The Fire Safety Research Institute from UL has recently released several technical reports (Scroll Down to Access All Three) IMPORTANT to both firefighters and the civilians we are sworn to protect.
Starting in 2013, UL FSRI has provided fire service professionals with countless resources focused on “increasing firefighter knowledge to reduce injuries and deaths in the fire service and in the communities they serve.”
Less than 230 gallons (108 gallons ± 48 gallons) were used during the initial suppression period across all 21 experiments and less than 500 gallons, including hydraulic ventilation, were used in total for suppression for each of the bedroom, kitchen, and living room fire experiments.
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.
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 
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.
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.
This classroom session will examine why tactics for stretching and advancing hose lines from standpipes is often the best way to facilitate the strategy of protecting the occupant's lives. It will examine conditions taking harm away from occupants by rapidly controlling a fire and protecting them in place can be more effective than taking occupants away from harm by evacuation.
Those attending will learn why in order to control a fire in a high rise building firefighters must gain control of its systems; sprinkler, standpipe, HVAC, smoke management/control and elevators. The program will examine differences in residential and commercial high rise building design and construction and why the lack of compartmentation in commercial high rise buildings may require operation of portable master stream devices connected to standpipes.
Similarly, it will examine how to operate more than one hose line from a standpipe. Those attending will also learn how to operate from dry standpipes, manual wet standpipes, and conditions when it is better to stretch hose directly from apparatus rather than from a standpipe.
More about Bill Gustin
Captain Bill Gustin is a 49-year veteran of the Fire Service. He began his career in 1973 as a volunteer firefighter in the Chicago area. He is a third generation firefighter; his Dad and Grandfather were officers on the Chicago Fire Department. He began his career with the Miami-Dade Fire/Rescue Dept. in 1978, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1983 and to Captain in 1986. Captain Gustin instructs firefighter recruits and newly-promoted fire officers as a lead instructor in Miami-Dade’s Officer Development Program. He has taught fire science classes, industrial fire safety and shipboard firefighting for Miami-Dade College. He also conducts training programs for firefighters throughout the United States and Canada. Additionally, Captain Gustin has taught forcible entry techniques to local and federal law enforcement agencies. He is a contributing editor and a technical editor for Fire Engineering Magazine and an advisory board member for the Fire Department Instructor’s Conference.
Captain Gustin has worked as an instructor and advisor for the U.S. Agency For International Development and has conducted training programs for fire brigades in several Caribbean countries. He was also a member of Miami-Dade’s international Disaster Response Team and participated in the rescue of people trapped in collapsed buildings resulting from earthquakes in the former Soviet Union in 1988 and in the Philippines in 1990. He was also a member of the FEMA working group that established the organization and standards for Urban Search and Rescue Teams that respond to domestic and international disasters. Captain Gustin was named Florida’s firefighter of the year in 1990 for rescuing a women and her child who were trapped between a fire and iron burglar bars on the windows and doors of their home.
This class will explore the 8 initial assignments that need to be made to conduct a fire attack in large, complicated high rise buildings. The assignments are Fire Attack, Lobby, Above the Fire, Staging, RIT, Fire Control Room, and Base. We will discuss the order of the assignments, how many personnel are necessary at each position, where the firemen should enter the building and stage, expectations of each assignment, and pitfalls that could potentially occur. This class was developed around the Southern Nevada Fire Operations Guide and the 17 years experience I have working on Las Vegas Boulevard.
More About Clark Lamping
A 21-year veteran of the Clark County (NV) Fire Department, where he has been a captain for 10 years and is on the technical rescue team. He is assigned to Firehouse 11 and is a rescue specialist for NV-TF1. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in crisis and emergency management.
More about Robert Morris
The Engine Officer and the Standpipe Fire; Size Up, Recon and Mindset goes deep into the rolls and responsibilities of the Engine Company officer going to work at a fire in a standpipe equipped building. Focusing on the pre incident duties of pre-planning, training and preparation we work up to the incident Size Up.
This is rapidly followed up by the Recon and the dynamic nature of the fire environment and stretching from the cabinet on the floor below. Lastly, we dive into the Mindset necessary to create a high performance Engine Company that is ready for the complexities and challenges of today’s ever changing world, the fire environment and specifically, fires in standpipe equipped buildings.
More about Eric Tollund
Eric Tollund is a 25 year veteran of the fire service. He began as a volunteer in Durango, Colorado and now serves with the Denver Fire Department as Captain of Engine Co. 23 He has a passion for engine company operations, specifically fires in high rise and standpipe buildings and has instructed nationally on this subject.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to be around someone at a fire that is pulling in more information than you are that could be troubling. You can’t always be the one on top however some firefighters seem to excel at it. I have had the opportunity to work with many firefighters over the years that seemed to have a better vision (literally and figuratively) then me of what was or would occur.
