Good Shepherd Fire Training

🔥 MEET YOUR L.I.F.T. Conference 2027 INSTRUCTOR: CLAY MAGEE 🔥

Firefighter. Truckie. Instructor. Lifelong student of the craft. Clay Magee believes there’s a big difference between meeting the minimum standard and actually becoming good at the job.

Clay is the owner of Good Shepherd Fire Training, an instructor with Magic City Truck Academy, a Lieutenant with Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, and a Driver with Chelsea Fire and Rescue in Alabama.

His fire service career began in 2004 with the East Oktibbeha Volunteer Fire Department, and since then, Clay has made education a huge part of his journey. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University, a master’s degree in Emergency Services Management from Columbia Southern University, and is a contributing author for Fire Engineering.

He’s taught hands-on programs across the country and presented at conferences including FDIC International, Metro Atlanta Fire Fighters Conference, and the Alabama Firefighters Training Foundation—all with a focus on preserving the craft and pushing firefighters to develop beyond minimum standards.

And at , Clay is bringing TWO classes to Baton Rouge:
🪜 Ground Ladders: Moving Beyond Minimum Standards
📅 March 3, 2027
⏰ 8:00 AM–10:00 AM
📍 L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge – Ballroom C
🎓 Lecture

🚪 The Ins and Outs of Forcible Entry
📅 March 3, 2027
⏰ 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
📍 L'Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge – Ballroom C
🎓 Lecture

Two hours on ladders. Two hours on forcible entry. Four hours dedicated to the fundamentals that still matter every single day on the fireground.

Because checking the box isn’t the goal. Knowing your tools, understanding the why, and being able to perform when someone needs you is.

Come ready to learn, challenge the way you train, and take something back to your crew.

🔥 Train. Connect. Make a Difference. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/LIFT2027

Forcible Entry Friday

Proactive RIT

These photos are from a commercial job I had about a month ago. We were assigned RIT. As I began to soften the structure, I pulled the lock on this aluminum stile door and unlocked it with ease. I gave it a little tug to make sure it was unlocked and then moved on.

Later as our assignment changed, we attempted to enter through this door. Come to find out, it was chained shut from the inside. Due to the smoke conditions, I couldn’t see it when pulling the lock. Luckily, there was enough slack in the chain to pull the doors open and use a K-12 on the chain to gain access.

Lesson learned - Always pull the door open to make sure it actually opens. As you can see in the photos, the door is still unlocked but the owner chained it back up. Don’t take things at face value.

Pick up a copy. A short, to the point, daily devotional.

Finally….

25 years ago tonight FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge gave this homily rededicating Engine 73 refurbished firehouse. The next morning he was victim 0001 of the attacks....

“That’s the way it is. Good days. And bad days. Up days. Down days. Sad days. Happy days. But never a boring day on this job. You do what God has called you to do. You show up. You put one foot in front of another. You get on the rig and you go out and you do the job - which is a mystery. And a surprise. You have no idea when you get on that rig. No matter how big the call. No matter how small. You have no idea what God is calling you to. But he needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us.” — Father Judge on 9/10/01

Super excited to be heading back to Indianapolis in 2027 for the big show. Thanks to everyone on the FDIC International advisory board for believing in me once again.

Forcible Entry Friday

Chain link gates are no different than any other forcible entry problem we come across. We find and attack the weakest link.

The weakest link of many chain link gates are the hinges. Sizing up this gate might draw your attention to the padlock and chain but the weakest link are the hinges.

Simply hitting the post side hinge with a Halligan or axe will allow the gate to open. Drive the top hinge up the post or the bottom hing down the post will free the one opposite as well.

If the fence continues from the post and you struggle to get a good hit on the hinge itself, you can place the chisel end of a hook or forks of the Halligan across the lower hinge and hit down on the tool.

It’s simple, effective, and often overlooked.