Size-Up and Tactics

I saw this video on another blog and they used it as an example of victim survivability profiling. While it is a good tool for that purpose, I think there are alot more learning opportunities in this particular video. First off, this video clearly illustrates just how dynamic and rapid fire progression is with modern combustibles. Studies show that fire roughly doubles in size every minute and this video helps confirm that. At the start of the video, it was a perfect situation for an aggressive interior attack. By the time the first engine arrived and stretched a hoseline however, conditions had rapidly deteriorated.

Region 5 Course Update

Good morning!  This is a brief update on some of the upcoming catalog courses in Region 5:

·         2132-12-504, Bldg Const: Comb, scheduled to start 6/23 at Hampton Co Fire Dept has been cancelled
·         2150-12-507, ISO, scheduled to start 6/23 at Awendaw Fire Dept will go
·         2118-13-501, PICO, scheduled to start 7/14 at Ashley River Fire Dept will go---this class is free through grant funding
·         4171-13-503, Fire Instructor, scheduled to start 8/17 at the City of Charleston Fire Dept will go---there are 6 spaces remaining in this class

The following classes are in danger of cancelling (low enrollment):

·         3330-13-501, Auto Extrication, scheduled to start 7/3 at Colleton Co Fire/Rescue (need 12 more students)
·         1177-13-501, Utilities, scheduled to start 7/7 at Caromi Fire Dept (need 6 more students)
·         1210-13-501, EVDT, scheduled to start 7/9 at Colleton Co Fire/Rescue (need 4 more students)
·         2728-13-501, Haz Mat Ops, scheduled to start 7/9 at Jasper Co Fire Dept (need 15 students)
·         2728-13-502, Haz Mat Ops, scheduled to start 7/10 at Hampton Co Fire Dept (need 11 more students)
·         3310-13-501, Rope Rescue, scheduled to start 7/10 at St. John’s Fire Dept (need 8 more students)
·         2139-13-501, Fire Inspection, scheduled to start 7/11 at Beaufort Fire Dept (need 14 more students)
·         1160-13-501, Truck Co, scheduled to start 7/14 at Awendaw Fire Dept (need 13 more students)
·         8335-13-501, Wildland, scheduled to start 7/14 at Jasper Co Fire Dept (need 12 students)
·         1210-13-502, EVDT, scheduled to start 7/16 at Burton Fire Dept (need 10 students)
·         2171-13-501, Leadership I, scheduled to start 7/21 at Summerville Fire Dept (need 4 more students)

Happy Memorial Day

Changes to SCFA Course Registration

Good morning!   I wanted to send out an email to address the upcoming changes to the registration process for SCFA courses.

Currently, there is a 30-day cut off on all courses.   But,  I think you all will be happy to know that starting July 1^st, all courses will have a 2-week cut off, EXCEPT those courses where books are mailed out in advance (Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, Fire & Life Safety Ed, etc..)---those courses will still have a 30 day cut off.    Those of you that have been around awhile will remember this was our process several years ago. 

Also, I have sent out other emails regarding the upcoming online registration process.   There might be some confusion, so I just wanted to clear it up.  The new online registration system will be available in July.  It is not currently available.   I’m sure there will be some questions and glitches at first, but I really feel that you all will love this new registration option.  Paper registrations will still be accepted. Also, in this first phase, students may only register for classes without prereqs----online registration for classes with prereqs will be phased in over time.  If you’re going to be at the Convention, I believe Shane and Russ will be making an official announcement about it.  I’ve been in several meetings about this, and want to pass along an update of how the process will work initially (other options will be phased in over time)---and don’t hold me to this, because this isn’t exact and things may change before it’s rolled out  J

·        Student goes online and selects class he/she would like to register for (classes that have already cut off can’t be selected)
·         Student enters all of his/her information along with the FDID/department name of the department that is sending them to the class
·         Then, the “approver emails” associated with that FDID/department (remember, I emailed about this several weeks ago….) will receive an email stating that XX student is trying to register for XX class, and there will be an option to approve or decline that student registration.   The student will receive an email stating that their registration has been sent to their dept for approval or rejection. 
·         Once one of the dept approvers have either approved or declined the student registration, the student will then receive an email notification.
·         If the “approve” option was selected, the SCFA will then receive that student registration.

I will send more information as it becomes available, but if you have any questions, please let me know.

