Training & Other Department Related Updates

Courage to Be Safe(SM) Train-the-Trainer Courses
(Oklahoma State Firefighters Association)

October 20, 2008 - Two Courage to Be Safe(SM) Train-the-Trainer Courses Are Being Offered At No Cost to You in December 2008: (See attached flyer)

1. December 5, 2008 - Edmond Fire Department 5300 E. Covell Edmond, OK 0800 - 1700 hours
2. December 6, 2008 - Broken Arrow Fire Department 4205 E. Omaha Broken Arrow, OK 0800 - 1700 hours

This provocative and moving presentation is designed to change the culture of accepting the loss of firefighters as a normal occurrence.

Building on the untold story of LODD survivors, it reveals how family members must live with the consequences of a firefighter death and provides a focus on the need for firefighters and officers to change fundamental attitudes and behaviors in order to prevent line of duty deaths. The central theme promotes the courage to do the right thing in order to protect yourself and other firefighters and ensure that "Everyone Goes Home" at the end of the day. For more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Everyone Goes Home

Program(r) or the Courage to Be Safe(SM) Training Course visit www.EveryoneGoesHome.com

Presented by:

Everyone Goes Home(r) Region IV Advocate Danny Kistner and Oklahoma State Advocate Jake Rhoades For more information or to register for these courses contact Jake Rhoades at 405-762-1227 or E-mail, rhoades-j@sbcglobal.net.

Jake Rhoades - Training Officer

Stillwater Fire Department
1510 S. Main
Stillwater Ok. 74074
Ph: 405-747-0644 or 405-742-8308

New CSB Safety Video, "Half an Hour to Tragedy," Highlights Training Needs for Propane Emergencies
CSB Safety Video - Half an Hour to Tragedy

October 9, 2008 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new 23-minute safety video, "Half an Hour to Tragedy," based on the deadly propane gas explosion at the Little General convenience store in Ghent, West Virginia, in January 2007.

The CSB's final written report on the tragedy, which killed two emergency responders and two propane technicians, was approved at a public meeting in Beckley, West Virginia, on September 25. The title of the video refers to the nearly thirty minutes that elapsed between the beginning of the propane release and the moment of the explosion. During that period, no evacuation occurred, and volunteer firefighters and others entered the flammable propane cloud.

The new video can be viewed on the CSB's video site, safetyvideos.gov, as well as the agency's YouTube channel, youtube.com/uscsb. Free DVD copies will become available within the next several weeks and can be pre-ordered by clicking on "Request DVD" on the Board's website, CSB.gov.

Norman Firefighters Demonstrate New Jersey Company's Bio-Friendly Fire Suppressant Material
(The Daily Oklahoman)

August 29, 2008 - The ultimate fire extinguisher may be coming to Oklahoma. (Fire Suppressant Demonstration...)

The president of a New Jersey company that manufactures a fire suppression material called Cold Fire said Thursday he is considering Oklahoma City and Lawton as a site for a manufacturing plant.

He said Cold Fire is a chemical suppressant engineered to extinguish fire rapidly without harming the environment. "It would absolutely be good for our company to be this centrally located,” said Raymond Giessler, president of RDR Technologies.

Giessler and partners Randy Sellers and Doug Stafford orchestrated a fiery demonstration Thursday at the Norman Fire Department's north side training center. About 30 firefighters from across the state watched as Stafford ignited stacked tires, crude oil, bits of magnesium, a spray of jet fuel and an ethanol spill. He extinguished each blaze within seconds using various sized canisters of Cold Fire. "It's impressive, very, very impressive,” Norman Assistant Fire Chief Grant Deason said. "I've been in fire service for 24 years and I haven't seen anything like it.”

Fighting fire and heat Cold Fire is a plant-based product that pulls heat out of a fire and encapsulates the fuel source to stop it from burning, Stafford said. "It has amazing cooling properties,” he said. He demonstrated what he meant by setting fire to particles of magnesium, which burns at about 5,600 degrees. Stafford extinguished the fire and within seconds comfortably handled the burnt remains.

Stafford said the company is working with the U.S. military on ways Cold Fire can be used to help soldiers in Iraq.
Because it is concentrated, it is cost effective, Stafford said. "And it's green. It's so green you can drink it or bathe in it if you want to.”

Giessler said he plans to stage more demonstrations around the state over the next month or so. "If the product catches on, Oklahoma is where I would build a plant,” he said.

USFA Releases After-Action Critiques Technical Report
(U.S. Fire Administration)

July 31, 2008 - Emmitsburg, MD. - The United States Fire Administration (USFA) released today, as part of their technical report series, a new report entitled The After Action Critique: Training Through Lessons Learned. This report is designed to assist all fire service members to be able to gather critical preparedness, response, and recovery information from all emergencies; document the lessons learned; and assist with the continuous evolution of firefighter training. (Read More...)
The After Action Critique: Training Through Lessons Learned - PDF, 460 Kb