Tuesday, March 22 thru Saturday March 26, 2011 Nature: Professional Development Training & Seminar Participation Location: Indianapolis, Indiana During the period of Tuesday March 22th thru Saturday, March 26th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company permitted six (6) officers to attend a premier training opportunity nationally and internationally for all levels of fire service practitioners. The Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) hosted more than 24 hands-on training evolutions, 34 preconference workshops, and more than 160 classroom presentations. The six members of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company will obtain and/or enhance their knowledge, skills and abilities to train and assist our organization in further operational needs as well as review and evaluate the newest equipment, tools, apparatus, etc. Below is an example of the courses and activities attended: Strip Mall Fires Deputy Chief Thomas Dunne, Fire Department of New York The challenges strip mall fires present are very different from those encountered at standard residential fires. This course identifies these hazards and explores the strategic and tactical considerations needed to safely and efficiently mitigate these fires. Emergency Vehicle Operations: What We Can Learn from Recent Wrecks Lieutenant Michael Wilbur, Fire Department of New York A pictorial review of recent vehicle accidents and their contributing factors. Students observe the anatomy of an accident as video shows the rollover accident of a pumper-tanker from beginning to end and tactics for successfully recovering when the apparatus leaves the roadway on a curve. Among topics addressed are DWI, railroad safety, response policies, intersection safety, driving rural apparatus, leadership, and maintenance. Fighting Structure Fires Lieutenant Steve Bernocco, Seattle (WA) Fire Department Know the answers before the fire asks the questions. This dynamic presentation focuses on the tactics of the first-due companies from large and small fire departments at structure fires. Add to your experiential mental slide tray! Students will watch videos and computer simulations of structure fires and then discuss various engine and truck tactics that could be used to fight them. Critique the critical decisions of the first-due officers. Answer the question: “What can we do better?” Fighting Fires in Multiple Dwellings Lieutenant Matt Szpindor, Fire Department of New York Fires in multiple dwellings can tax even large and well-staffed fire departments. The focus is on adjusting your strategies and tactics to meet the challenges these buildings present. The basic types of multiple dwellings are reviewed. How building construction affects the firefight and engine and truck operations specific to these buildings are addressed. Case studies will enable students to see some of these procedures in action and develop a template for fighting fires in an apartment building in their response area. Engine Company Operations at Standpipe-Equipped Buildings Lieutenant Mathew Rush, Austin (TX) Fire Department Stretching the appropriate line with the proper flow is crucial to the successful outcome of fire attack in a high-rise building. This session focuses on merging this attack with an understanding of high-rise building components, including standpipe types and appropriate code applications, FDC connections, fire pumps, and pressure-reducing valves. Learn how these building systems interconnect and must be used advantageously by responding engine companies, how the building systems work, the maintenance (or lack thereof) required by the current building code, and the equipment and tactics necessary to complement and use the system to its fullest potential. Fireground Situation Awareness Chief (Ret.) Richard B. Gasaway, Roseville (MN) Fire Department How to develop and maintain situation awareness in dynamic, high-stress, high-consequence environments is the focus. You may be shocked and amazed at the many ways your situation awareness can be impacted. Learn the signs that indicate that you are losing your situation awareness. Reading Smoke 2011: Tactical Solutions Battalion Chief (Ret.) Dave Dodson, Response Solutions, Thornton, CO Small Boat and Personal Watercraft Surface Rescue Operations Andrea Zaferes, Vice President, Lifeguard Systems, Shokan, NY Do you have the right vessel and equipment? What training is needed for operations and technician personnel? What does it mean to have a vessel in a ready-rescue mode? These are among the questions addressed in the session. Students will also learn about personal watercraft and small boat state-of-the-art rescue procedures and how to avoid common pitfalls. Firefighter-Friendly Thermal Imaging Lieutenant Samuel Hittle, Wichita (KS) Fire Department The benefits of thermal imaging for common fireground functions are evaluated alongside the pitfalls that can jeopardize operations and company members’ safety. How to use the camera for optimal performance during common fireground functions, camera limitations, and common misinterpretations are among topics covered. A camera will be used to enable students to compare actual events and the manner in which the camera interprets these events. Fire officers will learn ways to develop “recognition-prime” for predicting building fire behavior and hostile fire events like flashover. Among other topics covered are the three-step process for reading smoke, street-tested tips for improving smoke recognition, and developing specific tactical solutions for the scenarios presented. These members attended on their personal time utilizing personal leave, vacation leave or unpaid leave from their respective employers in order to attend these professional development opportunities. Additional information may be obtained by viewing www.FDIC.com