Fire Prevention Leaders Honored in Malawi

Africa Fire Mission is proud to recognize outstanding leaders who are strengthening fire prevention efforts across Malawi.

During this year's firefighter training program in Malawi, Patrick Lugopozo of Blantyre Fire Brigade received Africa Fire Mission's Fire Prevention Award in recognition of his exceptional commitment to protecting lives through public education and community engagement. The Zomba Fire Brigade was also honored for its leadership and dedication to advancing fire prevention within its community.

While firefighters are often recognized for the emergencies they respond to, these awards celebrate something equally important—the work that prevents emergencies from happening in the first place.

Across Africa, fires continue to claim lives, destroy homes, and disrupt communities. Many of these incidents can be prevented through simple safety practices, public education, safer building design, and stronger community awareness. Fire prevention is one of the most effective investments a community can make to protect its people.

Patrick Lugopozo receiving the 2026 Malawi Fire Prevention Award.

Patrick Lugopozo has proven to be a fire prevention leader who strives to make a difference in Africa. A motivated firefighter and fire safety advocate, Patrick reached over 21,000 individuals for fire prevention lessons. He continues to work in fire prevention by leading outreach and working to translate fire safety curriculum to Chichewa!

Members of Zomba’s fire service with the 2026 Malawi Fire Prevention Award.

Zomba Fire Brigade continues to serve its community through a strong commitment to fire prevention, public safety, and hands-on education. Their work reflects a true team effort across Zomba, with firefighters, schools, families, and community members working together to raise awareness and share practical fire safety knowledge. By taking the time to teach prevention strategies and build relationships throughout the community, the brigade is helping residents better understand how to reduce risks, respond appropriately in emergencies, and protect one another.

Nancy Moore, AFM’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, wrote about these award winners: “Every fire that is prevented represents a family that stays together, a home that remains standing, and a community that is stronger because of it. Fire prevention and safety strategies are one of the most powerful ways we can reduce the devastating impact of fire disasters across Africa. We are honored to recognize leaders like Patrick Lugopozo and the Zomba Fire Brigade who are helping build a culture of prevention that will save lives for generations to come."

— Nancy Moore, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Africa Fire Mission

These awards reflect Africa Fire Mission's ongoing commitment to building sustainable fire service capacity through training, empowerment, support, and encouragement. As firefighters return to their communities equipped with new knowledge and renewed purpose, they become ambassadors for fire safety—helping families, schools, businesses, and neighborhoods reduce fire risk before tragedy strikes.

Congratulations to Patrick Lugopozo, the Blantyre Fire Brigade, and the members of the Zomba Fire Brigade. Your leadership demonstrates that preventing fires is just as important as fighting them, and your commitment is making Malawi safer one community at a time.

Interested in supporting our prevention efforts? Your donation toward fire prevention will save lives and property! Donate today!

Successes from Malawi, June 2026

In June 2026, the Africa Fire Mission team travelled to Malawi to lead a week of training with firefighters across the country! We also launch our fire prevention awards in Malawi where AFM recognized Patrick Lugopozo (Blantyre Fire Brigade) and Zomba Fire Brigade with Fire Prevention Awards.

During the training we were privileged to collaborate with municipal firefighters from Blantyre, Lilongwe, Kasungu, Mzuzu and Lilongwe. Additionally, we were able to train firefighters from Kenya Defense Force, Malawi Civil Aviation - Kamuzu International Airport. Here’s what some of them said:

“I’m very grateful for the trainings which you provided to us. I am encouraged, motivated and mentored. May the good Lord bless you and have a long life- Amen!”

“Keep on visiting us, we are learning more and improving our profession; keep sharing training with the malawi fire brigades so that we can improve our standard of services.”

“Training was awesome because I have learned to tips and procedures to use to deal with [fire]. Personal confidence and courage as well.”

This year’s firefighter training mission in Malawi focused on research-based fire service education designed to strengthen both technical knowledge and practical firefighting skills. The program emphasized a better understanding of fire spread, a more technical approach to suppression tactics, and improved hose line mechanics. Using materials from Kindling and UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute, participants were introduced to training programs on fires in informal settlements and water mapping techniques. Both topics were grounded in scientific research and offered practical recommendations to help improve firefighting capabilities in communities where resources, water supply, and infrastructure may be limited.

Fires in informal settlements present significant hazards because of close building spacing, combustible construction materials, limited access, and the potential for rapid fire spread. These conditions can lead to large-scale property loss and create serious risks for both residents and responding firefighters. Based on research conducted using structures mmade from local materials, firefighters learned how to identify different types of building construction and how fire behavior changes depending on the materials used to construct shelters. With this knowledge, firefighters are better prepared to anticipate how a fire may grow, choose safer and more effective attack strategies, and take action to prevent extension to nearby homes and structures.

Water mapping techniques were also taught to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water application during fire suppression. Many fire brigades operate with limited water capacity on their fire engines and face challenges accessing functioning fire hydrants. By learning to strategically apply available water, firefighters can make better use of their limited water supply. These techniques help fire brigades stretch available resources, improve suppression outcomes, and increase overall operational efficiency when responding to fires in their communities.

Collaborating with the Fire Services in Malawi since 2017 we’ve seen growth and development - including the start of a new fire brigade in Kasungu; additional fire apparatus in Blantyre and a new collaborative public-private partnership between Mzuzu Fire Brigade and the Reserve Bank of Malawi and plans for more firefighters to be hired in Lilongwe. We look forward to continuing to partner with Malawi’s fire service as they work to reduce loss of lives and property in Malawi!

