If you go ...
The Southern Wisconsin Northern Illinois Fire Rescue Association invites the public to its Friday Fire School Fellowship, which will be held Friday, Aug. 9, at the Stateline Ice and Community Expo Center, 1634 W. 4th Ave., Monroe. Scheduled events include:
• 5 p.m. to closing - Beer garden open, serving adult beverages
• 5 to 8 p.m. - Pizza by the slice
• 6:30 p.m. - Patch and T-shirt swap
• 7 to 11 p.m. - Music by D.J. Scott Hazeltine, sponsored by Badger State Fire & Safety
• 7:30 p.m. - Bean bag tournament
• MERIT Center and Fire School T-shirts for sale
Proceeds go to support the continuing development of the MERIT Center.
MONROE - Who wouldn't want to learn to use a flathead axe and the 30-inch Halligan bar?
Firefighters coming to Monroe this weekend will learn better how to use these two tools at the 77th Annual Fire School for Southern Wisconsin Northern Illinois Fire Rescue Association. The school will be held Aug. 9-11.
The Halligan, designed by Hugh Halligan, a First Deputy Fire Chief in the New York City Fire Department in 1948, is used for prying, twisting, punching or striking. It consists of a claw, a blade and a tapered pick, and it is especially useful in a fire emergency, for gaining entrance through many types of locked doors. It can also be used in vehicle extrication, turning valves and opening walls.
The Halligan tool may be "old school," but it's probably the only old thing at the fire school.
Conventional Forcible Entry, which teaches how to use the Halligan and axe together and apart, is just one of 20 new classes this year. The class is being led by Milwaukee FD Battalion Chief Erich Roden, FDNY Lt. Ray McCormack, Deputy Chief Aaron Lipski, Assistant Chief Dan Lipski and Capt. Brian McNulty.
"Dying inside" has a much different and more serious meaning to firefighters than to an emotionally distraught civilian.
Monroe FD Division Chief Al Rufer and Lt. Nick Bartels will be teaching Dying inside: The Game Has Changed, Has Your Playbook? He and Bartels will be presenting the new critical elements interior firefighters need to look, feel and listen for to stay alive in today's fires. Firefighter students will witness first-hand the signs of an impending flashover, experience the heat they generate and leave with a new appreciation for what's going on inside the "Box" and the tools they need to reduce the risks they face.
About 1,000 people are expected to participate in the fire training school this year, down from approximately 1,200 people last year. In addition to new classes, the fire school dates and locations are laid out a little differently this year.
The school is taking place a week earlier than usual, and Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch told the Public Safety Committee Monday that the new weekend - the second weekend in August - will continue as the dates for future schools. Rausch also said no streets will need to be closed to accommodate the school.
Fire school classes and other events will take place mostly at the MERIT Center in the north industrial park, at the Blackhawk Technical School and at the SLICE arena.
This is the first year the fire school will not be at the county fairgrounds since Monroe began hosting the school 53 years ago.
SWNIFRA is inviting the public to a fellowship event starting at 5 p.m. Friday at the SLICE Arena on 4th Avenue West, with all proceeds going to support the MERIT Center. Pizza, music, dancing, adult beverages and T-shirts will be available. Attendees can also get up close and familiar with the fire trucks and apparatus on display.
Firefighters coming to Monroe this weekend will learn better how to use these two tools at the 77th Annual Fire School for Southern Wisconsin Northern Illinois Fire Rescue Association. The school will be held Aug. 9-11.
The Halligan, designed by Hugh Halligan, a First Deputy Fire Chief in the New York City Fire Department in 1948, is used for prying, twisting, punching or striking. It consists of a claw, a blade and a tapered pick, and it is especially useful in a fire emergency, for gaining entrance through many types of locked doors. It can also be used in vehicle extrication, turning valves and opening walls.
The Halligan tool may be "old school," but it's probably the only old thing at the fire school.
Conventional Forcible Entry, which teaches how to use the Halligan and axe together and apart, is just one of 20 new classes this year. The class is being led by Milwaukee FD Battalion Chief Erich Roden, FDNY Lt. Ray McCormack, Deputy Chief Aaron Lipski, Assistant Chief Dan Lipski and Capt. Brian McNulty.
"Dying inside" has a much different and more serious meaning to firefighters than to an emotionally distraught civilian.
Monroe FD Division Chief Al Rufer and Lt. Nick Bartels will be teaching Dying inside: The Game Has Changed, Has Your Playbook? He and Bartels will be presenting the new critical elements interior firefighters need to look, feel and listen for to stay alive in today's fires. Firefighter students will witness first-hand the signs of an impending flashover, experience the heat they generate and leave with a new appreciation for what's going on inside the "Box" and the tools they need to reduce the risks they face.
About 1,000 people are expected to participate in the fire training school this year, down from approximately 1,200 people last year. In addition to new classes, the fire school dates and locations are laid out a little differently this year.
The school is taking place a week earlier than usual, and Monroe Fire Chief Daryl Rausch told the Public Safety Committee Monday that the new weekend - the second weekend in August - will continue as the dates for future schools. Rausch also said no streets will need to be closed to accommodate the school.
Fire school classes and other events will take place mostly at the MERIT Center in the north industrial park, at the Blackhawk Technical School and at the SLICE arena.
This is the first year the fire school will not be at the county fairgrounds since Monroe began hosting the school 53 years ago.
SWNIFRA is inviting the public to a fellowship event starting at 5 p.m. Friday at the SLICE Arena on 4th Avenue West, with all proceeds going to support the MERIT Center. Pizza, music, dancing, adult beverages and T-shirts will be available. Attendees can also get up close and familiar with the fire trucks and apparatus on display.