WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Managing Fireground Risk

This workshop utilizes the latest human factors findings to enhance decision making, error recognition/management, and communications. The proven Risk Management process is broken down into an easily understood format to create fast and workable tools to assist the structural fire fighter with managing risk.

Communication among participants is enhanced throughout the workshop by engaging them in a number of case study reviews, watch out exercise, and culminates with a detailed final briefing scenario. Leadership and followership skills are stressed through out which makes this workshop an excellent venue for firefighter, company officer, and chief officer development.

The workshop outline includes:

History and Culture
Decision Making and Error Management
Risk Management Process
Structural Watch Out Situations and LCES
The 5-Step Briefing Format

Full-Day Workshop:

The workshop consists of 2 modules: These can be presented concurrently, or in two 4-hour sessions (see in-service company options below).

Module 1: History, culture, decision making, and error recognition/management.

Module 2: Risk Management process (situational awareness, hazard recognition and mitigation, decision and evaluation), communications (tactical/crew briefing), and command climate.

In-Service Company Options:

Full-Day Workshop broken into two modules. This option allows a large number of on-duty-companies the benefit of attending the full day workshop, while keeping the class size to the recommended number.

Instructional Aids:

Open Communication Forum Between Facilitator and Participants
Detailed PowerPoint Presentation containing numerous video clips
Decision Making / Error Management Exercises - (Groups)
Watch Out Exercise - (Groups)
Final Briefing Scenario - (Groups)

The workshops address many of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives
set forth by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

Structural Firefighter Safety in the Urban Interface

This workshop is designed to enhance safety by exposing all fire fighters to basic fire predictions and decision making processes. Three dimensional and topographical maps are utilized to show predicted fire movement using the Campbell Prediction System integrated into basic wildfire behavior. Extreme fire behavior in its most basic form is represented by the alignment of slope, aspect, and wind direction. The prediction helps to highlight where is safe to operate and where is not. Trigger points, disengagement procedures, escape route viability, and safety zone size determination concepts are discussed in detail.

The predictions are coupled together with human factors information (decision making, error recognition, and communication skills) with the proven Risk Management process used as the back drop for decision making. Strong leadership and equally important followership skills are stressed throughout.

This workshop is unlike any other wildland interface firefighting course!

The workshop outline includes:

History and a shortened version of the Campbell Fire Prediction System
Decision Making
Risk Management Process
Interface Watch Out Situations, LCES, Safety Zone Size Determination
The 5-Step Briefing Format

Full-Day Workshop:

The workshop consists of 2 modules: These can be presented concurrently, or in two 4-hour sessions (see in-service company options below).

Module 1: History, Campbell Prediction System, decision making, and case study review.

Module 2:Risk Management process (situational awareness, hazard recognition and mitigation, decision and evaluation), communications (tactical/crew briefing), and command climate.

In-Service Company Options:

Instructional Aids:

Open Communication Forum Between Facilitator and Participants
Detailed PowerPoint Presentation containing numerous video clips
Decision Making / Campbell Prediction System Exercises - (Groups)
Watch Out Exercise - (Groups)
Briefing Exercise - (Groups)
Risk Management Exercise - (Groups)

This workshop meets and exceeds the classroom portion of the Annual Fireline
Safety Refresher Training requirements set forth by NWCG.

Conference Session:

(These 2 hour sessions can also be used to augment your established Fire Officer / Firefighter training curriculums, call for details)

Decision Making
The session explores why we think the way we think. Situational awareness, decision making processes, and the barriers to sound decision making are reviewed. Solutions to overcoming the barriers which leads to better decision making on the fireground is discussed utilizing case studies as the back drop.

Error Recognition and Management
Error management is one of the greatest influences a fire officer can have on the fireground. The session uses the "Swiss Cheese Model" of human error to guide the participants. Case studies are then used to reinforce the solutions.

The Art of Followership
Great followers create great leaders, and more importantly great organizations. Every person on the fireground finds themselves in a followership role at some point, "leading up" then becomes the skill of choice. In 1988 Robert E. Kelley published "In Praise of Followers, not all success is due to leadership" in the Harvard Business Review. His findings then and current finding's of others are discussed, along with personal stories of followership success. Followership is defined, effective followership is explored in detail, along with how utilization of followership leads to safer fireground operations.

Managing Risk thru Improved Communications
This session highlights why communications is more than just giving someone an order to carry out a fireground assignment, it's all about being a good listener as well as a good speaker. Fireground briefings are introduced utilizing the 5-step briefing format.

Basing actions on current and expected wildfire behavior
This session utilizes the Campbell Prediction System to enhanced wildland fire behavior predictions. The prediction helps to highlight where is safe to operate and where is not. Decision making is touched on briefly to help explain why even the most experienced firefighters can find themselves in a life threatening situation.

Instructional Aids:

Open Communication Forum Between Facilitator and Participants
Detailed PowerPoint Presentation
Detailed Handout
Case Study Exercises
Briefing Exercise

NFPA Standards addressed; 1001, 1021, 1051, 1500, 1710, 1720

Details:

It is highly recommended to reserve a date early; all requests are first-come, first-serve. Limited workshops offered June through September.
The recommended class-size is 30 participants.
The host may charge participants any amount, which can be done to recover costs.
Instructional fees are negotiated individually based on needs, schedule, and incurred expenses. The per teaching day cost as of June 1, 2008 is approximately $1500 depending on the venue (single or multiple days). Travel costs are in addition (air, hotel, ground transportation, and per diem).

Workshop Logistics:

The following checklist items are the responsibility of the hosting agency to provide.

AV projector, screen, and sound system. (Instructor will provide the laptop)
Handouts and Certificates. Documents provided by IFS in advance.
Name tags for table display. Can be just heavier paper stock.
Refreshments, if desired.
Lunch: Full-Day workshops please have a plan for lunch. Will everyone be fed on-site or are the participants on their own? Lunch should be limited to 1 1/2 hours.

The workshops address many of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives
set forth by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

NFPA Standards addressed; 1001, 1021, 1051, 1500, 1710, 1720

Contact Info:

Quinn MacLeod, President/Lead Instructor
(303) 810-5739
Integrated Fire Solutions, LLC
Boulder, Colorado 80304
Email: quinnmacleod@msn.com
Web: www.integrated-firesolutions.com

Instructor Info:

Quinn MacLeod is the president and lead instructor of Integrated Fire Solutions. He began his fire service career in 1985, which includes 20 years on the line with the Parker Fire Protection District in Parker, Colorado. He sought out challenges in addition to station life and for 14 years served as the developer and supervisor of the districts Wildfire Program. This led to a system for fire fighters, fire officers, and chief officers to gain large wildfire, all-hazard, and incident management team experience from incidents across the country.

Mr. MacLeod has worked his way up through the NWCG wildfire qualification system and is currently qualified at the Division / Group Supervisor level. He has worked in wildfire suppression all over the nation. He holds an Associate's Degree in Fire Science, Fire Officer, Fire Instructor, and numerous other state and national certifications in structural and wildland fire operations.

Quinn also served as the Pueblo Zone Interagency Training Representative for four years, which included a position on the Rocky Mountain Region's training working group. During his tenure he was an active member striving to improve interagency training both within the zone and nationally.

Quinn has authored published articles for structural and wildfire publications. He has presented conference sessions of the workshops at the Firehouse World Expo in San Diego among other venues.

In his personal life Quinn is an avid mountaineer, skier, and cyclist. He enjoys spending time with his wife and dogs in Boulder, Colorado.

The workshops address many of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives
set forth by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

NFPA Standards addressed; 1001, 1021, 1051, 1500, 1710, 1720