Just after 0700hrs Washington County 911 Dispatch received a call reporting heavy black smoke to the rear of 110 North Conococheague Street in Williamsport. The caller advised them that her house was also filling with the smoke from outside. Crews were quickly dispatched out on Box 2-1 at 07:20 hours that morning. Williamsport Rescue Engine 2 was able to see heavy smoke showing as they approached the scene. Lieutenant Nokes of Company 2 immediately requested the Working Fire Assignment as they arrived. Crews found heavy fire on side Charlie of the structure as they began their initial attack on the blaze. Chief William Ball from Company 2 arrived and assumed Command after a quick size up and face-to-face with Lieutenant Nokes. Firefighters worked to control the fire, but the fire found its way through a cock loft area and rapidly spread to different parts of the structure. At 07:48 hours Chief Ball requested a Second Alarm struck.

As heavy smoke encompassed the Williamsport area, crews continued to work diligently to gain control of the blaze. Firefighter’s main game plan at this point was to keep the fire contained to the main fire building. At 08:15 Chief Ball requested a third alarm and Level 2 Staging was established at Company 2’s quarters on Brandy Drive east of the incident. All hands continued to work to bring the blaze under control when Assistant Chief Kopp declared a May-Day after seeing a firefighter go down and become separated from his crew at 08:27 hours. RIT was immediately sent in to assist, but luckily the firefighter was able to self-extricate himself from the debris and rejoin his group quickly with no injuries. Firefighters continued on their quest to gain control as the building was deteriorating around them. After observing this, Command called for all buildings to be evacuated at 09:54 hours. It was later declared at 10:19 hours by Command that the Main Fire Building was off limits to all personnel due to the structural integrity being compromised. Around 11:00 hours, crews were seeing less smoke coming from the building showing signs that their efforts were working. It took four hours reaching a total of Five Alarms before bringing the fire under control which was reported to dispatch by Command at 11:20 hours.

Firefighters remained on the scene for several hours conducting salvage and over haul operations working to extinguish the remainder of the fire. Meanwhile the State Fire Marshal’s Office was on site working an investigation into what caused the blaze that destroyed this historical building. State FM26 Ed Ernst later announced that the cause was traced back to a furnace located in an outbuilding on side Charlie of the structure. The oil furnace malfunctioned sparking a fire in the attached out building which quickly spread to the main structure. Some Williamsport Residents were devastated by the loss of the building. The building itself dated back to the 1800’s pre-civil war era. Housing multiple businesses and hotels over the years, the building is best known as “Wolfe’s On The Square” currently housing a Liquor Store at 1 West Potomac Street and apartments on the North Conococheague Street side of the structure. The initial caller was the only occupant in the building at the time of the fire, and she was safely able to evacuate the structure prior to fire departments arrival. The American Red Cross was called out to the scene and was able to assist her since she lost everything in the fire. The building is believed to be a total loss with damages estimated to be around $500,000.

Our sponsor:

Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information Ryan Fuller [email protected]

Mark Kopp

[email protected]

Photo Credit

Michael Pannill

Williamsport Fire Company website

http://www.wvfems.org/news/index/layoutfile/home

Story Credit William King First Responder News

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

Firefighters and addiction. It’s not something we like to acknowledge or talk about. On this episode, we both acknowledge the problem and I have two guests from the American Addiction Centers here to give first responders advice about how to get help.

I’m really excited to have as my guests Mark Lamplugh and Mike Healy, both first responders and both committed to helping first responders with addiction issues.

Assistant Chief Michael A. Healy is a forty -four year member of the Rockland County, NY fire service. He has served two prior terms as a chief. He is a NYS Fire Instructor, the Coordinator of Fire Education at the Rockland County Fire Training Center, a hands on fire instructor for the NYS Association of Fire Chiefs, and a member of the Rockland County CISM team.

Mike retired in 2008 from he NY Transit Authority as the Clinical Director of the NYC Transit / TWU Local 100 Union Assistance Program. He is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional, Substance Abuse Professional, and a Labor Assistance Professional – Certified. In 2011 he teamed with Mike Blackburn, (Battalion Chief Providence FD, retired) to build a program to offer help to firefighters throughout the country suffering from behavioral health issues. Teaming with the NVFC and American Addiction Centers we offer a national hotline number for firefighters and EMS personnel.

Mark Lamplugh, Jr. is a 4th generation firefighter and former Captain with the Lower Chichester Fire Company. He is now a national treatment consultant with American Addiction Centers specializing in First Responder Services. Mark has placed and referred 100’s of firefighters nationwide. He currently working towards his degree in applied psychology from Florida Institute of Technology and is a member of the American Academy of Experts of Traumatic Stress.

