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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