Florida Communications Unit’s Post

I am so excited to see these assets finally being deployed. The unfortunate reality is that they were needed and would have been most effective when these fires were just being reported. Follow up on the ground is so important, so it's also wonderful to see the firefighters there in the background of the video. Moving forward it's critical that state and federal legislators and agencies really understand when and where aircraft can be effective. The name of the game for agencies in wildfire is RAPID INITIAL ATTACK. The name of the game for home and property owners is BE PROACTIVE, LIVE FIREWISE. If we do this together, the fire service can concentrate on perimeter control, versus structure protection. When fires are this large, suppression resources are spread thin, often to a point of ineffectiveness. Every minute counts.

'Every so often, in the midst of chaos, you come across an amazing, inexplicable instance of civic responsibility. Maybe the last shred of faith people have is in their firemen.'- Kurt Vonnegut, Hocus Pocus Multiple people were rescued from a deadly high-rise fire in Harlem today. The FDNY used rope rescues to extract at least 3 people from the burning structure today, when the entire department generally performs rope rescues 3-4 times in an entire year. The firefighters were guided to the victims by NYPD helicopters using FLIR to see through the smoke. This is that low-frequency, ultra-high-risk event that high-reliability organizations train and plan for....relentlessly. Today, despite the tragic death of one victim who couldn't be rescued, this is pretty much a success. A success only made possible by the relentless pursuit of excellence, the uncompromising application of the highest possible fucking standards. Nothing less will do. Period. Or else people fucking die. #FDNY #NYPD #highangle #roperescue #abseiling #rappelling #Manhattan #Harlem #NewYork #firefighter #thinredline #StFlorian #highreliability #relentlesspursuitofexcellence https://lnkd.in/gjY5PVyu

According to National Interagency Fire Center,, the National Preparedness Level for Fire is at Level 5, with 89 large fires burning across the US. Their website reports the following: "Active to extreme fire behavior continues across multiple geographic areas, with evacuation orders in effect on 22 wildfires," with over 27K wildfire personnel deployed. https://lnkd.in/gHqP3xZA

Look at this thing. Like it's always been there. The copper will patina out in a year or so and be the same color as the wood. Ever vigilant, the Frontline Wildfire Defense System will be ready to activate and stop this home from falling to a wildfire. All homes in WUI areas should have these types of Systems. It provides a barrier that is crucial to save these structures. Help our first responders, get proactive against wildfire now! #WildfireDefense #FirstResponders #WUI #FireSafety

🔥Texas Considers State-Owned Aerial Firefighting Division 🚁 ⬇️𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤. ⬇️ 🌐After historic wildfires in Panhandle, Texas' emergency management director, Nim Kidd, has proposed establishing a dedicated firefighting aircraft division. During a legislative committee hearing in Pampa, concerns were raised about communication and equipment for volunteer fire departments. As the state deals with the aftermath of devastating wildfires, the proposal for a state-owned firefighting air force has sparked both interest and scepticism. For those passionate about aerial firefighting and disaster response, these developments mark a crucial step towards bolstering emergency preparedness. #BLAZETAMER380™ #AerialFirefighting #FireSuppressant #FireAviation

At FDIC we asked Fire Rescue professionals: What are your local water rescue hazards, and how do you search them? We had many interesting answers and will be posting them. This episode we hear from Curtis Mackie at Excelsior Fire in Minnesota. #waterrescue #firerescue #firefighting #firefighter #sonar

Do you think the United States Federal government is prepared for wildfire. The story below will answer your question. This number is down, but still high at 63 large fires designated full suppression. Repeating the same behavior over and over, hoping for a different result? It's difficult for me to hear from anyone that we just cannot win against fire. Now involving our military from the ground to the air. 63 large fires and we may have 29 large airtankers for the entire nation, and not nearly enough crews. The United Aerial Firefighters Association (UAFA) are hear to educate and advocate for the public and those it represents. To put this in perspective, this is like watching a super bowl game where one team only has half their players on the field at anyone time. And we wonder why we are not successful. It's important for everyone to remember these numbers the next time you hear government personnel tell Congress that we have enough capacity. Are we playing to win? I think if Don Shula, and Bill Belichick new anything about wildfire, they'd have something to say. We can do better.

Learn more about Cal OES and review procedures for coordinating mutual aid relationships across the state in our recently released course: RTG Cal OES Fire & Rescue: 2024 Updates. Access it now on your APS portal. #firefighters #firefighting #fire #mutualaid

In an essential training exercise aimed at enhancing readiness for wildfire emergencies, the New York Army National Guard practiced aerial water drops using Bambi Buckets this Monday. The training, part of an annual initiative by the state's MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS, NEW YORK DIVISION OF, took place at Colonie Town Park on North Schermerhorn Road. From noon to 4 p.m., helicopter crews demonstrated precision and skill as they skimmed the river’s surface to fill the Bambi Buckets, each holding 660 gallons of water, weighing nearly 2.8 tons, and then adeptly dropping the payload back into the river. This exercise is critical for preparing the crews to effectively combat wildfires by simulating the actual conditions and maneuvers used in fire suppression. The exercise zone was strategically set between the Twin Bridges and Route 9, ensuring a safe and controlled environment for the operation. The state’s Division of Military and Naval Affairs has planned additional sessions on the following days to ensure comprehensive training for all involved. Both pilots and ground crews participated in this operation, with ground crews handling the setup of the 260-pound orange collapsible buckets that are crucial in firefighting efforts. Forest rangers from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation also played a vital role, guiding the helicopter crews to simulate fire locations. This training underscores the collaborative efforts between the New York Army National Guard and the Department of Environmental Conservation to maintain a high state of readiness for wildfire responses. Learn more about how the New York Army National Guard prepares for wildfire emergencies on our blog. #AvfoilNews #WildfirePrevention #MilitaryTraining #EmergencyPreparedness  

What are the procedures to combat landslides at work?