Congratulations to the On Scene Training instructors who presented classes at the recently completed Fire Department Instructor's Conference (FDIC International 2015). The following is a list of instructors and the classes presented:
Aaron Heller - Big Box Store Firefighting Strategies and Tactics
Bill Hopson - Drill Ground Instructor Academy
Mike Ciampo - Truck Company Essentials / Ladder Operations
Carl Haddon - Understanding New Vehicle Technology Rescue Challenges
Ray Mc Cormack - Urban Firefighting Essentials
Eric Hankins - First Due Engineer
Art Bloomer - Special Rescue Operations for the Small Department
All of these instructors classes were very well attended and received. It was a great conference this year and we are happy with the survey results from the FDIC conference.
- 31,468 attendees from over 55 countries around the world
- 95% of attendees stated they will most likely attend FDIC Int'l 2016
- 94% of attendees rated the quality of exhibiting companies as good to excellent
- 97.7% of attendees rated the registration fee as fair to excellent for the value and benefit of the event
On Scene Training instructors enjoy sharing their knowledge in class and especially like networking and brotherhood outside the classroom!
Join us for the Berks County H.O.T. Fire Weekend October 23 - 25, 2015
Berks County Fire Weekend is a training event for firefighters in departments in Berks and throughout the Northeast. Instructed by On Scene Training Associates, LLC, it is a great weekend of learning through seminars and Hands-On live fire evolutions at the Berks County Fire Training Center.
Detailed information on this event:
- Berks County Fire Weekend 2015 Lecture - Friday evening
- Berks County Fire Weekend 2015 Extrication - Sunday only
- Berks County Fire Weekend 2015 H.O.T. Classes - Saturday and Sunday
We have arranged for a block of rooms at the Crowne Plaza Reading hotel with a discounted rate for you!
Group Name: Berks Fire Training Weekend- Block Code: BRF
- Available dates: Oct. 22-26, 2015
- Daily Rate: $105+tax- room & tax only
- Cutoff / Release Date: Sept. 22, 2015
For more information regarding your company's or individual involvement with this years Fire Weekend, please contact :
Aaron Heller (609) 743-0166
Sponsored by...
On Scene Training instructors will be presenters again at the 3rd Annual Lowcountry Fire & EMS weekend in Walterboro, South Carolina from November 6-8, 2015.
- The training opportunities cover a wide range of job functions for which modern day Fire & EMS agencies are responsible including H.O.T. classes for EMS.
- Attendees from chief officers to firefighters and first responders to paramedics will find training opportunities during this weekend training.
- The course offerings and on-line registration will be available on June 1st, 2015.
Cutting Edge Training Programs Now Availablein Partnership with On Scene Training Associates!
Fireblast Global, the leading supplier of Advanced Live Fire Training Simulators, is proud to announce the offering of Advanced Train-the-Trainer Programs in partnership with On Scene Training Associates! A variety of up-to-date and cutting edge training courses and consulting services are available.
Mention offer code FDIC2014 and receive a special discount on your next training program!
For nearly two decades, our Fireblast has specialized in the design and production of fire training equipment for the Municipal, Civil Aviation, Institutional, Civil Defense, Oil and Gas, and Industrial sectors.
Attending FDIC? Visit Fireblast Inside at 4657 / Outside at South St. 14090 to discuss your needs!
Our course catalogue includes:
- Auto Extrication
- Commercial
- Company Drills
- EMS
- Engine Company Ops
- Firefighter Survival
- Rescue
- Instructor Development
- NFPA 1403 - How to conduct live burn training according to NFPA 1403 standards
- Truck Company Ops
- Custom Programs - Contact us to discuss your department's needs
Tony E Correia (On Scene Training Instructor) most recent article is entitled "Firefighting Risk, What Does It Mean To You?" The following is an excerpt from this article.
Firefighting risk: what does it mean to you?
Quite a few firefighters are aggravated and downright disgusted about overzealous “Safety Sissies” out there softening the fire service.I get it. When is enough, enough? It’s hard enough to do our job these days on the fireground with faster burning fuels and lightweight construction. How much more do they want to weigh us down with these overbearing safety restrictions? We’ve been doing the job for 10, 15, 20, 25 years and guess what, we’re still here!
