2025 Heart of the Lakes Fire Summit

Name: 2025 Heart of the Lakes Fire Summit
Start: 2025-09-26T08:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-09-27T17:00:00-05:00
Location: Holiday Inn Alexandria

Schedule

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025 at 08:00 am to Sat, 27 Sep, 2025 at 05:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Holiday Inn Alexandria | Alexandria, MN

Taught by:
Sean Duffy, Rob Backer, Jay Bonnifield, Corley Moore
Heart of the Lakes Fire Summit
Searchable vs. Survivable: Educated Decision Making
Sean Duffy
Presentation Description:
This lecture will cover many topics related to search. It will keep the focus on our
primary mission of the fire service....LIFE! With our modern fire environment time is not
a luxury we have and it is imperative that we have a system in place designed for quick
decision making. We will discuss the importance of sizing up the search upon our 360
and utilizing the manpower we have wisely to occupy the spaces where our victims are
most likely to be found. We should be locating and removing victims in the most efficient
manner and using the data we have collected from research, coupled with real world
experiences to choose the proper tactics for us to succeed in our efforts of putting our
civilians first. This class is about being intelligently aggressive and focusing our efforts
on where we can do the greatest good at the moment. Searching is about predictable
behavior patterns as well as prioritizing spaces that our victims are most likely to be
found, when we are able to do so. There is no singular mode, rather multiple methods to
enhance the survivability for the unprotected occupant. We must break free from the
standard approach of this is how we have always done it and concentrate our efforts on
what is best for our civilians trapped by fire.

The Art of Reading Smoke
Rob Backer
Today’s structure fires are more dangerous than ever before. Lightweight construction,
low-mass synthetics, and open space floorplans have created a perfect storm for rapid,
prolific fire growth and extreme behavior. It is imperative for firefighters of all ranks and
experience levels to be prepared for this new battle. The Art of Reading Smoke,
developed by Dave Dodson and continued by Rob Backer, provides the knowledge
necessary for first-arriving firefighters, officers, and chief officers to determine the fire’s
location, progression, and future “from the seat” before seeing any flame. This
knowledge ensures that the correct tactics are implemented for the best possible
outcome. Through the extensive use of actual fireground videos, first-time students will
develop, and return students will refine their knowledge and skills to become
INTELLECTUALLY aggressive firefighters, rather than ARBITRARILY aggressive. The
next generation of Reading Smoke brings new research, a new library of videos, and
discussion on cancer prevention, tactics and strategies to develop the next generation
of aggressive interior firefighting!

Anatomy Of A Push
Jay Bonnifield
Anatomy Of A Push is a journey through the layers that make for a great fire attack
from an engine companies perspective. We dissect fireground philosophy, how we view
risk and how to optimize decision making before breaking down fire behavior and size
up's into easy to use systems regardless of rank that allow you to read and react quickly
and with conviction. We then delve into the specific fire attack principles that a skilled
engine company uses to provide a search-centric firefight using thermal imaging
footage in fire environments, as well as data to help any engine company develop a
fireground framework that is simple and effective, allowing for rapid decisions and
execution.

REPERCUSSIONS
Corley Moore
Description: There is a starvation in the American fire service for our people to be able
to deal with confrontation. So many people are put into leadership positions without the
tools needed to handle difficult situations. This class is crammed with tried and proven
techniques for handling conflict, discipline, poor attitudes and bad behavior. The goal of
the class is to give understanding as to why these situations occur, but also give
systems and tools for handling them in an efficient manner.
Topics covered:
 Establishing clarity of mission, vision and values
 Setting expectations
 What happens when expectations are not met
 Understanding where accountability starts at each level
 When to address issues
 Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Motivation
 Organizational Standards Vs. Personal Standards
 Three step process to prepare for Confrontation
 Three step process to have the confrontation
 Six key concepts of effective Discipline
 Understanding and addressing bad attitudes
 … and so much more
https://firenuggets.regfox.com/25-hotlfs