DTFF: The Volunteer Firefighter Podcast - Down To Fight Fire

E175 - PNE Fire, ESM Training, Rescue Task Force and Mutual Aid Training Were Back !    This week we caught up on the last two weeks of training, Car Fire / Dumpster Fire,  Live Fire Mutual Aid Training, ESM Training , Rescue Task Force discussion and more.  WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has built our firefighter training from both o...

E174 - Castor Alberta LODD. Side By Side Utility vehicle SOGs , Response and Outfitting. Auto X and Car Fire / Dumpster Fire    This Week we started off with some sad news remembering the LODD Caster Alberta FireFighter Stephen Rayfield.  We go on to discuss our new Side by Side utility vehicle purchase, how we will outfit it with tools and equipment, the training needed and the SOG...

E173 -  HUSAR. Heavy Urban Search and Rescue, Canada Task Force 1 with Special Guest Tom.  This Week we were fortunate enough to have one of Todds long time friends and HUSAR team member Tom on the podcast to discuss some of this years recent events including a crane collapse , flood and mudslide rescues as well as training and more.   We went on to discuss Reading Fire, Reading Smo...

E172 -  Baltimore Fire and LODD. Big Sur Fire. Reading Fire Conditions and Mutual Aid Training This Week we discussed the Baltimore Fire that sadly had 3 LODD and 1 FF in critical condition. Paid our respects to Lt Butrim, a 16 year veteran , FF Sadler of 15 years and FF Lacayo of 7 years.  We went on to discuss Reading Fire, Reading Smoke and having to make those hard choices when arriv...

E171 - Live Fire x2 ,  Multiple Search Techniques , Ice Rescue and Talks on The Explosion in Ottawa  This Week we talked about the explosion is Ottawa, Todds department ran an Ice Rescue practice and Scott and Ash put on two live fire practice scenarios where they ran multiple search techniques with fire suppression.    WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our...

E170 - New York Apartment Fire and Upcoming Training This Week we discuss the New York Apartment fire that left 19 dead, 5 dozer rescued from a  1970s built 120 unit 19 story Apartment. We go on to discuss some upcoming training this month that focuses on live fire attack , door control and building search.   WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has...

E169 - New Years Training Resolutions. Wish Lists and Ideas to Improve Training in 2022.    This Week Todd, Scott and Ash sat down to ring in the new year and discussed our Training Wish Lists for the year. Seasonal focus, Spring Seminar, Mutual aid Training and more.  WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has built our firefighter training from...

E168 - Merry Christmas !  Chief , Its Cold Outside     Its Christmas and a few of the guys were together with their families having dinner and drinks and they wanted to pass along their well wishes and Christmas Cheer to all of our listeners.  We took a moment to chat about some lengthy cold snaps we are experiencing and some difficulties that have come up because of it.&n...

E167 - Build a Burn Building. Ways to fundraise, acquire land, and put together a basic burn facility.     This week we chatted about how our training grounds came to be, and how to build a training facility on a budget.  WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has built our firefighter training from both old and new tactics in the fire servic...

E166 - VEIS Training, Medical Scope Changes Explained , Tornado Devastation and Fire Hall Christmas    This week Todd was back in the game and we sat down and discussed our recent VEIS training with a neighbouring department. Talked about the Tornado in Kentucky and the deviating path it took. The scope of practice changes to the First Responder role was better explained with Todd in hou...

E165 - Wild Fires in December, Snow Day MVI’s and Medical Assists.   This week was pretty spacious in the studio with Rob and Ash getting together on our first “ snow day “ of the year.  We discussed a December Wild Wire in Denton Montana, MVA’s , Soft/Passive entry , and Medical Assists from the past week.  WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department...

E164 - Medical First Responder Scenarios, from Shortness of Breath calls to Gunshot wounds.  This we went over our last two weeks of training. Groups ran through medical scenarios as their First Responder Teams.  Each team ran a Medical call and a Trauma call. We discuss the different dynamics of each time and finding the balance when mixing higher level EMS members into the FR role. &nb...