Get involved! Our next training in Malawi is scheduled to take place JUNE 14-26, 2027. Learn more and sign up today!

Safe Schools Save Lives: Africa Fire Mission Calls for Stronger School Fire Safety and Preparedness Across Kenya

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, June 8, 2026

Nairobi, Kenya – June 2026

Africa Fire Mission (AFM) is calling on schools, communities, government leaders, and fire brigades across Kenya to strengthen fire safety education and emergency preparedness following recent school fire incidents that have resulted in the loss of young lives and impacted communities across the country.

Recent tragedies serve as a reminder that fire prevention, preparedness, and effective emergency response must remain priorities for every educational institution. While firefighters play a critical role in responding to emergencies, the greatest opportunity to save lives comes before a fire ever starts.

“Every child deserves to learn in a safe environment,” said Nancy Moore, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Africa Fire Mission. “Schools, fire brigades, government agencies, parents, and community leaders each contribute to creating safer environments for children. By combining strong building safety practices, fire prevention education, and regular preparedness exercises, we can reduce risk and help prevent future tragedies.”

For more than a decade, Africa Fire Mission has partnered with firefighters, educators, community organizations, and emergency responders throughout Kenya to promote fire prevention education and improve community safety. Through school outreach initiatives, firefighter training programs, and community fire safety education, AFM has helped thousands of students, teachers, and community members gain practical skills to prevent fires and respond safely during emergencies.

The Role of Fire Brigades in School Preparedness

Local fire brigades offer valuable expertise that extends far beyond emergency response. Firefighters can assist schools by:

• Conducting fire safety inspections and identifying hazards

• Reviewing evacuation plans and emergency procedures

• Participating in fire drills and evacuation exercises

• Training teachers, staff, and student leaders

• Providing fire prevention education and demonstrations

• Recommending improvements to building safety and emergency access

Strong partnerships between schools and local fire brigades help create a culture of preparedness and ensure that schools are better equipped to respond effectively during emergencies.

Safe Buildings Save Lives

Fire safety begins long before an emergency occurs. AFM encourages school administrators, education officials, and facility managers to regularly evaluate school buildings to ensure critical life safety features are functioning properly and accessible when needed.

Key considerations include:

• Dormitory and classroom doors that can be easily opened during an emergency and swing outward in the direction of evacuation

• Emergency exits that remain unlocked and unobstructed whenever buildings are occupied

• Windows that can be opened or used as emergency escape points where appropriate

• Clearly marked exit routes and assembly areas

• Functional fire extinguishers and fire detection systems

• Safe electrical installations and routine inspections to identify potential hazards

• Adequate supervision and emergency procedures for boarding facilities, especially during nighttime hours

Many school fire tragedies around the world have demonstrated that blocked exits, locked doors, overcrowding, and delayed evacuation can significantly increase the risk of injury and loss of life. Creating safe buildings and regularly practicing evacuation procedures helps ensure that students and staff can respond quickly and safely when emergencies occur.

Fire Prevention Education Matters

“When a fire occurs in a school, seconds matter,” said Jose Ngunjiri, Fire Safety Officer for Africa Fire Mission. “Every student should know at least two ways out of a building, every teacher should know the evacuation plan, and every school should regularly practice emergency drills. Firefighters can respond quickly, but preparation before an emergency is what saves the most lives.”

Ngunjiri added, “Simple measures such as regular fire drills, clear evacuation routes, accessible emergency exits, and strong partnerships with local fire brigades can make a significant difference when an emergency occurs.”

AFM encourages schools throughout Kenya to establish or strengthen fire safety programs that include regular fire drills, staff training, student education, emergency planning, and ongoing collaboration with local emergency responders.

As Kenya continues to grow and develop, investments in fire prevention education and preparedness represent one of the most effective ways to protect students, educators, and communities. Through collaboration between schools, fire brigades, government agencies, and community organizations, meaningful progress can be made toward preventing future tragedies.

About Africa Fire Mission

Africa Fire Mission is committed to building and increasing the sustainable capacity of the fire services across Africa through training, empowerment, support, and encouragement. Since 2012, AFM has partnered with firefighters, emergency responders, educators, and community organizations to strengthen fire prevention, preparedness, and emergency response capacity across Africa.

Through its Fire Safety Officer program, school fire prevention initiatives, firefighter training programs, and community outreach activities, Africa Fire Mission works alongside local partners to create safer communities and reduce the impact of fire-related emergencies.

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Media Contact: Africa Fire Mission

José Njuki-Imwe Ngunjiri

Fire Safety Officer

Jose@africafiremission.org

+1 513 620 4236

Nancy L. Moore

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Africa Fire Mission

nancy@africafiremission.org

www.africafiremission.org

What Every Firefighter Should Know About the 2025 AHA CPR & ECC Updates

by Africa Fire Mission Training Team, Utilizing AI Technology

Firefighters are often the first to respond to life-threatening emergencies, whether it’s a cardiac arrest, choking incident, trauma, or another sudden crisis. In 2025, the American Heart Association (AHA) released its latest comprehensive update to the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Guidelines, and these changes matter for every member of the African firefighter community.

In a recent Weekly Virtual Firefighter Training, AFM instructor and EMS expert Eric Saunders focused on translating these guideline updates into practical, lifesaving actions that you can apply in the field. Watch the training for strategies you can apply, wherever you’re training or responding.

Watch this Weekly Virtual Firefighter Training for updates on CPR/BLS Guidelines

What’s New in the 2025 AHA Guidelines

Every five years, the AHA reviews the latest science to update its guidance for CPR and emergency use. One update unifies the chain of survival for adults and children into one streamlined model. Another clearly recommends 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts if a conscious adult or child is choking, while rescuers should alternate between 5 back blows and 5 heel of hand chest thrusts for infants. Read more about the updates here.