We train regularly and learn from surviving each fire – so just leave us alone and let us do our $#@& jobs without coddling us. We know, “EVERYONE GOES HOME.”
So with that said, what is the risk to you and what is your personal acceptable level of risk?
I’m sure most of you have no intention of getting harmed or killed on the fireground, which I interpret as some level of risk aversion. What I and others are trying to figure out; and share with the fire service is how far are you willing to go to not be harmed or killed? “Let’s have this discussion so once and for all we can get the safety-nuts off our backs and let us do our job as god intended it to be done.”
Read full article here
Aaron Heller joins Fire Engineering periodically for their Humpday Hangouts covering different topics. His most recent Humpday Hangout featured hosts Steve Pegram and Aaron Heller talk training with E.J. Moscaro. They discuss training the younger generation of firefighters, mentorship and the role of veteran firefighters, drilling on the fundamentals, and more. They also discuss military veterans in the fire service and adapting to the job. Click here to view Humpday Hangout: Training.
Catch other Humpday Hangouts with Aaron Heller here.
The Berks County Fire H.O.T. Weekend - October 18 & 19, 2014
Click to view or download the class information and registration forms.
- The Berks Fire Weekend 2014 Lecture
- The Berks Fire Weekend 2014 Tracks
- The Berks Fire Weekend Student Registration due by September
OSTA is pleased to be sponsoring an evening seminar to support Derrick Redcay. Derrick is a Berks County firefighter injured at a fire who is battling to recover from a severe spinal injury. This 18 year-old warrior and his family could use our help, Come join us for a night of training for a great cause... $25 per person. Please send check made out to the Goodwill Fire Co. and memo Redcay Training and the list of names attending to Goodwill Fire Co. of Hyde Park Co. 10. 115 Madison Ave. Reading Pa. 19605 by July 20, 2014.
July 29, 2014 starting at 19:00Crown Plaza Wyomissing$25.00 per personAll funds go to Derrick Redcay
Aaron Heller from On Scene Training Associates, LLC will present the Do's and Don'ts of both Engine and Truck ops. We will cover how the companies work in conjunction with each other and how to accomplish Truck ops even if you don't have a truck. We'll discuss stretching, operating and determining line placement while protecting crews who may be performing VES, vertical ventilation or basic search ops. AND MUCH MORE!On Scene Training will be presenting November 1st & 2nd 2014 at Lowcountry Fire & EMS Weekend.
H.O.T Classes
"Hands On Training"
TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS
1 Day (8 hour Course)
0800hrs-1700hrs
Offered Saturday or Sunday
Our Truck / Ladder Company operations courses provide students with a wide array of skills needed to be an effective Truckie on the fireground. Instructors with many years serving in some of the busiest truck companies in the country have developed and present all the tactics and skills necessary to perform laddering, forcible entry, searches, ventilation, and much more.
Note: This is ONE Day H.O.T class.
Students must provide their own PPE and ANSI approved safety glasses or goggles.
We are excited to attend the HARRIBURG FIRE EXPO 2014 this weekend May 16 - May 18, 2014. This show is hosted by the Lancaster County Firemen's Association and will be held at:
Pennsylvania Farm Show & Expo Center in Harrisburg, PA
2301 N Cameron St. Off Rt. I-81
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
We're sharing a booth with Reading Fire Equipment and we will have guys there to talk to you and potential clients all weekend. We at On Scene Training offer a wide variety of premier EMERGENCY RESPONDERS training courses by trainers who have years of "real experience"! Stop by and see us! We are in booths 193-196. We LOVE TO TALK!
