In our continued effort to help identify and solve FIREFIGHTING problems with “real world” solutions, we now have a basic, easy to follow and printable “WEEKLY FIRE DRILL” for use at your Fire Department.
Unfortunately, many FD’s have little to no regular FIRE related training-this might help “jump start” that process. These training scenarios will be provided to help make us think about “what if” in our communities.
The goal is to be asking yourself “what would we do if this happened at our FD – how would we handle this event – how does our policy, procedure, protocol, training, rules, orders etc… aply to this scenario… what would be our turnout, our staffing our equipment response?” And then maybe even get your crew OUT of their recliners and do a related street drill on that specific subject.
Our lawyer advises us not to recommend a course of action or to tell you what to do because some numbskulled moron will do it “their” way, screw it up all to hell, and then come back with some weasel shyster screaming “but www.FirefighterCloseCalls.com told me to do it this way.” Duh. We are not telling you how to do anything-or to do anything. What we are doing is offering ideas that have worked for other FD’s and their crews over the years. We are trying to get all of “us” to think “what if.”
Please use these ‘WEEKLY FIRE DRILLS” as a guide where you can sit down as a group in your firehouse and think these things through in advance by using the rules and guidelines of your specific department, in your specific state, with your specific training standards, following your FD’s chain of command and then apply’ em. And don’t worry-these will be related to FIRE & RESCUE “bread and butter” daily responses. No “Weapons of Mass Destruction” or “Terrorism” training info here…we are of the opinion that we all need to focus on the “daily” stuff first such as structural firefighting, auto accidents, wildland and related daily responses… We are focused on THE BASICS. THAT’S where we have the most RISK to get hurt… or worse.
At www.FirefighterCloseCalls.com, not only do we “whine and bitch” about the stuff that gets us hurt (or worse) but we also TRY to provide some “real world” ideas and solutions to the excuses. TRAINING continues to be one of the most common neglected areas requiring information, assistance and support. These “Weekly FIRE Drills” can help. The next time you hear… “But what should we drill on?” YOU will have a few solutions and ideas to answer the question.
Reminder: When considering these, be sure to follow your FD’s chain of command, SOP’s, SOG’s and protocols.
A: WEEKLY FIRE DRILLS INTRO SHEET
NOTE: The following drills are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. (Left-click on the drill’s name to open with Acrobat, or right-click and choose “Save Target As…” to save.)
Forest Reeder began his fire service career in 1978 and retired as Fire Chief of the Tinley Park (IL) Fire Department in 2021. He has worked extensively in the areas of instruction, firefighter safety, and officer development and earned his Master of Science degree in Public Safety Administration in 2004. He is the author of Fire Department Incident Safety Officer 4th edition (2025) and author of Fire Service Instructor Principles and Practices now in its 3rd edition. Forest presents nationally on fire service leadership, safety, and instructor development. He was inducted into the Moraine Valley Community College Alumni Hall of Fame in 2020 and awarded the Distinguished Alumnus award in 2021. In 2008, he received the ISFSI George Post Instructor of the Year, considered to be the highest recognition for fire service instructors in the nation.
QUESTIONS on the WEEKLY FIRE DRILL? www.FirefighterCloseCalls.com members can E-Mail Forest directly at [email protected].
Notification
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