Tougher metals and new construction methods and techniques have forced us into a new way of thinking about extrication. A big part of that new thinking involves our initial as well as our ever-evolving size-up.
In the span of an hour or two, we saw temperatures drop more than 30 degrees, and the wind began to howl. A winter weather warning appeared on my phone, with snow forecast at our elevation.
With COVID-19 still very much alive and active, rural fire departments are struggling to find new and engaging training opportunities. Understandably, outside hands-on training programs are few and far between.
How we as firefighters deal with “it” is what can make the difference. Are you whining, or are you shining?
Community spread, social distancing, “wear face masks,” “don’t wear face masks,” reopening stages, second wave, and all of the other phrases that we have been constantly bombarded with since the late winter/early spring—how do they affect our rural fire department operations as we move into the 2020 wildland fire season?