Deliberate training in firefigher rescue and survival is a field that is new to many in the fire service and private industry alike. For those firefighters and company officers assigned to a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT), not making the correct split-second decisions--such as immediately recognizing changes in fire behavior or failing to evaluate their level of SCBA air--can result in the loss of the lives of the entire team. In an effort to reduce the number of line-of-duty firefighting injuries and deaths, while at the same time being proactive in the fire service training and leadership, authors Richard Kolomay and Robert Hoff have drawn upon their combined 50+ years of firefighting experience to put together this comprehensive guide. Key Features & Benefits - Provides an awareness of firefighter safety and proactive fire service training - Describes various types of serious firefighter injuries and fatality incidents during emergency incident operations - Details recommended Rapid Intervention Team operating methods and procedures, as well as how to activate a Rapid Intervention Team

Fire Fighter Safety and Survival is an essential guide designed to keep fire fighters safe from the many hazards they will face on-the-job. Developed around the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, this textbook provides scores of real-life examples from the fire service and other high-risk industries to illustrate the dangers of fire fighting. More importantly, these examples help readers to stay safe in similar situations by offering helpful information on risk management, how to incorporate safety procedures within their department, and how to foster a culture of safety to ensure that “Everyone Goes Home.” The Second Edition features: Coverage of the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) Firefighter Safety and Survival model curriculum. Updated statistics, references, and examples from recent events Over 100 real-life examples from the fire service and nuclear, medical, military, and airline industries to provide readers with a complete understanding of risk management, safety systems, and situational awareness principles. Fire science students, seasoned professionals, and rookies alike can turn to Fire Fighter Safety and Survival, Second Edition for the knowledge and tools needed to make a difference in their departments without sacrificing cherished, long-standing traditions.

Chief Ray Downey has developed city and national rescue teams, and has been involved in numerous rescue operations, including the bombing of the World Trade Center, the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, and various natural disasters. He offers guidelines and recommendations on how to start a rescue company, the equipment needed, and the operational planning that is necessary for company development. Specific rescue company response incidents are also discussed.

This book provides practical, up-to-date information on training, team management, equipment, and techniques for ice rescue teams.

Drive to Survive: The Art of Wheeling the Rig provides an in-depth examination of fire apparatus vehicle dynamics. This is not your average “driver training” textbook. Fire apparatus operators must understand how a vehicle maneuvers at roadway speed, and more importantly…why does it crash? Just as a doctor cannot heal the human body without a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology, an emergency vehicle operator cannot safely drive a fire apparatus without an in-depth knowledge of vehicle dynamics. Drive to Survive goes beyond talking about pump operations, aerial operations, and preventative maintenance; it fills in the gaps between vehicle dynamics and crash causation. After 15 years of training and research, Chris Daly developed a training program combining his fire service and crash reconstruction training experience. This book provides an in-depth knowledge of topics required in the following NFPA standards: --NFPA 1002 “Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications” --NFPA 1451 “Standard for Fire and Emergency Service Vehicle Operations Training Programs” --NFPA 1500 “Standard on Fire Department Occupational Health and Safety Program” Fire apparatus operators will learn the limits of driving an emergency vehicle and will understand that no matter how long they have been driving or how good they think they are, at some point physics will take over and the vehicle will lose control. We can reduce the number of emergency vehicle crashes throughout the world by addressing key issues and providing emergency vehicle operations course (EVOC) instructors with methods to convey these concepts. Concepts you learn in this book relate to more than just driving a fire apparatus. These principles apply to anyone who drives a vehicle, including your family members and loved ones.

* A step-by-step guide for rope rescue * Chapter illustrations cover knots, ascent, rigging systems, and anchor points * Identifies critical techniques required for rope rescue This book helps to establish effective and safe technical rope rescue operations. Brennan begins by aiding you in identifying the risks in the area that you are operating in and assessing your organizational strengths and needs, then follows with a discussion of the various rope rescue components. Includes illustrations of the knots and systems mentioned.

