Chief Gary Bowker (Ret.)

Full list of Chief Gary Bowker (Ret.) results
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Parapet wall collapse: An old danger for new firefighters
–Establish and enforce a collapse zone, and assign a separate incident safety officer to keep firefighters safe from a parapet collapse
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What 4 firefighters killed in ’68 roof collapse taught us
–This fire held lessons on truss-roof dangers that the fire service ignored for decades
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4 steps to a faster fire attack
–Getting water on a fire quick makes a lot of other problems go away, and that's even more critical given modern fuel loads
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How heart disease ended my firefighting career
–Chief Bowker relives the event that ended his career and nearly his life and examines ways firefighters can avoid dying from heart failure
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The 3 Rs to keep firefighters safe on roofs
–Use this three-step size up method to identify the safety red flags when committing to roof operations
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Fighting the balloon-frame construction fire
–It's the building type all firefighters should dread as fire will spread fast and unhampered through the walls and floors
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11 McMansion challenges for firefighters
–They are often the size of small commercial buildings without the same sprinkler and fire-stop requirements, which can spell disaster for firefighters
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7 steps to beat wind-driven fire
–What may seem a slight breeze can dramatically alter fire behavior within a structure, and the safety of those inside
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How fire races to the eaves
–Vinyl siding has a higher ignition temperature than wood, but once it melts away, the underlayment will quickly move fire up the structure
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How to manage the vinyl-siding threat
–Left unchecked, vinyl siding will greatly contribute to fire spread and put interior firefighters in harm's way
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Firefighting tactics to beat 21st century fires
–Modern fuel loads have changed fire behavior, making it imperative that the fire service adapt its tactics
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3 wind-turbine failures firefighters must know
–Wind-turbine farms are springing up across the country and they pose unique threats to fire and rescue agencies
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Risk assessment tips for the initial arriving officer
–If we're relying only on past 'good' experience or blind luck to handle an incident, we are setting the stage for disaster
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Disposable structure fires: 12 ways to stay safe
–There are several ways you can manage the risks associated with incidents in lightweight wood frame constructions
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Fires on steroids: Dangers of disposable structures
–Firefighters face a very serious threat once the fire in a disposable structure enters the truss void space
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