There's more to fighting fires than water and ladders. Modern firefighters are responsible for a wide spectrum of strategies, tactics, skills and technologies. Our weekly radio show, "Homeland Security Inside and Out," interviewed College Station firefighters to better understand their range of responsibilities in the 21st century.
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Interviews with firefighters in College Station, Texas
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1. The nuts and bolts of firefighting in a medium-size city
Chief R.B Alley of the College Station Fire Department (Texas) has worked in fire service for 31 years. He joined the Virginia Beach (Va.) Fire Department as a firefighter in April 1977 and served as a fire inspector, company officer, battalion chief, chief of training, and district chief. This is the first in an eight-part series of interviews with College Station firefighters.
Hear It Now (May 20, 2008)
2. What is it like for a firefighter in the heart of a blazing structure?
Fighting a home fire is nothing like what we see in motion pictures, says Lt. Bobbie Rogers of the College Station (Texas) Fire Department . In this interview, he discusses the realities of walking into a blazing structure and combatting an out-of-control fire.
Hear It Now (May 27, 2008)
3.The challenges of fighting aircraft fires
Fighting a fire in an aircraft poses a different set of challenges than fighting a structure fire, says Jim Mack, an aircraft rescue firefighter with the College Station Fire Department. It calls for different training and equipment. "You're really not out there to put the fire out," he says. "What you are trying to do is protect an egress for the passengers of the plane."
Hear It Now (June 3, 2008)
4. Working as an emergency medical technician with a city fire department
An emergency medical technician for a fire department has to be ready to deal with a wide range of situations and injuries, says Mike Armstrong, an emergency medical technician, with the College Station (Texas) Fire Department. From college students to senior citizens, from car accidents to heart attacks, an EMT encounters all sorts of people caught in all sorts of emergencies that go well beyond structure fires.
Hear It Now (June 10, 2008)
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5. What is the job of the ladder truck in fighting a structure fire?
The ladder truck is a one-stop shop for equipment and expertise in rescuing victims and putting out fires in high rise buildings, says Captain Greg Rodgers of the College Station (Texas) Fire Department.
Hear It Now (June 17, 2008)
6. How international standards for fire safety are applied at the city level
International standards for fire and life safety codes change with new needs and knowledge. In this interview, Fire Marshal Eric Hurt of the College Station (Texas) Fire Department explains how these codes are applied and enforced at the local level.
Hear It Now (June 24, 2008)
7. Protecting communities from arsonists
Arson investigators are more than firefighters; they are also peace officers. And that calls for extra training as well as extra commitment. In this interview, arson investigator and deputy fire marshal Steve Smith of the College Station (Texas) Fire Department talks about the challenges of his work.
Hear It Now (July 1, 2008)
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