BORDENTOWN PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS PROUDLY PRESENTS ON SCENE TRAINING ASSOCIATESTruck Company Duties & Engine Company OpsSaturday, April 26, 2014
0800-0830 SIGN IN / 0900 - 1600 CLASS TIME
RAMADA INN, BORDENTOWN1083 S. Route 206, Bordentown, NJ 08505
COURSE FEE $65.00 per student
FEE Includes: 1 All day class, breakfast and certification
Aaron Heller is an instructor and also owner of On Scene Training Associates, LLC. Aaron Heller began his fire service career in 1984. He is a captain in charge of training for the Hamilton Twp. NJ Fire District #9 where he has served since 1990. Capt. Heller is a NJ Level 2 instructor, fire official, and EMT. He is a past chief of the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company and serves as Treasurer of the Plumsted Township Board of Fire Commissioners. Heller is a senior instructor with the Mercer County Fire Academy under the auspices of the Mercer County Community College. Capt. Heller instructs and has been the keynote presenter at several national, regional, and local training events throughout the United States and abroad. Captain Heller’s writings have been published in Fire Engineering Magazine, Fire & Rescue Magazine, The Fire Department Training Network, and several local publications. Captain Heller was recognized by the County of Ocean and the New Jersey State Assembly for his life-saving efforts in the rescue of an elderly woman from an apartment fire in 2004. Aaron is a founding member of the Jersey F.O.O.L.S chapter of the Fraternal Order Of Leatherhead Society.
Aaron Heller's most recent article written for www.fireengineering.com is entitled Firefighting in Big Box Stores. The following is an excerpt from this article.
As I write this, firefighters are preparing their Class A uniforms and planning a funeral to say goodbye to one of our own, taken from us far too early in another commercial building fire.
Whether you live in a big city, a suburban community, or a rural farm town, big box stores are moving in and making an impact on everything from the economy to traffic woes to the local fire department.
As these commercial hubs evolve, so must our understanding that these are not the bread-and-butter jobs to which many of us are accustomed. Even for the well-staffed and well-equipped fire departments, big box stores present hazards not normally encountered on a regular basis. Knowing this is half the battle. Understanding that the tactics we use on one- and two-family dwellings can't be relied on in this type of fire can prevent tragedy.
It's important to note that this article is not a recap of any highly publicized fires, nor is it an indictment of anyone involved in those incidents. Many reports have been written, studies conducted, and speeches given about those fires. The purpose of this article is to provide a framework for firefighters and fire officers to consider the next time the bells go off for a fire alarm, smoke in the building, or a structure fire at your local big box store.
As with any fire, understanding the building construction is imperative. If we don't know how it's constructed, how will we know how it may react under fire conditions? Furthermore, how can we predict fire and smoke travel? Read full article at fireengineering.com.
Michael Ciampo is an instructor for On Scene Training Associates. Lt. 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. 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 (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com. His video Bread & Butter Portable Ladders DVD is available from Pennwell. His monthly column ON FIRE is on the back page of FIRE ENGINEERING.
Mike Ciampo's most recent article written for www.fireapparatusmagazine.com is entitled Compartment Corner. The following is an excerpt from this article.
Welcome to this addition of “Compartment Corner.” From time to time we’ll feature articles on various types of tool compartments and their layouts. In addition, we’ll present photos and video of these compartments and the tools that are in them on different types of fire apparatus. Hopefully, by reading this column, you’ll be able to design a layout for your needs, find an answer to a mounting issue, requisition another type of tool, or look at the ways others have created solutions or innovations to make their compartments work for them.
Tower Ladder Saw CompartmentOn this Seagrave tower ladder, the left rear compartment is dedicated to the company’s saws. Having all the saws in one centralized area makes it easy for members to know their location in an emergency. The compartment is fitted with a roll out tray at the bottom, a center fixed shelf, and a top transverse shelf. Read full article here.
Carl Haddon is an instructor for On Scene Training Associates. Carl J. Haddon started his fire service career in 1983 in Southern California. Since the early 1980s he has also served as a fire/safety director for numerous racing organizations, including Penske Motorsports, NASCAR, USAC and Mickey Thompson Racing. Carl also does consulting work for several fire service equipment manufacturers.For the past 10 years Carl served as Asst. Chief and Fire Commissioner for North Fork F.D. in Idaho. He presently serves as a S.O.C. Rescue Specialist / Trainer for the State of Idaho, and is assigned to the Salmon (River) Task Force. As a level 2 instructor, Carl has taught fire / rescue programs and done emergency planning across the U.S., China, and the South Pacific. He has been an FDIC instructor since 2012, and is a monthly columnist for Fire Apparatus Magazine (To the Rescue & Rurally Speaking), and is a member of the Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine editorial advisory board
Carl Haddon's most recent article written for www.fireapparatusmagazine.com is entitled Rurally Speaking: Are the Days of Rural Volunteer EMS Personnel Numbered?. The following is an excerpt from this article.
