This book establishes a proper firefighting mindset and promotes maintaining preparedness for the extreme physical and mental demands of firefighting operations in high-rise and standpipe equipped buildings. Armed with firefighting weapons that would be much more appropriate at a car fire, far too many fire departments are on a collision course with disaster and tragedy, should they encounter a serious high-rise fire. Countless false alarms, along with "good luck" while relying on bad habits, have greatly exacerbated the deadly disease of complacency. District Chief McGrail draws from his 25 years of experience, along with the lessons learned from many other fire service professionals, to provide a foundation for success and safety during high-rise and standpipe operations. The words "Everyone Comes Home" are just words. The actions necessary to ensure that everyone does come home are based on a lifelong commitment to excellence, and the consistent application of good fireground habits. This book is a compilation of those good habits and the many lessons learned by a man who is truly passionate about firefighting and firefighter safety and survival.
Among the many valuable topics covered in this book are:
• Standpipe system pressure regulating devices, pressure restricting devices and pressure reducing valves
• Cautious and disciplined elevator use during high-rise operations
• Elevator rescue operations
• Proper engine company suppression selection, including techniques to operate more powerful firefighting weapons with limited manpower
• Air support operations during high-rise emergencies, with or without an internal resource
Dave McGrail is 25-year veteran of the fire service and a District Chief with the Denver Fire Department (DFD). He has a very diverse emergency service background, having previously served as the company commander of DFD Rescue Co. 1. He designed and helped implement the high-rise firefighting and standpipe equipment complement used by the DFD and adopted by many fire departments across the country. He instructs internationally on a wide range of fire service topics, specializing in high-rise firefighting and standpipe operations. For the past ten years he has served as the lead instructor for the engine company (standpipe) hands-on training at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis. He is a member of the FDIC Educational Advisory Board and is an editorial advisor and contributing editor for Fire Engineering Magazine. He has authored countless articles, manuals, and training bulletins for numerous fire service publications and has designed and helped implement safer high-rise operational procedures for the DFD and many other fire departments. Dave holds two associate's degrees in Fire Science Technology and two bachelor's degrees, one in Human Resource Management and the other in Fire Service Administration.
