On the evening on January 19, 2011 Fire Fighter Mark Falkenhan lost his life while working inside a building fire. While we should try to honor all LODD, this one holds a special place in my heart because at the time of his death I was on my quest to learn more about fire behavior […]

As most firefighters should know this week is National Fire Prevention Week . I am sure many of you are out spreading the message of Fire Prevention this week. I would like to say thank you for serving your communities and  you will probably never know how many life’s were truly saved by your wonderful dedication to […]

I would love to hear the roof report from the crew who found this condition on the roof! LOL Green Maltese had the privilege  to teach about many hazards associated with Modern Roofs at FDIC 2012. We discussed Green Roofs and many challenges they present. However this is one surprise we didn’t cover and might […]

I am pleased to annouce another free online training module brought to you by Green Maltese & EngineCO22.net . This training will discuss important fireground considerations that are essential to your success on the fireground. Click on Picture for Training Link:   Stay Safe Lt. John Shafer

Portland Fire  RescueFirefighters knocked down a fire in a house with solar panels — which can’t be turned off — in less than 30 minutes. The panels were installed based on a new code written for just such a situation.Firefighters knocked down a fire in a Southeast Portland home this morning, maneuvering around solar panels […]

Quick overview of basement fire training Full program with audio and videos: Basement Fires GFD   Enjoy and please share it with others.   Stay Safe Lt. John Shafer

I am very excited to post about my recent visit to observe a day of test burns that are a part of the Vertical Ventilation study being conducted by UL. I want to first say a special thanks to Steve Kerber, Christopher Hasbrook,Bob Backstrom and Chief Peter Van Dorpe for allowing me to experience so many  wonderful things they […]

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? These are just a few questions you should pose to every firefighter next shift or training meeting. Photovoltaic (PV) is a method of […]

This post is dedicated to my brother and sister firefighters from Colorado.

Solar shingles are solar panels incognito. Instead of mounting on your roof, they become your roof or integrate seamlessly with the existing roof shingles.