How is it possible that some firefighters can search faster or go deeper than others to explore? Its feeling comfortable in the environment. Firefighters that feel comfortable at fires are a tremendous asset and they tend to see things first and know better what’s going on. I worked with nozzle firefighters that literally had a keen sense of where the stream belonged and what was occurring around them. I’ve worked with burn instructors who would predict exactly what would occur with a fire set (real furniture) in a home. This all revolves around people who get it, not the brotherhood theme of getting it rather the actual business of fire.
This will often translate to aggressive firefighting and that makes sense. Aggressive firefighting is conducted by people who get it. They understand what needs to occur and those insights when coupled with a sound tactics allow us to get the job done at a higher level. I was lucky to have them with me as I’m sure you are too, emulate them, become one of them. They are truly impressive and while some seem to always have it going on, you can do it too. If you desire to engage at this level start by paying attention.
Tim Klett is a 30-year veteran of the fire service and recently retired from his position as a Lieutenant with FDNY serving on 88 Engine, located in the 7th Division in the Bronx. As an FDNY firefighter, Tim spent 12 years on 69 Engine, one of the FDNY’s busiest Engines located in Harlem, prior to his promotion.
A deep dive into the gamut that is the engine company discipline specifically heightening awareness to the various types of equipment that create fire streams.
This class presents a comprehensive, yet simple, approach to planning for the first-arriving engine fire attack when faced with exponential fire growth, limited staffing, or rapidly changing fire conditions. All departments should evaluate their fire stream systems from the source to the nozzle.The foundation of this concept consists of our three most common tools: the 1.75'-inch attack line, the 2.50'-inch attack line, and the deck gun.
Keith Stakes is a member of the Underwriters Laboratories – 
There is no greater impact a fire department can have on the outcome of a fire than a well placed and properly operating initial attack handline. The stretch needs to be rapid, simple and appropriately staffed. The equipment needs to be user friendly, easy to use, reliable and durable. We have many of the answers to what equipment in the industry meets these needs however, those of us attempting to make changes back home meet many roadblocks. In this presentation I will walk you through the experiences I have had implementing changes and how culture, pride, history and status quo bias can slow the advance.
Fireground communications can be chaotic, and a lack of information can lead to injuries or a LODD. This presentation will provide good information that crews should push to command and what information can wait until command pulls it from crews. The first due engine officer must push good information to those responding, to set the incident up for success.
The threat of civil unrest is ever present in our modern society. These events often result from elections sporting events trials perceived injustices or use of force cases. The ensuing fire duty can rapidly tax available resources and present unheard of challenges to responding firefighters. 
The Art of War is really about the Top Priority!!! People Before Water 💦 is about conducting an effective oriented search 🔦 that will produce the best results. We now have DATA that helps us focus on what Tactics will produce the Best Results for our staffing and locale. I have been to, too many fires 🔥 where literally SECONDS MATTER ON LIFE AND DEATH 💀. I personally have not had a Private Dwelling Fire where not catching a hydrant by one of the first two apparatus cost anyone’s life. I have been to a bunch where the first two going straight in saved Lives and Property. Remember it’s 3 minutes and 40 seconds today till FLASHOVER and not 30 Minutes like our Father’s and Grandfather’s Fires. People Before Water 💦 WILL SAVE MORE LIVES!! You can count on it.
More abut Curt Isakson
Curt “Ike” Isakson is a 30+ year veteran of the fire service, with experience working in volunteer, career, and combination departments in urban, suburban, rural, and countywide settings. He is currently a Battalion Chief for Escambia County Fire Rescue in Florida where he has worked for the last 21 years. Curt is the founder of County Fire Tactics, a platform for teaching firefighter accross the country from urban, suburban, and rural settings, because it's all in the county.
Before his time with Escambia, Curt was a Company Officer with the Pensacola Fire Department assigned to Heavy Rescue 31 for 9 years. His fire service experience started at a young age as a Junior Firefighter with the Midway Fire Protection District and rose through the ranks to Captain.
Has been a career firefighter for over 22 years and is a Lieutenant with the City of Orlando (FL) Fire Department. There he has served for the past 15 years and is currently assigned to Tower 10. He previously served as a firefighter with the City of Cincinnati (OH) Fire Department. JJ earned a BS degree in Fire Protection Administration from Eastern Kentucky University. He is Florida state certified instructor and has taught classes at local and national conferences on Truck Company Tactics.
A look into gaining can confidence for fire ground success. The 2 1⁄2 gallon water extinguisher, the can, allows the search team to quickly place water between the fire and potential victims.
