Firefighter Ryan Marzheuser from Sycamore Township Ohio sent in this photo of another way to conveniently store a door wedge. Check put the What’s in your pockets section for more details.

Our first year has been fantastic and we would like to again thank everyone for the ongoing support. In particular, we would like to thank everyone for all of the input, suggestions and submittals. During our first year we have had visits and submittals from all over the nation, and even outside the country. We are working on a video project to spotlight these different areas. It will be a “year in review” type of project We would like to give everyone the opportunity to be included. Please submit any additional videos or pictures that you would like to be included in this project. We will keep this post updated with any additional information. Deadline for submitting will be May 1, 2007.

Please submit all content to staff@vententersearch.com

Thank you once again for a spectacular year!

In looking trough some older emails we found a tip was sent in months ago. This tip also has the unique honor of being the first one to share credit with two people. Firefighter Matt Scallan from Escambia County Fire and Rescue, and Firefighter John Gilkey from Montgomery County Fire/Rescue. They both sent in this tip within a few weeks of each other. The tip involves some simple modifications to the halligan. Check out the Tips from the Bucket Section for a full description.

Today’s fire service is getting more and more technologically advanced. Some of this technology works well and is a welcomed relief to our fire ground operations. Some have been implemented with lack of adequate testing and research and have been proven inefficient. However, it has been embraced due to being technologically advanced comparative to traditional old school methods and thanks to some slick- tongued salesman from corporate America who sold it to management as the latest greatest. Thanks to Captain Adams of Sacramento City Fire Department training Bureau and Mike Ferguson Sacramento City Fire Department E2C (Downtown Delirium) for this video focusing on the basics of forcible entry into a structure. During Probie School we have learned the basics of tool operation such as fork in adz out techniques in relation to halligan use and operation. This is the basic method in which we operate however there are many ways and uses for each of our tools. You and your mind are the limiting factors to what a tool is capable of. This video shows a variety of other techniques using the same tool such as the baseball swing. This is a great technique on wood doors when searching in areas such as roomers, older hotels, apartments ECT. and during low visibility operations where striking tools such as during traditional two man operations is often times difficult at best. Today we often utilize the rabbit tool or hydra ram for our forcible entry operations. Remember it has its limitations, it is not appropriate for all situations and it can fail. We absolutely must maintain proficiency with the basics and basic tools. Remember these techniques just as with hydraulic based tools should always be based upon your size-up and situation.

“Never relinquish basic firemanship skills in leau of technology. Even the most advanced technology can not make up for poor tactics and judgments. “ quote from B/C Mike Wilson, Charlotte Fire Department

Click here for the video

Take a look in the right column, we have just created a new category titled Product Reviews. This will be an area were we can post full write-ups and reviews on different products we test out. The first product reviewed was a helmet mounted camera provided by FireHelmetCam.net look below for a full review on this great product.

We are currently testing a new diamond tipped rotary saw blade provided by D.T.I and Tempest Technologies. The preliminary reports indicate this blade is capable of cutting wood, concrete and metals. We’re in the process of testing it out and will have a full report in the near future.

If any manufacturers or reps have products they would like us to test and review please feel free to contact us via email.

Our first formal product review was a helmet mounted camera that can put up with fire service abuse. It’s a small self contained camera that records video on a removable memory card. We put this camera through the works and did a full write up.

Be sure to check out the review and check out FireHelmetCam.net for purchase information.

“This blog is intended to promote real Truck work. It’s a place to post stories, articles, and ideas. No PPV here! Truck work saves lives. Actually, the real purpose of this blog is to act a Jeff’s official soapbox. Anyone who knows Ponzie, knows that this will prove to be funny, yet educational.” April 1, 2006

That simple statement was the first ever post on VentEnterSearch.com exactly one year ago today! One year ago, we decided to create a neutral, unbiased and un-intimidating medium were we could share ideals methods and techniques of this truly great and noble profession. We truly believe that firefighting is an art, and we want to protect the art for generations to come. The avenue to a safer fire service is by being pro-active rather than re-active in both our training and our tactics. We want to bring back the aggressive yet safe attitude to the fire service, in order to continue to protect each other on the fire ground. This can only be accomplished through educating each other and sharing ideas, tips and tricks.

We can honestly say that our first year has been much more of a success then we could have ever possibly imagined. We started this website with the intentions of sharing some information on the local level. It quickly became so much more then that. We have gotten emails, comments, and material from people across the nation, and even have some of our Canadian brethren following the site. The thought never crossed our minds that this is what would have become of the site after 12 short months. The overwhelming success of this site would not be possible without each and every one of you. No amount of thanks could possibly be enough. It is because of you, our loyal readers, that this site is what it is!

Here are some of the statistics from our first year:
We have had 80 posts, with 480 comments.
We have had 95,000 visits to the site, with an average of 700 per day.
We have had 1,768,000 “hits”

Thanks again for an amazing first year! Stay safe, and train hard! -Jeff & Jimm-