Tactical Safety: “Examining the process of firefighting to see if there is a better and safer way to operate”
At the last FDIC Lt. Ray McCormack gave a speech that had an immediate impact on the fire service. To some it was an attack, and to others it was motivating. I for one didnt believe Lt McCormack was advocating unsafe firefighting and would agree his message was saying something much different. I believe he was saying the way to operate the safest is by knowing and studying our craft. To remember how important (even if it seems redundant) hose stretch drills are. Even how basic tool maintenance correlates with how you handle them on the real thing. By treating it as your trade, and attempting to cut off the dangerous thought process that the basics of our job have somehow become less important.
Lt. McCormacks recent articles have been released almost every week since June and really sum up this thought process. Read the articles and take anything and everything that can apply to your own daily operations. Thank You to thehousewatch.com for posting these articles.
- Tactical Safety- Why the Engine Needs To Be Perfect—-UPDATED Feb-19-10
- Tactical Safety- Collateral Damage————————–UPDATED Feb-13-10
- Tactical Safety- Are you ready for the NFL ————— UPDATED Feb-3-10
- Tactical Safety-Hoselines..Treat all stairs equally———UPDATED Jan-18-10
- Tactical Safety- Your two cents ————————————-UPDATED Jan-12-10
- Tactical Safety- Soldiers in a war that never ends ——–UPDATED Dec-15-09
- Tactical Safety- When two lines are better then one——UPDATED Dec-8-09
- Tactical Safety- “Night an day they are always firemen“–UPDATED Nov-30-09
- Tactical Safety- Great Followers Make Good Leaders —-UPDATED Nov-24-09
- Tactical Safety – Shortcutting the Stretch Eventually Stings
- Tactical Safety – CANceling Fire
- Tactical Safety – Understanding Aggressive Interior Attack
- Tactical Safety – SOP’s: Standard Operating Positions
- Tactical Safety – Winning Fires With Water
- Tactical Safety – Attack Supervision: One box that should be filled
- Tactical Safety – Nozzle Technique….
- Tactical Safety – The Engine Company Search
- Tactical Safety – Residential Hose Estimate
- Tactical Safety – Too Much Hose
- Tactical Safety – Tool Placement
- Tactical Safety – The Washdown
- Tactical Safety – Cellar Stairs
- Tactical Safety – The Why Behind Two Floors Below
- Tactical Safety – An Attack Company
- Tactical Safety – Bleeding the Hoseline
- Tactical Safety – Officer to the Fire
- Tactical Safety – Leaving a Guide at the Door
- Tactical Safety – Swinging the Axe
- Tactical Safety – An Area of Refuge
- Tactical Safety – Entry Door Check
Tags: Engine Company, Ray McCormack, Tactical Safety, thehousewatch.com
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IRONSandLADDERS.com 
11/20/2009 at 7:24 am
If you like Ray and his message…..stay tuned. He will be stopping by for a visit real soon.
11/22/2009 at 10:31 am
Thanks for including hose company topics on your site. While I know we’re just a bunch of speed bumps, there are still some engine companies out there that take it seriously.
11/22/2009 at 11:05 am
No problem. There will be plenty more to come, our hopes are to have down and dirty basics along with tricks of the trade for both engine and truck work. I have a great deal of respect for a crew that is dedicated to their trade of hose work. There’s something to be said about a well orchestrated engine company that deploys lines with discipline and thought. Thanks for being a part of this.
11/22/2009 at 10:46 pm
Glad to hear Ray will be stopping by, talk about down and dirty. The truth hurts sometimes but nothing he said was hurtful! Just an eye opener to the “job”! And great Engine work should be recognized! One of the best quotes I have heard time and time again…”as the first line goes, so goes the fire…” meaning if that first line is crap, plan on the rest of the fire following suit. Keep the great ideas comming in guys.
11/25/2009 at 5:10 pm
Ray will be speaking in Colorado Springs on January 6th 2010. Downtown at the Public Library for $50. More info to follow.
03/01/2010 at 10:58 am
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05/12/2010 at 9:09 pm
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08/01/2011 at 1:01 pm
Sorry to bring up an old post, but what happened to this website; thehousewatch.com. I keep finding these articles from this website but everytime I click on a link it say Forbidden you must be logged in to view this page, even when trying to go to the home page. Anybody help me out here?
10/01/2011 at 2:34 pm
Ray McCormack has moved his Tactical Safety to Urban Firefighter Magazine. The Housewatch was formerly run by one of the current editors of Urban Firefighter Magazine. As for the old ones…..well I guess we will all have to wait and hope somebody (Ray) publishes a book with them all. Hope this helps.
11/10/2011 at 3:31 pm
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