By Ray McCormack
There are many topics in fire service training that hinge on annual certification: annual hose testing, pump testing and nozzle testing, but no test for putting it all together - that is a disconnect. Material testing, minus the human element. The problem is firefighters put out fires, not objects. If you wish to advocate for something worthwhile, try annual attack certification, where all the components are put together for us to evaluate how good we are at our trade.
This certification testing can be broken down into components like exterior, flanking, and aggressive-interior. Participants can then formally recognize the differences between the methods if they didn't know already and work their way through the progression. While testing of water delivery components is important, where is the importance placed on knowing how to use these tools within the system of fire attack? While it's comforting to know that individual pieces are working, what comfort do we draw from not knowing what we are collectively capable of?
You can always drill on fire attack by stretching some hose and simulating how it's done. You may even be able to add some fire to that training, but none of it is required. There is no certification, no paper to check off that you know how to fight a fire, and that your skills have been 'refreshed.' This is not about adding another layer of bureaucracy, it has to do with a missed opportunity to deliver training in a constructive standardized manner.
Who is to blame for this lack of annual certification? Us. Like many things in the fire service, somehow we missed this one. Do you need certification? Definitely. We have myriad other certification requirements, but none for actual firefighting, when lives are on the line. That is curious, indeed.
There are many topics in fire service training that hinge on annual certification: annual hose testing, pump testing and nozzle testing, but no test for putting it all together - that is a disconnect. Material testing, minus the human element. The problem is firefighters put out fires, not objects. If you wish to advocate for something worthwhile, try annual attack certification, where all the components are put together for us to evaluate how good we are at our trade.
This certification testing can be broken down into components like exterior, flanking, and aggressive-interior. Participants can then formally recognize the differences between the methods if they didn't know already and work their way through the progression. While testing of water delivery components is important, where is the importance placed on knowing how to use these tools within the system of fire attack? While it's comforting to know that individual pieces are working, what comfort do we draw from not knowing what we are collectively capable of?
You can always drill on fire attack by stretching some hose and simulating how it's done. You may even be able to add some fire to that training, but none of it is required. There is no certification, no paper to check off that you know how to fight a fire, and that your skills have been 'refreshed.' This is not about adding another layer of bureaucracy, it has to do with a missed opportunity to deliver training in a constructive standardized manner.
Who is to blame for this lack of annual certification? Us. Like many things in the fire service, somehow we missed this one. Do you need certification? Definitely. We have myriad other certification requirements, but none for actual firefighting, when lives are on the line. That is curious, indeed.
Even if we don't have it formally, what we need is to do is get to the place where we place operational hose line skills on a platform equal to or above other disciplines. These other topics did a better job of marketing their importance to the fire service while extinguishment lagged behind, and we let it happen.
It's actually disheartening to think that fire departments need to embrace fire, to build and rebuild the skills in their people to handle fire events, but without a formal 'push,' many lag behind. The entrenchment of auxiliary topics and specialty education only push the basics back. Ever hear of "Back to Basics" classes? They exist mainly because on the fire service super highway, the basics are often overtaken by current certification demands, new initiatives, and cultural training programs.
I don't see the fire service adding another annual certification any time soon, its too busy worrying about other things. It would seem, that at least for the near future, it is up to us to get our primary function: extinguishment, up to at least the recognition level. Imagine the fire service needing to recognize fire. Crazy. We embraces change in many areas, one change that would benefit us all would be to make sure our fire extinguishment skill sets - with or without annual certification - are the best they can be, now that's tactical safety.
Next Tactical Safety - Paint Us Resistive Red
It's actually disheartening to think that fire departments need to embrace fire, to build and rebuild the skills in their people to handle fire events, but without a formal 'push,' many lag behind. The entrenchment of auxiliary topics and specialty education only push the basics back. Ever hear of "Back to Basics" classes? They exist mainly because on the fire service super highway, the basics are often overtaken by current certification demands, new initiatives, and cultural training programs.
I don't see the fire service adding another annual certification any time soon, its too busy worrying about other things. It would seem, that at least for the near future, it is up to us to get our primary function: extinguishment, up to at least the recognition level. Imagine the fire service needing to recognize fire. Crazy. We embraces change in many areas, one change that would benefit us all would be to make sure our fire extinguishment skill sets - with or without annual certification - are the best they can be, now that's tactical safety.
Next Tactical Safety - Paint Us Resistive Red
Wow…Bravo Ray, you have hit the proverbial line drive to the gap once again! We do spend lots of time training in pieces…I remember when we were able to train with live fire in an acquired structure just about every other month or so…now NFPA 1402/1403 has come along and made it a little more difficult and “safer”…training in a metal box versus a single-family wooden is not comparable…the smoke, the attitude of the fire, the physiological and psychological responses and the overall atmosphere are just a few of the attributes that every Fireman should be able to recognize, control and mitigate just on a personal level…propane props and hay bales will never replace the mattress and/or couch that was set ablaze and we were able to watch an actual progression of the fire…please understand I do relailze that several LODD’s have come from bumbling idiots that wanted the “probies” to really feel what is was like back in the day however, they lost focus on what was important and caused injury or death…I agree with some sort of annual fire attack cert, but in this day and age (especially with ECFR) the manpower and lack of crew integrity it is almost impossible to conduct a drill/certifiaction test to accurately replicate a crew’s tactics…and by integrity I mean all members working together on a regular basis…I feel we put the a lot of focus on how to get out, activate your PASS and all that training is highly beneficial however, when we learn how to put the wet stuff on the red stuff we may find ourselves in a little better environment and may not have to utilize those life-saving skills as often as we are…maybe during the Orlando Fire Conference you can toss this around and see if you can find a committee to spearhead this at least in Florida and get something started…btw…make sure it is Fireman that have “keep fire in their life”…
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