By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 News Editor

Photo Jamie Thompson Denis Onieal talks about new challenges at FDIC Wednesday.

INDIANAPOLIS — The superintendent of the National Fire Academy has expressed concern at the number of firefighters being killed in collapses at small residences.

Denis Onieal said the fire service is suffering more and more fatalities in one- and two-bedroom homes.

Talking about last week's deaths of two Colerain Township, Ohio, fighters, Onieal said, "I don't know what happened in Colerain, but I never recall ever seeing those kinds of collapses that early on in a fire in one- or two-bedroom residences."

Speaking during an education session at FDIC on the changing environments in the fire service, Onieal placed some of the blame on the increased use of plastics in building materials instead of wood.

"Wood burns, but it takes a long time to collapse," he said.

Onieal told the audience that the fire service is facing a range of contrasting challenges over the coming decades, from technology to changing demographics

"The future is kind of like a railroad train at a station," he said. "Some people at the station get on the train and ride into the future on the train.

"Other people at the station stay on the station and watch the train leave. Some people stand in front of the train and try to stop it. Those are your three choices about the future."

As well as the challenges that lie in technology and changing demographics — such as baby boomers reaching retirement — tomorrow's fire service leader must be able to manage a workforce with a different attitude and adapt to different types of training and education that will require new skills.

Onieal warned members of the audience that society is changing because everything is on camera nowadays, which has implications for firefighters.

"As the fireground commander you better be prepared," he said. "Everything you do is going to be on tape.

"If you or anyone on your department does anything wrong at that fire, you're going to be on YouTube in two hours."

Onieal said those who did not realize that every day they are on video "do not have a grasp on reality."

"Where do you think Billy Goldfeder gets all that stuff? Do you think Billy Goldfeder is running all over the place with a video camera?"