Here’s another video we shot a while back that we recently came across. This video shows the framing square forcible entry technique. We originally featured this technique a few years ago, click here to see the original write-up. The technique involves using the rotary saw and a framing square to manipulate panic hardware. The benefit to this technique is that this allows the door to be secured afterward. A simple strip of duct tape over the kurf you made in the door and you are good to go. The building will be able to be secured until the building owner can get the door repaired (weld or bondo?) This technique is certainly not something that could, or would be used often but you may find a situation when you could utilize it. This technique WOULD NOT be necessary on a door like the one shown here, this was the only door available at the time.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/framingsquare.flv

http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/portlandroof.flv
Gotta love this. This is an Associated Press video from Portland (OR.) Check out how quick conditions improve, when it’s coming out like that it’s no longer beating up the crews inside. Unfortunately the video starts a little later than we would have liked to have shown, but you get the point. It appears that they are just finishing punching through the ceiling below as the video starts. While we understand that many departments do not support vertical ventilation, it’s hard not to agree with its effectiveness (that is not an invitation to argue it here either.) Some people get startled when it lights off like that, remember, that’s what’s supposed to happen. This allows the crews inside to press-on to the seat of the fire and take care of business. A vent like this DRAMATICALLY IMPROVES the conditions on the inside. Get the vent and get off the roof, job well done.

http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/campertraining.flv
We’re not even sure what to say about this one. A camper, live fire and a leaf blower… Really?
This video was sent to us by our friends over at thebravestonline.com

Dan Dejkunchorn (D-Chorn) from Orlando (FL) Firehouse 9 showed us this great method to assist in throwing ladders. This method works great in a number of different instances. The first is when throwing a stick where an overhang is present and there is nothing available to butt it against. Another use is when on a hard surface where the stick may tend to slide like wet concrete. While this method works well in a number of different circumstances, the real reason it was developed was for the “not as tall” firefighter. This method works well on any length of ladder but was intentionally developed for the longer ones (14+). Just another example that proves that it’s better to work smarter not harder.

This ladder tick simply has the firefighter dropping their hook on the ground, stepping on the hook, and using the hook to butt the ladder. With a little practice, this method can be extremely effective. It’s one of those things that everyone should try a few times to see if works for them. You never know when you may be in a situation that requires its use. The video shows the firefighter using the ladder to push the hook into the desired position. That was done intentionally for demonstration in the video. With some practice, it’s easier to drop the hook closer to the actual point of deployment. Keep in mind, it’s better to drop the hook early and push it in to place since it would take too much time to move or pull the hook back into position.

When a shorter firefighter throws a ladder greater than the 14, its more difficult to “get under” the ladder to get it rotated into position. The hook gives the advantage since leverage is not on their side. Throwing a ladder is a classic example of a class 3 lever. The butt of the ladder is the fulcrum, the firefighter is the effort, and the weight of the length of ladder is the load. Shorter firefighters have to work harder to throw a ladder because their height limits the location where the force is applied. Longer ladders have more weight beyond the point of effort (the firefighter). While throwing the ladder, this makes the ladder seem much heavier for the shorter person. Remember, anytime you change the location of any of the three points of a lever (fulcrum, force or effort, weight or load) you change the mechanical advantage. So again, it pays to work smarter not harder. A simple trick like this solves the problem and gets the ladder into position without extra effort.

A special thanks goes out to Dan for sharing and Rob Petroff from Orlando (FL) Firehouse 11 for demonstrating this ladder trick for us. Dan has a few more ideas that we will be featuring in the near future.

We recently found some videos we shot over a year and a half ago, and we decided to knock the dust off of them and finally start to post them. The first video is a simple demonstration of cutting hinges for making entry. Obviously for this particular door, the window would be the easier option, but the skill was performed simply for demonstration purposes. When discussing cutting hinges a few questions come to mind: What order do you cut the hinges? Do you have a standard order? Why or why not? Does it even matter? Well, as shown in this video, our method is to start with the top hinge, then attacking the bottom hinge, and finishing with the middle hinge. This order allows you to make the most difficult cut (top hinge) first. Then the bottom hinge, while the door is still retained by the middle hinge. Finally, finishing off with the middle hinge allows you to be standing up in a neutral position when the door if finally released from the jamb. Another simple tip is to stand on the building side of the door, instead of right in front of the door itself. Again just in case to door lets loose before it’s expected to. It may be totally insignificant, but this technique works quite well.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/hinges.flv

A firefighter from Upstate New York gave us the heads up of something unique happening in Albany. The City of Albany has a new approach to boarding up vacant structures. It’s called Artistic Board Up, the idea is to make the vacants appear less abandoned. It’s something to keep an eye on incase it becomes popular and starts happening elsewhere. Check out this video that describe what they are doing, and what it looks like when they are complete. The video is from Albany News 10 (WTEN.)

Make sure you take a second look before giving that initial on scene report.

Captain Cameron Bucek from Palm Beach County (FL) sent in this video he found over on firevideo.net. This video is proof that inadequate or inappropriate ventilation is like adding fuel to the fire.  PPV is probably one of the most misused and misunderstood tools on the fire ground. Like so many other things in this business there is a time and a place… Although we are still trying to find the right time and place for PPV… Unfortunately, many departments use PPV on every fire regardless of conditions. That is simply UNSAFE! This video just goes to show you that vertical ventilation is not the most dangerous type of ventilation, misused PPV is!

This post has been removed due to unintended copyright issues. We apologize for any inconvenience.

We found this excellent ground ladder video over on thehousewatch.com. It is of a recent apartment fire they had in Milwaukee. When first listening to this video, it almost sounded like it was an audio tape from Champ’s ground ladder class at FDIC. Anyone who has had the class, or been around the HOT training knows what we’re talking about; anyone who hasn’t should definitely make it a priority to attend. This video highlights how truly effective ground ladders can be. The video was shot by Milwaukee’s TMJ4 News.
http://www.vententersearch.com/videos/flv/milwaukee.flv

There were a total of four grabs… A job well done goes out to the brothers in Milwaukee.

We came to find out that the VES size-up video we recently had on the site was actually captured by a team of researchers that was doing an intensive study on Firefighters. Dr. Jim Brown from Indiana University was leading a team of researchers looking into firefighter line of duty deaths. They have been continually (over an entire shift) monitoring the heart rates of Indianapolis Firefighters to better understand what our bodies go through. Indiana Channel 13 (WTHR) recently highlighted IFD and Dr. Brown’s study. Special thanks go to Ron Marks from Indianapolis Station 10 for giving us the heads up of this video.

Obviously we should all remember that Cardiac Issues are historically the number one killer of firefighters. Undoubtedly, some of it is preventable. So with that in mind, we ask this of you today… Take the time this holiday season to pull “that guy” aside and help encourage him get in better shape. It’s what true brotherhood is all about, helping a brother out! Let us never stand over another casket and say how great someone was, while under our breath we tell each other how out of shape he was, or how this came at no surprise. We can train all day long, we can study fire behavior, building construction, and everything else, but we all know someone who wears our uniform that needs some encouragement to get in better shape. So…TALK TO THEM! Do it for us, do it for you, and most importantly do it for them!