Event Details
Date February 11, 2026
Time 5pm to 9pm
Location The Manor, 42 West Boylston St., West Boylston, MA
Topic The Engine Boss: 5 Years of Beginner Mistakes Supervising the Initial Handline
Cost $20/person
Payment Venmo @MAFireDistrict8
Flyer Event Flyer
The Engine Boss: 5 Years of Beginner Mistakes Supervising the Initial Handline
At some point, every Engine Co. Officer will be responsible for supervising the initial handline. However, very few are given the foundational training needed to complete this task prior to or at time of promotion. Supervising the initial handline requires a completely different skill - and mindset. This program examines the roles and responsibilities of the Engine Co. Officer as the supervisor on the initial line, from responding to water on the fire. It will also cover the transmissions required by command and other companies operating on the fire ground, and engine company emergencies from the perspective of the officer. Finally, the program discusses the characteristics and timelines of development for both the officer and their crew. All content is based on the instructor's own experiences and mistakes. This is NOT an Engine Co. strategy and tactics class.
Captain Dave Quick
Dave Quick is a 31-year veteran of the fire service and a captain with the Manchester (NH) Fire Department. He is lead instructor of the department's Recruit School, where he teaches engine company operations. Quick is also senior staff instructor at the New Hampshire Fire Academy. He is technical panel member of the current UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute "Fire Dynamics and Firefighting Tactics in Multi-Story Residential Structures." Quick has a bachelor's degree in fire science from the University of New Haven, Connecticut.