Mark van der Feyst

The Domino Effect

Mark van der Feyst

Mark van der Feyst has been in the fire service since 1998, currently serving as a full-time firefighter with the Woodstock Fire Department in Ontario, Canada. He is an international instructor teaching in Canada, the United States and India. van der Feyst is a local-level suppression instructor for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and an instructor for the Justice Institute of British Columbia. 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." Connect with van der Feyst on LinkedIn or via email.

Full list of Mark van der Feyst results

Got to get in! LAFD crews use several tools to access building interior
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Video underscores the importance of all members having forcible entry skills
Is that my PASS alarm? The problem with tuning out safety features
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Ignoring PASS alarms highlights need to better manage false activations and maintain situational awareness
Power and precision: Comparing the master stream and handline
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Video of Detroit Fire battling a storefront fire highlights the effectiveness of the master stream
Master stream mayday: Pa. video shows danger of working around high-velocity water
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Situational awareness and communication are critical factors when master streams are applied with firefighter working interior
Know the enemy: Firefighters must understand the basics of building construction
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Video of Pennsylvania house fire shows how fast a modern residential structure begins to deteriorate
Making the grab: When ground ladders are the right call for the rescue
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Video shows FDNY crews using ground ladders instead of aerial to rescue people from burning building
Overhang dangers: Maintain situational awareness while working near the collapse zone
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Video shows a California firefighter narrowly escaping a collapsing overhang at a commercial structure fire
Follow the ‘2 hands, 2 tools’ rule: Always grab tools off the truck
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Don’t get caught empty-handed at the scene, consuming precious seconds returning to the truck for tools
Truck check troubles: Tips to avoid apparatus rollaway during this essential task
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Using the right wheel chocks on a flat surface goes a long way to reducing risk
Flaking out the line: Slow down to get it right the first time
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Video highlights how the first hoseline pull can impact the entire operation
‘We need more hands!’ The impact of staffing limitations
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As we wait on additional funding, fire departments must find ways to be efficient with resources
‘We need more hose!’: How to avoid a common fireground alert
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Video shows how even a minor hose issue can delay operations
How to select the right-size hose for fire attack
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Taking a too-small hoseline to a big fire will compromise the initial attack and set off a chain of bad fireground events
Firefighter PPE is needed at all times when dealing with a car fire
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With the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, it's a good time to review protocols for PPE regulations when dealing with car hazards and unknowns
Outriggers needed: Lessons learned from a flipped aerial
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Aerials have been designed with various layers of safety – and outriggers are one of them
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