In this episode Mark and Mike talk about the growing issue of firefighter addiction and provide solid advice about how to get help.

Our sponsor:

Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information American Addiction Centers

888-731-3474

http://americanaddictioncenters.org

National Volunteer Fire Council

Share the Load Program

http://www.nvfc.org/hot-topics/share-the-load-support-program-for-fire-and-ems

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

Chief Halton began his fire career in structural firefighting with the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department. He left as chief of operations in 2004 and joined the Coppell (TX) Fire Department as its chief. He left this position to assume his duties at Fire Engineering. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He has served on National Fire Protection Association technical committees and is active with the National Fallen Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives. 

In this second part of a two-part interview (Part 1 was Episode 46) I start by asking Chief Halton to discuss what trends in the fire service are causing him concerns. Then we conclude with him sharing his wish list for firefighter safety.

I want to apologize to the listeners and to Chief Halton for having some audio issues with Skype. Where I could, I edited the audio to reduce the annoyance.

Double Backdraft Video Link

FDIC Website

Our sponsor:

Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information Chief Bobby Halton Editor-in-chief, Fire Engineering Education Director, FDIC International

[email protected]

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

Chief Halton began his fire career in structural firefighting with the Albuquerque (NM) Fire Department. He left as chief of operations in 2004 and joined the Coppell (TX) Fire Department as its chief. He left this position to assume his duties at Fire Engineering. He is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He has served on National Fire Protection Association technical committees and is active with the National Fallen Firefighters Life Safety Initiatives.

In this two-part interview (Part 2 will be Episode 47) we start by talking about FDIC International 2015 and all the exciting learning and networking opportunities you’ll have there. You’ll quickly see why the FDIC is the premier fire service educational conference in the world. During the interview Chief Halton shared with me the FDIC is the largest educational conference of its kind in the world as far as attendance and course offerings. There are 280 hands-on training session instructors who will deliver 21 classes on Monday and Tuesday and 211 course offerings on Wednesday and Thursday. And that’s only the beginning of what FDIC International has to offer.

Then we’ll transition into a discussion where Chief Halton shares what he’s seeing that gives him encouragement about firefighter safety.

In Part 2 of the interview we’ll pick up the discussion and Chief Halton shares what he’s seeing in the fire service that’s causing him concern… and we’ll conclude the episode with him sharing three things that are on his firefighter safety wish list.

I want to apologize to the listeners and to Chief Halton for having some audio issues with Skype. Where I could, I edited the audio to reduce the annoyance.

Our sponsor:

Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information Chief Bobby Halton Editor-in-chief, Fire Engineering Education Director, FDIC International

[email protected]

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

Dave Martin’s crew was assigned to the task of keeping the wildland fire from jumping Highway 97.  Around 2100, Captain Martin and a member of the tribal fire management team were assigned to conduct a back-burn operation along the highway.

Unexpectedly, the fire blew up on them, eventually consuming 1,200 acres. While on a retreat from the fast moving fire, Captain Martin’s partner become entangled on a barbed wire fence. While being over run by hot embers and heavy smoke, Captain Martin used a utility knife to cut away his partner’s ensnarled clothing and they both narrowly escaped death.

1.   The need to trust your intuition – your gut feel when it tells you something is not right.

2.    The importance of standing your ground when you feel a mistake is being made by your partner.

3.    The consequences of overlooking critical clues and cues that indicate conditions are changing.

4.    How task fixation and mission myopia and serve as barriers that impact your situational awareness and flaw your decision making.

Our sponsor:

Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information Fire Chief Scott Burnette

Asheville Fire Department [email protected]

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

Fire Chief Scott Burnette began his career as a firefighter for the City of Asheville (NC) Fire Department in 1995. Chief Burnette has an Associates Degree in Fire Protection Technology from Gaston College, a Bachelors Degree in Fire Safety Engineering Technology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Masters Degree in Executive Fire Service Leadership from Grand Canyon University. Chief Burnette is designated as a Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Chief Burnette worked his way through the ranks and was promoted to Fire Chief in November 2009.

In this two-part interview we start by talking about the structure fire at 445 Biltmore Avenue on July 28, 2011 that resulted in the tragic line-of-duty death of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks about that fateful day and the significant changes that have occurred in the Asheville Fire Department – changes that every fire department can benefit from. Chief Burnette discussed six top priorities they have been working in, including:

1.Air management

2.Staffing

3.Critical task analysis for RIT

4.Critical task analysis for incident management

5.Mayday operations

6.Health and wellness

Our sponsor:

Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information Fire Chief Scott Burnette

Asheville Fire Department [email protected]

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

In this two-part interview we start by talking about the structure fire at 445 Biltmore Avenue on July 28, 2011 that resulted in the tragic line-of-duty death of Captain Jeff Bowen. During this interview, Fire Chief Scott Burnette talks about that fateful day and the significant changes that have occurred in the Asheville Fire Department – changes that every fire department can benefit from. Takeaways from this interview include:

1. How the process of a facilitated debriefing helped the Asheville Fire Department identify the 16 focus reas that represented opportunities for improvement.