 Why These Updates Matter for Firefighters

Whether you are stationed at an urban firehouse or volunteering in a rural brigade, cardiac emergencies, choking incidents, and sudden collapses are not uncommon. Updated global science means:

·      Faster, more effective responses

·      Increased survival chances for victims

·      More confidence in training and real-world performance

Firefighters are not just fire suppressors, they are lifesavers in every sense. Staying up-to-date with global standards ensures that the care you provide is backed by the best available evidence.

Want to deepen your lifesaving skills and stay current with international resuscitation science? Use these opportunities from AFM to strengthen your skills:

·      Join our Weekly Virtual Trainings for African Firefighters

·      Subscribe to AFM’s YouTube Channel

·      Access our Resources and Training Materials

Stay safe, stay prepared, and keep training!

Shallow Water Blackouts: A Hidden Risk for Firefighters

by James Nyadwe

Shallow water blackouts (SWB) pose a challenging risk to firefighters and first responders in aquatic emergencies. A SWB is a sudden loss of consciousness underwater due to oxygen deprivation, often after hyperventilation or prolonged breath-holding. Hyperventilation lowers carbon dioxide, delaying the urge to breathe and increasing risk. Consider the following risk factors, warning signs, and prevention strategies to ensure a safe response to aquatic emergencies.

Risk Factors

SWBs occur during competitive swimming, underwater training drills, and rescue simulations. Firefighters are at risk during aquatic training, even in shallow pools or tanks. They can happen silently and quickly, with no struggle or warning. Drowning occurs within minutes if not rescued. SWB-related incidents can endanger rescuers who respond unprepared.

Warning Signs

The following warning signs can alert you to a potential SWB:

• Unusual breath-holding, like those in a competition

• Dizziness or confusion during underwater drills

• Sudden stillness underwater

Prevention Strategies

It is possible to prevent SWBs. You should never train or respond alone in water. Avoid hyperventilation before breath-holding, and enforce strict safety protocols during aquatic drills. Educate crews about SWBs and rehearse rescue responses.

Real-World Incident Example: Training Incident

Underwater training or exercise can be a valuable way to strengthen your body and skills, but it’s important to stay safe and be vigilant for SWBs.

During a firefighter training session, a strong swimmer participated in an underwater endurance drill. After hyperventilating to extend breath-hold time, the individual lost consciousness without warning and began to drown silently. The absence of immediate supervision delayed rescue, resulting in a critical incident. This case led the fire department to implement strict “no solo underwater training” rules and mandatory spotters, which significantly reduced future shallow water blackout incidents among trainees.

Examples like this illustrate the caution that should be used during aquatic rescue, even if it is simply a training drill. Utilize the prevention strategies, consider the risk factors, and be vigilant for warning signs to avoid shallow water blackouts.

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James Nyadwe is a Water Survival/Safety Expert and Trainer, Open Water Scuba Diver, and a Fire Advocate. James is passionate about sharing knowledge on safety issues on land and water that impact first responders. Additionally, James has served as an instructor for AFM’s virtual firefighter training.

Burn Care Resources

Resources from Kristina Stiles

Saving Lives is Not Enough Report - A casualty-centred proposal identifying how Fire and Rescue Services can improve pre-hospital care and quality of life outcomes for burn survivors.

The Family Oops and Burns First Aid Book - A children's book created to support children and their families learning about burns prevention and first aid principles together. The book describes an accident prone family who are not burns aware, who have to go to school to learn about burn safety and first aid within the home. This book is a recommended reading for all nursery school teachers.

20 Minutes of Cool Running Water - Information on how and why to treat burns with cool running water for 20 minutes.

Burn Scar - Burn scars often form when deep skin layers are damaged and healing takes over three weeks. Discover why scarring is common, what treatments can reduce it, and why complete removal isn't possible.

Gas Cylinder Care

Gas cylinder care is a vital topic in communities that rely on these devices for cooking or other purposes. AFM’s staff team in Kenya, including Fire Safety Officer José Ngunjiri and Fire Safety Advocate Errol Sianga, regularly perform gas cylinder safety lessons in local communities. Now, you can access an official, professional recording of this training on our YouTube page! Whether you are a community member that relies on gas cylinders or you are a fire prevention instructor looking to further your understanding on the topic, please access the video below and watch the full lesson to help prevent deadly fires or explosions from gas cylinders.

Watch this training on Gas Cylinder Care and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more updates and resources.

Gas Cylinder Care Tips

Before using a gas cylinder, there are two steps you should always keep in mind:

1. Check the quality of your regulator. It needs to as clean as possible.

2. Take time connecting the regulator. Check to see if it is leaking or if there is any visible damage.

If a gas cylinder catches fire and starts to get out of control, remember to never throw your gas cylinder under any circumstances. If there is a fire that is starting to get out of control, take a solid, empty bucket and place it on top of the cylinder to create a vacuum, cutting off the air to the fire. Count slowly to five, then carefully remove the bucket away from you and turn off the cylinder. You can also drape a wet blanket and wrap the fire and cylinder completely. Again, count to five, then open it away from you and turn off the cylinder.

Kindly share this post and the video training with your communities to spread awareness on gas cylinder care.

Situational Awareness

As firefighters, we face numerous visible and hidden threats both on our way to the fireground and after we arrive. It is important for us to develop our situational awareness skills to help us identify the hazards and minimize risks to ourselves and the public. Furthermore, maintaining situational awareness enhances decision-making under pressure and fosters more effective responses in various situations, such as fighting a fire, rescuing a victim, or driving to a fire scene.

