reference.

[3105]

I want to address something that Lurker suggested earlier in the thread - the keys to a good size up. A quick disclaimer: I am neither an expert nor an oracle when it comes to this stuff, just a firefighter who believes that what happens in the first five minutes affects the ultimate outcome of the incident far more than what happens the following five hours. A good size-up is not only important, it's essential...and demands a lot more focus and time than just merely walking around the structure. In my opinion only, too many IC's commit to a strategy too early because of an overwheming urge to DO SOMETHING NOW rather than hold the boys and girls back for a minute or two until you've gathered all the relevent information needed to make a good decision. More than anything else - this unrelenting pressure to give orders and make a hasty and uninformed decision will only lead to unpleasant surprises later on.

This pressure also leads into another of Lurker's comments: disjointed, unclear, high volume radio transmissions that confuse more than clarify. Listen to the radio in the first five minutes of any working job and you can get a pretty good idea if it's going to have a successful outcome. If the IC "paints a picture" well, gives direct, concise orders, communicates responsibilties, and resists the urge to let everyone pile in, then things usually go as planned. Too many IC's try to act as Command and Operations in the first five minutes, thereby sacrificing control over some aspects of each post....although some manage to do it fairly well, its can be an impossible thing to pull off consistently.

Which now leads me into my personal agenda of promoting an early declaration of strategy so that all responding personnel - including the vitally important Operations officer - has a rough idea of what they can and cannot do (at least until the mode changes). This (IMHO) is a critical component of size-up. Am I going to get in there and get it, (Offensive), approach cautiously until further info is developed (Transitional), or decide that the risks do not justify the detriments and pull back (Defensive).

Another thing that inhibits a good size-up is ten BTR's screaming for orders while you're trying to assess the situation. Fix this by ordering Level 1 and 2 staging from the very start...avoid the urge to give people orders for the sake of giving them orders..it's counterproductive. Staging them will alleviate this at least momentarily....until impatience creeps in. Start your operation with the first arriving engine(s), ladder, and possibly rescue (if applicable), then feed troops and apparatus in as you recognize the need developing. You won't win any popularity contests by doing this, but then again you shouldn't be trying to. (Another note: it doesn't matter what name is on the side of the engine, ladder, or rescue...use the first arriving units. To do otherwise is both unprofessional as well as potentially career-ending).

Everything I brought up here is "background" to conducting a good size-up. I don't care who you are, how long you've been around, or how good you may be - the element of time is a critical factor in size up. You need time as well as your experience and senses to make a good decision. Some size-ups are obvious and don't take a lot of time, others will demand a closer look. Resist the urge to rush through it and ALWAYS maintain a healthy sense of skepticism throughout the entire incident.

Lastly, remember that you will never see, hear, or know EVERYTHING you want or need to know in order to make a decision...fires have a way of disguising themselves pretty well when they want. Gather what you can, make a strategic decision, then NEVER be afraid to change your mind if something new happens or the situation turns to poop. It is NOT a blight on your skills, abilities, and reputation if things go south due to unseen, unknown circumstances (unless of course you should have seen or known of them but choose to ignore them). This isn't about our egos - it's about our people.

[1710]

Great post Chief!!!!

[laddertruckgoes]

IMHO, Chiefs are sometimes become too busy trying to micro-manage the initial fire scene. I have always been a firm believer in having "Standing Orders" upon arrival of the incoming units. Another thing that absolutely behooves me is why companies around here don't lay in more often?!?!?

My theroy is this (and slightly off topic); If I'm the driver of the first due engine and I even think I have a fire, I'm dropping my line at the closest hydrant, intersection, or end of the driveway. This way the next engine can pick up my line and be ready to send water. People ask me why all the time, and I have a few reasons.

1. I may have 1000gals of water which is enough to put the fire out, but what if something goes wrong.

2. If there is a mechanical issue with my rig, now I have another engine that can pump through me at least long enough to get my crews out.

3. It keeps the 2nd engine out of the way for the truck company.

4. Your responsible for those guys inside having water... why not be safer then sorry?

Now back on topic, but based on my above rant, now there's duties for the first 2 engine companies. One's going to lay in and stretch off a line (big enough based on initial conditions, the engine officer should be able to determine this). Second engine completes the first's water supply, crew comes forward and pulls the back up line. First truck goes to the front and opens up, throws ladders, does searches and whatever else. Any additional units can get used to supplement this order.

This would probably work on 95% of what we go to. This means that 95% of the time, the OIC can do his size up and figure out what he needs otherwise and ensure it gets done. By having these standing orders, the chatter is reduced on the radio so now the important things can be said.

I do have to add however, that it's not just the chief that needs to be sizing up the situation, everyone should be sizing up the situation. It's the chiefs job to choose the strategies, but it's everyone elses job to make the mental image of what's going on and how their going to carry out the tasks at hand.

I'm just not sure everyone understands this. Even for the 1st Due Engine Company, there's alot more then just putting the wet stuff on the red stuff.

[1710]

Everyone does not understand that! Some people just do not get it.

