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I often hear people ask, how does your truck company work so well? Great question, the primary ingredient is trust. In order for a crew or team to work effectively you must trust each other to carry out your assigned task; as well as being able to communicate that you aren’t able...

Understanding the beginning…. During the last several years, a number of studies and theories have been explored in an attempt to understand, why and how fires today are “different” than fires from 25 years ago. The overwhelming evidence points to the chemicals and...

How many of you have thought, “If I just had one more firefighter on this job it would be much easier on my crew physically and we could actually work more effectively.” I am sure it has crossed your mind. It has crossed mine many times. Well the National Institute...

Photo Courtesy of Jefferson County   As we continue to discuss the “where” about venting a structure, we must spend some time talking about the where NOT to vent. Over my time in the fire service I have spent a considerable amount of time studying fires that did not go well....

  The “WHERE” Continues. Let’s Go Vertical As we explore the different structure types and sizes as they relate to ventilation needs, we must now discuss the benefits and risks associated with vertical ventilation. For those of us that are directionally challenged that’s...

By Michael R. Rehfeld – Firefightertoolbox.com I believe we all understand the need for ventilation at structure fires. The confusion tends to come from when, where and how. In my previous articles we discussed some issues and understanding of what happens when we vent. In...

The “When”, Understanding What Happens During fire growth, the products of combustion in today’s fire environment create “bad” air at a rapid rate. That bad air (CO, Hydrogen Cyanide, CO2 and Carbon) replaces the needed “good” air (Oxygen enriched) that the fire uses....

The use or non-use of ventilation in structure fires has been debated for many years. Is it important? When do we need to vent? Do we vent first or stretch the attack line first? Who has time for that? The questions and opinions go on forever. In order to make educated decisions...

By: Michael R. Rehfeld – FireFighterToolbox.com Over the years, fire suppression operations and fire ground tactics have focused primarily on putting the wet stuff on the red stuff. Appropriately so, one would guess. In reality the fire only goes out in one of two ways, it...