The OODA Loop

The OODA Loop, created by Air Force fighter pilot and military strategist John Boyd, is an excellent decision-making framework that consists of four steps: Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act.

- Observe: This step focuses on what is commonly called situational awareness. It involves making and recording observations.

- Orient: Observations are placed in context to understand the overall situation.

- Decide: Take the results of the orientation and observation steps and formulate the optimal course of action.

- Act: Execute on your decision without delay

The OODA loop helps us remain calm and relaxed during stressful situations, reducing tension and stress and improving everyone's ability to perform their tasks. It is also very helpful for preventing tunnel vision, one of the most dangerous pitfalls on the foreground. Tunnel vision occurs when stress and nerves narrow our focus, causing us to concentrate only on what is immediately in front of us. This lack of peripheral awareness can be deadly.

It is important to develop the habit of instinctively using the OODA loop. Practice it around the firehouse and even at minor calls. As you develop your observation skills, learn to use more than your sight. Paying attention to sounds and smells can teach us crucial fire information.

A firefighter checks his surroundings while training with a firehose.

Communication

Another important situational tool is communication. It is critical that we maintain constant communication with our team on the fireground. We need to inform our commanders and officers of our planned actions. For instance, if a window needs to be broken for ventilation, we must communicate this so that team members below can be aware of any falling glass.

Situational awareness is critical for first responders.  We often must make quick decisions in high-pressure, high-stakes environments. By enhancing our situational awareness, we can make more informed decisions that help us stay alert and safe on the fireground.

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Howard A. Cohen was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. He began his firefighting career as a chaplain and retired as the deputy chief. He is currently AFM’s online program content director. He frequently presents for the Wednesday Webinars and contributes to the AFM blog.

An Introduction to the Principles of Emergency First Aid for Firefighters

by Howard Cohen

Not all firefighters are emergency medical technicians or paramedics, but we often serve as the first responders at scenes requiring life-saving first aid. Therefore, it is vital for all firefighters to possess at least a basic understanding of first aid. This short article aims to outline foundational principles for addressing trauma in situations where immediate life-saving medical assistance is needed. This article should not be seen as comprehensive first aid training. Nevertheless, with the basic and limited information provided here, and without any formal training, you may still have the opportunity to save someone’s life.

Scene Survey: The First Task

Size up: Regardless of your level of technical first aid training or medical knowledge, your first task when responding to an incident involving injuries is to gather as much information as possible about the situation. This is achieved through a thorough size up. It is crucial to assess the risks and dangers before rushing in to provide aid. Ask yourself, “What is trying to kill or harm me?” Is it traffic, wildlife, fire, an unstable building, falling objects, or floodwaters? You do not want to become another casualty or cause further harm to the patient.

Number of patients: Once you’ve ensured the scene is safe and stable, it’s time to determine how many individuals are involved in the incident. It’s easy to focus on patients who are crying out in pain and overlook those who are unconscious or not visible. Additionally, it can be tempting to rush to assist a person whose injuries seem more life-threatening than they actually are, such as someone bleeding from a superficial head injury, while another individual nearby has stopped breathing.

Primary Survey:  The Second Task

The primary survey is an assessment of the three essential life-supporting functions: the respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems, often called the ABCDs. Any problems related to these systems present an immediate risk to the patient's life and must be addressed without delay.   

ABCDs: Once the size-up is completed, the scene is safe (or as safe as you can make it), and you have a sense of the number of patients needing aid, initiate a primary survey of the patients by checking the status of the three conditions that represent an immediate threat to life.

Airway: Check to make sure that the mouth and airway are cleared and that air is actually going in and out.

Blood is circulating: Ensure that blood is not spilling out and that it is actively circulating.

Disabled: Check whether the spine is stable and the central nervous system is functioning normally. Due to the limited scope of this article, I will not discuss further injuries related to the head, neck, or spine.

Active Bleeding Control Instructor checks the pulse and applies bandages to a patient.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Basic life support (BLS) is the immediate treatment of one of the three life-threatening emergencies found during your primary survey.  Its purpose is to provide temporary support to keep the patient alive while a secondary survey is conducted and/or until advanced treatment is available.

The simplest way to begin a primary survey is to ask the patient, “How are you?” If he answers, you know that his airway is not obstructed (A), his heart is beating (B & C), and his brain is functioning (D). If the patient does not respond or responds in an unusual way, you will need to look more closely.  

Airway:

Airway problems result from an obstruction to the pharynx or larynx, which can be complete or partial. A complete obstruction is rapidly fatal, but it can be effectively and dramatically treated by clearing the airway. There are various ways an airway can become obstructed, such as vomit, a foreign object, swelling caused by trauma, an irritant, or an allergic reaction. It is imperative that you clear the airway, but you must do so without causing any additional harm to the patient.

Breathing:

A person can have an open airway yet still experience difficulty breathing. This may result from an injury to the brain, spinal cord, or diaphragm. The method for assisting a patient with breathing when more advanced medical care is unavailable is known as positive pressure ventilation or artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth). The inflation rate should be around 12 breaths per minute or one every 5 seconds, with each breath lasting about 1 to 1.5 seconds. Rapid breaths can push air into the stomach, potentially leading to vomiting.

