How often do we give our fire service saws a soup to nuts inspection and cleaning? I’m sure that there are people reading this with a wide range of answers; once a week or after every use that saw gets completely disassembled, inspected and cleaned, some might say we send it out to a shop […]

What is it that prevents fire departments from throwing ground ladders or aerials? Why do ground ladders remain on the apparatus and aerials remain in their beds at fire calls? Why are RIT teams allowed to stand around like yard gnomes, not being proactive? And on that same vein if 2 in 2 out is […]

Earlier this month, Virginia State Trooper Chad Dermyer was shot and killed in the line of duty. Trooper Dermyer had served as a police officer in the city where I work before moving on in his career and I started wondering if there were lessons to be learned beyond firefighter line of duty death reports. […]

Something that has been bothering me for some time now is how the basics of each company performs their duties. Even if you don’t have a ” Ladder Truck ” fireground support functions are still to be conducted. In this particular post we are going to look at the Engine’s responsibility, because truth be told […]

In the above photo most would acknowledge it is training or drilling, but it is the latter word that is killing us. Undoubtedly someone will experience butthurt and say that it doesn’t matter what you call it, but I’m saying it does. The fire service is getting younger by the day, and in a lot […]

The drill below are typical drills that happen almost everyday in the fire service. Focusing on the Drill at hand, is it effective? Does this drill bring forth realistic expectations? In what situations do we layout all of our equipment including SCBA and get dressed? I have a few answers in my head, but I […]

After having several very engaging conversations with some good friends and respected colleagues I find myself in an odd place with the Firefighter Basics blog. I was reminded the purpose of the blog was to stay consistent on providing content on the basics and a place to vent, and share Ideas. Blogs these days have […]

We have a very Robust discussion going on about SLICERS and the use and avocation of it to be the end all be all of the fire service. I feel it necessary to make our position very clear on the latest fire service trends that are happening. Now I will say the greatest part of […]

Firefighters often times don’t know the effort and thought that it really takes to make a great training session happen. As firefighters we are argumentative and our way is surely the right way the other guy is just and idiot right? Well your WRONG! In another article we will discuss the difference between Drilling and […]

There have been many times that we have received comments, we have received emails, and been asked in person what Firefighter Basics is all about? I wanted to take some time and answer that question as well as address some Firefighting Basics that will get you back home to your family after every call. Firefighter […]