Thanks!
Amy

NFA Course Vacancies

National Fire Academy (NFA) Training Opportunities

(as of May 17, 2012) 

Vacancies exist in the following NFA courses at the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. You may refer to the internet at   www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/index.shtm for more information, or contact the Admissions Office via email netc-admissions@fema.dhs.gov or by phone at (301) 447-1035. Completed applications may be faxed to (301) 447-1441.

If interested, apply immediately! 

Note: The NFA policy of only 1 stipend-supported trip per fiscal year remains. However, a qualified individual may seek to participate without stipend assistance. PLEASE INDICATE with your application that you are aware of this restriction when you apply for the course.    

All vacancies are filled on a first come, first served basis and qualified by using the Student Selection Criteria listed on our Website:   www.usfa.dhs.gov/nfa/index.shtm   

2nd Semester

R138     Hot Topics Research in Fire Protection

                7/22/2012-7/27/2012                6 vacancies

R151     Advanced Leadership Issues in Emergency Medical Services

                7/9/2012-7/20/2012  6 vacancies

R152     Emergency Medical Services: Special Operations          

                8/20/2012-8/31/2012                4 vacancies

               

R200     Leadership Strategies for Community Risk Reductions

                7/22/2012-7/27/2012                11 vacancies

R214     Forensic Evidence Collection

                9/16/2012-9/21/2012                4 vacancies

               

R233     Chemistry for Emergency Response

                7/9/2012-7/20/2012  15 vacancies

                               

R308     Command & Control Fire Dept Operations Natural Man Made Disasters

                8/20/2012-8/31/2012                6 vacancies

R335     Administrative Public Assistant Community Recovery

                7/29/2012-8/3/2012  2 vacancies

R362     Developing Fire & Life Safety Strategies

                7/29/2012-8/3/2012  11 vacancies

R378     Demonstrating Fire Prevention Program Worth

                8/12/2012-8/17/2012                11 vacancies

R629     Youth Firesetting Prevention & Intervention

                9/16/2012-9/21/2012                1 vacancy

R815     VIP: Challenges for Local Training Officers

                9/9/2012-9/14/2012  8 vacancies

R824     VIP: Management Strategies for Success

                9/9/2012-9/14/2012  9 vacancies

R825     VIP: Command & Control of Fire Department Operations Target

                9/9/2012-9/14/2012  10 vacancies

R826     VIP: Presenting Effective Public Education

                9/9/2012-9/14/2012  13 vacancies    

R833     VIP: Leadership Strategies for Community Risk Reduction

                9/9/2012-9/14/2012  17 vacancies    

R847     VIP: EMS Incident Operations

                9/9/2012-9/14/2012  11 vacancies

New SCFA Course Dates

Here is the link to the July-December course catalog.

http://www.scfa.state.sc.us/PDF/July_Dec_2012%20_FY13_course%20dates.pdf

Note that we are hosting course 1160- Truck Company Operations for Residential Occupancies at Station 24 November 7-8, and Fire Officer 1 October 15-24.

Region 5 Course Update

***The July-December 2012 SCFA course catalog should be posted to the SCFA website sometime this week, or maybe even next week.   Keep a look out for it, and start registering for July courses as soon as possible, as they will cut off in June.***

***Please do not send any more registrations for the requested Aerial Ops class, 1250-12-507, at Walterboro Public Safety.  This class is full, pending receipt of registrations from the host dept.  Once the roster is finalized, I will email a confirmation to all students/training officers.***

This is a brief update on some of the upcoming catalog courses in Region 5:

·         2130-12-504, Bldg Const: N/C, scheduled to start 6/2 at Hampton Co Fire Dept has been cancelled

·         1221-12-506, Pump Ops II, scheduled to start 6/9 at Goose Creek Rural Fire Dept will go

·         2175-12-502, Managing in a Changing Env, scheduled to start 6/12 at St. Andrew’s Fire Dept will go—this class is full

·         2728-12-507, Haz Mat Ops, scheduled to start 6/12 at Berkeley Co ESTC will go

·         2150-12-506, ISO, scheduled to start 6/19 at MCAS Beaufort Fire Dept will go

The following classes are in danger of cancelling (low enrollment):

·         2132-12-504, Bldg Const: Comb, scheduled to start 6/23 at Hampton Co Fire Dept (need 7 more students)---this class cuts off next Wednesday!

·         2150-12-507, ISO, scheduled to start 6/23 at Awendaw Fire Dept (need 5 more students)---this class cuts off next Wednesday!