Bleeding & Circulation:

Uninterrupted blood circulation is essential for survival. There are two primary types of disruptions to blood circulation that a first responder can address: cardiac arrest and bleeding. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating. During your primary survey, if you discover that the patient has no pulse, it indicates that her heart has stopped beating, and she is in cardiac arrest. It's important to note that in adverse situations, or if the patient is in shock, finding a pulse can be challenging. The carotid pulse is the strongest and easiest to access; it is located on either side of the larynx in the neck. If there is no carotid pulse, the heart is not beating. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is the only treatment for cardiac arrest. Even with hands-on training, it has limited potential to restore and sustain life.

The second type of disruption to circulation results from significant blood loss. Controlling blood loss is essential as part of BLS. Bleeding can be internal, which is often difficult to identify and stop, or external, though it may not always be obvious. Addressing internal bleeding goes beyond the scope of this article and the capabilities of most first responders in the field. External bleeding is managed by applying direct pressure to the bleeding site with your hand, ideally using a cloth or bandage. This application is not intended to absorb the blood; instead, it provides uniform pressure across the wound. Prepare to maintain direct pressure for ten minutes or more. If the bleeding does not stop, remove the bandage to locate the source of the blood and then reposition your hand.  

There is no easy rule for determining when bleeding is severe. A rule of thumb is that if it looks like a lot of blood, it probably is. However, severe bleeding can be missed if the patient is wearing a lot of clothing or the blood is absorbed into the ground around the patient.

Conclusion:

Firefighters practice safely transporting an injured person.

When developing first aid skills, like all skills a firefighter must master, training and practice are essential. Additionally, reading about the principles and theories that support these skills is important. However, there is no substitute for training and practice.

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For more information, visit the following references:

Africa Fire Mission Active Bleeding Control Resources

The Outward Bound Wilderness First-Aid Handbook; Jeff Isaac & Peter Goth.

The Field Guide of Wilderness & Rescue Medicine; Jim Morrissey & David Johnson.

Opening an Unconscious Patient’s Airway with a Manual Manipulation

Red Cross CPR

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Howard A. Cohen was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. He began his firefighting career as a chaplain and retired as the deputy chief. He is currently AFM’s online program content director. He frequently presents for the Weekly Virtual Firefighter Trainings and contributes to the AFM blog.

Fireground Tactics

by F. R. Montes de Oca

Initial arrival at a fire often poses several simultaneous challenges for the officer to address rapidly. Utilizing the Rule of 3 can help the incident commander to develop a tactical posture. They are:

1.   What do I have?

2.   Where is it going?

3.   What do I need?

The first question (What do I have?) addresses:

The terrain of an incident location or layout of a building can impact the tactics you should use.

• What is the building used for?  Living? Storage? Manufacturing?

• Is it a single or multiple-family dwelling?

• Are there victims? If so, how many? Are they exiting on their own?

• What is the square footage and how many stories?

• Are additional occupants still in the structure who need help to exit?

Similar questions can be asked for a vehicle fire: size (single, multi-vehicle or public transit vehicle. Victims out or entrapped?

The second question (Where is it going?) forces you to think about the possibility of spread:

• Do I have exposures? Is high heat or high winds affecting fire spread?

• Can I ignore the exposures and focus on the primary body of fire?

• Will I need additional resources for fire progression AND exposures?

• Must I focus all resources to rescue occupants?

Focusing on egress pathways for building occupants is imperative. Often-times with limited resources tactics must be focused solely on rescuing or assisting occupants exit the structure.

The third question (What do I need?) is based on what is discovered or decided upon by answering the first two questions. What resources needed implies deciding whether hoselines are applied directly initially or are supply lines needed – or must victim rescue be my first tactic?  

The situation is often complicated by the fire rapidly spreading due to high winds or multiple victims needing rescue. When this occurs, tactics will change quickly from suppression to rescue.

While the tactics may address the initial and additional  challenges, it is important to remain cognizant of additional aspects to ensure an effective fireground operation:

Communications, which is the critical conduit of incident management. All on-scene and responding members must be apprised of the current situation and have a clear understanding of their assignments.

Rehabbing responders operating on scene is one of the most important actions the Incident Commander can ensure occurs. Ensuring that  members take a short break every 15 minutes or so will allow crew viability and increased scene effectiveness.

Incident Safety should be the overarching effort all scene commanders should undertake. Whether on scene at a structure fire, complex vehicular accident or hazardous materials incidents maintaining the safety and well-being of responders is imperative.

If formally assigned Safety Officers are not part of the department, it is advisable to appoint someone on scene whose only function is observing operations to ensure the safety and welfare of all firefighters. Whenever possible, the individual assigned the task should possess a mix of experience and formalized safety training.

At your next emergency incident pose the three questions to assist you in developing effective tactical decisions.

In closing, Incident command truisms that help officers maintain a sharper eye on effective tactical decision-making:

• When a tactic is not working, change the tactic.

• No matter how good your plan is, have a backup plan.

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Frank Montes de Oca served as a firefighter/paramedic for over 38 years attaining positions as Chief of EMS, Training Bureau Commander, and Chief of Department. He remains engaged in managing and developing firefighter safety programs and mentoring leaders.

PFAS and Firefighters in Africa

by Mike Kull

Recently there has been discussion throughout the Fire Service about the presence of and exposure to PFAS for firefighters. PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are a man-made class of thousands of “forever chemicals” that do not break down in the environment, are highly mobile, and can accumulate in the body and cause disease.

