To paraphrase an old saying: The only constant in life is change. Life changes every day for every person in some way. The same hold true in the fire service. Technology has lead to some significant changes to the tools we use to fight fires over the years. However the actual buildings we fight fires […]

Fifteen years ago today marks the date that Terre Haute (In) Captain Ralph Stott lost his life in a commercial building fire.   Before we go into reviewing Parapet Walls. I would like to share a special first hand account of the horrific event that night by my good friend and survivor Captain  Russell Feuquay. The […]

If you have been a firefighter for very long, you are probably aware of firefighter’s concerns with engineered wood and how it performs under fire conditions. The use of engineered wood products has grown significantly in recent decades. According to APA–The Engineered Wood Products Association, engineered wood components saw their first commercialization in the 1960s […]

The construction industry began using pre-manufactured components and lightweight construction methods  over 50 years ago in order to improve the efficiency of the construction process and to reduce costs associated with materials. One of the major things that many firefighters have written and taught about over the years is Metal Gusset Plates. Metal gusset plates […]

Most people are aware that homes built in the last 15 to 20 years have made some attempt to be energy efficient. However, there has been significant increase of builders and consumers raising the bar to achieve Superinsulation. No, ‘superinsulation’ does not have a cape, or a big S on it. It is also not […]

In this post we will honor the loss of Lt. Arnie Wolff and the sacrifice of Firefighter Jo Brinkley-Chaudoir. By examining this incident in detail, we will discover lessons that will we can share with others. Incident Summary: At 12:24 PM on August 13, 2006 the Green Bay Fire Department (GBFD) was dispatched to a […]

This webinar will cover the results of a study commissioned by the Fire Protection Research Foundation to develop a baseline of information on the intersection of “green building” design and fire safety. The study identified gaps and specific research needs associated with understanding and addressing fire risk and hazards with green building design. Instructor: Brian […]

Spray Foam has struck again! Back in September I wrote a post to raise awareness of Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) for the fire service. In this article I referenced that there had been several fires that happen during the application of  SPF. By the initial reports it is appearing that a recent mansion fire in Middlebury Connecticut […]

Do you know what Photovoltaic (PV) is? What are the safety hazards with PV? What tactics should be used at fires with PV present? How do I secure utilities on a PV system? If you are not able to answer these questions, then hopefully this post can give you the sources to gain the knowledge […]

Energy efficiency is a high priority in today’s buildings as compared to the past. Chief reasons driving the change are the perceived benefits to the environment and most importantly, the economic benefit to the building owner and occupants. Various methods and materials are used in modern building construction to achieve a higher performing building, in […]