Unfortunately, due to lack of confidence, it is arguably the most underutilized tool in the fire service found on nearly every fire apparatus. Let’s start the life-saving extinguishment process by applying what could be, the fire’s first interaction with water.
More about Eric Wheaton
Eric Wheaton is the Owner of VentEnterSearch, LLC. He is a second-generation fireman for Winter Park (FL) Fire Department and is currently assigned as a Lieutenant on Truck 61. Eric has spent a majority of his career on the Truck Company. Eric is an instructor for the Truck Company Operations and Special Operations programs at Valencia College's Central Florida Fire Institute.
He holds an associate degree in Fire Science and is an advisory board member on the UL-FSRI Size-up and search & rescue study. Eric has taught at many fire conferences across the country, including FDIC, Portland Firemanship Conference, Orlando Fire Conference, Fort Lauderdale Fire Expo, Metro Atlanta Firefighter Conference and Water on the Fire Conference.
Shannon Stone is a twenty-nine year fire service veteran. After eleven years as a Battalion Chief in Fort Walton Beach, FL, Chief Stone is now inthe Deputy Chief of Operations position at nearby Midway Fire District. Shannon teaches often with County Fire Tactics, is a founder of 850 Fireman, and has presented around the country. Along with with brother, DJ, he’s unveiling an exciting new class called Anatomy of a Rescue at FDIC 2020.
More about Todd Edwards
Todd Edwards has over 36 years of experience in the fire services. Starting his career at 16 years old with a small combination department in Ohio, Todd then moved to Georgia where he spent more than 30 years with Atlanta Fire Rescue. During his career with Atlanta, he held a variety of positions including Captain, Battalion Chief and Assistant Fire Chief. While with Atlanta, Todd developed and taught the majority of the city training curriculum, and co-developed the city Standard Operating Guidelines. After retiring in 2018, he served the city as a consultant and the lead instructor / coordinator for Atlanta’s Officer Development Program. While working with Atlanta, Todd was also the Lead Instructor for Walton County Fire Rescue in northeast Georgia. For the past 20 years, Todd has also been an adjunct instructor for the Georgia Fire Academy. Todd has also developed countless training programs currently being utilized by numerous departments, specializing in department-based curriculums for training and fire ground operations.
Brass Tacks and Hard-ER Facts: Behind and Beyond the Series
This 4-hour course will take you behind the scenes of the making of the Brass Tacks & Hard Facts engine company training video series and beyond the facts presented.
It will be a deep dive in to the gamut that is the engine company discipline, specifically, heightening awareness to the various types of equipment that create fire streams and developing a basic understanding of the different types of nozzles in use today. It exposes the following critical factors contributing to success of the firefighter interaction with this equipment: Flow, function, relationship of pressure to GPM and limitations due to nozzle reaction. Specific manufacturer data will be presented to make a case for selections citing industry trends. Initiating change, committee development, and trial benchmarks will be discussed in detail. Lecture and hands on format will be combined to ensure each student has the comfort level to go back to their own department and evaluate and test their own fire flow system.
More about Chris Martin
Chris has been in the fire service for 20 years and is a certified Indiana State Fire Instructor II/III. He worked as a student firefighter at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, majoring in Marketing. He holds the rank as Engineer and serves as a Field Training Officer with the Clay Fire Territory in South Bend, Indiana where he has worked positions from firefighter up to Captain.
Chris has worked for Elkhart Brass since 2000, functioning in Regional Sales Manager positions both domestically and internationally. Currently he is the Municipal Product Manager. In this role he focuses exclusively on new product development, technical training, and extensive interaction with end users and distribution to ensure that the voice of the customer is heard and understood.
More about Jerry Herbst
Jerry is a 37 year veteran of the Fire Service and is a New York State certified Training Officer. With over 25 years on the line Jerry has served in all rank positions including 6 years as Chief of Department in his local volunteer FD and ten years as a paid Deputy Chief Coordinator at the County Level.
He is still an active Firefighter and Apparatus Operator. He has been with Elkhart Brass since 2006 serving as a Regional Manager, National Account Manager and Strategic Development Manager for Municipal Markets.
Kyle Romagus is a 17 year veteran with East Montgomery County Fire Department, has held the rank of captain for the last 11 years and is in love with engine work. Kyle owns and operates smoothbore cartel, teaches hot classes and lectures over engine operations for FD tactics nationwide,
Oathkeepers engine cadre and is also the admin of engine company resurrection. His main goal is to spread knowledge about Engine work to anyone that will listen and to leave the job better than he found it.
More about Matt Scallan
Matt is a Lieutenant with Escambia County Fire Rescue.