Firefighters are exposed to these chemicals several ways:

• Smoke and Soot from Fires

• AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam) Firefighting Foam

• Dust, Dirt and Debris around the Fire Station

• Firefighter Turnout Gear (PPE or Personal Protective Equipment)

There are many ways to try to reduce exposure to these hazardous chemicals. Firefighters should always wear a complete PPE ensemble (Tunic, trousers, boots, gloves, hood, helmet and BA) when exposed to smoke from fires containing any man-made products. This PPE should be properly cleaned after each exposure to smoke and soot. Care should be taken when removing this contaminated gear and firefighters should thoroughly clean and shower themselves after each incident involving smoke and soot. Fire Brigades should evaluate the type and use of AFFF foam. AFFF should not be used for training, exposure should be limited, and everything exposed should be flushed with clean water. Care should be taken while cleaning the Fire Station and equipment to limit exposure to dust and soot from fires.

These are all practices that have been implemented throughout the world to limit exposure to harmful chemicals. Another exposure comes from PPE itself. Research has shown that most firefighter PPE is treated with some of these “forever chemicals.” The equipment is treated with these chemicals to meet standards and requirements for the performance and manufacture of firefighting PPE.  These chemicals may be used to increase resistance to flames and provide waterproofing in the equipment. Firefighters can be exposed to these chemicals through absorption through the skin.

The exposure to these chemicals from firefighting PPE poses a special problem for many firefighters in Africa. In other parts of the world, Fire Brigades are changing policies and procedures and procuring alternate equipment to reduce this exposure. The equipment containing these chemicals is only being used for incidents involving fire. For many African firefighters, turnout gear is worn all the time. Many firefighters do not have uniforms, and the turnout gear is worn as if it were a uniform. Many firefighters don’t have access to alternate forms of PPE that do not contain these chemicals so wearing a different type of PPE is not an option.

Summary:  

• Firefighters need to be aware of the hazard of being exposed to PFAS.  

• Firefighters need to take steps to limit their exposure to these chemicals.  

• Firefighters need to find a balance between reducing exposure to hazards and appropriately serving their communities.  

• Firefighters should explore other options for identifying themselves with uniforms instead of PPE.  

• Firefighters should only wear turnout gear to achieve a specific purpose such as training, responding to emergencies and increasing community sensitization. 

• After wearing turnout gear, firefighters should maintain the highest levels of personal cleanliness and hygiene.

For more information, visit the following pages:

Additional information at these links:

https://www.iaff.org/pfas/ 

https://www.usfa.fema.gov/blog/results-of-2nd-nist-study-on-pfas-in-turnout-gear/ 

https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/TechnicalNotes/NIST.TN.2248.pdf 

https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/TechnicalNotes/NIST.TN.2260.pdf

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Mike began serving as a volunteer with AFM in 2021. After his first trip to Kenya, he committed himself to serving the firefighters in Africa and has been volunteering with AFM ever since, and now works as Programs Director. Mike has worked in all aspects of Public Safety since 1998. He served 17 years as Fire Chief in Valley Township, Pennsylvania and also as a Forest Fire Warden for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He has a background in law enforcement, EMS and the fire service, as well as politics, having served as a local elected official. Mike has a BS in Administration of Justice from the Pennsylvania State University, where he met his wife Jody. They reside in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania with their son Gunther.

Safety Versus Security: Can We Have Both?

by Jerry Bennett

During our fire training and prevention trips, one cannot help but notice the heavy security gates and bars protecting homes and businesses across Africa. Physical security is a necessary part of life regardless of where you live and work. Most of the world has cities and neighborhoods with heavy security measures such as padlocks, deadbolts, and security bars on windows and doors to prevent theft and vandalism, for good reason. Thieves will break in and steal or cause harm. At the same time, as homeowners and firefighters, we know that locks and bars designed to protect us from wrongdoers on the outside may also prevent us from fleeing danger inside our homes, especially fire and smoke. So, we must consider both risks: keeping bad people out whilst being able to escape quickly during a fire or other emergency.

The last fatal fire I responded to before retiring was a twelve-year-old boy. While he was sleeping, a blanket came in contact with a space heater and started a fire in his home. His parents had left for work and locked the children inside using a double-cylinder deadbolt (which requires a key to enter or exit). Unable to escape without the key, the boy hid in a closet and died of smoke inhalation. While double-cylinder deadbolts are less common in American homes, most homes and dormitories I have visited in Africa require a key to exit from the inside when the door is locked, usually unlocking a padlock.

Firefighters train fighting fires with a large wall as an obstacle.

So what can be done? As household leaders, consider your escape plan for your own home. If all windows and doors have security bars, could a modification be made to allow the bars to swing out after unlocking a mechanism with a key? This could be especially important in a two-story home where everyone sleeps upstairs and a fire starts in the kitchen below, preventing exit through normal means. If your home has one or more gates locked with a key, who has access to the keys, and where are they kept? Each family must make these decisions intentionally considering the possibility of fire even when parents are away from home. Consider these issues for other homes and businesses when conducting safety evaluations. Raising these concerns with home and business owners may cause them to devise creative solutions to balance security and safety.

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Jerry Bennett is a retired District Fire Chief from Illinois. He joined the AFM team in 2021 and has participated in several Mission Trips. Today, he is a member of our Board of Directors and assists AFM in planning and training.

Firefighter Physical Fitness

by Howard Cohen

Firefighting is a dangerous and physically demanding job. Firefighters operate in harsh and challenging environments, use heavy, hard-to-handle tools, and wear many kilos of protective gear. We need to keep ourselves in great shape to do our jobs. This means we must care for ourselves through proper nutrition and hydration, physical exercise, and sufficient rest. This is what is minimally required to properly and safely perform our jobs.

