High-Rise Fire Ops: It’s All About the Process | McGrail

Chief McGrail will utilize his 40-years of fire service experience, from nozzleman to incident commander to outline and explain some of the critical components necessary to successfully combat a high-rise fire, while managing the risk to firefighters.  

The central theme of Chief McGrail’s training program is a proper fire fighting mindset, emphasizing the need to continually fight the deadly disease of complacency.  This is achieved through the daily process of building good operational habits.  

A discussion of engine company operations, with an emphasis on “proper weapon selection” will highlight the critical tools necessary for successful standpipe operations along with the fundamental techniques and procedures to make these operations extremely user friendly.  Chief McGrail will also address some of the essential truck company (support) functions, with an emphasis on RECON and Door Control.  

The choreography of the entire operation rests with the incident commander and a solid command structure to achieve overall command and control.  Chief McGrail will provide a recipe for success outlining the essential areas of command and control utilizing the incident command system (ICS) / national incident management system (NIMS).  

This seminar will provide some of the essential components necessary to achieve success at high-rise operations.  Attendees of this training program will leave armed with vital information, and become re-energized to accomplish our most important mission, fire suppression, in our most complicated fire environment, the high-rise building.

Instructor Bio

Standpipe for Engine Officers | McCormack

This class lays out the basics for a successful fire attack operation from a standpipe. Using the method I taught to thousands of firefighters, you will learn how to get your line into operation quickly and effectively.

More about Ray McCormack

Ray McCormack recently retired as a Lieutenant after 38 years. He holds a BA from the New York Institute of Technology. He was the chair and lead author for FDNYs new Engine Company Operations Manual.

He developed and taught Back to Basics Standpipe for all FDNY firefighters. He was the co-founder and editor of Urban Firefighter magazine. He sits on the FDIC advisory board and FireEngineering editorial board.

He was a panel member for two consecutive Underwriters Laboratories (UL) studies. Impact of Fire Attack Utilizing Interior & Exterior Streams on Firefighter Safety and Occupant Survival Study and Study of Coordinated Fire Attack Utilizing Acquired Structures. He lectures on Engine and Ladder Company Operations, Leadership and Improving Extinguishment Culture.

Truck Company Issues at Hi-Rise Multiple Dwellings | Ciampo

This lecture will go over issues and tactical problems truck companies will face at compactor, electrical, wind-driven and vehicle fires inside hi-rise multiple dwellings. The lecture will point out some tactical tips and procedures from actual fire scenes encountered from the hi-rise capital of the world.

More about Mike Ciampo

Michael Ciampo joined the fire service in 1979 as a volunteer and began his professional career in 1985, he is a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department and Wyckoff, NJ VFD. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NY.

He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Truck Essentials H.O.T. program and teaches at numerous seminars around the country.. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II. He has a monthly column on the back page of Fire Engineering magazine, ON FIRE.

Mike is also featured in Fire Engineering's popular video series “Training Minutes” truck company videos. His video Bread & Butter Portable Ladders DVD is available from Fire Engineering Books & Video's.

A Pragmatic Approach to Standpipe Hand-line Attack Package Design | LeGear

This presentation will take a brief Look at these Considerations. Standpipe Jurisdictional Infrastructure Survey Pre & Post 1993 - What to Look For. Building Types Commercial vs Residential. Compartment Dynamics from Hose Size, Kink Radius, Needed Fire Flow, Impacts to Staffing Models. The Solutions Single Diameter and Hybrid Diameter Hose and Nozzle Standpipe Systems.

More about Dennis LeGear

Dennis is a retired Captain of the Oakland, CA Fire Department. During his career Dennis was an integral part of the team that implemented a new engine configuration for Oakland Fire Department as the water supply officer.

After his retirement he continued to pursue this role but as a consultant for other fire departments. Dennis has provided technical advice to some of the largest fire agencies in the nation including, Portland, Seattle, Boston and the City of New York. Dennis consulted with water municipalities assisting in the development of emergency response plans for a variety of water infrastructure problems related to seismic events and other disasters.

Dennis also has played a key role for the fire service on a national level participating in UL studies on fire streams, providing technical knowledge for Pennwell publications and NFPA standards.

Standpipe Valves 101 | Robinson & Plotkin

More about Steve Robertson

Steve has been in the fire service for 33 years, the last 29 of which has been with the Columbus Ohio Division of Fire. Steve currently serves as the Lieutenant on Engine Company 18 in the South Linden neighborhood of Columbus. Steve has been a classroom instructor at FDIC for the past several years teaching engine company operations.

Additionally, Steve is the lead instructor of the FDIC HOT program Stretching For Success. Steve is an instructor for County Fire Tactics and has taught engine company tactics nationally. He has also instructed at the High Rise Operations Conference and Command Officers Bootcamp, Water on the Fire conference all in Pensacola Beach, Florida. For the past 26 years Steve has also been a state certified Fire Safety instructor. He is also a past member of the State of Ohio Fire Training Committee.

More about Andy Plofkin

Andy is the National Sales Manager for the SafeFleet Fire and EMS division responsible for distribution in the US. He manages a team of 10 regional sales managers across the country and participates as an instructor at multiple fire colleges and training events across the country.

He has worked in the fire industry over 35 years in various positions for OEMs and a dealership in the Midwest as VP of Sales. His knowledge of distribution, apparatus and hydraulics brings value to all the customers he works with. He is a 39 year veteran of the fire service and has served on departments in Connecticut and Indiana. He is currently a member of the Greenville Fire Protection District in Illinois.