In rural areas of the country, more people die from their illnesses or injuries as a result of no or not enough prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) care, than they do from improper emergency care. Is your state, county, or local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) over EMS making it virtually impossible for your volunteers to get or maintain EMS certification?
Remember when holding certification for EMS meant attending a class for so many weeks, taking a final exam, taking a practical exam, and voila—you got a card? Remember when recertification meant simply maintaining continuing education units (CEUs) or a recertification class? This is no longer the case in many parts of the country. Consequently, the changes and the incessant new hoops to jump through are killing the EMS sector of volunteers across much of rural America. Isn’t recruiting volunteers difficult enough already? Read the full article here
Ray McCormack is an instructor for On Scene Training Associates. He will be presenting a class at the FDIC in Indianapolis, April 7 thru 12, 2014. Ray McCormack joined the FDNY in 1981 and is a lieutenant with Ladder 28 in Harlem. He is the co creator of Urban Firefighter Magazine and on the editorial board at FireEngineering Magazine. He delivered the keynote at the FDIC Fire Department Instructors Conference in 2009 and he is the author of Tactical Safety for Firefighters.
Ray McCormack's most recent article written for www.fireengineering.com is DICERS-VO for Extinguishment. The following is an excerpt from this article.
DICERS is a fire extinguishment model utilizing interior tactics to extinguish fires.
DICERS - VO
- D - Detect - Detect the location of the fire
- I - Isolate - Isolation of the fire area
- C - Confine - Confinement of the fire.
- E - Extinguish - Extinguishment of the fire.
- R - Rescue - Rescue of those effected by the fire and smoke.
- S - Search - Search of the fire area and adjoining spaces.
- V - Ventilation - Ventilation coordinated from within and as needed.
- O - Overhaul - Overhaul of the fire area for hidden extension.
The tactical and strategic components of DICERS should be accomplished in an order that allows for the greatest success of the remaining parts. The six primary action components--Detect, Isolate, Confine, Extinguish, Rescue, and Search--are implemented in conjunction with a fundamental understanding of the importance of an ongoing scene size-up to accomplish our strategic goals.
Your actions based upon the fire's extent and location within the structure, using ventilation discipline and entry air management, all impact our ability to obtain complete extinguishment and save lives.
Read full article here at fireengineering.com
Charleston Fire Department receives True Norths Training Scholarship
True North is pleased to announce the award of the next True North Firefighter Training Scholarship. After careful review of the many applications submitted by departments from across the USA the scholarship was awarded to the City of Charleston Fire Department.The City of Charleston Fire Department consists of 19 fire companies located throughout the city of Charleston, SC. The city of Charleston has experienced tremendous growth, including many large structures such as strip malls and other commercial buildings. The increase of large commercial spaces created new hazards that firefighters need increased training to face. Hazards such as the ones Charleston firefighters faced in the Sofa Super Store Fire on June 18, 2007.
The Charleston Fire Department, nor their fellow firefighters, will ever forget the tragic loss at the Sofa Super Store Fire in which a flashover and structural collapse contributed to the deaths of nine Charleston firefighters. The department is in the process of rebuilding from the tragedy, in addition to facing the challenges presented by large numbers of retiring firefighters, and significant budget cuts.
The True North Training scholarship will provide $6,000 for training to teach tactics and strategies for engaging commercial "Big Box" fires. True North has partnered with On Scene Training Associates to provide the training. To make sure Charleston firefighters get the greatest benefit from the training Aaron Heller with On Scene Training spent two days in Charleston with the CFD training officer and other fire department personnel learning about the department's current training curriculum, the tools & equipment they use, and the community they protect.
The training program was held on April 26 - April 28, 2011 and involved a day of interactive classroom education and two days of hand-on skills training. This course will be a great addition to the Charleston Fire Department's training curriculum and will assist them in bringing a unique and innovative program to all of the CFD firefighters. It is always a thrill to know that we have the opportunity to bring realistic hands-on training to a department who has endured so much, says Aaron Heller from On Scene Training.
Click here for more information and to apply for the True North Firefighter Training Scholarship.
