A New Legal Advisor Would Help, Too

THE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, FIRE DEPARTMENT has got itself in a pickle after 26 recruits in a class of 28 flunked the State Certification Exam.  It was learned that the final exam was administered in November, but after the massive fail rate the fire department has been trying to get the Minimum Standards Board to permit the city to re-test the recruits themselves.  The recruit schools run for 12 weeks in Jackson's own academy which has recently started another school of 12 recruits. 

WLBT image

The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports:

Jackson Fire Chief Raymond McNulty would respond to questions from The Clarion-Ledger only in an email through city spokesman Chris Mims. Some of McNulty's responses were not clear or did not appear to directly answer the questions.

The Minimum Standards Board established a committee to inquire into the situation regarding Jackson recruits when the board discussed the matter in November.

The situation with the recruits apparently arises from a discrepancy between what JFD taught and what actually is on the minimum standards test, though the Minimum Standard Board approved Jackson's curriculum.

WLBT-TV posted this video report on the situation:

In the meantime, the 26 FF's that failed have been getting paid while they await the settlement of the problem.  The fire chief says that state law requires them to be certified before they can be allowed to perform as firefighters, so they remain in limbo.

Not true, says Joel Jones, attorney for the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board.

"Jackson apparently has an internal policy that they don't actually use guys as firemen until they've passed the course. That's a Jackson policy," Jones said. "State law says after they hire someone they have to be certified in a year. There's no restriction in the state law as to how they use that person, they just can't pay them after a year unless they're certified."

The Clarion-Ledger says that this isn't the first time that Jackson has had learning problems:

An internal affairs report dated Sept. 20, 2005, obtained by The Clarion-Ledger, states that "approximately 80 percent of 2005 recruit class felt that the class was poorly organized and did not receive the quality of training expected."

The report further states: "The class stated that they were given a book for Jackson Fire Department Training Class and later it was determined that this was the wrong book. Instructor (Keith) Simpson told them that they will continue to train from the book. The recruit class felt that improper material affected their academic performance on the Minimum Standard Test."

The report concludes that "The overhaul of (the training) division may be the key to better this department in the future."

Apparently they didn't get a new key.

Read the full article in the Clarion-Ledger HERE.
Jackson Fire Department WEBSITE.

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Join Billy D. Hayes on Monday, January 23, 2012 at 9:00 p.m. EST as he hosts a special episode of STOP, DROP, and ROLL With the Punches.

Past episodes have included the Who’s Who in the fire and emergency service, but this one will be the view from the trenches. Billy’s guests include firefighters and company officers on the line to share their thoughts on why fire prevention and firefighter safety may succeed and/or fail.

We often miss the opportunity to listen to those in the trenches, so this episode is sure to be a hit! Join us on Monday, January 23 at 9pm ET for this LIVE internet radio show!

Here's the link to get started listening and the call-in number:  Stop Drop and Roll With the Punches.

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During Training Exercise

A POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA, FIREFIGHTER died Friday afternoon after falling from an aerial ladder during a training exercise.

Channel 10 News photo

William Elliott, 50, was at the top of the fully-extended ladder, about 90 ft. above the ground, when he inexplicably fell off and plunged to the ground dying instantly.  The fire company was holding an afternoon drill with the aerial and a second firefighter who was midway up the ladder witnessed Elliott's fall.  Firefighter Elliott had been on the job since 1989.

The Broward County Sheriff department is conducting the investigation of the accident.

WSVN-TV posted this video report from the scene:

The Sun Sentinel has the full story and more details HERE.

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Plenty of Finger-Pointing Going On

FOR THE PAST NINE MONTHS, SINCE MARCH a brand new $1 million ladder truck has been parked in a Quebec City, Quebec, firehouse due to a squabble over training and licensing issues.  The new truck is a tiller truck and the first one Quebec has had in over 20 years, so the expertise in operating it has been lost over time.

The fire department sent one of their drivers down to the U. S. to receive enough training that he could come back and instruct the other drivers on the technique.  But then some bureaucrat in the city government proclaimed that since it is a tractor-trailer rig, then all the operators need to hold a Class 1 truck drivers license.  That immediately brought the issue into the realm of the firefighters union who said, in so many French words, Baloney!

The firefighters have no problem with training on the tiller, but to insist that they have to take and pass the commercial truck driver's test is unneccesary.  The Emergency Vehicle driving license that they currently hold is considered good enough for all emergency vehicles.

The view from the safest seat in the fire department.  (TVA Nouvelles)

Now the stalemate is on while the fire chief is telling the citizens that the truck will go into service in February, 11 months after taking delivery.  The firefighters say that's fine, as long as they don't have to pass a Provincial test to do it.

Stay tuned. 

TVA Nouvelles has the STORY.

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ON TONIGHT'S EDITION OF THE FRONT SEAT hosts Dave and Bill welcome Ric Jorge as a guest.

Ric has taught in Florida and at the FDIC. Many of you will remember seeing the video on Facebook "Impact This". This video was of one of the most dramatic training evolutions many have ever experienced. The video is the "HOT" portion of the training Ric has provided at FDIC and elsewhere.  Join us for the story of how Ric got started training, his story of the brotherhood and what it means to him.

As a new segment to the show, Mike Walker will join us for a discussion on Strategy and Tactics. Mike is a Battalion Chief with the Oklahoma City Fire Department and has been a guest on The Front Seat before. We look forward to Mike making monthly appearances on the show and bringing good, honest discussion about strategy and tactics to your computers.

B. C. Mike Walker

We look forward to you joining us HERE tonight at 9:00 pm EST on The Front Seat.

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Coming to you live Wednesday night at 9pmET on Firefighter Netcast!

Whether it is in a large urban city, a coastal community, or anywhere in between, special events require considerable pre and post event planning.

