I like thequote, “we need to graduate beyond the basics”. Skill is important, and especially for newer members, but as we gain our skill, we need to adapt to continue our development. The greater sum of training needs to be focused on decision-making once we have solidified the skill.

Step one in producing a good engineer is the foundational knowledge and equations. If we can’t do simple math, then we are not going to be successful. Nobody expects you to be able to do this at 3 am, but we need to be able to gameplay and we should be predetermining our pressures prior to game day, then adapt if needed.

It seems that the art of pumping has been lost. The foundational knowledge of engineers is lacking in the fire service, at least my experience. We pay less attention to the complexities of the job and focus primarily on the driving aspect. Fallacies, misinformation, and lack of understanding is prevalent in the fire service, especially with hydraulics.

It went from smokey, to smokey with fire over our head, to little smoke and fire pushing out the front room at us. I turn to my left and start applying my stream. The extinguishment through my smooth bore nozzle is giving a good fight to a well involved fire. Then I hear, “Protect the stairs.” I turn to my right, and up the stairs flies my Captain to try and get to the victim. We did not rehearse this, but this is a deviation I should expect as after all, we go to fire to save lives first and foremost. 

When faced with a large amount of fire, we want to punch the fire in its face with the biggest weapon we have and that is the mater stream, producing a stream of 500-1000 gpm. This amount of water should be able to check a large fire to buy time for the crews to stretch and advance for final extinguishment. Without hitting a large, well involved fire quickly with superior fire suppression weapon, we are facing an uphill battle.

All the training such as throwing ladders, searching rooms, pumping the apparatus, and moving lines; will all assist in accomplishing our goals. One area which many can overlook is apparatus positioning. It’s taking our places prior to the act starting. If one actor is off, doesn’t know their spot or their lines, it will ruin the entire play. If we fail to training and perfect our apparatus positioning, we are not setting our stage to be successful. With one bad position, it will negatively affect all later arriving apparatus and the fireground.

We train, instruct and perfect our craft to provide the one thing that many people can’t provide and want more of… that is TIME.

Trust has such an impact on every organization both internally and externally. Trust shapes organizations and allows the employees to prosper or be headline news. United failed at trust.