If you stop and think about it, what is the one “tool” every firefighter uses at every call? It’s our body. We depend on our bodies for all aspects of firefighting. In this sense, firefighters are like elite athletes. While we may not have to jump, sprint, or throw a ball, we are often required to crawl, drag, or haul awkwardly shaped heavy objects in extreme heat conditions that greatly tax our cardiovascular systems. But there are important differences too. Elite athletes generally perform under optimal conditions. Firefighters respond to calls during the worst weather conditions. Elite athletes typically get a good night’s sleep before their big events. First responders are often woken up multiple times during the night. Elite athletes eat a well-balanced meal with regard to their upcoming sporting event. First responders' meals are often rushed, gobbled on the run, or interrupted by calls. However, the biggest difference is that it is all about winning or losing for elite athletes. What’s on the line for firefighters is often life or death; yours, your fellow firefighters, or a civilian’s.

The good news is that achieving a firefighter's operational level of physical fitness is not hard. However, it does require a commitment to exercise regularly. There are many great ways to hone your fitness level. If you can access YouTube, search for a type of workout that appeals to you. You will discover many free options to choose from.  Ideally, your workouts will include strength training with weights or whatever heavy objects you have available to you and cardiovascular exercises, such as lunges, jumping jacks, running, climbing stairs, or any activity that gets your heart rate up. You don’t need a specific or fancy program to get in good workouts. All you need is to make a personal commitment to move your body and get your heart pumping. Any well-rounded program will benefit you in all aspects of fitness.

A good workout routine for first responders ideally includes four types of exercises.

1) Active movement exercises

2) Strength building

3) HiiT: High Intensity Interval Training

4) Deadlifts

Active movement: Exercises such as Bear Crawls, Mountain Climbers, or Spider Lunges engage nearly every muscle group and build core and cardiovascular strength and agility. Their primary purpose is to improve mobility.

Strength Building (Dumbbells): If you have them, dumbbells are preferable to barbells for first responder strength training because they allow for a greater range of motion and enhance overall muscle stabilization and activation. Dumbbells also help identify and eliminate strength imbalances by forcing the limbs to work unilaterally. If one side is significantly weaker than the other, there's no way to compensate.  They are safer to use if you are working out alone. Finally, there is no limit to how you can use them in your workout.

HiiT: High-Intensity Interval Training: HiiT workouts consist of bursts of intense activity followed by short rest periods. They provide the most benefits in the least amount of time. The advantages of HiiT workouts include burning calories quickly, improving cardiovascular health, and enhancing metabolic function. Additionally, a HiiT workout increases muscle mass and effectively improves overall fitness levels.

Deadlifts: There is a tendency to think that deadlifts are just when you bend over and lift a heavy weight.  In fact, there are many variations of the deadlift. They include squats, lunges, single leg deadlifts, suitcase squats and farmer walks. All are excellent exercises for building stronger Legs, core grip, and lower back strength.

There are no downsides to exercising and being physically fit. Physical fitness has been shown to prevent or treat various chronic health conditions resulting from unhealthy lifestyles, and it even counters certain aspects of the aging process. Studies indicate that regular exercise strengthens the heart and, when combined with a healthy diet, can reduce the risk of cancer and enhance the immune system. Being physically fit also helps lower the risk of injuries that can hinder your ability to work. Sometimes, firefighters overlook that physical fitness involves more than just working out; it also requires taking care of your body through proper nutrition, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and avoiding or limiting harmful substances like alcohol, recreational drugs, or tobacco.

The biggest obstacle to sticking with a fitness plan is boredom. Therefore, it is important for you to find or create a routine that holds your interest. Mix it up too. Don’t do the same workout day after day. Work out with a friend or your other brigade crew members. Make it fun. To the extent your schedule permits, making your fitness program a fixed and regular part of your daily routine is also helpful. Some people like to get their workouts in early in the morning. This way, no matter how the rest of the day unfolds, it’s a good day because you got your workout in. Other people like to work out at the end of the day. This way, they figure they have something to look forward to no matter what kind of day they are having. I get my workout in every morning after having two cups of black tea and reading the headlines in the paper. After my workout, I’m ready for whatever is coming my way.

In conclusion, this article aims to inspire you to find and commit to a personal fitness program that excites and motivates you. Honor your body—after all, it is the home of your holy soul. Now get moving and get your heart pumping!

If you want to learn more about fitness training for first responders, I recommend this article. If you would like to learn more about cancer prevention for firefighters, read this recent AFM blog post.

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Howard A. Cohen was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. He began his firefighting career as a chaplain and retired as the deputy chief. He is currently AFM’s online program content director. He frequently presents for the weekly virtual trainings and contributes to the AFM blog.

Department Standardized Training

by Jeremy Ayers

It is often heard that fire departments operate differently across shifts and stations. This variation arises from differences in managerial styles and the emphasis placed on training. While diverse leadership styles can be beneficial, as they bring unique experiences and perspectives that help tackle various challenges, consistency in certain areas is crucial—particularly in training. Standardized training ensures minimal gaps in capabilities between shifts, fostering operational efficiency, and safety.

In the face of national challenges in recruiting and retaining firefighters, many departments are increasingly relying on overtime. This trend exacerbates capability gaps since different crews may prioritize distinct areas of training. When overtime personnel are assigned to shifts, they often have not trained with the regular crew throughout the year. This creates a significant challenge for company officers, who cannot feasibly address all high-risk, low-frequency scenarios during a single shift with temporary personnel.

Standardized training can help departments work together better.

Training and education are the foundation of the fire service. Therefore, it is imperative for departments to communicate a unified training agenda that ensures all personnel receive consistent, high-quality instruction. To address this need, the Pflugerville Fire Department (Travis County ESD2) has prioritized high-risk, low-frequency training by forming specialized training teams. These teams undergo advanced training throughout the year and deliver that knowledge to the entire department. They achieve this by visiting stations, conducting multi-company scenarios, or providing materials for officers to facilitate training sessions.

