Bill Arsenault, Fire Chief at Kamiah Fire-Rescue, located in north central Idaho on the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Bill shares the need and encouragement for everyone to participate The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), Health and Safety at Wildland Fires training module.
On this episode of Tech Speak, join S&T in Harbison State Forest, South Carolina, as we test a newly designed respirator tailored to help wildland firefighters breathe easier. These firefighters must travel light and work long days in remote conditions with little to no respiratory protection. They not only battle smoke, dust and flames, but …
Demographically speaking, our nation’s fire departments are not diverse. Consider the following workforce statistics from 2019 reported by Data USA: 95.8% of firefighters were male. 79.9% of firefighters were white and non-Hispanic. Many communities have started improving their efforts to recruit a more diverse workforce. For these programs to succeed, it’s important to recognize two …
The Benefits and Importance of Diversity in the Fire Service Read More »
To be a student of the job means you chase unfamiliar factors tirelessly until you find a solution or answer. Seeking the answer on how to start and manage a Professional Development Program became my newfound passion in the fire service. The development and implementation of this program began as a priority for McHenry Township …
Professional Development: Tips on How to Get Your Program Started Read More »
The newly established National Wildland Firefighter Day (July 2) recognizes the dedication of wildland firefighters, including federal, state, local, rural, contract, and support personnel. The selected date is especially meaningful as it occurs during the Week of Remembrance, which is held annually June 30 to July 6, and serves as an opportunity to renew our commitment …
July 2 will be the first “National Wildland Firefighter Day” Read More »
Given the size of the city of L.A., the potential bureaucratic hurdles required to actually launch something so new were significant. In this article, we’ll share the step-by-step process that was followed for the LAFD’s drone program approval to be expedited, so that the department could have UAVs at their disposal to help with the …
Drones in Fire Departments: The Step-by-Step Process to Create a Drone Program Read More »
The study, which looked at more than 22,000 fires, found that those crossing jurisdictional boundaries are primarily caused by people on private property. It also showed that ignitions on Forest Service lands accounted for fewer than 25% of the most destructive wildfires – ones that resulted in the loss of more than 50 structures.
Elwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Darren Krull, 54, died in a collision Thursday, according to a report from the Nebraska State Patrol. Two vehicles responding to a fire southeast of Elwood were involved in the crash at about 5:10 p.m. A truck hauling water struck the other vehicle head-on, which was a Ford Expedition driven …
Neb. Chief dies in crash en route to fire with ‘zero-visibility conditions’ Read More »
The imminent threat of deadly wildfires near urban areas, like the Marshall Fire in Colorado, demands that homes be built to survive. The intensity of these firestorms, particularly in densely populated areas, is too great to rely on first responders alone, according to a landmark federal report. National Institute of Standards and Technology experts are …
NIST Report: WUI Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology Read More »
When Sophia Huston started working as a hotshot — a specialized wildland firefighter with advanced technical training — she was 19 and didn’t know what she was getting herself into. Shortly after the training began, Huston got what would be her last menstrual cycle of the fire season. She’s been working in fire for six …
Growing body of research points to reproductive health problems for female firefighters Read More »
