Gary Bowker (Ret.)

Building Construction

Gary Bowker is a retired fire chief with the U.S. Air Force and retired fire marshal with the City of Winfield, Kansas, now serving as an associate instructor with the Kansas Fire & Rescue Training Institute. He previously served as fire chief with the Sumner County (Kansas) Rural Fire District #10 and has over 40 years in fire service. He has taught at the National Fire Academy, U.S. Department of Defense, and the Butler County Community College. He is nationally certified as a Fire Officer II, Instructor II, Inspector II, Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator. Bowker holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science administration. Connect with Chief Bowker on LinkedIn or via email.

Full list of Gary Bowker (Ret.) results

‘They’re coming, aren’t they?’ Failures at fatal Fla. fire
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Communication and command failures were key in fatal Florida fire that killed Loretta Pickard
Parapet wall collapse: An old danger for new firefighters
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Establish and enforce a collapse zone, and assign a separate incident safety officer to keep firefighters safe from a parapet collapse
What 4 firefighters killed in ’68 roof collapse taught us
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This fire held lessons on truss-roof dangers that the fire service ignored for decades
4 steps to a faster fire attack
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Getting water on a fire quick makes a lot of other problems go away, and that's even more critical given modern fuel loads
How heart disease ended my firefighting career
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Chief Bowker relives the event that ended his career and nearly his life and examines ways firefighters can avoid dying from heart failure
The 3 Rs to keep firefighters safe on roofs
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Use this three-step size up method to identify the safety red flags when committing to roof operations
Fighting the balloon-frame construction fire
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It's the building type all firefighters should dread as fire will spread fast and unhampered through the walls and floors
11 McMansion challenges for firefighters
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They are often the size of small commercial buildings without the same sprinkler and fire-stop requirements, which can spell disaster for firefighters
7 steps to beat wind-driven fire
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What may seem a slight breeze can dramatically alter fire behavior within a structure, and the safety of those inside
How fire races to the eaves
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Vinyl siding has a higher ignition temperature than wood, but once it melts away, the underlayment will quickly move fire up the structure
How to manage the vinyl-siding threat
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Left unchecked, vinyl siding will greatly contribute to fire spread and put interior firefighters in harm's way
Firefighting tactics to beat 21st century fires
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Modern fuel loads have changed fire behavior, making it imperative that the fire service adapt its tactics
3 wind-turbine failures firefighters must know
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Wind-turbine farms are springing up across the country and they pose unique threats to fire and rescue agencies
Risk assessment tips for the initial arriving officer
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If we're relying only on past 'good' experience or blind luck to handle an incident, we are setting the stage for disaster
Disposable structure fires: 12 ways to stay safe
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There are several ways you can manage the risks associated with incidents in lightweight wood frame constructions
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