These specialized training programs cover essential topics such as vehicle rescue, swift water rescue, technical rescue, and Vent-Enter-Isolate-Search (VEIS). The key benefit of this approach is that all personnel, regardless of shift or station, receive the same foundational training annually. This consistency has led to notable success stories, demonstrating the positive impact of these initiatives on community safety.

One such example occurred late one night around 1:00 a.m., when the department was dispatched to a structure fire with a victim visibly trapped and hanging out of a window. The unit was recognized for its rapid rescue, with it only taking a few minutes from arrival to rescue the victim from a third-floor window without delays.

The truck was staffed with a lieutenant acting as captain, a probationary firefighter, a senior driver, and a relatively new firefighter. Remarkably, half of the crew members were from different shifts or stations. Despite this, they performed cohesively and at a high level, throwing a ladder to the third floor, masking up, and safely removing a victim from the window. This underscores the importance of VEIS training, which equipped all crew members with recent, standardized skills to handle such critical situations. Members were presented with similar training months before the incident occurred that outlined comparable rescue conditions.

Standardized training can help difficult emergency responses, like rescue operations, easier.

From the community’s perspective, firefighters are seen as a unified team ready to address emergencies, regardless of their individual roles or experience levels. For example, the probationary firefighter performed at a high level, and anyone observing from the outside would not have been able to tell he was the newest firefighter because of his prompt critical decision-making. To meet these expectations, firefighters must train rigorously and prepare for high-risk scenarios.

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Jeremy Ayers is an Apparatus Specialist with the Pflugerville Fire Department (Travis County ESD2), where he has proudly served since 2020. Pflugerville Fire Department is a career agency serving approximately 150,000 residents with eight stations and responding to around 14,000 calls annually.

Additionally, he actively contributes to the department’s recruiting, mentorship, peer support, and honor guard team. Jeremy is an advocate for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Jeremy holds a Fire Officer designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and an associate’s degree in Fire Protection Technology from Austin Community College. Jeremy earned his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Texas A&M Commerce and his Master’s degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in Public Administration from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Bush Fires

by Brad Fiore

Just like any other fire, there are two main strategies in fighting bush fires: Direct and indirect. Topography, fuel types, and resources may vary between the US and Africa, but the basic tactics are the same. In a direct attack, we remove either the oxygen or the heat, and in an indirect attack, we remove the fuel.

The best tool we have for fire extinguishment is water. Unfortunately, a lot of times, the fire is in an area that makes it difficult to get water to. Hand tools play a significant role in fighting bush fires. The basic types are cutting, digging, scraping, and smothering tools.

In a direct attack removing the oxygen is accomplished by smothering the fire. We can throw dirt on the burning material or pat small flames out with our tool. I’ve seen fire flappers used to beat the flames of large bushes. I am not familiar with how well this works, but from another point of view, in North America, our flappers are smaller, and we use them on small creeping fires. The technique is to drag the flapper over the burning material, maybe using a slight patting motion. Beating a fire uses a lot of energy in one concentrated area. It also seems that embers are kicked up into the air, which could start a spot fire. Other tools, such as hoes and fire rakes, can all be used to pat out small flames.

Smoke coming from trees can be a sign of a potential bush fire.

When you use water to remove the heat, use it sparingly and wisely. Always walk in line with the fire, spraying water along the fire edge. This will make your water work smarter. Any water that bounces will bounce into the flames ahead. If you stand perpendicular to the fire, the overspray and bounce will fall into the already burned area, wasting that water. It doesn’t take a lot of water to douse the flames, so attaching a low-volume nozzle to your hose will extend your water.

The indirect attack is more labor intensive, but provides a safer environment for the firefighters. The indirect attack is the process of cutting a fire line around the fire. You and your team will be cutting and scraping away the fuel so that when the fire reaches the fire line, there is nothing there to burn.

Tools for this are anything you can use to cut through the ground material and dig down to the soil. Hoes and rakes made for this are great, but a garden hoe that is sharpened will do the trick. That shovel we used before to throw dirt on the fire, hold it parallel to the ground, and you now have a scraping tool. Chainsaws work wonders, but a hand saw, and a pair of loppers will handle small bushes and brush. A hatchet or fire axe can help clear small trees.

Your goal is to get down to mineral soil, and the width of the line needs to be one and one-half the height of the fuels. If you are cutting in grass that is a foot and a half tall, you need to make a line that is 3 feet wide. Always start and end at an anchor point. A road, trail, open dirt area, or body of water. The best practice for cutting the line is to space your crew a few feet apart so that swinging tools do not hit a team member. Each member will take a swipe and move forward along the line. As the team moves, each member is clearing more along the line.

Once the line is cut, and if you have time, you can backburn. This intentionally burns the material between your fire line and the main fire. The main fire will be intense and may make its own weather, causing high winds. Lighting a fire ahead of this will make the fire small and manageable. It will grow as it gets closer to the main fire, but at this point, it is within your control lines.

Anytime you are fighting bush fires, always have escape routes planned and made known by all members fighting the fire.

From my experience teaching a couple of the virtual classes for AFM, I have come to find out that you, like most firefighters, are extremely inventive. With the knowledge all the instructors provide, you find ways to make the resources you do have work. That’s what firefighting is.

Be safe!

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Brad Fiore is a volunteer firefighter of Cottekill Volunteer Fire Company and former Fire Chief. He also has experience as a 911 dispatch supervisor. Brad has served as an instructor for AFM’s virtual firefighter trainings.