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Mark van der Feyst

The Domino Effect

Mark van der Feyst has been in the fire service since 1998, currently serving as a firefighter with the Fort Gratiot Fire Department in Michigan. He is an international instructor teaching in Canada, the United States and India. He graduated from Seneca College of Applied and Technologies as a fire protection engineering technologist, and received his bachelor’s degree in fire and life safety studies from the Justice Institute of British Columbia and his master’s degree in safety, security and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University. van der Feyst is the lead author of the book “Residential Fire Rescue” and “The Tactical Firefighter.” Connect with van der Feyst via email.

LATET ARTICLES
Taking a too-small hoseline to a big fire will compromise the initial attack and set off a chain of bad fireground events
Improperly pulling the attack line causes more work and compromises the effectiveness of the fire attack
Like Goldilocks looking for just the right fit, it is critical for firefighter safety and effectiveness to have the right pump pressure at the hand line
The PASS device loses its value when it becomes background noise on the fireground
Often overlooked, SCBA straps and buckles are an important part of reducing a firefighter’s fatigue and entanglement risk
Not properly testing SCBA face pieces put firefighters in danger now and in years to come
SCBA is the most important piece of PPE, and the reasons for not using it are no longer valid
Not fully using the technology available can compromise the fire attack and firefighter safety
Carry these three tools and use a one-year rule to determine the worth of other pocket tools
Not having a hand tool reduces effectiveness and speed of crucial fireground tasks