air tack management

(l) I love watching fire, it is mesmerizing. (m) That smoke is bad. It is angry smoke. (r) Breathing from the bottom, flashing out the top.

Six or so months ago I had the opportunity to listen to John Taylor, no not the third president of the Church, speak about fire dynamics and how we can fight fires smarter. It was fantastic. And it will never happen in the US because we are, as they say "200 years of tradition unimpeded by progress."

(l) Proof that smoke does burn. (m) The Chief playing with his toy fore box. (r) Managing the air track with a makeshift door.

This week Prince William County (the county that surrounds us) asked Mr. Taylor back to lecture and teach their people more about managing the air track. It is a promising that the Assistant Chief believes in this so much. It is promising that they teach air track management for a week in recruit school. It is promising that they are paying to send two of their firefighters to England this summer to learn how they fight fire. It will take 5 or more years to get it to a place where the union and department can seriously talk about changing things, but at least there is a chance. Mr. Taylor said they are hoping to make PWC FD the first department to control fire this way and an example to the rest of the country. I hope that it works for them. And I hope my department joins in.