2. The importance of having an air management protocol and changing the department’s culture about air management.

3. The need to have the right staffing front-loaded at an incident scene, including a command aide (or command technician) to support the Incident Commander.

4. The value of completing critical task analysis to determine how many personnel are needed to perform vital tasks at incidents (such as RIT and incident management).

5. The importance of training personnel on how and WHEN to call a mayday.

6. The focus on health and wellness – ensuring members are fit for duty and providing on-duty time to workout.

Our sponsor:

Midwest FireMidwestFire.com

Intro MusicSafety Dance (1982)Men Without HatsGMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact InformationFire Chief Scott BurnetteAsheville Fire [email protected]

Situational Awareness Matters! websitewww.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting Systemhttp://www.firefighternearmiss.com/Contact Rich Gasawaywww.RichGasaway.com[email protected]612-548-4424

Raleigh Fire Captain Stephen Page, serving on the busy Ladder 4 in downtown Raleigh, responded to restaurant fire at 311 Glenwood Avenue. The ladder crew, followed by an engine crew with a hoseline, entered the heavily smoke filled environment with the mission of search and fire attack.

Crews were quickly overrun by changing conditions and an evacuation was ordered. All the crews scrambled for the exit, leaving Captain Page behind… along… without water… and disoriented. During this interview he recounts the story and shares his best advice, including:

1.    The need to pay attention to your gut instinct. 

2.    Big fires need big water. 

3.    Keep your focus on the big picture. 

4.    Assess the risk-benefit of making entry in zero visibility environments.

5.    Maintaining allegiance to the mission of search, even after being informed by employees that everyone is out of the restaurant. 

6.    The need to overcome pride and the competitive nature of firefighters to avoid creating risk.

Thank you to our sponsor:Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com 

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information Captain Stephen Page

Raleigh Fire Department

[email protected]

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

In this episode Dr. Gasaway interviews Santa Clara County Deputy Chief Steve Prziborowski, Contra Costa Battalion Chief Bob Atlas and Pinole Firefighter Christopher Baker on how to prepare for promotion to ensure you are providing the right safety leadership to your crew.

Each of the guests has a unique background and offer a varied perspective on how to prepare for a position of leadership. They offer their best advice for how to be a great company officer, including:

1. The need to have mentors. 

2.    The importance of being the “designated adult” in the firehouse. 

3.    The value of continual learning, even if your department won’t pay for it. 

4.    How to prepare for promotion. 

5.    And more!

 Thank you to our sponsor:

Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information: Steve Prziborowski, Deputy Chief

Santa Clara County Fire Department

408-205-9006

[email protected]

Bob Atlas, Battalion Chief

Contra Costa County Fire Department

Co-founder of Fire Alumni

[email protected] 925-765-5800

Chris Baker, Firefighter

Pinole Fire Department

[email protected] 209-277-9268

FireAlumni.com Code3FireTraining.com ChabotFire.com

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Upcoming Events Schedule

http://www.samatters.com/programs-keynote/eventschedule/

Books and Videos (Store)

http://www.samatters.com/store/

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424

In this episode I interview Ryan Pennington who runs the website ChamberOfHoarders.com. Ryan has a passion for helping first responders understand the challenges of fighting fires in hoarded environments. In this episode you’ll learn:

1. Why Ryan prefers to call hoarded conditions “Heavy Content” and how that term applies to more than cluttered residential conditions.

2. How to use Ryan’s shortcut of: Identify, Confirm, Orient and Control to improve safety while operating at Heavy Content incidents.

3. Ryan shares the tactical considerations for operating at Heavy Content Incidents.

4. He discusses the challenges of keeping oriented during searches and discusses why it’s never a good idea to climb over the pile.

5. Finally, he shares some advice for how to remove victims from the Heavy Contents Environments.

Thank you to our sponsor:

Midwest Fire: MidwestFire.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Guest Contact Information: Ryan Pennington

www.ChamberOfHoarders.com @JumpseatViews (on Twitter)

[email protected] 304-545-6336

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Upcoming Events Schedule

http://www.samatters.com/programs-keynote/eventschedule/

Books and Videos (Store)

http://www.samatters.com/store/

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424