I can say we are taking these steps in our "region" to work on "Standing Orders". That will progress our region, I hope, just not the entire county. I feel that taking smaller bites like this is the way to go to prove it to the rest of the county. Just like every other topic, it is to hard to convince everyone that it actually just might work.

[hp4l]

I agree that standing orders should be in place. Take a basic alarm system or dwelling with nothing showing. This is what you always hear: "Can, TIC, and Irons to Division A" Why aren't these tools automatically coming off with the FF's? If you can start with something simple like that, then you could possibly move on to standing orders for confirmed structure fires.

I also think that the officers of the engine/truck/rescue companies should be trained to handle these orders. If you want to ride the seat then you better be able to handle all of the responsibility that comes with it. It is more then just the radio and sirens. You have a company that you are responsible for and you should be able to make some decisions without calling the OIC every time. That comes with experience and training and unfortunatley there are some departments that just move people up without either of those.

Sorry if I got off topic, just thought I'd throw that out there.

[thelurker]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVU0fosLleo

Here's a video that will make you go "OH nuts!!!"

Edit: Hey, that's not what I said!!! Stupid Censorship.

[JDub]

I also agree with the standing orders concept. For the most part where I am, we do it because we have placards on the wall, on 3 out of the 5 pieces, telling us what each position should grab.

Does any one else use the placard idea or have a better one?

[3105]

NOW I'm straying a bit off topic, but while viewing lurker's post I clicked on this one:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1omQZggTDI

A LOT of good comments.....I wholeheartedly agree with many of them including:

1) Command micro-managing operations.... the IC has enough to do without telling crews HOW to open a door or what line to stretch. Manage the scene and incident, not the operational tactics...that's what the Operations officer is for.

2) While agreeing in concept to the use of standing orders, I have unfortunately too often found out that at least one person is either behind the power curve or too target locked. My personal preference is to state clearly what I want (depending, of course, on the crew) so there's absolutely NO mistakes. I could fill these forum pages with countless episodes of mishaps, misunderstandings, screw-ups, brain cramps, senior moments, and displays of plain, unalloyed stupidity, most of which could have been eliminated or prevented with someone clearly communicating what they want. What may be obvious to some people is obviously not obvious to another. Now, having said that, I also concur with Jim's lament that the old "Cans, irons, and imager" chant shouldn't have to happen when working with a semi-experienced crew.

[3105]

Continuing my stream of consciousness on size-up, another key factor that needs to be utilized is prior knowledge of what you're about to encounter, ie: pre-plans.

Like just like military, having good intelligence about the enemy is absolutely essential; the more we know BEFOREHAND, the less likely we're going to be surprised, even more so nowdays with crap construction and potential haz-mats lurking around every corner.

Putting together good pre-plans is a thankless job, but for a new officer, a valuable learning experience. If nothing else, you may not remember all the little details about a particular building, but believe me, you'll remember the potentially lethal ones.

For us in Motown, the address can be a huge clue just from the standpoint of what "neighborhood" it's in....the older, Victorian areas or the Moorestown Hunt McMansions. Your perspective and frame of mind should be different when arriving on the scene due to the prior knowledge of what you could be dealing with. Victorians are solidly built, but balloon constructed, requiring many handlines and crews if you hope to cut off extension. McMansions produce the image of a ticking clock in my head..."I have X number of minutes to do something here before the risk far exceeds the benefits".

Good size up begins before the dispatch with pre-plans and continues after signing on and receiving Central's initial report. While it's OK to "paint a picture" inside your head of what you expect to find, maintain that healthy sense of skepticism. NOTHING ever turns out to be exactly as we perceive or imagined it, but prepping yourself based on just the facts is a good start. Listen carefully to your apparatus signing on...how many firefighters will you have in the initial five minutes will also help determine strategy and tactics. Using my model, you may be forced into a Defensive posture simply from lack of personnel, then switch into Transitional or even Offensive as more arrive. Unless an obvious rescue situation is apparent, try to temper your decision by remembering the Two-In Two-Out rule.

Lastly, SLOW DOWN as you approach the scene. Yeah, there's smoke and maybe even an enticing glow in the area, but spotting your water before arriving can be invaluable. In this day and age of fewer fires, chances are the responding crews will have more than a few newbies on board who can be expected to run around like chickens with their head cut off and forget the simple stuff like spotting the hydrant (this effect is further heightened by an IC screaming into a radio). Remember: they cannot see what you see and thusly, need to know EXACTLY what you want them to do. Yes, they should know...but experience has taught me that Murphy is usually one of the crew members (my apologies to any one reading this named Murphy).

All this underscores what Sean stated earlier...Command has a LOT to do without trying to be the Operations officer too. IMHO, this is a critical reason why things can quickly spin out of control in the initial moments. A seasoned Operations officer should be told "Transitional" or "Offensive" and be trusted to make the right decisions regarding tactical parameters.

[3105]

Everyone has heros they admire and respect for many reasons; two of my personal favorites are Chief John Norman FDNY and the Chief Vincent Dunn, both of whom have a gift for writing or speaking in a manner that is clear, concise, and hard-hitting when it come to our business:

vincentdunn.com/dunn/newsletters/may/FDNYHP_13.html