Chief Stephen Himes, Elkins Fire Department, WV

Steve began his fire service career in 1990 as a volunteer firefighter. Since 2002, he has been employed with the City of Elkins Fire Department, where he is currently the Fire Chief. He is also a National Registry Paramedic. Steve graduated from Columbia Southern University with honors in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Administration. He also holds seven NPQBFS certifications. Steve has been an instructor since 2006 with WVU Fire Service Extension.

This course teaches the process that evaluates the four visible smoke attributes- volume, velocity, density and color (VVDC) to predict fire size, location and future growth. This skill is critical to good decision making for both the attack team at the front door and the Incident Commander (IC) at the command post. Learning to interpret smoke makes your fire attack safer, quicker and more effective for the firefighters and the citizens they serve.

Deputy Chief Brian Grieco, City of Huntington

Brian is a Deputy Chief with the City of Huntington Fire Department. Brian began his fire service career in the late 80s as a Jr. firefighter with the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department in Magnolia NJ. He also served two enlistments in the Air National Guard. First, in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the 177th Fighter Interceptor Group (FIG) and then again after a 10-year break in the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, WV. Serving both enlistments as a Fire Protection Specialist/Rescue Technician. Chief Grieco is currently in his 30th year at the City of Huntington Fire Department. He was promoted through the ranks of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain to Deputy Chief. Chief Grieco has had assignments as the City’s Fire Marshal and was a lead in the development of the city’s Continuity of Operations Plan. He is currently assigned as an Operational Deputy Chief and has additional responsibilities with the City’s Emergency management team and as the lead for West Virginia’s Region VI Hazardous Materials Response Team.

The course will discuss establishing command, sizing up an incident, hazard identification and risk assessment, tactical options, resource deployment / management. Students will also put the skill of managing a fire during the first few moments in classroom exercises.

Deputy Chief Micah Kiger, Louden County VA

Micah is a Career Deputy Chief with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue - Virginia. Loudoun is located 35 miles from our nation's capital and is situated between Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier County(s) in Northern Virginia and is bordered by the Potomac River to the North, which separates them from Frederick and Montgomery County(s) in Maryland. Micah began his fire service career in Loudoun County in 2000 after successfully completing Recruit Class #4. Since then, he has progressively moved up through the ranks and has served in the positions of Firefighter/Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain/Station Commander, and EMS Supervisor. Chief Kiger has held assignments as an operational Battalion Chief, Special Operations Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief/Shift Commander, Deputy Chief of EMS, and is currently assigned as the Deputy Chief/Chief Fire Marshal for Loudoun County Fire and Rescue.

The Meadowood Court Incident - On May 25th, 2008, while operating on a residential structure fire in Leesburg, Virginia, four firefighters from Loudoun County Fire and Rescue became trapped on the second floor while performing interior operations after conditions rapidly deteriorated. Four firefighters received burn injuries and required hospitalization. As the Engine Company Officer that day, I give an 'inside assessment' as to the actions of myself and my crew, to include lessons learned and personal development following the incident. A full investigative report was completed on this incident, and I will present incident operations, provide video footage of the incident with respective radio transmissions, our departmental changes/recommendations, and the lessons learned from the company officer's first-hand perspective. This presentation will also cover how training yourself and crew the right way becomes second nature and how you can rely on training when it truly counts.

This course is an intensive hands on course teaching and practicing skills needed to effect a good fire ground search and stresses the techniques for firefighter survival and also skills and techniques to effect a quick and efficient RIT activation and subsequent removal of a downed firefighter. It is the goal of this course that students will be using/training on acquired structures to provide a "real as possible" environment to utilize these skills.

Coal County F.O.O.L.S.

Have you ever received a call for a subject stuck in a HVAC vent, a wedding ring stuck on a finger or even a motorcycle incident with a patient impaled on a sign post? Rescuers can find difficulty in approaching these situations simply because of the unknowns. This class will bring a new perspective to this type of incident. Instructors will provide “out of the box” ways of thinking that are not usually incorporated with “normal” fire service operations.This different train of thought will help the student develop a framework of techniques and tools that will make these operations smooth and safe. The class focuses upon hands-on training using many different types of tools to complete these types of scenarios.

