Mayday
Mayday events can stop an incident in its tracks, as the team refocuses efforts on locating a downed, trapped or disoriented firefighter. Firefighters are encouraged to call a mayday whenever they feel they need help from fellow crewmembers and not wait until it is too late to be reached. The FireRescue1 Mayday resource page provides essential information on how to train for mayday events, video on how to prevent mayday events, details of the rapid-intervention team, plus news of mayday events and Rapid Response analysis of mayday incidents.
Crews should train on implementing IRICs and placing rescue tools, all while following key standards
How to implement mayday-focused policies in an actionable and relatable way that builds muscle memory for these events
The same day a firefighter from an adjacent city died in a house fire, I found myself falling through a floor, trapped
No matter which your department uses, it’s essential to keep messages clear when seconds count
Repeated training and breathing techniques to help lower your heart rate will help you make the mental shift
Your crewmembers are your lifeline to survival, so communicate as much as possible
It’s important to underscore the danger of the situation while not instilling an unproductive level of fear
Training proved critical when a Castle Rock firefighter fell through the floor at a house fire
From prevention to data-driven decision-making, department leaders must set the tone for mayday-minded training
Officers must take personal responsibility for member readiness and plan single-company and multi-company drills to hone their own command skills
This unique mayday drill is highly realistic and physically demanding
Battalion Chief Steve Conn and Lt. Bassel Ibrahim detail mayday lessons from real-world events and progressive training
Done right, safety briefings are a critical window to teach fire behavior, strategy and lessons from the field — not just rehearse risks
The Campton-Thornton Fire Rescue firefighter fell waist-deep through a second-floor collapse, was freed by nearby crews
Deputy Chief John Russell likened the reason to “a salmon swimming upstream” as dozens of firefighters were moving in, and the injured firefighter was trying to get out
A Fort Worth firefighter sustained multiple injuries and was flown to Parkland Health in Dallas
Nine McKinney firefighters were hospitalized with injuries from smoke inhalation and overexertion
Two Columbia firefighters were hospitalized when a roof section collapsed during a predawn blaze
A driver struck gas lines at the Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center, leading to an explosion as Wilmington firefighters searched for occupants
State and Buffalo Fire Department reports cite accountability lapses, interior ops failures, an untrained acting officer and delays in defensive ops in death of Firefighter Jason Arno
We must create an environment that preserves the incident commander’s cognitive bandwidth
A Maryland fire captain died after falling into a basement during a 2021 house fire, with investigators citing gaps in size-up, crew integrity, and rapid intervention readiness
A fire fueled by broken gas lines escalated to a third alarm after a Fort Worth firefighter fell through an elevator shaft, prompting a mayday call
Following a four-year investigation into the death of New Haven firefighter Ricardo Torres Jr., federal officials say missed communication and command inexperience contributed to his death
The May 31, 2013, motel structure collapse resulted in the five LODDs, four at the time of the incident, one years later
A firefighter battling the Saratoga Street fire suffered a medical emergency while on an aerial ladder
One firefighter is in critical condition and another stable after a fire on West Saratoga Street
One of 13 NIOSH recommendations highlights the department’s proactive mental health response, including mandatory check-ins and peer-led crisis support
Firefighters from eight fire departments battled a blaze in Lehigh County
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- Honolulu firefighter killed, at least 4 others injured during 3-alarm fire