Former Fire Chief of the District of Columbia Fire and EMS department (DCFD) Dennis L. Rubin, and retired DCFD Assistant Chief of Operations Larry Schultz will discuss their experiences while serving the in the nation’s capitol and the coordination required in the capitol region.

In contrast and comparison, Fire Chief Hartley Brokenshaw and Deputy Fire Chief Keith Martin will share their experiences of large events occurring in their jurisdiction that draw similiar crowds with less resource capabilities.

Topics will include: case studies from events that have made the headlines, fire and life safety requirements, pre and post event planning, and the political considerations that have an ever present impact.

So join us here this Wednesday evening at 9:00 p.m. EST as Billy D. Hayes hosts Stop Drop and Roll With the Punches.

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Unexplained Flash Fire Causes Serious Burns

A MIAMI-DADE, FLORIDA, FIRE LIEUTENANT, Kevin McCrea was seriously burned Friday morning while he was preparing a simulation car fire device for a class at the fire academy.

MDFR photo

Witnesses say that McCrea was only wearing a polo shirt and regular pants when the accident occurred.  He was connecting a propane hose to a model car used for auto fire training when something happened that caused a leak.  The pressurized gas then flashed and burned McCrea in the face and on his arms.

WSVN-TV image

The firefighters standing by for the session immediately put out the fire and began life-saving procedures on McCrea while an air ambulance was summoned.  He was transported to a burn unit where he is in serious but stable condition.  Doctors say that he will NOT need any surgery and is expected to recover ok.

CBS Ch. 4 provided this video report:

(if the above video player fails to load on your browser, CLICK HERE)

Lt. McCrea has been in the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue department for 11 years and been in the training division for the past three years.

WSVN-TV has the story plus another video report HERE.

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The Problem is Strictly Financial

THE FIRE SCIENCE ACADEMY AT THE University of Nevada, Reno will probably be shut down by the end of the year and sold to the Nevada National Guard.  The modern facility is widely used by firefighters from all over the world and also contributes to the Elko County economy.  But the school has an unsustainable debt that continues to increase with no foreseeable turnaround.  There is a $24 million bond indebtedness and a $12 million operating deficit.  The closure will cause the layoff of 28 people, as well.

Fire Science Academy photo

The Elko Daily Free Press reports:

"It is my decision to go to the Board of Regents to propose the closure. The actual decision will be with the Board of Regents,"UNR President Marc Johnson said Monday. "The reason is completely financial," he said.

The university plans to recommend the closure to the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents at their meeting Dec. 1-2 in Las Vegas, according to UNR’s announcement Monday.

Elko County, the City of Elko and the Elko Convention and Visitors Authority all contributed $25,000 a year under a sustainability effort to keep the doors open, and Carlin provided a break on water rates. Academy clients also contributed.

Johnson said the contributions from the cities and county were supposed to be a stopgap measure for three years while the academy sought funds elsewhere for long-term financial support, but that didn’t happen.

KRNV-TV posted this video report:

The sale of the academy to the National Guard is progressing and is expected to be completed within the next few months.  National Guard officials say that their usage of the facility will replace the room sales and related economic activities, plus a planned expansion construction program will benefit the area as well.

The Gardnerville Record-Courier has more DETAILS HERE.
The Elko Daily Times report is HERE.
University of Nevada press release HERE (click on letter for full size).
University of Nevada, Reno Fire Science Academy WEBSITE.

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Real World Staffing

Tune in this week to the latest episode of The Front Seat on Firefighter Netcast. Last month we were excited to add Bill Carey of Backstep Firefighter and Firefighter Behavior as a co-host. This month Dave LeBlanc and Bill will dig into the meat and potatoes of the Fire Service’s mission and the resources available to fulfill them.

We are all aware of our oath to protect lives and property, but what happens when that oath comes in direct conflict with our ability to do that? The policy makers are usually nowhere to be found at 2am when heavy smoke is showing from a single family residence and we are the ones forced to balance our mission and the safety of the public with our resources and the safety of our crews.

As part of this month’s show we asked you, the listener, to share your tips and tricks of operating shorthanded. We received some good write ups and we will be sharing those as well. We are also looking for you to call in and make this a true "kitchen table" discussion. We will also announce the winner of the "Expect Fire" contest.

Tune in to Firefighter Netcast tonight – Thursday – at 9 pm Eastern and be part of the discussion.

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Instructor Meet-Up October at St. Charles, MO

It was my second trip to a national fire training conference in the mid 1980s. The organizers promoted a networking opportunity at the local fire museum. For the 2011 equivalent of $50 I could rub shoulders with movers and shakers of the fire training community.

I showed up early, along with a handful of others. The organizer of the conference showed up, made sure that the food and drinks were present, and rushed off in his customized Escalade for a private dinner with the conference headliners.

The networking opportunity was like a freshman mixer … without girls  … or beer. Did not meet any of the scheduled instructors at the conference. 

We know how to run a meet-up!

The folks at Go>Forward have been arranging fireems blogger meetups at national shows for a couple of years. You have followed the meet-ups on Twitter, and read the stories from STATter911, Command Safety, The Fire Critic, Brotherhood Instructors, Life Under The Lights, Iron Firemen, Pink Warm and Dry, Ambulance Driver, Fire Daily, Green Maltese and others.

Gateway Midwest expands the meet-up and incorporates high quality fire and ems training.

Saint Charles, Missouri   October 21 – 23

go to http://goforwardtraining.com/gateway/ for more information and to register..

Put ffw10 or STATTER in the promotion code for a discounted registration.

How Mike will spend $50 at Gateway Midwest

Read

Meet me in St. Charles! October 21-23 Gateway Midwest

to find out.

Hope to see you in St. Charles!

Mike "FossilMedic" Ward