Katherine Ridenhour's workshops

 Katherine Ridenhour is a captain with the Aurora, Colorado, Fire Department, and the president of the WFS Board of Trustees. She has been presenting workshops at WFS conferences since 1997, and also presents at the Fire Department Instructors' Conference and sits on their Educational Advisory Committee.

 

Taking Command: The ABC's of IMS (Wednesday, April 23)

A WFS conference favorite! This fast-paced workshop gives firefighters and officers increased knowledge and confidence as incident commanders. Participants will learn a simple formula to apply to any type of structure fire and will have opportunities to practice command skills at fires. The session will begin with a brief lecture and then participants will divide into small groups to work on multiple fire scenarios throughout the rest of the day. The course curriculum is as follows:

   Lecture:
     -- Review good radio communication techniques
     -- Identify initial decision-making procedures at structural fires
     -- Identify potential problems that can be encountered at every fire
     -- Select appropriate strategy and tactical objectives to accomplish tasks
 
    Group Work:
     -- Practice fireground radio communication techniques
      -- Perform size up and initial on-scene reports
     -- Identify fire problems and choose appropriate strategies for different types of structures
      -- Match tactics to accomplish strategic objectives
     -- Assign resources to perform specific tasks
     -- Conduct informal evaluations throughout the group

This workshop is a must for anyone wanting to learn, improve, and practice fireground command and leadership skills in a supportive environment. Our program uses a variety of media methods to simulate fire problems, including a digital fire simulator, miniature scale buildings and the use of portable radios. This workshop provides the tools for you to learn, improve and practice your command skills and tactical knowledge. It is designed to increase your confidence at decision-making, set you up for success when determining strategy and tactics, and let you have fun in a positive learning environment. Our goal is to ensure that you leave this workshop with a renewed assurance in your knowledge of not only how to fight fire, but also how to command the fireground. This workshop is limited to 16 active participants, and is full. A few more spaces for observers are available.The instructors encourage those interested to attend the "Strategy and Tactics for Emergency Incidents" with retired chief Stewart Rose, in this same time slot.

Additional faculty for "Taking Command":

Lieutenant Amy Bannister has been with the Seattle Fire Department for eight years, and is also a founding member of Camp Blaze.

Bridget Humphrey has been a Seattle firefighter for eight years, and is assigned to a busy engine company. She volunteered with Seattle Camp Blaze 2001 and is supervising instructor for Seattle's Adult Fire Cadet Program.

Lieutenant Angela Cook joined the Denver Fire Department eleven years ago and has spent most of those years at busy Squirt 10 in inner-city Denver. Shortly after her promotion to Lieutenant in 1998, she was transferred to the training division, and later was a roving officer. She is now once again assigned to her old company at Squirt 10.

Strip Mall Fires: Strategic and Tactical Considerations (Thursday, April 24)

How many times have we heard, "They fought that fire like they would a house fire," when talking about commercial occupancies? Learn strategies and tactics that work at one-story commercial occupancies: strip malls. Review guidelines for engine companies and truck companies (especially PPV tactics), size-up factors, and construction features, in order to operate safely and efficiently at fires in strip malls. Case-study review will reinforce the impact that building construction and good (or poor) tactical procedures have on firefighting outcomes.


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