Classes

PRIMARY SEARCH AHEAD OF THE LINE

Daniel MacAuley (Boston Fire), Matt Paglione

This class will focus on conducting searches quickly and effectively ahead of the line. Whether first due with no engine on scene or experiencing delayed water we must use these vital minutes to search for trapped occupants. From wearing PPE properly to various search techniques, students will build confidence through technique and repetition.

Requirements: FULL PPE, Turnout Gear, SCBA, Spare Bottle Recommended

THE CAN MAN

Jess Rodzinka (Charlottesville Fire)

The water can is the most underutilized tool on the fire apparatus. We carry them on everything: engine; truck companies; medic ambulances. However, we were shown the true capability of the 2.4-gallon water can. This class will go through a brief lecture to discuss the water can and search techniques with can. Then head to the hands-on portion where we will demonstrate the effectiveness of the water can. The students will then proceed to go through several rotations of scenarios to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform in the “Can position.”

Requirements: FULL PPE, Turnout Gear, SCBA, Spare Bottle Recommended

ENGINE COMPANY OPS AT COMMERCIAL BUILDING FIRES

Dan Mishler (Canon City Fire District), Nick White (Hutchinson Fire), Cameron Meier (Sedgwick Co Fire), Fools of Oz Cadre

IMPORTANT: This class takes place in Hutchinson, approximately 45 minutes north of Wichita. Students will need to arrange transportation if staying in Wichita.

This course provides the students with Engine Company skills and tactics for commercial building fires, with two days of extensive hands-on training and scenarios. The class will cover 2 1/2” hose loads, deployments, advancements and flows. Through the lock and saw work for commercial store front doors, forcible entry for the difficult Charlie side doors. Garage door cuts covering both barn door and teepee cuts and top side operations with a flat roof trench cut. The students will have the opportunity to run scenarios in Conex boxes built to replicate commercial business such as a restaurant, bar and laundromat all under live fire.

Requirements: FULL PPE, Turnout Gear, SCBA with (2) Spare Bottles

BREAD AND BUTTER ENGINE & TRUCK

Niemann, Cox, Misek, Forbes, Evans (Wichita Fire), Hall (St Paul Fire), Budd (DC FD), Tegtmeier (FDNY), Mosher, Holt (Olathe Fire)

We are excited to offer a two day Engine and Truck live burn class at Wichita HOT (Choose the Engine or the Truck track during registration, each class runs 2 days.) On the Engine side Efficiency is the name of the game so the class will focus on getting the first line in place and getting down that long hot hallway and knocking out the fire. On the Truck side efficiency is also the key as the essential truck functions have to be completed in concert with the engine crew to ensure the line gets in place and victims are removed. On Saturday following the Keynote the Engine crews will work on hose line stretches and nozzle work, the truck crews will work on forcible entry, pitched roof ventilation and VES style searches. Both Engine and Truck will also receive two sessions of live fire behavior. On day two the goal is to run through nine live burns so each student on Engine and each student on Truck will participate in all positions receiving three fires each. As shown in the video crews will be “dispatched” from quarters, bunk out and respond to the fire location. The Engine crew will stretch on the fire as the Truck crew forces the door for them, heads to the roof to cut the vent and completes a search as the Engine makes the fire room knocking down the fire.

Requirements: FULL PPE, Turnout Gear, SCBA, Spare Bottle Recommended

TRUCK, RESCUE & SQUAD COMPANY OPERATIONS

Scott Kleinschmidt (Wichita Fire)

This hands-on class will cover multiple areas of associated responsibility often tasked to these fire companies. Attendees will move through a series of skill stations that cover Search, Victim/Down FF Removal, Ground ladders, Forcible Entry, Vehicle Stabilization/ Airbag Operations, and Emergency Building Shoring.

Requirements: FULL PPE, Turnout Gear, SCBA

THE WORKING ENGINE & TRUCK

Seth Glaves (Wichita Fire)

IMPORTANT: This class takes place in Derby, approximately 10 minutes south of Wichita. Students will need to arrange transportation if staying in Wichita.

The Working Engine and Truck is a class that allows participants the opportunity to focus on basic skills and perform those skills under live fire. (Choose the Engine or Truck during registration.)  Day 1 will consist of drilling on all the skills listed below.  On day 2 we will implement those skills under live fire.  During these evolutions the engine will be stretching, advancing, working tight hallways and stairs. The truck will be performing a primary search, forcing doors, cutting window bars and boards, and throwing ladders.
Engine Side
Stretching, Flowing, Advancing, Bundles
Truck Side
Search, Forcible Entry, Ladders, Saw Work

Requirements: FULL PPE, Turnout Gear, SCBA, Spare Bottle Recommended

RESIDENTIAL SEARCH AND SIZE-UP

Stephen Runyan (Wichita Fire), Georgia Smoke Diver Cadre

Residential Search and Size Up class is an 8 hour hands on training program that covers the primary functions of the engine and truck company’s roles in sizing up and searching a residential structure. Instructors cover in detail the techniques used to size up a structure for the purpose of searching in the most probable victim locations as well as how to complete a traditional primary oriented search as a member of both the truck and engine crew, vent enter and search, victim removal via ground ladders and the use of thermal imaging in search. Students will receive instruction and demonstrations in techniques as well as participate in walk through drills before performing skills real time. Students will also learn strategies to isolate the fire and control ventilation to ensure a successful search, and the differences in timing of primary, secondary and recovery searches. This class will require students to perform the various searches and remove victims while wearing full firefighter PPE and SCBA while under simulated conditions (possibly live fire if appropriate acquired structure).

Requirements: FULL PPE, Turnout Gear, SCBA, Spare Bottle Recommended

HEAVY EXTRICATION ESSENTIALS

Josh Pearcy (Oklahoma City Fire), Brad Tobin, Cary Provence, Luke Gregory

This course builds upon basic auto extrication techniques. This course focuses on stabilizing, lifting, and extricating with heavy vehicles like buses, semi-tractor trailers, dump trucks, and other various heavy equipment. Students will go through a variety of scenarios under the guidance of an Instructor on sizing-up, stabilizing, and lifting heavy vehicles in rescue scenarios.

Requirements: Turnout Gear or Extrication Gear, Gloves, Helmet, Eye Protection

FIREGROUND STRATEGY – COMMANDING THE FIREGROUND

John Turner (Derby Fire, Wichita Fire Ret.)

This dynamic, interactive course is designed for all levels, from small volunteer to metro departments.  It goes beyond the mechanics of using the command system, diving deep into the decision -making process at the command post and the critical role of the incident commander.  Learn how to formulate effective strategies, know when to adapt, and how to respond to a Mayday.  Finally, prepare for what happens after the fire with guidance on handling media interviews.  This course if full of nuggets to sharpen you command skills and build confidence in making life-saving decision on the fireground.