Chief Doug Estep & Captain Jason Estep Morris

Doug served as Chief of the Morrisvale (WV) VFD for 36 years. He remains active in the fire service with over 40 years of service. He is a retired heavy equipment mechanic from the mining industry. The Morrisvale VFD served an area with no fire hydrants for most of Chief Estep’s career. The necessity of this situation provided the inspiration for the department to refine the craft of rural firefighting techniques to provide the best fire protection possible for the community. This was culminated in 2004 by reducing the communities ISO rating from class 9 to class 6 through ISO alternative water supply techniques. This rating has now improved to a class 4. Chief Estep currently serves as a WV State Fire Commissioner. Captain Jason Estep of the Morrisvale (WV) VFD started in the fire service in 1994. He has a Mechanical Engineering degree from Fairmont State University. Growing up in a rural department was very educational for Jason, who has taken what he learned and applied it to help other departments obtain ISO alternative water credit. He also piloted a regional Stream flow study for creeks and rivers which was recognized by ISO.

This course will provide the best skills and practices to provide and support an adequate water supply at various fires for response areas without reliable hydrant systems.

How to deal with alternately fueled vehicles properly and safely from an emergency response perspective dealing with a variety of response types. A demonstration of how a lithium battery reacts under fire or compromised conditions.

Deputy Chief Brian Grieco, City of Huntington

Brian is a Deputy Chief with the City of Huntington Fire Department. Brian began his fire service career in the late 80s as a Jr. firefighter with the Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department in Magnolia NJ. He also served two enlistments in the Air National Guard. First, in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the 177th Fighter Interceptor Group (FIG) and then again after a 10-year break in the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, WV. Serving both enlistments as a Fire Protection Specialist/Rescue Technician. Chief Grieco is currently in his 30th year at the City of Huntington Fire Department. He was promoted through the ranks of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain to Deputy Chief. Chief Grieco has had assignments as the City’s Fire Marshal and was a lead in the development of the city’s Continuity of Operations Plan. He is currently assigned as an Operational Deputy Chief and has additional responsibilities with the City’s Emergency management team and as the lead for West Virginia’s Region VI Hazardous Materials Response Team.

This course will provide a quick review of anchors, mechanical advantage, descent control, haul systems and rope rescue systems (including single line techniques, mainline-belay line, and 2 tensioned systems). Followed by scenario-based exercises in various different response environments.

Deputy Chief Micah Kiger, Louden County VA

Micah is a Career Deputy Chief with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue - Virginia. Loudoun is located 35 miles from our nation's capital and is situated between Fairfax, Prince William, and Fauquier County(s) in Northern Virginia and is bordered by the Potomac River to the North, which separates them from Frederick and Montgomery County(s) in Maryland. Micah began his fire service career in Loudoun County in 2000 after successfully completing Recruit Class #4. Since then, he has progressively moved up through the ranks and has served in the positions of Firefighter/Paramedic, Lieutenant, Captain/Station Commander, and EMS Supervisor. Chief Kiger has held assignments as an operational Battalion Chief, Special Operations Battalion Chief, Deputy Chief/Shift Commander, Deputy Chief of EMS, and is currently assigned as the Deputy Chief/Chief Fire Marshal for Loudoun County Fire and Rescue.

Advanced search techniques (vent/enter/search, searching with/without hoseline), Mayday considerations, SCBA confidence/emergency training, working from aerial devices, forcible entry,ground ladder considerations, and advanced hoseline management are some of the key highlights for this class!The Advanced Structural Firefighting Course is a fast-paced, scenario-driven training session where participants will be challenged to reach their next level as a firefighter. This is NOT an entry-level class and is NOT recommended for firefighters that aren't willing to be challenged. This hands-on training will consist of advanced live-burn scenarios where multiple units will be operating in the same location to accomplish the multiple fire ground tasks needed for success. Students will operate as members of an Engine/Truck/Rescue throughout this course.