Residential Firefighting: Training and Drills
About this eBook
In the intense and demanding world of firefighting, where every decision can make a life-or-death difference, proficiency is paramount. In Residential Firefighting: Training and Drills, acclaimed fire expert David F. Clark delivers a must-read guide for those who battle hostile fires. With an unwavering commitment to the public they protect, firefighters are urged to be at the pinnacle of their capabilities when it comes to residential fire suppression.
Clark emphasizes the critical importance of a well-trained, knowledgeable, and physically fit firefighters the greatest asset in the field. He provides actionable advice for firefighters to enhance their skills through frequent hands-on training, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges they face on every residential fire call. By learning from the sacrifices of those who paid the ultimate price, fire service members are reminded of the gravity of their profession and motivated to excel.
Drawing on his extensive experience and expertise, Clark delves into the dynamic relationship between the building and the fire. By understanding fire behavior and its strategic utilization, firefighters can gain an advantage in their firefighting efforts. Endorsed by industry professionals, Residential Firefighting: Training and Drills serves as a trusted resource for both seasoned firefighters looking to enhance their skills and aspiring firefighters preparing for the challenges ahead. With its practical wisdom and focus on proficiency, this book equips firefighters to be the best-trained and prepared professionals, ensuring they can confidently face the flames and safeguard their communities.
Testimonials
“I have the honor of having known Dave Clark since 1984 when I was a student in IFSI’s Officer’s Fireground School where he was an instructor. Throughout Dave’s career he has always been a student of the game. Because of his dedication, experience, research, and years of hands-on instructing, this great book tells how to do the job aggressively and—most importantly—safely.”
—Robert S. Hoff, Chicago Fire Commissioner (ret.) and IFSI Field Instructor
“Dave Clark brings decades of experience combating residential fires and presents a commonsense approach to firefighting, addressing ‘what’s the building going to do with the fire and what’s the fire going to do with the building.’”
—Lew Lake, Battalion Chief, Wheaton FD (ret.) and IFSI Chicago Training Program director
“I’ve heard ‘Get ready . . . we’re going in!’ many times over the past 40 years working with Chief Dave Clark at IFSI. He’s fought fires in big cities and small towns teaching streams and ventilation but mostly fire behavior and how to use it to your advantage. He is the best at passing along lessons to the fire service.”
—Jack “Jr.” Rutledge, Illinois Fire Service Institute senior instructor; Delta Air Lines (ret.)
About the author
David F. Clark served as a firefighter and fire chief and fought fires with rural, suburban, and metropolitan fire departments. He became a field instructor and later a full-time instructor for the state fire academy (now the Illinois Fire Service Institute). As IFSI’s deputy director, he oversaw more than 600 instructors and staff, curriculum, training, academic, and research activities for the Institute, which has about 60,000 students per year from Illinois, the United States, and around the world.
He served as an instructor at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) and numerous conferences and fire schools, provided technical assistance and review of several fire service books and videos, and is author of more than 20 articles in fire service journals. He participated in curriculum development and helped write training manuals for IFSI, Illinois’s Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA), and the National Fire Academy (NFA).
He holds degrees in history, fire science, and adult technical and vocational education. He served as a sergeant in the Army’s Third Infantry Regiment (Old Guard), on the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, and on the Central Illinois Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team. He retired after 45 years in the fire service.