Authors Mark van der Feyst, Eric Wissner and James Petruzzi wrote their new book to serve as a much-needed sole source reference for rescuing an occupant from a residential structure. Residential Fire Rescue covers the theory of search and rescue, practical application of search and rescue, and company training. The book includes sample lesson plans that can be customized for various skills (including VES, drags and removals); step-by-step instructions combined with photos to show the various rescue techniques and positions; and, a DVD to aid the instruction of techniques. Company officers, training officers, and firefighters will find Residential Fire Rescue an important resource.

A first responder’s harrowing account of 9/11—the inspirational true story of an American hero who gave nearly everything for others during one of New York City’s darkest hours. On September 11, 2001, FDNY Battalion Chief Richard “Pitch” Picciotto answered the call heard around the world. In minutes, he was at Ground Zero of the worst terrorist attack on American soil, as the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center began to burn—and then to buckle. A veteran of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, Picciotto was eerily familiar with the inside of the North Tower. And it was there that he concentrated his rescue efforts. It was in its smoky stairwells where he heard and felt the South Tower collapse. He made the call for firemen and rescue workers to evacuate, while he stayed behind with a skeleton team of men to help evacuate a group of disabled and infirm civilians. And it was in the rubble of the North Tower where Picciotto found himself buried—for more than four hours after the building’s collapse.

Scott Thompson, author of The Functional Fire Company, says the functional fire company concept was not created but realized: “I realized, after many attempts at trying to view success in the organization from the top down, that it wasn’t possible. Real indicators of success in the fire service come from the bottom up. A fire department’s success is best judged at the company level.” “Many leaders and senior members have been taught the how but not the why, and they don’t understand the reasons for doing what they do,” Thompson says. “Because firefighting is such a technical activity, we must ensure that we are explaining why we do things while we demonstrate the how. It is essential that we develop critical thinking for solving fire suppression, rescue, and EMS problems.” WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: “Chief Scott Thompson combines his decades of experience and years of observation with today’s leadership skills and provides a path for the successful fire department to follow. The Functional Fire Company will take you step by step from being an ordinary fire department to one which defines excellence. --Rick Lasky, Fire Chief (ret.) Texas “I found both motivation and a guide to implementation in this book. Chief Thompson has provided a deep resource for all ranks from creating culture to setting up training structure. I highly recommend this book to anyone with aspirations of making an organizational impact.” --Brian Brush “Chief Thompson has spent his entire career focusing on training and organizational effectiveness. The Functional Fire Company is his life’s work wrapped up into a playbook which offers insight into how to make your organization perform at maximum proficiency. Experience, perspective and a never quit mentality are evident as Chief Thompson provides a unique view to solving problems in the modern-day fire service.” --Terry McGrath, Assistant Chief, Lewisville (TX) Fire Department “This book offers a living, breathing example that Chief Thompson’s principles truly work. I hope you get as much value from this book as we have received from Chief Thompson’s lessons, and that you take what you learn back to your organization.” --Garrett Rice, The Colony Fire Department (TX) Battalion Chief, A Shift

Chief Dunn—the recipient of FDNY's Lifetime Achievement Award—has updated his classic book on how to identify and survive hazards on the fireground. Dunn attempts to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries year after year by describing the 15 most dangerous tactics and the 13 most recurring fire and explosion environmental dangers, ranked by degree of danger and frequency of occurrence. This indispensable book will help keep every first responder, firefighter, and fire officer out of harm’s way. It is a must-read and reread for every firefighter who responds to fires and emergencies, every company officer who commands a fire company, and every incident commander or safety officer who is responsible for the safety of firefighters on the fireground. NEW TO THIS EDITION • Examination of “aggressive interior firefighting attack” and “nonaggressive attack” • Discussion of risk intensity and risk frequency at the fireground • Visual representation and discussion of the NIST five-stage time/temperature fire growth curve showing temperatures before and after firefighter venting • Coverage of the Columbia University Capstone Project: FDNY Property Saved Indicator, with a formula to quickly calculate the dollar amount of property saved at a structure fire • Updated statistics, graphs, and charts