E163 - Flood Update, Basement Fire, Training Rapid Deployment and Fully Involved vs. Working Structure Fire.  This week we update the recent flooding that hit west coast BC and how that has impacted the rest of the Province .  We go on to discuss some recent training Todd and his crew took part in that had them working with limited man-power, drilling rapid deployment and effective scene...

E162 - Working Structure Fire and Flooding and Landslides in BC leaving the West Coast cut off from the rest of the Province.  This week we talked about the recent flooding and mud slides that have left the West Coast of BC cut off from the rest of the province. The boys go on to talk about a working structure fire on the edge of our coverage area that seen what quick response and quick water...

E161 - Critical Incident Stress Management, Jr Fire Fighters and a Pretty Special Venue   This week we chatted about CISM ( critical incident stress management ) , and our new recruits including a Jr. Fire fighter all from the cab of one of our pick up trucks while we were out hunting.   WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has built our firefighter...

E160 - Fire Fighter Relay Races and Other Interesting Practice Nights. Winter / Chimney Fire Discussion.  This week we went over a Fire Fighter relay race we ran last week. Two Engines and two tenders traveled to four stations including Live Fire, Throwing Ladders, Forestry Bump and  Run and a classic two unit hydrant hit. These sessions were timed and there may have been a reward to be...

E159 - VEIS Hard Point Attack and First Responder Roles This week we chatted about going Live in First Responder. What each persons role will look like and how we can be best set to hit the ground running. We went on to discuss VEIS and using that room as a hard point to progress to fire attack.  WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has built our firefigh...

E158 - Structure Fire Rescue and Bail Out Video Review.  VEIS Training Break Down.  This week we watched and discussed a recent video that has been floating around. 2 story residential building, Second floor rescue and Fire Fighter Bail Out.  We go on to discuss early water application. Can the Pump Operator step down and handle a short hand line for suppression ? What can all be do...

E157 - Structure Fire, VEIS , Force Entry ,  Quality 360s and Adapting Plans  This week we discuss a recent structure fire call which had Scott first on scene as command. A quality 360 had the original windshield survey changing due to a large propane tank. The plan changed again with reported patients inside. Multiple VEIS searches followed by an aggressive interior push.  Todd tal...

This week we wrap the BC Wildfire Season. Quick stats show 343 homes lost, just shy of 500k hectares burnt and 2 lives lost.   We go on to discuss , with the changing weather cooling down we are headed back to the training ground for some Live Fire !  First task up on the list is VEIS.  Vent Enter Isolate Search is an amazing tactic for rapid searches in high probability locations l...

E155 - Auto X Training, Ag. Tractor Roll Over and Out of The Box Techniques This week we talked about an Auto X course Todd attended put on by DYNAMIC RESCUE. We go on to discuss a technical rescue call for a patient trapped under a rolled Agriculture Tractor with a mower attached. This seen the crew have to think of their feet and come up with some out of the box techniques and heavy cribbing to...

E154 - Expanding Your Training. Interior vs. Exterior ops and Apparatus To Suit Your Needs This week we talked about Heebville NS’s take on a ladder truck. Interior vs Exterior only  ops department and training above your level of service.   WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has built our firefighter training from both old and new tactics in the f...

E153 - 9/11 , Rope Rescue Scenario and FR Medical This week we looked back on 9/11. We discussed what that means to us after 20 years. We went on to discuss our recent scenario that had a patient over embankment and then a second water rescue drowning was toned out half way through.  WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters, our Fire Department has built our firefighter training...

E152 - Competency VS Compliance, and Callsigns for Life This week we discussed Competency VS Compliance. Book Smart vs real world experience and how to bridge the two through proper training. We wrap up with a discussion on Callsigns for life, and the pros and cons getting away from using Names on fire grounds and using a numerical callsign.  WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefight...

EP151 - Wild land Forestry Deployment Update and Regional Task Force Teams  This week we discussed some of the things that happened over our 4 week deployment between all of the crews. Things we learned, liked and adopted moving forward. We went on and talked about future regional Task Force teams and what that may look like.    WHO WE ARE As a group of Rural Volunteer Firefighters,...