It is human nature when buying a new car to wish for all the bells and whistles, the more with which to impress your next-door neighbor. And don’t forget after-factory add-ons like a booming stereo, GPS navigation system and maybe … Continue reading →
When National Fire Prevention Week rolls around each year, residents of Holland, Mich., eagerly anticipate lights, cameras… and sirens. The highlight of the week is the Fire Prevention Week Parade, which consists of about 40 fire trucks, a marching honor … Continue reading →
Ask any firefighter the most critical component of containing a blaze, and they’ll likely tell you getting water on it — but what happens when water isn’t doing the trick? The answer often lies in the study of hydraulics, the … Continue reading →
by BRIAN S. GETTEMEIER | Cotteville Fire Protection District Can a small plastic tube save your life? No, it cannot but it can contain critical medical information that will assist first responders in providing quick and appropriate care. Emergency service … Continue reading →
National EMS Week will be celebrated May 21-27. The theme for 2017, which the American College of Emergency Physicians hopes will carry on beyond the designated week, is “EMS Strong — Always in Service,” and it is presented by the ACEP and … Continue reading →
William K. “Ken” Blocker of Lexington, S.C., may soon be in the enviable position of having firefighters all over the nation doffing their heavy helmets to him for an invention that makes firefighting easier and safer. Blocker, however, was employed … Continue reading →
The city of Gatlinburg is “mountain tough” and is fighting its way back from a massive fire that started at the top of a trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and literally blew into the city limits and … Continue reading →
Before Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as president the oldest working fireboat had already begun serving the city of Buffalo, N.Y. In November 2016, the Edward M. Cotter fireboat turned 116 years old. Even today it is still used as a … Continue reading →
Rural firefighting calls for a different and streamlined approach, including the access to and use of static water sources. Henry Lovett, a veteran volunteer firefighter and product manager for the TurboDraft Fire Eductor, described the lay of the land. “Rural … Continue reading →
When more and more violent incidents become a common occurrence in communities, it’s imperative for municipalities to take initiative to educate citizens over basic medical and trauma care. Educated EMS agencies, firefighters and police officers are not the first to … Continue reading →
Volunteers comprise 70 percent of firefighters in America, yet with low recruitment and retention rates, some departments have had to get creative to stay afloat. At Inver Grove Heights Fire Department in the city of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Fire … Continue reading →
