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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
Volunteer fire departments that allow members to respond in personal vehicles handicap their ability to bring the emergency under control
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When one firefighter fails to properly wear all of his or her PPE, it puts the entire operation at risk
Each basic accountability system has its merit; understanding which meets the needs of the department and following the system is key
Despite the chaos of the fireground, there are ways to keep track of firefighters’ whereabouts
To be accountable to the public for their financial support, we cannot post firefighter pranks on social media sites
The less situational awareness firefighters have the higher their risk of injury
Taking design cues from roof and floor joists, these new stair systems will fail just as fast under fire
Roof operations are dangerous, but these steps can help reduce that risk
Freelancing will compromise the entire firefighting operations; planning ahead and reacting swiftly will reduce the amount of fireground freelancing