Brian Kazmierzak, EFO, CTC

This class will test your department’s command and control abilities through real-life virtual reality simulations. Case Studies as well as simulations are used to test YOUR department’s ICS policies and procedures! This class will challenge your command skills and thinking! It will start with a basic overview of ICS and finish with sets and reps focusing on initial command and decision-making.

Brian Kazmierzak, EFO, CTC

This course, a combination of hands-on and classroom learning, discusses the types of elevators, different rescue techniques, and fire service operations. This class will challenge your knowledge of elevator rescue and put your skills to the test! Participants should bring a helmet, eye protection, and gloves.

Tom Pedigo, PA-C

This lecture provides knowledge and preparation for responders who may encounter various traumatic and critical incidents. Students attending this session will explore the mechanisms and mitigation techniques for crush injuries, junctional hemorrhage, and overdoses. This session is designed for medical first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics. EMS CEUs given by Sherman County Fire Department.

Brian Kazmierzak, EFO, CTC

Students will receive a firsthand look at the UL/NIST Modern Fire Behavior/Dynamics studies and see how it can be instituted within their fire departments. The discussion will cover fire command, control, accountability, and especially fire behavior. Information from NIST, UL, ISFSI, IAFC, and others will become more tools, or options, for your fireground toolbox. Don’t throw your other tools away - learn to update them. Controversial to some- so be prepared for some great discussion- but in the end, no one can argue with the numbers and the studies! It’s all about understanding the expected consequences of our actions and focusing on what’s best for the people having the fire. Students will also be provided with all materials necessary to deliver this at home.

Krista Alanis, EMT-P
Chris Zimmerman, AMET

This hands-on session will review the role of EMS for fireground training and incident responses. Discussion and application topics will include rehabilitation tasks, medical monitoring signs and symptoms, facilitating hydration, mitigating hyperthermia, and rapid removal of patient turnout gear for medical interventions. This session is designed for medical first responders, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics. EMS CEUs given by Sherman County Fire Department.

Ryan Trader, et al.

No fireground tactic is all bad. This class will focus on utilizing the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Studies, the Fire Rescue Survey and other empirical data to define the effects of fireground tactics on residential fires. With each tactic, we want to look at the Good applications, when a tactic can create a Bad situation, and demonstrate the Truth of the tactic. We will break down the fireground into the basic components of fire attack, search and ventilation. This class discusses the science of coordinating these components. Students will then get working hands-on through different techniques to put the data into action. The intent is for the attendees to apply the information and skills back to their department to increase victim survivability and fire attack efficiency. Participants should bring full structural turnout gear, SCBA, and an extra SCBA cylinder. 

Sherman County Rural Fire District

Machinery Entrapments occur all over the United States.  Participants are instructed on methods they can use to disentangle victims from a variety of situations. This program will allow students to use various hand and power tools in scenarios ranging from limb entrapments and crush injuries to impalements as well as other “tips & tricks” learned from real-world experiences.  The classroom and practical skills portion of the program will focus on finding the least complicated method of performing such rescues rather than “overthinking” the given situation. Participants should bring full structural turnout gear. 
 

Chris Hanson, Kansas Forest Service

The Wildfire environment is extremely dynamic and changing every year. Operations require that everyone from the top down swings a tool in one form or another to be able to work at the speed of the enemy. This course is developed to further expand or start a foundation for Structural Fire Officers who will be stepping up into the Operations Section Chief, Division/Group Supervisor or Task Force Leader position at the local, regional, or state level on Initial or Extended Attack Wildfire Incidents, by addressing the course objectives below:
• Build upon key Operational Leadership Principles for Wildfire Operations (Duty, Respect, Integrity)
• Understand the wildland culture and specifics within the Operations Section Chief (OPS), Divisions Supervisor (DIVS), Task Force Leader (TFLD) positions on a wildfire incident.
• Analyze the contents of an operations overhead kit individuals should have.
• Understand the fire environment by analyzing Fuels, Fire Weather, and Fire Behavior. 
• Analyze the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and its effects on the fire environment.
• Overview of fire modeling and predictive service tools.
• Develop, Implement, Evaluate, and Refine strategies and Tactics for Initial and Extended Attack operations at the OPS, DIVS, and TFLD level for different geographical locations throughout the state.

Brian Kazmierzak, EFO, CTC

This high-energy course will cause you to want to be the change agent of your department. The course looks at the evolution of the American Fire Service, its culture, and some of the pitfalls we face and cause ourselves. While we have lived by the motto of 150 Years of Tradition Unimpeded by Progress, that mantra can no longer serve our needs. The world around is changing; social media, technology, the built environment, the furnished environment, our gear, and our departments. Come and join the discussion powered by lots of modern-day fire service case studies.
• Understand the normalization of deviance
• Understand drift into failure
• Understand the root cause of firefighter injury and death
• Understand the NIOSH Top 5
• Learn from LODD reports
• Conduct Safety Investigations within your department