Classes I Teach

The Art of Reading Smoke

Through dynamic teaching and the use of fire-ground video, attendees will learn the skill of reading smoke. You will learn about the attributes of smoke including volume, velocity, density and color. Explore how those attributes will indicate fire size, fire location and predict fire behavior. Improve your strategic and tactical decision-making through Reading Smoke. The course was originally developed by Chief Dave Dodson who selected Phil as an adjunct instructor for the Reading Smoke curriculum after teaching with Phil at FDIC.

Tactical Decision Making

This is a highly-interactive and informative course where students learn to achieve rapid, accurate solutions to fire-ground problems. Using fire-ground video, Recognition-Primed strategies and a question based approach, Phil’s interactive style engages students in the decision-making process, where they will learn to identify the strengths and weaknesses of their tactical plans. (*Recently approved by the state of Oregon for Continuing Education)

Instructional Craftsmanship

This course is designed to improve fire service instructors. Attendees improve their skills, learning to ask more and talk less. Teaching is both art and science. Learn how to ask probing questions that challenge your students. Students who are engaged, want to participate and show their mastery of the subject at hand. Socrates was a smart guy. Learn his secret. Learn to ask better questions.

Air Management

The Air Management curriculum uses a dynamic video-based approach. Students acquire an understanding of the three components of Air Management: the NEED, the MANDATE, and the SOLUTION. Exploring fire-ground near misses and the normalization of deviance demonstrates why you need Air Management. Understanding NFPA standards and the impact of fire-ground fatalities as the mandate. Learning the training curriculum necessary to impart the skills you need, with the equipment you have, to implement the solution.